WORD OF FAITH., PROSPERITY GOSPEL????

[Word_Swordsman]

I wished for once that somebody would do some personal research..... Pentecostalism has nothing to do with the charismatic movement. Even Wikipedia says so. Every time I hear about the charismatics & the Pentecostal put together, I know already they didn't even bother to search Wikipedia..... even the armchair internet theologians do that.....

One fine day in 1976 I happened to be visiting a "charismatic" church, not knowing what that meant. I was familiar with the local United Pentecostal church. It was my observation they regarded but two gifts of the spirit, that of Pastor, and speaking in tongues. I have no ought against that, or their outward holiness. I just believe they are too too focused on a little part of the gospel. They really love Jesus! I moved on.

On that day I was born again. I looked around to see someone stand up and begin speaking after a powerful and very long sermon about what Jesus did for us. It was a word of knowledge for me, very powerful, things only God could know about me. I was later picked up off my face on the floor at the upfront altar area. I stood with tears, again going to the floor, totally surrendered to the Lord. I learned over time those people simply believed all the New Testament was for us, even to the falling out of the Roman soldiers when the angel showed up at Jesus' grave stone. Nobody can stand erect and on their own cognizance when the Lord shows up in power. It doesn't make sense to stand in defiance to any degree, regardless of the trappings and air around you in a church building. From then on, until this moment, the least I can do is raise my hands high, praising the Lord Jesus for taking me in.

From there I was convinced that the gospel was meant for the man deepest in sin, who need not show signs of salvation until he too was struck with the magnificent love of Christ. All sinners have to start at their Christ-inspired starting point without having top please religious people.

Thank you Lord Jesus!

 

[phil112]

I take Jesus' words to heart when He said, 'If my words abide in you, ask what you will and it shall be given to you'........................

That is true, of course, but one really must search their heart and examine their motives for prayer. Remember in James 4:3 we're told "Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts."

Not only does your heart and motive need to be pure, you must think about what the problem itself is, and is there a purpose for it being there.

God will use us and our afflictions at times for others edification. Maybe someone you don't realize is watching and how you deal with that trouble or affliction is going to deeply impact their view of God. Maybe there's something in your life that is interfering with your walk with God and He is talking to you thru those trials. There can be a number of reasons for not getting relief. Remember, Paul prayed 3 times for God to remove his thorn in the flesh and God didn't.

I have seen or experienced every scenario I have discussed. There certainly must be more. But as has been said, the general view of prosperity doctrine is to better oneself materially, and that is asking to consume it upon your lust.

 

[ladylynn]

That is true, of course, but one really must search their heart and examine their motives for prayer. Remember in James 4:3 we're told "Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts."

Not only does your heart and motive need to be pure, you must think about what the problem itself is, and is there a purpose for it being there.




How pure can we get? Jesus goes before us and I am believing that is what pleases God, when we go in Jesus name and not ours. We have a 'new heart' Seeing ourselves IN Christ is the key to the open promises., not the striving to be good enough.,since that is not what pleases God. We can't be good enough. Since Jesus has already done that. When we know and believe that our only hope and favor before God is because of Jesus Christ that is when we receive the blessings He gained for us. Not only in salvation but sanctification. He is our sanctification also.

God will use us and our afflictions at times for others edification. Maybe someone you don't realize is watching and how you deal with that trouble or affliction is going to deeply impact their view of God. Maybe there's something in your life that is interfering with your walk with God and He is talking to you thru those trials. There can be a number of reasons for not getting relief. Remember, Paul prayed 3 times for God to remove his thorn in the flesh and God didn't.

I have seen or experienced every scenario I have discussed. There certainly must be more. But as has been said, the general view of prosperity doctrine is to better oneself materially, and that is asking to consume it upon your lust.

Yes, I keep finding there is more in the Bible for us to look into and work into our daily lives. This whole idea of prosperity, it is not about bettering oneself materially for every person who is learning about it or living it. Yes, of course there are teachings out there that are wacko. But the fact remains that God does in fact bless His people and is pleased when we dare to trust Him and take Him at His word because we go IN Christ not our own righteousness since we have HIS righteousness not our own. "The righteousness of God IN Christ"

Many Christians do not consume it upon their own lusts but take the blessings with a thankful heart. Maybe that is the difference??

 

[Word_Swordsman]

Yes, I keep finding there is more in the Bible for us to look into and work into our daily lives. This whole idea of prosperity, it is not about bettering oneself materially for every person who is learning about it or living it. Yes, of course there are teachings out there that are wacko. But the fact remains that God does in fact bless His people and is pleased when we dare to trust Him and take Him at His word because we go IN Christ not our own righteousness since we have HIS righteousness not our own. "The righteousness of God IN Christ"

Many Christians do not consume it upon their own lusts but take the blessings with a thankful heart. Maybe that is the difference??

I might have found some comfort or maybe even safety for most of my life being "able" to tell someone desperately needing real help to keep lights on or get a kid outfitted for school. My wife and I have always worked very hard, and never took more than 3 days vacation until I was 56 years old. There's no telling how many people I had to pass off to a wealthy Christian or some agency. My wife and I woke up one day to realize we were limiting ourselves, choosing poverty level living even with both of us working. We'd been studying God' prosperity and praying for a new start for years. We had grown old enough, done a lot of things, learning it gets old just spending money on new things, never having quite enough for anything significant. The real blessings began to come when we stopped satisfying ourselves as best we could.

 

[phil112]

................ But the fact remains that God does in fact bless His people ..................

Oh, absolutely! Job was a wealthy man. satan stole it all, and when Job stood firm and denied satan, God rewarded him richly. Solomon was a wealthy man. Many, many men of God have been wealthy. But that is a benefit of serving God, not the motivation for it. The rich man that Christ spoke to in the new testament was such a man. The wealth mattered to him, and that is why he was sorrowful. Christ had no problem with him having that substance, the problem was that he put his wealth above Christ.

Too many people don't understand what is at stake. God is going to utterly burn this planet up It will be destroyed with fervent heat, along with everything in and on it. It has no value to God, and yet "christians" will treasure a few trinkets from it? God said it is beyond our imagination what He has waiting for us. If He had nothing but a tent waiting for me, I'd be okay as just being in His presence would be enough for me. But Christ said He has prepared a mansion for me. You can have this earth and its riches. They will cease to exist. I am eagerly looking forward to heaven.