TRUTH VS. LIES




I often wonder how many souls we have devastated with the fallacious teaching of the prosperity Gospel. The message that promises unsuspecting, desperate seekers that coming to Jesus “in faith” guarantees that they can have whatever they desire. It’s such a danger. It destroys faith. Countless souls are wounded—even destroyed for eternity, because they believed it with every fiber of their being, but when it didn’t happen felt God didn’t love them or felt their faith was deficient; not as good as those around them. Many have come into our churches looking for the Answer, and we supplied them with counterfeit answers that seemed as if all of their earthly problems would melt away, if they would follow the steps. When the gimmick didn’t work for them, they left through the revolving door. We wondered why they left. In some churches, they were never missed, because there are so many, someone else slipped right into their place. We seem to think that it’s okay if one or two leave and God sends more in their stead. Jesus didn’t. Remember the Shepherd who left the ninety and nine to search for the one lost sheep?  
When souls come seeking, they don’t know exactly what it is they seek, they simply know there is a void. It is our responsibility to provide the Truth to them. If we fail in the commission (Matthew 28:19), then they may very well be lost. It is our vocation to show them the path to eternity and to spiritual prosperity, not temporal ease, that can be corrupted. The Message they seek (but don’t know) is the Gospel. They need us to tell them that when they align themselves with Christ, their problems don’t all disappear miraculously, but now they have an Advocate in every one of them. They can have peace in the midst of storms and chaos—miraculous! They will know joy even in heart-breaking moments; how amazing! They will be empowered with a supernatural love that enables them to love beyond offense, to forgive, to release the bitterness and hurts of the past—what a wonderful hope! Isn’t the Gospel good enough to present, without fixing it up to make it more attractive with carnal things?
The spiritual is so much greater, and better; yet we diminish it in our constant quest and delight in the things of world. We are in the world—but not of it. Are we pilgrims or are we countrymen staking claim and establishing roots? We don’t know when our souls will be required and we will have to give an account, but we still place so much attention on the earthy as if it’s our eternal destiny. We may talk about Heaven, but we amass the earthy things. Where are the “least of these” in all of this storing up and barn-raising? They need what you are storing—the Kingdom of God needs what you are storing and holding onto, to pour into others.
What would happen if we taught those seekers the principles that Jesus taught His followers about giving, loving, forgiving, bearing fruit, and being one rather than offering false and empty hopes?
What we don’t seem to get is that earthly things are obtained by earthly means—and spiritual things, by spiritual means. If it took God’s favor to be “blessed” with tangible riches, then every rich man would be walking in His favor; and, conversely all poor people (everywhere) would be faithless, and outside of His will. It doesn’t take faith to obtain natural things—it takes natural substance, which can be gained by hard work, knowing the right people, being born into the “right” family, being driven or ruthless and unscrupulous. It takes faith—that God supplies to anyone that has need of it, to live godly. Faith is for enduring the tests and the trials of life. Faith is the knowledge that God Is with us in the midst of our chaos, giving it purpose for our good (Romans 8:28; Genesis 50:20). Our pain, prisons, false accusations, abasements, and all sufferings have purpose in God’s Hand. No suffering goes to waste in the life of the child of God! He uses it to perfect us; it’s for our good and the good of others. satan attacks with a vengeance, and with an even greater vengeance, God grabs hold of those attacks and turns them around for His glory and our benefit! There is a lion’s den, there is a pit, there is a prison, there is cross, there is a battle, there are fears, sicknesses, disappointments, abandonments and false accusations, but God is right there protecting and sustaining us—making us stronger, as we go through them. We have enemies, but He makes them our footstool. There are flames, but they don’t scorch or burn us, there are floods, but we ride them out.
 That’s what we need to tell the seekers.        

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