NOTE: This file contains Part 1 and the first part of Part 2. Opening Scripture(s): 1 Chronicles 4:9-10, 3 John 1:1-4KJV 1 2 Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth. 3 John 1:2 KJV What is the truth about wealth, health, and prosperity? Does God unconditionally promise wealth, health, and prosperity to all believers? People have come, and of course, left our congregation. Some who left remarked to other members while they were here that we at Strait Gate have a poverty spirit or a poverty mentality because we teach and preach against the prosperity doctrine commonly referred to in the media as the name-itand-claim-it gospel! What we want to do in this message series, by God s truth, is set the record straight once and for all. Ev_n @s Your Soul Prosp_rs, P[rt 1 Those who embrace the prosperity gospel frequently invoke the prayer of Jabez and 3 John 2 as their foundation for this devastating doctrine that has ship-wrecked the faith of untold numbers of people, but have made the authors of books, journals, and devotionals and the advocates of this doctrine very rich indeed! So, for them, the doctrine works because it gets the results they want! 1. God wants to prosper His people, but keep in mind that both opening Scriptures are individual prayers not direct commandments from God! 2. One can be in what we would call perfect health and not prosper in his/her soul! 3. In the same way, a person can amass material wealth and considerable knowledge even biblical knowledge at the expense of their soul prospering! But first, consider both the prosperity and wisdom of Solomon: Solomon s prosperity. 1 Kings 3:3-14 Solomon s wisdom. 1 Kings 4:29-34 NOTE: The giver of both is God! To convey just how important the soul is, Jesus asked the quintessential question in Matthew 16: What will a man give in exchange for his soul? Read Matthew 16:24-26. See also the Parable of the Rich Fool. Luke 12:13-21 o The moral of this story is not that God is against material wealth; but that He sets His face against people who foolishly value wealth and material things above a rich relationship with Him! o God is also warning people today to run from false doctrine and false teachers who recklessly advocate to His people the pursuit of wealth and materialism above a rich relationship with Him! continued
2 We continued Part 1 with 4. Three ways to identify false teachers (in general) and false teaching (esp. the health, wealth, and prosperity doctrine that imperils the souls of God s people. Titus 1:10-11 1. False teachers use Scriptures! No surprise here the Devil used Scriptures in the multiple Temptations of Jesus! Many of the most popular false teachers get away with their false doctrines because they use God s Word when they teach and seduce their followers! They use God s Word but, they don t spend a lot of time in it! Or, they use God s Word and, like Satan, they cleverly pervert it! 2 Peter 3:14-18 In other words, they twist and change God s Word around to mean something God: 1. Never said. 2. Never intended. And, only the most studious and discerning can discern truth from error! 2. False teachers appeal to the worldly nature they perceive in their audience! We concluded Part 1 False teachers focus on the health and wealth part of a promise God made and they stay clear of the pre-conditions and consequences for disobedience! False teachers will almost always make the focus of their sermons and teachings about themselves, you, your pastor, or the church you attend. People get excited about the prosperity of wealth and materialism And, people are selfishly concerned about their health and appearance. False teachers will even touch on sin every once and awhile, but there is no calling to repentance, no clarion call to know and serve God better, and only vague mentions of eternal judgment and the world and life to come! People can sit under sound doctrine and still be seduced and deceived by false teachers! i. Well, who do they intentionally set out to deceive---and how do they do it? Romans 16:17-18, Philippians 3:17-20, 2 Peter 2 (Read the entire chapter.) 3. False teachers get results which is another reason why even if they are exposed they go unchallenged or uncorrected. They get results and brag about it! But, according to Scripture, they boast and brag about having a spectacular ministry rather than the right attitude toward God and people. 2 Corinthians 5:11-12 To them and those who follow them ministry is just a way to get rich. 2 Corinthians 2:17, 1 Timothy 6:2-5 Sadly, many Pastors are followers of false teachers. They won t rebuke or correct these false teachers because they want the same results the false teachers are getting! i. Some form covenant alliances with these false teachers mostly for two reasons: (1) instant recognition and (2) financial gain.
ii. Church leaders who follow these false teachers frequently organize/structure their congregations and their congregational Bible studies based on the books and other copyrighted materials of these false teachers rather than seeking a Word from God for their flocks! 5. Let s talk about true and false prosperity for a minute. First of all, the souls of wicked people do not prosper. Here are just a few reasons: He frustrates the plans of the crafty, so their efforts will not succeed. Job 5:12 Rich people picture themselves as wise, but their real poverty is evident to the poor. Proverbs 28:11 People who cover their sins will not prosper. Proverbs 28:13 NOTE: The ungodly often cover their sins especially their ill-gotten gains with good deeds! Three more reasons why the wicked don t and can t prosper: The LORD curses the house of the wicked, but he blesses the home of the upright. Proverbs 3:33 Evil people get rich for the moment, but the reward of the godly will last. Proverbs 11:18 Riches won t help on the day of judgment, but right living is a safeguard against death. Proverbs 11:3 It is safe to say that the wicked get ahead and appear to prosper in this life, but they are woefully unprepared for the eternal terrors of the next life! Psalm 73:16-20 6. Too many believers have unenlightened perspective about material wealth, health, and prosperity which, of course, the false teachers exploit. NOTE: Only a wise and discerning believer is more concerned about their soul than temporary happiness and material wealth! They have already dealt with the question: What can a man give in exchange for his soul? and they know the answer! God will have mercy on some and enlighten; while He allows others to go down to the grave in dismay. Let s go to the Book of Job, chapter 21 (Job 21:1 and 21:7-34). See also Psalm 37:7-20. 7. A final warning to all rich and poor, healthy, wealthy, and wise: James 1:9-12 is God s revelation and counsel to rich and poor believers. James 5:1-6 is God s warning to rich unbelievers. 1 Timothy 6:17-21 is God s warning to rich believers. Psalm 49 is God s solemn warning to everyone on planet Earth. 3 CLOSING EXHORTATION AND INVITATION End of Part 1 stay tuned for part 2! In Part 2, we ll discuss among other things, the signs of a soul that s prospering. You don t want to miss it!
Ev_n @s Your Soul Prosp_rs, P[rt P[rt 2 4 We continue our message with Part 2 1. God s blueprint for spiritual prosperity and success in life. God s blueprint for spiritual prosperity and success in life is unchanged: God told Joshua in no uncertain terms that not only would He be with him, but that He would prosper him! Let s take a look and see if the blueprint He gave Joshua is the one most believers hold to today. Go to Joshua 1:1-9. Now, for signs of a soul that s prospering. How can a believer know for sure IF his/her soul is prospering? What s the yardstick or measurement? 2. Six signs of a soul that s prospering: The first sign of a soul that s prospering is 1. Without exception and you see this pattern throughout the Bible the soul that s prospering spiritually is full of exuberant praise! Blesses the Lord and is a blessing to others! Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. 2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: 3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; 4 Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; 5 Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's. Psalm 103:1-5 The apostle Paul declared: Bless the Lord who always causes us to triumph in Christ Jesus. 2 Corinthians 2:14 My soul doth magnify the LORD Read first about Zachariah and Elizabeth in Luke 1:5-8. Go now to Luke 1:38-55: 38 And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her. 39 And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda; 40 And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth. 41 And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost: 42 And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. 43 And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. 45 And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord. 46 And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, 47 And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. 48 For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. 49 For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name. 50 And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation. 51 He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. 52 He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree. 53 He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away. 54 He hath helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy; 55 As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed forever. Luke 1:38-55
Souls that are prospering are increasingly discerning and able to make distinction between the natural and the spiritual and between the temporal and the eternal and here s what it sound like: 2. If God never fills my barns with silver and gold there is something more important godliness with contentment is great gain [wealth, riches]! 1 Timothy 6:5-12 One reason this verse is not more beloved by God s people is because you can t spend godliness in this life! Godliness has value in this life; but has its unsurpassing price and value in the next life! The heart cry of the Psalmist was: Do not afflict me with love for money. Psalm 119:34-38 There is a conscious awareness and desperate fear within the soul that s prospering of having money and material things and the possibility of missing out on God Himself! Thus, Jesus teaching on storing up treasure and warning about the relationship between our hearts and our treasure in Matthew 6:19-24. Part 2 to be continued 5