name it and claim it!
if you dom’t get it, it’s your fault for not having enough faith.
now send me $100 for my miracle spring water.
Titus 1:7-11 warns against these preachers.
I remember watching Oral Roberts on television at one time saying that God was like a Coca Cola machine....you put your coin in and you get something good back.....same stupid reasoning as these yahoos.
The Good News can be a hard task master if one thinks that God is only good for giving wealth and prosperity as defined by man. God’s greatest gift allows us to prosper in an entirely different manner. Too bad that people don’t study enough to know this
I have friends who belong to one of these “churches”. They actually demand 10% of all your earnings (pre-tax of course) and encourage the open mocking of those who are slacking in their tithing. They even go as far to say that you should give the 10% before paying any bills, and not to worry because “God will provide”. Oh, and they hold their services in a bar too...
The real problem is when a church has preachers living the high life, but only offer their poor members little more than kind words, and there are way too many of these kinds of “churches”.
No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.
- Matthew 6:24
Wow! Thanks for the heads up Warning. Prosperity as God. Terrible.
Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand.
I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.
He is ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed. (Psalm 37:24-26)
I was in Bible college, putting myself through, working minimum wage ($1.50 hr.) at as many as three jobs at a time and sometimes wondering if I would have enough money to eat or catch the bus to work between paychecks. I learned the truth about this precious promise from our Lord firsthand. There were so many examples I could tell you of how it was proven true during those times and afterward, but it would need an entire new thread. What I learned most of all is that God uses those times of want and need far more perfectly to teach us to depend upon Him for ALL our needs. There's a song that says, "If I never had a problem, I'd never know God could solve them." and "If we had sunshine all our life, we'd be a desert.".
Paul learned, as I did and as we all must, that we should be content in every state we are in because God will not forsake us. He said:
I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength. (Philippians 4:10-13) and verse 19, "And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus."
I think the so-called Prosperity Gospel preachers are short changing God's people and promising them things that are not in their power to promise nor to grant. It short changes them because it makes people expect God to provide in material ways and, when that doesn't happen, people lose faith in God instead of the false teacher who told them unscriptural things. Our home is NOT of this world.