For many years now, a teaching amongst Charismatics and Pentecostal denominations has been preached that the Lord wants to PROSPER all of his Children. So where have these preachers got this idea from? This is one of the verses that the preachers use to ‘prove’ this doctrine
“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” Jeremiah 29:11 NIV
The other verse often used is this one in John
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly”. John 10:10 NASB
So from these verses and one or two others a whole teaching has been launched all around the World that ALL Christians will become prosperous if they tithe into Ministries that teach this idea.
The teaching is known as the PROSPERITY GOSPEL and is actually causing havoc amongst Christians in many African and Asian Countries. The big time preachers get the Prosperity, but the ordinary Christian gets poorer. The teachers will then retort with the accusing technique of telling the flock that they do not have enough faith.
So what does the Bible really say?
The verse used above by many preachers found in Jeremiah 29:7 does not read prosper at all in many translations, for instance this is the same verse from the New King James Version
“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope”. Jeremiah 29: 11
As you can see, it does not mention prosperity at all and nor do most translations.
So what was the Lord telling the Nation of Israel through the prophet Jeremiah?
If we read the following verses, it will give us better insight into what the Lord was actually saying
“Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the LORD, “and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the LORD, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.” – Jeremiah 29:12-14
So this message was to the Nation who were in exile in Babylon at the time. Therefore it is a big leap to transpose this verse to the situation for Christians today. Jesus Christ told his followers in Matthew 6: 19-24
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; 21 for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 22 “The eye is the lamp of the body; so then if your eye is clear, your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness! 24 “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other; or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.
From the next verse he carries on:
“For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? 27 And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life? 28 And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, 29 yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith! 31 Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’ 32For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. 34 “So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Therefore the Lord was not telling his children that they would become prosperous and wealthy, as the preceding verses 19-24nullify that teaching, he was telling us to concentrate on doing Gods will and the everyday requirements of life would be supplied.
SO WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO?
Jesus did not say, “If you tithe regularly into a ministry, you will reap 100 fold” He said Keep seeking first the KINGDOM and the things we need would be added to us.
Notice these verses that many do not focus on; “The eye is the lamp of the body; so then if your eye is clear, your whole body will be full of LIGHT. 23 But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the LIGHT that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!
Therefore if we have bitterness, un- forgiveness, immorality, arrogance, greed or addictions in our lives, the LIGHT cannot shine in us or out of us.
Paul made it clear in Galatians 5: 16-21 that the works of the flesh will prevent us having any fellowship with Jesus in his Kingdom
“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. 17 For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law. 19 Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, 21 envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God”.
Thankfully the Apostle Paul went on to let us know what the fruits of the Holy Spirit are when he is allowed to do his work within us:
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness; self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also [l]walk by the Spirit. 26 Let us not become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another”
For the LIGHT & LOVE to shine out of us we need to be right with our Lord and our neighbours. Therefore if we have any bitterness, resentment or other sin lurking around in our limbic system (hard drive) of our brains, then try saying the prayer that we posted here:
http://livingwatersministiescyprus.blogspot.com/2012/01/amazing-healing-keys.html
Many blessings
David
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