Rev 5:10 10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.
KJV Rom 5:17 much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.
) KJV Since the late 70's the Church began to hear a great deal about how the Lord wants us to "reign as Kings" and to "prosper".
Many preachers have become incredibly wealthy by preaching this message.
What is truly sad is that we did not and still do not have the discernment to see through the subtle error that has been sown in the misapplication of this kind of preaching.
The greatest power of deception is that which has some truth in it.
Especially if that truth can appeal to our carnal and fleshly nature.
The question is that when the Lord refers to us as Kings what kind of King is He referring too? When he calls us to prosperity what kind of prosperity is he calling us too? Would the Lord ever encourage pride or wastefulness? His word tells us that during the last days there will be preachers who will have as their primary message the following error.
1 Tim 6:5-11 Supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.
Remember we are seeking to put all scripture into it's rightful setting.
I Tim.
6:5 is followed by these verses.
6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.
7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.
8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.
9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.
10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.
KJV The scriptures indeed declare that we are to "reign as Kings in this life" but what kind of King is the word of God talking about? The only King we are to be like is "King Jesus".
He who was a humble servant and who lived to "serve the Father" is indeed known as the King of Kings.
We are called to be kings of sacrifice and love, Kings of giving and serving, kings of humility and truth, kings of transparency and honesty.
Jesus used His authority as a King to rule over the destruction the devil has inflicted on mankind.
Yes let us preach that we are called to "reign as kings in this life".
As a king let us rule over our own selfishness and greed; let us rule over the desire to be famous and have all men look at us as though we were someone special.
As kings let us use our authority to bind the spirits of religion and control, drive out the money changers and confront the Pharisees.
The very fact that we get terribly excited when we hear preaching that promises to return unto us thirty-sixty and a hundredfold for our giving should sound an alarm in our hearts.
That alarm should immediately cause us to ask "what are we excited about"? Is it that we will have more money to spend on luxuries and extravagance? That it will get us out of the crushing debt that over-spending and credit has brought us into? If these are our first thoughts we are not candidates for the thirty-sixty and hundred-fold increase.
For the Lord will not feed our greed nor encourage our waste.
Neither will He deliver us from our indebtedness until we have learned our lessons as children of God.
Why are we so vulnerable to the minister who promises us "wealth" because we give? Why can we shout and run the isles when we hear, "we are called to be kings in this life?" What is it that makes us give the "faith pledge" again and again when we still have not received what he preached would happen from the first "faith promise card"? Are we so blind and greedy that we must go to our grave playing the "Christian lottery?" You may think I am being too hard but if you had to pastor the believers who have given away the money the Lord gave them to pay their bills off with because they were promised a thousand fold return that never came in, you would start searching for answers as well.
If you pastored widows who come to you weeping because television preachers are putting pressure on them to give beyond their means, you would also raise up a standard.
The problem is, I believe in "prosperity and success", I believe in "reigning as kings".
Yet what we must have are a new breed of ministers who will define what biblical success and prosperity truly are.
Josh 1:8 8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.
KJV It will take some courageous men and women of God to tamper with what is perceived to be the source of funding the ministry.
Yet I will tell you this: since I have begun to challenge the current preaching and teaching on giving, the biblical truth of the book of acts has begun to be fulfilled in my life.
Without asking or seeking some are laying their wealth at my feet even as is recorded in Acts chapter 4: Acts 4:34-35 34 Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, 35 And laid them down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.
KJV Do we believe that it is possible for this verse to be literally fulfilled? 34 Neither was there any among them that lacked I can tell you this - the Lord allowed me to see it in the spirit one time.
It seemed as natural and easy as breathing.
Perhaps the grace to live a more biblical pattern is beginning to be revealed to us.
May the Lord grant it so.
KJV Rom 5:17 much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.
) KJV Since the late 70's the Church began to hear a great deal about how the Lord wants us to "reign as Kings" and to "prosper".
Many preachers have become incredibly wealthy by preaching this message.
What is truly sad is that we did not and still do not have the discernment to see through the subtle error that has been sown in the misapplication of this kind of preaching.
The greatest power of deception is that which has some truth in it.
Especially if that truth can appeal to our carnal and fleshly nature.
The question is that when the Lord refers to us as Kings what kind of King is He referring too? When he calls us to prosperity what kind of prosperity is he calling us too? Would the Lord ever encourage pride or wastefulness? His word tells us that during the last days there will be preachers who will have as their primary message the following error.
1 Tim 6:5-11 Supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.
Remember we are seeking to put all scripture into it's rightful setting.
I Tim.
6:5 is followed by these verses.
6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.
7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.
8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.
9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.
10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.
KJV The scriptures indeed declare that we are to "reign as Kings in this life" but what kind of King is the word of God talking about? The only King we are to be like is "King Jesus".
He who was a humble servant and who lived to "serve the Father" is indeed known as the King of Kings.
We are called to be kings of sacrifice and love, Kings of giving and serving, kings of humility and truth, kings of transparency and honesty.
Jesus used His authority as a King to rule over the destruction the devil has inflicted on mankind.
Yes let us preach that we are called to "reign as kings in this life".
As a king let us rule over our own selfishness and greed; let us rule over the desire to be famous and have all men look at us as though we were someone special.
As kings let us use our authority to bind the spirits of religion and control, drive out the money changers and confront the Pharisees.
The very fact that we get terribly excited when we hear preaching that promises to return unto us thirty-sixty and a hundredfold for our giving should sound an alarm in our hearts.
That alarm should immediately cause us to ask "what are we excited about"? Is it that we will have more money to spend on luxuries and extravagance? That it will get us out of the crushing debt that over-spending and credit has brought us into? If these are our first thoughts we are not candidates for the thirty-sixty and hundred-fold increase.
For the Lord will not feed our greed nor encourage our waste.
Neither will He deliver us from our indebtedness until we have learned our lessons as children of God.
Why are we so vulnerable to the minister who promises us "wealth" because we give? Why can we shout and run the isles when we hear, "we are called to be kings in this life?" What is it that makes us give the "faith pledge" again and again when we still have not received what he preached would happen from the first "faith promise card"? Are we so blind and greedy that we must go to our grave playing the "Christian lottery?" You may think I am being too hard but if you had to pastor the believers who have given away the money the Lord gave them to pay their bills off with because they were promised a thousand fold return that never came in, you would start searching for answers as well.
If you pastored widows who come to you weeping because television preachers are putting pressure on them to give beyond their means, you would also raise up a standard.
The problem is, I believe in "prosperity and success", I believe in "reigning as kings".
Yet what we must have are a new breed of ministers who will define what biblical success and prosperity truly are.
Josh 1:8 8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.
KJV It will take some courageous men and women of God to tamper with what is perceived to be the source of funding the ministry.
Yet I will tell you this: since I have begun to challenge the current preaching and teaching on giving, the biblical truth of the book of acts has begun to be fulfilled in my life.
Without asking or seeking some are laying their wealth at my feet even as is recorded in Acts chapter 4: Acts 4:34-35 34 Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, 35 And laid them down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.
KJV Do we believe that it is possible for this verse to be literally fulfilled? 34 Neither was there any among them that lacked I can tell you this - the Lord allowed me to see it in the spirit one time.
It seemed as natural and easy as breathing.
Perhaps the grace to live a more biblical pattern is beginning to be revealed to us.
May the Lord grant it so.