"In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evildoers and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived." (2 Tim 3:12-13)
As I sit here tonight the prosperity message keeps popping up in my thoughts. Before I begin, most denominations have issues. Man-made traditions that separate Christ body on earth. All cannot be defined with the same broad stick so to speak. It would be a foolish thing for me to dare do! For I know who watches me day and night! Now I would much rather speak on things concerning our mutual faith in Christ. As I grow in Christ, I dislike such topics that divide. We do in love need to clarify error, but it must be done in a spirit of love, and humility. Like a doctor with a steady hand preforming surgery! or it is just futile and causes more harm than help, possibly killing the very one, we were seeking to save.
Here we go however, my thoughts on the prosperity message. Although I honestly see it as, yet another man-made tradition of which we are drowning within at this time, I see this one's roots dug into the world system. Now definition wise it is a belief system "that God rewards those who live faithful lives with material wealth" while on earth. It is an earthly gospel, bringing forth an earthly kingdom, with earthly rewards. Now there are precious twice born ones in its clutches. That truly love our Lord, and He loves them; however, the message it brings forth concerning prosperity I cannot inwardly agree with. If you think about what the world desires, it fits right into alignment with the very spirit of this world. I do believe God does bring some twice born's into positions of wealth, but I do not see it as the norm, but exceptions to His norm.
Truthfully, the new covenant brought about through Christ death and resurrection reveals a completely different message then this earthly one that has been spread across the world, due to its material appeal! Verses the true message that brings forth persecution, suffering, and alienation within the world, that we are within but not a part of. Christ does promise His faithful disciple's riches within the new earth and heaven to come, but persecution, testing's, trials and various sufferings while were down here on this old sin filled earth. Christ message is a spiritual message, concerning His spiritual kingdom, and only those transformed spiritualty through Him will be a part of it. However, if such a prosperity message was within the mind of Christ, the apostles would not have suffered, nor been killed as martyrs for their faith in Christ Jesus! Instead for their total commitment to Christ they would have become kings on the earth enjoying all life's wonderful splendor's this fallen world had to offer. For who would dare question their faith in Christ?
Here is the report concerning what happened to each of the 13 apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ. Thankfully they were looking towards an eternal spiritual kingdom instead of an earthly one. As Foxes Book of Martyrs describes it. James the Great was beheaded. (Acts 12:2) Phillip "was scourged, thrown into prison, and afterwards crucified." Matthew was "slain with a halberd." James the Less was beat and stoned…and finally had his brains dashed out with a fuller’s club." Matthias was "stoned at Jerusalem and then beheaded." Andrew was "crucified on a cross." Mark "was dragged to pieces by the people of Alexandria." Peter was crucified upside down. Paul's head was chopped off. Jude was crucified. Bartholomew was cruelly beaten and then crucified. Thomas was martyred by being thrust through with a spear. Luke was hanged on an olive tree. Simon was crucified. John "was cast into a cauldron of boiling oil. He escaped by miracle, without injury. Domitian afterwards banished him to the Isle of Patmos, where he wrote the Book of Revelation."
"Therefore, since we also have such a great cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let’s rid ourselves of every obstacle and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let’s run with endurance the race that is set before us…" (Heb 12:1)
Brethren let us "not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for [yourself] treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Matt 6:19-21)
As I finish this, the Holy Spirit is impressing on my heart a message. We must be careful not to bash brothers and sisters sharing in our mutual faith in Christ Jesus! They are part of Christ bride and are worth an unpriced price to our Lord, just like we are. Now I have a sadness coming over me. He loves all of us who are in Him, and He expects us to love each other regardless of our differences in Him.