Just a Monday Thought....

So I've been thinking more and more over the past week of what I brought up in class last Monday night, and I just wanted to share some more thoughts about it.

I think we can all  observe the effect of the prosperity gospel in the presentation of the gospel here in America. Instead of preaching to others to repent of their sin and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ for the remission of their sin, we preach another gospel where we simply believe on His name and He will begin to bless us. We preach of a Jesus who is an accessory to our life that will help us pursue our own selfish ambitions, instead of preaching the biblical Jesus... One who gave up the riches of heaven to descend to our level and bring us redemption. The cross of Christ is no longer preached in this gospel because it undermines its message. When a believer truly understands the wrath that should have fallen on him and the penalty that Christ took as a substitute on the cross, he will no longer live for himself, but his life will be radically centered on God. This man will regard gold and earthly riches in the same way that heaven regards them- under his feet and out of his heart. However, the man that came to Christ based on this new gospel will serve God joyfully when God blesses his labor, and will make demands upon God whenever his wants aren't satisfied. Truly, this is a man-centered gospel and any gospel where man is exalted above the sovereignty of God is earthly and demonic. At least that is what the Bible teaches.

I think we all need to repent from our attachment to our wealth and material things and receive with all of our heart the Lord Jesus and we will all realize what A.W. Tozer realized:

“The man who has God for his treasure has all things in One. Many ordinary treasures may be denied him, or if he is allowed to have them, the enjoyment of them will be so tempered that they will never be necessary to his happiness. Or if he must see them go, one after one, he will scarcely feel a sense of loss, for having the Source of all things he has in One all satisfaction, all pleasure, all delight. Whatever he may lose he has actually lost nothing, for he now has it all in One, and he has it purely, legitimately and forever.”

Some more thoughts coming tomorrow!

pcraig