The Baptism of the Holy Spirit is a one time event, given at the point of conversion. It is not a seperate event when a believer has to pray to recieve the gift of tongues.
In him you also, WHEN YOU HEARD the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and BELIEVED, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.
Ephesians 1:13-14 ESV
For in one Spirit we were all BAPTIZED into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.
1 Corinthians 12:13 ESV
We cannot receive the Holy Spirit other than putting our faith and believe in the gospel of Jesus Christ. Nothing more, nothing less.
Let me ask you only this: Did you RECIEVE THE SPIRIT by works of the law or by HEARING WITH FAITH? Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? Did you suffer so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain? Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by HEARING WITH FAITH—
Galatians 3:2-5 ESV
The EVIDENCE of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit is obedience to his Commandments, his Laws.
For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the SPIRIT set their minds on the THINGS OF THE SPIRIT. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the SPIRIT OF GOD dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ DOES NOT BELONG to him.
Romans 8:5-9 ESV
Another EVIDENCE of the Spirit abide in us, is that we Love one another.
Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us. By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit.
1 John 4:11-13 ESV
One can also be FILLED with the Spirit to perform extraordinary tasks for the ministry.
Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty.
Acts 6:3 ESV
Then Peter, FILLED with the Holy Spirit, said to them, "Rulers of the people and elders,
Acts 4:8 ESV
But Saul, who was also called Paul, FILLED with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him
Acts 13:9 ESV
Paul therefore encourage us to be FILLED with the Spirit, not the modern Charismatic concept of "Baptised and speak in tongues".
Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit,
Ephesians 5:17-18 ESV
Thursday, 1 February 2018
Real Spiritual Warfare is in the mind
When you get scolded by your boss, spiritual warfare is not about your boss scolding you, but about your attitude and mentality of that event.
When you argue with your spouse, the spiritual warfare is not on the arguement itself, but our mental attitute towards the situation.
The bible talks about keeping our mind captive to the obedience of Christ. Spiritual warefare, is about our thoughts, and the external factors that influence us towards sin and unbelief.
We destroy ARGUMENTS and every lofty OPINION RAISED AGAINST THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD, and take EVERY THOUGHT captive to obey Christ, being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete.
2 Corinthians 10:5-6
James 4:6-7 also talks about worldliness like disputes and coveteousness. The solution is to Submit to God and Resist the Devil (Worldly temptations), and he will flee from us.
1 Peter 5:8 also reminds us to be SOBER MINDED. Its a message to Shepherds to "Exercise oversight and not for Shameful Gain", v2. So the general message is to be alert and keep a sound mind (1 Tim 1:7).
So essentially, Spiritual Warfare is about the mind. And the solution to this is by keeping a sound mind, to be grounded and obedient to God's word, and not giving it up to Mindless Esoteric Mystical solutions.
When you argue with your spouse, the spiritual warfare is not on the arguement itself, but our mental attitute towards the situation.
The bible talks about keeping our mind captive to the obedience of Christ. Spiritual warefare, is about our thoughts, and the external factors that influence us towards sin and unbelief.
We destroy ARGUMENTS and every lofty OPINION RAISED AGAINST THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD, and take EVERY THOUGHT captive to obey Christ, being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete.
2 Corinthians 10:5-6
James 4:6-7 also talks about worldliness like disputes and coveteousness. The solution is to Submit to God and Resist the Devil (Worldly temptations), and he will flee from us.
1 Peter 5:8 also reminds us to be SOBER MINDED. Its a message to Shepherds to "Exercise oversight and not for Shameful Gain", v2. So the general message is to be alert and keep a sound mind (1 Tim 1:7).
So essentially, Spiritual Warfare is about the mind. And the solution to this is by keeping a sound mind, to be grounded and obedient to God's word, and not giving it up to Mindless Esoteric Mystical solutions.
My Problem with the "Unmerited Favor" book
For a meaningful evaluation on the following texts, I suggest that you read every scripture reference slowly and carefully. If you don’t bother to read the bible, I suggest you don’t bother reading this either.
________________________________________
This book is all about Jesus. It is about His passionate love for you and His desire for you to experience success in your life. But before we go on, let me ask you this question: Do you believe that Jesus is interested in your success? Take a moment to reflect on this. JOSEPH PRINCE UNMERITED FAVOR, Page vii
________________________________________
Does God want us to have material success? Not necessarily. We can say for certain that God definitely wants spiritual success,
“As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”” – 1 Peter 1:14-16.
But God definitely does not intend to make every believer wealthy and successful materially (James 4:2-4), but rather knowing that “ But godliness with contentment is great gain”. – 1 Tim 6:6.
The following excerpt from the introduction of Joseph Prince’s book “Unmerited Favor” is totally against the biblical position of contentment with God’s sovereign plan for us, to encourage believers to selfishly anticipate material blessings that were never promised in the bible, and reject every suffering which God could allow for his plan and purpose.
________________________________________
My friend, I am so glad that we have the opportunity to talk about this today because I want you to know that Jesus delights in blessing you. It is His good pleasure to see you blessed in every area of your life! Now, don’t put a limit on His blessings in your life. The blessings of the Lord are not (as some may erroneously believe) just seen in material things. Jesus is infinitely interested in your total well-being. He is interested in your family, career, fulfillment in life, marriage, ministry, and boy, does the list go on! JOSEPH PRINCE UNMERITED FAVOR, page vii
________________________________________
He craftily promised that “blessings of the Lord are not (as some erroneously believe) just seen in material things”. But the fact is, the blessings that he has listed (life, marriage, ministry, and boy does the list goes on!) ARE physical material things! We must never forget that God’s priority in our lives, is to end up in spiritual restoration, to turn from being Sons of disobedience (Ephe 2:2-10), to obedience to him (Col 3:1-17).
God MAY bless you with material well being in accordance to his will, and praise God if he does! But it is NOT his priority to bless you materially. His priority is always spiritual realization, even if it takes for one to lose everything in order to see HEAVENLY VALUES, and not earthly ones (Rom 8:1-11).
________________________________________
When it comes to your desires, hopes and dreams, there is no detail that is too minuscule, minute or insignificant for Jesus. Trust me, if it matters to you, it matters to Him! Even if you went to Him in prayer to remove that small pimple on your nose,
He is not going to look at you and reply mockingly, “Hey buddy, don’t you know that I’ve got a whole universe to run? Come to Me when you have a bigger prayer request.”No way! A thousand times no! Jesus will never ridicule or deride your concerns as petty. He is never dismissive or condescending. He is not like some of your so-called “friends,” who may delight in poking fun at your shortcomings. If it bothers you, it bothers Him. JOSEPH PRINCE UNMERITED FAVOR, page Vii-viii
________________________________________
There is nothing wrong with having ambitions and goals. We all have targets to meet in life. Be it excelling in academic results, winning a singing contest, or climbing a corporate ladder, it was Paul’s exhortation to “rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man” – Ephe 6:7. Was Paul referring to “Effortless Success”? It is hardly so. In fact, we are to work hard to please our employers and in the course of doing so may achieve our career success.
However, what Joseph Prince is promising here, is a Jesus that does not exist in the bible. He is presenting his version of a jesus who has misplaced his priorities to rather care for pimples on your nose, than to help you in your spiritual maturity.
________________________________________
The world’s way to success is based on meritocracy. God’s way to success in the new covenant is in direct contradiction to that,
and is based on His unmerited favor. You can’t earn it. You can’t deserve it. And you certainly can’t merit it. It comes by way of God’s grace and by the power of what was accomplished at Calvary. It goes against the grain of every world system you have ever learned ordepended upon. God’s ways are higher and they always lead to good and abiding success.
My friend, there is no middle road. You cannot mix your own efforts with God’s grace. Choose His unmerited favor and all the glory redounds to Jesus. Every success, opportunity, blessing or breakthrough, be it in your health, family or career — success in every aspect of your life —
comes by His unmerited favor. It is never you! JOSEPH PRINCE UNMERITED FAVOR, Page x-xi
________________________________________
God’s SALVATION (not Success) is based on Grace (unmerited Favor), to save us from Sin and Death (Rom 6:23), not from poverty and sickness. Can you see how he has craftily introduced elements of prosperity gospel into his own gospel? As discussed above, God’s priority is always spiritual reconciliation. But according to Joseph Prince’s gospel, his gospel is always about material well being, to satisfy the flesh.
If what he says here is true, that “God’s ways are higher and they ALWAYS lead to good and abiding success”, then,
1. There should be no believers who are sick and poor. In fact ALL believers should be wealthy and at the pink of health. But is that true?
2. If material well being is contingent upon our faith, what he is really saying is, Christians who are poor and sick has a lack of Faith. This is the cruelest concept to describe Christians who are going through trials and persecution.
3. This principal violates God’s priority, which is “”But godliness with contentment is great gain– 1 Tim 6:6.
4. The truth is, God decides who to bless with riches and health. And those who receives has added responsibility to take care of the poor (who are not defined in the bible for lack of faith) – 1 Tim 6:17-19
________________________________________
Now, let’s stop right here. Doesn’t this list of requirements that you have to fulfill so that God will bless you sound awfully familiar to you? I believe that many of those who insist on these requirements are well-meaning, sincere people. But what they are doing is pointing others back to the old covenant of the law, whether knowingly or unknowingly! That’s how the Law of Moses works. Under the old covenant, God’s blessings were contingent on man’s fulfillment of a list of requirements. But we are no longer under the old covenant of the law. This is not Christianity. The new covenant that we are under today is based completely on the removal of our sins by the blood of Jesus! “For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh, how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?” Depending on your own efforts to deserve favor from God is considered “dead works.” It is God’s desire for us to depend wholly on the unmerited favor of Jesus.Just to make it clear, it is not Joseph Prince who is finding fault with the old covenant. God Himself said, “For if that first covenant [the covenant of law] had been faultless, then no place would have been sought for a second [the covenant of grace].” The Christian life today is not based on what you are doing or not doing. The reality is that the Christian life is not a religion at all. It is about having a relationship based completely on receiving WHAT GOD HIMSELF HAS DONE ON THE CROSS! When you receive completely what Jesus has done for you, your “doing” will flow effortlessly. JOSEPH PRINCE UNMERITED FAVOR, page xi-xii
________________________________________
Firstly, God’s blessings (or Salvation) were NEVER contingent on man’s fulfillment of a list of requirements. When Israel sinned, they were covered under the atonement of the yearly Sacrifices. God gave his commandments, and when an Israelite falls into Sin due to human weakness, their Sins are atoned for under the Mosaic Covenant (Hebrews 9:6-7).
Israel was judged NOT BECAUSE they failed to follow the procedures, but because they SINNED REBELLIOUSLY (it was not unintentionally). And despite their rebelliously sinful lifestyle, they continued to perform the sacrifices under the Law, thinking that they can get atonement for their Sins nevertheless.
That is why in Isaiah 1:13-15, God called them “vain Offerings; the incense of an abomination to me”. It was not because Israel could not follow the procedures, but because they were in REBELLION (2 Kings 17:7-23). That is why in Isaiah 1:16-20, he called for Israel to repent from their Sins, to obey him so that they will eat the good of the land.
Though his misconception, Joseph Prince demonized the Law of God, turning it into an enemy of the gospel, citing that God had found fault with the very Laws that he wrote himself! Heb 8:7 is not about “God finding fault with the Law”, the point is that Jesus Christ is the ultimate completion of the Old Covenant (which was incomplete), to bring spiritual reconciliation to those who repent and follow him.
The fact is that believers even in the Old Testament were not justified by the Law. It was the ISRAELITES who tried to seek justification under the Old Covenant to cover their rebelliousness… and it was through this notion that they think they were “Justified under the Law” which Paul wrote against the idea in Romans Chapter 4.
Under the New Covenant, the same principal applies. Those who are under the Grace are Slaves to Righteousness (Rom 6:15-23) and “ Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him” – 1 John 2:3-6. True believers may fall into Sin UNINTENTIONALLY(Rom 7:21-25), but they will not live REBELLIOUSLY (Heb 6:4-6).
The rest of the book is based on this misconception about Law and Grace, and misplaced view of God’s blessing and prosperity that is relevant to the lives of believers.
________________________________________
My friend, I want to encourage you to begin to see that the world’s model of success is unstable and built upon a foundation that is shakable. It may have the outward appearance of the good life, but it is temporal, and we have all seen for ourselves how the world’s transient wealth can dissipate like smoke and easily slip away like the shifting sands in the desert. It is the presence of the Lord in your life that makes you a success! JOSEPH PRINCE UNMERITED FAVOR, Page 3
________________________________________
He claimed that he is not preaching the prosperity gospel. But everything that he says IS about PROSPERITY.
________________________________________
We need to learn to stop pursuing things and to start pursuing Him. God sees your relationship with Him as the only thing that you need for
every success in your life. I can’t imagine starting in a worse place than Joseph.He was completely naked. He had nothing! No bank accounts,
no educational qualifications, no natural connections with people of influence, nothing. Thank God the Bible records a picture of Joseph
who began with nothing, so that you and I can have hope today. If you think that like Joseph, you have nothing, well, you can start believing in the power of the presence of the Lord in your life. Start looking to Jesus and claim that promise in
that Scripture for yourself!
Let me show you how you can personalize this promise in your life. Insert your name here into God’s promise for you:
“The Lord is with _______ , and I am a successful person.” JOSEPH PRINCE UNMERITED FAVOR, page 3-4
________________________________________
He claim that “we need to learn to stop pursuing things and to start pursuing Him”. But his last line to ask his reader to insert their name on “The lord is with _____ , I am a successful person” IS EXACTLY making his readers to “Pursue Things”!! In fact, when a believer pursues God IN ORDER to get what he wants, then at the end of the day, what he wants is not God, but his own selfish desires! No wonder the bible says that Covetousness is idolatry! (Col 3:5, Ephe 5:5).
________________________________________
Now, read this aloud to yourself. Read it out loud a hundred times if you have to, and begin to see this as your reality. Stick this promise on your mirror, and every morning when you brush
your teeth, remind yourself that today, as you go to work, as you go to school, as you start the day caring for your children at home (or do whatever it is that you need to do), the Lord is with you.
And because He is with you, YOU ARE ALREADY A SUCCESS! When you have Jesus in your life, you are no longer trying to be a success; you ARE a success! JOSEPH PRINCE UNMERITED FAVOR, page 4
________________________________________
As you can read from just merely a few pages from his book, it has nothing short of the prosperity Gospel. In fact, his teachings are based on biased view of the word of God that is out of context. If you are sitting under his ministry or so happen to be listening to him, I urge you to study the word of God and see how his theology is fraudulent and deceptive.
________________________________________
This book is all about Jesus. It is about His passionate love for you and His desire for you to experience success in your life. But before we go on, let me ask you this question: Do you believe that Jesus is interested in your success? Take a moment to reflect on this. JOSEPH PRINCE UNMERITED FAVOR, Page vii
________________________________________
Does God want us to have material success? Not necessarily. We can say for certain that God definitely wants spiritual success,
“As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”” – 1 Peter 1:14-16.
But God definitely does not intend to make every believer wealthy and successful materially (James 4:2-4), but rather knowing that “ But godliness with contentment is great gain”. – 1 Tim 6:6.
The following excerpt from the introduction of Joseph Prince’s book “Unmerited Favor” is totally against the biblical position of contentment with God’s sovereign plan for us, to encourage believers to selfishly anticipate material blessings that were never promised in the bible, and reject every suffering which God could allow for his plan and purpose.
________________________________________
My friend, I am so glad that we have the opportunity to talk about this today because I want you to know that Jesus delights in blessing you. It is His good pleasure to see you blessed in every area of your life! Now, don’t put a limit on His blessings in your life. The blessings of the Lord are not (as some may erroneously believe) just seen in material things. Jesus is infinitely interested in your total well-being. He is interested in your family, career, fulfillment in life, marriage, ministry, and boy, does the list go on! JOSEPH PRINCE UNMERITED FAVOR, page vii
________________________________________
He craftily promised that “blessings of the Lord are not (as some erroneously believe) just seen in material things”. But the fact is, the blessings that he has listed (life, marriage, ministry, and boy does the list goes on!) ARE physical material things! We must never forget that God’s priority in our lives, is to end up in spiritual restoration, to turn from being Sons of disobedience (Ephe 2:2-10), to obedience to him (Col 3:1-17).
God MAY bless you with material well being in accordance to his will, and praise God if he does! But it is NOT his priority to bless you materially. His priority is always spiritual realization, even if it takes for one to lose everything in order to see HEAVENLY VALUES, and not earthly ones (Rom 8:1-11).
________________________________________
When it comes to your desires, hopes and dreams, there is no detail that is too minuscule, minute or insignificant for Jesus. Trust me, if it matters to you, it matters to Him! Even if you went to Him in prayer to remove that small pimple on your nose,
He is not going to look at you and reply mockingly, “Hey buddy, don’t you know that I’ve got a whole universe to run? Come to Me when you have a bigger prayer request.”No way! A thousand times no! Jesus will never ridicule or deride your concerns as petty. He is never dismissive or condescending. He is not like some of your so-called “friends,” who may delight in poking fun at your shortcomings. If it bothers you, it bothers Him. JOSEPH PRINCE UNMERITED FAVOR, page Vii-viii
________________________________________
There is nothing wrong with having ambitions and goals. We all have targets to meet in life. Be it excelling in academic results, winning a singing contest, or climbing a corporate ladder, it was Paul’s exhortation to “rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man” – Ephe 6:7. Was Paul referring to “Effortless Success”? It is hardly so. In fact, we are to work hard to please our employers and in the course of doing so may achieve our career success.
However, what Joseph Prince is promising here, is a Jesus that does not exist in the bible. He is presenting his version of a jesus who has misplaced his priorities to rather care for pimples on your nose, than to help you in your spiritual maturity.
________________________________________
The world’s way to success is based on meritocracy. God’s way to success in the new covenant is in direct contradiction to that,
and is based on His unmerited favor. You can’t earn it. You can’t deserve it. And you certainly can’t merit it. It comes by way of God’s grace and by the power of what was accomplished at Calvary. It goes against the grain of every world system you have ever learned ordepended upon. God’s ways are higher and they always lead to good and abiding success.
My friend, there is no middle road. You cannot mix your own efforts with God’s grace. Choose His unmerited favor and all the glory redounds to Jesus. Every success, opportunity, blessing or breakthrough, be it in your health, family or career — success in every aspect of your life —
comes by His unmerited favor. It is never you! JOSEPH PRINCE UNMERITED FAVOR, Page x-xi
________________________________________
God’s SALVATION (not Success) is based on Grace (unmerited Favor), to save us from Sin and Death (Rom 6:23), not from poverty and sickness. Can you see how he has craftily introduced elements of prosperity gospel into his own gospel? As discussed above, God’s priority is always spiritual reconciliation. But according to Joseph Prince’s gospel, his gospel is always about material well being, to satisfy the flesh.
If what he says here is true, that “God’s ways are higher and they ALWAYS lead to good and abiding success”, then,
1. There should be no believers who are sick and poor. In fact ALL believers should be wealthy and at the pink of health. But is that true?
2. If material well being is contingent upon our faith, what he is really saying is, Christians who are poor and sick has a lack of Faith. This is the cruelest concept to describe Christians who are going through trials and persecution.
3. This principal violates God’s priority, which is “”But godliness with contentment is great gain– 1 Tim 6:6.
4. The truth is, God decides who to bless with riches and health. And those who receives has added responsibility to take care of the poor (who are not defined in the bible for lack of faith) – 1 Tim 6:17-19
________________________________________
Now, let’s stop right here. Doesn’t this list of requirements that you have to fulfill so that God will bless you sound awfully familiar to you? I believe that many of those who insist on these requirements are well-meaning, sincere people. But what they are doing is pointing others back to the old covenant of the law, whether knowingly or unknowingly! That’s how the Law of Moses works. Under the old covenant, God’s blessings were contingent on man’s fulfillment of a list of requirements. But we are no longer under the old covenant of the law. This is not Christianity. The new covenant that we are under today is based completely on the removal of our sins by the blood of Jesus! “For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh, how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?” Depending on your own efforts to deserve favor from God is considered “dead works.” It is God’s desire for us to depend wholly on the unmerited favor of Jesus.Just to make it clear, it is not Joseph Prince who is finding fault with the old covenant. God Himself said, “For if that first covenant [the covenant of law] had been faultless, then no place would have been sought for a second [the covenant of grace].” The Christian life today is not based on what you are doing or not doing. The reality is that the Christian life is not a religion at all. It is about having a relationship based completely on receiving WHAT GOD HIMSELF HAS DONE ON THE CROSS! When you receive completely what Jesus has done for you, your “doing” will flow effortlessly. JOSEPH PRINCE UNMERITED FAVOR, page xi-xii
________________________________________
Firstly, God’s blessings (or Salvation) were NEVER contingent on man’s fulfillment of a list of requirements. When Israel sinned, they were covered under the atonement of the yearly Sacrifices. God gave his commandments, and when an Israelite falls into Sin due to human weakness, their Sins are atoned for under the Mosaic Covenant (Hebrews 9:6-7).
Israel was judged NOT BECAUSE they failed to follow the procedures, but because they SINNED REBELLIOUSLY (it was not unintentionally). And despite their rebelliously sinful lifestyle, they continued to perform the sacrifices under the Law, thinking that they can get atonement for their Sins nevertheless.
That is why in Isaiah 1:13-15, God called them “vain Offerings; the incense of an abomination to me”. It was not because Israel could not follow the procedures, but because they were in REBELLION (2 Kings 17:7-23). That is why in Isaiah 1:16-20, he called for Israel to repent from their Sins, to obey him so that they will eat the good of the land.
Though his misconception, Joseph Prince demonized the Law of God, turning it into an enemy of the gospel, citing that God had found fault with the very Laws that he wrote himself! Heb 8:7 is not about “God finding fault with the Law”, the point is that Jesus Christ is the ultimate completion of the Old Covenant (which was incomplete), to bring spiritual reconciliation to those who repent and follow him.
The fact is that believers even in the Old Testament were not justified by the Law. It was the ISRAELITES who tried to seek justification under the Old Covenant to cover their rebelliousness… and it was through this notion that they think they were “Justified under the Law” which Paul wrote against the idea in Romans Chapter 4.
Under the New Covenant, the same principal applies. Those who are under the Grace are Slaves to Righteousness (Rom 6:15-23) and “ Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him” – 1 John 2:3-6. True believers may fall into Sin UNINTENTIONALLY(Rom 7:21-25), but they will not live REBELLIOUSLY (Heb 6:4-6).
The rest of the book is based on this misconception about Law and Grace, and misplaced view of God’s blessing and prosperity that is relevant to the lives of believers.
________________________________________
My friend, I want to encourage you to begin to see that the world’s model of success is unstable and built upon a foundation that is shakable. It may have the outward appearance of the good life, but it is temporal, and we have all seen for ourselves how the world’s transient wealth can dissipate like smoke and easily slip away like the shifting sands in the desert. It is the presence of the Lord in your life that makes you a success! JOSEPH PRINCE UNMERITED FAVOR, Page 3
________________________________________
He claimed that he is not preaching the prosperity gospel. But everything that he says IS about PROSPERITY.
________________________________________
We need to learn to stop pursuing things and to start pursuing Him. God sees your relationship with Him as the only thing that you need for
every success in your life. I can’t imagine starting in a worse place than Joseph.He was completely naked. He had nothing! No bank accounts,
no educational qualifications, no natural connections with people of influence, nothing. Thank God the Bible records a picture of Joseph
who began with nothing, so that you and I can have hope today. If you think that like Joseph, you have nothing, well, you can start believing in the power of the presence of the Lord in your life. Start looking to Jesus and claim that promise in
that Scripture for yourself!
Let me show you how you can personalize this promise in your life. Insert your name here into God’s promise for you:
“The Lord is with _______ , and I am a successful person.” JOSEPH PRINCE UNMERITED FAVOR, page 3-4
________________________________________
He claim that “we need to learn to stop pursuing things and to start pursuing Him”. But his last line to ask his reader to insert their name on “The lord is with _____ , I am a successful person” IS EXACTLY making his readers to “Pursue Things”!! In fact, when a believer pursues God IN ORDER to get what he wants, then at the end of the day, what he wants is not God, but his own selfish desires! No wonder the bible says that Covetousness is idolatry! (Col 3:5, Ephe 5:5).
________________________________________
Now, read this aloud to yourself. Read it out loud a hundred times if you have to, and begin to see this as your reality. Stick this promise on your mirror, and every morning when you brush
your teeth, remind yourself that today, as you go to work, as you go to school, as you start the day caring for your children at home (or do whatever it is that you need to do), the Lord is with you.
And because He is with you, YOU ARE ALREADY A SUCCESS! When you have Jesus in your life, you are no longer trying to be a success; you ARE a success! JOSEPH PRINCE UNMERITED FAVOR, page 4
________________________________________
As you can read from just merely a few pages from his book, it has nothing short of the prosperity Gospel. In fact, his teachings are based on biased view of the word of God that is out of context. If you are sitting under his ministry or so happen to be listening to him, I urge you to study the word of God and see how his theology is fraudulent and deceptive.
Friday, 30 June 2017
Satan's Pride, Man's Folly
“How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, You who weakened the nations! For you have said in your heart: ‘I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation On the farthest sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.’ Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol, To the lowest depths of the Pit.
Isaiah 14:12-15 NKJV
This passage does not refer to Satan. Lucifer is hêylêl, a Hebrew word which translates directly to "Morning Star". The entire Chap 13 and 14 talks about fall of Assyria, typified as the "Kings of Babylon", likely because of the influence of the Babylonian culture of the day, Assyrian Kings (Sargon II and Sennacherib) likened themselves like "Kings of Babylon". Pretty much like the Roman empire who adopts Greek culture and religion due to its deep infiltration into popular culture of that time. So Babylon really referred to the Assyrian Kings who dominates the world during Isaiah's time.
Although this verses does not refer to Satan, its principals actually applies. The lesson to be abstracted here is that the King of Babylon, just like Satan (Luke 10:18, Rev 12:8-9), has fallen because of pride. Just like Satan, human leaders can fall into the very same temptation of thinking he has control over his destiny, thus resulting in rebellion and turmoil. Ultimately, it is this same characteristic in both wicked men and demons which will lead them to destruction by the one Holy God.
Isaiah 14:12-15 NKJV
This passage does not refer to Satan. Lucifer is hêylêl, a Hebrew word which translates directly to "Morning Star". The entire Chap 13 and 14 talks about fall of Assyria, typified as the "Kings of Babylon", likely because of the influence of the Babylonian culture of the day, Assyrian Kings (Sargon II and Sennacherib) likened themselves like "Kings of Babylon". Pretty much like the Roman empire who adopts Greek culture and religion due to its deep infiltration into popular culture of that time. So Babylon really referred to the Assyrian Kings who dominates the world during Isaiah's time.
Although this verses does not refer to Satan, its principals actually applies. The lesson to be abstracted here is that the King of Babylon, just like Satan (Luke 10:18, Rev 12:8-9), has fallen because of pride. Just like Satan, human leaders can fall into the very same temptation of thinking he has control over his destiny, thus resulting in rebellion and turmoil. Ultimately, it is this same characteristic in both wicked men and demons which will lead them to destruction by the one Holy God.
Thursday, 29 June 2017
The Great Day of the Lord
The bible talks about the "Great and Terrible day of the Lord". Many believers look forward to this event, whereby we are often taught that it will be a day of redemption, where we finally meet our maker face to face.
True as it is, Salvation is not free for all as one might have been taught. Many have a misconception of using Jesus as a talisman, or perhaps a passport for eternal security; thus percieve to be evading judgement. However, if the truth is the truth, such teaching can put false believers at risk of thinking that they are believers.
Well, I am not trying to put any additional criteria for eternal life. Ephesians 2:8 says Salvation comes by Grace through Faith in Jesus Christ. But further in v10 it also says that we are saved FOR GOOD WORKS. Which means that if the faith of a self professing believer does not result in good works, it will defeat the very purpose which we are saved for. Then we will have to exercise what John said in his 1st Epistle regarding what exactly is a true believer (1 John 2:3-6). If one continues to live in disobedience, he is not a true believer as he does not walk in the light (1 John 1:5-9)
Hence the Day of the Lord, which we can safely say refers to his 2nd coming, or the great white throne judgement after his 1000 year rule, is not good news to everyone. Isaiah gave an account of it :
Behold, the day of the Lord comes, Cruel, with both wrath and fierce anger, To lay the land desolate; And He will destroy its sinners from it. For the stars of heaven and their constellations Will not give their light; The sun will be darkened in its going forth, And the moon will not cause its light to shine.
True as it is, Salvation is not free for all as one might have been taught. Many have a misconception of using Jesus as a talisman, or perhaps a passport for eternal security; thus percieve to be evading judgement. However, if the truth is the truth, such teaching can put false believers at risk of thinking that they are believers.
Well, I am not trying to put any additional criteria for eternal life. Ephesians 2:8 says Salvation comes by Grace through Faith in Jesus Christ. But further in v10 it also says that we are saved FOR GOOD WORKS. Which means that if the faith of a self professing believer does not result in good works, it will defeat the very purpose which we are saved for. Then we will have to exercise what John said in his 1st Epistle regarding what exactly is a true believer (1 John 2:3-6). If one continues to live in disobedience, he is not a true believer as he does not walk in the light (1 John 1:5-9)
Hence the Day of the Lord, which we can safely say refers to his 2nd coming, or the great white throne judgement after his 1000 year rule, is not good news to everyone. Isaiah gave an account of it :
Behold, the day of the Lord comes, Cruel, with both wrath and fierce anger, To lay the land desolate; And He will destroy its sinners from it. For the stars of heaven and their constellations Will not give their light; The sun will be darkened in its going forth, And the moon will not cause its light to shine.
Isaiah 13:9-10 NKJV
The word for Constellation is "kesîyl".
http://biblehub.com/hebrew/3685.htm
"kesîyl" to the Jews refers specifically to Orion who arrogantly challenged God with his human pride. The expression of V10 indicates how Orion, being a great hunter, had spiritually missed the target by refuse submission to God.
Though Orion is a myth, the Jewish rendition of it still speaks. On the Day of the Lord, sinners will be exterminated (V9) for refusal to submit to God and his instructions. There will be great darkness whereby the Sun, moon and Stars will not give it's light (V10). Light is a characteristic of God, hence Darkness is of Sinful men (John 3:19-21). It is evident that on that day, God will come in darkness to judge all unbelievers, including unbelievers who thinks they are believers just by going to church.
(The darkening of the Sun, Mòon and Stars was also mentioned in Joel, repeates by Peter in his sermon in Acts 2. This was also related to the opening of the 6th Seal in Revelation 6:12-17.
The word for Constellation is "kesîyl".
http://biblehub.com/hebrew/3685.htm
"kesîyl" to the Jews refers specifically to Orion who arrogantly challenged God with his human pride. The expression of V10 indicates how Orion, being a great hunter, had spiritually missed the target by refuse submission to God.
Though Orion is a myth, the Jewish rendition of it still speaks. On the Day of the Lord, sinners will be exterminated (V9) for refusal to submit to God and his instructions. There will be great darkness whereby the Sun, moon and Stars will not give it's light (V10). Light is a characteristic of God, hence Darkness is of Sinful men (John 3:19-21). It is evident that on that day, God will come in darkness to judge all unbelievers, including unbelievers who thinks they are believers just by going to church.
(The darkening of the Sun, Mòon and Stars was also mentioned in Joel, repeates by Peter in his sermon in Acts 2. This was also related to the opening of the 6th Seal in Revelation 6:12-17.
Friday, 16 June 2017
Do you call evil and evil good?
Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, And prudent in their own sight!
Isaiah 5:20-21 NKJV
Is this relevant to the church today? You bet. What Isaiah foresaw was a time when Israelites challenged God's authority. They think they have better definition of what is right or wrong, better than God. And therefore they even challenged God for him to hasten his work of judgement (Isa 5:19). So what exactly is the church today doing that is calling evil good and good evil, and calling darkness light and light darkness?
1. LGBT - Bible is clear, homosexuality is Sin, just like any other sins. In the name of love, many has accepted the concept. Thinking that it is out of love that they accept them for who they are. Just like how the church ought to deal with anyone in the congregation who steals, are vulgar or even abusive, sexual sinners alike are ought to be dealt with, LGBTs are no exception. This is not a statement to drive all sinners away, for God is Love and does not delight in judgement . But if they reject counsel, then they reject God, and he will have to judge. It's simple as that. It is not for us to justify their nature. There is simply no such thing as a Christian butch or a Christian Gay.
2. Biblical truths - Do you hear Christians today telling you, "Everyone has different ways of intepreting the bible, so who is anyone to judge who is correct or not?". While it is true that there are some degrees of differences from person to person, some "differences" are simply heretic. Many of the idealogies that are taught in church today are more or less influenced by Antinomianism, Legalism, Dominian Theology, New Apostolic Reformation, Prosperity gospel, Christian Science or even Psycho Analysis, etc. Are Pastors today teaching according to sound biblical context or man's opinions? Are Christian idealogies today based on sound biblical principals or human idealogies? One good example is to accredit Sickness to Sin, and poor believers are made to confess all their sins in order to recieve healing, this is worse than Legalism.
3. Worldliness - Does your church teaching allow you to pursue your own life without having to serve God? While we cannot judge if any individual is actually pursuing Godliness in their lives, we can certainly say that the teachings of the Prophets and Apostles are too compelling to be ignored. Apostle Paul teaches that Coveteousness is idolatry (Col 3:5). This is exactly what Isaiah meant in Isaiah 5:22. Wine in his prophecies is a picture of luxuries and worldliness. There is absolutely nothing wrong for one to aim to upgrade his home, car or even enjoy a fine meal or holiday. But the idea of getting drunk with wine (Isaiah 5:11) is also a picture of one who indulges himself with pleasures of life. Do you often tell yourself that "Maybe I will consider serving God when my career is established and my kids are grown up, I'm sure God understands."? Or perhaps some don't even consider that because all they think about is getting a bigger house, nicer car, higher pay check, and God is simply confined to Sunday Service? That is exactly what Isaiah had in mind when he foresaw God's judgement, and we know his is coming back with a winnowing fork to seperate the tares from the wheat.
Romans 3:20-22 clearly says that we are not jusified by the deeds of the Law, but by Jesus Christ alone. But Romans 6 clearly states that those who are saved under Grace will be slaves to righteousness. Those who are truly saved will reflect the true nature of Christ who lives us. It needn't be an immediate transformation, but it will be a sincere progression to reflect his Christlikeness. At the end of the day, we have to question ourselves if we are truly Christians or we are actually rejecting God's Laws without realizing it.
Therefore, as the fire devours the stubble, And the flame consumes the chaff, So their root will be as rottenness, And their blossom will ascend like dust; Because they have rejected the law of the Lord of hosts, And despised the word of the Holy One of Israel.
Isaiah 5:24 NKJV
Are we ostracizing believers who impede us from the pursuit of Worldliness? Are we persecuting those who promote the pursuit of Godliness? Are we calling evil good and good evil?
Isaiah 5:20-21 NKJV
Is this relevant to the church today? You bet. What Isaiah foresaw was a time when Israelites challenged God's authority. They think they have better definition of what is right or wrong, better than God. And therefore they even challenged God for him to hasten his work of judgement (Isa 5:19). So what exactly is the church today doing that is calling evil good and good evil, and calling darkness light and light darkness?
1. LGBT - Bible is clear, homosexuality is Sin, just like any other sins. In the name of love, many has accepted the concept. Thinking that it is out of love that they accept them for who they are. Just like how the church ought to deal with anyone in the congregation who steals, are vulgar or even abusive, sexual sinners alike are ought to be dealt with, LGBTs are no exception. This is not a statement to drive all sinners away, for God is Love and does not delight in judgement . But if they reject counsel, then they reject God, and he will have to judge. It's simple as that. It is not for us to justify their nature. There is simply no such thing as a Christian butch or a Christian Gay.
2. Biblical truths - Do you hear Christians today telling you, "Everyone has different ways of intepreting the bible, so who is anyone to judge who is correct or not?". While it is true that there are some degrees of differences from person to person, some "differences" are simply heretic. Many of the idealogies that are taught in church today are more or less influenced by Antinomianism, Legalism, Dominian Theology, New Apostolic Reformation, Prosperity gospel, Christian Science or even Psycho Analysis, etc. Are Pastors today teaching according to sound biblical context or man's opinions? Are Christian idealogies today based on sound biblical principals or human idealogies? One good example is to accredit Sickness to Sin, and poor believers are made to confess all their sins in order to recieve healing, this is worse than Legalism.
3. Worldliness - Does your church teaching allow you to pursue your own life without having to serve God? While we cannot judge if any individual is actually pursuing Godliness in their lives, we can certainly say that the teachings of the Prophets and Apostles are too compelling to be ignored. Apostle Paul teaches that Coveteousness is idolatry (Col 3:5). This is exactly what Isaiah meant in Isaiah 5:22. Wine in his prophecies is a picture of luxuries and worldliness. There is absolutely nothing wrong for one to aim to upgrade his home, car or even enjoy a fine meal or holiday. But the idea of getting drunk with wine (Isaiah 5:11) is also a picture of one who indulges himself with pleasures of life. Do you often tell yourself that "Maybe I will consider serving God when my career is established and my kids are grown up, I'm sure God understands."? Or perhaps some don't even consider that because all they think about is getting a bigger house, nicer car, higher pay check, and God is simply confined to Sunday Service? That is exactly what Isaiah had in mind when he foresaw God's judgement, and we know his is coming back with a winnowing fork to seperate the tares from the wheat.
Romans 3:20-22 clearly says that we are not jusified by the deeds of the Law, but by Jesus Christ alone. But Romans 6 clearly states that those who are saved under Grace will be slaves to righteousness. Those who are truly saved will reflect the true nature of Christ who lives us. It needn't be an immediate transformation, but it will be a sincere progression to reflect his Christlikeness. At the end of the day, we have to question ourselves if we are truly Christians or we are actually rejecting God's Laws without realizing it.
Therefore, as the fire devours the stubble, And the flame consumes the chaff, So their root will be as rottenness, And their blossom will ascend like dust; Because they have rejected the law of the Lord of hosts, And despised the word of the Holy One of Israel.
Isaiah 5:24 NKJV
Are we ostracizing believers who impede us from the pursuit of Worldliness? Are we persecuting those who promote the pursuit of Godliness? Are we calling evil good and good evil?
Thursday, 11 May 2017
The 11th Hour Worker
The Parable of the Eleventh Hour Worker
In Matt 19:16-22, Jesus tells us of a story of a rich young ruler who wanted Jesus to tell him "what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?". Jesus went on to described how he should keep the commandments and he claimed that he had done it all. Jesus finally told him to sell all his possessions, in which he responded with sorrow and went away. In Matt 19:23-27, the disciples were astonished at Jesus's conclusion of the rich young ruler by saying in verse 24, "it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a RICH MAN to enter the kingdom of God". Peter responded in verse 27, “See, we have left all and followed You. Therefore what shall we have?”. He wants to know what can he get by his sacrifice for following Jesus.
Matt 19:28-30 is interesting. Jesus went on to explain how the 12 places will be given to the 12 who followed him, obviously referring to the 12 Apostles who will judge the 12 tribes of Israel when Jesus comes back. And everyone who left their houses and family for the sake of the gospel will receive a hundredfold and inherit eternal life. From which he gave a quote at verse 30, " But many who are first will be last, and the last first"
He then went on in Matt 20:1-16 to tell a story of an owner of the Vineyard (usually referring to God the Father [CF Isaiah 5] ), who hired laborers for his vineyard early in the morning, third hour, sixth hour, ninth hour and eleventh hour. At the end of the day, the earlier workers who worked more received the same 1 denarius as the eleventh hour workers, they complained. The owner of the vineyard responded by saying, in verse 13,"‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius?" And again, this passage again ended with an inclusio with Matt 19:30, "So the last will be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few chosen."
Firstly, the reward of 1 denarius refers to eternal life (CF Matt 19:29). I believe the workers who came in at the earlier hours refers to Israel under the Law of Moses and 11th hours refers to believers after the Cross. Jesus was giving an illustration to his disciples on how those who are born again under the Grace of Jesus finished work receives the same eternal life as those who persevered by Faith while under the Law of Moses. There is nothing we can do to earn eternal life, any more than those who serve more or less. Hence the principal of equality lies in the phase "the last will be first, and the first last.".
Yet the author of Matthew did not stop there, but to further illustrate the greatness of serving in Matt 20:20-28.
"Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave— just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”" - Matt 20:26-28
Eternal life cannot be earned by working more. It is about God's Grace towards imperfect people who are willing to walk in faith and serve him. Eternal rewards (1 Cor 3:5-16) however, is a different topic altogether.
In Matt 19:16-22, Jesus tells us of a story of a rich young ruler who wanted Jesus to tell him "what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?". Jesus went on to described how he should keep the commandments and he claimed that he had done it all. Jesus finally told him to sell all his possessions, in which he responded with sorrow and went away. In Matt 19:23-27, the disciples were astonished at Jesus's conclusion of the rich young ruler by saying in verse 24, "it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a RICH MAN to enter the kingdom of God". Peter responded in verse 27, “See, we have left all and followed You. Therefore what shall we have?”. He wants to know what can he get by his sacrifice for following Jesus.
Matt 19:28-30 is interesting. Jesus went on to explain how the 12 places will be given to the 12 who followed him, obviously referring to the 12 Apostles who will judge the 12 tribes of Israel when Jesus comes back. And everyone who left their houses and family for the sake of the gospel will receive a hundredfold and inherit eternal life. From which he gave a quote at verse 30, " But many who are first will be last, and the last first"
He then went on in Matt 20:1-16 to tell a story of an owner of the Vineyard (usually referring to God the Father [CF Isaiah 5] ), who hired laborers for his vineyard early in the morning, third hour, sixth hour, ninth hour and eleventh hour. At the end of the day, the earlier workers who worked more received the same 1 denarius as the eleventh hour workers, they complained. The owner of the vineyard responded by saying, in verse 13,"‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius?" And again, this passage again ended with an inclusio with Matt 19:30, "So the last will be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few chosen."
Firstly, the reward of 1 denarius refers to eternal life (CF Matt 19:29). I believe the workers who came in at the earlier hours refers to Israel under the Law of Moses and 11th hours refers to believers after the Cross. Jesus was giving an illustration to his disciples on how those who are born again under the Grace of Jesus finished work receives the same eternal life as those who persevered by Faith while under the Law of Moses. There is nothing we can do to earn eternal life, any more than those who serve more or less. Hence the principal of equality lies in the phase "the last will be first, and the first last.".
Yet the author of Matthew did not stop there, but to further illustrate the greatness of serving in Matt 20:20-28.
"Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave— just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”" - Matt 20:26-28
Eternal life cannot be earned by working more. It is about God's Grace towards imperfect people who are willing to walk in faith and serve him. Eternal rewards (1 Cor 3:5-16) however, is a different topic altogether.
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