Is It Biblical.org

Nowadays, there seems to be a common misconception that so-called "Prosperity Preachers" are misleading christians by getting them to focus on getting money instead of worshipping and serving God. While there are ministers who may use prosperity teaching as a way of getting parishioners to give more money to the church, it cannot be automatically assumed that all "Prosperity Preachers" have the same motive. Jesus himself could be considered a prosperity teacher by todays standards and definitions. The idea that God doesn't want his children to be rich comes from a misunderstanding and sometimes the misquoting of certain scriptures as well as evangelical tradition. The only people that bark about prosperity preaching and preachers are those who are not "prosperous". They somehow think that it is wrong for a servant of God to have more than enough.

Proponents of the anti-prosperity message fail to address key points when speaking against prosperity teachings:

Leaders who God called and used in the old and new testament were rich.
Jesus was not poor, nor was his ministry poor.
16 out of 38 parables ( or roughly 42 %) that Jesus taught dealt with the subject of money.

It is not wrong for a Christian to have the best that this life has to offer. If it was so, God would be unfair to promise it. It is okay for Christians to have luxuries.Some advocate that a Christian should take a vow of poverty and should never want to have more than what is essential for bare necessities.

Conversely, there are those that teach that ones lack of faith is directly proportional to their lack of financial resources. These people are known by many titles such as “Name It and Claim It,” “Health Wealth, and Prosperity Teaching,” “Faith Movement,” “Positive Confession,” and many more. They produce articles with titles such as, “How to Write Your Own Ticket with God,” “Godliness is Profitable,” “God’s Formula for Success and Prosperity,” “God’s Master Key to Prosperity,” and more. It must be understood and accepted that everything we have comes from God who
is the Owner of all. As Paul questioned, “For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive?” 1 Corinthians 4:7. It’s all God’s. He distributes it. The distribution is within the framework of His creative purpose and His providence. Although we do not all possess equal abilities, gifts and talents, God wants us to enjoy His wonderful creation and all that is good within it. Throughout the magnificent creation of our planet, God stated how He was pleased with His creation. “…and God saw that it was good.” Genesis 1:10, 12, 18, 21, 25.
He created a world filled with wonderful beauty and resources and gave it to man to enjoy. Knowing that it would only be temporary in the scope of eternity, He gave it to us for the brief joy and richness that it had to offer. God is a God of generosity. God is a God of giving. God is not selfish. And He wants you to use money to enjoy what He’s made and enjoy what He’s provided as long as you give Him the glory and as long as you don’t become indulgent and self-centered. “Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not high-minded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy:” 1 Timothy 6:17. With the exception of obvious physical limitations, the reason that most people don’t have enough is not a result of their lack of faith but as a result of their unwillingness to focus on God’s purpose and apply His principles. The Bible is clear to point out specific reasons why many are found in need or without. The character traits that lead to poverty are:

Stingy: “There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty.” Proverb 11:24; “Give, and it shall be given unto you; good mearsure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.” Luke 6:38
Hasty: “The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness; but of every one that is hasty only to want.” Proverb 21:5
Lack of discipline: “Poverty and shame shall be to him that refuseth instruction: but he that regardeth reproof shall be honoured.” Proverb 13:18
Lazy: “Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; open thine eyes, and thou shalt be satisfied with bread.” Proverb 20:13; “…drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags.” Proverb 23:21
Indulgent: “For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty:” Proverb 23:21
Frivolous: “He that tilleth his land shall have plenty of bread: but he that followeth after vain persons shall have poverty enough.” Proverb 28:19
Negligent: “He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich.” Proverb 10:4

There is a BIG difference between thinking God FOR everything good or bad that happens in your life, and thinking God IN every bad situation. Read 1 Thessalonians 5:18 and you'll see that it doesn't say, "For everything, give thanks for God", rather "IN everything, give thanks".

This may seem heretical, but the simple fact is that God cannot MAKE or force anyone BE happy. What the bible says about it in principle, is that God can help you to maintain your happiness if you are already happy.

“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.”
(Isaiah 26:3 KJVS)

Did you know that this well rehearsed saying in the church is nowhere to be found in the bible? The actual verse where we get this from is 1st Corinthians 10:13, “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. “

A lot of people really don't know what this mean and as is the fashion of man, we interpret it based on our experience rather than accurate bible doctrine.

The fact is, God doesn't put anything on you and he's never put anything on anyone except blessings. Putting stuff on you is in Satan's department. And before your head goes there, no they (God and satan) don't work together for your good, that's in another section.

So what is Paul really saying? Here's a reading from the amplified version of that verse...

For no temptation (no trial regarded as enticing to sin), [no matter how it comes or where it leads] has overtaken you and laid hold on you that is not common to man [that is, no temptation or trial has come to you that is beyond human resistance and that is not aadjusted and badapted and belonging to human experience, and such as man can bear]. But God is faithful [to His Word and to His compassionate nature], and He [can be trusted] not to let you be tempted and tried and assayed beyond your ability and strength of resistance and power to endure, but with the temptation He will [always] also provide the way out (the means of escape to ca landing place), that you may be capable and strong and powerful to bear up under it patiently.

Note that no where in that verse did it say that God is putting temptation on you. Temptation comes to us to separate us from God and from what is right. That is the way it happened in the garden of eden. Satan tempted Eve to separate man from God. God didn't allow Eve to be tempted so he could see how she would handle pressure or to test her faith! Remember, God had been working for six days straight building this house for his children. On the seventh day he rested. He gave man the keys to the house and went back home after giving man some final instructions. He left earth in total trust of man to obey what He had told man to do. Adam failed to subdue the earth and everything in it like God had commanded him. He could have subdued the snake in the garden and said no like God had told him too, but he was deceived, and you know the rest of the story.

It is a common belief among Christians who have heard it over and over, and some have even read it and taken it at face value. Romans 8:28 in the KJV reads, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” For most Christians, this verse tells them that no matter what we go through, good or bad, God is working it out for our good. Just as most other doctrines inspired by Satan and propagated by well meaning Christians, Pastors, Teachers, Apostles, etc, there doctrine is part truth and part lie. The truth is that, God along with the Holy Spirit and angels, do have a way of turning bad situations around and even bringing good things out of really bad situations. The lie comes in when we somehow welcome tragedy in order to get the good result, and therefore belief that we have to have rain in order to see the sunshine. It is with good reason people are hesitant to join the Christian fold and believe what the bible says. Christians believe some of the craziest things without giving any thought to what they believe and why they believe it.

God and Satan DO NOT work together to bring about change in your life. Satan initiates trouble in your life for a variety of reasons, but primarily to keep you away from God and away from the Word of God.

Isaiah 5:20 says, “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!”
James 1:17 says, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. “ Note here “Father of lights” and not Father of darkness. Good things come from above and not below.

Lets look at the following example: There was a single father that was strung out on drugs and had two daughters. The daughters went to church every Sunday with their aunt. The girls often prayed for their father to be delivered from drug addiction so that they could live in peace with their father. The father wanted to change, but didn't know how. One night after a long binge of doing meth and crack cocaine, the father overdosed and lay helpless on the floor. The girls came home from church and found the father lying on the floor and the aunt, which was also the father's sister, was distraught and frantically dialed 911. Long story short, the father ended up in a coma for 2 weeks and the girls were certain that he was going to die. After coming out of the coma, the father finally realized how his addiction negatively affected his family. He finally decided to go to church, read, study and live out the Word of God that he was learning in church, and was totally delivered from drugs and alcohol. Now the question is, did God make all of this happen so the father and girls would have a happier life? Surely not! God was speaking to the father years before the coma. He even tried to speak to the father before the girls mother gave up on the relationship. God could have brought out the good result without the tragedy.

What does the verse actually mean? Well to find out what it means we have to find out what it says. I'm not a greek scholar, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn last night (and did a google search). Read this article to get a good understanding how this verse is translated. You also have to look at what the bible says in context. To do this simply back up a few verses and read what Paul is actually talking about. Actually, to get into the mindset of what he's addressing here, you may have to go back a few chapters. Paul is addressing this letter to the Romans. In chapter 7 (and keep in mind that Paul didn't add the chapter and verse makers) he was basically keeping it real by telling the new Roman converts about his struggles to want to live right but sometimes coming up short. So he starts off chapter 8 with, (because of the redemptive work of Jesus, “[Therefore] there is now no condemnation for those that are in Christ Jesus. This verse introduces the context of Romans 8:28 in (or living in accordance with the Words of) Christ Jesus.

“All things” needs to be qualified. All things in this case doesn't actually mean all things good and evil, but only all things as referenced in the previous verses. Lets see what “things” he's talking about.

1. Romans 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. If you're saved and called according to his purpose, this law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus will work for you good.
2. Verse 6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. A spiritual mind works for your good.
3. Verse 11 The Holy Spirit that lives on the inside of you when you saved and called according to his purpose
4. Verse 14 The Holy Spirit leading you to good.
5. Joint Heirs with Christ.
6. Verse 24 Hope.
7. Verse 26 Prayer, Intercession, Speaking with Tongues
8. Verse 27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. The present day ministry of Jesus interceding on our behalf.
9. Verse 37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
10. Verse 38. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,

The nature of God on the inside of you, the law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus, a spiritual mind, The inner quickening of the Holy Spirit, being led by the Holy Spirit, our inheritance, the name of Jesus, the Holy Spirit, the Gifts of the Spirit, angelic protection, being saved by hope, prayer, intercession, speaking with other tongues, the present day intercession of Jesus Chris on our behalf, the promise from God, that we are more than conquerors through Jesus, and the love of God.

Besides that, you have to be a thinker and not a spiritual dummy when reading and understanding the bible. People seem to loose all sense and the ability to question things when they know they have questions. For instance, 2 Corinthians 2:17 says, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” We know that the “all things” here don't really mean “all things”. People give their life to Christ everyday, but if you were white before receiving Christ in your heart, chances are you were white after conversion.

Satan uses the Romans 8:28 lie to get people not take personal responsibility for their actions, or give up fighting him when bad things happen, because after all, God is working it out for our good. I'm definitely not trying to take away the miracle working power of God in people's lives, but what we must do is 1.) put Romans 8:28 in context, and 2.) add balance to the doctrine that God will work even bad things out for our good.

The balance comes from resisting and preventing the bad stuff in the first place.

This saying cannot be found in the bible anywhere. Although, I would imagine if one were to take a survey, this may prove itself out. But you can be junky and still love God. Maybe this saying speaks to people that are usually the closest to God having a spirit of Excellence. What do you think? Leave a message in the comments.

There are some people that believe that speaking in tongues is not for modern day believers. However, that is not the case. Speaking in tongues is for every believer. There are two types of "speaking in tongues" that seem to have the church confused. Speaking in tongues as a personal prayer language Acts 2:4, and speaking in tongues as a spiritual gift in front of a large group of believers 1 Cor 14.5,6, wherein the speaking in tongues should have an interpretation.