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GO TO: Prosperity

  • God will give you the desires of your heartbut the natural desires of our heart is wickedness (Jeremiah 17:9-10).
  • Satan promised prosperity to Jesus (Matthew 4:8-9).   
  • Health and Happiness is not promised (John 15:19-24).
    • The Prophets were murdered
    • Jesus was murdered
    • The Apostles were murdered
    • The church was and is heavily persecuted world wide
    • Christians are poor and starving in 3rd world countries.  
  • Everything you own is not for you and is not yours (Matthew 19:21).
  • God does not promise prosperity and material success (John 16:33).
    • Even those who do not believe in God prosper (Psalm 37:7, 73:3)
    • Also see 'Health and Happiness is not promised section above
    • Therefore: prosperity is NOT proof of God's favor.
  • Hardship and tribulations is not always from the Devil, but can be from God (Hebrews 12:7)
  • Best Reward for faith is at judgement (not "your best life now") (2 Corinthians 5:10; Revelation 22:12; Matthew 16:27; 2 Timothy 4:8)
  •  Praying for Health, wealth, and happiness does NOT compel God to do anything UNLESS it was already in His Will in the first place (Luke 22:42; Romans 9:15).
    • He answers the desires of our hearts when our desires line up with His Will; not our will. 
  • Jesus was wealthy
    • As the second person of the Trinity, Jesus is as rich as God is rich. Indeed, our Lord owns everything and possesses all power, authority, sovereignty, glory, honor, and majesty (Isaiah 9:6; Micah 5:2; John 1:1, 8:58, 10:30, 17:5; Colossians 1:15–18, 2:9–10; Hebrews 1:3).  
    • BUT humbling himself in the form of man, he voluntarily allowed himself to be a lowly humble servant (Zechariah 9:9; 2 Corinthians 8:9; Philippians 2:6–8).    
    • His earthly possessions amounted to no more than the clothes on His back that were divided up by the soldiers who crucified Him.  He didn't even have his own grave.  Christ and His disciples depended entirely on the hospitality of others as they ministered from town to town (Matthew 10:9–10). As Jesus told a would-be follower “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay His head” (Luke 9:58).  Jesus chides the rich and praises the poor. He taught us to “be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions” (Luke 12:15).  And to not store up for ourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But to store up for ourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal (Matthew 6:19–21). 
  •  Common misquoted and misinterpreted prosperity bible verses
    • John 10:10
      • Actually illustrates how possessing Jesus is greater than worldly possessions. 
    • James 4:2
      • Easily taken out of context when not also reading what follows:
        • discusses motives for asking.  Is it for God's Glory and heavenly seeking or worldly material gain? 
    •  Mark 10:29-30
      • Giving in order to Gain is the motives that James is referring to above. 
      • verse 31 brings in the true context.  Giving is not for personal gain. 
    • Galatians 3:14 
      • The blessing given to Abraham is under the Abrahamic Covenant which Paul states in the promise of The Spirit; not material gain. 
    • 2 Corinthians 8:9
      • The word 'rich' is referring to the value of being The Son of God and becoming Children of God.  
    •  3 John 2
      • This is simply a greeting and well wishes to his readers and is NOT a promise as John did not promise this to his readers. 
    •  Jeremiah 29:11
      • The most misused verse in modern Christianity
      • Refers to God's plan TO the Israelite to bring them out of Babylonian captivity and is NOT a promise to ALL generations but to those of ancient Israel.  The "YOU" is specific and is speaking directly to the nation of Israel who were currently under captivity. 
    • John 14:14
      • Needs to be understood in the light of Matthew 19:24.
      • In full context (verses 13, and 15) Jesus is referring to asking for things for God's Glory and His Kingdom.  It is Heaven focused and not for a materialistic gain motive. 

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