The most disturbing lies of the prosperity gospel

The #1 and #2 reason the prosperity gospel is false

Here it is: 

#1 If it cannot be preached around the world as truth, it is false!!!

#2 The Bible doesn't teach it! (But we want it to be true so we twist God's word to line up with our selfish desires)

#1  If it cannot be preached around the world as truth, it is false!!!

The Bible teaches us to go out in the world and preach the gospel. 

The prosperity gospel is a false gospel. It is a lie from Hell.

How do we go to countries that are poor and preach the prosperity gospel? If a women is trying to feed her family on a day to day basis, are we really going to tell her she doesn't have enough faith and that is why her children are hungry? If children are dying by the thousands from preventable diseases, do the people need to hear that God wants them to be rich? 

If people have to travel miles on foot everyday to get their water, do they want to be taught that God blesses people in the U.S. with multiple cars!!!??? How about that bigger house that God "blessed" you with? The people in the dirt huts can really use that Biblical knowledge (sarcasm!)!!!!

Did you know that in China Christians meet in underground churches? If they are found out, they will be imprisoned, beaten, or killed. Christians meet late at night so as not to be seen. They may only have one or two Bibles. Do they need Joel Osteen to tell them to have their best life now?

Check out Open doors USA to learn about and pray for persecuted Christians throughout the world.

Pray for China

In many countries, the Bible is illegal, burned, or banished. Believers are beaten, imprisoned, and murdered.

Where is the Bible banned?

According to genocidewatch, Nigeria is a killing field for Christians. 350 Nigerian Christians were massacred in the first two months of 2020. Over 11,500 Christians have been murdered since June 2015. Four to five million Christians are displaced. 2000 churches were destroyed.

Nigeria source- please read!

There are hundreds of more resources on the internet- I urge you to learn more!

#2 The Bible doesn't teach it! (But we want it to be true so we twist God's word to line up with our selfish desires)

Everyone in America has heard it and seen the books displayed in the stores: How to live your best life now! God wants you to be rich, healthy, comfortable and enjoy all the pleasures this world has to offer! American Christians are loving this false gospel and flock to churches that teach it. It says you can have Jesus, Heaven, and all the pleasures of the world. The prosperity gospel is a lie. It feeds to our selfish desires.

Satan is the ruler of this world and the prosperity gospel makes his job very easy.

I often ask this question- If the church buildings with the comfy pews, air conditioning/ heat were gone. And all we had was our bibles. Church met outside in the cold or the heat. With the flies. Uncomfortable. Who would show up? How many would come? This would be the way to separate the sheep from the wolves. Would you go? 

Jesus had nowhere to lay his head. Jesus walked in sandals. Jesus never talked about earthly goods as a blessing from the kingdom. Jesus wasn’t concerned about your possessions. He is only concerned with your soul.

The Bible instructs us to lay up treasures in heaven, not on this earth. Matthew 6: 19-24 states "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

I am extremely guilty of laying up treasures on earth. I want the nicest treasures this world has to offer. I work hard for money in order to buy these treasures. I don't know what treasures on this earth that you store up. They may be different from mine. But I urge you to look at your life and examine it. What are your wants in life- is it to wear the designer clothes and carry the designer bags? Maybe Coach or Louis Vuitton? I know I love Tory Burch handbags and shoes. Her brand is expensive and just like other designer goods, we buy them and carry them to because deep down we want to express our wealth and show our standing in society. No one can argue otherwise because theses assets are not needs. They are pleasures and they indicate where we store our treasures. They expose our hearts. We love getting dressed for church in our nice clothes, wearing our expensive shoes, best jewelry and carrying our showy handbags. Why do we feel like all that is necessary, especially at church?
The Bible says that we aren't to worship in costly attire, stand out jewelry and perfectly polished clothing. That is not to say we aren't to dress appropriately in clothing that honors God, of course.
In 1 Timothy 2: 9 it is stated "that women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair and gold or pears or costly attire." It is common for women to wear more of the costly attire and accessories to church. We may even overdo our jewelry. I have a ring that I only wear on Sundays. It is a nice ring that is too large to be comfortable during the week and my work on computers. How materialistic is that?
We are supposed to be welcoming to outsiders in our places of worship. We are to welcome the poor, the dirty, the unwanted. How can we be welcoming when we present ourselves as higher class? I know most would deny that they do this. I urge you to look at the surrounding churches in your area. The multi-million dollar buildings filled with the best dressed people with their expensive jewels, and of course you can't forget the parking lots. Most church parking lots have vehicles worth more money than most people make in years. How do we rationalize this? I rationalize my expensive SUV as a "need" for work and a "need" to drive around and fit numerous children in my vehicle. But why do we have to buy the flashy cars? Why do we as Christians want to show our wealth in our church parking lots? Why do we feel that expensive cars are necessary when they are not. I could have easily bought a used SUV without as much bling or that was not as flashy. I rationalize that I need a brand new SUV so that I can drive it for ten years. There is nothing inherently evil about that, but Christians aren't showing their beliefs when they drive in these cars. They are showing their selfishness. It is the opposite of what Jesus teaches. We are to be selfless. We are to use our wealth for the kingdom of God, not for our personal kingdoms on earth. We put our self indulgence on display for all to see. I write this and I know it is true. I have come a long way in fighting these desires, but I have a long road ahead. I am guilty and I know it. I have to learn to pray more often and to ask myself if these material assets are giving God glory.

"The only way you can have your best life now is if you are going to hell when you die." Voddie Baucham

Do we realize how teeny-tiny we are?

Do we realize how teeny tiny we are? We are like insects, tiny grasshoppers. I imagine we are much, much smaller, but the Lord had to explain it in a way for our finite (limited) minds to understand. 

Isaiah 40:22-23 states "it is he who sits above the circle of the earth, and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers; he who stretches out the heavens like a curtain, and spreads them like a tent to dwell in; who makes the rulers of the earth as emptiness."

Have you ever been 28,000 feet above ground in an airplane and gazed down from the window?  I am always in awe when flying. I love the window seat so I can gaze out on a sliver of God's beautiful creation. I look down to the ground and see the houses, so small from above. Then I imagine the people in the and around the homes that are so small I can't even see them! We think we are so big. So strong. So smart. So mighty. Humans think way too highly of themselves! We are so minuscule and insignificant compared to the universe. Yet we puff up with pride while living on our earth that is the size of a grain of sand in our solar system! The picture below is a representation of the scale of Earth in our solar system, The Milky Way. The arrow shows where we are, not even visible to the naked eye in this picture. 

"The Lord created the heavens and stretched them out, He spread out the earth and what comes from it, He gives breath to the people on it and spirit to those who walk on it," Isaiah 42:5.

As I write this, we are on a plane heading to Houston. I look out the plane window and see clouds floating above the earth. We take clouds for granted, not realizing what an amazing gift they are from our creator. He has given us clouds to rain down water that is needed for our bodies for survival. Needed to grow our food and water our plants. Needed for our lakes and rivers. Clouds shield us from the hot sun. We just expect them to be there, not appreciating their wonder and significance, and absolutely our dependence on them for survival. 

"For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater," Isaiah 55:10.

I can see the sun here too, it doesn’t look much larger than it does from the ground. Looking directly at it makes me squint and see flashes of light when I blink my eyes. It’s the largest star in our galaxy. It’s a flaming ball of fire, up in the sky- for us- giving us life on earth. It’s the perfect distance for our survival. Any closer we would burn and any further we would freeze. 

God  said, "Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night. And let them be for signs and for seasons, and for days and years, and let them be lights in the expanse of the heavens to give light upon the earth, and God made the two great lights- the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light (moon and stars) to rule the night." Genesis 1:14-16.

"The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork," Psalm 19:1.

John Brady at Astronomy Central shows just how small we really are compared to the sun in the image below:

Here is a photo from NASA:

From up here in the plane, the largest mansion looks smaller than a postage stamp. I can't even see a vehicle from up here. My large SUV doesn’t seem so big anymore! Its like a small matchbox car in which my family can fit inside. No wonder god says GO GO! Spread the good news! Tell everyone! Don’t sit in your teeny home and think your something big! You're not! Anyone who thinks they are something deceive themselves,
 "for the wisdom of this world is folly with God," 1 Cor 3:19. Life is a wisp of air, James 4:14 "what is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes." 
It's gone just as fast as God could end the earth in his one breath! A vapor! 

We are descending. We are in the clouds. I cannot even see earth. It's hidden under the clouds. I can see miles and miles of land. It's so different from the small distance I can see while on the ground. Imagine God seeing it all in one picture, but seeing every move and every thought of every human on the earth.  The land is all green with specks of muted color. Roads look like drawings in the sand made with a stick. Acres and acres of trees look like the top of a piece of broccoli. I see homes, still appearing as if I could hold them in the palm of my hand, coming into view as we descend. Huge light posts with lights shining that appear as small as a candle flame. The earth is lit with small candle flames. I can see car lights moving like little glowing specks. Small white clouds floating just above. Huge buildings that look like they were built out of Lego's. Rooftops perfectly positioned in rows. Swimming pools that look like a drop of blue water. I see a other plane in the distance that looks the size of a bird. From my view, I contemplate how people can be inside something so small. I see more Lego buildings in the distance that look like a city on a hill. I see an 18 wheeler, again like a matchbox car. It felt like I could put my fingers on it and push it, or pick it up, like in a super hero movie. Finally, everything is coming into view. We are back to our size. Small. As I gaze into the sky, I ponder what I have experienced in the past 2 hours. Its amazing, a split second glimpse from heaven at an earth the size of a grain of sand.

Gaze at his glory- a gorgeous sunset, floating clouds, and rippling water. Spectacular!

Wake up, American Christians!

Does anyone else see the absolute need for American Christians to WAKE UP?! 

There is so much false teaching now, it seems you have to discern every preacher before listening to him. Now you should always back up what you hear with the Bible facts. However, so many so called "Christians" just listen to hear what their tickling ears want to hear! If one pastor doesn't tell them what they want to hear, they can easily find one that does. They make the truth into whatever works for them, taking God's word out of context or interpreting it to suit their sins.

As I was reading Matthew a few weeks ago, my mind started thinking how different American Christians interpret God's word. As I was reading, I re-wrote some thoughts with what fits in Christianity today- the Word is so twisted in America today- PLEASE read the Bible for yourself and don't take anything someone says as truth until you double check it with the Bible!

Matthew 6:19-21
"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
American Christianity today
Lay up as many treasures as you can on earth, live in nice, middle and upper class neighborhoods, away from the poor and dirty. Have a solid alarm system so thieves can't break in and steal all your treasures. If your house gets too small for all your possessions, don't sell them or give them away, rent a storage shed to store your excess stuff or just move to a larger home. Your treasure is your house, car, bank account, material possessions and they will fill your heart with pride and gladness. The more you have, the more you are #blessed.

Matthew 6:24
"No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money."
American Christianity today
We can serve two masters, for we are blessed by God when we have lots of money. You can be more devoted to your job and bank account than to God, for God wants us to serve him through our wealth with large, luxurious church buildings with all the comforts of this world and fit for King Jesus.

You can serve God for an hour or two on Sundays, all while enjoying the comforts of your church and friends in a safe environment. It will be a nice social break for you and will keep your children entertained. (Oh, and don't forget you will serve at least twice a year on a "service" project in the community.) If your children are bored studying God's Word and are not being entertained, find a new church that will be "fun" for them so they will want to go back. It must also keep you entertained with music you enjoy and a lively message that tickles your ears, otherwise you might need to find a new church- because, you know, church is all about you.

Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:1-12)

Bible text vs. American Churches

Bible/Jesus- 
Blessed are the poor in spirit (humble), for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
American Christianity today-
Blessed are the rich and proud in America, for they are living in their kingdom on earth. They are self-sufficient.

Bible/Jesus- 
Blessed are those who mourn (over their sin), for they shall be comforted.
American Christianity today-
Blessed are those who are healthy, happy, and "good" people, for their life is comfortable.

Bible/Jesus- 
Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
American Christianity today-
Blessed are the proud and self-confident, for they shall rule the earth.

Bible/Jesus- 
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
American Christianity today-
Blessed are those who want for nothing, for they are satisfied.

Bible/Jesus- 
Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
American Christianity today-
Blessed are the rich and powerful, for they receive recognition and wealth.

Bible/Jesus- 
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
American Christianity today-
Blessed are the selfish and greedy in heart, for they shall own God.

Bible/Jesus- 
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
American Christianity today-
Blessed are the comfortable and wealthy Christians behind their church walls, for they feel safe.

Bible/Jesus- 
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
American Christianity today-
Blessed are those who never need to defend their faith, who never experience persecution inside their church, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Bible/Jesus- 
Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad for your reward is great in heaven.
American Christianity today-
Blessed are you when others stay out of your way, when there is no controversy or fear of death for your belief, when you don't have to battle on God's account. Rejoice and be glad that God has kept you safe and rewarded you with worldly treasures and an easy life on this earth. #blessed.

Jesus was showing here that heavenly blessedness is opposite of the worldly understanding of blessedness and happiness. Our American world believes that happiness is found in wealth, success, abundance of stuff, comfort, leisure, and self-sufficiency, to name a few. Remember that we are utterly hopeless without God's grace. Don't let pride allow you to miss the gift Jesus offers. 

A Hundred Years from Now...

I am speaking to myself here- I am guilty.

Ever wondered why Christians (me) aren't more vocal about the beliefs they claim to be true? Aren't more serious about what the Bible says? Why aren't we passionate about our beliefs? The greatest commandment after "love the Lord your god with all your heart" is to "love your neighbor as yourself"..... Matthew 22:37-39, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself." Do we do this with an eternal perspective? The Bible speaks of an eternal punishment in HELL for anyone who does not believe in and follow the Lord Jesus Christ. Eternal. Fire. Pain. Everlasting. Never ending. Forever. Torment. Anguish. We are doing a disservice to unbelievers when we don't tell them the truth of the gospel. Why aren't we telling them?? Why are we not screaming it from the rooftops?? If your neighbor's house was on fire, you would scream and kick down the door to help get them out of the fire to safety. Why do we not do that in regards to their eternity?  Are we more concerned with "offending" someone here on earth than we are concerned for their soul? Our time on this earth is fleeting, it's a wisp of air, its nothing in comparison to eternity. James 4:14 says, "What is your life? You are a MIST that appears for a little while and then vanishes." Why have someone "like" you for a short time on earth, just to see that person in hell for eternity? If you would rather agree with the world than with God, you may need to think about your own salvation. The worst thing we could do to our neighbor, is to NOT tell them the truth of the gospel! Think back 100 years, 200 years, etc. etc..... does it matter now who was wealthy, well known, or popular or had the most STUFF? NO! No one cares but the people that are in hell right now- wishing they would have lived their short life on earth differently. Just remember, 100 years from now it will not matter one bit that you drove the newest car, lived in a fancy house in an upscale neighborhood, went on the best vacations, wore the best clothes, and had the most "stuff" of all your friends. The only thing that will matter is where you are spending eternity. Think about it.

Below is a poem by Walden Parker. It is worth reading. It is worth printing and taping on your mirror for a constant reminder of the wisp of air that is our life on earth.

It will not make much difference, friend, A hundred years from now

If you live in a stately mansion or on a river scow;

If the clothes you wear are tailor-made or pieced together somehow,

If you eat big steaks or beans and cake ... A hundred years from now.

It won’t matter your bank account or the make of car you drive,

For the grave will claim all riches and fame and the things for which you strive.

There’s a deadline that we all must meet and no one will be late.

It won’t matter then all the places you’ve been, Each one will keep that date.

We will only have in eternity - what we gave away on earth,

When we go the grave, we can only save the things of eternal worth.

What matters, friend, the earthly gain for which some men always bow?

For your destiny will be sealed, you see ... a hundred years from now.

- Walden Parker

Who told you that you were a Christian?

What does it mean to be born again? We are studying the book of Acts and the book of John at church. Both books have testimonies of being born again. What does it look like? What happens? How do you know you are born again? Who tells you that you are a new creation?
In the book of Acts, Saul (Paul) was an enemy of the gospel. He was a murderer and his heart was filled with hate. He started off on a mission to destroy the disciples of the Lord......little did he know that God had other plans. "Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand," Proverbs 19:21. Paul met the Lord on his way to bind the disciples. He fell to the ground when God's unapproachable light shone around him. I wonder if Paul had ever thought what he would like to say to God before this experience? Do you think you will be able to speak when in the presence of God? Talk back to the Almighty? No way! You will fall on your face! Some people have so much built up pride that they think they will get before the Lord one day, and actually accuse him as they did on earth or give Him excuses for their behavior. Quite the opposite will happen, my friend. ALL will bow their knee before him at the judgement seat of God. Paul was a "chosen instrument" of God's to proclaim His name (Acts 9:15). The Lord blinded Paul for three days after this encounter. God then sent Ananias to pray over Paul to regain sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit. In Acts 9:18, it says "and immediately something like scales fell from his eyes and he regained his sight." This is a tremendous example of how our lives should change when we are born again. God OPENS our eyes to HIS truth!! The blinding lies of the world are taken away and truth and reality are finally SEEN! We are changed, made new, transformed from darkness to light! Just as Paul had seen the light, so are we to see it and proclaim it. Paul was a changed man. Radically changed, unrecognizable to all who knew him. The disciples at Jerusalem were afraid of him! They couldn't believe that Paul could be a disciple! How did your life change when you were born again? Did your family and friends see the dramatic difference and transformation in your life? Did they ask what happened to you??

I listened to a sermon recently on Times Square Church's website and this is what was preached regarding being born again: Paul's life was transformed and made new-his DEVOTION, his DESIRES, his DECISIONS, his DIRECTIONS, and his DESTINY were changed!! If you are a born again Christian, how have your devotions changed? your desires? your decisions? your direction in life? your destiny?

What are you devoted to in your life? What a person is devoted to is the essence of who they are as a person. It defines who you are! Are there changes in your focus from self to God? Conversion is a supernatural occurrence! It is life changing in that everything in you want is to worship God, acknowledge Him, know Him. Your soul is given over to pure devotion to the Lord.

What are your desires in life? Do they involve obeying and serving God or are they focused on your happiness and wants and comforts on this earth? Do you desire to do God's will? When you are born again, HIS desires become your desires, your desires become HIS desires. You begin to do as Jesus did, go where he went, obey what he commanded. You WANT to go where Jesus went! Where did Jesus go, you ask? He went to the sick, the poor, the hungry, the needy, the dying, the fatherless, and the widows!
1 John 2:15-17 says, "Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the father is not in him. for all that is in the world- the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life- is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever."

Paul had a decision to make. The Lord told him to "rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do" (Acts 9:6). Would he obey the Lord or continue on his own path? Paul started off his journey going in the wrong direction, down the wrong path. The Lord stopped him and had him turn around. Are you going in the right direction? Are you on the correct path? Jesus says there are two paths that both have arrows pointing to heaven. However, only one path leads to heaven! The other leads to Hell. “Enter by the NARROW gate. For the gate is WIDE and the way is EASY that leads to DESTRUCTION, and those who enter by it are MANY. For the gate is NARROW and the way is HARD that leads to LIFE, and those who find it are FEW.” Matthew 7:13-14. You can turn around, you don't have to live and die in your sin. Repent! Stop fighting with your flesh and let go! Believe on the Lord and you shall be saved! Find the narrow path! It won't be full of earthly pleasures and belongings- it is a hard, rocky path, with suffering- but it leads to Jesus! The wide road is full of people and pleasures of this world- it is a delightful, comfortable path, full of worldly belongings and desires and "feel good" sermons......but it leads to destruction. The road says it leads to heaven, but it is a lie of Satan....be sure you are on the narrow path- it's a hard path to follow and few will be with you..... but at the end you will find life.

Paul's direction changed and so did his destiny! When you are supernaturally born again by the Holy Spirit, He comes and lives in you- The Spirit is a "GUARANTEE of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it," Ephesians 1:14. The Holy Spirit transforms your heart. You are not what you used to be! You are a new creation, a new person. You are now a part of God's temple and His Spirit dwells in you (1 COR 3:16).


So how do you know that you are born again? The Spirit tells you! There is no doubting. The Spirit is the one who testifies and the Spirit is the truth (1 John 5:6). You have absolute inner knowledge of your salvation! No MAN on earth can tell you that you are saved. Please don't rely on men or customs of the church in our day. Don't fall for "praying a prayer" or "asking Jesus into your heart". Don't rely on those words you said in church that day. Rely on God's Spirit through His Word. Sure, you can make a declaration of faith, and you should. But test yourself to be sure you are in the faith. Your life will be transformed, you won't be the same person you were the day before. What are you devoted to? What are your desires? Are you walking in the correct direction on the narrow path? What destiny does your path lead you to? There is only two paths and only two places for you to dwell in eternity- heaven or hell. If you have any doubts about which path you are traveling on, pray and ask God to show you HIS narrow path. Surrender your desires to God's desires. God will give you the desires of your heart, when your desires match His. Do your desires on this earth match up with the Word of God and the teachings of Jesus Christ?  You don't have to do this on your own, the Spirit will stir in your heart the desires and give you the power to delight in God. The Spirit reveals God to us and it will bring forth the power and desire to do as He commands!  The great preacher, Spurgeon, once said that those "who delight in God desire or ask nothing but what will please God." And if you have the Holy Spirit living inside of you, it will please you too!!! 

"Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart," Psalm 37:4.

A. W. Tozer warned: “It is my opinion that tens of thousands of people, if not millions, have been brought into some kind of religious experience by accepting Christ, and they have not been saved.” 

The mantra of “just accept Christ” and everything is taken care of is leading millions of souls into a false assurance of salvation and a destiny in Hell. 


There is only two groups of people- children of the Kingdom of God and children of Satan. Which

group do you belong?