We have a
responsibility to the Gospel to make sure that we not only uphold it, share it,
and live it but to also defend it. Any misrepresentation of God’s Word should
be met, and countered, with sound Biblical doctrine.
The
prosperity Gospel that teaches if you are in God’s will then you will be
blessed with health, wealth and success isn’t the good news message that Jesus
spoke. The danger of such a tainted message is that it could (and does) easily
lead to disbelief when we arrive on difficult times. Those types of hard days
aren’t reserved for those who are distant from God, those types of hard days
are just a part of life.
"I have told you these things, so that in me you
may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have
overcome the world." – John 16:33
Does our sinful nature lead us into trouble?
Absolutely it does! However, sometimes (often times) we face difficult
challenges so that God can reveal His power in us, strengthen us, and/or grow
our faith. God’s message to the exiles in Ezekiel 13, condemning false
prophets, still applies today to those who water down and distort the truth of
God’s word in order to profit from it.
Here’s a message that I preached on 12-3-14 on Ezekiel 13 and the
dangers of the prosperity Gospel.
