Today, when we live in an age where society is known for its
superficiality, materialism, consumerism and little commitment to the
values that really matter. I would like in the middle of
this maelstrom of mediocrity, raise my voice about all this worldly
influence which unfortunately is still raging in our congregations. And I mean the very twisted and prosperity gospel. Gospel
for many is the purest message that Jesus wanted to convey by these
advocates in their arguments that are phrases like: "... the money helps
us all ..." but even with these phrases as "worthy" of bronze, are
nothing more than a heresy.
And though for many, these messages can be considered as a doctrine, let me make it clear that I do not want to cause controversy, but just wanted to split hairs over such messages for me, Bible have no grip, and it is what I show:
The points I want to expose continued are: 1. - Jesus did not die on the cross to make us millionaires. should be remembered that the main purpose of Jesus here on earth was made to introduce the way of salvation, which passes through a field of purely spiritual character as the rest come easily, Matthew 6:31 Do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat, what we drink or what clothe ? 6:32 The Gentiles are struggling through all that, but your heavenly Father knows that ye have need of all that. "6:33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added. 6: 34 Therefore do not worry, then, about tomorrow, for tomorrow will already have their own concerns; enough for the day is its desire. " That is, from the beginning Jesus told us all that can matter to us in the material is only secondary, a fad, something that has no real importance it deserves, because life does not consist in having material goods, it is the salvation of his soul really matters in the kingdom of God, that is why Christ said: Luke 12:15 And he said, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions. Therefore, we must conclude that if Christ was telling us constantly the important thing is not money or material things that this life has to offer, so why why Christ died on the cross? Christ died on the cross to give us a way out of the way of sin, to free us from the slavery of sin , and to give us salvation and eternal life with it, for that Christ died on the cross, not to make us millionaires, Christ died to give us a new life in him and not to go with the flow exitista of this world, not for us to look desire more money on this earth because he is not the magic genie who is willing to grant our wishes as if their existence that will be discussed, and the reason is very simple, since according to the scripture, all men are sinners (Romans 3:10 As it is written, There is none righteous, not even one; 3:11 No one understands. no one who seeks God. 3:12 All have turned aside, together they have become useless; Not there is none that doeth good, no not one. 3:13 Their throat is an open grave, with their tongues deceive. poison of asps is under their lips: 3:14 Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness. 3: 15 Their feet are swift to shed blood: 3:16 Destruction and misery are in their ways: 3:17 And knew not the way of peace. 3:18 There is no fear of God before their eyes.) And under this concept did not exist hope for the human race on earth therefore the salvation of our souls was virtually impossible to have, until the appearing of our Lord and Savior, who has shown us the way of salvation and now we seek to be justified salvation of our sin for Jesus. That is the true meaning of the gospel of Christ because no man could achieve salvation in his own right until the day when Jesus Christ appears on the stage of this earth (Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God, 3:24 being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.) and only then man can procure this salvation of Christ. This is the most basic doctrine of the gospel of Christ in the world. No more. 2. - Abraham was the father of faith and prosperity. 's not surprising that in recent times many have bet and of faith, and this is a fact, this is not to say that those who have done so have denied the existence of Christ, of course not, however, have gone astray from the faith, because the goal that we pursue now is precisely the salvation of our Lord Jesus Christ, but rather, the personal and material success they may have in this life.'s why they become apostates, for faith and not use it for the salvation of Jesus Christ on the day of redemption but rather, to fill their pockets with money by it. then the question is to act as our faith? For us millionaires or to have eternal life with Christ? Hebrews 11:4 By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and dead, still speaks for her. 11:5 By faith Enoch was translated not see death, and was not found, because God had taken him, and before it was implemented, had this testimony, that he pleased God. 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please God, because it is necessary that cometh to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. 11:7 By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not yet seen, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house, and he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith. Through this passage we can clearly see that none of these scriptures says something like: "by faith became a millionaire" or "by faith made his riches were older," What was that for you? Because faith not linked to the materialism of this land or goods that man can possess, but rather note that all acts of faith just mentioned, are linked to something more spiritual, like the witness to God , salvation for eternity and transcendence, in addition to the righteousness of God that comes through faith. Abraham therefore was not the father of prosperity as many would support today, but rather the father of faith, Romans 4:3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. Galatians 3:6 Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. 3:7 Know ye therefore, that those who are of faith are sons of Abraham. 3:8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all the nations. 3:9 So be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham. James 2:23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was counted for righteousness: and he was called the friend of God . I want you to pay attention in verse 3.8 of Galatians, it says that the justification of God to the Gentiles is through faith, and that those who are of faith are Abraham's son. This is just a sample of how the concepts of faith are linked to the salvation of man, and that Abraham obtained witness to God by being a millionaire but by that faith tube and also declares the book of Hebrews, Hebrews 11:8 By faith Abraham , was called, obeyed to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance and left not knowing where he was going. 11:9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, heirs of the same promise: 11:10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. 11:11 Through faith also Sara herself, being barren, received strength to conceive, and she gave birth even outside the past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised. 11:12 Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of heaven in multitude, and as the sand that is on innumerable seashore. 11:13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 3. - symbol of faith is not of material prosperity. now we know that Abraham obtained witness to God through faith (and not because of their wealth) and therefore was called the friend of God, we will explain that it is precisely the faith, and perhaps to mention that many of you may already pronouncing the famous biblical text that always responds when asked which is faith: Hebrews 11:1 is therefore faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. And in the purest essence, faith is simply to have hope even when we see nothing, having faith is not seeing. One of the phrases that has caught the attention of those who profess that Christ came to make them millionaires, is "... the money I used to buy, to buy everything I need in order to serve me money for all ..." What? ie, what can we conclude from a person who thinks this? They just their hope is not in God but rather on the money, because it is God who provides food, but money is not God who kept alive and healthy family life and that of their children, but more While money is not God who pound the many problems that we have in the day to day, but rather the money because the money was used for everything, so if you used the money for all why would you serves God? There is only one Bible verse that can give us a clear answer about who these days touting the prosperity gospel and is Revelation 3:17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, I have prospered, and I have need nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked. inevitably think, how sad is fulfilled the word of God in these times, the times of the last church on earth, time the church of Laodicea. My friends, the faith of a Christian can not be linked to the materialism of this world but rather to achieve salvation through the testimony of Christ, as did Moses prophetically: Hebrews 11:23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw a beautiful child, and they were not afraid of the king. 11:24 By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, 11:25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin, 11:26 having greater riches the reproach of Christ than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking to the reward. 11 27 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible . Notice how through faith Moses despised all the treasures and riches of Egypt and greater riches tube and the insults Christ suffered insults. How then can you think of a man of faith is a successful man and materially prosperous, ie if I have a car, it is because I have faith, if I have a home, it is because I have faith, when the very word of God who tells us clearly that faith is not linked to the riches of this world, but rather to the heavenly riches, which are for the salvation of our souls, and this does not mean that when we are in glory Lord of the us pass a chest full of gold coins, No, if we're talking about our award and our profits are the salvation Christ one day introduced us to eternal life. 1 Timothy 6:19 storing up for themselves good foundation for the future, they may lay hold on eternal life. Finally, as mentioned, faith is not tied to material success or prosperity that a man can have in this land, because otherwise would need someone to explain to me how the greatest of the prophets who ever walked our earth, has had animal skin for clothing and food, wild honey and locusts? mean, when Christ begins to explain to other people who were John the Baptist really said among other things that he was the Elijah who was to come, also from the time of onset onwards whatever considered least in the kingdom of heaven would be greater than John and it was not a Man linked to materialism to the point that not even entered the city but rather had to go personally to hear in the wilderness, Matthew 11:7 And as they departed, Jesus began to say to the people of John: What went ye out to wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind? 11:8 Or what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? Behold, those who wear soft clothing are in kings' houses are. 11: 9 But what went ye out to see? A prophet? Yeah, I say, and more than a prophet. 11:10 For this is he of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. 11:11 Verily I say unto you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist, but the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 11:12 From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force. 11:13 For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. 11:14 And if ye will receive it, he is Elijah who come. now I would ask, What if we lived in the wilderness like John the Baptist? Will it help the money, or rather we serve faith? If the answer Where the money would buy what we need? Definitely money is not what man can give life but rather the faith, as in this case, and under the same context, for all that gold served the people of Israel when they came out was to seize deserto the idol, for anything else, and maybe we're not in the desert but one thing is certain, the idolatry of money, is still alive within the people of God, is it not the same thing happened to the prophet Elijah with the prophets the other lord (baal also means Lord)? apparently have to get up another John the Baptist Elijah or another, because if you have raised the prophets of another man. 4. - Being poor does not mean being a heretic. Perhaps after all presented what someone might say, anyway God called us to impoverish us, and this may be true, however, independent of what they might think, I want to ask is there anything wrong with being poor? And wonder what the fact that more than one might think that being poor is a punishment, as did those who condemned the blind man whom Jesus was about to heal, and asked why he was blind, but Jesus' response once surprised our lives, since Christ made it clear that this was not exactly a punishment from God but that he had been blind until then for one day did the Lord's will in your life. then under this analysis would ask? who they are more blessed, blind or not blind? when we begin to analyze from this perspective the mercy of God, then we can find a new meaning in the sermon on the mount of our Lord Jesus, that is, who are the blessed, the crying or not? Who are the blessed are those who hunger and thirst for justice or what s that?, by that I mean that to receive the Lord's mercy, you must first go through all the processes contrary to his blessing that is, how we will ever experience in our lives the miracle of healing if we are not sick? For what use is a miracle of healing but we are sick? Therefore, if Christ promised us an inheritance that comes after this life we live, an award that comes after this life and salvation for eternal life, then ask, in order to receive that mercy What we must go first on this earth before the next life? Y is that the problem is not being poor, the problem is in the fear and insecurity of having no right to rely on, walking every day, with nothing in your pockets but your own faith, that is the real fear man, not only as living in poverty if n insecurity that this entails. would like you to consider, however the fact of the great calls of God were heard by men who perhaps in their precarious condition and lacking in material goods , welcomed despite all this the most beautiful places in the scriptures. A point that the apostle Paul goes on to say of these men who accepted God's call in their lives, things like: Hebrews 11:36 Other faced jeers and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. 11:37 They were stoned, sawn, put to death by the sword, walked back and forth in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, persecuted and mistreated , 11:38 Of whom the world was not worthy, wandering in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. 11:39 And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: 11:40 God having provided some better thing for us, to not be made perfect apart from us . now you realize that many men who believed in Christ had something worth even with that dress, and as if this were not enough even received their reward on earth. want also to understand that the promises most spectacular, grandiose and full of mercy are not for the rich but rather for the poor: Psalms 10:12 Arise, O Lord God, lift up your hand: forget not the poor. Psalms 41:1 Blessed is he who considers the poor, in the evil day Lord delivers him. Psalms 72:13 He shall spare the poor and needy, and saves the lives of the poor. Psalms 107:41 He raises the poor from misery, and maketh families like a flock. Psalms 113:7 He raises the poor from the dust, and lifts the needy from the dunghill, Proverbs 14:21 Peca who despises his neighbor; but he that hath mercy on the poor, happy is he. And unlike the poor, this is what Christ says about the Rich: Luke 18:24 when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said, How hardly shall in kingdom of God for the rich! 18:25 For it is easier for a camel through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. And the apostle Paul also notes saying something like this: 1 Timothy 6: 17 A are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but in the living God, who gives us all things richly to enjoy. 6:18 That they do good, to be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; 6:19 storing up for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life. 5. - The love of money is the beginning of all evil. 1Timothy 6:10 For the root of all evil is the love of money, which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows . We must consider that although it may seem counterproductive, money itself is not to blame, of all the bad things that happen to a man, of course not, money and riches are only concepts that man has wrought in his mind by a trade issue, which eventually evolved until it became a concept of manipulation of people, power and ambition. This is a fact, unfortunately many people have embedded in your unconscious philosophy, "as they see you try" ie the society appreciate you for what you have and you can possess, not for who you are as Christ does but for what you have. And unfortunately this mental and moral corruption has reached where our congregations are also valued by what you have, not your need for Christ and commitment to the divine calling of the Lord, and although it has many bother them (not wanting to cause controversy) that is the reality of many congregations, and most importantly why, for the love of money. For the love of money, many pastors preach a poor and distorted teaching about tithing, offerings and abusing the people of God, letting the weight fall on his ambition, selfishness and personal interests, as God condemned the ancient priests and corrupted ministers who abused the people, even today, that word should be considered for many of those who have faith in Jesus Christ, the business of their lives (Isaiah 56:11 And these dogs have a mighty appetite, and they are shepherds that can not understand: they all look to their own way, each seeks his own gain every man for himself. Jeremiah 10:21 For the pastors are become brutish, and have not sought the LORD: therefore they shall not prosper, and all their flocks shall be scattered. Ezekiel 34:2 Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel , prophesy, and say to those shepherds, 'Thus says the Lord God: Woe to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! Did not the shepherds feed the flocks? 34:3 You eat the fat, and ye clothe wool, you slaughter the fat, but do not feed the sheep. 34:4 not strengthened the weak, the sick you have not healed, not bound up the injured, not you returned to the fold the stray, or you sought the lost, but you have dominated them with force and with cruelty.) God could prevent all these words and bad times, if we had a good teaching about money, because I do not think it takes much to pronounce words with messages that go directly attacking ambition and greed man, to make believers understand that we will not be saved because we have a lot of money, but by faith in our Lord Jesus, that is, if this kind of discourse is so difficult for many to pronounce, is because there are simply personal interests it is no different than what Jesus preached or any of the apostles. Quite the contrary, today and barely hear those messages, as is taught from the pulpits that money is a symbol of blessing, and that if a brother is blessed in material is by having a lot of faith, that is what is taught, that is not considered the words of the Apostle Paul when he delivers a message related to the wealth of man and the true Christian position against this , post which was one of his verses since the beginning of this point: 1 Timothy 6:3 If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness, 6 : 4 He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil suspicions, 6:5 constant friction between men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who take the gain is godliness, from such withdraw thyself. 6:6 But great gain in godliness with contentment 6:7 For we brought nothing into this world, and certainly can take nothing out. 6:8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. 6:9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition 6:10 For root of all evil is the love of money, which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. 6:11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. 6:12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses . And finally this point I only mention that only under this concept of money, ie, the concept that Paul mentions saying that those who love money is because they are corrupt and strayed from the truth, only then can we understand the attitude of Judas Iscaiote who loved more money than Jesus, is it that when you love money more than this world, it automatically stops loving Jesus? Mark 14:10 Then Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went unto the chief priests, to betray. 14: 11 And when they heard it, were glad, and promised to give him money. And he sought opportunity to betray him. 6. - the Lord Jesus and Money. Matthew 6:24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one and love the other , or to the one and despise the other. You can not serve God and mammon. Perhaps the most enigmatic of this verse is that Jesus has said: "... You can not serve God and mammon." But what catches the attention of this verse is that Jesus simply money as compared to other gods, that is also referred to money as a gentleman, which is not exactly the eternal and almighty God who created us and formed us with his hands, but is simply another god. If looked at from this point of view we can immediately ask, how is that money can señorearse of men, or in this case even of the children of God? Perhaps this question is crazy and I'm going to comment further, but still nevertheless wanted and then we will begin to analyze this concept under some of the biblical passages that are directly related to the idolatry of another gentleman, Mr. Money. To begin citing this passage that immediately identifies the master of our lives which says: Philippians 2:11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. That is, Jesus is our Lord first, and otherwise mentioned, the words of Jesus, that money is the other gentleman. Yet under this gaze wants we analyzed the two characters who were on the Mount of Transfiguration with Jesus, one of them was Moses and other was Elijah. The first, Moses, which states in writing that his time was appointed Lord for his people and his constituted Aaron was his prophet, ie, Moses was a foreshadowing of Christ as God was also considered before Pharaoh at that time. (Exodus 7:1 the Lord said unto Moses, See, I have made thee a god to Pharaoh: and Aaron thy brother shall be thy prophet.) Then we wonder what happened in the desert once the people of Israel out of Egypt? happened that the people became corrupt because he thought that Moses had died, and immediately after that Aaron is prompted by the people to make a god with gold they were holding for payment of his work in Egypt. Afterwards, Moses (God made) descends from Mount Sinai and finds the lowest idolatry scene in which the people of Israel committed, worship the golden calf (Exodus 32) ie Once Mr. (bassinet) descends to his people, this is corrupted by the vision of the god made of gold. Now I want you to realize that repeats exactly the same scene with the prophet Elijah and the prophets of Baal (1 Kings 17)
Why Elijah? Because the meaning of the name Elijah means My God is the Lord, that is, like Moses, this also was a foreshadowing of Christ to be constituted as Lord, and Baal, although that is not biblically is a representative figure as was the golden calf for example, however, experts say the Jewish Baal also means Lord. That is, under the story of Elijah against the prophets of Baal, so we can understand the contending alegoriota between My God is Lord, and as Jesus said, the other man, money. And that's what happened? It happened exactly the same as in the story of Moses, that is, once the Lord came to Israel, they were worshiping the other man, and not God, and our Lord Jesus Christ. But unlike what happened in the time of Moses, the prophets of another man increased greatly in number since the time of Moses at least be seen that Aaron was just a prophet, but the time had 400 prophets Elijah Sidewalk (goddess Diana in Paul's time) and 450 prophets of Baal, ie, the number of prophets corrupted by money, had increased to a total of 850, course numbers are nothing auspicious for the kingdom of God, and worst of all was that one day Jesus asked his disciples, whom he spoke of the end of time saying "... when the Son of Man find faith on the earth? ..." ( Luke 18:8.) That is, when Moses came down to the village, he found a people who believe in leaving his Lord, was corrupt and fixed his gaze on the God of Elijah low gold and when the people of Israel, saw that had been corrupted by another man, and if these two characters were the foreshadowing of Christ, then why ask that scene will be when I go down to our Lord for His people? I think now we can understand these concepts of faith and money, only now found the true meaning of the question that Jesus asked his disciples about his coming.
And though for many, these messages can be considered as a doctrine, let me make it clear that I do not want to cause controversy, but just wanted to split hairs over such messages for me, Bible have no grip, and it is what I show:
The points I want to expose continued are: 1. - Jesus did not die on the cross to make us millionaires. should be remembered that the main purpose of Jesus here on earth was made to introduce the way of salvation, which passes through a field of purely spiritual character as the rest come easily, Matthew 6:31 Do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat, what we drink or what clothe ? 6:32 The Gentiles are struggling through all that, but your heavenly Father knows that ye have need of all that. "6:33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added. 6: 34 Therefore do not worry, then, about tomorrow, for tomorrow will already have their own concerns; enough for the day is its desire. " That is, from the beginning Jesus told us all that can matter to us in the material is only secondary, a fad, something that has no real importance it deserves, because life does not consist in having material goods, it is the salvation of his soul really matters in the kingdom of God, that is why Christ said: Luke 12:15 And he said, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions. Therefore, we must conclude that if Christ was telling us constantly the important thing is not money or material things that this life has to offer, so why why Christ died on the cross? Christ died on the cross to give us a way out of the way of sin, to free us from the slavery of sin , and to give us salvation and eternal life with it, for that Christ died on the cross, not to make us millionaires, Christ died to give us a new life in him and not to go with the flow exitista of this world, not for us to look desire more money on this earth because he is not the magic genie who is willing to grant our wishes as if their existence that will be discussed, and the reason is very simple, since according to the scripture, all men are sinners (Romans 3:10 As it is written, There is none righteous, not even one; 3:11 No one understands. no one who seeks God. 3:12 All have turned aside, together they have become useless; Not there is none that doeth good, no not one. 3:13 Their throat is an open grave, with their tongues deceive. poison of asps is under their lips: 3:14 Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness. 3: 15 Their feet are swift to shed blood: 3:16 Destruction and misery are in their ways: 3:17 And knew not the way of peace. 3:18 There is no fear of God before their eyes.) And under this concept did not exist hope for the human race on earth therefore the salvation of our souls was virtually impossible to have, until the appearing of our Lord and Savior, who has shown us the way of salvation and now we seek to be justified salvation of our sin for Jesus. That is the true meaning of the gospel of Christ because no man could achieve salvation in his own right until the day when Jesus Christ appears on the stage of this earth (Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God, 3:24 being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.) and only then man can procure this salvation of Christ. This is the most basic doctrine of the gospel of Christ in the world. No more. 2. - Abraham was the father of faith and prosperity. 's not surprising that in recent times many have bet and of faith, and this is a fact, this is not to say that those who have done so have denied the existence of Christ, of course not, however, have gone astray from the faith, because the goal that we pursue now is precisely the salvation of our Lord Jesus Christ, but rather, the personal and material success they may have in this life.'s why they become apostates, for faith and not use it for the salvation of Jesus Christ on the day of redemption but rather, to fill their pockets with money by it. then the question is to act as our faith? For us millionaires or to have eternal life with Christ? Hebrews 11:4 By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and dead, still speaks for her. 11:5 By faith Enoch was translated not see death, and was not found, because God had taken him, and before it was implemented, had this testimony, that he pleased God. 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please God, because it is necessary that cometh to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. 11:7 By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not yet seen, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house, and he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith. Through this passage we can clearly see that none of these scriptures says something like: "by faith became a millionaire" or "by faith made his riches were older," What was that for you? Because faith not linked to the materialism of this land or goods that man can possess, but rather note that all acts of faith just mentioned, are linked to something more spiritual, like the witness to God , salvation for eternity and transcendence, in addition to the righteousness of God that comes through faith. Abraham therefore was not the father of prosperity as many would support today, but rather the father of faith, Romans 4:3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. Galatians 3:6 Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. 3:7 Know ye therefore, that those who are of faith are sons of Abraham. 3:8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all the nations. 3:9 So be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham. James 2:23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was counted for righteousness: and he was called the friend of God . I want you to pay attention in verse 3.8 of Galatians, it says that the justification of God to the Gentiles is through faith, and that those who are of faith are Abraham's son. This is just a sample of how the concepts of faith are linked to the salvation of man, and that Abraham obtained witness to God by being a millionaire but by that faith tube and also declares the book of Hebrews, Hebrews 11:8 By faith Abraham , was called, obeyed to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance and left not knowing where he was going. 11:9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, heirs of the same promise: 11:10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. 11:11 Through faith also Sara herself, being barren, received strength to conceive, and she gave birth even outside the past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised. 11:12 Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of heaven in multitude, and as the sand that is on innumerable seashore. 11:13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 3. - symbol of faith is not of material prosperity. now we know that Abraham obtained witness to God through faith (and not because of their wealth) and therefore was called the friend of God, we will explain that it is precisely the faith, and perhaps to mention that many of you may already pronouncing the famous biblical text that always responds when asked which is faith: Hebrews 11:1 is therefore faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. And in the purest essence, faith is simply to have hope even when we see nothing, having faith is not seeing. One of the phrases that has caught the attention of those who profess that Christ came to make them millionaires, is "... the money I used to buy, to buy everything I need in order to serve me money for all ..." What? ie, what can we conclude from a person who thinks this? They just their hope is not in God but rather on the money, because it is God who provides food, but money is not God who kept alive and healthy family life and that of their children, but more While money is not God who pound the many problems that we have in the day to day, but rather the money because the money was used for everything, so if you used the money for all why would you serves God? There is only one Bible verse that can give us a clear answer about who these days touting the prosperity gospel and is Revelation 3:17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, I have prospered, and I have need nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked. inevitably think, how sad is fulfilled the word of God in these times, the times of the last church on earth, time the church of Laodicea. My friends, the faith of a Christian can not be linked to the materialism of this world but rather to achieve salvation through the testimony of Christ, as did Moses prophetically: Hebrews 11:23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw a beautiful child, and they were not afraid of the king. 11:24 By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, 11:25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin, 11:26 having greater riches the reproach of Christ than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking to the reward. 11 27 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible . Notice how through faith Moses despised all the treasures and riches of Egypt and greater riches tube and the insults Christ suffered insults. How then can you think of a man of faith is a successful man and materially prosperous, ie if I have a car, it is because I have faith, if I have a home, it is because I have faith, when the very word of God who tells us clearly that faith is not linked to the riches of this world, but rather to the heavenly riches, which are for the salvation of our souls, and this does not mean that when we are in glory Lord of the us pass a chest full of gold coins, No, if we're talking about our award and our profits are the salvation Christ one day introduced us to eternal life. 1 Timothy 6:19 storing up for themselves good foundation for the future, they may lay hold on eternal life. Finally, as mentioned, faith is not tied to material success or prosperity that a man can have in this land, because otherwise would need someone to explain to me how the greatest of the prophets who ever walked our earth, has had animal skin for clothing and food, wild honey and locusts? mean, when Christ begins to explain to other people who were John the Baptist really said among other things that he was the Elijah who was to come, also from the time of onset onwards whatever considered least in the kingdom of heaven would be greater than John and it was not a Man linked to materialism to the point that not even entered the city but rather had to go personally to hear in the wilderness, Matthew 11:7 And as they departed, Jesus began to say to the people of John: What went ye out to wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind? 11:8 Or what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? Behold, those who wear soft clothing are in kings' houses are. 11: 9 But what went ye out to see? A prophet? Yeah, I say, and more than a prophet. 11:10 For this is he of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. 11:11 Verily I say unto you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist, but the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 11:12 From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force. 11:13 For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. 11:14 And if ye will receive it, he is Elijah who come. now I would ask, What if we lived in the wilderness like John the Baptist? Will it help the money, or rather we serve faith? If the answer Where the money would buy what we need? Definitely money is not what man can give life but rather the faith, as in this case, and under the same context, for all that gold served the people of Israel when they came out was to seize deserto the idol, for anything else, and maybe we're not in the desert but one thing is certain, the idolatry of money, is still alive within the people of God, is it not the same thing happened to the prophet Elijah with the prophets the other lord (baal also means Lord)? apparently have to get up another John the Baptist Elijah or another, because if you have raised the prophets of another man. 4. - Being poor does not mean being a heretic. Perhaps after all presented what someone might say, anyway God called us to impoverish us, and this may be true, however, independent of what they might think, I want to ask is there anything wrong with being poor? And wonder what the fact that more than one might think that being poor is a punishment, as did those who condemned the blind man whom Jesus was about to heal, and asked why he was blind, but Jesus' response once surprised our lives, since Christ made it clear that this was not exactly a punishment from God but that he had been blind until then for one day did the Lord's will in your life. then under this analysis would ask? who they are more blessed, blind or not blind? when we begin to analyze from this perspective the mercy of God, then we can find a new meaning in the sermon on the mount of our Lord Jesus, that is, who are the blessed, the crying or not? Who are the blessed are those who hunger and thirst for justice or what s that?, by that I mean that to receive the Lord's mercy, you must first go through all the processes contrary to his blessing that is, how we will ever experience in our lives the miracle of healing if we are not sick? For what use is a miracle of healing but we are sick? Therefore, if Christ promised us an inheritance that comes after this life we live, an award that comes after this life and salvation for eternal life, then ask, in order to receive that mercy What we must go first on this earth before the next life? Y is that the problem is not being poor, the problem is in the fear and insecurity of having no right to rely on, walking every day, with nothing in your pockets but your own faith, that is the real fear man, not only as living in poverty if n insecurity that this entails. would like you to consider, however the fact of the great calls of God were heard by men who perhaps in their precarious condition and lacking in material goods , welcomed despite all this the most beautiful places in the scriptures. A point that the apostle Paul goes on to say of these men who accepted God's call in their lives, things like: Hebrews 11:36 Other faced jeers and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. 11:37 They were stoned, sawn, put to death by the sword, walked back and forth in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, persecuted and mistreated , 11:38 Of whom the world was not worthy, wandering in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. 11:39 And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: 11:40 God having provided some better thing for us, to not be made perfect apart from us . now you realize that many men who believed in Christ had something worth even with that dress, and as if this were not enough even received their reward on earth. want also to understand that the promises most spectacular, grandiose and full of mercy are not for the rich but rather for the poor: Psalms 10:12 Arise, O Lord God, lift up your hand: forget not the poor. Psalms 41:1 Blessed is he who considers the poor, in the evil day Lord delivers him. Psalms 72:13 He shall spare the poor and needy, and saves the lives of the poor. Psalms 107:41 He raises the poor from misery, and maketh families like a flock. Psalms 113:7 He raises the poor from the dust, and lifts the needy from the dunghill, Proverbs 14:21 Peca who despises his neighbor; but he that hath mercy on the poor, happy is he. And unlike the poor, this is what Christ says about the Rich: Luke 18:24 when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said, How hardly shall in kingdom of God for the rich! 18:25 For it is easier for a camel through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. And the apostle Paul also notes saying something like this: 1 Timothy 6: 17 A are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but in the living God, who gives us all things richly to enjoy. 6:18 That they do good, to be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; 6:19 storing up for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life. 5. - The love of money is the beginning of all evil. 1Timothy 6:10 For the root of all evil is the love of money, which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows . We must consider that although it may seem counterproductive, money itself is not to blame, of all the bad things that happen to a man, of course not, money and riches are only concepts that man has wrought in his mind by a trade issue, which eventually evolved until it became a concept of manipulation of people, power and ambition. This is a fact, unfortunately many people have embedded in your unconscious philosophy, "as they see you try" ie the society appreciate you for what you have and you can possess, not for who you are as Christ does but for what you have. And unfortunately this mental and moral corruption has reached where our congregations are also valued by what you have, not your need for Christ and commitment to the divine calling of the Lord, and although it has many bother them (not wanting to cause controversy) that is the reality of many congregations, and most importantly why, for the love of money. For the love of money, many pastors preach a poor and distorted teaching about tithing, offerings and abusing the people of God, letting the weight fall on his ambition, selfishness and personal interests, as God condemned the ancient priests and corrupted ministers who abused the people, even today, that word should be considered for many of those who have faith in Jesus Christ, the business of their lives (Isaiah 56:11 And these dogs have a mighty appetite, and they are shepherds that can not understand: they all look to their own way, each seeks his own gain every man for himself. Jeremiah 10:21 For the pastors are become brutish, and have not sought the LORD: therefore they shall not prosper, and all their flocks shall be scattered. Ezekiel 34:2 Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel , prophesy, and say to those shepherds, 'Thus says the Lord God: Woe to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! Did not the shepherds feed the flocks? 34:3 You eat the fat, and ye clothe wool, you slaughter the fat, but do not feed the sheep. 34:4 not strengthened the weak, the sick you have not healed, not bound up the injured, not you returned to the fold the stray, or you sought the lost, but you have dominated them with force and with cruelty.) God could prevent all these words and bad times, if we had a good teaching about money, because I do not think it takes much to pronounce words with messages that go directly attacking ambition and greed man, to make believers understand that we will not be saved because we have a lot of money, but by faith in our Lord Jesus, that is, if this kind of discourse is so difficult for many to pronounce, is because there are simply personal interests it is no different than what Jesus preached or any of the apostles. Quite the contrary, today and barely hear those messages, as is taught from the pulpits that money is a symbol of blessing, and that if a brother is blessed in material is by having a lot of faith, that is what is taught, that is not considered the words of the Apostle Paul when he delivers a message related to the wealth of man and the true Christian position against this , post which was one of his verses since the beginning of this point: 1 Timothy 6:3 If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness, 6 : 4 He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil suspicions, 6:5 constant friction between men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who take the gain is godliness, from such withdraw thyself. 6:6 But great gain in godliness with contentment 6:7 For we brought nothing into this world, and certainly can take nothing out. 6:8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. 6:9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition 6:10 For root of all evil is the love of money, which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. 6:11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. 6:12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses . And finally this point I only mention that only under this concept of money, ie, the concept that Paul mentions saying that those who love money is because they are corrupt and strayed from the truth, only then can we understand the attitude of Judas Iscaiote who loved more money than Jesus, is it that when you love money more than this world, it automatically stops loving Jesus? Mark 14:10 Then Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went unto the chief priests, to betray. 14: 11 And when they heard it, were glad, and promised to give him money. And he sought opportunity to betray him. 6. - the Lord Jesus and Money. Matthew 6:24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one and love the other , or to the one and despise the other. You can not serve God and mammon. Perhaps the most enigmatic of this verse is that Jesus has said: "... You can not serve God and mammon." But what catches the attention of this verse is that Jesus simply money as compared to other gods, that is also referred to money as a gentleman, which is not exactly the eternal and almighty God who created us and formed us with his hands, but is simply another god. If looked at from this point of view we can immediately ask, how is that money can señorearse of men, or in this case even of the children of God? Perhaps this question is crazy and I'm going to comment further, but still nevertheless wanted and then we will begin to analyze this concept under some of the biblical passages that are directly related to the idolatry of another gentleman, Mr. Money. To begin citing this passage that immediately identifies the master of our lives which says: Philippians 2:11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. That is, Jesus is our Lord first, and otherwise mentioned, the words of Jesus, that money is the other gentleman. Yet under this gaze wants we analyzed the two characters who were on the Mount of Transfiguration with Jesus, one of them was Moses and other was Elijah. The first, Moses, which states in writing that his time was appointed Lord for his people and his constituted Aaron was his prophet, ie, Moses was a foreshadowing of Christ as God was also considered before Pharaoh at that time. (Exodus 7:1 the Lord said unto Moses, See, I have made thee a god to Pharaoh: and Aaron thy brother shall be thy prophet.) Then we wonder what happened in the desert once the people of Israel out of Egypt? happened that the people became corrupt because he thought that Moses had died, and immediately after that Aaron is prompted by the people to make a god with gold they were holding for payment of his work in Egypt. Afterwards, Moses (God made) descends from Mount Sinai and finds the lowest idolatry scene in which the people of Israel committed, worship the golden calf (Exodus 32) ie Once Mr. (bassinet) descends to his people, this is corrupted by the vision of the god made of gold. Now I want you to realize that repeats exactly the same scene with the prophet Elijah and the prophets of Baal (1 Kings 17)
Why Elijah? Because the meaning of the name Elijah means My God is the Lord, that is, like Moses, this also was a foreshadowing of Christ to be constituted as Lord, and Baal, although that is not biblically is a representative figure as was the golden calf for example, however, experts say the Jewish Baal also means Lord. That is, under the story of Elijah against the prophets of Baal, so we can understand the contending alegoriota between My God is Lord, and as Jesus said, the other man, money. And that's what happened? It happened exactly the same as in the story of Moses, that is, once the Lord came to Israel, they were worshiping the other man, and not God, and our Lord Jesus Christ. But unlike what happened in the time of Moses, the prophets of another man increased greatly in number since the time of Moses at least be seen that Aaron was just a prophet, but the time had 400 prophets Elijah Sidewalk (goddess Diana in Paul's time) and 450 prophets of Baal, ie, the number of prophets corrupted by money, had increased to a total of 850, course numbers are nothing auspicious for the kingdom of God, and worst of all was that one day Jesus asked his disciples, whom he spoke of the end of time saying "... when the Son of Man find faith on the earth? ..." ( Luke 18:8.) That is, when Moses came down to the village, he found a people who believe in leaving his Lord, was corrupt and fixed his gaze on the God of Elijah low gold and when the people of Israel, saw that had been corrupted by another man, and if these two characters were the foreshadowing of Christ, then why ask that scene will be when I go down to our Lord for His people? I think now we can understand these concepts of faith and money, only now found the true meaning of the question that Jesus asked his disciples about his coming.
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