Likewise also these dreamers defile the flesh, reject authority, and speak evil of dignitaries. (Jude 1:8)
In the previous lesson, Jude explained that false teachers were coming into the church, just like they are today, certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ. (Jude 1:4)
Jude goes on to explain their behavior and character in more detail: But these speak evil of whatever they do not know; and whatever they know naturally, like brute beasts, in these things they corrupt themselves. Woe to them! For they have gone in the way of Cain [Genesis 4:1-15], have run greedily in the error of Balaam for profit [Numbers 22], and perished in the rebellion of Korah. [Numbers 16:1-40] (Jude 1:10-11)
These are spots in your love feasts [feasts of charity], while they feast with you without fear, serving only themselves. They are clouds without water, carried about by the winds; late autumn trees without fruit, twice dead, pulled up by the roots; raging waves of the sea, foaming up their own shame; wandering stars for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever. (Jude 1:12-13)
In the previous lesson, Jude explained that false teachers were coming into the church, just like they are today, certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ. (Jude 1:4)
Jude goes on to explain their behavior and character in more detail: But these speak evil of whatever they do not know; and whatever they know naturally, like brute beasts, in these things they corrupt themselves. Woe to them! For they have gone in the way of Cain [Genesis 4:1-15], have run greedily in the error of Balaam for profit [Numbers 22], and perished in the rebellion of Korah. [Numbers 16:1-40] (Jude 1:10-11)
These are spots in your love feasts [feasts of charity], while they feast with you without fear, serving only themselves. They are clouds without water, carried about by the winds; late autumn trees without fruit, twice dead, pulled up by the roots; raging waves of the sea, foaming up their own shame; wandering stars for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever. (Jude 1:12-13)
Now Enoch, the seventh from Adam, [Genesis 5:18-24] prophesied about these men also, saying, “Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of His saints, to execute judgment on all, to convict all who are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have committed in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him.” (Jude 1:14-15)
These are grumblers, complainers, walking according to their own lusts; and they mouth great swelling words, flattering people to gain advantage. But you, beloved, remember the words which were spoken before by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ: how they told you that there would be mockers in the last time who would walk according to their own ungodly lusts. These are sensual persons, who cause divisions, not having the Spirit. (Jude 1:16-19)
Well, that was very clear! If we are honest, that perfectly describes the current day spirituality and prosperity teachers and their teachings: these speak evil of whatever they do not know; and whatever they know naturally, in these things they corrupt themselves; they run greedily; they feast [fellowship] with you without fear, serving only themselves; they are carried about by the winds; these walk according to their own lusts; they mouth great swelling words, flattering people to gain advantage; they are mockers who would walk according to their own ungodly lusts; they are sensual persons, who cause divisions, not having the Spirit!
As proof, the prosperity theology teaches health, wealth and success; that financial blessing is the will of God for Christians, and that faith, positive speech, and donations to Christian ministries will always increase one's material wealth. The doctrine emphasizes the importance of personal empowerment, proposing that it is God's will for his people to be happy. *Google search results
There is nothing wrong with desiring to have health, wealth and success. And God did promise in Malachi, "Bring all the tithes into the storehouse,That there may be food in My house, and try Me now in this,” says the Lord of hosts, “If I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it." (Malachi 3:10) The problem comes when people start teaching that it's God's plan to bless everyone the same way, while they prosper greatly from other's financial sacrifice to their ministry, and while many under their ministry's situation doesn't improve as promised.
God taught through Timothy, Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. (I Timothy 6:10)
We have seen this for ourselves, how many of these ministries and their leaders have fallen or been in the media for committing all kinds of ungodly acts, misuse of the tithes and offerings, not behaving as the spouse and parent within their homes as they should, and the list goes on. Understand, it's not that God doesn't want us to have health, wealth and success; but God knows the temptations that come with it, and as a Good Father, He always tries to help us avoid temptation.
The greatest temptation we have when we seek after health, wealth and success is breaking the first commandment, “You shall have no other gods before Me." (Exodus 20:3; Deuteronomy 5:7) Why? "For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God,..." (Exodus 20:5; Deuteronomy 5:9) He and He alone has to hold the highest place in our lives; and He warns us, “And you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth,... Then it shall be, if you by any means forget the Lord your God, and follow other gods, and serve them and worship them, I testify against you this day that you shall surely perish. ...because you would not be obedient to the voice of the Lord your God." (Deuteronomy 8:18-20)
Remember, God's ultimate goal is not for us to be happy, healthy, wealthy or successful. His ultimate goal is for us to “Be holy, for I [the Lord your God] am holy.” (I Peter 1:16) We can learn from the lesson of Solomon, when God asked him to ask for whatever he wanted, Solomon asked for wisdom. Then God said to Solomon: “Because this was in your heart, and you have not asked riches or wealth or honor or the life of your enemies, nor have you asked long life—but have asked wisdom and knowledge for yourself, that you may judge My people over whom I have made you king— wisdom and knowledge are granted to you; and I will give you riches and wealth and honor, such as none of the kings have had who were before you, nor shall any after you have the like.” (II Chronicles 1:11-12; I Kings 3:10-13) So if you walk in My ways, to keep My statutes and My commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your days.” (I Kings 3:14)
"For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more." (Luke 12:48) Nothing wrong with wanting prosperity, and if it's God's will, He may grant it to us. But "the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” (I Samuel 16:7) He knows whom He can trust to be a wise steward, with much and with a little.
Jesus said, "For you have the poor with you always, and whenever you wish you may do them good;..." (Mark 14:7; Matthew 26:11; John 12:8) If we want health, wealth and success to further the kingdom of God and the gospel message, then God may bless us in that way, because Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world. (James 1:27)
However, if we want health, wealth and success for our own personal gain and fulfillment, very few will receive it and even less will keep it, because God warns, You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures. Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, “The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously”? (James 4:2-5)
We will continue in the next study with the fallacy of the spirituality theology...
Well, that was very clear! If we are honest, that perfectly describes the current day spirituality and prosperity teachers and their teachings: these speak evil of whatever they do not know; and whatever they know naturally, in these things they corrupt themselves; they run greedily; they feast [fellowship] with you without fear, serving only themselves; they are carried about by the winds; these walk according to their own lusts; they mouth great swelling words, flattering people to gain advantage; they are mockers who would walk according to their own ungodly lusts; they are sensual persons, who cause divisions, not having the Spirit!
As proof, the prosperity theology teaches health, wealth and success; that financial blessing is the will of God for Christians, and that faith, positive speech, and donations to Christian ministries will always increase one's material wealth. The doctrine emphasizes the importance of personal empowerment, proposing that it is God's will for his people to be happy. *Google search results
There is nothing wrong with desiring to have health, wealth and success. And God did promise in Malachi, "Bring all the tithes into the storehouse,That there may be food in My house, and try Me now in this,” says the Lord of hosts, “If I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it." (Malachi 3:10) The problem comes when people start teaching that it's God's plan to bless everyone the same way, while they prosper greatly from other's financial sacrifice to their ministry, and while many under their ministry's situation doesn't improve as promised.
God taught through Timothy, Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. (I Timothy 6:10)
We have seen this for ourselves, how many of these ministries and their leaders have fallen or been in the media for committing all kinds of ungodly acts, misuse of the tithes and offerings, not behaving as the spouse and parent within their homes as they should, and the list goes on. Understand, it's not that God doesn't want us to have health, wealth and success; but God knows the temptations that come with it, and as a Good Father, He always tries to help us avoid temptation.
The greatest temptation we have when we seek after health, wealth and success is breaking the first commandment, “You shall have no other gods before Me." (Exodus 20:3; Deuteronomy 5:7) Why? "For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God,..." (Exodus 20:5; Deuteronomy 5:9) He and He alone has to hold the highest place in our lives; and He warns us, “And you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth,... Then it shall be, if you by any means forget the Lord your God, and follow other gods, and serve them and worship them, I testify against you this day that you shall surely perish. ...because you would not be obedient to the voice of the Lord your God." (Deuteronomy 8:18-20)
Remember, God's ultimate goal is not for us to be happy, healthy, wealthy or successful. His ultimate goal is for us to “Be holy, for I [the Lord your God] am holy.” (I Peter 1:16) We can learn from the lesson of Solomon, when God asked him to ask for whatever he wanted, Solomon asked for wisdom. Then God said to Solomon: “Because this was in your heart, and you have not asked riches or wealth or honor or the life of your enemies, nor have you asked long life—but have asked wisdom and knowledge for yourself, that you may judge My people over whom I have made you king— wisdom and knowledge are granted to you; and I will give you riches and wealth and honor, such as none of the kings have had who were before you, nor shall any after you have the like.” (II Chronicles 1:11-12; I Kings 3:10-13) So if you walk in My ways, to keep My statutes and My commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your days.” (I Kings 3:14)
"For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more." (Luke 12:48) Nothing wrong with wanting prosperity, and if it's God's will, He may grant it to us. But "the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” (I Samuel 16:7) He knows whom He can trust to be a wise steward, with much and with a little.
Jesus said, "For you have the poor with you always, and whenever you wish you may do them good;..." (Mark 14:7; Matthew 26:11; John 12:8) If we want health, wealth and success to further the kingdom of God and the gospel message, then God may bless us in that way, because Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world. (James 1:27)
However, if we want health, wealth and success for our own personal gain and fulfillment, very few will receive it and even less will keep it, because God warns, You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures. Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, “The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously”? (James 4:2-5)
We will continue in the next study with the fallacy of the spirituality theology...
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