Crosscountry4jesus' Homepage (More food for the soul...Heb 3

HEBREWS CHAPTER 3

JUST SO we don't lose sight of what we have seen in the previous chapters, let me print the last verses of chapter 2:

2: 17 Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.
18 For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted. (KJV)

We have seen that Jesus, the Creator, Who was not an angel, but who took upon Himself a nature that was a little less than the angels, that of a man, fulfilled His plan to redeem His creation by coming in the flesh, and to experience all that we have experienced so that He could become our Ultimate High Priest.

Now the writer of Hebrews tells us that since we now understand Who Jesus is, we are to focus on His Work and His purpose for us as the High Priest of our profession.

1 Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;

There are many theologians who have interpreted the Book of Hebrews around a specific doctrine they are adhering to.

Those who adhere to the Unconditional Eternal Security doctrine teach that the passages that the author has written that seem to imply that a person can lose his salvation can be explained away by the fact that he is writing to the Hebrews, or to the Jewish people who have not come to a saving knowledge of Jesus yet.

But this first verse in the third chapter shows that this is not true. First, he refers to the Hebrews as "Holy Brethren". Then he mentions that they are "partakers" of the heavenly calling. This word translated as "partakers" is the Greek word, "Metochos".

3353 metochos (met'-okh-os); from 3348; participant, i.e. (as noun) a sharer; by implication an associate: KJV-- fellow, partaker, partner.

We can see that Paul is saying that these Hebrews are sharers or associates with Him in the heavenly calling. We will deal with this word in more detail later on.

Consider: 2657 katanoeo- 1) to perceive, to remark, to observe, to understand 2) to consider attentively, to fix one's eyes or mind upon

Again, we can plainly see the purpose of the writer of the book of Hebrews. His intent is to cause his readers to Understand the purpose of our Apostle and High Priest.

2 Who was faithful to him that appointed him, as also Moses was faithful in all his house.

Jesus was our example while He walked on this earth. Part of what He did during His days here on earth was to teach by example how we are to live…that is why Phillippians 2:5 says we are to have the same mindset as Jesus Christ:

Phil 2:5 5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: (KJV)

See all the Scriptures that teach us that we are to be like Jesus:

Matt 20: 26 But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister;
27 And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant:
28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many. (KJV)

John 13: 14If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet.
15 For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. (KJV)

1 Cor 11:1 1 Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.

1 Pet 2:21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: 22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:
23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: (KJV)

I Jn 2:6 6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked. (KJV)

Jesus was faithful to the Father in all He did. We ought to strive to be faithful to God in all we do, just as Jesus was:

Heb 3:2 Who was faithful to him that appointed him, as also Moses was faithful in all his house.
3 For this man was counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as he who hath builded the house hath more honor than the house.

Verse 3 establishes even more Who Christ is:

We see the example is given that Jesus, "This man", was counted worthy of more glory than Moses, because the one who has built the house has more honor than the house itself. Now the one who built the house is defined in verse 4:

4 For every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God.

It is GOD Who built the house!

We have seen that while Moses was a servant over His house, Jesus Christ was the builder of the house (verse 3), hence, He deserves more honor than the house.

The reason why the author speaks of Moses, and of Jesus, is because Moses had established the fact that there would be another prophet who would come after Him:

Deut 18: 15 The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken;
16 According to all that thou desiredst of the LORD thy God in Horeb in the day of the assembly, saying, Let me not hear again the voice of the LORD my God, neither let me see this great fire any more, that I die not. 17 And the LORD said unto me, They have well spoken that which they have spoken.
18 I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.
19 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him. (KJV)

Here is a little rabbit trail: Some believe that this is speaking of their own self-appointed prophets.

Adherants of Islam believe this is speaking of Muhammad. But Muhammad was not of the brethren of Israel. Muhammad was of Ishmael, and Issac was the heir. This passage in Deuteronomy speaks of two prophets who would arise…one like Moses, and one who spoke presumptuously.

Deut 18: 20 But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die.
21 And if thou say in thine heart, How shall we know the word which the LORD hath not spoken?
22 When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him. (KJV)

We see that Jesus Christ died, but rose again, and was seen by many witnesses. The same cannot be said of Muhammad.

Jesus spoke in the Name of Yahweh; Muhammad spoke in the name of Allah, another god, whom the pagan Arabs had worshipped before Muhammad. In the Hebrew, "allah" means oak tree.
Jesus spoke many things which have already come to pass. The record shows that Muhammad spoke presumptuously when he spoke against the Truth of the Bible.

Jehovah's Witnesses, Mormons, and Muslims speak blasphemy against Jesus when they deny that Jesus Christ is less than what the Bible says He is.

Heb 3:5 And Moses verily was faithful in all his house, as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after;
6 But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.

We see that Christ has the rule of His own house, which is the Christian who surrenders to His Lordship.

In verses 5 and 6, we see a contrast of words being used…Moses was faithful IN his house…that is to say that he was a part of the collective house of Israel; he was an Israelite. Christ was OVER his own house.

And we find out that we who remain faithful to Him are His house. The condition to our being Christ's house, is that we hold fast, or keep possession of the assuredness of our hope. We are Christ's house, IF we cling to Him. This word "IF" is a conditional word.

This word in verse 6 which is translated as "rejoicing" is the Greek word "Kauchema", which, according to Thayers, is:

2745 kauchema- 1) that of which one glories or can glory, a matter or ground of glorying 2) a glorying or a boasting

The sense of this passage is that the Christian is not to be ashamed of who he is in Christ, or who Christ is in him. Too many Christians are silent about their faith and Who it is that has redeemed them.

A true Christian will not hold back. He or she will boast about Jesus. A person who has been truly saved, has all the reason in the world to brag about what Jesus has done in their life. This falls in line with what Jesus Himself said:

Mark 8:38 Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels. (KJV)

The writer of the book of Hebrew continues, saying, since we are Christ's house, and since we have received the admonition to hold fast our confidence in Him, and to not be ashamed of Him, we need to be mindful of our walk before Him:

Heb 3:7 Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice,
8 Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness:
9 When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years.
10 Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in their heart; and they have not known my ways.
11 So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.)
12 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.

Sometimes people lose sight of the context of a given passage because of a parenthetical statement contained within the passage.

Verse 7 taken in context with verse 12 says:
"Wherefore, take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God."

The writer of Hebrews uses the children of Israel as an example. They had been under the covenant of the Almighty God, and yet they tempted God.

Though He had delivered them from the power of Pharoah, and had led them out of the place of their bondage, they set about to test God's justice and patience, through their willingness to speak evil of Him and to yearn after the things of Egypt, rather than the things of God.

While they were being fed bread from Heaven, they cried out for the food of Egypt.
While they were constantly in mind of His presence through the pillar of fire, and the cloud, they still complained and wished to go back to the bondage they had been freed from.
Despite His mighty hand, and proof of His presence in their lives, they still wanted more proof that He was the Almighty God.
Their hearts were not right toward God.
They were a wicked generation, whose hearts wandered from His Truth.

The writer of Hebrews tells us not to be like those people.

Many Christians are in danger of provoking God to wrath, in tempting Him as the Israelites did.

Though He has delivered us from the bondage of sin, and from the power of sin (Romans 6:14), too often Christians desire to go back to their sin that once held them prisoner.

We just put another label on it. Sometimes we don't even try to disguise it. The following study deals with three doctrines that are in the church at large, that encourage Christians to go back to their sin:

1: UNCONDITIONAL ETERNAL SECURITY

In some circles the doctrine of Unconditional Eternal Security prevails, and MANY Christians who sit under this teaching reason that they were delivered to continue in their sin without guilt.

The Christian who embraces this error justifies his drunkenness and his revelry by saying, "I'm just a sinner saved by grace…God loves me, and He will forgive me for this. I can't help the fact that I am a drunk."

But the Truth of the matter is that God has a provided a way through His Holy Spirit to deliver him from the power of sin in his life.

Don't misunderstand me. I believe in Eternal Security with the Lord. I believe that as long as I abide (remain) in Him, He will remain in me, just as my Teacher has taught me.

John 15: 1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.
2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.
4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. (KJV)

No man, left to his own devices, can ever live in such a way as to be holy before God. But when we come to Jesus, God puts a new nature in us (2 Corinthians 5:17).

This doesn't mean we become sinless…but if we are Born Again, God deposits his Spirit in us, and gives us a heart and a desire to follow Him.

He foretold this in the Old Testament in several places:

Ezek 36: 22 Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; I do not this for your sakes, O house of Israel, but for mine holy name's sake, which ye have profaned among the heathen, whither ye went.
23 And I will sanctify my great name, which was profaned among the heathen, which ye have profaned in the midst of them; and the heathen shall know that I am the LORD, saith the Lord GOD, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes.
24 For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land.
25 Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.
26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.
27 And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.
28 And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and ye shall be my people, and I will be your God.
29 I will also save you from all your uncleannesses: and I will call for the corn, and will increase it, and lay no famine upon you.
30 And I will multiply the fruit of the tree, and the increase of the field, that ye shall receive no more reproach of famine among the heathen.
31 Then shall ye remember your own evil ways, and your doings that were not good, and shall lothe yourselves in your own sight for your iniquities and for your abominations. (KJV)

See also Jer. 32:36-40, 2 Cor. 5:17, Gal. 6:15, Eph. 2:10,

It's the word UNCONDITIONAL that throws the wrench in the whole thing, and causes people to err. The word "IF" reverberates numerous times throughout the New Covenant between the Lord and His people:

Rom 11: 21 For IF God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.
22 Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, IF thou continue in his goodness: OTHERWISE THOU ALSO SHALT BE CUT OFF. (KJV)

1 Cor 15: 1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; 2 By which also ye are saved, IF ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, UNLESS YE HAVE BELIEVED IN VAIN.(KJV)

Gal 6: 8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. 9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, IF WE FAINT NOT(KJV)

Col 1: 21 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled
22 In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:
23 IF YE CONTINUE IN THE FAITH GROUNDED AND SETTLED, AND BE NOT MOVED AWAY FROM THE HOPE OF THE GOSPEL, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;(KJV)

2 Tim 2: 11 It is a faithful saying: For IF we be dead with him, we shall also live with him: 12 If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: IF WE DENY HIM, HE ALSO WILL DENY US:(KJV)

Heb 3: 6 But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, IF WE HOLD FAST THE CONFIDENCE AND THE REJOICING OF THE HOPE FIRM UNTO THE END.
7 Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice,
8 Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness:
9 When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years.
10 Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in their heart; and they have not known my ways.
11 So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.)
12 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.(KJV)

Heb 10: 38 Now the just shall live by faith: but IF ANY MAN DRAW BACK, MY SOUL SHALL HAVE NO PLEASURE IN HIM.
39 But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.(KJV)

Heb 12: 25 See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For IF they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, MUCH MORE SHALL NOT WE ESCAPE, IF WE TURN AWAY FROM HIM THAT SPEAKETH FROM HEAVEN:
26 Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven.
27 And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.
28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:
29 For our God is a consuming fire. (KJV)

I Jn 2: 3 And hereby we do know that we know him, IF WE KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS.
4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. (KJV)
2 Cor 5:17-18, Gal 5:18, Eph 4:17-24, Heb 2:2-3, Heb 10:38-39, 2 Pet 1:4-11, 2 Pet 2:20-22, I Jn 2:24-25

The UNCONDITIONAL eternal Security doctrine is no different than the doctrine that the false priests embraced in Israel, referred to in the Lord's complaint through Jeremiah, and echoed by Jesus Christ Himself (Matt. 21:13, Mark 11:17, Lk 19:45-46):

Jer 7: 8 Behold, ye trust in lying words, that cannot profit. 9 Will ye steal, murder, and commit adultery, and swear falsely, and burn incense unto Baal, and walk after other gods whom ye know not;
10 And come and stand before me in this house, which is called by my name, and say, WE ARE DELIVERED TO DO ALL THESE ABOMINATIONS?
11 Is this house, which is called by my name, become a den of robbers in your eyes? Behold, even I have seen it, saith the LORD. (KJV)

Most of those whom I have known who embrace the Unconditional Eternal Security doctrine hold the same view as these idolatrous, lying, thieving priests.

They believe they were "delivered" to have the grace to continue in their sin. The truth of the matter is, we were delivered from the POWER of sin in our lives, so that we can worship and serve God in Spirit and in Truth.

Just so we don't lose focus, our text has been Hebrews 3:7-12:

7 Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice,
8 Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness:
9 When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years.
10 Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in their heart; and they have not known my ways.
11 So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.)
12 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.

This warning to the Christians to whom Paul is writing, is echoed in 1 Corinthians, 10:1-14:

1 Cor 10: 1 Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;
2 And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; 3 And did all eat the same spiritual meat;
4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.
5 But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.
6 Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.
7 Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.
8 Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.
9 Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.
10 Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.
11 Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.
12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.
13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
14 Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry.(KJV)

I believe the Word is plain and clear:

We are not to use Grace as an excuse for our sin. The idolatrous Israelites who were delivered from Egypt, saw that Moses was not around when he was on the Mountain with God, and they built themselves a golden calf, and turned to their worldly ways again.

We are told not to be conformed to this world, but to be TRANSFORMED by the renewing of our minds.

Rom 12: 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. (KJV)

According to Titus 3:5, it is the Holy Spirit that does the renewing (renovation) in our lives.

He EMPOWERS US TO DO THE WILL OF THE FATHER. His Mercy is that which has saved us, and done the work in our lives to enable us to be what He wants us to be.

It is not our Works that have saved us, but His mercy…but what has he saved us from? He has saved us from our SIN. He has saved us from our bondage to sin. Now we can walk in His Will, whereas before, we were unable to.

Titus 3: 5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;
7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
8 This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men. (KJV)

But sometimes a child of God may fall into sin. He may stumble in his temptation. We are told that IF (not when) we sin, we have an Advocate who will stand for us, Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.

The difference between this child and one who does despite to the Spirit of Grace, and lives his life in unbridled sin, is that the true Child of God doesn't want to live his life in sin, justifying his actions before God.

The word "IF" doesn't imply UNCONDITIONAL ETERNAL SECURITY. The true Child of God will loathe the sin that he once walked in. He won't desire to cling to his ways which he walked in while he was in the world.

Ezek 36: 31 Then shall ye remember your own evil ways, and your doings that were not good, and shall lothe yourselves in your own sight for your iniquities and for your abominations.(KJV)

We are warned in our text, not to harden our hearts like the Israelites did in the wilderness.

In other circles (CATHOLICISM) the sinner embraces a religion where he and his sin are accepted, and he is taught that all he needs to do is confess his sin, and he will be forgiven.

So once a week he goes to the priest and confesses all the abominations that he had committed, and the priest prescribes a formula to pray or some act to perform which will supposedly cover his sin.

Both of these doctrines are so similar in nature, and yet those who adhere to these doctrines are at odds with one another, each esteeming themselves better than the other.

Jer 7: 8 Behold, ye trust in lying words, that cannot profit.
9 Will ye steal, murder, and commit adultery, and swear falsely, and burn incense unto Baal, and walk after other gods whom ye know not; 10 And come and stand before me in this house, which is called by my name, and say, We are delivered to do all these abominations?
11 Is this house, which is called by my name, become a den of robbers in your eyes? Behold, even I have seen it, saith the LORD.(KJV)

2: COVETOUS CHRISTIANS

In some circles, there is a "sanctified" gospel of covetousness. Jesus taught that we are not to lay up for ourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt.

Matt 6:19-21 19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. (KJV)

Notice that the operative phrase is "lay not up for YOURSELVES"…

It's not that God is against prospering His children IN THE WAY THAT HE SEES FIT…But when His children are self- centered, and are seeking to lay up treasures for themselves, they are not walking according to the Will of God.

The Israelites built a golden calf out of their possessions when Moses was on the mountain with God.
Many in today's Christian circles are making golden calves out of their possessions. Today's Christianity has become consumed with a false gospel of covetousness.

Matt 6: 22 The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.
23 But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness! 24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?
26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? (KJV)

Matt 6: 31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. (KJV)

This teaching of the Lord's is totally contrary to today's false gospel of covetousness. Jesus was teaching that Life doesn't consist in things…whatever things we need will be given to us IF we put His Kingdom in our priority and are actively pursuing after His righteousness in our lives. This was taught in Deuteronomy 28, as well.

People like to claim the promises; "I'll be the head and not the tail…" but they don't read the context of those promises.

Deut 28: 1 And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the LORD thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth:
2 And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God. (KJV)

The Lord promised prosperity to His people IF they were careful to hearken DILLEGENTLY unto His words, and to Observe and Obey all his commandments…This is seeking the Kingdom of God first in their lives.

Most (NOT ALL) who adhere to today's gospel of covetousness are too busy seeking their own pleasure, instead of the WILL of the Lord.

The object of the Lord's prosperity is that we can further His Kingdom here on earth.
If the Lord blesses one of his children financially, He is not doing it so they can heap up treasures for their own lusts…He could care less about their desire for a new car or a fancy watch…

There are missionaries who are living in the third world countries who have practically nothing…the Lord wants them to prosper as well, so they can further the Kingdom of God. So they can feed the hungry, and clothe the naked, and visit the sick…

The child of God who is blessed financially can also feed the hungry, and clothe the naked and visit the sick in his own neighborhood as well. Jesus' words still ring true today:

Mark 8: 34 And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
35 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it.
36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?
37 Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
38 Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels. (KJV)

Through all the error that has been taught in today's gospel of covetousness, I have seen SOME who have spit out the error of self seeking, and embraced the pursuit of furthering the Kingdom of God with their prosperity.

There is nothing wrong with receiving financial blessings from the Lord. The question is, what kind of stewards are we with the finances he has given us? We are taught to seek everyone elses' good, rather than our own:

Phil 2:4 4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. (KJV)

Again, we are taught that we are not to be conformed to the ways of this world, but to allow our selves to be transformed by the RENEWING OF OUR MINDS.

Rom 12: 1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. (KJV)

1 Tim 6: 3 If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;
4 He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,
5 Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, SUPPOSING THAT GAIN is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.
6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.
7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.
8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.
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.
10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. (KJV)

3: THE FALSE DOCTRINE WHICH DENIES THAT THE GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT ARE FOR TODAY:

Though the Israelites were in the presence of God on a daily basis, and saw His Miracles, they became so caught up in themselves, that they denied God even while they were in His Presence.

There are many opponents to the operation of the gifts of God today.

Just as Miriam and Aaron opposed Moses, there are those who are more concerned with pointing out errors of men who operate in the area of the gifts of the Spirit of the Lord, and they join league with the enemy, saying that those gifts are of the devil, or that they are not for today.

But God declares that He is the same Yesterday, Today, and Forever. People give testimonies all the time about how the Lord healed them of their disease or of their infirmity, and despite the evidence that we see and hear, there are teachers who say that the gift of healing is not for today.

No doubt there are many charlatans today who profess to have the gift of healing, and who make merchandise on those who are gullible enough to believe them. But that doesn't give anyone the right to deny the Power of God which is ever present to heal.

The doctrine that says that the gift of healing is done away with is held by many who profess to believe the Bible is Completely True, and is relevant for us today. But in truth, they would tear out pages of the Word of God as they go about denying the Truth of the Word of God.

James 5: 15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.
16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
17 Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.
18 And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit. (KJV)

The same is true of the gift of tongues. Some would say that the tongues which are so prevalent in the Pentecostal and Charismatic churches today are not of God, but of the devil. The Word of God says:

1 Cor 14:5 5 I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying. (KJV)

Those who deny the gift of tongues may as well tear this passage out of the Bible, as it would not be relevant for us today if tongues were not for us.

The same ones who deny the gift of tongues also say that the gift of prophecy is done away with because the Word of God has been written and handed to us. Then they may as well delete 1 Cor 14:39-40, as well.

1 Cor 14: 39 Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues.
40 Let all things be done decently and in order. (KJV)

It is true that in many (NOT ALL) Pentecostal and Charismatic circles, all things are not done decently and in order.

It is true that many focus more on the gift than they do on the Giver of the Gift. But this is no reason to deny the Work of God in the Body of Christ today.

They are quick to point out that 1 Corinthians 13:8 says prophecies will fail, and tongues will cease. But they ignore the fact that it also says that knowledge shall vanish away. It is interesting that none of these "Knowledgable" Bible "Scholars" will say that Knowledge has vanished!

1 Cor 13: 8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. (KJV)

So in context I believe that what Paul is saying is that someone who operates in the gift of prophecy will not constantly utter prophetic words. We can only operate in the gift of God as God sees fit to allow us to operate in that gift.

The word "fail" in relation to prophecies and "Vanish away" in relation to knowledge is the same word. It means to become inoperative. We don't know all things. We don't prophesy concerning all things.

Just as knowledge is relevant for today, so are tongues and prophecy. You can't have one without the other, since they are in the same verse.

When Christ comes, there will be no need for tongues, which are given to us for our edification, or for the prophetic, which is also given to us for edification, or for knowledge, which is also given to us for our edification. Christ is our EDIFICATION.

IF WE WALK IN LOVE, THE WORD IS TELLING US, THEN THAT LOVE WILL NEVER FAIL US. YOU CAN'T EVER GO WRONG WITH LOVE.

Another way of looking at what Paul is saying here is this… "None of us knows everything. We don't always have a prophetic word to guide us, and we are not constantly speaking in tongues.But Love is Constant, and sure, and will always be there to strengthen us."

Again, there is a lot of abuse in the church concerning the gifts of God, but that doesn't justify denying them. None of these gifts mean anything if we are not walking in love toward God and toward our fellow man.

These teachers who deny the gifts of God, who embrace the doctrine of covetousness, and who encourage sin in Christian's lives, and those who embrace such teaching, are in danger of hardening their hearts

The Word of God has foretold the coming of these false doctrines:

2 Tim 3:1-5 1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.(KJV)

The Word is plain: We are Christ's, IF we continue in His Goodness. We are not to take our God for granted.

We are not to lust after the things in this world. If God calls us to do a work, He will empower and enable us to do that work. OUR DESIRE SHOULD BE TO SEE THE KINGDOM OF GOD FURTHERED ON THIS EARTH.

God is the SAME Today, as He was Yesterday, and as He will be Tomorrow. He doesn't change. His Gifts are still for today. Despite what the unbelievers may say, He will be glorified.

THOSE WHO DENY HIS GIFTS DENY WHO HE SAYS HE IS. THEY CALL HIM A LIAR. BUT I SAY, LET GOD BE TRUE, AND EVERY MAN A LIAR!

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JUDGEMENTALISM

THE TRINITY

PRAISING IN THE TEMPLE OF THE LORD

THE POWER OF THE EFFECTIVE USE OF THE NAME OF JESUS

PEACE IN THE MIDST OF TRIBULATION

SOME COMMON LIES THAT HINDER SALVATION

WHY DOES CHRISTIANITY PROFESS TO BE THE ONLY TRUE RELIGION?

ARE CHISTIANS SUBJECT TO GENERATIONAL CURSES?