The Prosperity Gospel: Man-Made, Counterfeit Spirituality
JUDGES: WHEN GOD IS NOT KING • Sermon • Submitted
0 ratings
· 3 viewsDON’T CONFUSE MATERIAL PROSPERITY WITH THE BLESSING OF THE LORD
Notes
Transcript
Sermon Tone Analysis
A
D
F
J
S
Emotion
A
C
T
Language
O
C
E
A
E
Social
BIG IDEA: DON’T CONFUSE MATERIAL PROSPERITY WITH THE BLESSING OF THE LORD
BIG IDEA: DON’T CONFUSE MATERIAL PROSPERITY WITH THE BLESSING OF THE LORD
If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness,
he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions,
and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain.
But godliness with contentment is great gain,
for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world.
But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content.
But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.
For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.
PROSPERITY GOSPEL
PROSPERITY GOSPEL
Our study of Judges 18 this morning will expose the roots of a gospel perversion which has swept across American evangelicalism in the past century. You have heard it criticized under the label of the Prosperity Gospel -- Essentially the philosophy that equates material gain with the blessing of the Lord.
PROSPERITY GOSPEL
PROSPERITY GOSPEL
Other names you may recognize: the “name it and claim it” gospel, the “blab it and grab it” gospel, the “health and wealth” gospel [usually some emphasis on faith healing and physical health is associated with the movement], the “word of faith” movement, the “gospel of success,” and “positive confession theology.”
GOD INTENDS FOR EVERY CHRISTIAN TO EXPERIENCE MATERIAL PROSPERITY IN THIS LIFE.
GOD INTENDS FOR EVERY CHRISTIAN TO EXPERIENCE MATERIAL PROSPERITY IN THIS LIFE.
The central tenet of this perversion is quite simple: God intends for every Christian to experience material prosperity in this life. A sidebar that is often correlated to this mindset is the ministry philosophy: Since we are God's children, we should always go first class, we should have the biggest and the best. Only this brings glory to God!
PROSPERITY GOSPEL
PROSPERITY GOSPEL
Millions of people are impacted by this watered-down, self-help babble that has stripped the gospel of its genuine spiritual power and reduced God to some type of genie that you rub like a rabbit’s foot to try to extract personal blessings. This stuff should make you sick. Hate evil!
FOUR DECEPTIONS OF THE PROSPERITY GOSPEL
FOUR DECEPTIONS OF THE PROSPERITY GOSPEL
In those days there was no king in Israel. And in those days the tribe of the people of Dan was seeking for itself an inheritance to dwell in, for until then no inheritance among the tribes of Israel had fallen to them.
So the people of Dan sent five able men from the whole number of their tribe, from Zorah and from Eshtaol, to spy out the land and to explore it. And they said to them, “Go and explore the land.” And they came to the hill country of Ephraim, to the house of Micah, and lodged there.
When they were by the house of Micah, they recognized the voice of the young Levite. And they turned aside and said to him, “Who brought you here? What are you doing in this place? What is your business here?”
And he said to them, “This is how Micah dealt with me: he has hired me, and I have become his priest.”
And they said to him, “Inquire of God, please, that we may know whether the journey on which we are setting out will succeed.”
And the priest said to them, “Go in peace. The journey on which you go is under the eye of the Lord.”
ITS ATTRACTIVENESS -- THE PROSPERITY GOSPEL FAILS IN ITS DIAGNOSIS OF WHAT PATH HAS THE LORD’S APPROVAL
ITS ATTRACTIVENESS -- THE PROSPERITY GOSPEL FAILS IN ITS DIAGNOSIS OF WHAT PATH HAS THE LORD’S APPROVAL
In those days there was no king in Israel. And in those days the tribe of the people of Dan was seeking for itself an inheritance to dwell in, for until then no inheritance among the tribes of Israel had fallen to them.
Moral Relativism Undermines Biblical Conviction
Moral Relativism Undermines Biblical Conviction
“In those days there was no king of Israel;” shortened version of same refrain. Who is there to lay down the law regarding the path of righteousness?
Moral Relativism Undermines Biblical Conviction
Moral Relativism Undermines Biblical Conviction
Everybody doing what is right in their own eyes – and yet wanting to affirm that their conduct has God’s stamp of approval; they are not rejecting the faith from their perspective; they are silencing their conscience, ignoring biblical convictions and convincing themselves that God supports their path of comfort and prosperity
Opportunism Advances Selfish Agendas
Opportunism Advances Selfish Agendas
In those days there was no king in Israel. And in those days the tribe of the people of Dan was seeking for itself an inheritance to dwell in, for until then no inheritance among the tribes of Israel had fallen to them.
So the people of Dan sent five able men from the whole number of their tribe, from Zorah and from Eshtaol, to spy out the land and to explore it. And they said to them, “Go and explore the land.” And they came to the hill country of Ephraim, to the house of Micah, and lodged there.
Tribe of Dan seeking out an opportunity to improve their situation; not content to trust the Lord for the territory He had called them to conquer
Opportunism Advances Selfish Agendas
Opportunism Advances Selfish Agendas
Not out to advance the kingdom of God; out to secure an inheritance for themselves; they preferred a life of ease and comfort to fighting the battles that the Lord had called them to fight; to ease their conscience in choosing this path of attractiveness, they began worshipping idols.
Zorah and Eshtaol
Zorah and Eshtaol
Joshua 19 makes it clear that their assigned portion was between Ephraim and Judah, stretching out to the Mediterranean. Dan had refused to trust God by driving out the Amorites. As a result, Judges 1:34 indicates that Dan was forced into the hills and reduced to living in two towns.
Worldly Success Masquerades as Spiritual Authority
Worldly Success Masquerades as Spiritual Authority
When they were by the house of Micah, they recognized the voice of the young Levite. And they turned aside and said to him, “Who brought you here? What are you doing in this place? What is your business here?”
And he said to them, “This is how Micah dealt with me: he has hired me, and I have become his priest.”
Shocking to find a Levite ministering in this context! They were on a mission of expediency, hoping to justify their actions by some spiritual authority and here they find a like-minded soul.
Worldly Success Masquerades as Spiritual Authority
Worldly Success Masquerades as Spiritual Authority
Look at my fancy clothes … look at my comfortable lodging … look at the opportunity I have to minister as I please … what a deal. This Levite has found the secret to professional success and personal prosperity; and he did not have to reject his religious façade – perfect.
Worldly Success Masquerades as Spiritual Authority
Worldly Success Masquerades as Spiritual Authority
They seize upon some marketing strategy that seems to have been successful and take it to an entirely new level; we will become our own spiritual authority so that we can control and manipulate our religious practice.
Worldly Success Masquerades as Spiritual Authority
Worldly Success Masquerades as Spiritual Authority
Of course the fact that he has already been compromised by being hired by Micah sets the stage for him being bribed with a higher wage to switch his loyalties to the tribe of Dan.
For we are not, like so many, peddlers of God’s word, but as men of sincerity, as commissioned by God, in the sight of God we speak in Christ.
Satan has his agents masquerading as agents of light.
And what I am doing I will continue to do, in order to undermine the claim of those who would like to claim that in their boasted mission they work on the same terms as we do.
For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ.
And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.
So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds.
PERSONAL PREFERENCE TRUMPS THE WILL OF GOD
PERSONAL PREFERENCE TRUMPS THE WILL OF GOD
And they said to him, “Inquire of God, please, that we may know whether the journey on which we are setting out will succeed.”
And the priest said to them, “Go in peace. The journey on which you go is under the eye of the Lord.”
The Prosperity Gospel tells people what they want to hear.
The Prosperity Gospel tells people what they want to hear.
Didn’t take the Levite much time to inquire of God … just going through the motions – using his ephod probably; not much different from tarot card reading; has degenerated into superstition and wishful thinking.
The Prosperity Gospel tells people what they want to hear.
The Prosperity Gospel tells people what they want to hear.
These large mega-churches of our day point to their numbers as proof that they have the Lord’s approval; look at all they are accomplishing; note that they do not point to a life of holiness on the part of their constituents – Only the Holy Spirit can produce the genuine fruit of the Spirit – but phony love, peace and joy can be trumped up via emotionalism and the mantra of positive thinking
The Prosperity Gospel tells people what they want to hear.
The Prosperity Gospel tells people what they want to hear.
Like Micah in 7:10-13, the Danites immediately recognize their good fortune in this surprise encounter. Just as Micah’s cult had lacked credibility and authority until the Levite arrived, so the mission of these scouts lacks authority without an oracular authentication from deity.
ITS MISSION -- THE PROSPERITY GOSPEL ORIENTS ITS MISSION AROUND THE WRONG OBJECTIVES –
ITS MISSION -- THE PROSPERITY GOSPEL ORIENTS ITS MISSION AROUND THE WRONG OBJECTIVES –
Exploiting People Who are Vulnerable
Exploiting People Who are Vulnerable
Then the five men departed and came to Laish and saw the people who were there, how they lived in security, after the manner of the Sidonians, quiet and unsuspecting, lacking nothing that is in the earth and possessing wealth, and how they were far from the Sidonians and had no dealings with anyone.
Exploiting People Who are Vulnerable
Exploiting People Who are Vulnerable
You see the desire of the tribe of Dan – to find a geographic pocket where they could live a life of ease, safe and secure from the pressure of surrounding enemies; not engaged in God’s kingdom purposes but enjoying tranquility and comfort – sounds attractive, doesn’t it … compared to “Onward Christian Soldiers …” compared to “endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ” … compared to being challenged to fulfill the Great Commission -- “Go into all the world and make disciples” – who wants to be challenged when we can be coddled?
Exploiting People Who are Vulnerable
Exploiting People Who are Vulnerable
Sidon was a Phoenician settlement on the Mediterranean coast known primarily for trade and commerce rather than war. Second, Laish is relatively isolated, both geographically and politically … have no allies who can readily offer assistance.
Coveting Power and Possessions
Coveting Power and Possessions
And when they came to their brothers at Zorah and Eshtaol, their brothers said to them, “What do you report?”
They said, “Arise, and let us go up against them, for we have seen the land, and behold, it is very good. And will you do nothing? Do not be slow to go, to enter in and possess the land.
As soon as you go, you will come to an unsuspecting people. The land is spacious, for God has given it into your hands, a place where there is no lack of anything that is in the earth.”
They pass off their personal coveting as the will of God – “God has given it into your hand” – how can they be confident of this? They have the assurance of a compromised Levite who told them what they wanted to hear
ITS TREACHERY -- THE PROSPERITY GOSPEL JUSTIFIES ITS PERVERSION BY MEANS OF AN EXPEDIENT, COUNTERFEIT, MAN-MADE RELIGIOUS SYSTEM ---
ITS TREACHERY -- THE PROSPERITY GOSPEL JUSTIFIES ITS PERVERSION BY MEANS OF AN EXPEDIENT, COUNTERFEIT, MAN-MADE RELIGIOUS SYSTEM ---
So 600 men of the tribe of Dan, armed with weapons of war, set out from Zorah and Eshtaol,
and went up and encamped at Kiriath-jearim in Judah. On this account that place is called Mahaneh-dan to this day; behold, it is west of Kiriath-jearim.
And they passed on from there to the hill country of Ephraim, and came to the house of Micah.
Why did they stop at the house of Micah?
Why did they stop at the house of Micah?
Why did they stop at the house of Micah? Seeking to justify their mission as divinely ordained; they wanted assurance of the blessing of the Lord
Then the five men who had gone to scout out the country of Laish said to their brothers, “Do you know that in these houses there are an ephod, household gods, a carved image, and a metal image? Now therefore consider what you will do.”
And they turned aside there and came to the house of the young Levite, at the home of Micah, and asked him about his welfare.
Now the 600 men of the Danites, armed with their weapons of war, stood by the entrance of the gate.
And the five men who had gone to scout out the land went up and entered and took the carved image, the ephod, the household gods, and the metal image, while the priest stood by the entrance of the gate with the 600 men armed with weapons of war.
And when these went into Micah’s house and took the carved image, the ephod, the household gods, and the metal image, the priest said to them, “What are you doing?”
And they said to him, “Keep quiet; put your hand on your mouth and come with us and be to us a father and a priest. Is it better for you to be priest to the house of one man, or to be priest to a tribe and clan in Israel?”
And the priest’s heart was glad. He took the ephod and the household gods and the carved image and went along with the people.
Let’s make a deal approach to spiritual leadership; Buying someone out and silencing their prophetic voice – what type of instruction and leadership was this priest going to provide? He has been totally compromised.
So they turned and departed, putting the little ones and the livestock and the goods in front of them.
When they had gone a distance from the home of Micah, the men who were in the houses near Micah’s house were called out, and they overtook the people of Dan.
And they shouted to the people of Dan, who turned around and said to Micah, “What is the matter with you, that you come with such a company?”
And he said, “You take my gods that I made and the priest, and go away, and what have I left? How then do you ask me, ‘What is the matter with you?’ ”
And the people of Dan said to him, “Do not let your voice be heard among us, lest angry fellows fall upon you, and you lose your life with the lives of your household.”
Then the people of Dan went their way. And when Micah saw that they were too strong for him, he turned and went back to his home.
ITS RESULTS -- THE PROSPERITY GOSPEL CAN PRODUCE SHORT TERM RESULTS THAT LOOK IMPRESSIVE BUT ARE AT ODDS WITH GOD’S KINGDOM PROGRAM
ITS RESULTS -- THE PROSPERITY GOSPEL CAN PRODUCE SHORT TERM RESULTS THAT LOOK IMPRESSIVE BUT ARE AT ODDS WITH GOD’S KINGDOM PROGRAM
3 Key Philosophies of the Prosperity Gospel Movement:
3 Key Philosophies of the Prosperity Gospel Movement:
What’s Yours Is Mine Philosophy
What’s Yours Is Mine Philosophy
But the people of Dan took what Micah had made, and the priest who belonged to him, and they came to Laish, to a people quiet and unsuspecting, and struck them with the edge of the sword and burned the city with fire.
And there was no deliverer because it was far from Sidon, and they had no dealings with anyone. It was in the valley that belongs to Beth-rehob. Then they rebuilt the city and lived in it.
Some people live by the very selfish philosophy: What’s mine is mine and I am not going to share. Very few people live by the servant philosophy: What’s mine is yours and I am going to minister to your needs
Name and Claim It Philosophy
Name and Claim It Philosophy
And they named the city Dan, after the name of Dan their ancestor, who was born to Israel; but the name of the city was Laish at the first.
No wonder that they advocate that others live by this mantra; this is how they got to the top of the heap. They could call the city whatever they wanted; but God knows that it still is Laish
External Religious Trappings Philosophy
And the people of Dan set up the carved image for themselves, and Jonathan the son of Gershom, son of Moses, and his sons were priests to the tribe of the Danites until the day of the captivity of the land.
So they set up Micah’s carved image that he made, as long as the house of God was at Shiloh.
In the end the Danites have a territory they may claim as their home, but they have sold their souls to Canaanite values. The refutation of the Prosperity Gospel is quite simple:
And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.”
For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.
But Peter said, “I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!”
I coveted no one’s silver or gold or apparel.
You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my necessities and to those who were with me.
In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”