Sermon Tone Analysis

BIG IDEA: DON’T CONFUSE MATERIAL PROSPERITY WITH THE BLESSING OF THE LORD

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

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.

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

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

ITS ATTRACTIVENESS -- THE PROSPERITY GOSPEL FAILS IN ITS DIAGNOSIS OF WHAT PATH HAS THE LORD’S APPROVAL

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

Satan has his agents masquerading as agents of light.

PERSONAL PREFERENCE TRUMPS THE WILL OF GOD

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.

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.

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 –

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

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

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 ---

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

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.

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:

What’s Yours Is Mine Philosophy

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

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

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: