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| "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, 'He will command His angels concerning you,' and 'On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone'." |
The above precious promise of Psalm 91 was quoted by Satan to Jesus, when Christ was at His most humanly vulnerable, to provoke a response that would demonstrate Christ's faith in God. This strategy-of-Satan is among us today in many subtle ways that mislead scores of God's people and deny them a maturity which brings Christ's Church to the completion of its mission!
THE DECEPTION:
| 'Christ died to deliver you from the curse of sin: | ||||
| • | from poverty; | Feeding a 'what's-in-it-for-me' mentality of selfishness, which is the root-character of Satan's kingdom in contradiction of the moral nature of God! |
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| • | from disease; | |||
| • | from dishonour; | |||
| • | from all things that resulted from the fall of humanity.' |
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'So, if you are not experiencing this abundant life of health, wealth, honour, and happiness now – it is because of your unbelief. Step out in faith therefore and honour God now, giving a full tithe of your gross income [that is, include a tithe on the tax you pay] and prove God now!'
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'Enter into covenant with God now because of what Jesus has done for you, and prove His faithfulness to you today'. |
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| In contrast, Jesus said – |
"If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple. Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple." |
| (Luke 14:26-27). |
of the agents of this deception began their influence among God's people as genuine Spirit-anointed ministries of God's grace, bringing encouragement and blessing to many. But Satan, with awesome subtlety, seduced this 'success' into a false message of feel-good Christianity because 'God is on your side' and miracles 'were paid for by Jesus Christ'.
deception skirts so close to the truth that unmasking it creates the danger of a reverse reaction which leads folk away from the reality of what God really has done in Jesus Christ for all those who entrust themselves to Him.
All that God does in this world has focus on its purpose. It is never an end in itself! God does not bless in order to bless! Christianity is not a feel-good religion!
"joy of the Lord" in Christ's people, as a fruit of the Holy Spirit, is supernatural because it contradicts the natural effect of our human situation; just as Paul and Silas in the Philippian prison rejoiced in defiance of their personal pain and public humiliation. So, we also need to move on from the basic toward a maturity that is measured only in quality of character.
You need milk, not solid food, for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.
Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity,
not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, and of instruction about washings [baptisms],
the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment."
does this maturity entail?
| "...if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in His steps." |
| "It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons." |
| "Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus." |
Hebrews 12:7-8.
2 Timothy 2:3.
truth does not resonate in the preaching of a wealth-and-health doctrine that has subverted much of the purpose of God among His people in North America and those parts of the Christian Church influenced by it! For Christianity is not religion. It is character: ethical conduct which reveals the nature of a God who is worthy to be trusted beyond human understanding!
God has a purpose with you – to bring you to a maturity in His strength which sustains a conduct that reflects His character in all things – unconditionally!
