Christians Must Be Prepared To Suffer For Christ

CHRISTIANS MUST BE PREPARED TO SUFFER FOR CHRIST

Matt. 24:9

INTRODUCTION

A. HUMOR: MAGIC AT THE PASTRY SHOP

1. Two broke and hungry best friends, Dave and John, went into a pastry shop. Dave suddenly whisks three cookies into his pocket with lightning speed. The baker didn't notice. Dave said to John, "See how clever I am? You'll never beat that!"

2. John replied, "Oh yeah? Watch this." He said to the baker, "Give me a cookie and I’ll show you a magic trick!" The baker handed him a cookie which he promptly ate.

3. Then he said to the baker: "Give me another cookie for my magic trick." The baker was getting suspicious but he gave it to him. He ate that one too.

4. Then he said again: "Give me one more cookie... " The baker was getting angry now but gave him one anyway. He ate that one too.

5. The baker puts his hands on his hips and yelled, "Where is your magic trick?!" John pointed at Dave and said: "The three cookies are in that guy's pocket!"

B. THESIS

1. Americans, through faulty teaching of the Prosperity movement, have gotten the wrong idea that God won’t let Christians suffer any kind trouble but that, if they behave themselves, God will always give them good health and financial prosperity.

2. There are some true aspects about this and many false aspects. Let’s take a closer look at what’s taught and what the Bible says is the reality.

3. The title of this message is, “Christians Must Be Prepared to Suffer for Christ.”

I. MODERN “PROSPERITY” THEOLOGY

A. THE TEACHING OF PROSPERITY GOSPEL

1. Prosperity theology, sometimes referred to as the “Prosperity Gospel,” the “Health and Wealth Gospel,” the “Gospel of Success,” or “Seed Faith” is a religious belief among some Christians, who hold that financial blessing and physical well-being are always the will of God for them, and that faith, positive speech, and donations to religious causes will increase one's material wealth [J. Wilson].

2. Prosperity theology views the Bible as a contract between God and humans: if humans have faith in God, he will deliver security and prosperity. It usually adds the belief that its God's will for his people to be “happy.”

3. Surveys show that nearly one-third of Protestants say their churches teach that God blesses those who give money to the church, and 69 percent believe God wants them to prosper financially. [LifeWay Research]

4. It’s obvious that this philosophy is the product of materialistic and probably greed-driven teachers. They often teach that if you sow a financial “seed” into their ministry, that God will automatically reward you with a 100X return – in other words, God will make you rich.

5. Some current teachers of this are Joel Osteen, Creflo Dollar, Jesse Duplantis, and Kenneth Copeland. It’s no accident they are some of the richest preachers in America, with 100+ million $ each!

B. MY PROBLEMS WITH PROSPERITY THEOLOGY

1. First, it’s strange that they claim to serve a Jesus who had no possessions and no place to lay His head! This same Jesus warned against laying up treasures on earth and regularly called his followers to sell all they had, give all it to the poor, and follow Him.

2. I guess that Jesus Himself and the Apostle Paul didn’t have enough faith or they would have been wealthy. And if Elisha had had more faith he would never have died of sickness, etc.

3. The truth is, that GOD DOES PROMISE BLESSINGS FOR OBEDIENCE. Joshua 1:8 says, “Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.” Some of God’s most faithful servants became wealthy – Abraham, Job, David, etc.

4. But God is also a SOVERIEGN BEING. It may not be in your best interests to be made rich; Jesus taught that it’s almost impossible for a rich person to make it to heaven (Mt. 19:24). Paul taught they’ll destroy you (1 Tim. 6:9). And God does sometimes use sickness to bring people closer to God or keep them from temptation (John 11:4; 2 Cor. 12:7-10).

5. GOD’S HIGHEST PRIORITY is NOT your happiness, but the saving of many lives (Gen. 45:5; Jonah 4:11; Luke 19:10)! God’s working all things together to save people from hell. A secondary goal would be the well-being of His people.

6. Frequently God asks us to give up what is most precious to us to test the sincerity of our love for Him. God asked Abraham to sacrifice his only son (who was a type of Jesus).

7. All these examples show that GOD DOESN’T HAVE A CONTRACT or guarantee of health and wealth. It’s only as we live for Him, we work at a job, and we’re faithful to build His kingdom, that God will make it a priority to take care of us and our happiness. “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” Mt. 6:33 (3 Jn. 2, KJV).