The Word of Truth Ministries

 

 
 

 

 

We often say when a soldier or someone dies in some type of heroic adventure, "He offered the ultimate sacrifice." Such as statement assumes and implies that death is the ultimate sacrifice, but is it?

To wittingly forfeit life on this human plain is generally assumed by human beings to be a sacrifice because all living things want to live and continue life, whether those living things are animal, plant, or another form of life. It is inherent in the life process to continue; therefore, self-killing (suicide) is against the norm, and when it is done that action is considered, statistically and clinically, as an aberration. We do not see mass suicides commonly because inherent in life is its desire for continuity. So strong is the desire for continuity of life that living things will kill other living things, generally, if they pose a threat or danger to them. And enshrined in human laws throughout all the ages of mankind is the right to use deadly force to preserve the continuity of a life being threatened by another.

The universal ethos of all living things was enunciated by Jesus, when he said, "I am come that they might have life and that they might have it more abundantly." [John 10:10] All living things want to live and continue living; second, all living things want to enhance their living/lives--that is to have an abundant life. But the above statement of Jesus indicates that such a life cannot occur outside of him, for could it, why, then, would he have come? And the life that Jesus referred to is a spiritual life, not an abundant life in this world. For James said that fellowship and friendship with this world is enmity with God, and one who is a friend with this world is an enemy to God. [James 4:4-5]

To think that we are to have all this world's goods now is quite premature and a failure to understand the timelines of God's word. Paul shows us that before we are to have all this world's good, there must come the end of all things, when he (Christ) must have put all enemies under his feet and the last enemy is death. [I Cor. 15:24-28] That certainly has not occurred!

There are timelines in God's word that many ministers, especially those gospel of wealth preachers, have conveniently or ignorantly overlooked. But they are important. Were they considered, they would still the mouths and wealth of many of the multimillionaires who have become millionaires through a preaching of this false teaching of the gospel of wealth.

Many of the Clefo Dollars, Kenneth Copelands, Leroy Thomases, etc., drive around in hugely expensive cars and planes, as they emerge from their million-dollar homes. How could these preachers possibly be ministers of God, having become wealthy off God's people?

It is very difficult to imagine Jesus or his apostles clothed with the wealth of these men acquired from God's people. It is equally difficult to not see that the wealth acquired from God's people is the result of the merchandizing of God's people. And in so doing, they live luxuriously now and think they have need of nothing, [Rev. 3:17] but the great Apostle Peter says, their judgment only now lingers, but it is sure to come. [2Peter 2:3]

This gospel of wealth foolishness is only taught in the USA. That is because this nation is based upon the gospel of personal wealth and that carnal notion is now pawned off to God's people as if it were God's teaching. It is not; instead, it is only a scheme to make the teachers of this false doctrine wealthy. Those who teach such flawed teaching have erred from the faith and yet they use a form of flawed biblical analysis to rationalize that failed scheme.

They assume that their teaching of the gospel of wealth is correct (maybe they do) and that it is right that they would profit hugely from that teaching, but suppose they are not correct; suppose they are, in fact, making merchandise of God's people as God has warned against; what is their end? Can they simply say, "God, I did not know that I was wrong."

A minister of God's people or those who represent themselves as being ministers are obligated to know what God says to him and to them. Jesus saw the lack of understanding in Nicodemus and he exclaimed and chided him, "Art thou a master of Israel and know not these things?" [John 3:10] If a minister stands in the leadership position to lead God's people, he should be well-qualified through much study of God's word. No personal experience is required, although he should be no novice, God is demanding that his ministers preach his word, not themselves or their experience.

The scripture says that he that knows to do good and does it not to him it is sin. [James 4:17] God says study to show yourself a workman unto God who needs not be ashamed but rightly dividing the word of truth. [2Tim. 2:15] This is a command of God for every minister! There is no excuse allowed. "I didn't know," will not be accepted!

Assuming that God will accept excuses is folly, and there are negative consequences to false assumptions; consequence that will bring about the ultimate sacrifice: one's eternal damnation.

Am I trying to scare you? Yes, but not only scare you, but shake you and bring you to a knowledge of God that you may turn to him.

 

 

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