Are God’s preachers prosperity preachers ?

Prosperity or no prosperity? 

It was never a consideration for me when I chose Christ.

I chose Christ 30 years ago because I was shown about my sins, my lack, and my helplessness. 

So, should I leave this world today, I will still go with Christ with the same thought, same need, same repentance, same humility, and same grace. I see prosperity and health as temporal; but salvation is forever.

That's why we will never preach prosperity even if we have prospered today. If it has never been our consideration in our decision for Christ, it should never be preached as a consideration for drawing people to Christ too?

Please click on this link to go to slide no: 32

of the the following video:

This video would explain the doctrine of prosperity quite clearly

 

1. The Lord's rebuke and warning against the accumulation of tithes for personal gain is still applicable to the churches today   
2. The prophecy of Malachi against the priests or leaders in the house of God is still applicable today  
3. The prophecy and rebuke of the Lord to the churches in Revelation is still for us  
   
4. Can we all reign like kings? 
5. How do we judge if a prosperity preacher is a false prophet or false preacher? 
6. False preachers will convince us to give to God through them directly or indirectly
7. False preachers will create idols for the believers subtly or subconsciously
   
   

1. The Lord's rebuke and warning against the accumulation of tithes for personal gain is still applicable to the churches today  

Many prosperity preachers think that the following Bible verses can never be applicable to them because it was Jesus' rebuke only to the Pharisees:

• Luk 11:41-46 ISV  (41) So give what is inside to the poor, and then everything will be clean for you.  (42)  "How terrible it will be for you Pharisees! For you give a tenth of your mint, spices, and every kind of herb, but you neglect justice and the love of God. These are the things you should have practiced, without neglecting the others.  (43)  How terrible it will be for you Pharisees! For you love to have the places of honor in the synagogues and to be greeted in the marketplaces.  (44)  How terrible it will be for you! For you are like unmarked graves, and people walk on them without realizing it."  (45)  Then one of the experts in the law said to him, "Teacher, when you say these things, you insult us, too."  (46)  Jesus said, "How terrible it will be for you experts in the law, too! For you load people with burdens that are hard to carry, yet you yourselves don't even lift one of your fingers to ease the burdens.

They argued that Jesus' rebuke or hard saying was only for those who preached the law or hard rules to tithe or to sow 'seeds', and that therefore there is no more need for the Lord's command, hard saying, or rebuke for the churches today. I will ask them, Do you think that the Pharisees or false prophets in Jesus' time could argue with the Lord and said that His hard saying was no more valid against them? Of course not. Similarly, false prophets today can never argue with the Lord and say that His hard saying or rebuke is no more applicable to them too. As long as there are still hypocrites, Pharisees, and false prophets, the Lord's hard saying is there to expose them and warn the believers about their false doctrines and greedy deceits. Please read the Lord's teaching above again. Jesus' hard saying above is not only for those who preached hard rules or laws to the Jews in (v46); his hard saying is also for those who used the tithing principle or the tithes belonged to God to enrich themselves and glorify themselves in the marketplaces instead of giving it to the poor, doing justice, and showing love to the people (v41-43)..

Now, are there preachers who preach hard rules like the lawyers to the people in (v46)? You bet. Yes. Are there also preachers who preach prosperity, fame, and favour to exalt themselves in (v41-43) too? Of course, many. I will tell them, If the situation in the house of God has not improved, I don't see any reason why Jesus' hard saying is no more valid for our churches today. Hence, the prosperity preachers, who had the intention to prosper themselves in the house of God and argued that the Lord's teaching and hard saying could never apply to them, could not preach very convincingly to deceive us.

• 2Pe 2:1-6 KJV  But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.  (2)  And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.  (3)  And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.  (4)  For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;  (5)  And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly;  (6)  And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly;

2. The prophecy of Malachi against the priests or leaders in the house of God is still applicable today 

Many preachers have quoted Malachi and talk about the curse which will come to the believers if they do not tithe or give to them. But it was actually the curse to the priests, Pharisees, leaders, or preachers who corrupted the covenant or the law of God.

• Mal 2:1-17 KJV  And now, O ye priests, this commandment is for you.  (2)  If ye will not hear, and if ye will not lay it to heart, to give glory unto my name, saith the LORD of hosts, I will even send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings: yea, I have cursed them already, because ye do not lay it to heart.  (3)  Behold, I will corrupt your seed, and spread dung upon your faces, even the dung of your solemn feasts; and one shall take you away with it.  (4)  And ye shall know that I have sent this commandment unto you, that my covenant might be with Levi, saith the LORD of hosts.  (5)  My covenant was with him of life and peace; and I gave them to him for the fear wherewith he feared me, and was afraid before my name.  (6)  The law of truth was in his mouth, and iniquity was not found in his lips: he walked with me in peace and equity, and did turn many away from iniquity.  (7)  For the priest's lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts.  (8)  But ye are departed out of the way; ye have caused many to stumble at the law; ye have corrupted the covenant of Levi, saith the LORD of hosts.  (9)  Therefore have I also made you contemptible and base before all the people, according as ye have not kept my ways, but have been partial in the law.  (10)  Have we not all one father? hath not one God created us? why do we deal treacherously every man against his brother, by profaning the covenant of our fathers?  (11)  Judah hath dealt treacherously, and an abomination is committed in Israel and in Jerusalem; for Judah hath profaned the holiness of the LORD which he loved, and hath married the daughter of a strange god.  (12)  The LORD will cut off the man that doeth this, the master and the scholar, out of the tabernacles of Jacob, and him that offereth an offering unto the LORD of hosts.  (13)  And this have ye done again, covering the altar of the LORD with tears, with weeping, and with crying out, insomuch that he regardeth not the offering any more, or receiveth it with good will at your hand.  (14)  Yet ye say, Wherefore? Because the LORD hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth, against whom thou hast dealt treacherously: yet is she thy companion, and the wife of thy covenant.  (15)  And did not he make one? Yet had he the residue of the spirit. And wherefore one? That he might seek a godly seed. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth.  (16)  For the LORD, the God of Israel, saith that he hateth putting away: for one covereth violence with his garment, saith the LORD of hosts: therefore take heed to your spirit, that ye deal not treacherously.  (17)  Ye have wearied the LORD with your words. Yet ye say, Wherein have we wearied him? When ye say, Every one that doeth evil is good in the sight of the LORD, and he delighteth in them; or, Where is the God of judgment?  ...    Mal 3:1-18 Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts.  (2)  But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap:  (3)  And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness.  (4)  Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the LORD, as in the days of old, and as in former years...
  (8) Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.  (9)  Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.  (10)  Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. .. (13) Your words have been stout against me, saith the LORD. Yet ye say, What have we spoken so much against thee?  (14)  Ye have said, It is vain to serve God: and what profit is it that we have kept his ordinance, and that we have walked mournfully before the LORD of hosts?  (15)  And now we call the proud happy; yea, they that work wickedness are set up; yea, they that tempt God are even delivered.  (16)  Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name.  (17)  And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.  (18)  Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not. (4:1-6) .. (5)  Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD:  (6)  And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.
   

3. The prophecy and rebuke of the Lord to the churches in Revelation is still for us

I have heard prosperity preachers who argued and said, "The above rebuke on abuse of tithes, warning against greeds, and conviction of sins, should never be preached or taught in the churches. They are not applicable to us. We are saved by grace. Therefore, none of us can sin or will sin like that. We are the righteous ones, especially we the grace preachers. We can never fall like those who preach the laws.. Only the law preachers will sin and commit adultery; we will never .. because grace or the goodness of God will always lead us to true righteousness. That's why we will never sin and should never confess sin. 1 John 1:9 is not for us, so is Revelation 2-3 .."
I will tell them, You will never sin ? That's very good. But that doesn't mean that the prophecy and the rebuke of the Lord in the Bible can never be applicable to the churches. We can never preach that all the warnings or the commandments of the Lord are obsolete. Why? It's because there will still be believers and preachers in our churches today who will sin, commit adultery, abuse grace, steal tithes, and misappropriate God's money. It doesn't matter if they are true believers or false believers; if they are from our churches could fall, the churches should be warned about them. Please think, If the Lord's rebukes, against the Pharisees in Luke 11:41-46 and the priests in Malachi, can never be applicable to the churches today, why would the Lord rebuke or reproof the churches in Revelation:

• Rev 3:13-22 KJV  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.  (14)  And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;  (15)  I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.  (16)  So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.  (17)  Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:  (18)  I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.  (19)  As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.  (20)  Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. .. (22)  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

Do you agree that the above is a rebuke to the churches ? How can you twist it and say that it is a rebuke not applicable to you or to any churches when the Lord said it repeatedly that He was speaking to the churches ? Please read (v19) again, The Lord was not speaking to the sinners or the people of the world; He was speaking, rebuking, chastening the people whom He loved, including people like you and me. Hence, His rebuke is definitely for the churches, for those whom the Lord loves, and for us.

4. Can we all reign like kings?

How many of you have thought of your preachers or pastors as kings or princes - as your king David or king Solomon? So, do you think that you could prosper or reign like kings or princes too? Is this a Bible promise for everyone of us? Many of you would argue, "Of course, yes. It is a Bible promise in the Bible.."

I will tell them, 

1. Yes, there were many kings and princes in the Bible but it is not a promise for everyone to be a king
2. Yes, Abraham had prospered like a king in the Bible but it is not a promise for everyone to prosper like a king
3. Yes, Peter, John, James, and the Apostles would rule the 12 tribes in heaven but it is not a promise for everyone to rule like them in this world - Mat 19:27-29 KJV  Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore?  (28)  And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.  (29)  And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.   

From the Bible verses above, we know that the Lord's promise to rule the twelve tribes with Him was given to His twelve disciples, not to every disciple. Only the twelve disciples like Peter, James, and John had forsaken everything including their family and friends to follow Jesus at that time.We can confirm this with other Bible verses too:

• Luk 22:24-32 KJV  And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest.  (25)  And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors.  (26)  But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve.  (27)  For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serveth.  (28)  Ye are they which have continued with me in my temptations.  (29)  And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me;  (30)  That ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.  (31)  And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:  (32)  But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.
• Jas 1:1 KJV  James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.

Of course, we should know by now that the Lord's promise to His twelve disciples was not to reign like the kings of the Gentiles (Luke 22:25). We know that the promise of the Lord has come true because none of the twelve disciples had prospered or lived like the kings of this world. Instead, they became the servants of God for the twelve tribes, as promised by the Lord.
When the radical grace preachers argued that the Lord's promise to reign was not a promise for His twelve disciples, but for them who come after the twelve, it made me laugh. Please think, If the Lord had made it clear to His twelve disciples that His promise for them is not to rule or to prosper like the kings of this world, do you think we can reign or live luxurious lives like the kings of this world? This is ridiculous. However, if this is true, don't you think that the twelve disciples would complain, "What's the logic? We've forsaken everything. But the promise is not given to us, but to the preachers who would boast that they are the eleventh hour worker, the Benjamin generation, or those who would do the least or do nothing for the Lord?"  Of course, no such thing. The twelve disciples knew that the Lord would never give worldly promise to all His disciples. They heard the Lord say to them clearly in Luk 22:25-26 The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors.  (26)  But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve. Hence, the promise to reign like kings in this world is a lie because the Lord would never made such a promise to any of His disciples or Apostles.

• 1Co 15:17-19 KJV  And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.  (18)  Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.  (19)  If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.

Do we know why Paul said the above? He was telling us, If the promise and the hope of Christ was to reign in this life only, they were of all men most miserable. Why? It's because Paul and most of the Apostles did not really reign like the kings of this world and live luxuriously. In fact, they did not want to live like the kings, they chose to live with the poor and like the poor, why?  So that they can transfer their prosperity and wealth to us? No way. They did this so that they would run for the real crown of life as promised by the Lord, which is not of this world. Paul had shown his true passion, after he was converted, when he changed his name from the name of a king to the name of a 'little', from king 'Saul' to a little 'Paul'. Hence, if anyone claims that  he preaches grace like Paul, he should know the passion of Paul, otherwise his preaching of grace has a different motive or a question mark.

• 1Th 2:19-20 KJV  For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?  (20)  For ye are our glory and joy.
• 2Ti 4:5-10 KJV  But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.  (6)  For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.  (7)  I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:  (8)  Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.  (9)  Do thy diligence to come shortly unto me:  (10)  For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia.
• Jas 1:12-16 KJV  Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.  (13)  Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:  (14)  But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.  (15)  Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.  (16)  Do not err, my beloved brethren. 

 I have just shown you how we should interpret the promise of the Lord in Luke 22:24-32 above. But, now, if we just use common sense, we should know that the promise to reign in this world is not practical too. Please think, How many king(s) or dictator(s) can you support in this world? If your country is rich financially, you may say that you can afford to support a few of them. However, can you support hundreds or thousands of them? No way. One is enough to make you suffer like hell if he is a dictator or hypocrite like the Pharisees and would aspire to live luxuriously at the expense of the poor especially when the nation is poor. You will notice that most of the kings or dictators, whether they are religious dictators or political dictators, would promote self-glorifying life styles and do nothing for the people.

• Luk 11:41-46 KJV  But rather give alms of such things as ye have; and, behold, all things are clean unto you.  (42)  But woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of God: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.  (43)  Woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye love the uppermost seats in the synagogues, and greetings in the markets.  (44)  Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are as graves which appear not, and the men that walk over them are not aware of them.  (45)  Then answered one of the lawyers, and said unto him, Master, thus saying thou reproachest us also.  (46)  And he said, Woe unto you also, ye lawyers! for ye lade men with burdens grievous to be borne, and ye yourselves touch not the burdens with one of your fingers. 

Hence, the promise that every preacher or every pastor can expect, to reign like kings, to prosper, and to live luxurious lives in this world is just ridiculous. If the people have already suffered tremendously by paying tax to the kings or the rulers of this world, do you think that they would still need to support many more kings like you, just to prove that Jesus would prosper everyone today as 'kings' too? No, that 'bubble' will be broken.
They will argue, "Are you jealous because we live like kings? If you don't preach prosperity or preach like a king, you can never prosper like a king. That's why you are poor. That's why it is a 100% true promise from the Bible. I can't give you the exact Bible quotation from the Lord but I can see the Lord's desire to prosper all of us at His own expense. So, if you miss the boat to prosper, blame it on yourself. Don't influence others from giving to us and believing us. After all, we are not prospered by the people; we are prospered by God, and no one can change the truth of God's blessing for us.. "
I will ask them, Where did you get the money to live like kings? Isn't it from the people's donation when they send it to you as tithes, offerings, free will giving, or purchases of many things done in the name of Jesus? Most of the people received the sermons of Jesus free of charge; but they must now pay you to listen to your podcast, CDs, DVDs, and books. Obviously, you have prospered yourselves by 'selling' something from Christ, but it does not mean that you are prospered by God. No, you are prospered by the people who think that you can prosper them with your books, CDs, DVDs, or internet downloads.
I believed that Jesus had said this to both the religious rulers and political rulers in Israel; He would still say this to us today:

If you are prospered by the people, you are prospered for the people too..

Luk 11:41-46 KJV  But rather give alms of such things as ye have; and, behold, all things are clean unto you. (42)  But woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of God: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone. 
('of the people, by the people, and for the people' - I suspect Abraham Lincoln read the Bible too)    

I have discussed on the doctrine of prosperity quite thoroughly in my previous post. You may want to go back to my previous post - The steps of a false prophet to read the follow topics. Of course, we cannot conclude that all prosperity preachers are false prophets, but we can generally say that most false prophets are prosperity preachers because, as a false prophet,

18. he will preach deceitfulness of riches

19. he will preach the old wine's prosperity but label it as his new wine's health and wealth gospel

20. he will aspire not only to be a king or prince; he will extend his ambition to become like gods or God

21. he thinks that he is answerable only to God

22. he thinks that it is none of our business 

23. he would insist on a tithing principle, first fruit principle, religious tax principle, or any 'hard' giving principle which is no longer practical in our secular or Gentile nation    

24. he would manipulate tithes and giving of the people to promote himself  

.. from The steps of a false prophet 

 

5. How do we judge if a prosperity preacher is a false prophet or false preacher?

We can judge or find out who is a false prophet or false preacher, not because we know better than others and can be more judgemental than others, but because Jesus has clearly told us to judge the false prophets by their fruits, their doctrines, and their words.   

• Mat 7:15-24 KJV  Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.  (16)  Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?  (17)  Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.  .. (20)  Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.  (21)  Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.  (22)  Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?  (23)  And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.  (24)  Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
• Luk 6:46-48 KJV  And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?  (47)  Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like:  (48)  He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood (false doctrine) arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock. (Hence, Jesus said clearly that He would not just want us to have right believing, right faith, right miracles, right preaching, or right confession only; he wants us to have right doing with His words too, because right doing would prove that we are His true disciples on the rock of salvation.)

However, some of them will argue, "No matter how we sin, we can never be false prophets. Why? It's because we confess and preach the name of Jesus. We are the true believers of Jesus Christ. If we are the believers, we can never sin or have sin. Even if we commit adultery, steal, or cheat, we are no more considered as sinners in the eyes of God because of the blood of Jesus. We may have sins but yet our sins are not considered as sins anymore. Holelujah, that's radical grace ! Please think, How many of you can claim that you don't lust for women, you don't lie, or you are not greedy? I am just like you who still has greed and feelings for women. So, will this make me a false prophet. No way. Jesus says, "You are righteous because I am righteous and I judge you as righteous..Hence, if God is for you, who can be against you". That's why we don't accuse other believers, neither can other believers judge us. If the Lord judge us righteous, we are righteous. Jesus will never tell us that we are the false prophets. No, never ! God forbid."
I will tell them, If you are greedy and lustful with no repentance, but with boasting of how much you can sin with your lust and greed, you could be a false prophet. Right believing will lead to right living and right teaching. You may preach God's doctrine or God's commandments directly from the Bible, but your behaviour and thinking could be as rotten as the Pharisees who were unrepentant and boastful. If this is so, Jesus would still rebuke you like He rebuked the Pharisees too:

• Luk 11:41-46 KJV  But rather give alms of such things as ye have; and, behold, all things are clean unto you. (42)  But woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of God: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone...    

Of course, Jesus will never say, "I never knew you: depart from me" if you were true believers. But He would definitely reject you if your hearts are as hypocritical or as deceitful as the Pharisees. He would reject you even if you claimed that you had received grace and the blood of Jesus.

6. False preachers will convince us to give to God through them directly or indirectly

They will argue, "Why should we care for the poor? Jesus told His disciples, "You would only care for the poor; don't you care for Me ?" No, the poor will take care of themselves, but we should care more for the Lord and His churches. We should give all totally like the woman below:
Mat 26:7-10 KJV  There came unto him a woman having an alabaster box of very precious ointment, and poured it on his head, as he sat at meat.  (8)  But when his disciples saw it, they had indignation, saying, To what purpose is this waste?  (9)  For this ointment might have been sold for much, and given to the poor.  (10)  When Jesus understood it, he said unto them, Why trouble ye the woman? for she hath wrought a good work upon me. (11)  For ye have the poor always with you; but me ye have not always. So, please look at the way we raise funds. Did we ask the people to give to us? No, we emphasize that they should give to the church or give to the Lord. If they give to God. God will bless them and prosper them. If they are wise and wish to be rich, they will give more. Otherwise, they should not give.. So, I have not cheated the people. If God did not prosper them, God had cheated them, not me .." 
This is how the Pharisees had deceived the people when they convinced the Jews to give to God directly or indirectly. Please think if you tithe or donate to the synagogues or the churches, ultimately who will benefit directly or indirectly? Of course, the Pharisees or the preachers. I don't care how convincing or how they claimed to have loved God and given to God sacrificially, I know that they had said those words with the hope and intention to benefit themselves when the people gave to God. Hence,

1. It is a lie if they said that Jesus would never want us to care for the poor
2. It is even a greater lie if they said that God will prosper them if they do as they said, to give to the church or to give to them directly or indirectly. 

• Mar 7:11-16 KJV  But ye say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, It is Corban, that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; he shall be free.  (12)  And ye suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother;  (13)  Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.  (14)  And when he had called all the people unto him, he said unto them, Hearken unto me every one of you, and understand:  (15)  There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him: but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man.  (16)  If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.
• Mat 15:6 KJV  And honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition. (7) Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying,  (8)  This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.  (9)  But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

Hence, I would think that both the Pharisees and false prophets could make the word and commandment of God of none effect by their deceits and doctrines. They asked the people to give to God but the giving will ultimately go back to themselves. They might boast that they all give to God, but in vain they do worship God, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. They behaved like the Pharisees who loved to show off their giving:

• Luk 18:9-14 KJV  And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:  (10)  Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.  (11)  The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.  (12)  I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.  (13)  And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.  (14)  I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
•  Luk 11:41-46 KJV  .. (42)  But woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of God: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone...     
• Mat 23:5 KJV  But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments,

Hence, I believe that the Lord would reject all the false prophets and false preachers even if they claimed that they knew Him (Mat 7:15-24) and that they had been cleansed by His blood (Heb 10:26).

• Mat 7:15-24 KJV  Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. .. (21)  Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.  (22)  Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?  (23)  And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.  ..
• Luk 6:46-48 KJV  And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?  (47)  Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like:  (48)  He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood (false doctrine) arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock. (Hence, Jesus said clearly that He would not just want us to have right believing, right faith, right miracles, right preaching, or right confession only; he wants us to have right doing with His words too, because right doing would prove that we are His true disciples on the rock of salvation.)
• Heb 10:26-29 KJV  For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,  (27)  But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.  (28)  He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:  (29)  Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?

Hence, if I am asked to give all to them directly or indirectly, I will tell them, Fat hope, I will give all to you if you were Jesus and you were on the way to die for me on the cross, but I know that you won't. So, why should I give to you ? No, offence. 

They will say, "You don't have to give if you don't believe me. But others will prosper if they give to me and God. So, it's none of your business..."
I will tell them, God's business is my business. As long as you use the same Bible and preach from the same Bible, you are accountable to my God. You are accountable to answer to all our doubts and questions on your evasive doctrines.
They will say, "I have preached Jesus commandments. God's commandments or the ten commandments to worship God or to love men is no more applicable to us. Jesus commandment to love your neighbour as thyself is no more applicable to us. His commandments to us now is to love others as He loves us.."
I will tell them, Don't be hypocrites. Do you know what it means to love others as Jesus loves you? It means you are willing to die for others as Jesus died for you? Come on, if you can't love your neighbour as yourselves, forget it. I would suggest you clean up your false doctrines first before you start to love others. Learn to keep the commandments of God and stop twisting God's word:

• Mar 7:9-13 KJV  And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.  (10)  For Moses said, Honour thy father and thy mother; and, Whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death:  (11)  But ye say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, It is Corban, that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; he shall be free.  (12)  And ye suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother;  (13)  Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.
• Mat 15:6-14 KJV  And honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition.  (7)  Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying,  (8)  This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.  (9)  But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.  (10)  And he called the multitude, and said unto them, Hear, and understand:  (11)  Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man.  (12)  Then came his disciples, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended, after they heard this saying?  (13)  But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up.  (14)  Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.

No offence. If we want to love others as Jesus loves us, we should 'clean' our mouth first, clean our preaching, clean our doctrines, and clean our hearts. Otherwise we do not just defile ourselves, we defile others too. Hence,

Right believing will lead to right living. 

Right repentance will lead to right grace. 

Right doctrine will lead to right-eousness.

7. False preachers will create idols for the believers subtly or subconsciously

After quoting some Bible verses on the Pharisees Matt 15 and 23, I started to read the whole chapter of Matt 23 again. I realised that it is a fantastic chapter which helps us to discern false prophets. Many of us thought that it was a chapter against the Pharisees who were living in Jesus' time. But there is a particular Bible verse which caught my eyes:

• Mat 23:16-25 KJV  Woe unto you, ye blind guides, which say, Whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, he is a debtor!  (17)  Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifieth the gold?  (18)  And, Whosoever shall swear by the altar, it is nothing; but whosoever sweareth by the gift that is upon it, he is guilty.  (19)  Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifieth the gift?  (20)  Whoso therefore shall swear by the altar, sweareth by it, and by all things thereon.  (21)  And whoso shall swear by the temple, sweareth by it, and by him that dwelleth therein.  (22)  And he that shall swear by heaven, sweareth by the throne of God, and by him that sitteth thereon.  (23)  Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.  (24)  Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel.  (25)  Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.

Obviously, the Pharisees were false prophets or false teachers who told the people to swear or confess things based on their Corban law (Mark 7:11) as well as their twisted doctrine. Instead of preaching God the almighty as the source and the giver of all good things, they made people focus on the gift and swear by it or worship it. That's why Jesus questioned them, "Which one is greater? God or the gift?" The false prophets today would turn God's people to the worship of idols without us knowing it too. They may not tell us to worship the golden calves or confess Corban openly but they will cunningly devise many doctrines similar to the leaven of the Pharisees (Matt 16:11) to lure the people away from God and God's commandment. They will tell the people, "If you obey God, it is under the law, it is useless. But if you obey grace or confess grace, you will be saved." Now, the ultimate question:

Will the Pharisees or false prophets use the grace of God to turn us away from God or from God's commandment? You bet. 

Grace is a gift too. Hence, we don't worship grace, we worship Jesus !

Jesus has both the grace and commandment of God. But if we worship grace only, we would limit and reduce God to just an idol for ourselves again. 

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