To be kings or not to be kings

Radical grace preachers will say, "Why not ? We are kings. We should dream like Joseph. Otherwise we can never be successful. If you do not want to be kings, do you want others to be beggars like you ? If you do not want to be millionaires, do you want them to be poor like you ? Do you think that God wants us to be miserable ? Please don't be hypocrites. I know that deep down in your heart, you want to be rich too."
I will tell them, If we tell the people to be contented, are we telling them to be beggars. If we tell the people not to focus on the riches of this world, are we asking them to be poor. No, we cannot make the people rich or poor by just thinking, dreaming, or even believing. If we need to be convinced that we must prosper by hearing from you instead of hearing from God or God's words, something is wrong about your gospel. We don't need to preach or teach people to prosper. The people of the world have prospered without any of our preaching. In fact, many of them have already prospered more than us.The world would not need our preaching or our gospel to prosper. They know how to prosper better than many of us. However, they may know how to repent.

Do you need to dream to be kings?
Yes, Joseph was a dreamer and he became successful. But so did king David and king Saul too. They did not dream to be kings, yet they became kings too. Although king Saul became a king, he was not really successful.

• 1Sa 9:17-21 KJV  And when Samuel saw Saul, the LORD said unto him, Behold the man whom I spake to thee of! this same shall reign over my people. ..  (21)  And Saul answered and said, Am not I a Benjamite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel? and my family the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? wherefore then speakest thou so to me?
• 1Sa 16:7-13 KJV  But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.  .. (12)  And he sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and withal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to. And the LORD said, Arise, anoint him: for this is he.  (13)  Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah.

Hence, to dream or not to dream, or to be kings or not to be kings is not the gospel. We cannot promise that everyone who dreams or who becomes a king will become successful; but we can preach that everyone who come to Christ and repent will be saved - this is the real gospel.

Jesus would never preach health and wealth as the gospel
Of course, God would not want us to be miserable; He wants us

1. to be saved, 
2. to be healthy, and 
3. to be wealthy. 

However,  God would only want us to preach the first of all the above as the priority of our preaching - salvation of souls. The focus of the gospel or the Lord's preaching was always on salvation and on how to receive salvation through repentance. It is not on health and wealth. Yes, we know that the book of Acts was full of miracles, healing, signs, and wonders; however, can you find any of the Apostles preaching healing, health, wealth, prosperity, good life, and longevity in this world ? Please let me know if you can find any Bible verse which relates to the preaching or the teaching of health and wealth. Yes, Jesus did go around healing the sick, feed the hungry with His bread, and helping the poor, but He preached mainly repentance, keeping God's commandments, and loving others. Yes, He did send His disciples out to heal the sick and cast out the devils but did He send them out to preach health and wealth? No, He sent them out to preach His baptism of repentance and the gospel through repentance:

• Mar 6:7-13 KJV  And he called unto him the twelve, and began to send them forth by two and two; and gave them power over unclean spirits;  (8)  And commanded them that they should take nothing for their journey, save a staff only; no scrip, no bread, no money in their purse:  ..  (12)  And they went out, and preached that men should repent.  (13)  And they cast out many devils, and anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed them.
• Mat 6:24-33 KJV  No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.  .. (31)  Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?  (32)  (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.  (33)  But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

The true disciples of Jesus Christ would not preach health and wealth as the gospel 
Yes, I did find the following two Bible verses written by the Apostles which told us to prosper and to have long life:

• 3Jn 1:2-4 KJV  Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.  (3)  For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth.  (4)  I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.
• Eph 6:2-3 KJV  Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;)  (3)  That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.

However, they were the only two 'health and wealth' Bible verses I could find in the New Testament. Please think, Can we conclude that the whole gospel of Jesus Christ is the gospel of health and wealth based on just two Bible verses ? No, if only 0.1% of the New Testament is about health and wealth, we have to find out what the other 99.9% of the New Testament is about. I can guarantee that that those who read the Bible and understand the Bible will never conclude that the gospel of Jesus Christ is the gospel of health and wealth merely based on the two Bible verses.
Obviously those who think that they can conclude that the gospel of Jesus Christ is all about health and wealth (based on the above two Bible verses) have deliberately preached, exaggerated, or created too many imaginations, lies, diversion, Old Testament theories, old wine, self-deceptions, or self-efforts to give people the wrong impression about the gospel of Jesus Christ. They have expanded their health and wealth theories (based on the above two Bible verses) and mixed them with the 'old wine' in the Old Testament to distort the gospel of Jesus Christ. However, they do not realise that most of their prosperity theories and arguments on why the believers must have God's favour and prosper like kings, were 'old wine' prosperity teaching which could have already been abused, distorted, or radically preached by the greedy Pharisees long time ago.

The true disciples of Jesus Christ will not preach the Old wine teaching or the Pharisee's teaching
The Pharisees could have used the examples of Abraham's inheritance and king Solomon's riches to attract the people too. They could have used many Old Testament illustrations to distort God's laws and commandments secretly, but only the Lord knew about it:

• Mar 7:11-13 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.
• Mat 15:6-9 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. 
• Mat 3:7-10 KJV  But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?  (8)  Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:  (9)  And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.  (10)  And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
• Mat 6:29-30 KJV  And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.  (30)  Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?

Hence, the teaching of the Lord is new wine, which would burst all the 'old wine' teaching of the Pharisees. However, when I heard today's preachers who argued, "The teaching of Jesus was Old covenant teaching or old wine teaching too. It was mostly hard saying for the Jews who were under the law", I would tell them, Do you know that you have the Pharisee's problem too ? You know that your 'old wine' skin or Old Testament prosperity teaching cannot contain the teaching of the Lord and that the words of the Lord would burst your old wine skin one day. So, you would just give the excuse and tell your believers that you could not follow the gospel that Jesus preached; but only the gospel of radical grace or the gospel that Paul preached. However, even Paul would still hear Jesus and preach the gospel that Jesus preached. Paul would still preach repentance too. It is not just repentance like mind changing philosophy only or like the Pharisee's repentance; it is repentance with fruits or works worthy of repentance.
Act 26:19-20 KJV  Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision:  (20)  But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.     

The true disciples of Jesus Christ would preach the gospel of Jesus Christ which brings repentance to keep God's words and commandments

Yes, the Apostles had probably given the believers the instruction or command to prosper in 3Jn 1:2-4 or to live long in Eph 6:2-3; but it was not preached as the gospel of Jesus Christ to the sinners. The sinners would never know God's instructions or God's commandments to keep them. Hence, we would never preach the command to prosper or to live long as the gospel to the sinners.
They will argue, "Of course, we won't preach health and wealth as the gospel to the sinners. But why can't we preach or teach about the health and wealth gospel to the believers, since the Apostles have written about it to the believers ?"
I will tell them, Yes, of course, you can teach about it or encourage the believers with the instruction to prosper, to live long, and to succeed in life; however, the Apostles did not tell you to preach it as the gospel to the sinners or believers. Please read 3Jn 1:2-4 and Eph 6:2-3 again. Do you realise that the promises in these Bible verses are the promises with the commandments ? They are the promises to the believers :

1. who walk in truth (3Jn 1:2-4), and
2. who obey God's commandments (Eph 6:2-3)

Obviously the promises of prosperity and long life are not for the sinners or believers who would not keep God's commandments, who would walk in darkness, who would refuse to repent, and who would just want to do nothing under the New covenant. If Paul had said so under the New Testament, he would say so to all of us who are under the New covenant too. Hence, how can we preach it as the gospel without any commandment or any repentance under the New covenant ?


The true disciples of Jesus Christ would not preach any 'God' or any 'Jesus' who can only heal or prosper us

My 'zouzou' dream - Recently I had a dream. In my dream, I heard from many people who told me that I could be healed of any sickness if I went to Africa. They said, "There is a wonderful 'God' who can heal EVERYBODY there. He would never ask us to do anything or give Him anything. He would just heal us unconditionally. He would 'zouzou' us. We would just need to know how much He would 'zouzou' us .. He would 'zouzou' us as we speak 'zouzou' to Him or confess 'zouzou' to Him.. " 

It was a short dream. I woke up immediately and wondered, What is 'zouzou' ? It was such a catchy word that it kept ringing in my mind. Later, I remembered that I had heard of someone who preached God's salvation as 'sōzō'. In his sermon, he interpreted God's salvation as an interpretation from the Greek word 'sōzō' or 'save'. Of course, there was nothing wrong about this interpretation or the preaching of God's salvation. But, the interpretation of my dream shows that many preachers and believers today are only interested to preach a God who can only 'sōzō' you or save you. Please ask yourselves and put yourselves into the shoes of those who are sick now, "If you had a healing need (eg. if you were crippled, blind, or infected with HIV), how would you respond if you heard of a 'God' who could 'sōzō' you ?" 

a. Is our God a 'zouzou' God who 'sōzō', heals, or prospers only ?
Most of you may not have thought about this question because you have not come to such a desperate need yet. However, my real question is: If you had a desperate need and you heard about this 'God' who can 'sōzō' you, would you question 'His' identity ? Or would you just rush to 'Him' without any questions ? Would you book a ticket and fly to Africa just because someone said that there is a 'God' who can heal EVERYBODY? When I read Acts, I realised that the people of Athens had probably heard of a 'God' who could 'sōzō' them too. However, Paul was not afraid to offend them when he said that they were believing in an 'UNKNOWN GOD', a 'God' who was probably similar to the 'God' in my 'zouzou' dream: 

• Act 17:16-30 KJV  Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry. (17) Therefore disputed he in the synagogue with the Jews, and with the devout persons, and in the market daily with them that met with him.  (18)  Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoicks, encountered him. And some said, What will this babbler say? other some, He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached unto them Jesus, and the resurrection.  (19)  And they took him, and brought him unto Areopagus, saying, May we know what this new doctrine, whereof thou speakest, is?  (20)  For thou bringest certain strange things to our ears: we would know therefore what these things mean.  ..  (22)  Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars' hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious.  (23)  For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you.  ...  (30)  And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:

Do we know why the people of Athens and even the Jews argued daily with Paul in (v17) ? They felt offended because Paul told them that the true God would not just heal them, prosper them, bless them, or do whatever they like, like their puppet or idol. Paul told the people of Athens including the Jews that God commanded them to repent. Hence, they must repent and turn away from their sins if they want to turn to God. However, it is sad to know that many people including the health and wealth preachers today are offended by the preaching of repentance too. Like the people of Athens who accused Paul in (v20), they would accuse the repentance preachers for bringing 'certain strange things to their ears' or to their normal idea of an 'Unknown God' (who can only bring health and wealth to them too). They are offended because the repentance preachers preach like Paul and proclaim the gospel as the gospel of resurrection by repentance in the Lord (v30).

b. Jesus showed us that it is important to believe and preach His kingdom correctly
Many people will argue, "Is it important to preach the command of God to repent ? Must we preach the true and living God ?" I will say, Yes, it is very important. Do you still believe in the teaching of Lord Jesus Christ ? If you do, please read His words again:

• Mat 5:27-30 KJV  Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:  (28)  But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.  (29)  And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.  (30)  And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.

Many radical grace preachers used this Bible text to argue that we do not have to keep any God's commandments. However, that was not the intention of the Lord. The intention of the Lord was to show the Jews including all His disciples that they could never be righteous enough even if they had obeyed all the ten commandments. He showed that that no one was too righteous to repent or confess their sins. That was something I could see and explain whenever we told the people why they would still need to repent, confess their sins, take up their cross, and keep God's commandments. However, today I could see something new after my 'zouzou' dream. When Jesus told us that it was better for us to enter the kingdom of heaven without an eye, a hand, a leg, a finger, a head, or any part of our body, He was actually telling us that it is better to enter the kingdom of God with the right heart and repentance than entering it with complete physical body, beautiful six pad abdominal muscle, and a uncircumcised heart which is full of sins. Similarly, if we believe and preach the kingdom of God, we must believe and preach it without fear of losing an eye, a hand, a leg, a finger, head, or any part of our body. Jesus showed us that we must believe and preach His kingdom or the gospel to such extent. Hence, how can we tell people that it does not matter if we preach any God or any kingdom ? Have you read the parable of the rich man and Lazarus in Luk 16:19-31 ? Yes, it was another confirmation that the Lord would prefer us entering His kingdom as 'beggars' with repentance than going down to hell as 'rich men' who did not repent on earth. Hence, Jesus has shown us 'terribly' clear that His gospel of repentance is better than any 'health and wealth' gospel, 'material' gospel, or 'rock star' gospel.

c. Jesus would destroy any material gospel which is preached like the Pharisees' 'religious gospel' 
They will say, "We are living in a monetary world or material world. What's wrong if we preach a material world or the health and wealth gospel ? Of course, we would not need the material gospel if we are in heaven. But have we gone there already ? No. If we are still in this world, we would certainly need the health and wealth gospel here before we can enter the kingdom of God. Yes, repentance is important but all of us have already repented. There is no more need for repentance. Hence, we need to preach more on health and wealth to the believers today, not repentance. That's why I received the new direction and revolution from the Spirit of the Lord to preach it. God will transfer the wealth of the world to the churches. And He will use the giving of the people to build the most beautiful and the most expensive churches to glorify His name. Do you know that the giving of the believers is mostly the material gain from this world ? So what's wrong if we preach material gains and the prosperity gospel to the believers ?"
I will tell them, If you are thinking like this, you are still thinking with the Old Testament mentality. The Pharisees had convinced the Jews to give to the temple or God because most of them had the mentality that God would be glorified by a beautiful temple or gorgeous synagogue. Hence, the Pharisees would take the giving of the people. In return, they would give the Jews their false assurance and lies:

• Mar 7:5-13 KJV  Then the Pharisees and scribes asked him, Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashen hands?  (6)  He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. .. (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.

I believe that Jesus had told His disciples not to follow the tradition of the Pharisees or give to them because He was about to 'destroy' the whole system of their corrupted law under the Old Covenant including their temple, their temple rituals, and their 'Corban' law.
Some will argue, "But didn't Jesus commend on the giving of the poor widow ? Jesus approved the giving of the poor widow as the best giving to God. Yes, Jesus had destroyed the temple but He did not take away the need to give our material gain to glorify God .."

• Luk 21:2-6 KJV  And he saw also a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites.  (3)  And he said, Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all:  (4)  For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had.  (5)  And as some spake of the temple, how it was adorned with goodly stones and gifts, he said,  (6)  As for these things which ye behold, the days will come, in the which there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.

I will tell them, Don't you understand the 'hint' by the Lord when He came out from the temple and talked about it?

• Mar 13:1-2 KJV  And as he went out of the temple, one of his disciples saith unto him, Master, see what manner of stones and what buildings are here!  (2)  And Jesus answering said unto him, Seest thou these great buildings? there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.

If the Lord destroyed the temple or let the temple disappear totally, do you think that there was still a need to give to the temple or Him ? No, when the temple disappeared, the need to give to the temple or Him under the Old covenant would naturally disappear too. But we are still required to give to the poor or to the needy under the New covenant.
I will ask them to read Luk 21:2-6 again. Yes, the Lord did comment on the giving by the poor widow; but He did not commend on her giving. You can also check the same account in Mar 12:41-44. Jesus did just state the fact that the poor widow had cast in more than others. He did not give the comment as as a praise or compliment. Please think, If Jesus knew that the Pharisees and the scribes had been oppressing the poor and the widows, would He be pleased to see the widow continue to finance the Pharisees to run their religious activities in the temple ? No, it would all the more make Jesus more determined to destroy the temple and the Old Covenant. Many Jews thought that it was disrespectful for Jesus to say it. However, Jesus has the right to do it because He is God. Hence, if He gave covenant, He could change it or replace it with a new one. However, He would never change His words.     

::