Author: Phil Rehberg

prosperity

Are Believers Supposed To Be Prosperous? – Part 4

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In this series we have looked at the contrast in prosperity between the old and new covenants. Last week we also looked at the prosperity gospel and giving and tithing. Some believers may prosper and some may not, and those who do need to give generously to those who do not. Those who have plenty should “be generous and willing to share” (1 Tim. 6:17, NIV). Believers are not supposed to just accumulate wealth but rather spread their wealth around in order to even out the differences in congregations in the interest of fairness. This is the idea behind 2 Corinthians 8:14-15: “Your abundance at the present time should supply their need, so that their abundance may supply your need, that there may be fairness. As it is written, “Whoever gathered much had nothing left over, and whoever gathered little had no lack” (ESV). This was also practiced in full Continue Reading →

Weekly words of encouragement

Sure Footing For Our Journey – Weekly Words Of Encouragement

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The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him; though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand. Psalms 37:23-24 (NIV) Our Christian life is a journey, and it comes with many twists and turns and stumbles. We may want God to give us instructions for every step, but he does not do this, nor would he want to. He wants us to learn to trust his invisible hand, which we may not even recognize. Instead of waiting for step by step instructions, God would like us to delight in him. This keeps our hearts abiding in him, which he honors with guidance. Our steps will be “firm”; they will solidly contact the ground and give us a foundation for our next step. We may stumble because of the troubles in the world or because of our lack of Continue Reading →

prosperity

Are Believers Supposed To Be Prosperous? – Part 3

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Last week we looked at the two phases of the kingdom of God and problems with the prosperity gospel. One of the common elements of the prosperity message is the claim that God will bless us financially because of generous giving. Scripture does clearly teach that God will give us some blessing for our generosity. For example, we have the promise in 2 Corinthians 9:6: “Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully” (ESV). (See also Jesus’ words at Matthew 6:3-4.) But what type of blessings will God give? Paul makes his thinking on this clear in his letter to the Galatians. He teaches that when believers contribute financially to their ministers their reward is spiritual: Let the one who is taught the word share all good things with the one who teaches. Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever Continue Reading →

Weekly words of encouragement

We Shall Inherit The Earth – Weekly Words Of Encouragement

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But the meek shall inherit the landand delight themselves in abundant peace. Psalms 37:11 (ESV) Earlier in this Psalm the psalmist was encouraging readers not to fret over wrongdoers because they “will soon fade like the grass and wither like the green herb” (v. 2). Instead, if we are patient God will bless the righteous. It is not the violent or selfish who will eventually be in charge of the land but rather the meek, those who “trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness” (v. 3). This reminds us of Jesus’ words “Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth” (Matt. 5:4, ESV). He was saying that when God’s kingdom is fulfilled that the peaceful ones who followed God will rule over the earth; this is the promise of the kingdom of God. In other words, the words of this Psalm Continue Reading →

prosperity

Are Believers Supposed To Be Prosperous – Part 2

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Last week we looked at the contrast between Old Testament and New Testament teaching on prosperity for believers. We saw that there is no promise for prosperity for believers under the new covenant. You might be wondering why there is such a contrast between the old and new covenant in relation to material things. The answer lies in the two-phase nature of the kingdom of God. We are in phase one of the arrival of the kingdom of God, the time of the “already/not yet” or the time of “sowing and growing”. In phase two of the arrival we will have all the material blessings of the new Garden of Eden. We are material beings and God wants us to live richly in his new earth. But in phase one we embrace the fellowship of Christ’s sufferings (Phil. 3:10), we take up our Cross (Matt. 16:24), we live outside the Continue Reading →