Category: Level: Intermediate

As we love God and choose to focus on Christ we will notice times when other things take our focus off of him. Our affections drift off to something else. It might be projects, or food, or sports, or shows, or drugs, or status, or people, or career, or a particular self-image, or sensual pleasure, or money or a thousand other things, but it is surprisingly easy for us to transfer our focus and affections to other things. This is the same dynamic that affects those who initially hear Jesus’ message: “The seed that fell among the thorns represents others who hear God’s word, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life, the lure of wealth, and the desire for other things, so no fruit is produced” (Mark 4:18-19, NLT). The distractions of life can be very frustrating because our new Adam desires Continue Reading →

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 →

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 →

Today there is much confusion about the relationship that believers should have to prosperity and wealth. In the Old Testament God promised material prosperity to his faithful followers. When he was bringing them to the promised land he promised prosperity if they followed his law. 12 “And because you listen to these rules and keep and do them, the Lord your God will keep with you the covenant and the steadfast love that he swore to your fathers. 13 He will love you, bless you, and multiply you. He will also bless the fruit of your womb and the fruit of your ground, your grain and your wine and your oil, the increase of your herds and the young of your flock, in the land that he swore to your fathers to give you. 14 You shall be blessed above all peoples. Deuteronomy 7:12-14 (ESV) In Psalm 81:13, 16 God Continue Reading →

One of the more helpful practices for maturity is to examine our motives on a regular basis. This helps us to find attitudes and beliefs and weaknesses that are blocking our Christformation. It helps us to break free of the chains that are holding us back. If you are wondering why your daily life or ministry doesn’t seem to be primarily focused on God then it is possible that you are doing what you do for the wrong motives. It is easy to do the right thing for the wrong reason. It is also possible that you have created a false self out of destructive motives, hoping to gain approval. Some people lead worship or lead a congregation for years before realizing that their ministry was more about gratifying themselves and gaining approval than about honoring God. So we need to occasionally ask ourselves penetrating questions. “Is my motivation for Continue Reading →