DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT - WEDNESDAY WARRIOR! #1.

I'll say this for adversity, people seem to be able to stand it, and that's more than I can say for prosperity. - Kin Hubbard.

The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. – 2 Cor 10:4.

I am in the process of tweaking my blog, and one of the changes is the new Wednesday Warrior, it’s designed to look at some bad/heretical teachings etc; and to fight back against them with some straight-talking, and fighting words. Enjoy the first one...

I love this story because it speaks to me of the foolishness of people, and at the same time the genuineness of Godly people…

Now Naaman was commander of the army of the king of Aram. He was a great man in the sight of his master and highly regarded, because through him the LORD had given victory to Aram. He was a valiant soldier, but he had leprosy. Now bands of raiders from Aram had gone out and had taken captive a young girl from Israel, and she served Naaman's wife. She said to her mistress, "If only my master would see the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy."

Naaman went to his master and told him what the girl from Israel had said. "By all means, go," the king of Aram replied. "I will send a letter to the king of Israel." So Naaman left, taking with him ten talents of silver, six thousand shekels of gold and ten sets of clothing. The letter that he took to the king of Israel read: "With this letter I am sending my servant Naaman to you so that you may cure him of his leprosy."

As soon as the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his robes and said, "Am I God? Can I kill and bring back to life? Why does this fellow send someone to me to be cured of his leprosy? See how he is trying to pick a quarrel with me!" When Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his robes, he sent him this message: "Why have you torn your robes? Have the man come to me and he will know that there is a prophet in Israel." – 2Kings 5:1-8.

Can you imagine the prosperity preachers of today, getting mad, tearing their clothes in frustration, and declining the equivalent of 750 pounds or about 340 kilograms of silver, and 150 pounds or about 68 kilograms of gold, plus the latest fashion in expensive clothes?

I don’t think so, not today’s prosperity preachers! They would be falling over themselves to get to the loot! And receiving it in the name of Jesus! That’s the difference today, instead of emulating the example of Godly men in the King of Israel, and Elijah, they would lie, cheat, manipulate, and in some cases destroy, to get their hands on that kind of money!

It would be well if men were as sensible of the burden of sin as they are of bodily disease. And when they seek the blessings which the Lord sends in answer to the prayers of his faithful people, they will find nothing can be had, except they come as beggars for a free gift, not as lords to demand or purchase. – Matthew Henry.

Oh! To have men and women today, of the caliber, and Godliness of the King and Elijah. Is it so difficult to rightly divide the word of God? Is it so difficult to follow Christ? Is it so difficult to call ourselves Christians, and put into practice what Jesus tells us?

Jesus said that the Holy Spirit would come to help us, that He would lead us into all truth. Don't the peddler's of misery take this seriously? Don't they realise that they serve a Holy and just God, who is the same yesterday, today, and forever?

My prayer is that God will have mercy on these prosperity preachers, and that their eyes will be opened to the truth of God’s word, and turn away from their folly. If not, then let them suffer the consequences of a Holy God.

Loving Father, I thank you for the Godly example of the King of Israel and Elijah. Help me by the power of the Holy Spirit, to study and show myself approved by you, that I may preach your word in truth and deed, and to follow in the footsteps of your dear son Jesus, in whose name I humbly ask these things. Amen.

Be encouraged!
GBYAY