World's Last Chance

At the heart of WLC is the true God and His Son, the true Christ — for we believe eternal life is not just our goal, but our everything.

At the heart of WLC is the true God and His Son, the true Christ — for we believe eternal life is not just our goal, but our everything.

WLC Radio

Beware of the (False) Prosperity Gospel: Learn the Dangers of the Unbiblical Prosperity Gospel

The “Prosperity” gospel is a dangerous false gospel.

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Note: The below transcript is an automatically generated preview of the downloadable word file. Consequently, the formatting may be less than perfect. (There will often be translation/narration notes scattered throughout the transcript. These are to aid those translating the episodes into other languages.)

Program 20: Beware of the (False) Prosperity Gospel

The “Prosperity” gospel is a dangerous false gospel.

Welcome to WLC Radio, a subsidiary of World’s Last Chance Ministries, an online ministry dedicated to learning how to live in constant readiness for the Savior's return.

For two thousand years, believers of every generation have longed to be the last generation. Contrary to popular belief, though, Christ did not give believers “signs of the times” to watch for. Instead, he repeatedly warned that his coming would take even the faithful by surprise. Yahushua urgently warned believers to be ready because, he said, “The Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” [Matthew 24:44]

WLC Radio: Teaching minds and preparing hearts for Christ's sudden return.

Part 1: (Miles & Dave)

Miles Robey: Welcome, welcome to WLC Radio. We’re glad you’ve tuned in. I’m your host, Miles Robey.


Dave Wright:
And I’m Dave Wright. Thanks for joining us!


Miles:
At World’s Last Chance, we’re committed to sharing the truths entrusted to us, with the world. It’s a privilege to know truth, but it’s also a responsibility. We owe it to others to share what we’ve learned, so that’s what we’re trying to do. Every day, we’re sharing new aspects of advancing truth. We hope you’ll continue to join us and invite your friends and family to listen in as well.


Dave:
If you’ve joined us before, you’ll know we prefer to be very precise when referring to the Creator. Rather than using “God” or “Lord” which are simply titles, we like to use His actual name, which is Yahuwah, or Yah.

Miles: The Saviour’s name is Yahushua and means “Yahuwah saves.” “Christ” comes from the Greek “Christos” and means simply, the “Anointed.”

Dave: So, when you hear us refer to Yah, Yahuwah, or Yahushua, you’ll know who we’re talking about.

Miles: In the political realm, graft is a serious charge. Graft, or taking advantage of one’s political position to dishonestly gain money or real property, may be widespread in some countries, but it’s nevertheless still considered a crime.

In fact, graft allegations may have played a large role in Hillary Clinton’s surprising loss to Donald Trump in the United States’ 2016 presidential elections.

What is even more surprising, though, is that graft has permeated mainline Protestantism and many spiritual leaders are guilty of participation. And that’s what I want to talk about today. Dave, what can you tell us about how graft has entered the church?


Dave:
Well, wherever you have fallen human hearts, you’ll also have dishonest people who seek to take advantage of their position for material gain. We certainly have that in Christendom in one area in particular: the prosperity gospel.

In volume 36 of The Journal of Ideology, Bradley Koch clearly defines what is meant by the prosperity gospel. He writes, quote: “The Prosperity Gospel is the doctrine that God wants people to be prosperous, especially financially. Adherents to the Prosperity Gospel believe that wealth is a sign of God’s blessing and the poor are poor because of a lack of faith.”

Miles: So basically, it’s saying that if you’re struggling financially, you are to blame because if you had more faith, you’d be rolling in wealth.

Dave: Well, it’s phrased a bit more politely, but yes. That’s the basic message.

Miles: Huh! Presumptuous much?


Dave:
Oh, it’s very presumptuous. And the only ones that truly become wealthy are the preachers teaching this false gospel. That is not gospel-good news. It’s graft, plain and simple.

Joel Osteen is an author and the pastor of Lakewood Church in Texas. This mega-church is the largest and fastest growing church in the United States with over 43,000 members. Osteen and his family live in a palatial 10.5 million dollar home. And yet, when Texas was suffering under the devastating flooding that accompanied Hurricane José during the 2017 hurricane season, Osteen was widely criticized for initially refusing to open his church to flood refugees.

Miles: Not exactly following in the steps of the Saviour, was he?

Dave: Not at all. Kenneth and Gloria Copeland are two more televangelists who have become incredibly wealthy preaching this false gospel. Their lavish lifestyle is augmented by a private airport that houses a fleet of planes and multi-million dollar jets.

Miles: Gotta do the Lord’s work in style!


Dave:
That’s just the thing: they’re taking money from those who really need it, promising “God” will give it back 100-fold over! In her book, God’s Will Is Prosperity, Gloria Copeland writes, quote: “You give $1 for the Gospel’s sake and $100 belongs to you; give $10 and receive $1,000; give $1,000 and receive $100,000.”

Miles: You can see how this would be very attractive to people who are struggling to pay bills, or keep food on the table.

Dave: Absolutely. And one of the worst, is Bishop David Oyedepo, founder of Living Faith Church in Nigeria. His total net worth is 150 million dollars. He owns four private jets and has homes in the United States and England. His “Faith Tabernacle”–as he calls it–has the capacity to seat 50,000 people! It was actually recorded by the Guinness Book of Records.

Miles: And the average person, giving with great self-sacrifice, is the one that supports these lavish lifestyles.


Dave:
At great cost to themselves! It’s so unfair and at the same time so unbiblical.

The “Prosperity Gospel” has come down from ancient heathenism, through Catholicism, to modern Evangelical Protestantism. It is nothing but a business transaction. In business, something is received, in exchange for something else.

In heathenism, the price paid for health, wealth, or victory was frequently the sacrifice of a child. Roman Catholics exchanged money for promised indulgences.

Modern Evangelicals who embrace the prosperity heresy, give, and give, and give in the hope that, in exchange, Yahuwah will be forced to prosper them.

It’s awful.

Miles: Oh, I agree. Lives have been ruined, individuals hurt, and faith destroyed by this religious fraud. It has no place in Christianity.

Dave: Charles Karuri is a pastoral assistant at Emmanuel Baptist Church in Nairobi, Kenya. In a report for TGC International Outreach, Karuri linked this modern so-called “gospel” directly to heathenism. He said, quote: “African poverty, joblessness, and general societal dysfunction [meets] an antithesis borne of Pentecostalism and,” notice this, “and traditional African religion.” Then he goes on to say, “These are the very things the witch doctor back in the village had been doing long before the prosperity message arrived on our shores!”

Miles: What an indictment!


Dave:
Money given with the intent to receive something in exchange is not a free-will offering. It’s a bribe. Author Soren Dreir describes bribery very clearly, explaining: “The gifts are not real, since they come with a motive or on special occasions. The gifts are not real because they are bribes: ‘If you do this and that – I will reward you.’ Any form of gift that comes with an alternate motive is not a gift, it is manipulation and it exposes the ‘giver’ and the giver’s agenda.

Miles: Phrased like that, it shines a bright, and very condemning light on this heresy. The gospel Yahushua taught was the very opposite of this!

Dave: Absolutely. In fact, why don’t we take a moment to read just what Yahushua said. Would you read it for us? The first three verses of Matthew six.

Miles: Matthew 6:1-3: “Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth.”


Dave:
People deceived by the prosperity gospel keep careful track of what they have given, fully expecting large returns on their “investment.” They certainly do not give self-forgetfully, not letting their right hand know what their left hand is giving.

Miles: You can see how quickly this can encourage greed. You want the latest luxury car? Just give £100 and Yahuwah will give you a £1,000. Turn right around and “invest” that money in the “Lord’s work” and you’ll get £100,000!

Dave: It’s heresy. It really is. The “prosperity gospel” is literally riddled with error. It’s based on three erroneous assumptions:

The first is that wealth is a sign of Yahuwah’s favor and blessing.

Miles: Doesn’t that strike you as something the Pharisees would teach? They thought they were better than anyone else by virtue of what they did. This, in turn, made them favored by Yah, or so they thought.


Dave:
Oh, the second assumption smacks even more of Pharisaism. It assumes that poverty is a sign that Yahuwah is displeased with you or something in your life.

Miles: That’s just awful. It’s placing this huge burden of guilt on someone already struggling. Yahushua Himself said, “The poor you will always have with you.”

Dave: The disciples themselves adopted this attitude from the Pharisees. John 9 tells the story. You remember: they came across a blind man—

Miles: Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah! And the disciples asked who had sinned, the man or his parents, that he’d been born blind. What an atrocious question!


Dave:
It really was! And Yahushua immediately set them straight. He told them neither the man nor his parents had sinned but that the works of Yah could be manifested in him.

The last assumption on which the prosperity gospel is based, is that if you give to Yahuwah, He is bound by His Word to give you more in return than you have given.

Miles: So, basically, bribery. You’re trying to bribe Yah.

Dave: Yes, that’s exactly what it is.

Miles: You know, if it weren’t so pitiful, it would be funny: the idea of trying to bribe Yah!


Dave:
Yahuwah considers bribery a sin. In fact, in Exodus 23, He instructed: “Thou shalt take no gift: for the gift blindeth the wise, and perverteth the words of the righteous.” [Exodus 23:8]

Later, when the Israelites were in apostasy, Yah sent the prophet Amos with a rebuke. He said: “For I know your manifold transgressions and your mighty sins: they afflict the just, they take a bribe, and they turn aside the poor in the gate [from their right].” [Amos 5:12]

Miles: So, yeah. Bribing the Almighty. Never a good idea.

Don’t go away folks! When we return, Dave is going to share with us five theological errors found in this presumptuous heresy.

Be right back!

* * *

If you are enjoying today’s broadcast and would like to hear some more, you can listen to previous broadcasts on line! Visit our website at worldslastchance.com. Or, look for WLC Radio on youtube.

* * *Advertisement * * *Part 2: (Miles & Dave)

Miles: Today we’ve been talking about the so-called “Prosperity gospel.” Basically, it’s nothing other than attempting to bribe Yahuwah since sincere believers are taught that Yahuwah is required to return more to you, than you give to Him.


Dave:
That’s right, Miles. And there are some serious theological errors that pop up in this heresy.

Russell Woodbridge and David Jones wrote a very insightful book entitled, Health, Wealth & Happiness that asks the question: Has the Prosperity Gospel Overshadowed the Gospel of Christ?

In it, they outline five very serious theological problems with this teaching.

The first problem is that the Abrahamic covenant is seen as a means to material entitlement. This wrests Scripture from its intended meaning by claiming the promised spiritual blessings actually promise material wealth.

Miles: What a terrible way to twist Scripture!

Dave: It’s a huge mistake and it quickly leads followers into some doctrinally dangerous waters.

Edward Pousson clearly summarized the prosperity gospel view of the Abrahamic covenant. He said, quote: “Christians are Abraham’s spiritual children and heirs to the blessings of faith. . . . This Abrahamic inheritance is unpacked primarily in terms of material entitlements.”

Miles: Wow. So, basically telling people what they want to hear. What do they base this on?

Dave: There’s a text in Galatians 3 that is frequently quoted to support this twisted interpretation. It says: “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us … That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ.” [Galatians 3:13-14]

Miles: Well, that sounds good.

Dave: Sure! But the problem is, they neglect to quote the second half of the verse, which clearly shows the spiritual application Paul intended. The second half says: “That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Yahushua the Anointed; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.” [Galatians 3:14]

Miles: Hm. That’s definitely giving a spiritual application to the text.

Dave: The second theological error Woodbridge and Jones bring out is the idea that Yahushua’s atonement extends to the “sin” of material poverty.

Miles: What?! They really teach that?


Dave:
They do. As we said earlier, this lays an incredible burden of guilt on followers by teaching that material poverty is a sin. By extension, physical suffering and sickness are deemed sins as well. Listen to how Kenneth Copeland tries to explain this. He says, quote:

“The very basic principle of the Christian life is to know that God put our sin, sickness, disease, sorrow, grief and poverty on Jesus at Calvary. For God to put any of this on us now to teach us or to strengthen our faith would be a miscarriage of justice. To believe that God has a purpose for sickness would mean that Jesus bore our sickness in vain. What an insult to His love, care and compassion for us!”

Miles: That’s nothing other than the same old/same old doctrine of the Pharisees Yahushua condemned!

Dave: Exactly. It modernizes the concept, wrapping it up in a pretty bow, but the concept remains that if you are suffering anything from ill health to poverty, you are to blame.

Miles: Amazing, isn’t it? That such a doctrine of the Pharisees could gain such ground in Christendom.


Dave:
It’s very sad. When people are already struggling, to imply that it’s their own fault for not having enough faith, is binding a heavy burden on them. It’s doing precisely what Yahushua accused the Pharisees of when He said: “ For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.” [Matthew 23:4]

Miles: So what’s the next theological problem with the prosperity gospel?

Dave: Well, we touched on it before and that is the bribery aspect of this whole thing. Christians give to Yah in order to receive material compensation in return.

Miles: To me, this is one of the biggest problems with this belief. A bribe is defined as: “Money or favor given or promised in order to influence the judgment or conduct of a person in a position of trust … something that serves to induce or influence.” And yet, that’s precisely what Christians are doing when they “give” for no other reason than to get in return!


Dave:
Prosperity preachers refer to it as the “Law of Compensation.” This isn’t selfless giving. Instead, it’s the very epitome of selfish giving. They give in order to get something even greater in return.

You can see how this contradicts the teachings of Yahushua. He said: “Love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil.” [Luke 6:35, NKJV].

Material wealth is promised no one this side of eternity.

Miles: That’s a good point. And, more often than not, those who have become stupendously wealthy have done so through questionable means.

Dave: The next problem with the prosperity gospel is what it teaches about faith. The Bible teaches that faith is a gift. It grows by hearing the word of Yah.

You’ll recall from our program on faith, that it is defined as, quote: “Belief; the assent of the mind to the truth of what is declared by another, resting on his authority and veracity, without other evidence.” That is faith.

But prosperity preachers perform a slick bait-and-switch. They use a word with positive connotations (faith) but then smoothly redefine it into something that is not supported by the Word of Yah!

Here, I printed out a quote by Kenneth Copeland. I want you to notice how he ends up switching things around. Would you read it for us?

Miles: Uh, it says: “Faith is a spiritual force, a spiritual energy, a spiritual power. It is this force of faith which makes the laws of the spirit world function. … There are certain laws governing prosperity revealed in God’s Word. Faith causes them to function. They will work when they are put to work, and they will stop working when the force of faith is stopped.”

Interesting how he makes one’s prosperity dependant on one’s faith.


Dave:
Yes. And then he adds with blasphemous presumption, quote: “Do you see how this functions? The laws of prosperity work the same as the laws of salvation, healing and so forth.” Unquote.

Miles: Scripture doesn’t teach that! In fact, Yahushua said, “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But,” He said, do “lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal.”

And I think the next line is key: “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”

Dave: That’s very good and it shows where the prosperity gospel lays up treasure: on earth. Because you can’t take any of it with you.

Now the last problem we’ve got time to cover today, is that, as Woodbridge and Jones bring out, the prosperity preachers teach the presumptuous idea that certain words, certain claims, can force the Almighty to do whatever the believer requests.

Miles: That’s no more than a heathen incantation used to “force” the spirits to obey!


Dave:
Exactly.

Creflo Dollar, is an American televangelist and the founder of World Changers Church International. He wrote a book called “Prayer: Your Path to Success.” In it, he writes, quote: “When we pray, believing that we have already received what we are praying, God has no choice but to make our prayers come to pass. He honors His Word, not our emotions. … By allowing the Word to be the foundation of our prayer life, our confidence in our prayers will soar to new heights.”

Did you catch that? He said Yahuwah has “no choice” but to answer our prayers!

Miles: Yeah! Prayer is to be our connecting link to Yahuwah, but it’s never a tool to force the monarch of the universe to comply with our demands.

I remember once, years ago, hearing a preacher say: “God is not a big Santa-in-the-sky.” He’s not some divine vending machine, either: put your money in, and get back what you want.

Dave: That’s a good analogy. You’re right. He’s not. We are never to make demands of Yahuwah.

Yahushua, as our example, has shown us how to pray. In the garden of Gethsemane, the Saviour prayed earnestly that He might not have to “drink of the cup” but every time He made that plea, He added, “Nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.” [Luke 22:42]

This is our model for prayer, for asking anything of Yah! “Not my will, but thine be done.”

To claim that Yah has to give you, for example, £1,000 simply because you just gave £100 in offering, is grossly presumptuous.

Miles: And presumption itself is a sin!


Dave:
You better believe it is. David, in Psalm 19, prayed: “Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.” [Psalm 19:13] The Prosperity heresy is nothing but presumption because it assumes a person can claim the promises to get anything he wishes, regardless of the state of his heart!

Miles: Scripture never teaches that. In fact, whenever Yah’s people sought His blessing, the very first thing they were to do was to search their hearts and make sure everything was right with Him. They certainly never demanded He do something for them.

Dave: You’re absolutely right there, Miles. In fact, why don’t you read 2 Chronicles 7:14 for us?

Miles: All right . . . give me just a sec . . . Aw, yes. “ If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”


Dave:
Yah’s love is unconditional. But answered prayers are frequently conditional. First, is what we are asking for in agreement with Yah’s will for us, which is based on His perfect fore-knowledge?

Secondly, have we met the requirements? Have we humbled ourselves and sought His face, turning from our wicked ways? See, all of these clear the way for the desired blessing.

And yet, you never hear a prosperity preacher talking about such things.

Miles: No, you really don’t.

Dave: David Jones, in his preface to Health, Wealth & Happiness, shared something he noticed about the prosperity gospel. He says:

“While I surely had been exposed to the prosperity gospel earlier in my life, it was not until I began my seminary training that I grasped the size and influence of the prosperity gospel movement. I was amazed to find classmates and laypeople who viewed their relationship to God as a give-and-get transaction. They saw God as a kind of sugar daddy who existed to make them healthy, wealthy, and happy on account of service rendered. While God certainly does provide and care for His followers, prosperity theology is a corruption of His self-revelation, a distortion of His plan of redemption, and an idea that can ultimately lead to a reckless view of the material world.”

Miles: That’s very insightful.


Dave:
Prosperity gospel advocates are attempting the impossible. Yahushua flat out said: “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 Yahuwah and mammon.” [Matthew 6:24]

Miles: I’m just going to interject here that “Mammon” is an interesting little word that comes from the Greek, Mammonas, or avarice. Avarice is “Excessive or insatiable desire for wealth or gain.” The gospel of prosperity is the gospel of Mammon!

Dave: It is. And Scripture warns against it. Peter warned:

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 [Yahuwah] that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you. [2 Peter 2:1-3]

Miles: I can’t think of any more “damnable heresy” then presuming you can make demands on the Almighty!

Dave: This teaching is popular because it appeals to two large groups of people: the greedy, and those who are struggling financially.

Miles: Almost everyone falls into one of those two categories!

Dave: Yes, but with this heresy, your success is not dependent on Yahuwah’s goodness and love. Instead, success is dependent upon your ability to “think positive” and change your reality through your own works: paying offerings.

Even worse, your spirituality is judged by outward displays of wealth. This follows, because if poverty is a sin, ostentatious displays of wealth are a sign of Yah’s favor!

Miles: Hmm . . . spiritual pride.

Dave: This heresy blatantly contradicts Scripture, which repeatedly states that troubles are the lot of Yahushua’s followers here on earth. “In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” [John 16:33]

Clearly, He’s not saying that if you struggle, you’re cursed of Yah! Instead it’s just the opposite! The closer we come to Yah, the more trials we’ll have! And those trials very well may be financial. Satan knows how to hit us where it hurts the most.

I just want to encourage everyone listening: take up your cross and follow in the footsteps of Yahushua. Turn your attention (and your offerings) to saving souls and be a blessing to those in need around you. No one is promised worldly prosperity in this life, but a divine Companion is promised. He will never leave you nor forsake you, regardless of the paths you are called to walk.

Miles: Don’t go away folks. When we return, we’ll be answering your questions sent in to our Daily Mailbag. Stay tuned.

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* * *Daily Promise

This is Elise O’Brien with today’s daily promise from Yah’s word.

If there is one thing that mothers, the world over, understand, it’s this: when the kids go silent, you better go and investigate!

My friend discovered that this holds doubly true when you have twins. The other day, while she was working in the kitchen, she suddenly realized she hadn’t heard her little girls for some time. She called them, but they didn’t answer.

Beginning to get concerned, she went looking for them. The twins weren’t in their bedroom, so she turned to her room next. One glance into her room and she knew just what the girls had been doing. A tube of lipstick was lying broken on her bedside table. White bath powder was coating the table, while more was sprinkled over the bed and on the floor. Two sets of little white footprints left a trail to the closet door.

She opened the closet. Down on the floor, huddled at the very back of the closet, two little clown faces, covered in white powder with red lipstick smeared ear-to-ear, looked up, eyes wide with fear and guilt.

My friend told me it was the funniest thing she had seen in a long time and it was difficult not to burst out laughing at the sight. But the twins weren’t laughing. They obviously knew they’d made a mess, ruined Mama’s lipstick, and were feeling very, very guilty.

Seeing her look at them, they burst out crying. “I’m so sorry, Mama! Will you forgive us?”

She did, of course. She knew from her own experience how awful it is to feel guilty about something.

Guilt, and its con-joined twin, shame, can paralyze us. Guilt is one of the worst emotions you can experience. But Romans 8 declares: “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in the anointed, Yahushua.”

The Saviour Himself, in John 8, declares, “Neither do I condemn you.”

If you have been struggling under feelings of guilt or shame, shrug it off! REJECT it. Embrace with your whole heart the wonderful gift of Yahuwah’s acceptance.

We’ve been given great and precious promises. Go and start claiming!

* * *Part 3: (Miles & Dave)

Miles: You know, Dave, this whole prosperity gospel thing, I’m seeing in an entirely new light. I didn’t really pay much attention to it before. What I’d heard of it, parts of it sounded good; other parts sounded a bit presumptuous, but over all, I didn’t give a whole lot of thought to it.

But now, listening to you lay it all out this way, I was struck by the thought that this whole prosperity gospel idea is nothing other than simony.


Dave:
I hadn’t thought of it that way but you’re absolutely right. Simony is the act of paying for any spiritual preferment. And the prosperity gospel is just that. You’re basically bargaining with Yah. “I’ll pay you £100 if you pay me a thousand.”

Miles: Exactly. And what is even worse is what it says about the character of Yah. In His sermon on the mount, Yahushua said: “Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than eat, and the body than raiment?”

Then, to encourage our faith that our Father will provide for us, He added: “Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?” [Matthew 6:25-26]

Dave: I love this passage. And a few verses further on He sums it up by saying, “Therefore” – because Yah knows what you need – “Therefore, take no thought saying What shall we eat? Or What shall we drink? Or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? … for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.”

Miles: Yes, and that is what struck me about today’s topic. Our Heavenly Father already knows what we need and He has already pledged to provide it! So what does it say about His character if we then come along and say, “You’re not living up to your end of the bargain. You’re not meeting my needs. So, I’m prepared to bribe you. I’ll give you what I can’t really afford to give, just to get you to open those heavenly coffers and give me a little something-something.”


Dave:
Priming the heavenly pump, so to speak.

Miles: Exactly. It’s accusing Yah of not providing for our needs, even though He promised He would!


Dave:
You’re right. This is not the time to be doubting Yah’s character. To be questioning whether or not He’ll keep His promises.

We’re living in solemn times. Troubles come to everyone—

Miles: –And they’re increasing!

Dave: They are. Faith must be tested in order to grow strong.

I want to appeal to everyone listening today: don’t get sucked into this-this game of spiritual bribery.

Yah loves you! And He doesn’t need to be bribed!

If you need something, learn now that you can trust Him to meet every need. Find a promise that fits your need and claim that! We need to get to know him on an individual basis, now, so that we won’t sacrifice our souls for temporary security.

Miles: I’d like to close today with reading a few verses from Psalm 37 that really speak to this topic. If you are in need, if you don’t know how you’re going to meet your financial obligations, let these words sink into your soul and grasp them by faith:

Trust in Yahuwah, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.

Rest in Yahuwah, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.

A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked.

For the arms of the wicked shall be broken: but Yahuwah upholdeth the righteous.

Yahuwah knoweth the days of the upright: and their inheritance shall be for ever.

They shall not be ashamed in the evil time: and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied.

The steps of a good man are ordered by Yahuwah: and he delighteth in his way.

Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand.

I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread. (Psalm 37:7, 16-19, 23-25, KJV)

Trust in Yahuwah. He knows what you need and He will send you help just when you need it. You don’t need to bribe Him. He loves you. He delights to give His children every good thing.


Dave:
It’s enough!

Miles: It is enough.

Well, our time is up. We hope you can join us again tomorrow, and until then, remember: Yahuwah loves you . . . and He is safe to trust!

* * *

You have been listening to WLC Radio.

This program and past episodes of WLC Radio are available for downloading on our website. They're great for sharing with friends and for use in Bible studies! They're also an excellent resource for those worshipping Yahuwah alone at home. To listen to previously aired programs, visit our website at WorldsLastChance.com. Click on the WLC Radio icon displayed on our homepage.

In his teachings and parables, the Savior gave no “signs of the times” to watch for. Instead, the thrust of his message was constant … vigilance. Join us again tomorrow for another truth-filled message as we explore various topics focused on the Savior's return and how to live in constant readiness to welcome him warmly when he comes.

WLC Radio: Teaching minds and preparing hearts for Christ's sudden return.

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