Servants Of God.

2 Corinthians 6:4-10 (ESV)
“4 but as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: by great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, 5 beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger; 6 by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love; 7 by truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; 8 through honor and dishonor, through slander and praise. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; 9 as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as punished, and yet not killed; 10 as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything.”

We were watching a video on YouTube last night, on the teachings of the Word of Faith (WOF) movement. See also Ultra-Charasmatic, New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) etc… (this includes Bethel, Joel Osteen, Kenneth Copeland, Benny Hinn etc)

All this ‘God wants you to be rich, now!’ and ‘There is a big blessing for you coming!‘, ‘God doesn’t want you to be poor or troubled or ill!’ rubbish.

Do these people actually read the Bible? Do they understand the Bible? Do they believe (in/that there is a) God?

Paul knew what it was to service the Church, to be “the least of the apostles” whilst serving God/Christ. He knew hardship, pain, suffering, joy, pleasure, richness, poverty, hardship, illness, torture, compassion, hatred etc…

He would find the NAR, WOF teachings to be abhorrent. He – and the other apostles – lived the life on the front-line. They did not look for reward, riches, blessings etc in this life. They welcomed all at which the NAR/WOF people would balk.

Matthew 7:15 (ESV)
15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.”

1 Peter 5:8, (ESV)
8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.