Friday, February 24, 2017

God's Longsuffering - 4 (LG61)

‘Last Generation’
Mat 24:11 “Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many.”
    Even with the numerous warnings from our Lord Jesus Christ, yet many Christians are still being deceived by these false prophets. This is painful to God seeing His children being misled and deceived and are destined to damnation.

Mat 7:15-16 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles?”
    These false prophets appear as godly Christians in sheep’s clothing, and only by their fruits we can distinguished them. What fruits?

Luke 7:24-28 When the messengers of John had departed, He began to speak to the multitudes concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? But what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft garments? Indeed, those who are gorgeously appareled and live in luxury are in kings’ courts. But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and more than a prophet. This is he of whom it is written: ‘Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, Who will prepare Your way before You.’ For I say to you, among those born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.”
    Our Lord Jesus told us that John the Baptist, the greatest amongst His prophets lived in the desert and lived on locusts and wild honey. Prophets or full-time workers must bear the fruit of a simple lifestyle and we cannot find one living in luxury as millionaires or the lifestyles of kings.

Mark 10:21-22 Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.” But he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.
    To become His disciples, as a full-time pastor or worker, we must sell all we have and give to the poor and only then can we take up our cross and follow Him. So, beware of those rich pastors, full time workers who live in luxuries for they are likely the false prophets.
Act 4:33-35 And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all. Nor was there anyone among them who lacked; for all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold, and laid them at the apostles’ feet; and they distributed to each as anyone had need.

1 Tim 6:17-19 Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy.
    Please note that our rich Christian brethren can live in luxuries for they are businessmen living amongst kings and authorities. God has given these luxuries to them to enjoy but not to be abused nor wasted.

Brethren, do not envy the luxurious lifestyles of our rich and powerful brethren who are stewards of His abundant riches. We must uphold them before God for with such great wealth, their dangers are great and temptations are many. Their most common abomination is Robbing God of His money.

Mal 3:8 “Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, ‘In what way have we robbed You?’ In tithes and offerings.