Is NT FAITH in the unseen the exact opposite of Osteen's Satanic Prosperity Gospel??
Hebrews 11:1,6: Now Faith is BEING SURE OF WHAT WE HOPE FOR and CERTAIN OF WHAT WE DO NOT SEE!"{THE **UNSEEN**}...And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He {WHO IS **UNSEEN**} exists and that HE REWARDS THOSE WHO EARNESTLY SEEK HIM!"
2 Corinthians 4:18: "So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is **UNSEEN**. For what is seen is temporary, but what is **UNSEEN** is ETERNAL!."
Matthew 5:19,20: Jesus says, �Do not store up for yourself treasures on earth {THE SEEN}, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves **TREASURES** in Heaven!{THE **UNSEEN**}� Luke 12:33 adds �Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide for yourselves.. a **TREASURE** in heaven {THE **UNSEEN**} that will not be exhausted. For where your **TREASURE** is there your heart will be also!!�
2 Corinthians 6:6,10: As servants of God we commend ourselves in every way......We are **POOR**, yet making many rich, **HAVING NOTHING**{THE SEEN}, and yet **POSSESSING EVERYTHING**!{THE **UNSEEN**}!�
Ephesians 6:7,8: "Serve wholeheartedly...because you know that the Lord will *REWARD* everyone for whatever good he does!"
2 John 1:8: "Watch out that you do not lose what you have worked for, but that you may be *REWARDED* fully!"
I Corinthians 3:6-9: Paul said, "I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God makes things grow. The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be *REWARDED* according to his own labor. For we are God's fellow workers!"
UNSEEN ETERNAL REWARD:
Daniel 12:3: "Those who impart wisdom will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever!"
Matthew 5:11,12: Jesus says, "Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your {**UNSEEN**}*REWARD* in Heaven!" {See Luke 6:35}
Revelation 22:12: Jesus says, "Behold, I am coming soon! My {**UNSEEN**}*REWARD* is with Me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done!"
2 Corinthians 5:9,10: "So we make it our goal to please Him..For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him {**UNSEEN REWARDS & TREASURES**} for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad!"
Matthew 16:27: Jesus says, For the Son of Man is going to come in His **FATHER'S GLORY WITH HIS ANGELS**{See Matt 24:30-31;25:31-40}, and **THEN**{NOT NOW} He will *REWARD*{**WITH UNSEEN ETERNAL REWARDS**} each person according to what he has done."
MORE UNSEEN ETERNAL REWARDS:
Jesus says in Rev 2:17; 3:4, 5, 21: �To him who overcomes...I will give a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who receives it.....He will walk with Me for he is worthy... I will acknowledge his name before My Father and His angels.... I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem.....I will write on him my New Name... and I will give him the right to sit with Me on My throne, just as I overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.�
So Salvation is a 100% FREE GIFT as per Ephesians 2:8,9 and {**UNSEEN**} eternal *REWARDS* for God's faithful and loving saints are 100% earned!
I Peter 1:13: �Therefore, prepare your minds for *ACTION*, and set your hope *FULLY* on the {**UNSEEN**} grace to be given *YOU* when Jesus Christ is *REVEALED*.:applause::angel::peace:
I am going to ask the question because I do not know the answer. what did this joel olestein guy do?
I have heard of him and seen his books.
However, I have my pastor to teach me and that is good enough for me.
James replies:
The Bible is about mankind's fall from Grace, and the utter sin and destruction that came from it. God, in His mercy, provided a way out, and that is by repentance and Faith in Jesus. We can be saved from Hell, and the wrath to come, and be saved to righteousness and perfection and paradise, if we repent and trust in Jesus.
Now, Osteen preaches a self-help course that says that if you follow some principles he teaches, that God WILL make you healthy and wealthy, and happy. In other words God is not in charge, YOU ARE, and you can MAKE God do things for you if you follow Osteen's rules. He throws in some Bible verses to make it seem legitimate. This has NOTHING to do with the Christian faith, yet he pretends it IS Christianity. Osteen, NEVER talks about Hell, God's wrath and justice, and all the verses in Scripture where it says that God CAUSES his own people to suffer at times, because it is best for them, in order to grow to become the kind of people He wants. You can see John the Baptist, being imprisoned and getting his head cut off, and Jesus suffering, and ALL the apostles suffering, and then Osteen acts like if you listen to Him, that God will do tricks for you and make you happy and healthy and wealthy.
So, Christians, are rightfully exposing him as a liar and heretic.
I am going to ask the question because I do not know the answer. what did this joel olestein guy do?
I have heard of him and seen his books.
However, I have my pastor to teach me and that is good enough for me.
James replies:
The Bible is about mankind's fall from Grace, and the utter sin and destruction that came from it. God, in His mercy, provided a way out, and that is by repentance and Faith in Jesus. We can be saved from Hell, and the wrath to come, and be saved to righteousness and perfection and paradise, if we repent and trust in Jesus.
Now, Osteen preaches a self-help course that says that if you follow some principles he teaches, that God WILL make you healthy and wealthy, and happy. In other words God is not in charge, YOU ARE, and you can MAKE God do things for you if you follow Osteen's rules. He throws in some Bible verses to make it seem legitimate. This has NOTHING to do with the Christian faith, yet he pretends it IS Christianity. Osteen, NEVER talks about Hell, God's wrath and justice, and all the verses in Scripture where it says that God CAUSES his own people to suffer at times, because it is best for them, in order to grow to become the kind of people He wants. You can see John the Baptist, being imprisoned and getting his head cut off, and Jesus suffering, and ALL the apostles suffering, and then Osteen acts like if you listen to Him, that God will do tricks for you and make you happy and healthy and wealthy.
So, Christians, are rightfully exposing him as a liar and heretic.
In Christ,
James
If they are Christians speaking against Joel Osteen publicly, they are doing it in unbelief.
Love does not lie James, and yes of course prosperity is the gospel, The word says if you will lift up Jesus he will draw all men unto him, the bible say nothing about lifting up Satan, or sin and I will draw all men unto me. You never found Jesus exalting the problem, but always the answer to the problems of life upon the earth
It is always the goodness of God that bringeth men unto repentance.
Ro 2:4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?
I*y you are a student of the word you would find Jeus is the perfect picture of prosperity, Satan is the author of everything that opposses prosperity.
Ecc 7:14 ESV In the day of prosperity be joyful, and in the day of adversity consider: God has made the one as well as the other, so that man may not find out anything that will be after him.
PJ, I'm confused. You seem to have given the example of Jesus drawing all men to Him as evidence for the prosperity gospel. it sort of makes one wonder if you know what the prosperity gospel is or if you are aware of Osteen's teachings.
After reading this thread, Here are some spiritual nuggetts for you guys to chew on regarding Jorl Osteen and his ministry that you might care to consider...
"For as we have many members in one body, and all members DO NOT have the same office. So we, being many, are one body in Christ Jesus, and every one member one of another. Having then different gifts according to the grace that is given to us...whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of our faith."
Joel Osteen has the gift of EXHORTAION this is his ministry, and exhortation is sometimes consider as a form of prophesying... therefore, EXHORTATION is different that listening to a man/woman who has the ministry gift of preaching or teaching the gospel as we know it.
Found this on the internet to share with you so that you might better understand the ministry of EXHORTAION.
Creation/Foundation/Motivational Gifts
Gift of Exhortation
Please read Romans 12:4-8
Exhortation DEFINED: parakale
1. to call to one�s side, call for, summon.
2. to address, speak to, (call to, call upon), which may be done in the way of exhortation, entreaty, comfort, instruction, teaching, etc.
2A to admonish, exhort.
3. to encourage and strengthen by consolation, to comfort.
The Greek words for exhorter come from the same root word as paraclete, which is the word used to describe the Holy Spirit. Paraclete is translated: Counselor, comforter, advocate, helper, intercessor, strengthener, standby, or encourager.
An exhorter is not just one who is on the sidelines, but is one who is there with us, encouraging and helping us
Dictionary:
1. to incite by argument or advice : urge strongly
2. to give warnings or advice : make urgent appeals
Description of an exhorter:
The gift of exhortation is the special ability that God gives to certain members of the body of Christ to minister words of consolation, encouragement, comfort, and counsel to other members of the body in such a way that they feel helped and healed. They motivate others to their best effort, the highest level of being in Christ. Exhorters urge us to our full potential as children of God. Exhorters help others fulfill their destiny!
All scripture is actually an exhortation, admonition or encouragement for the purpose of strengthening and establishing the believer in the faith.
Teaching stimulates the mind; Exhortation stimulates the will and faith
Important Truths and Characteristics of Exhorters:
1. They emphasize God�s promises and encourage believers to remain faithful (Hebrews 10:23-25).
2. They confront, challenge, exhort and encourage those who have gotten off track in their faith or life, helping others overcome sin. (Hebrews 3:12-13 )
Every Christian has the responsibility to encourage, exhort and admonish one another as opportunities exist.
3. One of the qualifications for Deacon/Elder/Pastor (Titus 1:7-9; Titus 2:14-15)
�� exhort and convict those who contradict.�
4. Exhorters call God�s people to higher levels
1 Timothy 2:1 Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men,
5. It is an important aspect of the Preaching ministry
Luke 3:18 And with many other exhortations he preached to the people.
6. Helps others change their behavior by applying biblical truth; Teaching
2 Timothy 4:2 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.
7. It is an important element of Prophesying:
1 Corinthians 14:3 But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men.
8. Pastors are exhorted to operate in it.
1 Timothy 4:13 Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.
9. They encourage with their words
Acts 15:32 Now Judas and Silas, themselves being prophets also, exhorted and strengthened the brethren with many words.
Ecclesiastes 12:11 The words of the wise are like goads, and the words of scholars are like well-driven nails, given by one Shepherd.
Scriptural example of an exhorter: Barnabas
1. Son of consolation (Acts 4:36)
2. An exhorter uses not only words but actions to exhort others (Acts 4:34-37)
3. He has faith in a person when others have given up hope in them (Acts 9:26-28)
4. An exhorter is interested in what it takes for you to grow spiritually (Acts 11:22-25)
5. Complimented Paul�s teaching gift (and got him going in ministry) (Acts 11:25-27)
6. He understood that trials and tribulations bring new levels of maturity (Acts 14:21-22)
7. Encouraged John (also called Mark) not to quit (Acts 15:39) who ended up writing the book of Mark.
Barnabas didn�t write any books in the New Testament. He was just a Spirit-led man who stood beside Paul (who wrote 13 books) and Mark (who wrote the first gospel).
