PART 14
By
Pastor Roger Anghis
April 4, 2011
NewsWithViews.com
We will now begin to look at references in the New Testament and again I want to point out that prosperity is just one aspect of the salvation that Jesus bought for us on the cross. We shouldn’t ignore anything that He purchased for us, healing, wholeness, eternal salvation, or prosperity. The other point I want to make is too many people have made money their god. This is not the purpose for a believer to have wealth. A believer is to use the money as God directs him. The accumulation of material possessions is NOT against God’s plan. If it was, none of the Old Testament patriarchs would have had anything but as we have studied, ALL that obeyed God and walked in His ways were not just wealthy, but very wealthy. Jesus warns us not about having money but about having money as a god in Matthew 6:24 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 God and mammon. The literal translation refers to mammon as wealth. It is the Greek word mammonas and means wealth. When the believer serves God, the wealth will come as it did to all the Old Testament patriarchs. God is not a respecter of persons. What He has done for one faithful believer, He will do for another.
All men seek after possessions of some kind. Most of what man seeks after is the basics that a person must have to live properly, food, clothing, and shelter. Jesus speaks about this in Matthew 6:31-33 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (32) (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. (33) But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Jesus is speaking specifically about these basic needs. He tells us that the Father knows we need these things. Then He tells us what to concentrate on to get these things. Notice that it is not your job, your retirement account, your 401k, or the government. We are to seek after God and He will supply these things. The more we seek Him the more of the earthy goods we will receive. The Greek word used for “added” is prostithemi (pros-tith-ay-mee) and it means to add to, add again, give more. The lexicon states its meaning to add to what you already have. This gives an indication that even if you have ample amount now, more will be added to you. This is also indication of increase in the application of this word.
The next group of verses deals with the man who gave his servants money to handle while he was away and his reaction to their efforts when he returned. I want to study this parable because it is Jesus giving a lesson on diligence, hard work and the rewards of that hard work. Matthew 25:14-26 For the kingdom of heaven is as a man traveling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. (15) And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey. (16) Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents. (17) And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two. (18) But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord’s money.(19)
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After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them. (20) And so he that had received five talents came and brought the other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more. (21) His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. (22) He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them. (23) His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. (24) Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed: (25) And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine. (26) His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed. What we see here is a lesson in prospering.
The master intended all three men to increase what he had given them. Two did, one did nothing. The master approved and rewarded the two that had increased what he had given them, but to the one that did nothing with what he was given, the master rebuked him. The master called him wicked. The literal translation uses the word evil. The Greek word used for “wicked” is poneros and it means evil, bad, malicious. Webster defines wicked as evil in principle or practice; deviating from the divine law; addicted to vice; sinful; immoral. This is a word of comprehensive signification, extending to everything that is contrary to the moral law, and both to persons and actions. The wicked, in Scripture, persons who live in sin; transgressors of the divine law all who; are unreconciled to God, unsanctified or impenitent. This is a very negative description of a person’s character, even God does not look lightly upon laziness. Proverbs 19:15 declares Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep; and an idle soul shall suffer hunger. Proverbs 12:24 The hand of the diligent shall bear rule: but the slothful shall be under tribute. The word slothful here even means deceitful.
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Hebrews 6:12 That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises. Paul states that those that are diligent will inherit the promises and one of the promises is prosperity. Jesus Himself is stating that it is better to profit than to not profit. He even states that those that do not work at being profitable are evil, lazy and deceitful. Try to convince the church of that concept today and you will be classified as greedy.
Click here for part -----> 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14,
� 2011 Roger Anghis - All Rights Reserved
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Pastor Roger Anghis is the Founder of RestoreFreeSpeech.org, an organization designed to draw attention to the need of returning free speech rights to churches that was restricted in 1954.
President of The Damascus Project, TheDamascusProject.org, which has a stated purpose of teaching pastors and lay people the need of the churches involvement in the political arena and to teach the historical role of Christianity in the politics of the United States. Married-37 years, 3 children, three grandchildren.
Web site: RestoreFreeSpeech.org
E-Mail: editor@restorefreespeech.org
