Jesus Tells Us How To Get Rich in His Word

Jesus tells us in His Word How to Get Rich

There is no shortage of advice today from spiritual "christian" gurus on how to get rich in the name of Jesus. There are countless books, sermons, pamphlets, dvds, and broadcasts that dangle the promise of "the abundant life" in the form of material possessions. Many of these false teachers are manipulating vulnerable Christians ( 2 Peter 2:3) They are making a profit from those who are ignorant of God's Word and what God's word has to say about money.

The Bible says that there will be those disguised as God's shepherds who will try to steal from you. " In their greed they will make up clever lies to get hold of your money. " 2 Peter 2:3 

Please keep in mind that these men aren't going to look like wolves. They are often going to be popular and well liked, but it's no suprise because the Bible says that "even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light"2 Corinthians 14.  Even the Pharisees, who devoured widow's houses by taking resources from them were loved by the people. (they love the seats of honor and to be greeted in the marketplace Matthew 23:7.)

Please don't look to these false teachers for money making advice. The Bible says in 1 Timothy 6:10  For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.

There are countless verses in which Jesus  tells us not to pursue money, but rather the will of the Father.

When Jesus was tempted in the desert, Satan offered Him great wealth. (Matthew 4) Jesus turned it down, and instead chose a bloody path toward a Cross because He knew that "His power is made perfect in our weakness.
There are countless verses where Jesus tells us to give up or money for the poor.

If you want to know how to get rich, simply look to the Word of God in Matthew 6:19.

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Jesus said, true riches, the things that matter, come when we give. Jesus told us that these treasures would be waiting for us in Heaven. They aren't something that we can see, so
that is why faith is important.  The Bible says that faith is the hope of things unseen.
Faith is the hope of that which is not seen by the human eye. Is our faith in riches and money, which can be seen? Or is our faith in God? Are we storing up treasure on earth (seen)
or are we storing up treasure in Heaven (unseen)

My posts are NEVER meant to pick on anyone. They are never meant to judge. It's just important that people realize that life is but a vapor. The book of Ezekiel tells us that are but mere dust, and all is vanity.  While there is nothing wrong with having money, I do believe that there are many false teachings in the church today regarding mammon. I truly that believe that Spirit that works within us often leads us into sacrifice. If we are to  "walk Just as He walked, then we must be prepared to realize that material things will pass away, but the Cross is eternal.

Money doesn't satisfy. Every day the rich are among those who commit suicide. Even celebrities, who seemingly have it all, can not find joy in money. True joy is having a relationship with Jesus, and knowing and understanding that this life if only temporary.

"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air: They do not sow or reap or gather into barns — and yet your Heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?" Matthew 6:26 

Dream About a Fat Shepherd: Inequality in the "Church"

"These people always cause trouble. Their minds are corrupt, and they have turned their backs on the truth. To them, a show of godliness is just a way to become wealthy." 
1 Timothy 6:5

DREAM ABOUT A FAT SHEPHERD

Several years ago, I had a dream. I dreamt that I walked into a church. When I walked into the church, a pastor beckoned me by his side. I could see that he was huge.
He was spread out across several rows of pews. It was almost cartoonish. He was massive in size. Everyone else looked extremely tiny in comparison.  When I woke up, I was led to the
book of  Ezekiel, chapter 34.

The verse talked about the shepherds of Israel. They were fattening themselves, and not caring for the sheep. The verse mentions that the sheep were not being cared for by the shepherds. The sheep, as we can see in the following verse, were suffering and hungry. They suffered while the shepherds took care of themselves, but neglected the needs of the flock.

Here is a portion of the chapter:

The word of the Lord came to me: 2 “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy and say to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Woe to you shepherds of Israel who only take care of yourselves! Should not shepherds take care of the flock? 3 You eat the curds, clothe yourselves with the wool and slaughter the choice animals, but you do not take care of the flock. 4 You have not strengthened the weak or healed the sick or bound up the injured. You have not brought back the strays or searched for the lost. You have ruled them harshly and brutally. 5 So they were scattered because there was no shepherd,and when they were scattered they became food for all the wild animals.6 My sheep wandered over all the mountains and on every high hill. They were scattered over the whole earth, and no one searched or looked for them.

7 “‘Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord: 8 As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, because my flock lacks a shepherd and so has been plundered and has become food for all the wild animals,and because my shepherds did not search for my flock but cared for themselves rather than for my flock, 9 therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord: 10 This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am against the shepherds and will hold them accountable for my flock. I will remove them from tending the flock so that the shepherds can no longer feed themselves. I will rescue my flock from their mouths, and it will no longer be food for them.

The Biblical model for church, as we can see in the book of Acts, is one where everyone laid their possessions down at the feet of the apostles. The apostles then equally distributed
everything. The people shared everything they had. 34There were no needy ones among them, because those who owned lands or houses would sell their property, bring the proceeds from the sales, and lay them at the apostles’ feet for distribution to anyone as he had need.
Acts 4:35

Notice that the apostles didn't simply collect an offering and hoard the wealth for themselves. The apostles did not get rich off of the people's offerings. Instead, they used it to meet the needs of the people.

I once read that the modern role of the pastor, (what we are seeing in many of our churches today,) is unbiblical .The modern role that we see in many of our churches was developed by The Roman Emperor Constantine hundreds of years after the death of the apostles. Constantine declared that some men were more "special", and thus began the practice of paid clergy and the start of the hierarchical religious system. The way we are doing church today looks nothing like anything we can see in scripture. 

Consider the words of the Bible, In 1 Corinthians, Chapter 12 we are told that All Believers are a part of the Body of Christ. We are told that we all need one another. We are each important, and we each play an important role. The Bible says Christ, not man, is the head of His Church. Church is not an organization, it is a spiritual, living breathing entity and Christ compares it to Body with moving and functioning parts.

One of the functions of the Body of Christ is the pastor. However, one need not look far to see what the role of pastor should look like.

One only need to read about the Son of God, Himself, Jesus Christ to see that the role of the pastor
is simply to serve. "just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Matthew 20:28

 A pastor, according to the bible, is simply a servant, one who cares for the flock.
Jesus refers to Himself as the Good Shepherd. He is to be our example. The biblical example of  a pastor does not involve a title or a position "over the flock" but rather a position "under" the flock. Jesus showed leadership by serving. Consider the following verse. "just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."Matthew 20:28
Hence, Jesus did not come in a position of authority, but rather a position of service. He shows us that true biblical leadership is not to "rule over" but to serve.(to give)

Today, we see many shepherds taking resources from the flock and hoarding it for themselves, and then there is the example of Jesus. Consider the feeding of the five thousand. Jesus saw a hungry crowd and a boy with a basket of bread and fish. Jesus took what little he was given, gave thanks to the Father, and then shared with the crowd. There was more than enough to go around. Notice that Jesus didn't demand the bread and fish and then hoard it to Himself.  Instead, Jesus served the hungry crowd. He fed them. This is an example of a shepherd feeding the flock. Jesus said to "consider others as better than ourselves, and that involves sharing.

Notice again that Jesus didn't tell everyone that if they gave to Him and His ministry that they would be blessed, and then proceed to take the resources of the people for Himself, nor did He didn't threaten the people with curses so that He could "store up treasures on earth."
Instead, Jesus simply gave thanks and shared. God supernaturally multiplied. God's blessings come when we heed the will of the Father, consider others as better than ourselves, and share.

One day I was driving to work. I had one meal. I saw a homeless woman on a street corner. Jesus spoke into Spirit and told me that if I gave her my meal, that He would provide for me.
That night, when I went to work, someone offered me a steak. Jesus knows our needs, and He will meet them when we listen, when we operate in love, and when we share with "the least of these."

Several years ago I had the pleasure of having a conversation with an elderly gentleman. He was a widow. He told me that he often had trouble making ends meet. He would often do exhausting physical labor just to put food on the table. This man told me of how he gave lots of money to his church. Did the man give out of threats of curses and manipulation? Did he give out of promises of abundant material blessings? I'm not sure, but I began to wonder why the church wasn't taking care of this man, this widow, who struggled just to get by. The Bible says that "one whose religion is pure is to care for orphans and widows, and yet many churches are taking from widows instead of simply caring for them. Is this equality? Is this justice? Is this Jesus? NO, it's an example of the unbiblical religious system taking from the flock, rather than sharing with the flock.

I truly believe that Jesus loves generous givers. In fact, one of the fruits of the spirit is generosity. When Jesus lives and dwells in us, one of the symptoms is a desire and a love of giving.  Please note that giving doesn't always have to be about money. Stephanos Ministries defines giving as time, talent, and treasure. (money, finances)

One thing that I noticed several years ago was that people would often tithe to their pastors, but neglect the poor and the homeless. It made me question a lot of things.

I began to notice that many pastors were getting rich from tithes, while the poor in the congregation would often suffer. I also noted that many Christians had an extremely negative attitude
toward the poor and homeless. I began to wonder if people were reading their bibles at all. There are countless verses in which Jesus tells us to care for those in need. COUNTLESS. I began visiting homeless shelters, nursing homes, and prison ministries and began to notice that they were all empty. There were no volunteers. I began to notice hundreds of churches in the area, People were pouring millions of dollars into buildings, but the poor were being neglected. It was then that I began asking questions, and Jesus began to show me many things that were wrong with what we are calling "church." Click here to see my video, Witchcraft in the Church.

But, I digress.

Did you know that in the Old Testament, a portion of the tithes went to the poor? Wrap your mind around that. A huge portion of tithes,  which were food and not money, went to the poor,
the widow, and the orphan.
In the Bible, the poor didn't tithe at all.  Rather, they received a tithe!

The tithe also went to Levitical priests because they were not allowed to own land. The tithe was brought into the storehouse, which was a literal place to store food. Are our churches acting as storehouses to feed the poor? Are are pastors Israeli Levitical priests who aren't allowed to own land?
How did this teaching get so twisted? How did the tithe change from food to money? Are the tithes that we give to our churches going toward the poor, the widow, and the orphan? Or are our tithes going toward funding huge buildings. Jesus said that he doesn't live in temples made of human hands, and yet we often neglect the poor and needy to build "temples made with human hands."

Did you know that tithing was obsolete for hundreds of years after the Death of Jesus? It was only reinstated after cathedrals started getting built.
It was used as a way to fund them.
Tithing was one of over 600 Old Testament Laws. The Bible says that we are no longer under those Laws, but under Grace.Galatians 3:13
We are now under a new and better covenant, one in which Jesus Christ is the head of every believer. Christ is our shepherd. He longs to lead us. We no longer need a mediator. He longs to speak to each of us directly.

The new covenant model for giving can be found in 2 Corinthians chapter 9." Each of you must give what you have decided in your heart, not with regret or under compulsion, since God loves a cheerful giver." 

Notice that there is no certain percentage! Jesus tells us to give "whatever one has decided in his heart." I have found this model of giving to be much more freeing and joyful.
I love seeing the fruits of giving to those who have need rather than following an Old Testament Law that has been nullified by the grace of Jesus Christ.

I have found that in today's modern world of churchianity, Many pastors love to use an out of context verse in Malachi to make you believe that God will bless you abundantly if you give to "them" and their" ministry. Click here to read the verse. The verse says that God will open the "windows of Heaven" in relation to tithing.

However, it is important to note that the verse was written in a time of famine, and the verse about the windows of heaven literally meant rain.
Jesus was promising rain for the crops. Jesus promised rain to people of Ancient Isreal, and yet the modern church has turned this verse into a promise of money.
However, it is no surprise because the Word of God says that in the last days people will be "vain, prideful, lovers of money, and lovers of self. (2 Timothy 3:2)  (Also click here to read Malachi in it's proper context.)

One need not look too far in the Word of God to see how Jesus feels about money. While having money in itself is not inherently wrong, the Bible says, "For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs." 1 Timothy 6:10

When Jesus was tempted in the desert, do you know what Satan tempted Him with? Great wealth. (Matthew 4:8)

Isn't that what many pastors are promising in exchange for your money? Great wealth? They say that IF you give to them, THEN God will bless you abundantly.

This kind of thinking thwarts the image of God, because it portrays Him as one who will only "bless us" when we pay him. It gives the appearance that His love is conditional.
Jesus said in His Word that Salvation is a FREE gift. It comes without cost.

The debt was paid by Jesus Christ at Calvary over 2000 years ago. Jesus does bless us when we give, but many of these blessings aren't in material things.
The Bible says that  shouldn't store up "treasures for ourselves on earth, but rather we are store up treasure in heaven. He tells us that when we give to the poor, we reap heavenly rewards that are not seen by the human eye.

Many pastors say that if you "sow a seed" into their ministry, that God will bless you abundantly. The Bible talks about sowing and reaping and harvest, but never in relation to money, and yet many pastors, in order to get your money, will tell you that God will bless you ten, or a hundred fold. The only ones benefitting from this type of language is the false teacher who is reaping material gain at the expense of the believers. They are banking on ignorance of God's word, and many people are making these false teacher's rich. Jesus never tells us to "sow a seed" into someone's ministry. Instead, he tells that "whatever we do for others, we also do for Him.
If you want to know how to sow a true, biblical seed, click here.

Many are selling the gospel of Jesus, but The Bible clearly says that God's blessings are not
for sale. Consider the verse with Simon the Sorceror. Simon offered the apostles money in exchange for the gift of the Holy Spirit. The apostles quickly rebuked him and said, "May your money perish with you because you thought that you could buy the gift of God with money." (Acts 8:20) God's blessing cannot be bought.

When we give in exchange for a blessing, we are reducing God to a cosmic slot machine.
Put money in, and hope that you get a payout.
God's blessings are being bought and sold in the temple. When Jesus saw this buying and selling in the temple in His day, He pulled out a whip, and drove out the money changers.

I have heard countless stories of sheep who were fleeced by the shepherds. I have heard lots of stories about people who gave faithfully to their churches for years, but never received any help in their time of need. Many families have suffered at the expense of shepherds who only take care of themselves, and many are living in fear, believing that "something bad will happen to them" if they don't line the pockets of their pastors. The definition of extortion is gaining money through threats or fear. Many pastors are extorting God's flock for the sake of their own greed. It is abominable in the eyes of God, and it is witchcraft.

Jesus doesn't want your money. The Bible says that "he owns the cattle on a thousand hills." (Psalm 50:10)

Jesus wants your heart. He wants to transform your life. He wants you to walk in love, joy, hope, peace, kindness, and long suffering. These are the fruits of the Spirit.

The world doesn't need more money. The world doesn't need more riches.

The world most certainly doesn't need any more fat shepherds, who are driving Bentleys and living in
mansions while the congregations suffer.
What the world needs is more of Jesus.
Jesus longs for us to be generous, and the model for new covenant giving" is to give what one has decided in one's heart, and not out of fear, but out a joy that springs up within us. There is no certain percentage. We can give two percent, or we can give 100 percent. Jesus gave everything, including His own life.

He loves us.

The Holy Spirit longs to direct your giving. "For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God." Romans 8:14

There is a difference between pastor led giving and spirit led giving, and I pray that you are now able to discern the difference.

A few more thoughts:

When Jesus encountered the rich man, Jesus didn't tell the rich man to tithe a portion of his money to a Pharisee (religious leader). Instead, Jesus told the rich man to give everything he had to the poor, and then to follow Him.

It's ok to love our pastors and leaders, but I believe that too many people today are placing entirely too much faith in men.The Bible says to trust not in Man, but in God. It is the "Holy Spirit who leads us into all Truth" not our religous leaders. Jesus longs to lead us.
Are we following Him? The Bible says that "My Sheep Hear My Voice" Are we hearing His voice, or just listening to the voice of our leaders?
I realize that there are lots of good leaders out there, but I also believe that there is a lack in discernment in many churches. The Bible warns of an abundance of false teachings, and I believe that there are many false teachings in churches today. We need the Spirit to guide us so that we don't fall into a trap. False teachers aren't going to look like wolves. They are often going to be popular and well liked. The Bible says that "even Satan Himself disguises himself as an angel of light." Even the Pharisees, who stole from the widows, (they devoured widow's houses) were well liked by the people. The Bible says they loved the "seats of honor" and "to be greeted in the marketplace."

This post isn't meant to criticize anyone. I love people.  It is meant as a heart check, and I encourage you to "show thyself approved" and to "test everything  that i have said against the Word." I have absolutely nothing to gain by writing this message. In fact, i have put off writing it for over three years for fear of rejection. I have no motive to share these things, other than the fact that I believe it to be the truth.


Have you heard of the priesthood of all believers? The Bible says that we are the ekklessia. We are the church. He says that he doesn't live in temples made with Human hands.
He also said that we are all priests, we are all made clean and equipped to preach to the good news!I am a minister of the gospel. I minister to people.I have reached thousands of people with the gospel of Jesus. Does that mean that I am going to demand money or a tithe from someone?
No! I don't need a building, a title, or a paycheck for simply doing what Jesus has asked each of us to do. The Bible says to "freely give as we have received."
 Salvation is a free gift, and the good news should come without cost.


Many people are probably wondering if I am saying that we shouldn't help pastors. No, I'm not saying that at all. If there is someone who has helped you and is spreading the true gospel,
then help them as you are led by the Spirit. I support ministries that have helped me.

I believe in giving to further the gospel, and I also believe that we should help the poor as we are able.


Have you ever read the story of the sheep of the goats? The Bible says that the sheep are those who clothe the naked, feed, the hungry, and house the homeless. The goats are those that did not. Jesus said that He is going to separate the sheep from the goats.

I am under firm conviction that the religious system is making goats out of many of God's children.
Instead of helping the least of these, we are funneling the majority of our wealth and time into the system instead of simply doing what Jesus said to do. Jesus does not live in "temples made with human hands."He lives in people, and he longs for us to take our light to them. He longs for us to clothe them, feed them, and shelter them, and if we are unable to provide shelter, He longs for us to help those that are sheltering them.
I am going to provide links at the bottom of the page with places or organizations that help others, and I encourage you to do that if you are able to do it cheerfully
and not out of fear, guilt, or compulsion"


I realize that this article may raise some questions for a lot of people. Maybe, a few people hate me right now because I challenged a long held belief.
But, once again, I encourage you to test all that I am saying against the Word.

I am going to leave you with some resources and a video blog that I made several years ago.
Don't take MY word for anything! Study to show thyself approved. Just because something has been done for hundreds of years does not make it right, it only makes it "traditions of man."



The Bible says that we are all one in Christ Jesus. Your role in Christ is no less than anyone standing behind a pulpit. When Jesus said to preach the good news, He was talking to you. Jesus didn't need a seminary degree or a letter from a Bible college to begin His ministry. He simply needed a heart for His Father's will and a willingness to Go.

Here is some more of Ezekiel 34.


‘For this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I myself will search for my sheep and look after them. 12 As a shepherd looks after his scattered flock when he is with them, so will I look after my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on a day of clouds and darkness. 13 I will bring them out from the nations and gather them from the countries, and I will bring them into their own land. I will pasture them on the mountains of Israel, in the ravines and in all the settlements in the land. 14 I will tend them in a good pasture, and the mountain heights of Israel will be their grazing land. There they will lie down in good grazing land, and there they will feed in a rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. 15 I myself will tend my sheep and have them lie down, declares the Sovereign Lord. 16 I will search for the lost and bring back the strays. I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak, but the sleek and the strong I will destroy. I will shepherd the flock with justice.


Here is an excellent article by Exit Churchianity, "Should I tithe or pay my bills?"

This video is a call to Freedom! It's called "Why I Quit Tithing"

Tithing Manipulation: Malachi 3:8-10

This video puts the book of Malachi in it's proper context and shows how it is misused. Great vid!

To Tithe or Not to Tithe?

Monica looks strictly to the Word to help others understand tithing, what it was, and what the Bible says about it.

           This video shows a rich pastor manipulating his congregation for money for himself.

Benny Hinn and John Hagee Pray for War in the Name of Jesus: Does Jesus Sanction Religious Wars?

Witchcraft In the Church? Video Testimony

Before watching this video, I would like to make a quick introduction as to why I am posting it.
Several years ago, Jesus was truly doing a work in me. I desperately longed to please Him. I went to homeless shelters around town. I went to prison ministries. I started going into nursing homes. I didn't think that I was "special," I just had a desire to do the things that Jesus said to do in His Word.

Everywhere I went, there seemed to be desperate need. Often times, the homeless shelters would tell me how grateful they were because they didn't have many volunteers. One time I went to a homeless shelter, and the women were literally almost out of food. I thought to myself, where are all of the Christians? I began to notice huge churches and cathedrals on almost every street corner, hundreds of them...billions of dollars worth of infrastructure, while there were poor, oppressed people right under our noses. I began to notice that many religious leaders were getting rich, and the people would pour their income into "temples made with human hands" and making religious leaders rich. I began to question everything, and I truly feel as if Jesus began showing me what is wrong with the institution of religion.

Many people think or feel that questioning the religious system is the same as questioning God, but nothing could be further from the truth. I feel as if there are many people, both in and out of churches, that desperately need a relationship with Jesus. Jesus said that there would be many "who would have a form of godliness" but they don't know or understand the power of the Holy Spirit. He said that there would be those who "honor Him with their lips, but not with their hearts." I read the book, Pagan Christianity, which purports that most of what we are doing in our churches isn't even in the Bible. (hint: the biblical model for church can be found in the Book of Acts.) It challenged me, and I believe it to be true.

Posting stuff like this is hard. There were times when I felt completely alone. I even felt as if God were calling me to write some challenging things, but I was too afraid. I was scared that I was going to be rejected because my ways of thinking were different, but Jesus showed me that even He questioned and challenged the religious system of His day and I was called to the same.

I desperately love people. I love people of all religions. I love pastors and priests and those both in out of churches...that is why I have one request. Please respect my beliefs and my thoughts in the same way that I respect yours. My writing is meant to challenge people, to get people to look beyond their "traditions and man" and into the heart of Jesus, Himself.

If anyone disagrees with anything that I have to say, please do so lovingly or simply just don't read the things that I write. My goal is to write what I believe Jesus has shown me and not to be pleaser of man.

NOW ON TO THE VIDEO....

This video could be considered "controversial" but I encourage you to test all things. I read that there are actual witches infiltrating the body of Believers with the sole purpose of creating division. 

 Witchcraft is a form of manipulation and it often does not look obvious. It can be manifested by manipulating spiritual forces to get OUR will done.  It can also be through manipulation in order to get money.".In their greed they will make up clever lies to get hold of your money. But God condemned them long ago, and their destruction will not be delayed" 2 Peter 2:3. This video details a very strange experience that led to this subject, as well as how God defines witchcraft in the Bible. Watch and discuss.

 The Bible says to test all things, so if I am wrong on anything, please let me know. I also encourage you to watch the witchcraft series by tictoc ministries on Youtube. It is Very thorough. I also recommend Youtube's fotm1 video, "Witchcraft in the church, oh yeah, lots! I will posts the videos at the end of this post.

Many people may thing that posts of this nature are "critical" of the "temple," but I want people to understand that Jesus wasn't cloaked in sunshine and rainbows. The Bible says that He didn't come to bring peace, but a sword,(Matthew 10:34) and when He saw the money changers buying and selling things in His Father's House, He drove them out with a whip.(Matthew 21:12)

More food for thought:

Have you ever been told that "If you give x amount of money, Jesus will bless you ten fold or one hundred fold?" It's not true.Who benefits from this kind of language? Many self proclaimed "men of God" have made themselves rich by telling you that if you give to "them" and "their ministry" that Jesus will bless you. However, Jesus tells us to give to those who have need, not out of fear or guilt but out of a generous heart.He tells us that in doing so, we store up treasure in Heaven. Jesus' goal is not to make us rich by "storing up treasure for ourselves on earth", but to make us Holy, carved into the image of His Son,Jesus Christ. 

Jesus tells us that the gifts of God cannot be bought with money. (Acts 8:20)

If anyone disagrees with me, please do so in kindness. I love you. 

Witchcraft in the church, Oh yeah, lots!

I

All is Vanity

"All is Vanity" by Charles Allen Gilbert

A few months ago, I bought a t-shirt,featuring the famous painting "All is Vanity," by Charles Allen Gilbert. I suppose there was a part of me that saw a spiritual truth in it's meaning. When I look at the painting, I am reminded of a verse in Ecclesiastes. "I have seen all the works that have been done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity, striving after wind. Similarly, I am reminded of a verse in Psalms, "Man is mere breath; His days are like a passing shadow."

According to People.com, Globally we spend 382 Billion dollars per year on the industry of beauty. I read another article that stated that America spent over 8 billion dollars last year on plastic surgery, alone. 

This post is not to judge or belittle anyone. In fact, I have been guilty of pouring more money than I care to admit on the pursuit of beauty. I don't wear makeup often, and yet I have tons of it just sitting in my bathroom, collecting dust. I have had a few micro needling procedures done to my face to minimize wrinkles. Did it work? Hmmm. That is debatable. It certainly wasn't cheap, and, in retrospect, I now wish that I used the money for things for my family or for "storing up treasure" in Heaven. 

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:19

How much of our lives are devoted to eternal things and how much is devoted to "vanity," things that have zero eternal consequence and will ultimately pass away?

I keep thinking of the verse in 1 Peter that says,  Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes.4 Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.

Many women, often those in ministry, like to flaunt their designer clothing, purses, and expensive jewelry. They boast that it is a sign of God's blessing. However, Jesus tells us in 1 Peter, that true beauty is a beauty that goes much deeper  than outward appearance. It is something lasting and eternal, and it comes from the heart. 

He even tells us in His Word, "He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves abundance with his income. This too is vanity." Ecclesiastes 5:10

Do you notice how many superstars, who seeming have everything, money, fame ,riches, and beauty, often strive to find happiness? Sadly, many end up ending their lives. It's because money and fame and beauty are not a means to joy. It is all vanity, chasing the wind. Joy is something that wells in the heart, and the famous, in their pursuit of it, don't know that it can be found in Christ Jesus.

Anyhow, this message is to remind you that you are beautiful. It is not a judgement. Simply, a reminder. Consider the following verse from Ephesians 2:10, For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Sidenote: There is nothing wrong with trying to look beautiful, however, it is important that the pursuit doesn't become idolotry. At one time, I was so obsessed with working out and looking good, that I allowed it to interfere with my walk with Jesus. I was barely praying or seeking because I was consumed with my own self interest. don't make the same mistake. All is vanity.

Signs of Spiritual Abuse in the Church

PLease note: this article was copied from http://libertyforcaptives.com (asked for writer permission) 

Ten Major Symptoms of Spiritual Abuse

Posted by Steve Smith on May 9, 2013 in Uncategorized

Sheep and Wolves, via Pinterest.

What is spiritual abuse?

I once linked to an excellent article by Mary DeMuth which talks about 10 Signs of Spiritual Abuse. But I have received enough emails and questions to warrant another, separate post covering other symptoms of spiritual abuse.

Jeff VanVonderen, co-author of the classic book The Subtle Power of Spiritual Abuse, defines spiritual abuse like this:

“Spiritual abuse occurs when someone in a position of spiritual authority–the purpose of which is to ‘come underneath’ and serve, build, equip and make God’s people more free–misuses that authority by placing themselves over God’s people to control, coerce or manipulate them for seemingly godly purposes which are really their own.”

VanVonderen adds:

“Nothing about spiritual abuse is simple. Those who have experienced it know it is powerful enough to cause them to question their relationship with God, indeed, the very existence of God. And it is subtle too! The perpetrators of spiritual abuse are rarely ‘Snidely Whiplash’ sorts of characters who announce that they are going to drain your spiritual energy. They may be people who seem like they are seeking to guide you to the deepest levels of spiritual maturity.”

Biblical evidence: While the term “spiritual abuse” does not occur in the Bible (nor does the word “Trinity,” for that matter), the concept is clearly alluded to. Primary biblical citations which discuss spiritual abuse include Ezekiel 34:1-10; Matthew 20:25; 23:1-33; Luke 22:24-27; and 1 Peter 5:3. Each of these passages involves God condemning leaders who mistreat the people under their care in order to promote their own welfare or ideology.

Ten Major Symptoms of Spiritual Abuse:

1.) Salvation Redefined – Spiritually abusive ministries continually redefine salvation. This keeps the bar moving higher and higher so that followers must stay dependent on the intercession, wisdom, and power of the leader. Healthy leaders, on the other hand, communicate a clear biblical gospel of salvation by grace through faith. God’s plan of salvation never changes.

2.) Deification of Leaders – While few spiritually abusive leaders overtly claim divinity, in practice they act as if they are godlike. For example, the leader may say that he or she speaks for God, that God works exclusively through his or her ministry, or that followers can please God by pleasing the leader. Healthy leaders, however, avoid putting themselves in the place of God.

3.) Exhaustion – Spiritually abusive ministries exhaust their followers through high commitment and endless demands on time and service. If you always feel exhausted after church—or if your church life seems one continuous demand on your time with never a chance to rest—you may live in a spiritually abusive system. Healthy churches and leaders understand the need for rest and personal time. After all, even God rested on the seventh day.

4.) “Sacrificial” Giving – Spiritually abusive ministries regularly call for sacrificial giving of time, talents, and treasure. The Bible knows little of this. Instead, the New Testament calls for generous and cheerful giving (2 Cor 8 and 9). While God does sometimes call us to give sacrificially, this is between us and the Holy Spirit. For example, the Philippians gave sacrificially and amazed even the Apostle Paul. But no person can demand such sacrifice, and certainly not on an ongoing basis. Healthy churches teach biblical giving which is based on generosity and freewill, not coercion or guilt.

5.) Transactional Giving – Spiritually abusive ministries correlate the giving of your time and money with physical or spiritual blessing. The more you give—or the more dedicated you are to the ministry—the more blessed you will be. This is a works-based system of salvation and sanctification. Healthy ministries focus on transformational giving which is simply a byproduct of thankfulness and faith.

6.) Abuse of Special Revelation – Spiritually abusive leaders often claim to have special insight into the will of God for you and your family. Rather than sharing such “special” revelation and giving you freedom to decide whether the Spirit spoke it or not, such leaders demand that you obey their pronouncements. Healthy leaders, on the other hand, may also sometimes receive special revelation from the Spirit, but they communicate such “words” from the Lord with humility, qualification, and room for doubt. They allow you to respond—and even disagree—rather than forcing you to obey. And such “words” never benefit the leader financially or in regard to gaining power over you.

7.) Perfectionism – Spiritually abusive ministries may have a mentality which demands full sanctification from members in order to prove that they are saved. This may masquerade as a focus on bearing spiritual fruit, becoming mature in the faith, or living sanctified lives. In reality, such leaders want to control the people underneath them, and the easiest way to do this is to point out their sins (or supposed sins) and show how worthless and hopeless they are. This keeps people dependent on the intercession and teaching of the leader. Healthy leaders, on the other hand, recognize the role of grace in salvation and understand that all believers are sinners in need of mercy, patience, and understanding. We all wear checkered garments on the way to glory.

8.) Shaming – Spiritually abusive ministries often publicly shame their followers. Leaders in such groups misuse confidential information and share it widely in order to humiliate people. Or they bad-mouth people who have left the group. This maintains an atmosphere of fear, degradation, and disempowerment. Healthy leaders, however, maintain confidences, encourage the weak, and empower people under their care toward maturity and joy in Christ.

9.) Exclusivity – Spiritually abusive ministries denigrate other Christian leaders or churches. They claim that they alone have the truth, that they alone practice biblical Christianity, or that they alone have access to God’s will and pleasure. Whether this is stated explicitly or remains implicit, followers understand that to leave the group is to fall out of grace or to become a friend of the world. Conversely, healthy leaders rejoice that God is working all over the world. They try to see the best in other groups and Christian leaders, even when they must sometimes speak words of discernment or correction about them. Followers are empowered to understand that the Holy Spirit works variously in other situations and cultures and that he doesn’t make clones.

10.) Punishment – Spiritually abusive groups use church discipline passages as an excuse to punish current members or to shun ex-members. They use church discipline to keep people in line, to quell disagreement (which they call “rebellion”), and as a threat against critical thinking (which they call “pride”). They also overreact to small sins or minor behavioral issues and bring the full weight of church discipline against people who actually just need time to mature. Leaders of these groups misunderstand the purpose of church discipline, which is restorative, not punitive. Spiritually abusive groups also misinterpret the warning passages in the book of Hebrews—they claim that people who leave their select group have left the faith. In contrast, healthy leaders use church discipline only in serious matters of major unrepentant sin. And they understand that the goal of such corrective measures is restoration, not punishment.

Conclusion:

If you read this checklist and discover that it applies to your church or group, you likely live in a spiritually abusive system. God has better things for you. Consider what steps you might take to disengage from the abusive group and plug into a healthy system full of grace and truth.