As the days here in America the Once Beautiful and Brave grow ever darker with alarming rapidity to become America the Baneful and Brutal, it’s only a matter of time that we who are children of light will be confronted by the children of darkness who hate the Light that dwells in and emanates from our lives (MATT 5:16) and subsequently persecuted by them, just as they persecute the church in other lands, and have done so throughout history.
JOHN 3:20
For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.
The Preacher of Proverbs had this request of the LORD:
PROVERBS 30:7-9
7 Two things I request of You (Deprive me not before I die): 8 Remove falsehood and lies far from me; Give me neither poverty nor riches-Feed me with the food allotted to me; 9 Lest I be full and deny You, And say, "Who is the LORD?" Or lest I be poor and steal and profane the name of my God.
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We can so easily deceive ourselves into thinking that we “are gods” in and of ourselves; that by believing in oneself we can create our own reality and do the impossible. There’s nothing that can be said against determination, hard work, commitment and sacrifice – and thereby amass a good living for oneself.
And yet, there are many among us who have achieved “the American Dream” and live in luxury or have had luxury handed to us on a silver platter from a long line of family wealth – and as a result (more often than not) develop an undue sense of pride whose basis is the power of financial clout. It’s about then that we delude ourselves that we don’t need GOD (we ARE god!). We become lovers of power (and pleasure) rather than lovers of GOD (See 2 TIM 3:1-5).
It's the humble soul that recognizes that all of us, at our greatest are mere vanity (PSA 39:5) and our life is dependent on the air we suck down through our nostrils (ISA 2:22) and absent of that, we perish! Put some duct tape over the mouth and nose of any ‘god’ of vast wealth and see how long they survive.
Such powerful men and women who possess untold wealth will “…deny [GOD]…” because they are “full [of themselves!]”. But this sort of pride isn’t exclusive to the souls of this fallen world, absolutely not!
It’s some seriously sad commentary, but we even find this spirit of independence (pride, selfishness) in the church, and it’s going to get worse according to Scripture. Observe what the Laodicean church has to say:
REVELATION 3:17a
"…'I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing'…
This is a church that, like the unregenerate nations of the world, has forgotten GOD (PSA 9:17), with the exception perhaps of a polite acknowledgement with their lips, not with their hearts:
ISAIAH 29:13
Therefore the Lord said: "Inasmuch as these people draw near with their mouths And honor Me with their lips, But have removed their hearts far from Me, And their fear toward Me is taught by the commandment of men,
And because of such abominable abandonment, this church doesn’t even realize their true spiritual condition!
REVELATION 3:17b
…and [you] do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked.
This church is in contrast with the church at Smyrna, who thought that they were poor (and materially, they were abjectly poor), but not where it matters!
REVELATION 2:9a
I know your works, tribulation, and poverty (but you are rich);
Those who are weak in their own eyes, in acknowledgement of the truth – that we are all spiritual cripples in fact; ROM 3:10-12 – understand that this is where true spiritual strength comes in, through the power of Christ (2 COR 12:10)!
And so, while persecution is not a desirable experience, it really is nothing to fear, because if we abide faithful (and by the grace of GOD alone we are able!) we are promised the crown of life (REV 2:10)! Persecution will purge the body of Christ of the pretenders and people who only give lip service, this is true!
MATTHEW 13:21
"yet he has no root in himself but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles.
Yet for the Blood-bought child of GOD endowed with the power of the Spirit of GOD that lives in them, this experience will prove to be a forge, whereby all human weaknesses like dross are potentially burned away and what remains is that which is built and grown by the LORD Himself (ISA 48:10). Persecution aids in the production of battle-hardened and able warriors. Prosperity tends towards the atrophy of saints and make for soft-bellied waifs.
Are we in danger of experiencing persecution here in America? Unless the rapture of the church happens first, I see it as unavoidable.
But we have – in my opinion – a danger far more severe! Something that we as the church of the LORD Jesus Christ have ‘suffered’ now for generations:
Prosperity or material abundance.
There is something called The Tytler Cycle that diagrams the historical path of any prosperous society (Be sure to read the preceding article found at the link – it’s very enlightening)!
It looks like this:
Note the perilous progression here: From the state of bondage to faith, to courage, to liberty (and self-rule, but ideally, ruled by the Spirit of GOD; GAL 5:1); from there to abundance, to selfishness, then complacency. From there the society goes to apathy, dependence (ruled by government, itself corrupted by “the god of this world” 2 COR 4:4), then back to bondage.
This reveals that, as good and noble the intentions and purposes of man may be in constructing a free and just society, every tree bears fruit after its own kind (GEN 1:11-12; MATT 7:17-19). Our founding fathers produced an incredible system of self-rule and constructed the Constitution of the United States. And while they were godly men, they still had a sin nature, as well as those that represented their constituencies. Corruption as subtle and quiet as it may be, will inevitably do its evil work and eventually overtake any system!
It's been said before,
When we regain the eternal perspective, we will recognize that any accumulation of wealth in this world, well – “it’s all gunna burn!”. Wealth and material goods can, and often do provide a devilish distraction. They will choke out any spiritual fruitfulness:
MATTHEW 13:22
"Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.
That eternal perspective will remind us that “this world is not [our] home, [we] are just passing through” as pilgrims on our journey to the New Jerusalem:
HEBREWS 11:13-16
13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 14 For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. 15 And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.
This is just one reason why I think the Word-Faith movement is so abhorrent. It teaches that the acquisition of this worlds goods is a sign of strong faith and GOD’s blessing. It shifts one’s attentions from “the true riches” to the “unrighteous mammon” (LUKE 16:11)! In effect, it robs us of the greater and deeper blessings our LORD yearns to bestow upon us (EPH 2:7; 3:8, COL 1:27; HEB 11:26) because we would rather imbibe on horrid pig slop rather than the heavenly fare of princes!
I want to make something clear: I’m not saying that any of us should feel badly about the material blessings that our Abba Father generously gives to us (JAMES 1:17). Such blessing however could potentially lead a soul towards selfishness, so caution is needed. I think abundance in the life of one saint ought to consider the genuine need, or even poverty of another saint (EPH 4:28).
And never, ever should any properties possess us so that we live for such things (that’s idolatry, and we as a nation are guilty of this wholesale, being reprehensibly covetous; COL 3:5). Rather, we are to possess those properties responsibly, with the understanding that we can truly receive nothing except that it’s been granted to us from above (JOHN 3:27). GOD is the One Who truly owns everything, and if He grants to us some of His things, we may possess them but as stewards of our LORD’s goods – ready, willing, and able to surrender them all for His services, at any given time!
And there is not only a danger is acquired prosperity perverting the way in our walk with the LORD, there is also the covetous pursuit of wealth too!
1 TIMOTHY 6:9-12
9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. 11 But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
It comes down to the question: Who are we living for – the LORD or ourselves?
As we will likely have to tighten our belts, sell off luxury items in order to pay our mortgages, perhaps even sell our houses and move to more humbler accommodations, let’s always keep in mind that “we can’t take it with us anyways”.
Faithful service to the LORD, and laboring in His Kingdom will bring for us such unimaginable reward in the glories of heaven that “neither moth nor rust will corrupt”
MATTHEW 6:19-21
19 "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; 20 "but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
And yet, there are many among us who have achieved “the American Dream” and live in luxury or have had luxury handed to us on a silver platter from a long line of family wealth – and as a result (more often than not) develop an undue sense of pride whose basis is the power of financial clout. It’s about then that we delude ourselves that we don’t need GOD (we ARE god!). We become lovers of power (and pleasure) rather than lovers of GOD (See 2 TIM 3:1-5).
It's the humble soul that recognizes that all of us, at our greatest are mere vanity (PSA 39:5) and our life is dependent on the air we suck down through our nostrils (ISA 2:22) and absent of that, we perish! Put some duct tape over the mouth and nose of any ‘god’ of vast wealth and see how long they survive.
Such powerful men and women who possess untold wealth will “…deny [GOD]…” because they are “full [of themselves!]”. But this sort of pride isn’t exclusive to the souls of this fallen world, absolutely not!
It’s some seriously sad commentary, but we even find this spirit of independence (pride, selfishness) in the church, and it’s going to get worse according to Scripture. Observe what the Laodicean church has to say:
REVELATION 3:17a
"…'I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing'…
This is a church that, like the unregenerate nations of the world, has forgotten GOD (PSA 9:17), with the exception perhaps of a polite acknowledgement with their lips, not with their hearts:
ISAIAH 29:13
Therefore the Lord said: "Inasmuch as these people draw near with their mouths And honor Me with their lips, But have removed their hearts far from Me, And their fear toward Me is taught by the commandment of men,
And because of such abominable abandonment, this church doesn’t even realize their true spiritual condition!
REVELATION 3:17b
…and [you] do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked.
This church is in contrast with the church at Smyrna, who thought that they were poor (and materially, they were abjectly poor), but not where it matters!
REVELATION 2:9a
I know your works, tribulation, and poverty (but you are rich);
Those who are weak in their own eyes, in acknowledgement of the truth – that we are all spiritual cripples in fact; ROM 3:10-12 – understand that this is where true spiritual strength comes in, through the power of Christ (2 COR 12:10)!
And so, while persecution is not a desirable experience, it really is nothing to fear, because if we abide faithful (and by the grace of GOD alone we are able!) we are promised the crown of life (REV 2:10)! Persecution will purge the body of Christ of the pretenders and people who only give lip service, this is true!
MATTHEW 13:21
"yet he has no root in himself but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles.
Yet for the Blood-bought child of GOD endowed with the power of the Spirit of GOD that lives in them, this experience will prove to be a forge, whereby all human weaknesses like dross are potentially burned away and what remains is that which is built and grown by the LORD Himself (ISA 48:10). Persecution aids in the production of battle-hardened and able warriors. Prosperity tends towards the atrophy of saints and make for soft-bellied waifs.
Are we in danger of experiencing persecution here in America? Unless the rapture of the church happens first, I see it as unavoidable.
But we have – in my opinion – a danger far more severe! Something that we as the church of the LORD Jesus Christ have ‘suffered’ now for generations:
Prosperity or material abundance.
There is something called The Tytler Cycle that diagrams the historical path of any prosperous society (Be sure to read the preceding article found at the link – it’s very enlightening)!
It looks like this:
Note the perilous progression here: From the state of bondage to faith, to courage, to liberty (and self-rule, but ideally, ruled by the Spirit of GOD; GAL 5:1); from there to abundance, to selfishness, then complacency. From there the society goes to apathy, dependence (ruled by government, itself corrupted by “the god of this world” 2 COR 4:4), then back to bondage.
This reveals that, as good and noble the intentions and purposes of man may be in constructing a free and just society, every tree bears fruit after its own kind (GEN 1:11-12; MATT 7:17-19). Our founding fathers produced an incredible system of self-rule and constructed the Constitution of the United States. And while they were godly men, they still had a sin nature, as well as those that represented their constituencies. Corruption as subtle and quiet as it may be, will inevitably do its evil work and eventually overtake any system!
On a side note: This is why any government that hopes to thrive and remain pure perpetually, must have as its founder an incorrupt and incorruptible person. Enter: Jesus Christ the sinless LAMB of GOD, Messiah King of Israel, and Head of the church, the sure Foundation (ISA 28:16; 1 COR 3:11)!In our American nation, the abundance and prosperity has been and is being siphoned (read that “stolen” thanks to the Federal Reserve!) from us, and while we might become angered at such injustice, I see it as a blessing in disguise. In such humbling circumstances – if yielded to for the sake of Christ – we will once again become utterly dependent on our faithful and Good Shepherd!
And those of us who are citizens of heaven (PHIL 3:20), who belong to Him and His kingdom are promised incorruptible bodies and minds (ROM 8:23; 1 JOHN 3:2), and so any danger of corruption will be null and void (1 COR 15:49-54)!
It's been said before,
“When all you have is Jesus, it’s then that you realize that JESUS is ALL YOU NEED!”There is where our fervency will be restored, saints! Our zeal! Our spiritual hotness and holiness will replace the carnality and lukewarmness towards the LORD wherein any mixed allegiances between GOD’s Kingdom and our own will be burned away, and our JESUS may rightly reclaim the throne of our hearts!
When we regain the eternal perspective, we will recognize that any accumulation of wealth in this world, well – “it’s all gunna burn!”. Wealth and material goods can, and often do provide a devilish distraction. They will choke out any spiritual fruitfulness:
MATTHEW 13:22
"Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.
That eternal perspective will remind us that “this world is not [our] home, [we] are just passing through” as pilgrims on our journey to the New Jerusalem:
HEBREWS 11:13-16
13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 14 For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. 15 And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.
This is just one reason why I think the Word-Faith movement is so abhorrent. It teaches that the acquisition of this worlds goods is a sign of strong faith and GOD’s blessing. It shifts one’s attentions from “the true riches” to the “unrighteous mammon” (LUKE 16:11)! In effect, it robs us of the greater and deeper blessings our LORD yearns to bestow upon us (EPH 2:7; 3:8, COL 1:27; HEB 11:26) because we would rather imbibe on horrid pig slop rather than the heavenly fare of princes!
I want to make something clear: I’m not saying that any of us should feel badly about the material blessings that our Abba Father generously gives to us (JAMES 1:17). Such blessing however could potentially lead a soul towards selfishness, so caution is needed. I think abundance in the life of one saint ought to consider the genuine need, or even poverty of another saint (EPH 4:28).
And never, ever should any properties possess us so that we live for such things (that’s idolatry, and we as a nation are guilty of this wholesale, being reprehensibly covetous; COL 3:5). Rather, we are to possess those properties responsibly, with the understanding that we can truly receive nothing except that it’s been granted to us from above (JOHN 3:27). GOD is the One Who truly owns everything, and if He grants to us some of His things, we may possess them but as stewards of our LORD’s goods – ready, willing, and able to surrender them all for His services, at any given time!
And there is not only a danger is acquired prosperity perverting the way in our walk with the LORD, there is also the covetous pursuit of wealth too!
1 TIMOTHY 6:9-12
9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. 11 But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
It comes down to the question: Who are we living for – the LORD or ourselves?
As we will likely have to tighten our belts, sell off luxury items in order to pay our mortgages, perhaps even sell our houses and move to more humbler accommodations, let’s always keep in mind that “we can’t take it with us anyways”.
Faithful service to the LORD, and laboring in His Kingdom will bring for us such unimaginable reward in the glories of heaven that “neither moth nor rust will corrupt”
MATTHEW 6:19-21
19 "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; 20 "but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
For more on this, see the following article: The PERIL of PROSPERITY
Also from GOT QUESTIONS: What does the Bible say about prosperity?
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