For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light. For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. - Colossians 1: 9-14 (NIV)
The Body of Christ continues to be fed a different Gospel than the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Between hyper grace, prosperity and the seeker friendly drivel that passes for church these days it is no wonder that so many are so deceived. Instead of a Gospel that is about God and brings glory to His name we have gospels designed to be about us and and what God can bring us here on earth. Too harsh you think? Let's take a look at three New Years Facebook posts from two of the leaders in false preaching.
Make room for something new this year. Go out every day expecting blessings, divine connections & unprecedented favor. - Joel Osteen
This is your time. This is your moment. God has equipped you, empowered you and anointed you. No weapon formed against you can prosper. - Joel Osteen
See every single day of 2014 loaded with God's blessings and benefits. It's God's promise to you (see Ps 68:19)! - Joseph Prince
Expect blessings every day. Expect divine connections every day. Expect unprecedented favor every day. This is your time. This is your moment. See every single day of 2014 loaded with God's blessings and benefits. It would be comical if it were not so sad. What makes it sadder however is that this is the message every single week. Every week hundreds of thousands of people cram into steepeled buildings to meet with a God of their own creation. A God who is there to serve them. A God who is just bursting at the seams to pour out blessings upon their lives. He is a make believe God. As Paul Washer once preached - he resembles Santa Claus more than Jehovah. Because he is a god of our own creation he has no power. No power to change lives. No power to overcome this world. No power to save. Jesus has warned us before:
"Not everyone who calls out to me, "Lord! Lord!' will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter. On judgment day many will say to me, "Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.' But I will reply, "I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God's laws.' - Matthew 7: 21-23 (NLT)
