GUEST ARTICLE

Becoming Rich under the anointing

The wealth of the wicked transferred

Some current teachers seem to think that Moses forsaking the riches of Egypt was not necessary. He could have had the best of both Egypt and God. He didn't have to give up anything for Gods kingdom. The teaching that is promoted is that if we are working for the Lord we should get paid better than we did when in the world. After all, we are serving God.

Some seem to think that Moses may have did it all wrong to have forsaken the riches and pleasures of Egypt and suffer affliction with his brethren. (looking by faith to him who is invisible Heb.11:24-27). Instead he could have chosen to "gain wealth, success, and popularity with God’s people." As Jesse Duplantis said God didn’t kill Moses in punishment; Moses spoke his own death.

Over the last several years there has been a reversal in thinking. Several hundred years ago it was considered to be spiritual if a person gave up all that he had and lived for the gospel by being poor. It used to be said, "All who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted." (2 Timothy 3:12), but instead today it is proclaimed, "Those who live godly lives will be guaranteed success and wealth in this world and be honored by all men." With a theology like this who wouldn't want to be a minister.

It was once held that if one gave up their position and money for being used for the kingdom it was a spiritual sacrifice pleasing to God. Today it is the opposite, if one is not being blessed financially and receiving all they desire they are not walking by faith and are missing God’s blessings. As Benny Hinn says "Poverty is from the devil and that God wants all Christians prosperous." (Benny Hinn, TBN, 11/6/90)

The message preached today is God desires His children to be wealthy. Kenneth Hagin says that God not only wants to deliver believers from poverty, "He [also] wants His children to eat the best, He wants them to wear the best clothing, He wants them to drive the best cars, and He wants them to have the best of everything." (Quoted by D.L. McConnell, A Different Gospel p.175).  Fred Price agrees and boldly says, "That’s the reason why I drive a Rolls Royce." "Ever Increasing Faith program,” TBN Dec.9, 1990)

"Financial prosperity is just as much a part of the Gospel as anything else. …And I'm going to tell you something right now. I'm with the Apostle Paul in Romans chapter one: I'm not ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, …I'm not ashamed of prosperity. I'm not ashamed that Jesus bought and paid for me to be wealthy....Let me just tell you from the heart of God, preachers are supposed to be rich." (Marcus Bishop, Praise The Lord Telethon, November 2, 1998).

When I hear of statements like this, it’s sad. One can be so bent on their increase of wealth that they can justify it as part of the gospel. It is true that Jesus spoke about money probably more than any other subject, but it was most often rebukes and warnings, not a promise of blessing for all. Money can be neutral and it is all in how we use it. Some are blessed by God to give to God’s work. We have to keep in mind that what we possess is only temporary, we don’t own it. Money has a way of ruining our character and become a rival to God when we desire it. There are many examples, one was Lot who camped outside Sodom in the beginning but as he got close to the city and saw that he could gain benefit if he did business with them he moved into wicked Sodom. Lot had a propensity toward abundance and good things. When He stood with Abraham overlooking the land and was given the choice where he would settle, he picked the most fertile land. Abraham instead trusted God for his sustenance.

Many a godly man has been drawn away from the snare of wanting riches. 1 Tim 6:9-10 "But those who crave to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction." Much bible teaching today is disguised as a carnal craving to be rich, what the Bible plainly calls coveting. An example of this would be Creflo Dollar and Kenneth Copeland leading the people in a chant repeated several times, "MONEY come unto me NOW, MONEY come unto me NOW." etc. -As he acted out pulling it in to his person.- (Dec.4, 1999 Voice of Victory telecast) There is no excuse for this kind of teaching leading people into collected congregational coveting. What Bible message is this? ”They have a heart trained in covetous practices, and are accursed children” (2 Peter 2:14)

The world sees many of these men use the Word of God on God's people in order to stuff money into their own pockets. The bible sees it as their fattening themselves for the day of slaughter in the last days (James 5). Not only do they distort and preach another gospel, many are doing it for their own aggrandizement as it is evident from their self indulgent, lavish lifestyles. The best hotel rooms, big houses, nice cars and expensive suits to prove God is blessing them and their ministry. The real problem is that they have convinced their followers that this is the way it’s suppose to be!

Creflo Dollar is a perfect example of this justification for himself and others." God is coming back for a church without spot or blemish so he is not coming back to a church in debt…this revival must take place before Jesus can come back he cannot come back for a broke church, he cannot come back for a sick church, he cannot come back for a church that is in debt that would be against his word, I'm coming back for a glorious church, without spot or wrinkle so that means there's going to be some quick transference going on." (Changing your World, Mar.27, 2000) Now they teach a money revival. That we must gain all these things before Jesus comes back is hardly the Bibles perspective.

While many of these men may have begun as honest servants of the Lord (we must doubt or deny this,  RH), it is now difficult to see them as anything less than con men out for their own piece of heaven on earth.

Duplantis says, The very first thing on Jesus` agenda was to get rid of poverty! Would you like to know why some people, including ministries, never get out of poverty? It’s not because they aren’t smart. It’s not because they don’t have windows of opportunity. It’s because they’re not anointed. If you’re not anointed, poverty will follow you all the days of your life. His first objective was to get rid of poverty." (Nov. 1997 Voice of the Covenant magazine,  p.5) I guess the apostles were not anointed according to this theological fantasy.

Creflo Dollar states on his web site "You will walk in blessings, favor, prosperity, health and wealth, and you will do this without having to pursue wealth. First you must seek God's method of operation and His righteousness. When you find out how to live your life according to the Word of God you will become a money magnet." Jesus sent us out to be witnesses of his love and grace.  Creflo thinks he sends us out to gain wealth. Of course his reasoning is that without money how can you preach the gospel. Money is so central to his message that he tells his followers "Well, you need to hear about money, because you ain't gonna have no love and joy and peace until you get some money!" (Creflo Dollar, Praise the Lord, July 20, 1999)

Creflo seems to have neglected a discovery of truth that the Apostle Paul stated made his ministry blessed by God.

Phil 4:9: "The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you." V.11 "Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content." Certainly to preach what Creflo and Copeland and others are cannot be in agreement with the Apostle Paul who wrote the Scripture.

 No, Paul had a superior spiritual life than these men are claiming for themselves. 2 Cor. 6:9-10: "as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold we live; as chastened, and yet not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; (spiritual riches) as having nothing, and yet possessing all things."

The Gospel that makes you Rich

"JESUS IS NOT SICK - I DON'T HAVE TO BE SICK." If I said that for you to live from paycheck to paycheck is to deny the power of the gospel, many of you would get angry. In Luke 4:18 ... Notice there was an anointing to preach good news to the poor. A lot of people don't like to look at that because good news to a poor man is that he doesn't have to be poor anymore. Yet over 90% of the church of Jesus Christ are living in absolute financial bondage. All the while, Jesus is saying, 'I've been anointed to preach the good news to the poor.' ... You have held back the flow. You have denied the perpetual propulsion of power that could deliver you from not only sin and sickness but from the horrible stench of poverty." (Rod Parsley, God's Answer to Insufficient Funds. 1992, pp. 46-47.) According to Parsleys logic, Jesus has all power and authority. Should we have all power and authority? Jesus is present everywhere should we be present everywhere? Is there any difference between Jesus and his people?

This is almost the same angle that Copeland takes as he too distorts Luke’s passage of the gospel preached to the poor.

Copeland, commenting on Luke 4:18-19,

"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He has anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, "now here are both of those laws functioning he sent me. …now watch this, the Spirit of the Lord is upon me because he has anointed me to preach the gospel, that’s the law of the spirit of the life in Christ Jesus, to the poor . That comes under the law of sin and death. Poverty came into this place when sin came into this place, poverty will kill ya! He sent me to heal, that’s under the law of spirit of life in the anointed one and in his anointing, the broken hearted, that’s the law of sin and death. And the anointing takes authority and dominates."…

God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the holy ghost and power who went about doing good and healing all that were oppressed of the devil, he walked about being the jubilee, in fact he preached the acceptable year of the Lord, That’s the jubilee. So he was our jubilee he said poor man you don't have to be poor anymore, I'm here, all they had to believe is that he was anointed."( Copeland and B. Hinn conversation This is your Day Aug 9,1999)

While there is a shred of truth to the concept of poverty coming in with sin, can Copeland say he does not sin or have sin? In the same manner he cannot say everyone who is poor who believes is to be rich. Jesus is not addressing a different state of class such as poor becoming rich. He is addressing the poor in spirit those who mourn over their sin, not those who mourn over not attaining wealth. "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled." (Matt 5:3-6)

Matt. 11:2-7: John in prison heard about the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples to ask Him, "Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?" Jesus answered and said to them, "Go and tell John the things which you hear and see: "The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them. "And blessed is he who is not offended because of me."

It appears the wealth teachers are quite offended by his message. There was no mention of the poor becoming rich, it actually says the gospel was preached to the poor. Just as the sermon on the mount explains (Mt.5:3-6).

Can Copeland show one example of Jesus making someone rich by the Gospel?

This is proof that they change a gospel of salvation to a gospel of mammon. It was Jesus who said it was harder for a rich man to enter heaven, so he opted to go to those who often had less who were more receptive to his message. Those who had less were able to follow since they had less to give up. I refer anyone with Bible knowledge to the story of the rich young ruler to see what he asked of him. The rich young ruler came to Jesus asking about eternal life. Jesus responded by saying to him to give all his riches to the poor and follow him. Was Jesus telling him to rid himself of riches while he actually had them himself? Would he ask someone to do something he himself would not?

Mt. 8:19-20: "Then a certain scribe came and said to Him, "Teacher, I will follow You wherever You go."  And Jesus said to him, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head." Avanzini says "Jesus had a big house" (it was Peters mothers house in Capernaum that was often used as a base). Jesus himself he had no place to lay his head, no permanent home, he constantly traveled. He dressed like everyone else, he even said to forsake this world to inherit his kingdom.  Was he telling people to do what he was not? His kingdom is not of this world and he made it perfectly clear in his teachings.

So did John the Baptist whom Jesus called the greatest prophet (Matt 11:7-8, LK 7:25) "As they departed, Jesus began to say to the multitudes concerning John: "What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind?" But what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft garments? Indeed those who are gorgeously appareled and live in luxury are in kings' courts."

The apostles were no different than Jesus or John the Baptist. 1 Cor. 4:11-12: "To the present hour we both hunger and thirst, and we are poorly clothed, and beaten, and homeless. And we labor, working with our own hands."

2 Cor. 6:9-10: "as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold we live; as chastened, and yet not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; (spiritual riches) as having nothing, and yet possessing all things." In 2 Cor.8:9 speaking of Jesus "being rich , yet for your sakes he became poor, so that through his poverty you might become rich." (This is spiritual riches) Did Jesus become poor during his lifetime so we can become rich financially later? This is not a trick question and should be obvious to all familiar with the scriptures. This "being rich" is speaking of his preexistence in his position of glory?  He became poor in becoming a servant in position to give the believer a new position in spirituality. Eph. 1:3: "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ" (Luke 6:20) Was it riches he was promising or spiritual blessings as riches? While the prosperity teachers choose to have their goods they have become spiritually bankrupt. God’s counsel in Rev. 3:18: "I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed."

Copeland states "What if Jesus had never been born? Israel would still be under the Law of Moses, heaven would be unpopulated with humans. Man was rich beyond his wildest imagination before he was ever created. He was born into the right family. (laughs) Yeah, he was born where the money was, brother. He was born in a place created just for him. Wasn’t created for anybody else. Just- think of that-just for me. Not many Christians have the guts to believe that." (John Hagees Church [with Rick Godwin on one side of the stage and Hagee on the other] Aug. 18,1999)

Well he is right about not having guts to believe this and it’s for a good reason. It may be attributed more to biblical sense. What Copeland is alluding to is linked to his other heresy of man being exactly like God, as Adam was God in the flesh and Jesus was only a man on earth.

Arrogantly Copeland bellows "Well, now, you need balance in this, get out there in that hyper faith. That name-it-and-claim-it- that blab-it-and-grab-it." YEAH! We named it and claimed it and got it. (crowd cheers)-We Blabbed it and grabbed it and still got it ! Hallelujah! And our bills are paid." (John Hagee’s Church, Aug. 18, 1999, LeSea) It is absolutely heartbreaking to see this go on in a church that is supposed to be under Jesus as Lord.

After giving a parable of a rich man in Luke 16:14 Jesus points out “Now the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, also heard all these things, and they derided Him.”

Mark Chirronna speaks his blessing and leads others to do so as well "There are people ready to pray with you come into agreement and see the power of God released but faith is being unlocked the power of God, you are going to improvise your way into your future, your money is in your mouth in the name of Jesus receive your miracle right now." (Aug. 3,1999 TBN)

Today this anointing is now bringing miracles of gold onto people’s hair and into people’s mouths (supposedly) as well as feathers falling from heaven, for whatever that’s worth!

Copeland has led people into chants saying, "Money come unto me now" three times to make them have abundance. Where is this practiced in the Scripture? It can't be found but it can be found in religious science and metaphysical practices.

If these men really refused to be moved by what they see and feel and kept to the word exercising faith, they wouldn't be inclined to be rich. 

Both Jesus and Paul were concerned for the poor. Rom. 15:26 "For it pleased those from Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor among the saints who are in Jerusalem."  Paul did not go and teach the Church how to get wealth, have them confess their rights, nor lead them in a chant of attracting money.

The wealth of the wicked laid up

for the righteous and taken back?

Parsly stampedes his audience by prancing around and bellowing "I'm talkin’ about your money. You know one of the greatest things that is going to happen in the year 2,000 were about to see the church rise up with a revelation that only this generation has ever been given of God’s word concerning high finances in the kingdom of God. And we are just about to see the greatest transfer of wealth out of the hand of the wicked into the hand of the just." (Jan.7,2000 Breakthrough)

Rick Joyner repeats the same idea, "I do believe you know wealth in a sense is like energy you can't destroy it, it’s just transferred, and I believe in a great economic collapse. The wealth of the world will not destroyed it will be transferred, and I believe a lot of it will be transferred to the believers." (CBN Jan. 3, 2000)

As Hinn says in support of Avanzini’s teaching, "The wicked are piling up the funds and I love the way John teaches on this. He’s the best there is when it comes to teaching you on how to get the wealth of the wicked. Man, I like it." (B.Hinn Praise-a-thon TBN, Nov.6 1990).  As Hinn points this out, Avanzini was the inventor of the new indulgences for the charismatic church. And after years it has finally caught on. Now everyone is saying the same thing.

WERE GONNA TAKE IT BACK BY FORCE. Scripture verse cited-none.

Hinn leads the audience into his own affirmation: "Say after me, all of you, everybody say it, 'The wealth of the wicked is mine.' [The audience repeats.] One more time, (The audience repeats) One more time. (The audience repeats it again)" (Praise-a-Thon, TBN, April 1990). It’s an old practice that if you hear something said by your own voice long enough you will believe it.

R.W. Shambach: "look the devil right in the face ... and take it all back, get violent." (LeSea Jan.15, 2,000)

With all the debt burning and fancy promises, it has not worked. So now they resort to forceful methods by boasting against the devil.

I have also heard testimonies on programs and telethons where people owed the bank or others substantial sums of money and then received a letter saying that they owe nothing. This clearly is a mistake on the billing part of a company or bank to clear their debt. But they Praise the Lord that He canceled their debt. Lets look at this carefully

Lev 5:1:  'If a person sins in hearing the utterance of an oath, and is a witness, whether he has seen or known of the matter-- if he does not tell it, he bears guilt." When we sign a contract or give our word, we are to keep it. We are not to take advantage of other people’s mistakes, big or small. Someone has to pay for the mistake.

Lev. 6:3-4:  "Or if he has found what was lost and lies concerning it, and swears falsely-- in any one of these things that a man may do in which he sins,  then it shall be, because he has sinned and is guilty, that he shall restore what he has stolen, or the thing which he has extorted, or what was delivered to him for safekeeping, or the lost thing which he found." The priest who said this thing has to bear the guilt as well since he has led the person into and approves of his sin. This is nothing to Praise the Lord about, it is theft and God does not lead people or bless them to do such a thing.

Reach for the sky, this is an offering

When one thinks of fund raising in the Christian community there are a few people who come to mind. John Avanzini who appears on both TBN and LeSea broadcasting. Steve Munsey, and Mike Murdock that are exclusive to LeSea broadcasting. Of course there are many more to be mentioned.

Now before you reach deep in your wallet to give to such a worthy cause as is expressed on these stations, you need to look at these men’s tactics and teachings CAREFULLY. These are called men of faith, but they beg and manipulate you more than anyone in the world would dare to do. And it’s all done in the name of our God.

But that’s how you do it to get money to spread their gospel. But what gospel is it? As 90% of what you hear is to prompt people to give money to their ministry for a gospel that is never taught. Christ’s death, his cross, suffering for his namesake and resurrection is not the focus of their ministry. But the world and its stuff is.

The seed faith teaching of to give to get is like investing in a business, but instead it’s called Gods business. What are your motives in giving? If you’re giving to get, you can forget it. God doesn't want your money any more than he wants you to serve him so that you can be rewarded.

It is true what you sow is what you will reap and if you are sowing money for money, that is going to be your harvest. It just may be your reward!

Jesus said in Mt.6:19-21: "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Jesus’ heart was on heavenly things and doing his father’s will and so should ours. One day the people who thought it was Gods promise to make them wealthy may be in heaven and find that they did not store up treasures for eternal life but for their luxury living on earth.

Prov. 23:1-5: "When you sit down to eat with a ruler, consider carefully what is before you; and put a knife to your throat if you are a man given to appetite. Do not desire his delicacies, for they are deceptive food. Do not overwork to be rich; because of your own understanding, cease! Will you set your eyes on that which is not? For riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away like an eagle toward heaven."

Want to know what someone really believes-watch how they live, their lifestyle. When men live and promote an opulent lifestyle they have ignored the warning of Jesus of loving God or loving money. You cannot serve both! Listen to what they are teaching. The majority of sermons are on getting money, and their life revolves around it, what more can be said.

letusreason.org/Wf28.htm