Yes, the Lord can bless us but that is not the main goal. Our character and faith building is. I have a family member that embraces this type of teaching and has for a few years. We note her financial situation is actually worsening.
The Lord is not blessing this theology in her life. Amen, Kelly! Warm fuzzies are overrated! He came so that we could have life and have it more abundantly. Also, the measure in which you give it will be given back to you, pressed down, shaken up and overflowing! The streets are paved with Gold in Heaven, and there are scriptures that say on earth as it is in Heaven ….
It is written, my people die for lack of knowledge! Read your bibles, God is good! We are told to come boldly to the Lord with our requests! Think about that. Hey Sherri, God is good!
And, yes, we can come boldly before the throne. My concern is that we try to dictate to God what we want Him to do rather than seeking His will for our lives. And, I appreciate you taking the time to write a comment. Best comment I read here! All by scripture! Thank you so much for taking in this topic. I wholeheartedly agree. Our focus should not be what we want but what Gods Will is. Amen, Angie! Thanks for stopping by to leave a comment! I know one cool method of earning money, I think you will like it.
Please pray that God will provide us with all the resources required to build our planned international christian school Camp David Green Academy in Kenya. Thank you for another informative website. Where else may just I get that type of info written in such a perfect manner? Praying is awesome and having others pray for is all good and great first step. God is not Santa Clause and now he is not just going to give you a house because you prayed for one.
What steps did you take to get a new house? Did you or your husband pick up a second job to get down payment for a new house? Did you study your finances to learn how to manage a larger mortgage payment? I am sorry I mean this all love and you can choose to publish or not because I am really just talking to you but is you that is spreading false teachings.
You say you want a new house yet have done nothing to learn or grow or to become the person who can handle a new home. You have chosen to settle to live in a little apartment for 8 years. This was not God not answering prayers. If you have a dream of a new house, it is God who placed that dream in your heart.
And you did nothing to achieve you just sat back waited for God to hand it to you? Honey is not what God is all about. No our lives will never be perfect or happy every day.
But you better believe if you want a new big house and live in cramp apartment for the rest of your life then it is up to you to become the person who lives in a big house. You are choosing to stay plan and simple.
Praying for you to become the Queen of your life. Terra Lewis-Smith, you have missed the entire point the writer tried to teach. My husband and I were missionaries in South America. I lived there for over 24 years, never owned a house, never owned a car, never bought a new dress, used what people gave me. But, God used us to bring many lost souls to His kingdom, planted many churches, taught in Bible Scools, etc. We still do, our priorities are not earthly goods.
The apostle Paul teaches to be content in any circumstance, Philippians 4. May you read this in love and may it help you in your daily walk with Christ. I have to agree with both sides to a certain point.
When I say we, I mean my family and I. So we are not being people who can handle a home of our own. Oh wow! I am horrible with money. I have a dollar and some change left. Terra Lewis-Smith, I agree with you on all points. Sometimes, I had to change the plan, and I did. I always looked to God for guidance. However, I kept the faith even when things looked bleak for me. My siblings did the same thing, as well as members of our extended family who grew up poor.
Joel gives us messages of hope for which I and members of my family are grateful. I never got the impression that Joel Osteen was saying that hard work was not required. He is encouraging us to keep the faith through our struggles. Many of central Godly figures in the Bible were wealthy —- were they any less than those who live in poverty serving God?
I do love your blog. However, do not agree with this article. This is why we put our trust in God and not man. We should study the word for ourselves. No preacher is a perfect preacher. They fall short daily just as we all do. People attack Joel because of his preaching, his mega church and money. He is blessed and inherited his blessings from his earthly Father and our Heavenly Father. I believe he preaches with good intention and a good heart. God Bless You. Hey April, Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment today.
I appreciate your thoughts and I take to heart everything that is shared with me. You are only showing one example from one sermon. You pointed out nothing he spoke from a biblical teaching perspective, rather just a story he told about his own life. It is obvious that not everyone is going to be handed their dream house. God blesses people in many different ways. He wants to bless everyone!
Joel was sharing a story in which God blessed his family. Instead of pointing out what you view as wrong from ONE story he told, you should be looking toward all of the times God had blessed you and yours! I encourage you to listen to full sermon teachings from Joel, not just what the 30 minute TV production shows.
I listen to Joel a lot and have read all his books and you have his messages all wrong. His messages are not about praying and getting what you want like god is some kind of Santa Claus. What Joel consistently says is to put your faith in god and god will forfill the desires Jesus our lord and savior put in your heart. Now if something is not for you your faith in god should be enough to keep You happy in accepting that that Jesus has you in the palm of his hand and that what is for you will come.
In other words give your life to Christ and the things that he has in your future will come to you. Thank you, Angelica, for sharing your heart. I really appreciate what you have shared today. But our Christian leaders, though they are not who we need to put our faith in, they have enormous power to shape our faith. They are teachers. We see them as human, yes, but authorities as well.
And if that leader is presenting topics and messages that can so easily be interpreted as prosperity gospel then there is a problem. I wish everyone would stop ganging up on this poor woman for speaking in a vulnerable way, her personal experience.
Big difference ladies. They have their reward in this life. This is really sad and I feel sorry for you. The greatest commandment is to the Lord God with all your heart, mind, and soul, and the second is to love your neighbor as yourself. What makes this matter even worst, you are angry about something material thing. You can compare his life with yours, and it is so sad that you did. There is no way God lead you to write this, it is plainly an act of your flesh. This is not encouraging and edifying, the is the exact opposite.
Thanks for sharing your perspective. Jesus taught the disciples to believe for the impossible, and that they would have what they say. So, the idea is consistent with Scripture. Sometimes what we want and what God has planned may not match. At the same time, Scripture says, God will give us the desire of our hearts. So, it is a matter of spiritual balance that comes from an intimate relationship with Christ, hearing His will for our lives.
Often, preachers take them to an extreme. So, while Joel may be guilty of being generously positive and motivational, his Bible basis is Scriptural. At least, nothing you said you heard was false, just unbalanced. The idea of praying for the desire of your heart is valid, but we should certainly pray that our heart is connected with the heart of God for our lives.
You will ask what you will and it shall be done…. Thank you for confirming what I have felt in my heart but could not articulate. I have tried listening to Joel Osteen, and there is always a feeling of something being just a little off. God has given you both wisdom and boldness, which is both awesome ans scarey at the same time.
God bless you! Thank you for stopping by and taking the time to leave a gracious comment. I pray that God will bless you as well. I am sorry to read this article. Your focus was not on what God wanted but on what YOU wanted. Joel inspires us all to follow what scripture promises.
He provides examples to encourage us, the rest is up to God and to us! Quit blaming him. And also, the big bold header of your article has been done in such a way to gain popularity for your site. He desires our worship, our obedience, our relationship with him.
He called Abraham his friend because he believed God. He said David was a man after his own heart because he was merciful, and sang his praises. We have two gates through which things can enter our heart. They are the eyes and the ears. We are tempted through the eye gate. We are lead astray through the ear gate.
Remember he said they will have itching ears. I have learned to let the Holy Spirit be my teacher and the Bible my textbook. Thank you for sharing your experience.
May He bless you and continue to make you more like Jesus as you study the Bible and stay pressed in close to Jesus! God has promised to meet all of our needs and not all of our desires. What a vast difference that is!
I do believe that God wants to bless us but that might look different to Him than it does to us. God has promised to provide all that we need! Hope you have a wonderful weekend. Isaiah ….. Fear not for I have redeemed thee I have called thee by thy name thou art mine.
When thou passest through the waters I will be with thee and through the rivers they shall not overflow thee, when thou walkest through the fire thou shalt not be burned neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. Everything you said is so true. God wants to bless us, but with Himself, His glory…if He truly did preach during His time on earth that He just wanted to bless us with material wealth, I think the early apostles probably would have had a bone to pick with Him once they saw Him again…but they understood that He was after so much more than that.
Thank you, Jenna. And, you are so right… God wants His nearness to be our good. He wants us to love Him above all else. My mother fell in this trap years ago. What she did was focus less on what they said and concentrate more on what the Bible says. You see what they fail to tell us as Christian is that life will not be perfect and we will not get what we want all the times, some of the times or even most of times. But does God loves us any less? But by asking the Lord to grant his will and if it is his, let it be done in his name.
I want nothing I desire, but what God desires for me. Thank you for encouraging people and inspiring people around the world. We need more evangelists to preach the word of God to the world. I will definitely share your articles with my brothers and sisters back home in Jamaica.
Thank you for stopping by my blog today and leaving a good word. I really appreciate you and hearing what you have to share. I want nothing more than what God desires for me. He knows best. And, He always gives His best to those who leave the choice with Him!
Thank you Jesus for all you have done and to God be the glory for all you have done for me in the precious name of Jesus! Joel Osteen may cause many to cling to the faith….. Unfulfilled needs and wants, can leave us feeling neglected by God. But for God, how else to mold us except through experience to make a change permanent?
Then God may assist in another area of my life. People should remember too, that all conditions are NOT what God wants for us…Satan tempts us and tries to create havoc. We need to be watchful and prayerful and take responsibility for our own actions. Though we can be tempted or blessed, we are ultimately accountable for the actions we take. That is why we are rewarded or doomed by following the life we chose. Remember too, mentoring accounts for our conditions in life. A millionaires son who is taught money skills, will live a different life from mine,..
I was not taught financial skills by my family…as they had none to teach. So please, seek on your own and in prayer for the skills you may lack in each area of need…… And may God bless you and help you contribute to the Great Commission of helping others be saved so they can see Heaven and know God is our creator! Hey James, Thanks so much for stopping by to share your thoughts today. Thanks so much for stopping by to share your heart. I really appreciate your feedback and your sweet spirit.
However, I am concerned after reading several of his books and listening to many of his messages that he is not telling the whole story. I wrote a follow-up piece to express my specific concerns. The blogger sounds jealous. If memory serves me correctly, the story I heard, was that they did not get the house they desired.
Despite praying and marching around the house, they did not get that house. But was instead blessed with another, which they were satisfied with. I love what you have to say and your experiences with prayer. Everything you need to know is in the Bible. You do not need anyone to tell you how to act, how to pray, how to listen, how to love…because God gave it in His words and demonstrate it through Jesus.
If He gives you what you desire but does not look at what comes after that, it could be damaging to you. But I also trust that what He has planned for me is bigger and better than what I want for myself for God wants to bless me and give me the best.
Hey, Vangelina, Thank you for stopping by and leaving a comment today. And, you are so right. God does know what is best for us. I love knowing that we can trust Him to provide for us exactly as He wishes. Your faith inspires me! I was moved by your article, showed me that not everyone just wants their itching ears scratched.. This was really helpful for me, as I was going through a rough time believing God on why my prayers for my cancer ridden father were not answered.
I believed myself to be a very confident woman of God and thought God has answered all my prayers up til then. God had something else in mind for my Father..
Even if he would have been healed would I pray like I did before? All my father wanted to do was go home to Jesus. Living for His will is better off for me. Thank you again for this!! Thank you for taking the time to stop by today and leave an encouraging word. It sounds like your father is in a better place — whole and cancer-free. I will pray that God will use you and all that you have lived through for His glory and for your good.
May He further use you to comfort and encourage others who are walking through dark valleys. You have much to offer! I read great wisdom in your words! And, I agree… living in His will is the only place to live! Please stop by and visit again. If Satan can get Christians to fight about petty stupid things amongst themselves instead of focusing on the main goal of Christianity telling the world about a Saviour who loves them and wants to save them from their sins , then the house that we represent will fall.
You may not agree with everything he says, but your attack on unjustified and unwarranted and it seems as though you are stirring up strife and dissension. Hey Tamara, Thanks for stopping by to leave a comment today. I appreciate your visit and your honest feedback. I always prayerfully consider every comment that a person takes the time to leave. And, I will pray over the things that you have shared. Thanks so much, Melanie. Tamara makes many good points.
Because God knows best. He has a plan. Joel teaches us to trust God anyway and to stay in faith. My relationship with God is so much more real and deep now, and I am stronger and more thankful than ever with God by my side, thanks to the biblical principles I have learned from Joel.
It makes me sad that people get the wrong idea about him. I just stumbled across this post on Pinterest and I want to say something to you sweet sister in Christ.
My Jesus died on a cross so that I could be forgiven, but only if I repent and live my life for Him. But they are. The Bible says the gate is straight and the way is narrow and there will be FEW that find it.
Attending church on Sunday morning does not save you. Owning a Bible does not save you. The only thing that saves us is Jesus. Wake up people. God is real. The devil is real and eternity is forever.
He promised we would have trouble, but reminded us that HE had overcome the world. But God is on the throne. Of that I have no doubt. Bless you sweet lady!! Praying over you and your family today! Blessings from Missouri! Thank you, Robbin. I really appreciate you and your encouraging comments. Thank you for this Melanie. There are two side to every coin, and to only talk about or preach one side is very misleading. Many blessings! As a leader, your entire lifestyle is under scrutiny.
Your employees understand that you're the boss and with that responsibility comes a few perks, like living in a nice house or being able to take your kids on vacation. A yacht? That's disturbing enough if you're the owner of a New Jersey company, but if you're the pastor of a church?
There's a line between enjoying the fruits of your labor and living the high life off the backs of your workers and community. When you cross that line you will be resented like Osteen. My client understands this, which is why he doesn't flaunt his wealth.
Osteen choose to be a man of God and to speak Jesus' gospel, but he certainly doesn't live a life that Jesus would choose. By making these lifestyle choices, he willingly exposes himself to his critics and competitors. Regardless of whether you think there's nothing wrong with "having a nice place to live and being blessed," your employees, your customers and your community might.
If you cross that line you lose your credibility and raise envy and even potential malice. Unfortunately, if things turn south -- a bad financial patch, a lost customer, a lawsuit, a flood -- it's those very same people who will turn on you first. Leaning heavily into the "Law of Attraction" aspect of the prosperity gospel, Joel Osteen doles out some strange advice about finding answers to our burning questions. One recommended method of finding love involves propelling oneself into marriage by placing an empty photo album on a table in your home — where you want your wedding album to be.
The remainder of this particular plan seems to be blind optimism. A will-it-into-being approach might be an effective tool for getting people into the right mind space for life changes, but it doesn't deliver much in the way of discovering profound answers or finding bliss. Osteen is fond of saying, "The question is not, Do you have a problem?
The question is, Does the problem have you? In other words, don't let your problems rule your life. If we are to unearth answers to life's great questions, Osteen says we need to accept that God is in charge of all of the moving parts.
We're all out here like Scooby-Doo and Shaggy, solving a mystery hidden by an invisibility cloak. To get into the headspace to expect and receive positive outcomes, Osteen's advice is: "When you are criticizing yourself, you are criticizing God's creation. The next time you think something negative, turn that around, and say, 'I am God's masterpiece'" via Salon. Not only are we a masterpiece, but we must expect only success!
Osteen is famous for telling parishioners to be "victors, not victims. The winning in this scenario, which arguably beats Charlie Sheen's winning , seems to be in God's hands, which negates the age-old adage, "Plan for the worst and hope for the best.
Be professional. But have a plan to kill everybody you meet. Long before a global pandemic necessitated social distancing , Joel Osteen advocated for loving people from afar. His Twitter post on the topic meant erecting boundaries for safe emotional space, of course. As he once said, "Life is too short to try to have peace with people who don't want to have peace with you" via YouTube. If ever there was advice perfect for , "love people from a distance" is it — unlike shamed televangelist Jim Bakker's bogus coronavirus cure.
During the COVID pandemic, Osteen's Easter service was delivered to an empty arena of seats, save a few staffers, with viewers eagerly tuning into the broadcast. TMZ first reported his star-studded program would feature Mariah Cary, Tyler Perry, and Kanye West who later dropped out amid social distancing concerns. He told Grit Daily his already-existing broadcast capability for a global audience enabled him to go virtual immediately, saying, "Fortunately, we had our online platform, and this network of television stations already lined up.
Other than not seeing everyone in person, it hasn't changed that much. Careful not to rob God! The human is at the center and God is our servant. We are promised our best life later if we trust in Jesus and repent of our sins.
The gospel teaches that God Himself is the greatest treasure imaginable, better than any amount of success or fleeting pleasure we could ever attain in this life. He and his family attended a prosperity gospel church for many years that preached Osteen-esque messages.
Now, Cesar often shares with tears in his eyes how thankful He is for God rescuing him from the clutches of false teaching. My hope for this post is that God would turn many more people like Cesar from false teaching and to His life-giving gospel.
Read this article in Spanish. I serve with Unlocking the Bible.
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