sgys banner books

Are We asking God for Prosperity, Poverty, or our Sufficient Portion?

What was Agur’s prayer? What does that mean to us?

As we look over the annals, the record of, the chronicles of history we will see what preceded the downfall of all cultures of all civilizations which ended, which saw their last glory days.

The Only Prayer in the Book of Proverbs – Prayed by Agur

“Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither POVERTY nor RICHES; feed me with food convenient for me: 9 Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the LORD? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain.” Proverbs 30:8-9

“30:7-9 These verses contain the only prayer in the book of Proverbs. The prayer is short and to the point. It contains two petitions, one covering the spiritual life and the other covering the physical life.

First Agur wanted his life to be worthwhile and honest. He didn’t want it to be wasted on trivia. He didn’t want to major on minors, and he didn’t want to deceive others or to be deceived.

As to the physical, he asked to be delivered from the extremes of poverty and riches. He would be satisfied with the provision of His daily needs. He was saying, in effect, “Give me this day my daily bread.”

He gives reasons for wanting to avoid the twin extremes of affluence and poverty. If he were full, he might become independent of the Lord and deny Him by not feeling any great need for Him. He might be emboldened to say, “Who is the LORD?”—that is, who is He that I should look to Him for what I need or want?
The peril of poverty would be that he might steal, and then, to cover up, he might deny under oath that he had done it.” Believer’s Bible Commentary

One man wisely observed:

“The richer we have become materially, the poorer we have become morally and spiritually.”

“Money can make people feel powerful and secure but it’s a false security. They cannot take with them into eternity.” Susan Harrison

YOUR PRAYER: Father, please make my life count for You! In Jesus’ name. Amen.

What was Jesus’ warning ….about earthly riches?

“And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! 24 And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.” Mark 10:23-25

“[eye of a needle] A Jewish proverb commonly used to express great difficulty or impossibility. In the large gates in the city walls were small narrow ones, each called the needle’s eye, through which a camel might enter kneeling down if he were unloaded.” Dake

“It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, (a proverbial expression,) than for a rich man to go through the strait gate: that is, humanly speaking, it is an absolute impossibility. Rich man! tremble! feel this impossibility; else thou art lost for ever!” John Wesley

“10:23-25 As He saw the rich man fade into the crowd, Jesus remarked on the difficulty of rich people entering the kingdom of God. The disciples were amazed by this remark; they linked riches with the blessing of God. So Jesus repeated, “Children, how hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter the kingdom of God!” “In fact,” He continued, “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” Believer’s Bible Commentary

“Earthly riches: the flesh magnified over the care of the soul which quenched the Spirit.” Jon Crane

“Have you ever wondered where the Israelites got enough gold to make the golden calf in Exodus? Because up until that point they had been slaves for 430 years. And if you read in Exodus, towards the beginning in chapter three, when Moses encounters the Lord as the burning bush, the Lord gives Moses a message to bring to the Israelites. And in that message there’s instructions for the Israelite women to go to their neighbors and ask them for gold and silver jewelry and for clothing. And the Lord says I’ll give you favor in their sight and I won’t send you out empty handed and so you keep reading in Exodus then you get to chapter twelve and in it we see the same thing again. It says that the Israelites did what Moses commanded them to do and so the Israelites leave Egypt wealthy. And the Lord intended for the wealth to be a blessing and what happened is because they were unaware of just how good God is and just and how much He loves them, they elevated the goodness of the gift above the goodness of the gift giver. And they took what was meant to be a blessing and they made an idol out if it and they worshipped it. For the rest of our life God is going to give you good things and they will be intended as a blessing, but we need to remember that the goodness of the things that God will give us will never exceed the goodness of God Himself.” unknown

“Quench not the Spirit.” 1 Thessalonians 5:19

WAS it poverty or was it prosperity that destroyed the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah? (Ezekiel 16:49-50)

“Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall. 19 Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly (poor), than to divide the spoil (riches) with the proud.” Proverbs 16:18-19

In Ezekiel 16:49, God states that the sin of Sodom was “pride, excess of food, and prosperous ease, but did not aid the poor and needy. They were haughty, and did abominable things before me; therefore I removed them when I saw it.” 

Here’s a more detailed breakdown: 
  • Pride and Excess:
    Sodom was characterized by arrogance and a focus on material wealth and comfort, rather than humility and compassion.
  • Lack of Charity:
    The city’s inhabitants failed to help those in need, demonstrating a lack of empathy and social responsibility.

What was the cause of the downfall of Laodicea? (Revelation 3:14-22)

We see from Jesus’ letter to the Laodicean church that they were financially prosperous…. and they were deceived into thinking that their earthly wealth made them better than others. Luke 12:15

The church of the Laodiceans: Laodicea was an important, wealthy city. Laodicea was also a noted commercial center, and some of its goods were exported all over the world.

“It is frequently noted that Laodicea prided itself on three things: financial wealth, an extensive textile industry, and a popular eye-salve which was exported around the world.” (Mounce)

Laodicea was known for its:

  1. financial wealth
  2. clothing, fashion industry
  3. eye-salve sold across the known world

These 3 things are ….

“3:15-17 The church at Laodicea was neither cold nor hot. It was sickeningly lukewarm. The Lord would have preferred it to have been extreme in its indifference or its zeal. But no—it was lukewarm enough to deceive people into thinking that it was a church of God, and so disgustingly lukewarm about divine things as to nauseate the Most High. Furthermore, the church was characterized by pride, ignorance, self-sufficiency, and complacency.
3:18 The people were counseled to buy from the Lord gold refined in the fire. This may mean divine righteousness, which is bought without money or price (Isa_55:1) but received as a gift through faith in the Lord Jesus. Or it may mean genuine faith, which when tested in the fire, results in praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ (1Pe_1:7).
Also the people were counseled to buy white garments, that is, practical righteousness in everyday life. And they should anoint their eyes with eye salve, that is, gain true spiritual vision through the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit. This counsel was especially appropriate, since Laodicea was known as a center for banking, textiles, and medicines—especially eye salve.” Believer’s Bible Commentary

Revelation 3:17

a    [I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing] Threefold Laodicean estimate of themselves:

  1. I am rich.
  2. I am increased with goods.
  3. I have need of nothing.

b    [thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked]

Christ’s Sevenfold Estimate of the Laodiceans

  1. Neither cold nor hot (Rev_3:15).
  2. Lukewarm, sickening (Rev_3:16).
  3. Wretched. Greek: talaiporos (G5005), enduring toil; suffering hardship, as the most abject slave (Rev_3:17; Rom_7:24).
  4. Miserable. Greek: eleeinos (G1652), pitiable, (Rev_3:17; 1Co_15:19).
  5. Poor. Greek: ptochos (G4434), one who crouches, cringes; a beggar. Translated “poor” (Rev_3:17; Rev_13:16; Mat_5:3; Mat_11:5; Mat_19:21; Mat_26:9, Mat_26:11; Mrk_10:21; Mrk_12:42-43; Mrk_14:5-7; Luk_4:18; Luk_6:20; Luk_7:22; Luk_14:13, Luk_14:21; Luk_18:22; Luk_19:8; Luk_21:3; Jhn_12:5-8; Jhn_13:29; Rom_15:26; 2Co_6:10; Gal_2:10; Jas_2:3-6); “poor man” (Jas_2:2); “beggarly” (Gal_4:9); and “beggar” (Luk_16:20, Luk_16:22).
  6. Blind. Greek: tuphlos (G5185), blind in ears, mind, and eyes. Used of spiritual darkness (Rev_3:17; Rom_2:19; 2Pe_1:9; Mat_15:14), as well as physical blindness (Jhn_9:1-41; etc.).
  7. Naked. Greek: gumnos (G1131), naked; unclad; stripped of arms; defenseless. Translated “naked” (Rev_3:17; Rev_16:15; Rev_17:16; Mat_25:36-44; Mrk_14:51-52; Jhn_21:7; Act_19:16; 2Co_5:3; Heb_4:13; Jas_2:15) and “bare” (1Co_15:37).” Dake

What was the downfall of the man whose earthly dividends began to multiply? Luke 12:15-21

“Covetousness: the desire for this world’s riches that led to their souls ruin in the bowels of hell.” Jon Crane

What was the downfall of the once “rich man” in Luke 16?

1 Timothy 6

3 If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;
4 He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,
5 Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.
6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.
7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.
8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.
9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.
10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
Fight the Good Fight of Faith
11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.
12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.
13 I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession;
14 That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ:
15 Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;
16 Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.
17 Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;
18 That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate;
19 Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.

YOUR PRAYER: In Jesus’ name, Father please purge this vessel of all wickedness and sin – of self-idolatry, and pride, and fill me with Your holy compassion to be a blessing to You and others. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Support | STORE | Podcasts | Jail/Prison MinistryMexico Mission here | All Ministry Updates | The Return of ChristStewardshipApostate Modern Church Exposed | Beware of the BUZZ WORD Bandits [podcast] | Preach the WordWolves Exposed | 100’s of Christ-centered, Scripture-rich Podcasts | Knowing God | The Cross Life |

Join Us

We saved a place for you to receive our weekly newsletter.

Please wait...

Thank you for signing up!

Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *


The reCAPTCHA verification period has expired. Please reload the page.

Abiding

Faith with Humility: When Love Replaces Judgment [podcast]


“For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.” Galatians 5:6

“But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;”  Matthew 5:44

“Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.” Romans 13:10

“For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.” James 2:13

“And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.”  Colossians 3:14

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, 5 doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; 6 rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; 7 beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.” 1 Corinthians 13:1-8

Let’s Grow Together! Sign up here to begin receiving the Moments with Our Master email devotional that is sure to help you grow in His grace and in the knowledge of our LORD and Savior Jesus Christ (2 Pet. 1:2; 3:18).  It’s sent out for the edification of the body of Christ. Sign Up HERE.

Support | STORE | Podcasts | Jail/Prison MinistryMexico Mission here | All Ministry Updates | More on Assurance hereBecause You Care Page | The Greatest of these is CharityBe Ready in the Morning [podcast]The Sure Mercies of David [podcast]That Repentance and Remission of Sins should be Preached [podcast]At His Feet | Knowing God | The Cross Life | 100’s of Christ-centered Scripture-rich PodcastsChristology = the Study of Christ

Join Us

We saved a place for you to receive our weekly newsletter.

Please wait...

Thank you for signing up!

Continue Reading

Abiding

How to Give Alms, Pray, Forgive Others, Fast, and Lay Up Treasure in Heaven [podcast]


Breakdown of Jesus’ Teaching in Matthew 6

  • How to Give Alms.
  • How to Pray.
  • The Essential of Forgiving Others.
  • How to Fast and How Not to Fast.
  • The Importance of Laying up Treasure in Heaven.

Matthew 6

Giving to the Needy

“1  Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.

2  Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

3  But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:

4  That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.”

The Disciple’s Prayer

“5  And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

6  But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.

7  But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.

8  Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.

9  After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

10  Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

11  Give us this day our daily bread.

12  And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

13  And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

14  For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:

15  But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”

Fasting

“16  Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

17  But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face;

18  That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.”

Lay Up Treasures in Heaven

“19  Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:

20  But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:

21  For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

22  The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.

23  But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!

24  No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.”

Fear Not

“25  Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?

26  Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?

27  Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?

28  And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:

29  And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

30  Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?

31  Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?

32  (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.

33  But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

34  Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.”

Support | STORE | Podcasts | Jail/Prison MinistryMexico Mission here | All Ministry Updates | The Return of ChristStewardshipApostate Modern Church Exposed | Beware of the BUZZ WORD Bandits [podcast] | Preach the WordWolves Exposed | Giving | Fellowship | Christology = the Study of Christ

Join Us

We saved a place for you to receive our weekly newsletter.

Please wait...

Thank you for signing up!

Continue Reading

Abiding

The Core Values of the Modern Church Agenda Exposed [podcast]


Lots of occultic symbolism in the art below.

The “church growth” industry is a multi-million dollar enterprise with books, seminars, selling sermons, etc., on how to build a large church, how to grow the nickels, noses, and numbers. Is this what Jesus had in mind when He stated “I will build my church”? (Matthew 16:18)

“Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.” 1 Corinthians 7:23

Do you spend more time in “church” than in the Bible itself? Wow! Red flags flying!

“Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.” 2 Peter 3:17

So you are listening to some slick talker preach and yet he’s not using the BIBLE essential words like hell, repentance, holiness, the cross, the blood of Jesus, the return of Christ, etc? Repent and RUN!

The vast majority of so-called pastors today are more interested in getting you to join their church club, to become a member of their church, than they are about truly feeding the flock of God with the whole counsel of Scripture, equipping you for ministry, and winning souls to Jesus (John 21:15-17; Acts 20:20-32; Ephesians 4:11-12; 1 Peter 5:1-6, etc.). Prove it wrong.

Church Membership Exposed | The 501(C)(3) Deception | The Modern Church

Support | STORE | PodcastsThe Return of ChristStewardshipApostate Modern Church Exposed | Beware of the BUZZ WORD Bandits [podcast] | Preach the WordWolves Exposed

Join Us

We saved a place for you to receive our weekly newsletter.

Please wait...

Thank you for signing up!

Continue Reading

Categories

donate button round
sgys-books01

Trending