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THE GOSPEL OF GREED AND ITS HINDRANCE TO EVANGELISM

Word/Faith proponent and false teacher Joel Osteen states:

”And if people can ever really see how good our God is, they’ll come running to Him.” [Sermon: The Great Commission]

Though the Bible makes it clear that God is good, this was never the approach of Christ, His apostles, or the early church to sinners.

How does such a statement from Osteen reconcile with John 6, where those Jesus blessed with physical blessings (loaves and fishes), walked away from Him and followed Him no more when He told them they must partake of His sufferings? They saw Him in the flesh and tasted His goodness with their own taste buds, and walked away, never to follow Him again.

“From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.” John 6:66

These who walked away saw God’s goodness – they tasted it in the mouths He gave them. They ate His multiplied fish and bread. When they abandoned Jesus their stomachs were full of the goodness of the LORD, but their hearts were filled with selfishness and unbelief. They wanted His material wealth, but not His spiritual wealth, which would non-negotiably require them to lay down their lives and follow Him. They are burning this very moment in the flaming prison of fire (hell). Not one second has or ever will tick from eternity’s time clock.

Wolves patty cake with you because they want your money and could care less about your eternal soul (Isaiah 30:9-10; 2 Timothy:2-4; 2 Peter 2:1-3).

Contrary to the fairy tale message Osteen communicates, seeing God’s goodness never guaranties men will repent and be saved. Nor, was/is there any such speech or posture intimated when Jesus gave the Great Commission. This patty cake, bubble gum gospel, communicating a cotton candy “Christianity”, will win no one to Christ, and certainly make no disciples of Jesus. Osteen is of the false Word/Faith movement. Among many other heresies, the Word/Faith movement erroneously espouses the lie that when the world around us sees the material prosperity of “blessed” Christians, they will come to Christ. So, they believe it is God’s will for them to be materially rich in order to win the lost. Is this how Jesus told us to reach the lost? Is this how Christ told us the unsaved would be saved? No such notion, much less instruction is hinted of or given in the New Testament record. The preaching of the cross/Gospel is what causes men to repent and be saved.

Jesus said “Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a mans life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.” Luke 12:15

Many today are being taught that material wealth or lack thereof, is a direct measurement of one’s status with the LORD. This is exactly what gives their hearts license to pursue material prosperity, in the face of divine truth which guaranties that not one “covetous man who is an idolater” will be in Heaven – regardless of whether or not he had a past relationship with the LORD.

“For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. Be not ye therefore partakers with them.” Ephesians 5:5-7

What could be plainer? All who pursue money in lieu of Christ as their first love are covetous idolators and will spend eternity in the lake of fire.

“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.” Matthew 6:24

Money is not the root of all evil – the love of it is (1 Tim. 6:10). God loves all of His people, regardless of the wealth they have or don’t have in this life and at this time.

“Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?” James 2:5

Note here that there are those who are “the poor if this world” who are “rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom.”

Does material prosperity enhance our walk with the LORD Jesus? No. More money means more responsibility and privilege to fund the true Gospel, but will not enhance the hearts of men. Spiritual blessing only comes from the riches purchased by Christ who died and is risen again, seated at His Father’s right hand making intercession of of His saints (Eph. 1; Col. 2). Any sane Christian person would obviously rather have money than not to have it, but money has nothing to do with one’s standing with God and the love of it only proves that “the love of the Father is not in us.” (1 Jn. 2:15-17)

Loving money and the things of this world that money can buy (covetousness), is idolatry. Idolatry is soul-damning sin. Jesus commanded: “Ye shall love the LORD your God with all your heart…..” (Matt. 12:37-39)

Their GOAL is your GOLD, not your SOUL! Get a clue! Read 2 Peter 2:1-3; Philippians 3:18-19.

Antoinette Yeboah writes:

“Paul offended, Peter, James and John offended. All of God’s servants offended dark hearts. How could they not? The true Gospel of Christ, goes against all societal norms and stirs the ire of modern day Pharisees and their loyal followers, who wallow in idolatry. They preach lies, deception and heresy to keep their followers satisfied and hoodwinked, while they milk them like cows. Then they laugh and slap each other on the back, behind the scenes. God sees all and the guilty shall not go unpunished.”

In stark contrast to the greed gospel so prevalent today, our LORD and His apostles actually taught that material prosperity can cause a man to lose out with God, for eternity.

“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 10:25

“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. 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.” 1 Timothy 6:9-10

If our financial status is a direct indication of our spiritual life, some of us are in big trouble 🙂 Paul warned of this deception and told us to flee such falsehood and those who teach or espouse it:

“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; He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.” 1 Timothy 6:3-5

If you read a new version of the Bible, the most important instruction in this text has been purposely removed (like so many other things in the new versions – do you see the hoof prints?). “From such withdraw thyself” at the end of verse 5 is removed in most new versions (which are corrupt). This all-important phrase is in the original Greek of the Textus Receptus majority text manuscripts.

We should boast alone is the fact that He has found us and made the way for us to know Him. God’s kingdom is all about King Jesus, not man’s pitiful pennies, all to be stripped away from him at his last breath – to stand naked before His Maker to give account of what he did with Christ and every penny given as a gift to him in his earthly life.

“Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD.” Jeremiah 9:23-24

May our heavenly Father bless us today to rejoice alone in Jesus, our Treasure (Col. 2:3). And We are His “precious fruit of the earth” (James 5:7-9).

“The principal hindrance to the advancement of the kingdom of God is greed. It is the chief obstacle to heaven-sent revival. It seems that when the back of greed is broken, the human spirit soars into regions of unselfishness. I believe that it is safe to say there can be no continuous revival without ‘hilarious’ giving. And I fear no contradiction: wherever there is ‘hilarious’ giving there will soon be revival!” — O.S. Hawkins, USA pastor

Support | STORE | PodcastsThe Return of Christ | Stewardship | Jesus Sat Over Against The Treasury [podcast]10 Clues Your Love for God has Waxed Cold [podcast]Where to Give and Where Not to Give | Fruit Abounding to Your Account!Parable of the Talents [podcast] | Proving Jesus Matters [podcast]Money, Material Wealth, and RichesRusted Gold and Fire Untold [podcast]

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Treasures In Heaven [podcast]

Giving and Lordship [podcast]

“Charge them that are Rich in this World”

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Gospel Action Mission Mexico Update Video: There Was a Faint Knock at the Door … as I Opened the Door …


Support Mission Mexico here. Takes seconds.

“For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” Luke 19:10

Mission Mexico – See more here.


Download. Read. Print out your supply of the JESUS tract – English and Spanish.

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WHEN PARENTS GET OLD …

author unknown

WHEN PARENTS GET OLD …

“Let them grow old with the same love that they let you grow … let them speak and tell repeated stories with the same patience and interest that they heard yours as a child … let them overcome, like so many times when they let you win … let them enjoy their friends just as they let you … let them enjoy the talks with their grandchildren, because they see you in them … let them enjoy living among the objects that have accompanied them for a long time, because they suffer when they feel that you tear pieces of this life away … let them be wrong, like so many times you have been wrong and they didn’t embarrass you by correcting you …

LET THEM LIVE and try to make them happy the last stretch of the path they have left to go; give them your hand, just like they gave you their hand when you started your path!

(“Honor your mother and father and your days shall be long upon the earth”.) – God”

“Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. 2 Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;) 3 That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.” Ephesians 6:1-3

Karen Cochran writes:

“A few years ago the Lord spoke to me and I heard honor your Father and Mother. I didn’t know that my Mom would be moving close to me in a few months and I would become her primary helper. It has been one of the biggest challenges of my life because she has dementia and isn’t always kind. I have had to come home many nights and sit at the feet of Jesus and ask forgiveness because I was not like Jesus to her. Then I go back everyday because the Lord commands us to Honor our Mother. He didn’t promise it would be easy. I have to be like Jesus and say Father forgive them for they know not what they do. Luke 23: 34 .As people who have dementia do not know what they are doing or saying.”

Sharing how God is working in her life concerning her relationship with her beloved mother, Karen Cochran writes:

“I had to die to being right. Pride! How could I love her (my mother) with the love of Jesus? How would she see Jesus in me? She would not see Him in me in all my pride and arrogance! By being full of pride, all I did was stir up strife. Proverbs 10:12 ‘Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins.’ Because she would retaliate and would be angry. I had to learn to keep my mouth shut. And it has completely changed our relationship. But first the Lord had to change me and cleanse me from my ‘know it all’ attitude and my pride. I went to the Lord and said ‘why is she (my mother) so mean to me’. The Lord straightened me out quick. It was me not her! I couldn’t control her! All I could do was allow God to root out what was sin in me.”

“Being broken to the core has been a continuous prayer for me. Otherwise my stone heart will hurt someone else that does not deserve to be hurt. Jesus had shown me my resentment against my parents. As I went to their grave, Jesus begin to say, ‘If they hadn’t taken you to Jesus at an early age, you wouldn’t be where you are now.’ I felt all the bitterness, anger, and hatred leave. How gracious is our Savior!” Thomas Cochran

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Gospel Action in Mexico Part 37

UPDATE – DELIVERED FOOD TODAY; – I purchased numerous food items for Clara and her boys today. Traversing difficult terrain to deliver the goods God supplied through your faithful giving left me with a sidewall puncture. A sidewall puncture cannot be patched and replacement was quoted at $274. Settled for a used tire. In this challenge came opportunity.

God used the punctured tire for me to meet a wayward man. Jose has spent time in the USA and has family there. His wife is presently in Colorado; he expressed strain on his family. Jose received God’s Word preached to him and the JESUS tract and said “You know what? My wife is also a Christian.” Wow. So, his beloved wife is praying for him to be saved and God answered her prayer in part by connecting me with him. This opportunity is because of your support for this ministry. Can we please pray for Jose and his family?

I am continuing to learn to assert Romans 8:28-29 into everything:

28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to [his] purpose. 29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate [to be] conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. 

Can anyone relate?

Mark is encouraging me in helping more people, one person/family at a time. Your prayers and giving are more than important, it is essential.

I found out Clara was in need again and was moved upon by the LORD to get her and her 3 sons some food. Her whole monthly money needed to sustain her, and her boys is about $350. The house she rents is $120 per month. I will leave it there.

It is amazing how much further our contributions go in Mexico, how much more it’s multiplied. A little bit of money and ministry here goes a long way to bless and expand Christ’s kingdom! …and to give hope to the hopeless.

We continue to pray for a few more saints to assert themselves into this opportunity. God is able, amen! All I can do is let these things be known. I am blessed by your support as I am encouraged by the fruitfulness of Mission Mexico both in the reach of the spiritual needs and the physical needs of God’s children. You are responding to Jesus’ instructions in Matthew 6:19-21

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.

Clara’s Cry Video was featured recently. Click here.


Please lift a prayer in Jesus’ name for the fruitfulness and supply of our LORD’s work here with Mission Mexico. God be praised. Multitudes being reached daily with Jesus Christ’s bless-ed Gospel – spoken to them and given in print in the JESUS tract in Spanish.


BELOVED ANTONIO came by again tonight to get something to eat. I warmly received and welcomed him. Had him sit down and rest with fresh water to drink while his delicious meal was cooking. When he left I broke down while hugging him and letting him know you are lifting him in prayer and that God loves him. I played the Spanish Bible audio of Scripture to him while I was cooking so the Word would be planted in his heart…. WHO wants to cry out with me to our LORD for this young man? WHO wants to seek God for a complete change in his precious life? Salvation and good employment/work, etc. Let it not be that he could ever say that “No man cared for my soul.”“I looked on my right hand, and beheld, but there was no man that would know me: refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul” (Psalms 142:4). Jesus is coming saints. Let us pour out His love to the hurting. Jesus Christ died for this beloved young man! Mission Mexico is rolling! “WE are labourers TOGETHER with God” (1 Corinthians 3:9). This is what it’s all about dear saints. Jump in. God will bless.

“The LORD upholdeth all that fall, and raiseth up all those that be bowed down.” Psalms 145:14

Mission Mexico!


Beloved brother in Christ, Cesar, spent the last 14 days with his beloved mother before she passed. Mark and I went to visit Cesar the day after his mother passed. Mark and I agreed that Cesar was ministering to us. We went to comfort him and he ministered to us! Whew! You are invited to lift our beloved brother Cesar in prayer.

Oh and Cesar took about 50-60 JESUS tracts to distribute.

The plans are to be spending more time fellowshipping with Cesar again soon.

Months ago, I handed Cesar a JESUS tract and we begin to talk and he shared that he is a born again disciple of Jesus. Yesterday, with tears in his eyes, Cesar shared his testimony of Jesus’ salvation of his life 24 years ago. This is a beloved brother in our LORD Jesus for certain. Unpretentious.


As is so often the case, we gave this man a JESUS tract and spoke the Word to him. A few moments later here he is hungrily reading about His Maker and King, and Savior Jesus.


Saints we are supporting a missionary in the Philippines and am thanking the LORD for your prayers and supply to our LORD’s Gospel work …..


Anyone wish to pause and lift this man to our LORD in prayer? When ministered to, Victor asked questions. He is searching. God is able.



Thank you for praying for the beautiful people of this country. More Mission Mexico coverage here.





Remember brother Justin (from Australia) whom God miraculously saved here in Mexico? He is very grateful that you are lifting him in prayer. Praying for Christ’s saints is an essential (Colossians 4:12). Today Justin sent this:

“I was reading the book of John and the woman at the well last night, contemplating how some plant seeds to be harvested by others (John 4). Just being grateful to serve the Lord without needing to see results. Bless you. You certainty planted some seeds with me. I’ll check out Titus! Thank you brother. I am working out my salvation with fear and trembling, for sure, and I wouldn’t be doing it so much harder now without your support.” Justin B.

UPDATE ON BROTHER JUSTIN B.

Thank you for lifting in prayer our brother Justin B. (Australian) here in Mexico. He was saved just a few months ago here. Here’s the latest from our brother. Please pray the Word for him. John 15; Colossians 4:12.

“I am good, brother. I am back in the slipstream of the Word. Felt like I had to experience the desert of doubt to come out with more clarity. Though, ultimately, trust in God is not necessarily clear. Getting confident in God with that ‘cloud of unknowing.’

“Daily brother. It’s my clarion call/prayer now. Diminish me but increase my faith. Purify my heart, Lord, so I may glorify Your name. Thank you for showing me the way and keeping faith in me, brother.” Justin B.

Do we recall how Jesus told Peter: “And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: 32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren” (Luke 22:31-32).

Here’s the post where the account of Jesus saving Justin is contained.

Jesus Saved Justin [podcast]


This is beloved David (pictured above) who received extensive ministry of God’s love and Word. Please lift up David, Daniel, and Justin. Colossians 4:12.


Omar was invited to have you pray for him. He readily agreed and is glad to know you are lifting him to our LORD in prayer. Jesus told us He desires to save Omar (1 Timothy 2:4).


“My Dear Brother, I will continue to lift Clara and those precious children in prayer; for I know firsthand the hardship of raising 3 little ones alone in this selfish world.  I am thankful to the LORD GOD ALMIGHTY for sending strangers into my life during my time of despair and brokenness. Thank you brother for being a good steward with the gifts that the people of God send into the Lord’s Ministry. May the Lord God bless and keep you all the days of your life.” Jacquie



Support Mission Mexico here. Takes seconds.

“For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” Luke 19:10

Mission Mexico – See more here.


Download. Read. Print out your supply of the JESUS tract – English and Spanish.

Continue Reading

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