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TRUSTWORTHY
MIRACLES FOR SALE?
"But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because
thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased
with money. Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God. Repent therefore of this
thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be
forgiven thee. I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity," Acts 8:20-23.
In the book of Acts chapter eight there is a very insightful incident
that happened to Peter and John in Samaria. Peter and John were laying their hands on the
Christian believers and they were receiving the Holy Spirit as a result.
There was a certain man, Simon, who had just become a believer, and after he had seen this gift of God that was given to the
new believers he asked Peter and John if he could also have this gift of God
by giving them money. Peter answered Simon, "Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that
the gift of God may be purchased with money. Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is
not right in the sight of God."
This has particular significance today because so many" Christian" television stations use the very tactic that Simon
used to get people to give money during their telethons. These false teachers lure babes in Christ into
believing that we could actually buy a miracle from God. They teach that we give to God expecting a
blessing, miracle, healing, or a 30, 60, 100 fold return on our investment.
There is another example in scripture of a" prophet" of God using his position to take money from people. In 2 Kings 5:15-27, Gehazi, the
servant of Elisha went secretly to Naman to steal money in the name of God after Elishahad refused to accept any gift for what God had done.
Naman was healed by the great prophet Elisha and had offered him
money in gratitude for his healing. Elisha refused saying, "But he said, As the LORD liveth,
before whom I stand, I will receive none. And he urged him to take it; but he refused."
As a result of the treachery of Gehazi trying to making merchandise
of God, he was struck with leprosy. Elisha rebuked him with words that are so relevant
today," And he said unto him, Went not mine heart with thee, when the man
turned again from his chariot to meet thee? Is it a time to receive money, and to receive garments, and
oliveyards,and vineyards, and sheep, and oxen, and menservants, and maidservants?"
During their telethons these televangelists in their thousand
dollar suits love to quote the miracles that Elisha did for
the Shunammite woman and the widow's oil in 2 Kings 4 and the floating
axe head in and 2 Kings 6 as examples of sowing a seed [money] to get a miracle
or blessing.
Yet, in the countless hours of watching them I have never heard
them read the chapter from 2 Kings 5 where Elisha refused to get
money for the miracle that he did for Naman. I never hear them quote Elisha who said now is not the time to
receive money or any type of material gain. Right in the middle of their favorite verses of scripture that they
use to fleece the sheep the prophet Elisha refuses to take money! They also fail to mention that
Elisha himself died from a sickness when they promise heading's
to all Christians that will give a "Seed" gift: "Now Elisha was fallen sick of
his sickness whereof he died," 2 Kings 13:14.
This fleecing of the sheep is a fulfillment of biblical prophecy, "And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of
whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make
merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnationslumbereth not." 2 Peter 2:2-3.
Listen to Matthew Henry's biblical commentary on the words of
Jesus found in Matthew 10:8:
"In doing good freely; Freely ye heave received, freely give. Those that had power to
heal-all diseases, had an opportunity to enrich themselves; who would not
purchase such easy certain cures at any rate? Therefore they are cautioned not to make a gain of the power they had
to work miracles: they must cure gratis, further to exemplify the nature
and complexion of the gospel kingdom, which is made up, not only of grace, but offree grace. Gratia gratis data(Rom. 3:24), freely by his grace, Buy medicines without money, and
without price, Isaiah 55:1. And the reasonis, because freely you have received. Their power to heal the sick cost them nothing, and, therefore,
they must not make any secular advantage to themselves of it. Simon Magus would not have
offered money for the gifts of the Holy Ghost, if he had not hoped to get money
by them; Acts 8:18. Note, The consideration of Christ's freeness in doing good to us, should make us free
in doing good to others."
For the most part Christian leaders are not outraged at
this fleecing and manipulation, rather, they continue to support and endorse
these" Christian" stations and teachers--all to the detriment and hurt
of God's precious children. I pray that God will continue to raise up men that truly care for the sheep more
than they do for their own carnal influence.
I would like to thank God for the faithful shepherds that truly
care for the sheep intrusted to them by God and speak out against
this deception in the church. These men pay a heavy price for caring for the sheep. If only more men would weep as Paul did over the coming (Nowhere!) wolves in the church (Acts 20:26-31).
credit: www.myfortress.org
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