Joel Osteen Sermon!

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by RoyW on December 28, 2011 at 5:33am

On the other hand - I do believe we are to pray for one another for health and prosperity. However, we should not take it for granted that we are going to have all that. Trust in Him and lean not on your own understanding. The fact that everything is not going well does not necessarily mean that you are low on faith. It might just mean the opposite.

Permalink Reply by Leonard T on December 29, 2011 at 5:42am

I will join you in prayer as well.

 

Here is an important component to consider when one is listening to a teacher of the Word. Salvation is not just simly accepting Jesus. There has to be a recognition of personal sin and guilt (Romans is a great read regarding this). This, coupled with the truth of who Jesus is and what He has done is to be used by the Holy Spirit to lead us to repentance. Without a personal acceptance of our guilt there can be no true repentance. This particular teacher has acknowledged that he does not use the word sin and wants people to see the good in them. That is just the oppositie of what the gospel is supposed to do in the initial phase of conviction. Thus, we are to be able to see the truth about what God says regarding who we are. Before we are saved we are lost and wretched creatures. After salvation we are children of God and loved by Him. Now thre are different ways of saying this to others in love, but say it we must. Otherwise it reminds me of the Biblical account of the two different builders who built on two different foundations. Both houses looked good for a while ... that is until the storm came. Without a proper foundation the house will crumble.

 

Lord Bless,

LT

Permalink Reply by RoyW on December 29, 2011 at 6:25am

Amen!

Permalink Reply by Rita Cullimore on December 29, 2011 at 7:14am

LT,

I probably haven't ever said thank you for NOT being like some of the pastors I have heard but I do thank you for it now. You always seem to have a good word when you respond to the different topics in the forum.

Blessings in your ministry....

Rita

Permalink Reply by Rita Cullimore on December 29, 2011 at 5:06am

What does a person need to prosper? Is it counted in dollars, or could it be spiritual knowledge? He prospers me and yesterday I had $54 in the bank. Prosperity is knowing God is right on time...Every Time! Not just with money but answers. Most people gauge prosperity by their bank account. I don't look at it that way and don't think God does either. If He doesn't prosper us in money He prospers us in where to get the money. Jobs when we need it, bill money when we need it. Food when we need it. Transportation when we need it.

I have a friend who recently left her husband because of his abuse. She worried about a way to go because we live in a community at least 10 miles from the nearest grocery store. God prospered her because I let her use my vehicle which rarely gets driven. Her food is taken care of because I cook for myself and my daughter's family. One plate more is no problem.

So, how do you all look at prosperity?

Permalink Reply by RoyW on December 29, 2011 at 6:34am

May the Lord mightily bless Char, Rita and all others who are using good judgment and placing their complete trust in the Lord Jesus. When we put our trust in Him, we have peace. My problem is that sometimes I put my trust in myself and make really bad mistakes. All these situations mentioned by Rita and Char are good when they bring us closer to God. He makes all things work together for good to those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. I agree with Rita about prosperity. I think she has it.

Permalink Reply by Rose Bentley on December 29, 2011 at 6:46am

I am new to this community and I am now seeing how the body is devouring someone who calls himself a believer I am not comfortable. I think there are enough non believers that need to be won to the fellowship, and if the world see us devouring each other in the body we will not win them for Christ.
"Brothers, do not slander one another, Anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgement on it. There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy, But you - who are you to judge your neighbor? James 4:11-12
Jesus was humble and gentle. He didn't have to attack the religious leaders of his day, they were attacking him. I believe we do a great dis justice to the body of Christ when we start saying who and who is not a believer.
By our fruits we are known. LOVE,JOY,PEACE ... Gal 5:22

Permalink Reply by Leonard T on December 29, 2011 at 6:50am

For clarity. The question of Joel's salvation is not in question here, but rather his teaching ... They are two different things and the one must be weighed!!!

Permalink Reply by RoyW on December 29, 2011 at 7:52am

To say Jesus was humble is true. To say that He did not attack the religious bigotry of the day would be lacking in understanding. Jesus was very much opposed to much of the teaching of that day and spoke openly about His opposition. One of His main objections to the teachings of the religious leaders was their making their own doctrines. Much if not most of what they were teaching did not come from His Word but from their own system which they themselves had created. Rabbinical law was not God's law and He clearly pointed that out. One of those moments was dealing with the washing of the hands before one would eat. When the religious leaders used God's holy temple for profiting, He really got upset. He made His feelings clearly known a couple of times and He was not too humble in His approach. The last words we have from our Lord recorded in Scripture would be found in Revelation. Notice:

Rev 2:14-15 But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality.  15 Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate. NKJV

How does Jesus feel about the prosperity gospel, Rose? You will have to work on that yourself. However, we should not dismiss any teaching without judging that which is taught. I personally don't find a gospel in Scripture that emphasizes the physical things of this world. Some of the people addressed in Scripture had sacrificed all to follow Christ. It is difficult for us to understand some of the Gospel since we do not live in a culture like that - here in America, anyway. A Muslim that converts to Christianity might understand the Gospel a little better than we but that is not our fault. I am very grateful for the Christian heritage we have. However, it is really easy for us to begin to focus on the wealth of this world since we have so much of that in America. We begin to think that is God's plan for us here in this life and then we focus on how are we supposed to get that wealth. A poor slave that knows Christ is better off than a rich person who is following a false gospel.

I am not a follower of Joel Osteen and am not a good judge on whether or not his sermons are full of the prosperity teaching or not. However, to say that we are not to discuss whether or not a man's teachings are true or not true is not Scriptural.

2 Peter 2:1-2  But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them — bringing swift destruction on themselves. NIV

Someone put on a video when Joel spoke on the Larry King show. I do think he was coming dangerously close to this in that short segment. The fact that someone had to call to get clarification is cause for alarm. I think he did later deny ever indicating that there might possibly be another way. The only way to God is through Jesus Christ. That should be plain and simple. Hedging on that question is not an option even if your goal is just to make Christianity more popular and bring more in to the fold. His hedging on that question does really bother me.

We are instructed to test the spirit of the teaching.

1 John 4:1 Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. NIV

This practice may seem harsh to some but is certainly required of the believer. It is your duty to check the teachings. If you find a teacher is straying from the Word, it is our obligation to go to that teacher and call him back to God's Word. I think the word is going out from the body very strongly that some of this new American teaching is not from God. Perhaps we would all enjoy the luxurious lifestyles that the rich enjoy. However, that is certainly not promised in God's Word and certainly not encouraged.

1 John 2:15 Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. NIV

Permalink Reply by Leonard T on December 29, 2011 at 8:06am

Roy,

 

Well said.

Permalink Reply by Rose Bentley on December 29, 2011 at 8:54pm

Roy,

Because you personally named me, I will address you.

First, I do not believe in what you describe as a prosperity gospel, my brother Roy! I don't want to restate my older post so I will just clarify my point.

As I stated a couple of times in my earlier post,  I am well aware of where all my blessings (as I am in the habit of calling my prosperity) As I stated earlier I expect God to bless me, because if he would not, he would be lying and not holding to his word. It is up to God how he wants to bless me! I am not nor have I in any of my post advocated that prosperity (financially) is something to expect. I believe it is better to give than to receive. I also, believe as I stated before that expecting goodness from God and expecting God to provided for all my needs,  is what I expect and consider my blessings. 

Second, yes your right Roy, I examine the scriptures, and thank God we have the Wonderful Counselor and God who knows our hearts, motives and intent when we seek him for counsel in the scriptures!

Third, as for what you call a prosperity gospel: who am I, where do I live, what do I make, what do I give? Do you know?? No!!! Thank God he does and he sees us through our trials with his grace and mercy and lets us say like Paul. "Rejoice in the Lord always, I will say it again: Rejoice!" Phil 4:4

Fourth,  Please do not misquote what I said, as I stated this earlier;  "He didn't have to attack the religious leaders of his day, they were attacking him."  I never said he did not stand up for himself when the religious leaders tried to question or trap him. I clearly stated he didn't have to go looking for a fight; so to speak, the fight came to him.  

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will f ind rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." Matt 11:28-30

Fifth: As concerning your comments on Joel Osteen, I am not a follower nor make it a practice of listening to his sermons.  However; this I do know. My Mother who loves the Lord. She use to love to listening to Joel's Father (John Osteen)who was considered a man of God by a lot of the old preacher. He raised Joel in the word and in Church according to his own testimony. Joel's Mother is considered a devout believer and was miraculously healed of cancer, after given only a few months to live. Joel shared how she would go around the house quoting scripture and praising God until the Lord healed her, that was around 20 years ago. Now, she has her own healing ministry. I also know from the few times I have listen to him, he gives a salvation invitation at the end of each broadcast. As per the tape: they did not show the whole segment, therefore; like the scripture, unless examine it in context, I do not want to misquote it.

Sixth: I am aware what my duty is, I have a God who is active and alive and lives in me, showing me how to rightly handle the word of God.

Seventh: As for what you call the new "American teaching"  I can agree that some are not of God. But I am not going to make it my mission to weed out who or who my not be of God. In the parable of the weeds the servant ask the man if he wanted him to pull the weeds from the wheat. Jesus said, "No, he answered, because while you are pulling the weeds, you may root up the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned, then gather, the wheat and bring it into my barn." Matt 13: 24-30

As for me, I believe what Jesus said is true for me, "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Matt6:21. 

I am believe it is more blessed to give than to receive. I love Jesus and he is the only way a person can get to heaven! Period, if I am called to give an account for the hope in me, in season and out of season, and that is the only reason I responded!! 

Love to the brothers and sisters in Christ,

Rose

Permalink Reply by Amanda on December 29, 2011 at 9:27am

1 Timothy 2 (NIV):

I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— 2 for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. 3 This is good, and pleases God our Savior, 4 who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all people. This has now been witnessed to at the proper time. 7 And for this purpose I was appointed a herald and an apostle—I am telling the truth, I am not lying—and a true and faithful teacher of the Gentiles.
8 Therefore I want the men everywhere to pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or disputing.

• ‹ Previous
• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• Next ›
• Page