Rejecting False Teachings: Embracing True Gospel Hope

 

Summary

In today's message, I delved into the dangers of certain modern spiritual teachings that have infiltrated Christian circles, particularly those that promote the idea of self-empowerment and the ability to create one's own reality through faith and positive thinking. These teachings, as seen in popular books like "The Secret" and "The Shack," as well as in the prosperity gospel movement, distort the true message of the Gospel by placing the power of providence in human hands rather than God's. This ideology suggests that by simply knowing what you want, believing you will get it, visualizing it, and speaking it into existence, you can manifest your desires. However, this is a dangerous deviation from biblical truth.

I highlighted how these teachings are not only misleading but also exploitative, preying on the desperate and vulnerable. They promise health, wealth, and success, but fail to address the deeper spiritual needs of humility, repentance, and holiness. This false gospel is a stark contrast to the true Gospel, which calls us to deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Christ. Our hope is not in this world but in the eternal inheritance promised to us through Jesus Christ.

I also emphasized the importance of understanding the doctrine of total depravity, which acknowledges our complete inability to come to God on our own. This understanding is foundational to grasping the true nature of grace and salvation. Our best life is not now, but in the life to come, where we will experience the fullness of our inheritance in Christ. As believers, we are called to live with our eyes fixed on this eternal hope, enduring trials and suffering with the assurance that our faith, tested and proven, will result in praise and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Key Takeaways:

- The allure of self-empowerment teachings, like those found in "The Secret" and "The Shack," lies in their promise of control over one's destiny. However, this is a distortion of biblical truth, as it places providence in human hands rather than God's. True faith acknowledges God's sovereignty and our dependence on Him. [06:39]

- The prosperity gospel exploits the vulnerable by promising temporal blessings in exchange for faith and financial contributions. This is a modern-day religious Ponzi scheme that enriches its leaders at the expense of the faithful. True Christianity calls us to self-denial and the pursuit of eternal, not temporal, rewards. [09:12]

- Understanding the doctrine of total depravity is crucial for grasping the true nature of grace. It teaches us that we are completely unable and unwilling to come to God on our own, highlighting the necessity of divine intervention for salvation. This doctrine is foundational to the Gospel and distinguishes true Christianity from all other religions. [22:18]

- Our best life is not now but in the life to come. The trials and sufferings we endure in this life serve to strengthen our faith and assure us of our eternal inheritance. As believers, we are called to live with our eyes fixed on the hope of glory, knowing that our present sufferings are not worth comparing to the future glory that awaits us. [28:04]

- The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the guarantee of our inheritance. It validates the cross and secures our eternal joy. Our hope is a living hope, anchored in the reality of Christ's victory over death, and it assures us of the imperishable, undefiled, and unfading inheritance reserved for us in heaven. [53:07]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:31] - Introduction to the Topic
- [01:33] - The Influence of "The Secret"
- [02:49] - Critique of "The Shack"
- [04:12] - The Law of Attraction
- [07:49] - The Prosperity Gospel Exposed
- [11:51] - The Exploitation of the Vulnerable
- [13:00] - Joel Osteen's Teachings
- [18:16] - The True Source of False Teachings
- [20:44] - Understanding Total Depravity
- [28:04] - Our Best Life is Yet to Come
- [31:10] - A Call to Praise and Hope
- [37:24] - The Fullness of Salvation
- [45:11] - The Source and Motive of Our Inheritance
- [53:07] - The Guarantee of Our Inheritance

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:

1 Peter 1:3-5

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Observation Questions:

1. What are the key teachings of "The Secret" and "The Shack" as mentioned in the sermon, and how do they contrast with biblical teachings? [06:39]

2. How does the prosperity gospel exploit the vulnerable, according to the sermon? [09:12]

3. What does the doctrine of total depravity teach about human nature and our ability to come to God? [22:18]

4. According to the sermon, what is the significance of the resurrection of Jesus Christ for believers? [53:07]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the allure of self-empowerment teachings challenge the concept of God's sovereignty as presented in the Bible? [06:39]

2. In what ways does the prosperity gospel misrepresent the true message of Christianity, and what are the potential consequences for believers? [09:12]

3. Why is understanding the doctrine of total depravity crucial for grasping the true nature of grace and salvation? [22:18]

4. How does the promise of an eternal inheritance influence the way believers endure trials and suffering in this life? [28:04]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on any teachings or beliefs you have encountered that emphasize self-empowerment over God's sovereignty. How can you discern and avoid these in your spiritual journey? [06:39]

2. Have you ever been tempted by the promises of the prosperity gospel? How can you refocus on the eternal rewards promised in the Gospel rather than temporal blessings? [09:12]

3. How does understanding your own inability to come to God on your own change your perspective on grace and salvation? What steps can you take to deepen your understanding of this doctrine? [22:18]

4. In what ways can you keep your eyes fixed on the eternal hope promised through Jesus Christ, especially during times of trial and suffering? [28:04]

5. How does the resurrection of Jesus Christ serve as a guarantee of your inheritance, and how can this assurance impact your daily life and faith? [53:07]

6. Consider the areas in your life where you might be seeking your "best life now." How can you shift your focus to the life to come and the eternal inheritance promised to you? [28:04]

7. Identify a specific trial or challenge you are currently facing. How can the promise of an eternal inheritance and the assurance of faith help you endure this situation with hope and perseverance? [54:45]

Devotional

Day 1: The Illusion of Self-Empowerment
The allure of self-empowerment teachings, such as those found in "The Secret" and "The Shack," lies in their promise of control over one's destiny. These teachings suggest that by knowing what you want, believing you will get it, visualizing it, and speaking it into existence, you can manifest your desires. However, this ideology distorts biblical truth by placing providence in human hands rather than God's. True faith acknowledges God's sovereignty and our dependence on Him. It is crucial to recognize that our power is limited and that true empowerment comes from surrendering to God's will and trusting in His plan for our lives. [06:39]

Jeremiah 10:23-24 (ESV): "I know, O Lord, that the way of man is not in himself, that it is not in man who walks to direct his steps. Correct me, O Lord, but in justice; not in your anger, lest you bring me to nothing."

Reflection: In what areas of your life are you trying to exert control instead of trusting in God's sovereignty? How can you begin to surrender these areas to Him today?


Day 2: The Deception of the Prosperity Gospel
The prosperity gospel exploits the vulnerable by promising temporal blessings in exchange for faith and financial contributions. This modern-day religious Ponzi scheme enriches its leaders at the expense of the faithful, offering false hope and material gain. True Christianity, however, calls us to self-denial and the pursuit of eternal, not temporal, rewards. Our hope is not in the fleeting riches of this world but in the eternal inheritance promised to us through Jesus Christ. As believers, we are called to live with our eyes fixed on this eternal hope, enduring trials and suffering with the assurance of our faith. [09:12]

1 Timothy 6:9-10 (ESV): "But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs."

Reflection: How have you been influenced by the promise of material blessings in your faith journey? What steps can you take to refocus on the eternal rewards that God promises?


Day 3: Understanding Total Depravity
Understanding the doctrine of total depravity is crucial for grasping the true nature of grace. This doctrine teaches us that we are completely unable and unwilling to come to God on our own, highlighting the necessity of divine intervention for salvation. It is foundational to the Gospel and distinguishes true Christianity from all other religions. Recognizing our total depravity allows us to fully appreciate the depth of God's grace and the magnitude of His love in reaching out to us through Jesus Christ. [22:18]

Ephesians 2:1-3 (ESV): "And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind."

Reflection: Reflect on your own inability to come to God on your own. How does this understanding change your perspective on grace and your relationship with God?


Day 4: Our Best Life is Yet to Come
Our best life is not now but in the life to come. The trials and sufferings we endure in this life serve to strengthen our faith and assure us of our eternal inheritance. As believers, we are called to live with our eyes fixed on the hope of glory, knowing that our present sufferings are not worth comparing to the future glory that awaits us. This perspective encourages us to persevere through difficulties, trusting that God is using them to refine our faith and prepare us for eternity. [28:04]

2 Corinthians 4:17-18 (ESV): "For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal."

Reflection: How can you shift your focus from temporary struggles to the eternal glory that awaits you? What practical steps can you take to keep your eyes fixed on this hope?


Day 5: The Resurrection as Our Guarantee
The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the guarantee of our inheritance. It validates the cross and secures our eternal joy. Our hope is a living hope, anchored in the reality of Christ's victory over death, and it assures us of the imperishable, undefiled, and unfading inheritance reserved for us in heaven. This assurance should fill us with joy and confidence as we navigate the challenges of life, knowing that our future is secure in Christ. [53:07]

1 Peter 1:3-4 (ESV): "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you."

Reflection: How does the reality of Christ's resurrection impact your daily life and perspective on eternity? In what ways can you live out this living hope in your interactions with others?

Quotes


The allure of The Secret is that you have within you the force, the energy, the power to create whatever kind of life you want. Now you can find this book in Christian bookstores, but if your Christian bookstore doesn’t carry it, they probably would be happy to order it for you. [00:02:24]

The message again is this. You have so much power in you that you literally can create reality by speaking it. The internal creative power that resides in you can be released in words, and these words have supernatural energy that literally create the world the way you want the world to be. [00:03:32]

The operational principle that makes the universe that you live in the way you want it operates on the laws of attraction. You speak a certain thing, and by speaking it, you have the sheer power to attract it and literally make it reality. This is how you do it, in case you were wondering. [00:04:46]

So faith is this powerful, personal, creative force, this supernatural energy that overcomes all restraint, objection, and resistance, and literally gives you exactly what you want, the way you want it. And you can have whatever you desire. And by the way, have you ever checked the desire list? [00:07:23]

You have been exposed sadly to this kind of muck in a vast religious Ponzi scheme that makes the people at the top of the Ponzi pile filthy rich. It comes in forms like this: the word faith movement, the prosperity gospel, the name it and claim it movement, and names like Hinn and Hickey. [00:08:43]

They all claim that every so-called Christian has the personal power to recreate life’s reality into exactly what he wants. The only thing they add is they throw the name of Jesus in. And Jesus is just waiting to be activated by you, knowing what you want, believing that you’re going to get it. [00:09:34]

Any religion that takes advantage of the sick and the poor and the weak comes under divine judgment. Well, all of that leads me to the star of the day, Joel Osteen. I regret that he has replaced me on Larry King. It drives me completely nuts. [00:11:51]

Joel Osteen is a pagan religionist, a legalist, and a quasi pantheist. I’m not done. This is my pulpit. I can be here as long as I want. Now, on the other side of that, Jesus Christ is a footnote to satisfy his critics, thrown in at the end to get people off his back. [00:13:06]

He says that we are able to create by our faith and our words the dreams we dream and the desires we have, health, wealth, happiness, success, all the same old, same old, temporal things. (quote) “If you develop an image of success, an image of health and abundance and joy and peace and happiness, nothing on earth will be able to hold those things from you.” [00:14:47]

The doctrine of total depravity, the inability and unwillingness of anyone to come to God, is the most attacked doctrine, either on purpose or ignorantly. The most attacked doctrine is the doctrine that says man can do nothing, because every other religion in the world except true Christianity says man can and must do something. [00:22:06]

For those who are truly the children of God in Christ, this is the worst we will ever know, this is the worst we will ever experience. Our best life is to come when this life is over. And whatever this life is, it’s not worthy to be compared, right? [00:28:14]

The resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. [00:29:04]

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Transcript
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