07-07-19, 1 Timothy 6;3-19, Lasting Investments

1 Timothy 6:3-19
Lasting Investments
“Warnings Against The Prosperity Gospel”
July 7, 2019
First Baptist Church
Jackson, Mississippi
USA

What’s the number one thing?
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The Glory of God!
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1 Corinthians 10:31 NKJV
31 Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you
do, do all to the glory of God.
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July Memory Verse
James 1:25 NKJV
25 But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and
continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer
of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.

References
•MacArthur, John, The MacArthur Study Bible NKJV
(Nashville, Nelson Publishing, 1997).
•NIV Study Bible (Grand Rapids, Zondervan Publishing,
1985).
•ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL, Crossway, 2008).
•Got Questions Ministries, www.GotQuestions.com.
•Jeremiah, David, Contentment (Turning Points
Magazine, November 2004).

Introduction to 1 Timothy
•The church in Ephesus was begun by Priscilla and
Aquilla (Acts 18) with Paul on his 2nd missionary
journey.
•Paul returned and served as pastor for 3 years during
his 3rd missionary journey (Acts 19).
•Timothy followed Paul as pastor of this church and
was serving when this letter (1 Timothy) was written
to Timothy.

Paul’s Letters to Timothy
•Paul is addressing specific problems in the church.
•Timothy was familiar with the theology of Christianity,
so Paul’s letters do not elaborate on these subjects.
•The instructions to the Ephesus Church have universal
applications.
• They apply to the church today.

Focus of Today’s Lesson
•The “Prosperity Gospel” that was preached by false
teachers in the 1st century church in Ephesus.
•Characteristics of the false teachings of prosperity
theology.
•Why the teaching of the “Prosperity Gospel”
continues in the 21st century.

Jesus’ Warning About False Teachers
Matthew 7:15 NKJV
15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s
clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.”
• Satan is the great imitator – looking like a believer but
trying to lead you astray from the true Gospel.
• Satan’s goal for the non-believer in Jesus is to keep them a
non-believer.
• Satan’s goal for the believer in Jesus is to keep them from
growing and to lead them astray from the Gospel with false
teachings.

Paul’s warning to the Ephesus Church in Acts 20.
Acts 20:28-29 NKJV
28 Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock,
among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers,
to shepherd the church of God which He purchased
with His own blood. 29 For I know this, that after my
departure savage wolves will come in among you, not
sparing the flock.

Paul’s warning to the Ephesus Church in Acts 20.
Acts 20:30-31 NKJV
30 Also from among yourselves men will rise up,
speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples
after themselves. 31 Therefore watch, and remember
that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone
night and day with tears.

1 Timothy 6:3-5 NIV (1985 Translation)
3 If anyone teaches false doctrines and does not agree
to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to
godly teaching, 4 he is conceited and understands
nothing. He has an unhealthy interest in controversies
and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife,
malicious talk, evil suspicions 5 and constant friction
between men of corrupt mind, who have been robbed
of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to
financial gain.

“men of corrupt mind, … who think that
godliness is a means to financial gain.”
•Godliness – “God-likeness”; it refers to one’s
reverence for God.
•Godliness refers to having the proper attitude and
conduct before God in everything.
•Paul is warning against false teachers who are
motivated by monetary gain and are teaching that the
way to increased financial gain is godliness (The
Prosperity Gospel).

Confusion about Old Testament (OT) and New
Testament (NT) promises and rewards
• In the OT, God made promises of blessings, health and
prosperity to Israel when they were obedient to Him
(Genesis 12:2; Leviticus 26:3-12; Deuteronomy 7:11-15).
• In the NT, the focus is on eternal rewards for all believers in
Christ, and not earthly rewards.
• In prosperity teaching Christ is presented as a ticket to
perfect health and financial wealth with the focus on your
best life on this earth and not in Christ thru eternity.

Contentment
6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we
brought nothing into the world, and we can take
nothing out of it. 8 But if we have food and clothing, we
will be content with that. 9 People who want to get rich
fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish
and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and
destruction.

But godliness with contentment is great gain.
•Contented believer – one who believes that God’s
provision is always sufficient and His appointments
are always appropriate.
•Contentment – St. Augustine quote: “You have made
us for yourself and our hearts are restless until they
find rest in You.”
•Contentment comes only when connected with God
through His Son, Jesus Christ.

Contentment is… by Dr. David Jeremiah
1. Learned Behavior – From prison Paul wrote:
Philippians 4:11b, 19 NKJV
11b for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be
content:
19 And my God shall supply all your need according
to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
2. Not dependent on circumstances.
3. A state of being, not a state of doing.
4. Based on the riches of God in Christ Jesus.

1 Timothy 6:10 NIV (1985 Translation)
The often-misquoted verse.
10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.
Some people, eager for money, have wandered from
the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
•Love of money translated “affection for silver.”

1 Timothy 6:10 KJV
The often-misquoted verse.
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.
•Love of money translated “affection for silver.”

Flee, Fight & Grasp
11 But you, man of God, flee from all this (the love of
money), and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith,
love, endurance and gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight
of the faith. Take hold of eternal life to which you were
called when you made your good confession in the
presence of many witnesses.

13 In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and
of Christ Jesus, who testifying before Pontius Pilate
made the good confession, I charge you 14 to keep this
command (fight the good fight of faith) without spot or
blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus, 15 which
God will bring about in his own time – God, the blessed
and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords,

The confession of Jesus before Pilate
John 18:36-37 NIV (1985 Translation)
36 Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my
servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish
leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.”
37 “You are a king, then!” said Pilate.
Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason
I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth.
Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.”

Hope
16 (God) who alone is immortal and who lives in
unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can
see. To him be honor and might forever. Amen.
17 Command those who are rich in this present world
not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth,
which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God,
who richly provides us with everything for our
enjoyment.

Treasures in Heaven
18 Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds,
and to be generous and willing to share. 19 In this way
they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm
foundation for the coming age, so that they may take
hold of the life that is truly life.

Jesus’ teaching on storing treasures in heaven.
Matthew 6:19-21 NIV (1985 Translation)
19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth,
where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break
in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in
heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and
where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where
your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

The false teaching that “godliness is a means
to financial gain.” (1 Timothy 6:5)
•Prosperity Gospel – the believer is told to use God.
•Biblical Christianity is just the opposite – God uses the
believer.
•Prosperity theology sees the Holy Spirit as a power to
be used for whatever the believer wills.
•Prosperity preaching marginalizes the greatness of
God and promotes the prominence of man.

The Continuum of the Prosperity Gospel
•Light (Soft) Prosperity Radical (Hard) Prosperity.
•Light – Minimize sin and pain in life and only talk
about how well things will go if you follow Christ.
•Radical – God wants you rich and you should partner
with him by faith to pursue riches in life.
•Radical – The amount of blessing and health from God
is directly proportional to your level of faith.

The 21st Century Prosperity Gospel grew out of
the “Word of Faith Movement.”
•Word of Faith Movement grew out of the Pentecostal
movement with the metaphysical teaching of E. W.
Kenyon and Phineas Quimby.
•The New Thought teachings of mind science gave rise
to “Name It and Claim It” theology.
•The range of false teachings varies among the
teachers: Kenneth Hagin, Benny Hinn, Kenneth
Copeland, Fred Price, Paul & Jan Crouch.

Basics of the false teaching of Word Of Faith
•The heart of the movement is the belief in the “force
of faith.”
•Words can be used to manipulate the faith-force and
create what the Scriptures promise (health & wealth).
•Laws governing the faith-force operate independently
of God’s sovereign will and God is subject to these
laws (Man becomes his own god).

•God created humans as His literal, physical image as
little gods.
•Before the fall, humans could call things into existence
using the faith-force.
•Man lost this ability with the fall but has regained it
through Jesus and the coming of the Holy Spirit.
•Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to replicate the Incarnation
in believers to return them to the original state.

•As restored little gods, we again have the ability to
manipulate the faith-force and become prosperous in
all areas of life.
•Illness, sin and failure are the result of a lack of faith
and are remedied by confession – claiming God’s
promises for oneself into existence.
•Man is basically exalted to god-status, and God is
reduced to man-status.

Terms used by prosperity/false teachers
•“Faith, positive confession, or visualization” will
release the abundance God has in store.
•Sowing seeds of faith – sending money and supporting
a ministry will multiply God’s blessings and money
back to you.
•Any preacher who presents God as a means by which
we can obtain earthly wealth is a prosperity/false
teacher.

The Prosperity Gospel as an “Over-realized
Eschatology”
•Realized Eschatology – The belief that the hopes and
promises of heaven were fulfilled by Jesus and are
being realized by the church and believers on earth.
•“Over-realized eschatology” – The blessings and
promises for believers should happen right now and
the kingdom of heaven is here now, for our claiming.

“Solve your money needs with money seeds.”
a quote from Oral Roberts in Abundant Life.
• According to Oral Roberts, the way to take advantage of
the law of sowing and reaping is three-fold:
1. Look to God as your source.
2. Give first so that it may be given to you.
3. Expect a miracle.
• A misuse of Luke 6:38.
• Luke 6:38 NIV (1985 Translation)
38 “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure,
pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be
poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will
be measured to you.”

Quotes from Joel Osteen that fit the Prosperity
Gospel’s false teachings.
•Man has the power within themselves to change their
lives; you create your own reality.
•If you develop an image of health, nothing will be able
to hold those things from you.
•All of us were born for earthly greatness – you were
born to win!
•One can create with words and faith the dream he
desires (health, wealth, etc.).

Common Traits of False Teachers and
Prosperity Preachers.
•The core of his/her message is always God’s desire to
bless everyone.
•There is little, if any, mention of Jesus’ words about
self-denial, taking up our crosses, or dying to the flesh
as taught in Matthew 10:38, 16:24; Luke 9:23.
•Almost all teaching focuses on the gratification of
fleshly desires rather than spiritual transformation in
Romans 8:29 (conformed to the likeness of His Son).

•Obedience to God’s commands is rarely mentioned as
a prerequisite to His blessing (Jeremiah 18:10).
•Positive thinking about oneself and one’s situation is
often equated with faith and is presented as the
means by which one can obtain financial blessing.
•There is a marked absence of any teaching on the
necessity of suffering in the life of a believer (Romans
8:17; Philippians 1:29; 2 Timothy 2:12; 3:12).

•The personal wealth of the minister is often far above
the average lifestyle of his congregation (Psalm 49:16-
17).
•Neither the wrath of God against sin nor the coming
judgment is ever mentioned (Romans 2:5; 1 Peter
4:5).
•The prayer of faith is often referred to as the means
by which humans “leave God no choice but to bless
me” (Job 40:1-2).

Why is the Prosperity Gospel so popular?
• Satan has deceived people into believing in the importance
of wealth for contentment.
• Jesus’ perspective on wealth and prosperity.
• Luke 12:15, 22-23 NIV (1985 Translation)
15 Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard
against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an
abundance of possessions.”
22 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what
you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. 23 For
life is more than food, and the body more than clothes.”

Why is the Prosperity Gospel so popular?
•Satan has deceived people into thinking they deserve
an easy life (an entitlement attitude).
•What believers should really expect.
•Acts 14:22b NIV (1985 Translation)
22b “We must go through many hardships to enter the
kingdom of God,” they said.
•John Piper – “Life is a momentary affliction, and we
will enter the kingdom with tribulations.”

Contentment: “Haves” vs. “Have-Nots”
by Dr. David Jeremiah
•The “Haves” think they have all they need.
1. They have the right attitude – gratitude.
2. They have the right perspective – focus on
managing instead of accumulating.
3. They have the right balance – spiritual and material.

Contentment: “Haves” vs. “Have-Nots”
by Dr. David Jeremiah
•The “Have-Nots” never think they have enough.
1. They feel left behind – the grass is greener on the
other side of the fence.
2. They feel left out – look to others for affirmation.
3. They feel left over – want the best even if they
cannot pay for it.

What does Jesus offer believers?
Peace in a troubled world and eternity with Him.

The Plan of Hope & Salvation:
John 3:16-17 NKJV
16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only
begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not
perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His
Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the
world through Him might be saved.”
John 14:6 NKJV
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No
one comes to the Father except through Me.”

Romans 3:23 NKJV
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
Romans 6:23a NKJV
23a For the wages of sin is death,
• Death in this life (the first death) is 100%.
• Even Jesus, the only one who doesn’t deserve death, died in this
life to pay the penalty for our sin.
• The death referred to in Romans 6:23a is the “second death”
explained in Revelation 21:8.

Revelation 21:8 NKJV
8 “But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral,
sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns
with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”
• Anyone who’s lifestyle is one or more of the sins listed in Revelation 21:8,
will experience the “second death” if they do not repent.
• To Repent means to turn around, to go in the opposite direction, to turn
away from sin and to come to Jesus.
Romans 5:8 NKJV
8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still
sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 6:23b NKJV
23b but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our
Lord.
Revelation 21:7 NKJV
7 “He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will
be his God and he shall be My son.”
• Romans 10:9-10 explains to us how to be overcomers.

Romans 10:9-10 NKJV
9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and
believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead,
you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto
righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto
salvation.
Romans 10:13 NKJV
13 For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

Do you have questions?
Would you like to know more?
Please, contact First Baptist Church Jackson at 601-949-1900
or http://firstbaptistjackson.org/contact/

07-07-19, 1 Timothy 6;3-19, Lasting Investments

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