Luke 8 records Jesus teaching the parable of the sower to a large crowd by the sea. In the parable, Jesus explains that hearing the word of God and understanding it leads to faith that endures. Some seed falls on good soil and produces a large crop. Later, during a storm on the sea, Jesus' disciples wake him, fearing they will perish. Jesus rebukes the wind and waves, commanding them to be still, demonstrating his power over all of nature.

1. Luke 8
Wealth, the prosperity gospel, asceticism,
monastic life, The Kingdom is not yet, hear
akouo, lamps, YHWH Rebuked The Wind, Why
does God allow natural disasters?, Wind and
waves obey Him,
Wings in heaven?, friends, What is death?

2. BIBLE IN FIVE
Pastor Dave Kooyers
Valley Bible Fellowship
Box 433
Boonville CA 95415
http://www.slideshare.net/dkooyers
www.ValleyBibleFellowship.org
(707) 895-2325
God bless you as you examine His Word,
Your servant in Christ, 2Cor. 4:5
These Microsoft PowerPoint presentations are provided "for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ"
(Ephesians 4:12-15). To help Christians to "to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ." So that "we are no longer...tossed here and
there...by every wind of doctrine." They may be downloaded and modified free of charge.
Matthew 10:8 …Freely you received, freely give.

3. Let's read Luke 8:1-3
• There are two main errors that have crept in
over the years regarding wealth.
• The prosperity gospel.
• Asceticism, monastic life.
3

4. Luke 8:3, Jesus Was Not Wealthy,
Dave Hunt
• “…There is no indication in Scripture that Jesus was wealthy. What
He did have was through the generosity of those who ministered
to him. Luke 8:3 indicates where the Lord Jesus may have obtained
not only the robe but much of His earthly support: "Joanna the
wife of Chuza, Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many
others...provided for Him from their substance." In Scripture, we
see several wealthy women who had a role (no doubt moved by
the Holy Spirit) in giving to Jesus' ministry. Since the giver was
likely wealthy, the garment given to Jesus would naturally reflect
that. Such scriptures document that Jesus was not rich in earthly
possessions. He relied on others in order to support His travels and
earthly ministry. Furthermore, Scripture teaches us how He lived
and how the apostles who were trained by Him lived. Paul wrote
that he knew both how to "abound" and how to be "abased." The
"abasing" part is what the word-faith teachers do not teach other
than to say that it reflects a lack of faith…” [Lk 9:57-58]

5. Let's read Luke 8:4-15
5

6. Luke 8:4, He Began To Teach
• NAU Luke 8:4 When a large crowd was coming together, and
those from the various cities were journeying to Him, He
spoke by way of a parable:
• The parallel passages are in Matthew 13, and Mark 4:1 “He
began to teach again by the sea. And such a very large
crowd gathered to Him that He got into a boat in the sea
and sat down; and the whole crowd was by the sea on the
land.
• Matthew 13:1 On that day Jesus went out of the house,
and was sitting by the sea.
• What house? What sea?
• When I see “house, or the land” I think= Israel
• When I see “sea” I think= gentiles (very large crowd)

7. Luke 8:4, The Kingdom Is Not
Already by Dr. Stanley
Toussaint, Kingdom Parables

8. Luke 8:5-15, The Parable Of The Sower
gracethrufaith.com
• A. The parable of the Sower in Matt. 13:3-9 represents the Lord
sowing the Gospel into the world. The four kinds of soil on which
the seed falls represent four kinds of people. Jesus explained the
four kinds in Matt. 13:18-23.
• The first kind of soil is the hard packed path. It represents people
with hardened hearts that don’t allow the Gospel to penetrate
their heart. The birds, who represent the enemy, eat it up before
it can take root. These people will not be saved. In 2 Thes. 2:9-
10 Paul said they will perish because they refused to love the truth
and so be saved.
• The second kind is rocky soil. It represents people who initially
accept the Gospel intellectually, but like the first group, it never
penetrates their heart. These people will soon fall away. They are
not saved.
• The third kind is covered in thorns, which choke …

9. Luke 8:5-15, The Parable Of The Sower
gracethrufaith.com
• … out the seed making it unfruitful. Since salvation is not a fruit
bearing event, these people are saved. But because of their
preoccupation with the things of this world they never
accomplish anything of value for the Kingdom. Most born again
Christians in the US today fall into this category.
• The fourth kind is good soil. These people are both saved and
fruitful.
• Where OSAS is concerned the first two groups were never saved,
and the second two are forever saved. (Remember we’re saved
because of what we believe not because of how we behave.)
• You can read my full 4 part study on the Kingdom Parables
of Matt. 13 here.

10. Luke 8:5-15,
The Parable Of The Sower
• I wish we could take a field trip to my ranch at the very end of spring, and
start of summer, and I could show you all four of these soil types in real
life.
• On the rock roads, and hard packed cattle trails trails seed cannot even
germinate. Let alone grow. (the devil takes it)
• Where there is a large mass of rock the weeds will grow right up to it, but
the soil is too shallow for the plants to survive long enough to make seeds
and prosper. (received joyfully but no root)
• Our ranch has many patches of thorny, blackberry bushes, and the grass
that spreads within them starts out fine, but cannot prosper because of
the brambles, and the light is darkened. So it perishes before it grows
healthy or bears seeds. (the rich young ruler listened to Jesus but his
materialism kept him from salvation)
• However in the places with rich soil, that's not trampled down, that can
allow deep roots, the grass is growing high and bears seed to reproduce.
Truly, 100 fold. (They hear, believe, receive, and make disciples)
10

11. Luke 8:8, “hear” akouo
• NAU Luke 8:8 "Other seed fell into the good soil, and grew up,
and produced a crop a hundred times as great." As He said
these things, He would call out, "He who has ears to hear, let
him hear."
• Jesus is quoting Scripture;
• NAU Ezekiel 3:27 "But when I speak to you, I will open your
mouth and you will say to them, 'Thus says the Lord GOD.' He
who hears, let him hear; and he who refuses, let him refuse; for
they are a rebellious house.

12. Luke 8:8, “hear” akouo
• NAU Luke 8:8 …”He who has ears to hear, let him hear."
• Rev 2-3 uses “ear, let him hear” 7 X’s
English gets “acoustics” from akouo akoustikós
• LXX in the BGT Deuteronomy 6:4 uses akouo
<191> ἀκούω akouo
• Meaning: to hear, listen
• Origin: from a prim. word mean. hearing
• Usage: come to...ears(1), every(1), give heed(2), grant(1),
hear(115), heard(216), hearers(1), hearing(24), hears(21),
heed(2), listen(24), listened(1), listeners(1), listening(14),
listens(5), reached(1), reported(1), understand(1)…

13. Luke 8:10,
• NAU Luke 8:10 And He said, "To you it has been
granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of
God, but to the rest it is in parables, so that SEEING
THEY MAY NOT SEE, AND HEARING THEY MAY NOT
UNDERSTAND.
• Proverbs 20:12 The hearing ear and the seeing eye,
The LORD has made both of them.
• Anagrams, THE EYES:
When you rearrange the letters:
THEY SEE

14. Luke 8:10,
• NAU Luke 8:10 …to the rest it is in parables, so that SEEING THEY MAY
NOT SEE, AND HEARING THEY MAY NOT UNDERSTAND.
• This is that major continental divide that we found in Matthew 13, where
Jesus changes his ministry outreach and does not reach out to the lost
Jews anymore. Before this point in time this ministry was summed up in;
• NAU Matthew 10:5 These twelve Jesus sent out after instructing them,
saying, "Do not go in the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter any city of
the Samaritans; 6 but rather go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
…NAU Matthew 15:24 But He answered and said, "I was sent only to the
lost sheep of the house of Israel.”
• Christ’s message is advancing towards fulfillment in; NAU Matthew 28:19
"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations…

15. Luke 8:15, Perseverance
• NAU Luke 8:15 "But the
seed in the good soil,
these are the ones who
have heard the word in
an honest and good
heart, and hold it fast,
and bear fruit with
perseverance.

16. Let's read Luke 8:16-18
16

17. Luke 8:16, Lamps
• 2 Samuel 22:29 "For You are my lamp, O LORD; And the LORD illumines
my darkness.
• NAU Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my
path.
• When Jesus said in NAU John 9:5 “…I am the Light of the world.” What
was he saying?
• What was he saying when he told his followers in NAU Matthew 5:14
"You are the light of the world…”
• 1 Kings 15:4 But for David's sake the LORD his God gave him a lamp in
Jerusalem, to raise up his son after him and to establish Jerusalem;
• Mark 4:21 And He was saying to them, "A lamp is not brought to be
put under a basket, is it, or under a bed? Is it not brought to be put on
the lampstand?

18. Lamps

20. Luke 8:16, Bible and Spade, Lamps

21. Luke 8:16, Bible and Spade, Lamps

22. Let's read Luke 8:19-25
22

23. Luke 8:23, Danger
• NAU Luke 8:23 But as they were sailing along He
fell asleep; and a fierce gale of wind descended
on the lake, and they began to be swamped
and to be in danger.
• Corrie ten Boom said, “If a bird is flying for
pleasure, it flies with the wind, but if it meets
danger it turns and faces the wind, in order
that it may rise higher.”

24. Luke
8:23,
He Fell
Asleep,
We
Should
Not

25. Luke 8:24, YHWH Rebuked The Wind
• NAU Luke 8:24 They came to Jesus and woke Him up, saying,
"Master, Master, we are perishing!" And He got up and
rebuked the wind and the surging waves, and they stopped,
and it became calm.” [Matthew 14:32]
• Psalm 107:21 Let them give thanks to the LORD for His
lovingkindness, And for His wonders to the sons of men! 22 Let
them also offer sacrifices of thanksgiving, And tell of His works
with joyful singing…. 25 For He spoke and raised up a stormy
wind, Which lifted up the waves of the sea…. 28 Then they
cried to the LORD in their trouble, And He brought them out of
their distresses. 29 He caused the storm to be still, So that the
waves of the sea were hushed. 30 Then they were glad because
they were quiet, So He guided them to their desired haven. 31
Let them give thanks to the LORD for His lovingkindness, And
for His wonders to the sons of men!

26. Luke 8:24, Satan Is Real,
So Jesus Rebuked
• compass.org, Good Morning Lord, says "The might and fury of a
hurricane is a sight to behold, and it's interesting to note that
Satan is tied somehow into the weather. On the Sea of Galilee
with His disciples, Jesus "rebuked" the storm, rather than
simply commanding it to stop.
• And being aroused, He rebuked the wind and said to the sea,
"Hush, be still." And the wind died down and it became perfectly
calm. —Mark 4:39 The weather was quite different prior to
Satan tripping up the human race with sin (Genesis 2:6). And a
major change also took place during Noah's flood when the
mountains were formed (Genesis 7:11), which affects our
current weather patterns today. During the future seven-year
Tribulation period, all but one mountain will be flattened
(Revelation 16:20), which will change the weather back to pre-
flood days during the 1000-year Millennial Reign of Christ…”

27. Luke 8:24,
Why Does God Allow Natural Disasters?
• “…Why does God allow earthquakes, tornados, hurricanes, tsunamis, typhoons,
cyclones, mudslides, wildfires, and other natural disasters? Tragedies cause many
people to question God’s goodness. It is distressing that natural disasters are often
termed “acts of God” while no “credit” is given to God for years, decades, or even
centuries of peaceful weather. God created the whole universe and the laws of nature
(Genesis 1:1). Most natural disasters are a result of these laws at work. Hurricanes,
typhoons, and tornados are the results of divergent weather patterns colliding.
Earthquakes are the result of the earth’s plate structure shifting. A tsunami is caused by
an underwater earthquake.
The Bible proclaims that Jesus Christ holds all of nature together (Colossians 1:16-17).
Could God prevent natural disasters? Absolutely! Does God sometimes influence the
weather? Yes, as we see in Deuteronomy 11:17 and James 5:17. Numbers 16:30-34
shows us that God sometimes causes natural disasters as a judgment against sin. The
book of Revelation describes many events which could definitely be described as
natural disasters (Revelation chapters 6, 8, and 16). Is every natural disaster a
punishment from God? Absolutely not.
In much the same way that God allows evil people to commit evil acts, God allows the
earth to reflect the consequences sin has had on creation. Romans 8:19-21 tells us,
“The creation waits in eager …

28. Luke 8:24,
Why Does God Allow Natural Disasters?
• …expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to
frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that
the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the
glorious freedom of the children of God.” The fall of humanity into sin had effects on
everything, including the world we inhabit. Everything in creation is subject to
“frustration” and “decay.” Sin is the ultimate cause of natural disasters just as it is the
cause of death, disease, and suffering.
We can understand why natural disasters occur. What we do not understand is why God
allows them to occur. Why did God allow the tsunami to kill over 225,000 people in Asia?
Why did God allow Hurricane Katrina to destroy the homes of thousands of people? For
one thing, such events shake our confidence in this life and force us to think about
eternity. Churches are usually filled after disasters as people realize how tenuous their
lives really are and how life can be taken away in an instant. What we do know is this:
God is good! Many amazing miracles occurred during the course of natural disasters that
prevented even greater loss of life. Natural disasters cause millions of people to
reevaluate their priorities in life. Hundreds of millions of dollars in aid is sent to help the
people who are suffering. Christian ministries have the opportunity to help, minister,
counsel, pray, and lead people to saving faith in Christ! God can, and does, bring great
good out of terrible tragedies (Romans 8:28)….”

29. Luke 8:24, Wind And Waves Obey Him
• NAU Luke 8:24 They came to Jesus and woke Him up,
saying, "Master, Master, we are perishing!" And He got
up and rebuked the wind and the surging waves, and
they stopped, and it became calm.
• NAU Psalm 89:8 O LORD God of hosts, who is like You, O
mighty LORD? Your faithfulness also surrounds You. 9
Thou dost rule the swelling of the sea; When its waves
rise, Thou dost still them.
• Jesus is Jehovah, “LORD God of hosts”
• Psalm 65:5-7, 107:28-31, Matthew 8:26, 14:32, Jonah
1:15

30. Luke 8:24,
Why Does “god” Allow Natural Disasters?
• NAU 2 Corinthians 4:4 …the god of this world has
blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they
might not see the light of the gospel…
• And we find that "the god of this world” is the one
who has “…the power of death, that is, the devil…”
(Hebrews 2:14).
• Why don't insurance policies, and everyone else
blame "the god of this world… the devil” when
natural disasters occur?
• Answer, because the devil has “blinded the minds of
the unbelieving”!
• Jesus rebuked the storm because it was not doing His
will, it was doing the will of the evil one.

31. Luke 8:25, Even The Winds Obey Him

32. Luke 8:25,
“Keep The Faith Baby”
• NAU Luke 8:25 And He
said to them, "Where is
your faith?" They were
fearful and amazed,
saying to one another,
"Who then is this, that
He commands even the
winds and the water,
and they obey Him?"
• Matt 6:30…You of little
faith!
• Psalm 146:6 Who made
heaven and earth, The
sea and all that is in
them; Who keeps faith
forever;

33. Let's read Luke 8:26-39
33

34. Luke 8:32, Swine, Deviled Eggs Ham,
• NAU Luke 8:32 Now
there was a herd of
many swine
feeding there on
the mountain; and
the demons
implored Him to
permit them to
enter the swine.
And He gave them
permission.

35. Luke 8:32, Wings?
• Where do this pastor and so many others get
the idea that we will have wings in heaven?
• Yes cherubim and seraphim do have wings but
we will never be angels, we will judge the
angels. NAU 1 Corinthians 6:3 Do you not know
that we will judge angels?…
• NAU Hebrews 13:2 …some have entertained
angels without knowing it.
35

36. Luke 8:37,
Be Careful What You Ask For
• NAU Luke 8:37 And all the people of the country of
the Gerasenes and the surrounding district asked
Him to leave them, for they were gripped with great
fear; and He got into a boat and returned.
• These folks had the very Son of God, infinite Deity, in
their presence, doing extraordinary miracles, and
they asked Him to leave because of their great fear.
• The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom, yet
apparently it can also be the end. You're pretty
36

37. Luke 8:37,
Be Careful What You Ask For
• NAU Luke 8:37 And all the people …asked Him to
leave them…
• Martha C. Kaptan tells that, “My granddaughter
overheard conversations about an occasional heart
problem—loud beating—I experienced when I
would try to sleep. One evening her father heard
her concerned prayer:
• "And Lord Jesus, please make Grandma's heart stop
so she can get some rest.”

38. Let's read Luke 8:40-56
38

39. Luke 8:47,
This Woman Was Healed
• NAU Luke 8:47 When the woman saw that she had not escaped notice,
she came trembling and fell down before Him, and declared in the
presence of all the people the reason why she had touched Him, and how
she had been immediately healed.
• I think this is a summary of every true Christian’s testimony;
• saw that she had not escaped notice
• she came trembling
• fell down before Him
• declared in the presence of all the people
• she had touched Him
• she had been immediately healed
• Her reaction is exactly the opposite of the people in 8:37 who “..asked Him
to leave them…”
• Do you think she may have been healed of more than her bleeding? Do
you think we will see her in heaven? 39

40. Luke 8:51, Friends
• NAU Luke 8:51 When He came to the house, He did not allow anyone to enter
with Him, except Peter and John and James, and the girl's father and mother.
• Jesus had close friends, and we also need close friends. A true friend loves at all
times, even when that love includes a rebuke, or a time when you are not very
lovable.
• NAU Proverbs 27:5 Better is open rebuke Than love that is concealed.
• True friends may be even closer than our family members.
• NAU Proverbs 18:24 …But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
• A true friend may have to hurt you with the truth.
• NAU Proverbs 27:6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend
• Jesus had circles of friends. Peter James and John, the inner circle, then the
Twelve, then there was the 70 He sent out, and then finally the multitudes that
followed Him.

41. Luke 8:55, What Is Death?
• Many books have been written trying to identify the
definition of “death". The legal definition, medical
definition, and theological definitions very greatly.
• So what is death?
• This girl went from death to life when "her spirit
returned".
• NAU Luke 8:55 And her spirit returned, and she got up
immediately; and He gave orders for something to be
given her to eat.
• Think the biblical definition is when the soul and spirit
leaves and does not return.
41

42. Lives are at
stake so we
need to listen
very
carefully.
So In
Conclusion
42

43. THE END
43

44. Luke 8:4, The Kingdom Is Not
Already by Dr. Stanley
Toussaint, Kingdom Parables

46. Luke 8:24, Jesus Rebuked Wind, Why does God allow natural
disasters, i.e. earthquakes, hurricanes, and tsunamis?
• Question: "Why does God allow natural disasters, i.e. earthquakes, hurricanes, and tsunamis?"
Answer: Why does God allow earthquakes, tornados, hurricanes, tsunamis, typhoons, cyclones, mudslides, wildfires, and other natural disasters?
Tragedies cause many people to question God’s goodness. It is distressing that natural disasters are often termed “acts of God” while no “credit” is given
to God for years, decades, or even centuries of peaceful weather. God created the whole universe and the laws of nature (Genesis 1:1). Most natural
disasters are a result of these laws at work. Hurricanes, typhoons, and tornados are the results of divergent weather patterns colliding. Earthquakes are
the result of the earth’s plate structure shifting. A tsunami is caused by an underwater earthquake.
The Bible proclaims that Jesus Christ holds all of nature together (Colossians 1:16-17). Could God prevent natural disasters? Absolutely! Does God
sometimes influence the weather? Yes, as we see in Deuteronomy 11:17 and James 5:17. Numbers 16:30-34 shows us that God sometimes causes
natural disasters as a judgment against sin. The book of Revelation describes many events which could definitely be describedas natural disasters
(Revelation chapters 6, 8, and 16). Is every natural disaster a punishment from God? Absolutely not.
In much the same way that God allows evil people to commit evil acts, God allows the earth to reflect the consequences sin has had on creation.
Romans 8:19-21 tells us, “The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not
by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into
the glorious freedom of the children of God.” The fall of humanity into sin had effects on everything, including the world weinhabit. Everything in
creation is subject to “frustration” and “decay.” Sin is the ultimate cause of natural disasters just as it is the cause of death, disease, and suffering.
We can understand why natural disasters occur. What we do not understand is why God allows them to occur. Why did God allow the tsunami to kill
over 225,000 people in Asia? Why did God allow Hurricane Katrina to destroy the homes of thousands of people? For one thing,such events shake our
confidence in this life and force us to think about eternity. Churches are usually filled after disasters as people realize how tenuous their lives really are
and how life can be taken away in an instant. What we do know is this: God is good! Many amazing miracles occurred during thecourse of natural
disasters that prevented even greater loss of life. Natural disasters cause millions of people to reevaluate their prioritiesin life. Hundreds of millions of
dollars in aid is sent to help the people who are suffering. Christian ministries have the opportunity to help, minister, counsel, pray, and lead people to
saving faith in Christ! God can, and does, bring great good out of terrible tragedies (Romans8:28).
Recommended Resources: Where Was God? Answers to Tough Questions About God and Natural Disasters by Erwin Lutzer and Logos Bible Software.
• natural disasters, earthquakes, hurricanes, and tsunamis
• Mark 13:8 "For nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be earthquakes in various places;there will also be famines.
These things are merely the beginning of birth pangs.

47. Luke 8:16, Bible and Spade, Lamps
• 2 Samuel 22:29 "For You are my lamp, O LORD; And the
LORD illumines my darkness.
• 1 Kings 15:4 But for David's sake the LORD his God gave
him a lamp in Jerusalem, to raise up his son after him and
to establish Jerusalem;
• Mark 4:21 And He was saying to them, "A lamp is not
brought to be put under a basket, is it, or under a bed? Is
it not brought to be put on the lampstand?
• Bible and Spade, Vol. 26, No. 4, Fall 2013, page 98, The
Lamps of Khirbet el–Maqatir, by Brian N. Peterson

48. Deuteronomy 29:4, Ears To Hear
• TODAY'S CREATION MOMENT
• FLAGELLUM FASCINATION
• inHumans
• Listen
• Luke 8:8
• “And other fell on good ground, and sprang up, and bare fruit an hundredfold. And when he had said these things, he cried, He that hath ears to hear,
let him hear.”
• The electron microscope was developed over 80 years ago and enables us to probe the secrets of God’s creation. One of the most surprising
discoveries shows an incredible similarity between those little whips called flagellum – which some microbes use for swimming – and the inside of your
ear!
• The electron microscope has shown that there is but one master pattern for all flagella. These tiny threads are always made up of a pair of fibers
surrounded by nine protein fibers running inside a tube. It is thought that the contraction of these protein fibers causes the flagellum to move. But
though these tiny structures are identical, different creatures use them in different ways.
• Inside your ear and the ears of all vertebrates are tiny, hair-like structures that come together in a point, something like an Indian tepee. Each of these
structures has on it one projection exactly the same as the microbes’ flagellum. But in this case, its purpose is not to move, but to be moved by sound
waves. These structures are hooked up to nerves, and their purpose is to detect sound waves. They are so sensitive, they can provide your brain with
many different kinds of information, all of which you finally hear as sound!
• Have you used this generous gift of hearing to hear the Word of God today?
• Prayer:
• Dear Lord Jesus Christ, I give thanks to You for all my senses and abilities and ask that You would, through the teaching of Your Word, help me to make
use of them in ways which glorify You. Amen.
• Notes:
• Margaret Helder, Ph.D., “Marvellous Evidence of Design,” Creation Ex Nihilo, Vol. 9, No. 4, pp. 14-17. Photo: Physical model of a bacterial flagellum.
Courtesy of Alan Wolf. Licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license.

49. • The Parable Of The Sower. More Follow Up
• Wednesday, March 12th, 2014Judgment
• Salvation
• Sin
• Q. You made a comment on one of the questions about the Parable of the Sowerrelating to the third kind of seed sown where thorns choked out the
seed making it unfruitful. You summed it up by saying we’re saved because of what we believe not because of how we behave. Though I understand in
principle, saved by grace not by works, doesn’t what we believe produce how we behave? I have always understood that a true believer will always bear
some fruit. Isn’t it possible that the group you referred to as “Most born again Christians in the US today fall into this category”, profess to be Christians
but in actuality are not true believers?
• A. In John 6:28-29 Jesus said the only work God requires of us is to believe in the one He sent. In Ephesians 1:13-14 Paul said our salvation is guaranteed
from the moment we believe (before we’ve had a chance to do anything good or bad). InEphesians 2:8-9 he said our salvation is by grace through faith
and not by works. Therefore salvation and fruit bearing are two different things.
• In 1 Cor. 3:10-15 Paul described the Bema judgment where the things we do as believers will be separated into two groups. One group is compared to
gold, silver, and precious gems indicating things that have value. The other group is compared to wood, hay, and straw, indicating things that don’t. The
second group will be burned up in the fire of judgment. Paul said even if everything the believer has to his or her credit is burned up in the fire he or she
will still be saved (1 Cor. 3:15). To me that means even a believer with no fruit will be saved.
• I think it was for this reason that in 1 Cor. 4:5 Paul cautioned us against judging anything before the appointed time, but to wait until the Lord comes. He
said, “He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and expose the hidden motives of the heart. At that time each will receive his praise from God.”
• From this I have concluded that it’s the motive of our heart in doing something that determines its value to the Lord and notthe external appearance of
value that can be seen by man. Therefore, only the Lord is capable of evaluating a person’s spiritual condition. That doesn’t mean we have to approve of
every kind of behavior we see, it just means that our perception of another person’s behavior does not qualify us to pass judgment on his or her spiritual
condition.
• http://gracethrufaith.com/ask-a-bible-teacher/parable-sower-more-follow-
up/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Gracethrufaith+%28GraceThruFaith%29

50. Luke 8:3 Psalm 22:18 Luke 9:57-58 2 Cor.
11:27
• Q&A
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• Question: I sent a copy of your recent TBC Update on Joel Osteen [author of the bestseller, Your Best Life Now] (http://www.thebereancall.org/content/joel-osteen-unsure-if-jesus-was-poor) to a friend of mine on staff
with Joel's ministry asking if he had any thoughts in regard to the article. He stated [excerpts from a long reply], "To be honest, I can't really discern what [the writer's] point is. Does he have some inside knowledge that I
don't regarding the actual amount of funds that were carried in the treasury that Judas oversaw? Like Joel [Osteen] says, it's curious that the robe Jesus was wearing was valuable enough that the soldiers were dividing it
up. But also like Joel, I don't really think about it much.
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• "Why is it so important that Jesus be poor? Is that like a tenet of faith? If so, I never got the memo. As for the 'foxes have holes' quote, I don't see how that refers to financial wealth. To me it's far more likely about the fact
that He was not stationary. He was on a mission and on the move. That to follow Him meant that one would have to do the same, forsaking all and going with Him wherever the Spirit led them.... Joel simply believes, as do
I, that God has promised to supply all our needs. He believes...that the apostle John meant what he said when he wrote, 'I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers.'"
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• Response: Our concern here is the distortion of what the Bible teaches about biblical prosperity. Those who are word-faith/healing and prosperity gospel teachers (including Joel Osteen and his father, John, in his ministry) have
all supported the unbiblical idea that the spiritual hallmark of a faithful follower is riches and good health. According to their claim, if a person lacks those things, it's due to his or her lack of faith. They also mistakenly use Jesus
as the model of the result of such beliefs, especially wealth.
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• There is no indication in Scripture that Jesus was wealthy. What He did have was through the generosity of those who ministered to him. Luke 8:3 indicates where the Lord Jesus may have obtained not only the robe but much of
His earthly support: "Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many others...provided for Him from their substance." In Scripture, we see several wealthy women who had a role (no doubt moved by the
Holy Spirit) in giving to Jesus' ministry. Since the giver was likely wealthy, the garment given to Jesus would naturally reflect that. Such scriptures document that Jesus was not rich in earthly possessions. He relied on others in
order to support His travels and earthly ministry. Furthermore, Scripture teaches us how He lived and how the apostles who were trained by Him lived. Paul wrote that he knew both how to "abound" and how to be "abased."
The "abasing" part is what the word-faith teachers do not teach other than to say that it reflects a lack of faith.
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• A common argument in support of Christ's wealth is the fact that He wore a seamless garment, supposedly of greater value than a two- or three-piece one would have been. Yet a study of history reveals that Roman soldiers
were allowed to "supplement" their income by confiscation. The point of the seamless garment being mentioned was that it could not easily be divided. The soldiers gambled for it, thus fulfilling Psalm 22:18: "They part my
garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture." Therefore, even if the one-piece garment was more valuable, that hardly supports the belief that Christ was wealthy. It may have been a gift.
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• Regarding the "foxes have holes" quote, Jesus said in Luke 9:57-58, "And it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a certain man said unto him, Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest. And Jesus said unto him,
Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head." In fact, this states that the Lord had no earthly home to return to, let alone a mansion. Christ was indeed "on a mission and
on the move," as your friend notes, and to follow Him meant that one would have to do the same, "forsaking all and going with Him wherever the Spirit led them."
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• Certainly the Lord provides faithfully, but that provision is often diametrically opposed to human expectation and the distortion the "faith" teachers give it. Everything the Lord provides for a believer is according to His will. That
fact, however, rails against the teaching that God's provision works according to spiritual laws, which the practitioner must learn in order to implement them. If that doesn't produce the desired result, then the fault lies with the
one misapplying the laws. That delusion is no different from witchcraft.
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• Some prominent word/faith ministries have not one but two Gulfstream jets, which means that not only must they purchase two planes, but they must also pay two trained flight crews for each one, not to mention ongoing
hangar costs and maintenance. Is that what constitutes biblical prosperity? Consider Benny Hinn's take on God's provision: "Years ago they used to preach, 'O we are going to walk on streets of gold.' I would say, 'I don't need
the gold up there. I've got to have it down here'" (Praise-a-Thon, TBN, April 2, 1991).
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• Yes, the Lord provides all things necessary for us, but emphasizing the "abounding" that Paul on occasion experienced, we miss the point that the Lord is teaching: "Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in
whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content." He states that at times he was "in weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness" (2 Cor. 11:27). Was Paul out of
God's will? No. God had allowed him to experience such conditions for his growth in the faith. Learning to be content in every state doesn't come about when one is only prospering materially.
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• The saddest part in all of this is that many who follow Joel Osteen's "positive" gospel are not taught the Bible's clear warnings that we will suffer on this earth, and therefore they miss the biblical truth that such suffering
provides excellent opportunities for spiritual maturity (see "The Value of Suffering" www.thebereancall.org/content/value-suffering)
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