Prosperity cannot be the main focus of our ministry, nor should the idea be
absent from our ministry. The first step in knowing what to teach about
prosperity involves knowing what it entails.
Prosperity is freedom. An example is found in the story of Israel's exodus
from Egypt (see Ex. 12:31-36). The primary fact of the exodus was that the
Hebrews were leaving their former existence as slaves. God has also freed us
from our slavery to sin and ourselves. That is prosperity.
A restaurant, a bookstore, a school for young children, a catering service and a
record label. The list looks more like a rundown of the businesses on a city
block than the ministries of a large church. That's exactly what this church's
pastor wants. A.R. Bernard, pastor of the Brooklyn-based megachurch, Christian
Cultural Center, also wants a 4.5-acre commercial plaza—a gathering place with a
Starbucks, an IHOP, a full school and a sense that God has set up shop in New
York's largest borough.
"When we're demonstrating a genuine interest in the community and its
welfare, the church is an institution that brings stability to the community,"
Bernard says.
Everyone makes mistakes. But when a pastor makes one and is humble enough to
admit it, it usually winds up in a sermon. I'll spare you the full sermon on my
biggest financial mistakes and instead offer the cliff notes version. They are
...
1. Not placing Jesus first in my finances. For years I used the excuse
that I couldn't afford to tithe. Through some painful financial lessons,
however, God showed me that I couldn't afford not to tithe. He pointed me to
Matthew 6:21: "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." At
that point I completely surrendered the 10 percent—and I've never missed it
since.
For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count
the cost, whether he has enough to finish it--lest, after he has laid the
foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying,
"This man began to build and was not able to finish"'"(Luke 14:28-30, NKJV).
Calvary Assembly of God in Winter Park, Florida, recently celebrated an
achievement that reversed a curse on our church. We wept, shouted, laughed and
had the time of our lives celebrating becoming free of debt. It was a huge
accomplishment for us. Calvary had suffered for years--at times with
excruciating pain--because of this mountain of debt. By God's grace, it will
never happen again!
This wasn't the first time I had been in this type of situation. In 1986 I
became the pastor of another church deeply in debt. The leaders could see no way
out. The bond company that underwrote the mortgage was breathing down our necks
and would soon take legal action against us. God provided a miracle of
provision, and we made our payment--but it was years before we became debt-free.
They come in all shapes and sizes. They are men, and they are women. They are
friendly, they speak and behave like devout Christians—and they are looking to
bleed you dry of every last penny in your possession. Christian con artists,
spiritual seducers, godly grifters.
They’re constantly on the prowl for easy prey in the church—typically widows,
widowers, the recently divorced and the relationship-starved. The more money you
have, the bigger a target you are. Here you’ll meet one such charlatan—Jane
Smith. Her name and those of her victims have been changed, but her story is
true.
While you observe examples of her well-practiced art of deception, you’ll
also hear from Jeffrey P. Bjorck, a licensed clinical psychologist and professor
of psychology at Fuller Theological Seminary’s Graduate School of Psychology, as
well as Wayde Goodall, pastor of Winston-Salem (North Carolina) First Assembly
of God.
