The Gospel Is Not For Sale!
The Gospel Is Not For Sale!
Don’t Make The Church A House of Merchandise!
At The Beginning of His Ministry, THE LORD JESUS drove out those who had commercialised The House of GOD, saying: “Take these things away! Do not make My FATHER’s House a house of merchandise!” (John 2:16).
And then at The End of His Ministry, just days before He went to THE CROSS, He again drove out those who had commercialised The House of GOD, saying: “It is written, ‘My House shall be called a House of Prayer,’ but you have made it a ‘den of thieves.’ ” (Matthew 21:13).
Now also, in the final hours of The Church of JESUS CHRIST on earth, many make His FATHER’s House a house of merchandise!
People now pay lots of money per session to so-called life coaches or spiritual coaches in The Church.
And some ministries ask for payment for access to some of their online content, or to reserve special content for “partners”.
In the first instance, the term life coach or spiritual coach is a revolting, abominable, condemnable imitation of the demonic world. It is alien to The Word of GOD, and is at enmity with Him.
The Word only talks about apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, teachers, bishops (local Church elders), deacons, ministers, etc.
So then, these so-called coaches in The Church con the gullible out of their money in the name of ministering to them.
They are ministering mammon, they are ministering money spirits to the gullible, and their judgment is coming on them QUICKLY!
“By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber. having eyes full of adultery and that cannot cease from sin, enticing unstable souls. They have a heart trained in covetous practices, and are accursed children. They have forsaken The Right Way and gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; but he was rebuked for his iniquity: a dumb donkey speaking with a man’s voice restrained the madness of the prophet.” 2 Peter 2:3,14-16.
Steer clear of the money prophets and pastors who charge you to minister to you.
They are like Balaam, and will end like him if they do not repent and stop.
Then there are reputable ministers and ministries charging for content or membership/partnership access.
This also is abominably pitiful and lamentable.
People have to pay to get The Gospel THE LORD JESUS CHRIST has given you free of charge to give to them?
How about those who cannot afford to pay? You deny them The Gospel then.
Is that not so serious?
Did not THE LORD say “Freely you have received, freely give”? (Matthew 10:8).
Would JESUS CHRIST have charged one denarius for people to get His Gospel as YOU His servant are charging dollars for membership and partnership access?
The Gospel costs money to preach, they say.
Yes, It does indeed.
But THE LORD will always provide for the preaching of His Gospel, if you seek Him instead of adopting and adapting the ways of the unGODly.
The Gospel of JESUS CHRIST must not be offered based on ability to pay for membership or partnership access.
Our LORD JESUS trekked and trudged the dirt roads of Galilee, Samaria, Judea, Tyre and Sidon, preaching The Gospel of GOD day and night without charging denarii for membership and partnership access to get It.
From Jerusalem to Gentile lands far and wide, Philip, Peter, Paul, John and others preached The Gospel of The Glory of CHRIST free of charge.
“What is my reward then? That when I preach The Gospel, I may present The Gospel of CHRIST without charge, that I may not abuse my authority in The Gospel.” 1 Corinthians 9:18 .
So then, monetised access arrangements in presentation of Gospel are not of THE CHRIST Paul preached. Indeed, as he said emphatically, presenting The Gospel with charge is abuse of one’s authority in The Gospel.
And abuse is punishable by law, more so by The Law of GOD.
“Draw near to GOD and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” James 4:8.
Brethren, these things will be judged by THE LORD.
For the gullible lusting after the payable, the Church ‘coaches’ are only crouching for your money, not your matter.
Take your matter to JESUS, not money-grabbers and money-catchers claiming to be coaches. By their very modus operandi, they are ministering unclean spirits to you. You open demonic doors into your life if you pay to be ministered to.
You cannot pay to be ministered to. It can NEVER be of The Living and True GOD.
If you pay to be ministered to, you are certain to be poisoned and bound by unclean spirits.
I recently had to deal with a serious case of this nature after an American sister was lured into the web of a so-called spiritual coach in their local Church.
Immediately after attending the first of three sessions of ‘spiritual coaching’ (costing a total of $150.00), she had demonic attacks on her marriage, which she didn’t even realise had to with her paying to be ‘ministered’ to.
THE HOLY SPIRIT only revealed it to me following a telephone conversation I had with her.
Paying to be ministered to, is divination.
A new believer tried to introduce a kind of this doctrine of demons into The Church, but was strongly and sharply rebuked by the apostle Peter.
“Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received The Word of GOD, they sent Peter and John to them, who, when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive THE HOLY SPIRIT. For as yet He had fallen upon none of them. They had only been baptized in THE NAME OF THE LORD JESUS. Then they laid hands on them, and they received THE HOLY SPIRIT. And when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles’ hands THE HOLY SPIRIT was given, he offered them money, saying, “Give me this power also, that anyone on whom I lay hands may receive THE HOLY SPIRIT.” But Peter said to him, “Your money perish with you, because you thought that The Gift of GOD could be purchased with money! You have neither part nor portion in this matter, for your heart is not right in The Sight of GOD. Repent therefore of this your wickedness, and pray GOD if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you. For I see that you are poisoned by bitterness and bound by iniquity.” Acts 8:14-23.
Now, look at this. This ill-informed and misguided believer “offered them money, saying, “Give me this power also, that anyone on whom I lay hands may receive THE HOLY SPIRIT.”
And Paul said, “…I am not ashamed of The Gospel of CHRIST, for it is The Power of GOD to Salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.” (Romans 1:16).
To have Salvation is to be saved. To be saved is to be delivered from eternal death. But it is also to be delivered from the oppressions of the devil in the life now is.
The Gospel is The Power to do It all. And It is free from GOD, because our LORD JESUS CHRIST paid for It with His PRECIOUS BLOOD.
Asking or offering money for The Gospel, such as the money-grabbing and money-catching coaches are increasingly doing, or setting up money-determined membership and partnership access programmes as various ministries are doing more and more, is no different from what Peter vehemently condemned above.
Here him again. “But Peter said to him, “Your money perish with you, because you thought that The Gift of GOD could be purchased with money! You have neither part nor portion in this matter, for your heart is not right in The Sight of GOD. Repent therefore of this your wickedness, and pray GOD if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you. For I see that you are poisoned by bitterness and bound by iniquity.”
People engaged in The Gospel-by-money, get “poisoned by bitterness and bound by iniquity.”
Do you not fear GOD, brethren? Do you not care about your safety – both physically and spiritually?
I have had various reports in the last five years of ‘oil’ being sold and bought as special anointing oil.
It sounded incredulous when I was told the first time by a brother in a country I had gone to after some years of being away.
Any oil sold and bought or offered in any other way as ‘special’, is by demons, not THE HOLY SPIRIT.
“But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from The Simplicity that is in CHRIST. For if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted—you may well put up with it!” 2 Corinthians 11:3-4.
You are bewitched if you allow yourself to be lured into offering money, or doing anything else in the flesh (the works of The Law) in exchange for The Gospel of JESUS CHRIST. It is fulsome foolishness that leads to destruction.
“O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey The Truth, before whose eyes JESUS CHRIST was clearly portrayed among you as crucified? This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive THE SPIRIT by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun in THE SPIRIT, are you now being made perfect by the flesh?” Galatians 3:1-3.
We are being made perfect by THE SPIRIT, not The Gospel-by-money. If you do the latter, you get “poisoned by bitterness and bound by iniquity” like the ill-informed and misguided new believer Peter rebuked.
Be warned.
THE FATHER’s House is not a house of merchandise as The Church has been turned into by many.
As He did in The Temple of GOD in Jerusalem, JESUS still has the whip of cords right now, and is driving the money changers out.
The money changers are on their way out. For they “suppose that GODliness is means of gain.” (1 Timothy 6:5).
“Now The Passover of the Jews was at hand, and JESUS went up to Jerusalem. And He found in The Temple those who sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the money changers doing business. When He had made a whip of cords, He drove them all out of The Temple, with the sheep and the oxen, and poured out the changers’ money and overturned the tables. And He said to those who sold doves, “Take these things away! Do not make My FATHER’s House a house of merchandise!” Then His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for Your House has eaten Me up.” So the Jews answered and said to Him, “What sign do You show to us, since You do these things?” J ESUS answered and said to them, “Destroy This Temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” Then the Jews said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this Temple, and will You raise it up in three days?” But He was speaking of The Temple of His Body. Therefore, when He had risen from the dead, His disciples remembered that He had said this to them; and they believed The Scripture and The Word which JESUS had said.” John 2:13-22.
“Then JESUS went into The Temple of GOD and drove out all those who bought and sold in The Temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves. And He said to them, “It is written, ‘My House shall be called a House of Prayer,’ but you have made it a ‘den of thieves.’ ” Matthew 21:12-13 .
“The LORD Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Grace be with you. Amen.” 2 Timothy 4:22.
“Farewell” Acts 15:29.
~ Jacob Addison Awagah
Like John, I like to put my head to The Heart of JESUS so as to know and do His Will always. What’s in His Heart is what matters now and FOREVER. His Heart’s Desire is my only desire.
As John was, I am the disciple whom JESUS loves, (John 13:23;19:26; 20:2; 21:7,20)
And like Paul, Jacob is “the prisoner of CHRIST JESUS” (Ephesians 3:1) for His Purpose forever: to obey Him always.
NB. Surely, “the disciple whom JESUS loves” and “the prisoner of CHRIST JESUS”, like ALL The Promises of GOD, are available to every believer to obtain, just as John and Paul did.
“And having been perfected, He became The Author of Eternal Salvation to all who obey Him,” Hebrews 5:9.
So does this mean that we are not to purchase books, CDs, DVDs and other materials produced by ministers and leaders at all? What about selling materials for a “donation”? I just need some clarity. Thanks.
Dear Sarah
Acquiring books and other materials as led by THE HOLY SPIRIT is entirely Biblical.
Paul had books that he needed. He told Timothy:
“Bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas when you come—and the books, especially the parchments.” 2 Timothy 4:13.
However, seek THE LORD before you buy any material, indeed, anything.
“Trust in THE LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear THE LORD and depart from evil.” Proverbs 3:5-7.
Steve, my comment may be regarded as part answer to your own. There is a lot of manipulation over money in the church, which is dressed up in spiritual language and often operates by taking Old Testament verses out of context. This may be done by well-meaning people in ignorance, but they still have the responsibility to make themselves informed. Some people who seem well-meaning, however, can also be wolves.
We are not under law, they also say, but Abraham tithed to Melchizedek before the law, so therefore we must still tithe after the law. But they gloss over the fact that Abraham’s tithing, apart from being a one and only act, is DESCRIBED in the Bible, not prescribed in it. By intimating that it is prescribed, they are turning Abraham’s act into a law and attempting to put us under a law that not Abraham was not under.
The Luke 6:38 Scripture and the New Testament as a whole promotes – and the Old requires – giving to meet people’s genuine needs, those of the poor and Christian workers for the spreading of the gospel and for the teaching of the word. It is now a matter between two people, the Lord and the individual believer; the Lord moving on the heart of the individual believer without any coercion from a third party. Coercive third parties tend not to have any manifest financial need themselves, nor to be spreading the true gospel, nor to be teaching the true word. I would run away from them for the safety of your own soul.
Hello Mark
Thanks for all that you have contributed herein. THE LORD bless you.
However, I need to make a very important correction. Abraham’s paying of what THE SPIRIT calls “The Holy Tithes” (Deuteronomy 26:13) is for our example.
“For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through The Patience and Comfort of The Scriptures might have hope.” Romans 15:4.
Furthermore, Paul stated explicitly: “Here mortal men receive Tithes…” (Hebrews 7:8). This is under The New Covenant.
Tithes therefore MUST be paid and received where directed by THE HOLY SPIRIT. It can be given to the pastor, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow as led by THE HOLY SPIRIT, (Deuteronomy 26:13 – 15).
THE LORD has made payment of Tithes imperative in Malachi 3:10 – 12 for our obedience and our own good with fear and trembling.
Thank you so much for your teaching and warning on this matter. I have a very serious question pertaining to this subject. What is God telling you on the following: Many of the “Prophets” and ministers have added Malachi 3:10 and Luke 6:38 to the end of their message/service and some go into great detail and go to great lengths to tell supporting stories and adding other scriptures. I even heard one prominent “Rabbi” say that if you do not come with a “good seed” then you might as well not even participate in this particular prayer leading up to Purim, because you will receive nothing from God, you do not approach the King empty handed he said. These certain well off ministries/prophets are always requesting that you sow “your best seed” and/or “sow the amount that you need returned” in other words plant big and harvest big. One prophet even said a bar/club owner was always prospering because even though he stayed drunk and in clubs all night, he always made certain that on Sunday morning the bar owner was in church to pay his tithes and offerings because God is sorta contractually bound by His Word to prosper everyone who sows a seed. The prophet explained no where in the Word does it say that you have to be righteous to receive blessings on your seed that you have sown.
Again thank you for your work, I am looking forward to hearing back from you. Have a blessed day.
Steve, with regard to this “prophet” with the testimony about the night club owner and the assumed connection between tithing and prosperity, the prince of this world can also make people prosperous through people-trafficking, drug-trafficking, major financial fraud, being connected with freemasonry, etc.
Although God is gracious and may bless any of us regardless of the spiritual state of our lives, I can’t believe that He would choose to make someone prosperous through owning a night-club. If this “prophet” and the man think this is God’s favour, they are in a dangerous deception. If this should continue, it sounds more like the disfavour of God, where He abandons people to take out of this life what they can. It is better to be chastised by Him and to lose it all than to be left to our devices and to be rich.
Hello Steve, THE LORD bless you for discerning the false teaching.
Malachi 3:10 – 12 and Luke 6:38 are all true and must be obeyed without fail.
However, your giving must be “as a matter of generosity and not as a grudging obligation.” (2 Cor. 9:5).
Like all things done in GOD, giving to GOD must ONLY be led by THE HOLY SPIRIT, not manipulative men, or holy men or any other created things.
“But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for GOD loves a cheerful giver.” 2 Cor. 9:6-7 (Please read all of 2 Corinthians 9: 6 – 13).
When giving, let THE HOLY SPIRIT lead you as to what, where, and even when to sow.
The Tithes though, is 10% of your income. Malachi 3:10 – 12, like all The Word of GOD, must be obeyed with fear and trembling.
In terms of the club owner, GOD does not bless iniquity. He will never bless an evil enterprise. Evil things are ‘prospered’ by the evil one, (Luke 4: 5 – 7). But are certain to be destroyed without repentance.