Fighting the Four Evils

But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not. (2 Peter 2:1-3)  There are many prosperity teachers who have arisen today. They are all around us and are destroying many, leading them to Hell. Many genuine Church teachers, preachers and pastors, while acknowledging their wickedness, simply dismiss them and do nothing to counter them. However, this is not a sufficient or adequate response. For these false teachers who preach the prosperity "gospel", in either its more obvious or subtle form, are extremely dangerous....

And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth (Luke 12:15). Many people in the modern professing Church think that having an abundant life means to work hard for one's job or career, get married and have children, buy a house, buy a car, earn as much income as one can, take as many holidays as one can, and be an influential well-respected member of society and one's circles.   They think that this all shows how "blessed" they are, that it is a sign of God's favour to them because of their righteousness and holiness. They are smug behind all their material comfort and think that those who have less than them, or who lack something they have, or are suffering are less holy and righteous than them, all without realising it. They think they are more worthy in God's eyes than those who have less than them, or who lack something they have, out of their prid...

Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me. But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea. Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh ! (Matthew 18:4-7)  Many in the modern Church are causing their fellow saints to stumble by their vain speech and idle babbling, all without knowing. The Bible has much to say about speech. Speech itself has an effect on the hearer, not merely emotionally or psychologically, but spiritually. Indeed, " death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof" (Proverbs 18:21). The mere listening to, or in the case of the internet, the re...

Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth (Ephesians 4:28). The Bible has much to say about helping the needy. One sure way as to how to determine whether a person is filled with the love of God in him is whether he has concern for the needy: But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? (1 John 3:17). Apostle John makes it very clear. If a person does sees a needy person, and has no compassion for him, the love of God does not dwell in Him. He has no love. The spirit behind this verse is that how can a person say that he loves if he cares not for the needy. Such love is one that manifests in compassion, and is not stingy, or begrudging, nor proud.  While 1 John 3:17 especially refers to loving a needy brother or sister in Christ, it spirit is of the agap...

He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful (Matthew 13:22). The Bible warns that riches are deceitful, not the love of riches, but riches itself. Jesus had much to say about riches. He rebukes his disciples that no one can serve both God and mammon (Matthew 6:24), not being anxious about basic earthly needs (Matthew 6:25-34). He rebuke the rich young ruler who was not willing to lay all things down to follow Christ for not doing so, and turned to his disciples and warned them that they must also do so (Matthew 19:16-22; Mark 10:17-27). He rebuked the man who demanded his 'fair share' of his inheritance to not seek the abundance of possession, with the parable of the rich fool (Luke 12:13-21). Many Christians try to construe Jesus' teachings on mammon as that which only relates to money, and not other things which are sourced by money ...

And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word, And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful (Mark 4:18-19). Many in the modern western Church simply assume that there is nothing wrong with seeking or desiring riches.  They think it is simply understandable, legitimate, or even a good thing which will help one "glorify" God.  Among those who claim to think that seeking or desiring riches is wrong, they play all kinds of games with the word 'riches', saying that it refers to an amass of wealth, rather than that which is regarded as so-called 'basic financial security' from the earthly perspective. However, no where in the Bible is such a distinction made between an amass of wealth and so-called basis financial security. Such is a distinction from the Pit of Hell itself, a doctrine of demons! Some professing Christians ...

He that trusteth in his riches shall fall: but the righteous shall flourish as a branch (Proverbs 11:28). Many in the modern Church in the west think that money is a sign of "blessing". They like to say, "God has blessed me with a new car",  "I am so blessed with a new house, or even "we [local church] are so blessed to have a new building", despite being in millions of dollars of debt for a "newer", "bigger", "better" building. Such is the case of many in the western Church who are totally under the spirit of mammon, and do not even realise it. People from "protest"-ant denominations love to quote how countries with a former "protest"-ant influence are richer and more educated, as if it was sign that shows how good the Christian faith is for the world, and why the unsaved should believe in Christ. We might not think that that is the spirit which which such a statement is normally made, but that i...