This second part follows the first article. Before continuing, I would like to address why some preachers make unbalanced claims in their sermons or interpretations of scripture. I will illustrate this using the example of Abraham, from whom Ishmael and Isaac were born. Before Isaac was born, Abraham had persuaded God to consider Ishmael the one through whom He would continue the covenant journey that began with Abraham. However, God rejected this offer and insisted that Isaac would be the son through whom He would fulfil His plans for the future. Some preachers are like Abraham; their encounters with God are genuine, but some of their sermons may resemble Ishmael. God will not engage with such sermons and messages. These messages are not born from true fellowship with God, and that kind of fellowship produces Ishmael. Consequently, God cannot work through these messages if anyone follows them.
It is neither my business nor yours to rebuke or correct Abraham for bringing forth an Ishmael but God. The real issue is that we must not run our lives with Isaac and not Ishmael. When a message is of Ishmael, it will relegate Christ, the author and finisher of our faith, to the background and provide more opportunity for self and all the things the devil offered Christ during his temptation. The very sermon we are referring to had the word money or dollar, cash appearing more than Christ in its entire duration. Imagine how the crucified Christ will feel if he were present at a meeting where the preacher says that Christ does not trust the holiness of the poor.
Before I go on, I must inform you that these last days, there have been many messages based on Ishmael everywhere, and you need to avoid such messages for a better life. The stature of anyone preaching any sermon should not determine the acceptance of the sermon rather the Christ centredness of the Sermon.
II Corinthians 4: 5
For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake.
A man’s possessions are not worth his Soul, and the Lord Jesus mentioned this in the scriptures.
Mark 8:36
What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul
Money in the hands of a saved soul is a tool and nothing more. It does not speak about the quality of his walk with God. God weighs the intentions of our hearts, and this matters most. Jesus said that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has committed adultery with her already. This means the adultery committed physically and in the imagination are the same. God, who judges our intentions, should be left to determine if the poor’s holiness is genuine.
Historically, God’s kingdom on earth had men without silver and gold but with a heart to follow Jesus. Their educational background was considered weak, according to the Jews.
Acts of Apostle 4:13
When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.
This means that if education and finance are the factors most germane to the kingdom’s advancement, the kingdom of God would not take off and make progress in the hands of the apostles of the lamb.
Placing money over being with Jesus is pure idolatry.
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