Psalm 35:27 *Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favour my righteous cause: yea, let them say continually, Let the LORD be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant*.
*THE EXTREMES* (B)
Long ago, I preached somewhere in the Southern part of Nigeria and I ended my preaching on a bad note. My sermon was powerful though it was copied.😁😄😄😄😄
At that time, I did not know the things I know now. Then, sermon preparations were inspired by the teachings of big names in ministry not from depth of personal study and prayer as I do now. I did certain things I saw others doing then. That is why older ministers must be careful about what they do around young ministers.
Back to my story. After preaching powerfully on the title "The Help of God", I decided to raise a seed and I called it "Seed of Help". I told everyone in that congregation to sow a seed to attract God's help. The Holy Spirit did not tell me to do it, I did because I had seen senior ministers preach powerfully and raise seeds along the line of their sermon.
Little did I know that most seeds raised especially in such circumstances are shared between the preacher and the church or sometimes the preacher takes everything away. I witnessed one myself and it was disgusting. I think there are better ways to handle honorarium in a way that brings honour to God.
When I encountered the truth in God's word, I saw it as manipulation and taking advantage of God's people especially when the power of God has been manifested. You know emotions are always high when miracles and healing happens, at that time, people can give anything when asked to yet it is not right to ride on people's emotions to ask for money.
Some preachers are good at targeting vulnerable people and taking advantage of them financially. This is common among prayer merchants. As a preacher, I know people passing through life issues who wouldn't mind giving money to get solution yet I will not demand such because that giving is not borne of out of conviction but desperation to get a solution. Jesus did not take advantage of anyone neither should we.
Things like that makes the anointing lift from a preacher. Kenneth E. Hagin of blessed memory shared what he saw in the life of an anointed evangelist during the voice of healing days. During one of the healings meetings he held, strange healings occured and right in the middle of the meeting, he began to raise money manipulatively. Kenneth E. Hagin said he saw the anointing lifted from him.
*2#. Naming of Seed*
One of the errors Kenneth E. Hagin spoke against in his book 'Midas Touch' was the idea of naming seed. It has no precedence in scriptures. Neither Jesus nor the apostles practiced it. It is one of the manipulations prosperity gospel introduced to the body.
Someone who needs a particular thing will be asked to name a seed in the order of what he/she needs as a way of currying God's attention or favour for that request to be granted. Hey! That is not in the bible, that is manipulation.
*If I have to name every seed after all my request, where is the place of simple faith in God? Where is the place of the finished work of Christ on the cross? What happens to people that are broke, won't God answer their prayers*?
*As believers, faith in the finished work of Christ on the cross is the guarantee of answers to any request not because you name a seed after your prayer point. Can anything be greater than the finished work of Christ on the cross*?
Romans 8:32 (NLT) says, *"Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, WON'T HE ALSO GIVE US EVERYTHING ELSE*"?
You have the answer to that right? God giving us whatever we ask for is predicated upon His Son which he gave to us. That is, If he gave His Son( which he did already), then it won't be hard for him to give us all other things not because you named a seed after it.
*Whatever we receive from the Lord is because of Christ. Beware of practices that relegates Christ and His finished work*.