BEWARE OF PROSPERITY PREACHERS! By Rev Adegboyega Adejobi

All prosperity preachers are fake, whether they’ve been in ministry for 50 or 100 years!

Prosperity preachers are simply making a concoction and confusion of Judaism with Christianity. It is a false doctrine that originated from America and not from the Bible. The truth is, whereas material prosperity is the main thrust of the Old Testament under Judaism, self-denial and sacrifice for the sake of the Kingdom of heaven is the main thrust of the New Testament. The Bible itself says in Hebrews 8: 7 that, “…if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second.” And now, many African preachers are adding a big dose of African Traditional Religion to the already deadly concoction. So sad!

For true children of God, no sacrifice is too big for heaven’s sake. Jesus, our Lord said, “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Mk.8: 36-37). He also said, “And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.” – Matt.5: 29-30. Apostle Paul said, “If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.” (1Cor.15: 19). The same Apostle Paul also said, “Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend.” – 1Cor.15: 19. What do prosperity preachers make of all these scriptures?

The verdict of the Bible is simple and clear, and it is this: “If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strife of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmising, Perverse disputing of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself. But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, where-unto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.” – 1Tim.6: 3-12.

The Bible says, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (2Timothy 2: 15). If the word of truth can be rightly divided then, it can also be wrongly divided! Prosperity preachers are simply dividing the word of truth wrongly. Most of them are too busy or lazy to study the Bible and find it difficult to maintain fresh fellowship with the Holy Spirit our Teacher for spiritual insight and so copy from old Bible School notes or other preachers’ sermons full of errors.

Let all prosperity preachers be convicted by their conscience; let them be humble enough to repent of this ungodly error and stop feeding innocent souls in the Church of Christ with the poison of love of money, covetousness and greed. The Lord Jesus Christ already warned us to, “Remember Lot’s wife.” (Luke 17: 32) who could not escape the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah because of her ungodly attachment to worldly wealth. He equally said, “… 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).

At the end of the day, like Gideon’s army of 32,000 reduced to 10,000 in Judges 7 because of fear, most Africans are simply reacting to fear of poverty. The remaining 10,000 soldiers were further reduced to 300 because they lied face down drinking from worldly water without any watchfulness or looking upwards toward heaven. We must avoid their error lest we be disqualified like them from the Kingdom of God in the end.

Many have taken to the pulpits not because they have genuine calls but as a short cut and escape route from massive unemployment and grinding poverty. Many sincere preachers with genuine calls have also been influenced and are derailing. That is why churches are springing up everywhere all over Africa (especially Nigeria) yet, thick darkness of wickedness and corruption increasingly covers the land. Lord have mercy! “Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.” – 1 Cor.10: 12.

In the end, God will judge all our recklessness in and out of the pulpit. The Bible says, “Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.” – 2Cor.5: 9-11.

Please, let’s get it clear that there is no controversy whatsoever in the word of God. Controversies only exist in the hearts of men! “For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth.” (2Cor.13: 8). Truth is absolute and Jesus is The Truth! (Jn.14: 6). The Lord Jesus Christ and Lord of the Vineyard Himself said, “He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still. And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.” – Rev.22: 11-12. Can anybody beat that?