GIMME GIMME GIMME GIMMICKS
"But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you.
They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves.
Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute.
In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up.
Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping." (2 Peter 2:1-3)
Gimmicks are stories people make up to exploit others. Back in the days of Peter this seemed to have occurred also as it is now.
Somehow some followers of Christ think it's ok to twist God's words for the sake of the gospel, that is to raise money to spread the Word.
The twistings vary from 24 hours blessings to yearly subscriptions on it.
If you give, sow a seed, you may see the result in hundred fold within a day or all through many months, I guess it depends on the willingness of God to be bribed by the gifts.
People who don't give or are not able to give, will sadly enough remain in their problems since they don't pay or bribe God to bless them.
Yes my dearest people it's a market sale for the blessings of God.
"Get your own bargain blessings, it's 30 dollars for 30 months or if you want a real bargain 240 dollars for a 24 hour return." And so the story goes.
What God has to say about this
Well what God has to say about this is clearly seen in 2 Peter 2.
God knows we need money to spread the gospel and He said that if we ask He would supply.
He never told us to have gimmicks to get people into giving. When people love God they will give out of love not out of being made lustfull for money.
This gets people into idolatry where they worship the gifts of God and not Him.
We all need to help spread God's words and our seed can be many things not only money.
It can be our time, faith talents and of ofcourse our money
Anyway God gets angry when people do these things and teach false teachings.
We are here on earth to please God not to make Him angry.
Following Gifts or God?
King Saul tried to twist God's Word also and took the herd of the enemy while God told him not to defile himself with it. When the prophet Samuel asked him why he did this he answered that he wanted to offer it to God.
But God became angry with Saul and His presence left him even while Saul did not notice it.
Often times however God will not take away His Spirit from us when we do our own thing, but will let His anointing continue to work through us.
But at the end of the road on earth He will tell us that He never knew us for we have angered His Spirit by gimmicks or other sins.
"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?'
Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!"
(Matthew 7:21-23)
Would we want to hear that or rather this:
"Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world" Matthew 25:34
I don't know about you but the last scripture sounds a lot better.
So let us raise our hands and strenghten our feet to walk the narrow road that leads to heaven and please God, knowing that blessings are not restrained to materialistic substances only but are also found in the peace and joy that surpasses all understanding as we embrace the truth that tells us that God never leaves us nor forsakes us.
He is with us even until the end of time.
Blessings and love in Christ,
Leon and Monique
