Brother James........... I fully understand what you mean about Watered Down. That prosperity Gospel. I understand. God is good, good is good, God gonna make you wealthy!!!! Woot!!!!
They want what Osteen preaches...a Jesus that will give them everything they want.
So, Joel may be a little to basic for you. I fully understand that Brother. However, I know some things about Brother Joel. In fact my Pastor Knows him very well. Joel was told to preach that God is good. Nothing else. That is his mission. So, Joel takes all the good stuff in the Word, and encourages people. That is all he is suppose to do. The people that watch Joel have messed up lives, and they need to hear about a God that will help them and prosper them. They already believe they are no good.
James. I am part of that prosperity bunch, that name it and claim it stuff. I am part of the Healing stuff. My own son should have been dead of cancer. I got the Doctor report, but my son had the grace of God, because God just happened to get his dad (ME) a whole bunch of Material from Kenneth Copeland, while in Prison.
Our church James gives away over 60,000 dollars worth of CD's a Week out all over the World. Only God can bring that kind of money in, and my Pastor could have kept it for himself.
1Ti 6:17 Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;
Now what is the Problem
James???
I have layed hands on the sick, and seen them recover instantly. I have seen God heal things that over time, that baffle the Doctors. (Keep the report, I don't like fake stuff, and there is lots of it.) I have seen someone get 87,000 dollars to pay for their house. God, told me to watch what he is going to do, and dropped the price in one day on our house 60,000. God is just awesome!!!!
What is all this for Brother James???
Deu 8:18 But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day.
It's all about God, the gospel. Things are just tools to be used, that is it. We can't take any of it with us. All this healing, and stuff is so temporary, and none of it will last. We have to have the funds, and the health to get the job done. God is not healing anyone so they don't hurt while watching TV all day.
There has been lots of error in the prosperity message. If you want God's best, you have to give God your best. Just last week, The Lord asked me to give our Last 1,000 dollars to someone that just moved to our town to attend a Church. We did not know that they had no money to pay rent, or even buy food.
James, to see the joy on that persons face, and the worry just leave them. That is worth more than anything God could give me in the physical things department. It was a big seed, but God knows that if money is no concern of yours, he can use you again and again. Somehow our bills still got paid, and we are ahead again. God is my supply not money, not jobs, God.
James, just this Week, God told my wife to sow our new 800.00 bed to someone. I mean we just bought it for the spare room, and I got a call from a Girl we sowed our 1,200.00 Wood kitchen table to. They said they had many bible studies on it, tears and it has just been a awesome blessing as they never owned anything that nice when we sowed it to them. This was a few years ago.
Oh well, you reap what you sow, so down the line we are getting a awesome table and bed, our current kitchen table only has two working chairs left.
My point James, there is more to this prosperity Gospel than what people know. It is give and it shall be given, if your really going to see God's best, you have to be able to let go of your best. All honesty James, people are not at that point yet, and some get into error thinking it's all about getting more stuff.
I am blessed, and God keeps hooking me up. If God asked me to Sow it, I sow it.
There are millions of people James that do not know God, and are not blessed. All Brother Joel is doing is giving them a basic God is Good message. God wants to bless you, God wants to restore your family. As they grow in the things of God, they will take that basic simple message, and get deeper in the things of God. They will learn the Kingdom of God is first. Not all, but people need hope, and that is what Joel preaches. Hope.
As for you and me James, Lets continue to grow, and catch these people and teach them as they are ready to move past that simple God is good message. We all have a place, and position in the Body of Christ.
Be Blessed Brother James......
Jesus Is Lord