GOSPEL PERVERSION by Bola olu-Jordan
The greatest perversion of the gospel today is the preaching of benefit without performance, the crown without the cross and the easy problem solving gimmick which are used to lure people into Christ. Pastors could no longer meet with God in the spirit because they have lost the grace to tarry before him, they therefore have nothing to offer to the expectant congregation than to use philosophy, great swelling words of vanity, rhetorics, oration and words that appeal to sense and logic, or easy-way-out techniques and prosperity messages so as to justify the reason for their titles and calling.
Romans 16:17 says: "Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple."
The Bible clearly states that all these are not the true gospel, they are simply strange gospels and doctrines of demons. Because the true gospel is the kingdom of God and its righteouness. All other things are additions. Its ridiculous that we are looking for discounts without purchase. Interest without any deposit. As it is not done on earth, it is not also done in heaven. Those who preach that and give it to people are robbers and rogues. The Bible says in Gal.1:6-9: "I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.let them be accursed."
Those who mass-recruit people into the kingdom on personal recognition and self benefit have forgotten that narrow is the way. Ephesians 4:14says: "That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive"
All these are in fulfilment of end time prophecies. 1Timothy 4:1 warned: "Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils. Note that is says somem shall depart, which means they have been there before as you cannot depart from something or somewhere you have not been before. So, some shall depart from the Faith by giving heed to seducing spirits who preach errors, easy way out messages. Theh Living Bible says: But the Holy Spirit tells us clearly that in the last times some in the church will turn away from Christ and become eager followers of teachers with devil-inspired ideas. Devil-inspired messages! i.e soul inpired messages! This was the type of message he preached to Eve and Eve departed from the faith that she once knew to be true. It looked so much like it but it is not it. It is soulish and not of othe spirit. They preach facts but not truth. It is a fact that you goto church to seek the Lord, but the truth is that you dont see the Lord until youhave sought for Him with all yourheart.
In many churches, you will be astounded at the amount of information that is made available form the pulpit, but none of it leads to formation in Christ. They are all to forster academic researches instead of spiritual renaisance! wise sayings, rhetorics, quotable quotes, calculated words that incises mental agility, etc. As beautiful as they are, they cannot relace the word of life. Paul said in 1Cor. 2:4: "And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the spirit and of power"
The gravity of mans wisdom in speech was demonstrated in King Herod. Acts 12:21-24: "And upon a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat upon his throne, and made an oration unto them. And the people gave a shout, saying, it is the voice of a god, and not of a man. And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost.
This and the case of Annanias and Saphira demonstrate the Power of the Holy Spirit in action. If the same were to happen today, many pulpit will be soaked with blood as the royal apparel that the company of this King Herod today wear in the church, all in the name of God of prosperity and their oration, which usually draws the applause and excitment of people as it appeals to thier psyche is enough to bring down Gods wrath. Notice in verse 24 it says: "But the word of God grew and multiplied." So, it is quite different from the word of God. The word of God is alive. Jesus said "the word that I speak to you they are spirit and they are life! The difference between the words is that one has life the other does not. Basically, when you listen to the two, the other may even appear as more powerful. The difference between tow people is not in their physical stature but in what is inside of them. Allelujah!
2Tim. 4:3 "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables".
Now the time has fully come. Just like Rick Joyner says; there is such a melt-down of morality and integrity among Christians today so that studies reveal that there is no discernable moral difference between Christians and non-Christians? When there is no moral difference between Christians and non-Christians, then somehow Christ Himself is not in the Christian's life.