No, when you're poor, broke, and defeated, all that proves is that you're poor, broke, and defeated. It doesn't bring any honor to God.
When I first received this video today, multiple times actually from eagle-eyed NTEBers, I was skeptical at first because in the version I was watching it was pretty small, and the audio didn't match the video. But as I listened to what sounded like Joel Osteen's voice, I started out annoyed, quickly grew mad and then became enraged at what I was hearing. I thought to myself that this had to be a DeepFake or something, because Joel was not only bragging about his wealth, but was mocking poor people! There is no way this could be true, I thought, not even a heretic like Joel Osteen could sink that low. But guess what? I was wrong.
"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." 1 Timothy 6:9-11 (KJV)
After a short but diligent search, I found a crystal-clear copy of the sermon that I have entitled 'Poor, Broke and Defeated', and present it to you here today so you can hear it for yourself. But be warned, if you like Joel Osteen and have any type of a heart or compassion, you won't like him after listening to the sermon. And if
you didn't like Joel Osteen prior to hearing this sermon, you're going to hate him with a passion after hearing this sermon. It's that bad.
A few quotes from 'Poor, Broke and Defeated':
- "Well," you say, "Joel, are you one of those prosperity ministers"? No, I don't like that term. That sounds like somebody that only talks about finances. Prosperity to me is having your health. It's having peace in your mind. It's being able to sleep at night, having good relationships. There are many things that money cannot buy, and while I don't like the term "Prosperity minister," I must say I am not a poverty minister."
- "But you've got to fight a religious spirit that says you're supposed to be poor, broke, and defeated to show God that you're really humble. No, when you're poor, broke, and defeated, all that proves is that you're poor, broke, and defeated. It doesn't bring any honor to God. If I brought my two children up on the platform today and their clothes were all raggedy, worn out, holes in their shoes, hair not combed, you would look at me and think, "What kind of father is he"? It'd be a poor reflection on me. Listen, when you look good, dress good, live in a nice place, excel in your career, generous with others, that brings a smile to God's face. It brings him pleasure to prosper you."
- "Let me ask you, do you have a fatted calf mentality, or do you have a skinny goat mentality? Do you think beans and rice are good enough, or do you say, "No, I want some enchiladas. I want some fajitas. I want some sopapillas"? Listen, you can live off of bread and water. You can survive in the land of barely enough. We can endure the land of just enough, just enough to make it through, just enough to pay my bills this week. But that is not God's best. Your Heavenly Father, the one that breathed life into you, is saying, "I've got a fatted calf for you. I've got a place for you in the land of more than enough".
Here is a 3-minute clip from this incredibly heretical sermon where he bends and twists scripture to such a degree that the listener is left with nothing but a theological pretzel by the end of it. If you really want to make yourself mad, listen to the whole sermon in its entirety
by clicking here.
Joel Osteen Preaching On Poor, Broke and Defeated
The Apostle Paul Was Backslidden According To Joel Osteen
Now in contrast, let's take a look at the main writer of the New Testament and arguably the greatest Christian who ever walked the face of the earth, the apostle Paul. Listen as Paul talks about what it was like to be handpicked by Jesus Himself to be an apostle:
"For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men. We are fools for Christ's sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honourable, but we are despised. Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwellingplace; And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it: Being defamed, we intreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day. I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you." 1 Corinthians 4:9-14 (KJV)
Match those verses up against the relentless prosperity preaching of Joel Osteen, and then you tell me who is telling the truth and who is lying to you. Joel Osteen says over, and over and over again that "God wants you to be rich" and in the context Joel is absolutely talking about material possessions and earthly wealth. So if this is God's plan for all Christians, looks like Paul and the other apostles got the short end of the stick, doesn't it? All the apostles were poor, all of them were broke, and from Rome's point of view, absolutely defeated. And that's because the "riches" that the Bible talks about are spiritual riches, and not numbers on the balance sheet. Joel Osteen seems unable to differentiate between the two.
How about these verses where the people of Philippi have sent a gift to Paul, and we can assume it was food, clothing and/or money, and Paul tells them thanks, but guess what? He goes on to tell them that he would have been just fine without it! This is a concept unknown at Lakewood Church in particular, and in
the Prosperity Movement in general.
"But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity. Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." Philippians 4:10-13 (KJV)
There is nothing wrong with God blessing His children with earthly wealth if it is used for His glory. DL Moody and Charles Spurgeon raised millions in their day, but did the right thing with it. DL Moody, when asked on his deathbed, about the inheritance he was leaving for his children, he said he was leaving them nothing, and that they would have to learn to trust God as he had had to do. In a church world of Joel Osteen's
be a DL Moody.
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