World Prayer Band Prayergram®

�������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������

PRAYER IS THE MIGHTIEST FORCE • II CHRON. 7:14

Challenging Christians to Pray — February 2007

Mailing Address: P. O. Box 686 ✦ Roswell, New Mexico 88202-0686 ✦ U.S.A.

✦ Intercession

✦ One to One Outreach

✦ Prayer Conferences

✦ Overseas Crusades

✦ Publications

✦ Revivals

Office:Petroleum Building

200 W. 1st Street • Suite 531

Roswell, New Mexico 88203-4676

(505) 623-6925

Fax: (505) 623-6925

E-mail: mwpbs@yahoo.com

“Intercessors are like eagles, they don't flock, you find them one at a time.”

Featured articles in this issue . . .

PAGE 2

StrawberryCheesecakeTheology

PAGE 3

VoiceFrom The

Past

PAGE 4

Culture WatchMoral

Relativism

PAGE 4

HeartWarming

Books

Strawberry Cheesecake Theology

PAGE 2

Matthew Skariah

theology has placed many Christians under a spellthrough a long-drawn process of mesmerizationand indoctrination, and tragically, they're unable tosee the confusion that is being brought uponChristendom as a whole.

It seems that the present-day prosperity pun-dits are surrogates who wrap their theology in acloak of materialism. Okay, they’ve made their casefor wealth. Now what do they offer ageneration of discontented peoplewho yearn for something infinitelybetter than suffocating materialism?Once that religious debonair on themountain peak of exhilaration hasgiven his best kept secret to success,what can he offer us the next timewhen we’re faced with the thorn-infestedvalley of adversity. Let’s make our selec-tion: Either the mount of exhilarationor the valley of adversity. Or take both. The ironyis that many souls have succumbed to the oilycharms of men whose hearts are filled with crassmaterialism.

When Christianity becomes a financial cor-poration, we play with Wall Street jargons; whenlife becomes a profitable enterprise we grope fora ‘green religion.’ We’re surrounded by easy-believers and spiritual dropouts – people who quitat the slightest setback and always scream at theworld about the wealth that God has promised toHis followers. We do not labor for the meat thatperishes; we labor for those things that last alleternity. God is our eternal reward. Isn’t it truethat many of us quit when we reach the bitter cup?Jesus said, "Are ye able to drink the cup that Idrink of?" “From that day”– Calvary in sight –

An accurate diagnosis of our material dilemma can lead to an ultimate cure of our spiritual melee. True spirituality is not measured by the amount of

material wealth one accumulates. Our lack of wealth doesn’t make us any lessdear to God. The sovereignty of God is not based on our ‘success’ or ‘failure’in life. Prosperity gospel is the brainchild of greed, concocted by covetouspeople whose excessive craving for wealth has cast a pall on the blessedgospel of Christ the world over.

The degradation of our carnal view begins in the mind first. Wrong ideasabout true spiritual wealth corrupts one’s thinking. The person who has avoracious appetite for materialism cannot fathom a God Who is bigger thanthe size of his bank account. Today many who are propagating a ‘theologyof prosperity’ as a springboard to parade their brand of theology by usinga dexterous mixture of flattery and diabolical exploitation. This brand of

“many of His disciples turned back, and walkedno more with Him.” He who does not seek the‘way of Golgotha’ does not seek the glory of God.

Mr. Henry Fielding was so profound when hesaid, “Make money your God, and it will plagueyou like the devil.” The rich young ruler went awaysorrowful because he was not prepared for thesacrifice he was asked to make. The way of the

cross is self-denial and Jesus carried withHim no luggage to Calvary. Jesus didthe will of the Father (John 4:34). Thedisciples left all to follow Jesus (Matthew19:27). The apostle Paul suffered the lossof all things (Philippians 3:8). Self-denialis a word that is not very popular amongmany Christians today. It has dealt witha deadly blow. The present-day pros-perity preaching has a cult mentality.Today’s comfort-oriented Christian needs

“meat for men,” not “chicken soup for the soul.”One should never approach Christianity on the

basis of earthly wealth, easy emotionalism, fuzzyfeeling or cheap sentimentality. Always remember,when we live by God’s standard, we’re mocked,insulted, maligned and often judged as non-goal-oriented and old-fashioned. But do we carewhat the world thinks of us? Of course not! JewishScholar Martin Buber once said, “Success is notone of God’s names.” Jesus said, “You must denyyourself and take up my cross and follow me.”The requirement is always the same. Dr. CharlesMalik, another scholar was profound when he said,“Success is neither fame, wealth nor power;rather it is seeking, knowing, loving and obey-ing God. If you seek, you’ll know; if you know,you’ll love; if you love, you’ll obey.”

PAGE 3

Let’s keep in mind that the living God is every-thing. Who among us has not known adversityand financial setback? We go up to Jerusalemto fulfill God’s purpose, not our own.Naturally, our desires for wealth are ourown; in the Christian life we’ve one goaland that’s to glorify God. Never countspiritual success by money raised or build-ing constructed. That is not how Godoperates His kingdom. Our success is themeasure of God’s will that He has revealedto us through His love.

Why don’t we claim the followingScripture as a relevant Bible promise?“Godliness with contentment is greatgain. For we brought nothing into this world,and it is certain we can carry nothing out”(1 Timothy 6:6-7). We can be very choosy when itcomes to Scriptures! Long ago, the apostle Paulknew that many would creep into the ministry withtheir perverted teaching on crass materialism, andhe warned us to withdraw from such schemers. Themost important thing in the eyes of the Lord is notwealth but purity, not influence but surrender. Astrong drive to acquire murky varnish of materialwealth has prompted many gospel preachers toabandon holiness preaching for prosperity ser-mons for fear of losing reputable membership

in the church. We cuddle materiaism too much.Christians should be fixated on Christ, not on

suffocating materialism. The glamorous world ofours worships fame and wealth. It is soobsessed with spectacularism; over-whelmed by style, and it blatantlydemands attention. Self worship is anevil plague, the greatest of all vanities. Itdiverts worship away from the God ofglory, and prevents us from adoring HimWho is the true object of our worship. Ina world of opulence and culture, Jesuscomes with a reticent and abetting mes-sage of hope, love and assurance of abetter future for all people regardless of

their social status.Greed is a crime against the spirit and a rape

against the soul. Some folks are trying to install amantle of deity upon them on the basis of wealthand fame. Andrew Carnegie was profound whenhe said, “The amassing of wealth is one of theworst species of idolatry.” When a prophetbecomes a lover of wealth; he abandons his trueprophetic mission by becoming a son of mammon.When Christians become too materialistic – theylose their moral and spiritual compass. Let's notget caught up in the current mildew of prosperitypolarization of Christianity!

A Christian is not at home in this world. A stranger does not feel at home where he is, and neither does a Christian in this world. He is not a citizen of earth trying to get to Heaven

but a citizen of heaven sojourning on earth. This world is “his passage, not his portion.”We of the Heavenly Commonwealth do not feel at home here; we just “don’t belong.” We

speak another language. When the cocktails are offered, we refuse. When the dirty jokes aretold, we do not join in the laughter, not because of the Pharisaic self-righteousness but simplybecause we are “strangers.”

The world will do its utmost, to make us “one of the crowd.” Nothing is more insidious thanthe hospitality of this age. But while we need not be discourteous, we must not be deceived.”

— Vance Havner— Twentieth-Century Prophet, Preacher, Pilgrim

When we have Christ, we are rich, and He is trustworthy andsufficient for all our needs. “Richest are not forever: and

doth the crown endure to every generation?”

Voi

ce F

rom

The

Pas

t

Copyright © 2007 by World Prayer Band

In these books, the author speaksprecisely, courageously andunapologetically, not only on thebasis of irrevocable biblical truth butalso from an “unshakable confidence”in his Master and Provider, the LordJesus Christ. When you finishreading them, you’ll undoubtedly know what it means to be atrue soldier in the army of God. Read them and be blessed.

Matthew Skariah emerges as a refreshing author whowrites with an incandescent passion for his Savior and rejectsany appearance of religious double-talk.

PAGE 4

Moral relativism says, “there is no wrong living, no right living. There is no right

answer, there is no wrong answer. Voltaire, theparamount cynic of the 8th century said that ifGod did not exist, then we must invent one.

Incarnation is God’s involvement in time andspace. Excarnation is the modern version ofGod’s exclusion from time and space. Christiansbelieve in a sovereign God Who is the object ofour love and worship. But on the other hand, thepantheist believes in the worship of the materialuniverse. Such worship makes no demand on him.He gives account to no one but himself. He is thecenter of the universe and wants to be left aloneto wallow in his muck and mire. Without God –man has to fabricate himself as immortal. We needto realize that God alone is immortal. When I thinkof God and His imperial majesty, I am captivated

by a wonderment and amazement unlike anythingelse. Oh, Lord, thou alone is immortal.

Unbelief and hardness of heart say that I do notwant to go to heaven. Believe me, if one does notwant to go to heaven, no one will force him/her togo there. The Lord does not kidnap people intoheaven. Soren Kierkegaard, the father of modernexistentialism was profound when he said, “God’sgrace is not a commodity which is distributed whole-sale, but only to one individual at a time.”

Salvation is a free gift and it is given to all thosewho yearn for a God-filled life. No one receivesanything from God unless he humbles himselfbefore His sovereign majesty. The holiness ofGod is too dazzling for mortals to grasp. Man candance around all he wants, but it is God Whoholds infinity in the palm of His hands.

Culture Watch – Moral Relativismby Matthew Skariah

Where does 'moral truth' come from, if there is no God? Man should behumble, honest, and aware of his fallible knowledge and fleeting existence.

Order your copy or copies from:World Prayer Band Publishing

P.O.Box 686 • Roswell, NM 88202Phone: (505) 623-6925 • E-mail: mwpbs@yahoo.com

Heart-WarmingBooks

ByMatthew Skariah

$500 $500

$1000 $795$1000