Portions were taken to them from Joseph's table, but Benjamin's portion was five times as much as any of theirs. And they drank and were merry with him. - Genesis 43: 34 (ESV)
In his wildly heretical sermon on the "Benjamin Generation", Joseph Prince creates doctrine out of thin air. He claims that the people that follow his teachings will be the last generation before the rapture but offers no Scriptural basis for such nonsense. He then uses the above verse to claim that God will give to his followers, five times the amount of blessings as everyone else! Is that what this verse says? No! Is that what this verse means? No! God is not making such a ridiculous claim that because 4000 years ago Joseph gave his direct brother five times as much food and drink that it secretly meant that 4000 years later He would give the followers of Joseph Prince five times as many blessings as everyone else. This is not merely mangling Scripture. It is eviscerating it.
Beloved this is what goes on every single week in churches across this land. People get up under the guise of wanting to serve God and then listen a man who clearly doesn't not know Him or fear Him. In this day and age? Where we check fifty self diagnosis websites to just to see if our doctor knows what he is talking about? In a world where we take literally no one at their word anymore? Yet spiritually we enslave ourselves to people who talk slick and throw the name of Jesus around like one of the Seven Sons of Sceva (look them up in the Book of Acts; it is a great story)? The Bible warns us about this:
See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. - Colossians 2: 8 (ESV)
I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive. - Romans 16: 17-18 (ESV)
We have too many smooth talking preachers and naïve Christians who are captivated by human deceit and wisdom. Not according to Christ. Beloved if we are not aligned with His Word then we are not aligned with Him. Do not say the name of Christ as if it is some magical balm without being in accordance with His Word! Jesus Himself lamented this when He was ministering:
"Why do you call me 'Lord, Lord,' and not do what I tell you? Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like: he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built.But the one who hears and does not do them is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the stream broke against it, immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great." - Luke 6: 46-49 (ESV)
It is no wonder the average person leaves a mega church after less than three years. Their foundation was built upon lies and distortion of the true Word of God. Human wisdom sounds good and tickles the ears but only Jesus has the words of eternal life. The Word of God is infallible but the hearts of man are deceitful above all things and desperately sick. You should approach anyone trying to impart the Word of God unto you, including me, with an open Bible. Let me show you how easy it is to use the Word of God instead of preach it. Look at our key verse for today. This sounds so much like the false heresies of today I am amazed I have not heard it preached to support them. After all, God said it! How often do we hear that lament from false teachers? Every single time they preach. If they are not claiming direct revelation from God they are ripping a verse horribly out of context like the key verse. Claiming that God said our lives could be merry if we just drink the wine! That God said that money is the answer for everything! See? Creflo Dollar was right! Or was he...
Woe to the land whose king was a servant and whose princes feast in the morning.Blessed is the land whose king is of noble birth and whose princes eat at a proper time--for strength and not for drunkenness.Through laziness, the rafters sag; because of idle hands, the house leaks.A feast is made for laughter, wine makes life merry, and money is the answer for everything.Do not revile the king even in your thoughts, or curse the rich in your bedroom, because a bird in the sky may carry your words, and a bird on the wing may report what you say. - Ecclesiastes 10: 16-20 (ESV)
You see, this is the context the key verse was ripped from. It actually teaches the opposite of what verse 19 seemed to be implying. These verses are speaking against rulers who have little character. Lazy and shiftless. Who think happiness is related to wine. Who thinks wealth solves all problems; thus leaving out the wise counsel of the Lord. You may be thinking that Ecclesiastes 10:19 is too obvious to use as a standalone verse yet how many people fall for equally silly uses of Scripture:
Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers. - 3John 1: 2 (NKJV)
I have heard nearly every false teacher use this verse to convince Christians that God wants to materially prosper them. That this verse is proof that God wants them rich beyond the dreams of avarice. That is ludicrous. This is what is known as the salutation in a letter. Remember, this was a letter John was writing to Christians. So he opens it up by saying something nice to them. It is a greeting, not a timeless truth. How can we know that? Because the rest of the Bible does not support it! The Bible always confirms itself. The Bible tells us Timothy was in ill health. None of the Apostles "prospered." The Bible says that it is very difficult for a rich man to enter heaven. It speaks about denying oneself and picking up our cross. To use 1John 1:2 to prop up a prosperity doctrine is just as ridiculous to use Ecclesiastes 10:19 to claim that God wants us drunk and pursuing money.
It is very dangerous out there in the Christian landscape. I know many will sell you on this notion of Kumbaya Christianity where everyone is our brother. Do not believe it for a second. Jesus said who is His brother and mother but those who do the will of the Father. Those who stick to His Word, rightly handled. The way to eternal life is narrow and few find it. The road to destruction is broad because many are on it. We must do the work of a Berean and make sure that what we are being fed each week is from God. Only He has the Words of eternal life. Only He.
Reverend Anthony Wade - March 20, 2015
