GOOD NEWSHealth and Wealth

Mark 1 – 29 As soon as they left the synagogue, they went with James and John to the home of Simon and Andrew. 30 Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they told Jesus about her. 31 So he went to her, took her hand and helped her up. The fever left her and she began to wait on them.

32 That evening after sunset the people brought to Jesus all the sick and demon-possessed. 33 The whole town gathered at the door, 34 and Jesus healed many who had various diseases. He also drove out many demons, but he would not let the demons speak because they knew who he was.

What is Mark’s Message for Us?• 1:2-8 – John’s message – “He will baptize you with the

Holy Spirit.”• 1:9-13 – Jesus’ initiation – He has power over Satan.• 1:14-20 – Jesus ministry – He will bring Good News.• 1:21-28 – He will give us power over the evil spirits.• 1:29-34 – He will give us victory over suffering.

Historical Perceptions: Finding the Mean Between Two Extremes• Severe Asceticism on one end – Col. 2:20 – Since you

died to the basic principles of this world, why, as though you still belonged to it, do you submit to its rules…Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their…harsh treatment of the body…

• “Asceticism” comes from the Greek word for exercise and is about practicing abstinence and discomfort to train the body.

• Asceticism was seen at the extremes in various cults of religion, including Judaism and Christianity. Stoicism was a mild expression of it.

• There’s a principle of self-discipline that seems pretty obvious, but taken to an extreme, as it has been in most religions, it becomes its own end and ends up in a bad place.

• On the other end:• Humanism – is a “nonreligious” view that stems from

antiquity in all sorts of form. Epicurus is probably the first of the Greek philosophers that espoused a form of it. Also, associated with secularism, stressing man apart from God and religion as the answer.

• Hedonism takes it to the extreme, espousing that ultimately pleasure is the highest good, and is still prevalent among many.

• Prosperity Gospel/Theology is not all that new, but has expressed itself through the ages in various ways. It seemingly believes that God wants us to be always healthy, wealthy and prosperous, although again, as with most trends, it is viewed in many ways by various individuals and groups.

• The health and healing emphasis became prominent during revivalism of the 1950s. These were often Pentecostal in nature, including healings and such.

• The prosperity part became prevalent in the 1980s through the “Word of Faith” movement.

• Word of faith teaches that complete healing of body, spirit and soul is included in Christ’s atonement, “By his stripes we are healed” (Isa. 53:5 and Matt. 8:17).

• Acceptance of the healing is found by confessing the various Bible verses—saying words of faith.

• These generally believe that God’s promises to Israel all apply the same to Christianity—thus Christians are ultimately to dominate the world.

• Prosperity theology teaches that Christians are entitled to well-being and, because physical and spiritual realities are seen as one inseparable reality, this is interpreted as physical health and economic prosperity.[1] Teachers of the doctrine focus on personal empowerment,[2] promoting a positive view of the spirit and body. They maintain that Christians have been given power over creation because they are made in the image of God and teach that positive confession allows Christians to exercise dominion over their souls and material objects around them.[2]

• Leaders of the movement view the atonement as providing for the alleviation of sickness, poverty, and spiritual corruption;[3] poverty and illness are cast as curses which can be broken by faith[4] (Wikipedia.com).

• Dallas is the epicenter for the Prosperity Gospel Theology and is seen in some prominent mega-churches in our area.

• The extremes existed during early Christian times in such contrasting views as the Stoics and Epicureans (and further even Hedonists), and it exists today in every form and degree.

How I think we should look at it:• Ecc. 7:18 – It is good to grasp the one and not let go

of the other. The man who fears God will avoid all extremes.

• Application: It is good to grasp the good blessings of God but not let go of the reality that in this world he may call us to suffering and even poverty. Jesus is the standard.

Christ must be our benchmark, our watermark, and our interpretive standard.• John 14:6 – “I AM…the truth.” Jesus IS the TRUTH.• John 8:31 – “If you HOLD to MY teaching you are really

my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the TRUTH will set you free.

• John 14:31 – “I do EXACTLY what my Father has commanded me.”

So…• Jesus came and drove out demons.• Jesus came and healed many sick.• But, demons still roam the earth and trouble our world.• And, people still get sick and ultimately all die physically.• Thus, what is the good news Jesus brings concerning

health, wealth, and healing?

Further…• God has allowed people to be wealthy and has given

them great blessings, for examples, Abraham, David and Solomon.

• God has allowed people to be destitute and to suffer, for examples Elijah, Jeremiah, and John the Baptist.

• God has allowed some to suffer both! For example, Job.• Ultimately, it’s about God’s purposes for us!

• Look at how honored some of his most faithful: Heb. 11 – 35 Women received back their dead, raised to life again. Others were tortured and refused to be released, so that they might gain a better resurrection. 36 Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in prison. 37 They were stoned; they were sawed in two; they were put to death by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated— 38 the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground.

Further…• And to answer the claim that it changed with the

atonement, consider the Apostles:• 1 Cor. 4:9-13 – We have been made a spectacle to the

whole universe, to angels as well as to men…To this very hour we go hungry and thirsty, we are in rags, we are brutally treated, we are homeless…

• As with Jesus: Luke 9:58 – “the Son of man has no place to lie his head.” Isa. 53:10 – “Yet it was the LORD’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer…

So, what is the Good News Here

1. Generally speaking, God wants us reasonably healthy and will sometimes just heal us!• John 10:10 – I have come that they might have life and

have it to the full—abundantly!• What is Jesus life to the full though? Let Jesus be the

example:• Purposeful – Surrendered – Serving• Meaningful – Industrious – Content• Selfless – God-filled – Others

Centered• Trusting – Generous –

Sacrificial

• Praying for the sick – James 5:13-16• Praying for those afflicted with evil and/or demons – these

come out with prayer – Mark 9:29• Timothy was told to drink wine for his stomach and

frequent illnesses – 1 Tim. 5:23• Epaphroditus almost died – Phjl. 2:25-30• Paul was under extreme pressure to the point of

despairing of life – 2 Cor. 1:8-11

2. Generally speaking, God will give us what we need• Phil. 4:19 – God will meet your needs• Matt. 6:25-34 – God will provide as he does with the rest

of his creation• Luke 12 – rich fool – was rich toward himself, but not

toward God• Matt. 19:23-24 – hard for rich to enter heaven• Luke 16 – rich man and Lazarus • 1 Cor. 5 – we are to disfellowship greedy• Eph. 5 – greedy is seen as idolatry

• Mal. 3 – the abused promise• Making deals with God – don’t test the Lord• Luke 9:23 – deny self• Phil. 2:5 – Jesus emptied himself• Matt. 5:2 – we are to be poor• Acts 2 and 4 – we are not to possess and consider

anything our own (1 Cor. 6:19-20)

Contentment is Success!

Phil. 4:11-13 secret of contentment – 11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

• 1 Tim. 6 – 6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 8 But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. 9 People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

• 1 Thess. 5:18 – Be thankful in ALL circumstances for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

Conclusion• God wants us to be reasonably healthy and will give us

health according to his will. We need to take care of ourselves, seek his healing through prayer, live right, associate right, think right, and be content.

• God wants us to be reasonably provided for through trust, hard work, right priorities, and acceptance.

And the good news?

I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation…I can do everything through him who gives me strength (Phil 4:12-13).

And I don’t have to give to a rich preacher to do it either!