Take That, Benny Hinn!
Friday, May 5, 2023
“Shall the head be crowned with thorns while the other parts of the body enjoy only comfort and ease? Must Christ pass through seas of His own blood to win the crown while we walk to heaven dry-shod in silver slippers? No; our Master’s experience teaches us that suffering is necessary, and the true-born child of God must not, would not, escape it if he could.”- C.H. Spurgeon
Last week, the Treasure Coast was deluged with rain. Day after day, storm clouds gathered and then burst wide open, drenching Indian River County from top to bottom. We even experienced multiple tornado warnings.
In the campground where we live, the puddles were so deep that the only way to walk from our trailer to our truck was to take your shoes off and get your feet wet, drying them off once you got inside. As you can imagine, our dachshund Lucy wasn’t too happy about going outside to pee, because her low-hanging belly got soaked every time.
In today’s quote, Charles Spurgeon makes a similar point. If Jesus didn’t go through this world unscathed, why should we expect any different? After all, Scripture teaches us that a student is not greater than his teacher, and a servant is not greater than his master (Matthew 10:24; Luke 6:40). And Jesus Himself said that because the world hated Him first, we should also expect to be hated for His name’s sake (John 15:18).
And yet, so many people today foolishly embrace the false teachings of the prosperity gospel peddlers who promise nothing but sunny days and gentle breezes for their undiscerning disciples. That, my friend, is a lie from the pit of hell, designed to mislead you into making a false profession of faith… and a few large donations into their bulging coffers, too.
Here is how Charles Spurgeon put it…
“The jewels of a Christian are his afflictions. The regalia of the kings whom God has anointed are their troubles, their sorrows, and their griefs. Let us not, therefore, shun being honored. Let us not turn aside from being exalted. Griefs exalt us, and troubles lift us up.”
Take that, Benny Hinn, Kenneth Copeland, and Joel Osteen!
“These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 (NKJV)
- Rev. Dale M. Glading, President
