Prosperity: Beyond a Blessing

There is actually an exclusive club that you don't want to belong to. It's the “Busted Lottery Winners Club,” and unfortunately it has a lot of members. The statistics vary, but in general, around 50% of winners run through their entire windfall in under 5 years. Follow-up studies of people who acquire sudden wealth indicate a 90% probability that all that wealth is gone by the 3rd generation. That means that even if they had multiple millions, nothing will be left for their grandchildren to inherit.

Why do so many winners go broke? Two reasons appear most common. They lack financial savvy in how to handle money and they often spend lavishly on themselves, family and friends without any long-term planning. They have become very prosperous, but there is no purpose in what they do with their prosperity. They are susceptible to pressure from family and friends and are often seduced into ill-advised investments and outright scams.

Some of them even call winning the lottery “a curse,” and wish they had torn up their ticket. Many get divorced, alienated from family or friends, involved in drugs, and some even commit suicide. Their prosperity obviously did not bring them happiness.

Prosperity is Father God's idea, and from our creation He intended that we would prosper and be blessed (Genesis 1:27–28). But His prosperity has a larger purpose than simply blessing us. He wants to prosper us so we can be a blessing to others. He wants us to partner with Him in establishing His kingdom here on earth. This is His purpose for us, and it gives meaning to everything we do, including how we handle our personal prosperity.

If we will see beyond prosperity as simply a personal blessing, we can enter into an exciting life that is much larger and more rewarding than accumulating stuff could ever be. We can help establish God's kingdom by supporting the spread of the gospel through sending missionaries, planting churches, establishing training centers, even going on short-term mission trips ourselves.

We can use our prosperity to implement God's will on earth by caring for the sick, the poor, the destitute and homeless. We can feed and educate orphans, build schools and universities, construct homes for the homeless, teach people skills and trades and help them start businesses, erect and staff medical clinics and provide disaster relief when needed.

Father God promises us that if we will partner with Him in establishing His kingdom and justice here on the Earth, He will make sure that we have a constant supply of everything we need (Matthew 6:33). We can see that not only does God want to prosper us, but that our prosperity is absolutely essential if we are to fulfill our God ordained purpose here on earth. He wants to continually bless us, so that we can be a blessing to others. This is life with purpose. This is life with meaning.

Please join us this Sunday at 9:00 a.m. or 11:00 AM when I will be speaking on “Breaking the Spirit of Poverty,” part of our current series, “Keys to Prosperity.” Our weekly healing service is at 2 PM.

Pastor Che

The Poverty Pit

I'd like to introduce you to several couples. You may even recognize one or more of them.

You'd never guess by the way they talk that Michael and Michelle Mizer are both successful professionals. Michael can tell you where to get the best deal on just about anything, and he always knows which gas station has the cheapest prices. Michelle knows which restaurants have the two-for-one specials, where to get off-season bargains, and which stores have double coupon days. They live frugally and seem proud of it.

Frank and Frances Fierful can't seem to save enough for a rainy day. Although they have a stable, comfortable income, they are constantly aware that “life can change in an instant.” All too often they are hounded by thoughts of “what if.” What if we have a catastrophic accident, what if our business goes bust, what if the stock market crashes again?

Randy and René Rashunal like quality and can afford it, but seem to have difficulty enjoying it. When complimented on his new top-of-the-line leather briefcase, Randy shrugs it off by saying, “I'll get years more wear out of this than I would from a lower quality one, so it's actually a cost-effective purchase.” Renée is quick to explain to a friend that their annual Hawaiian vacation is really done on a shoestring budget because Randy's parents have a timeshare and they use their frequent flyer miles.

Then there's Peter and Pat Poore. They've been struggling ever since the economic downturn in 2008. Peter lost his job and hasn't been able to find comparable employment, so he's doing odd jobs. Pat’s hours were cut, but since she has the stable income, she feels stuck in her current position. Actually, even before the recession Peter and Pat were just making ends meet. Financial hardship has been an ongoing problem in their lives.

Although only Peter and Pat are living in actual poverty, all four couples are in what I call “the poverty pit.” They are living their lives under the influence of a spirit of poverty. None of them understand God's perspective on prosperity and the truth of His promises to abundantly bless them.

All of them are focused on their own efforts to gain security by living modestly and strictly controlling their finances. Without realizing it, they are trusting in their ideas and persuasions about how to have financial security instead of believing God's words and promises. In effect they are worshiping poverty, for they are giving the fear of it control over much of their lives.

The spirit of poverty seeks to deceive those in the poverty pit by encouraging them to focus on finances as the source of their security, and to trust in their own ability to accumulate and protect their prosperity. They're all so caught up in this pursuit that they can't even enjoy the prosperity they do have!

The only way out of the poverty pit is to know and believe that Father God wants each of us to prosper. This prosperity includes both spiritual and material blessing. Philippians 4:19 assures us that: “God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” Proverbs 10:22 promises: “The blessing of the Lord brings wealth, and He adds no trouble to it.” Jesus echoed this when He said: “I am come that you might have life and have it in abundance.” (John 10:10b)

Father God wants us to focus on Him as our provider and the source of our security. Only He gives us the wisdom that brings lasting prosperity.

Please join us this Sunday at 9:00 AM or 11:00 AM. We are beginning a new series, “The Keys to Prosperity,” and I will be speaking on “Prosperity and Righteousness.” Don't forget our afternoon healing service now begins at 2:00 PM.

Pastor Che

Fact Faith Feeling

Back in the early 70s when I first became a Christian, Campus Crusade put out a little booklet called “The 4 Spiritual Laws.” It was designed to explain the plan of God's salvation in simple terms that anyone could understand. One graphic that was really powerful for me displayed a train with an engine, a car and a caboose labeled in order: Fact-Faith-Feeling.

The booklet explained that God's word and His promises are always the Truth. They are Fact whether we believe them or not, and no matter how we feel about them. Faith results when we are persuaded of the truth and choose to put our trust in God's promises. It is wonderful when we have powerful feelings that accompany our decisions of faith, but this doesn't always happen. We can never base the truth of a situation on how we feel about it. Truth is always based on the Fact of God's word.

Most Christians understand and accept the Fact-Faith-Feeling paradigm as it applies to forgiveness of sin and acceptance of Christ as Savior and Lord. However, when it comes to divine healing, we often get the cars on the train out of order.

Many people put Feeling first. They may not realize it, but they are operating by the principle of “seeing is believing.” If they don't immediately feel a change, they think that nothing has happened and that they are not healed. This is in direct contradiction to God's word that instructs us, “for we live by believing (faith) and not by seeing.” (2 Corinthians 5:7) In fact, faith is defined as “the confidence in what we hope for and the assurance about what we do not see.” (Hebrews 11:1)

Another common mistake people make is putting Faith first. They try to work up enough faith to strongly believe so that healing will happen. They fall into a type of magical thinking that if they simply say something, like quoting a Scripture enough, they can make it happen. Their faith becomes a performance they do to move God to do something He hasn't already done (i.e., to heal them).

They have the order backward. They fail to understand that faith can only appropriate what God has already done. Faith begins by accepting God's word as Fact above anything else. Faith ignores Feeling and chooses to trust in God's word and promises alone. Actually, God's promises are so powerful that even a tiny amount of faith (i.e., the size of a mustard seed) is enough to activate them.

Mark 11:23-24 instructs us to believe that we receive what we ask in prayer, regardless of what we see or feel, and we will have it. God assures us that by the stripes of Jesus we were healed (i.e., an accomplished Fact). As we focus on this Fact of God's word, Faith builds within us and through faith we know it is true no matter how we feel.

This type of steadfast faith will always produce results, but often we get pulled in two directions at one time. We strongly hope God's promise of healing is true, but we feel no change and fear that nothing has happened. The book of James tells us that when we do this, we are like a wave being tossed back and forth. We have not made a firm decision to believe and release our faith, and therefore nothing happens.

To avoid this wavering, we must keep the train in order. God's Fact is first. It is the Truth we base our Faith upon. Our Feelings can vary moment to moment and we need to ignore them when they don't line up with God's Fact. If we keep our train in order, healing will result!

Please join us this Sunday at 9:00 AM or 11:00 AM when we will have a special guest speaker, Andy Comiskey. Please note that our afternoon healing service will now begin at 2 PM. Don't forget to turn your clock back as we go off daylight savings time this weekend!

Pastor Che

A Life Well Loved

Last week, I wrote about the connection between divine health and having a prosperous soul. At the time, I never anticipated that one of the most prosperous souls I have ever known, my father-in-law, Dr. Primo Roxas, would quietly slip into eternity on Saturday, October 19, 2013.

My father-in-law was like a second dad to me, always positive and encouraging. His own early life had not been easy. Born into a large family in the Philippines, he put himself through medical school and immigrated to the United States as a young man. He was dedicated to his profession as an anesthesiologist, but was able to maintain a healthy balance between his career, his marriage and his family.

Somewhat unusual for his generation, Dad valued and respected his wife's career as a pediatrician as much as he did his own. Together they made a comfortable living, but rather than amassing wealth, Dad put his resources to work blessing others. He helped numerous family members immigrate to the United States, made sure his own four children and all of his grandchildren were able to obtain college educations, and took the extended family on wonderful vacations.

He had many interests outside his professional life that he pursued with enjoyment. He loved fishing, playing cards (especially bridge), traveling, music (he played the ukulele and piano), and was always up for trying new foods. “Mom” was the love of his life. They were competitive square dancers and married nearly 60 years this December.

Dad's relationships were characterized by honesty, integrity and respect for others. He was generally an even-tempered person who readily forgave an offense rather than nursing bitterness or anger. His attitude toward challenges in life was positive and he was an ongoing source of encouragement to those around him.

He successfully battled two bouts with cancer and in the end simply died peacefully without illness or suffering. In remembering him this week, one way I could best describe him is “a life well loved.” He loved all of us, but he loved his own life as well, and we all certainly loved him.

Proverbs 13:22 states, “A good man leaves an inheritance to his children's children.” Dad left his family and friends with a rich legacy of wonderful memories, opportunities for education, travel, life in a new country, and the example of a prosperous soul.

Father God intends that each one of us should have a full, abundant life overflowing with love and blessings. It is a life characterized by a prosperous soul that avoids strife and envy and keeps short accounts with anger. Father God tells us: “Do not harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, you find disorder and every evil work.” (James 3:14, 16) “See to it that no one misses the grace of God, and that no root of bitterness grows up to cause trouble.” (Hebrews 12:15)

Current medical research confirms that physical, emotional and social stress all have a negative impact on our health. We need to follow Father God's instructions for a prosperous soul. I encourage you today to decide to live a life well loved.

Please join us this Sunday at 9:00 AM or 11:00 AM when our own Pastor David Oh will be speaking on “The Believer's Authority and Healing.” Don't forget our healing service that begins at 2:30 PM on Sunday.

Pastor Che

Beyond Healing

It's a beautiful summer's day at the beach with a light wind, perfect for sailing. As you look out over the marina, you see numerous sailboats taking advantage of the conditions. You notice one sailboat that appears to be having difficulty. In the bow of the boat several people are bailing water furiously, while in the stern, a man with an axe appears to be chopping a hole! As fast as the people can bail the water out, it is rushing in. They are keeping the boat afloat, but just barely!

I think anyone watching this scenario would agree that someone needs to address the man with the axe, not just keep bailing the water out. In ministering healing to people, I frequently see “returnees.” These are people who have received healing of one condition and are now returning for healing of a different condition. They are like the sailboat bailing water. They need more healing, but lack understanding that they can live in divine health.

Through the life of Jesus Christ, Father God demonstrates that His will is to provide healing for us. However healing is not His ultimate intention. He wants to give us something beyond healing, something that is much better, and that is a life of health. God established this desire when He promised Israel that if they would follow Him He would make their lives disease-free (Exodus 15:26). His plan was that people would enjoy perfect health all their lives.

Now you may be thinking, “What about growing old? Everyone seems to have some health issues as they grow old.”

You certainly are stating modern day reality, but Father God has always intended a better life for His children, a life of divine health. For example, Caleb was one of the 12 spies who originally went into Canaan when Israel came out of Egypt. He trusted God's promise and believed that Israel could conquer Canaan, but was overruled by 10 other spies who thought the task would be impossible.

Father God maintained Caleb's health and strength so that 40 years later, when he was 85, Caleb was as strong and fit as any young man. Scripture says that he was able to fight like any young warrior in taking the land of Canaan (Joshua 14:10–11).

Okay, we've all heard of someone who is older who isn’t aging like other people; but in the end you have to die of something, don't you? Actually, no, you don't. Although we all must die at some point, Father God wants to make this transition easy. The death of Moses is an excellent example of how God wants His children to leave earth and come to Him.

When Moses was 120 years old, God told him that it was time to leave earth. We are told that Moses’ vision was not dim and that he was still physically strong. So strong that he climbed a mountain where God gave him a glimpse of the promised land of Canaan. Then Moses quietly breathed his last. He wasn't sick. He didn't suffer. He simply left earth and entered the spirit realm.

There's more emphasis on healing in the church today, and more people than ever are getting healed. But I think it's time we understand there's something better beyond healing, and that is walking in divine health. The apostle John prayed for this understanding when he wrote, “Beloved, I pray that you may prosper and be in health, even as your soul prospers.” (3 John 2)

Come join us this Sunday at 9:00 AM or 11:00 AM when we will consider what it means to have a prosperous soul. My sermon is “Healing and a Prosperous Soul”. You are also invited to attend our 2:30 PM healing service.

Pastor Che

Feelings Aren't Free

I still remember it like it was yesterday. I had just finished teaching at a conference and asked people who needed healing to come up for prayer. A middle-aged woman was there in obvious pain. She moved stiffly using a walker and her hands were twisted.

Through tears, she explained she had suffered from arthritis for many years, seen many specialists and tried many medications, but the arthritis only got worse. She voiced conviction that God's healing power was available to her through Jesus Christ. I put my hands on her shoulders, began praying and immediately felt the power of God being released. But just as quickly, I felt it return to me. It was as if it hit a brick wall and bounced back.

I was puzzled. Here was a woman who obviously wanted to be healed and voiced a belief in healing. Why wasn't the power of God penetrating her? Sometimes I feel led to ask people details about their illness. I was curious, so I asked: “When did the arthritis first begin?

Her expression immediately changed from sadness to anger. “It was 12 years ago. The worst year of my life! I found out that my husband had been having a long-term affair with his secretary and shortly after that I got the arthritis.”

Through clenched teeth she started to tell me about confronting her husband and the extreme hurt she had felt. Her anger was so intense that I asked her, “Have the two of you been able to resolve that situation?”

“Heavens no!” she replied. “He died 8 years ago of heart disease and good riddance! I hate what he did to me and I hate him!”

Suddenly the mystery was solved. She was encased in a wall of anger and bitterness that now held her prisoner. There was no doubt in my mind it was blocking her healing and may have even been instrumental in causing the arthritis to begin with. I briefly explained to her the need for forgiveness and how to renounce her anger and bitterness.

I led her in a short prayer of forgiveness and she relinquished the anger she had held against her husband for so many years. I prayed again for her healing and she began smiling. “There is less pain!” she told me. During the next few days her condition continued to improve. By the end of the conference she was walking confidently unassisted.

That encounter has remained a vivid one for me, but it is not isolated. In praying for the sick over many years I have learned that negative emotions like anger, resentment, and bitterness can actually hinder healing. The feelings may be connected to very real wrongs we have suffered, but we don't have the luxury to indulge in them. When it comes to healing, feelings (negative ones) are not free. They carry a high price tag often paid in physical suffering. This is equally true of negative feelings we have about ourselves such as guilt, shame, self-pity, self-condemnation, etc.

If you are suffering from a long-term illness, or have sought prayer for healing and have not had a breakthrough, ask yourself if you are holding negative feelings against anyone, including yourself. If you are, I invite you to forgive the other person (or yourself) and release the negative emotions. You can do this on your own or you do it with a friend who can agree with you in prayer. Don't wait a day longer to free yourself from costly negative feelings!

Please join us at 9:00 AM or 11:00 AM this Sunday when my good friend Cindy Jacobs will be our guest speaker. Please remember our 2:30 PM healing service every Sunday.

Pastor Che

Thy Kingdom Come

As I travel internationally, I get asked the same questions repeatedly about healing. People acknowledge that Christ spent a lot of time healing the sick in His ministry, but wonder does God still want to heal everyone today? People question if someone can be too old to expect God to heal them. Is God concerned with “minor” problems like a sore throat or bunions, or does He reserve healing for “serious” illnesses like cancer and heart disease? Can a person be “too big a sinner” to be healed? What about illnesses that are self-inflicted? For instance, will God heal lung cancer in a lifelong cigarette smoker?

My answer is always the same. I direct the person to the prayer that Jesus Christ taught His disciples, commonly known as the Lord's Prayer. It says, “Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.” Although widely known and repeated by many people, it's true meaning is often not clearly understood.

God's desire is that His kingdom would invade Earth with the same conditions that exist in heaven. There is no sickness or disease in heaven, whether minor or major. Father God wants to set humanity free from all the disastrous results of our fall into sin. That includes healing every type of physical problem as well as healing emotional hurts, relationship problems and mental disorders. Anything that does not belong in heaven, God wants to eradicate here on earth.

When Jesus healed all who came to Him, He was demonstrating the reality of God's kingdom coming to earth. If we want to understand how God wants to work in the world today, all we have to do is look at the ministry of Jesus. We never read that He refused to heal anyone, regardless of what type of sickness or disease they had, how old they were, how much they had sinned or how they acquired their illness. Over and over again we read, “and He healed them all.” Jesus put no qualifiers of any type on healing.

And in case His disciples thought that healing was something reserved for Jesus’ ministry alone, He commanded them to go into all the world preaching the good news of God’s kingdom to everyone, and to lay hands on the sick and they would recover.” (Mark 16:15, 18b)

In fact, while most people regard “Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven,” as a request made in prayer to God, it actually is a command. In His death, burial and resurrection, Jesus restored to humanity the dominion on earth that we lost to Satan in the fall. He told His disciples that all authority in heaven and on earth had been given to Him and commanded them to go in His authority and make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:18–19)

So actually, when followers of Christ pray the Lord's Prayer, they are commanding, “God's kingdom, come! God's will in heaven be done on earth!” Healing the sick is one sign of God's kingdom invading Earth.

Does God want to heal everyone today? The answer is a resounding YES!  Thy Kingdom come!

Please join us this Sunday at 9:00 AM or 11:00 AM as we continue our current series on “Healing the Sick.” I will be speaking this week on “The Kingdom of Heaven and Healing.” We also invite you to attend our 2:30 PM healing service every Sunday.

Pastor Che