Yesterday, we observed that Jesus’ Spirit-filled, Spirit-led life was not always easy, and we commented that those who teach a “health and wealth prosperity gospel” are in error. No one is more adamant about the problem with the prosperity gospel than John Piper. I just ran across an in-depth story of John’s impromptu 3-minute diatribe against the prosperity gospel delivered in Birmingham, Alabama, November 2005. The article opens like this:

In fact, it was an off-the-cuff tangent to an afterthought, unusual for a man whose sermons are well-prepared and meticulously researched.

“I don’t know what you feel about the prosperity gospel—the health, wealth and prosperity gospel—but I’ll tell you what I feel about it,” Piper told a gathering of more than 1,000 college students in November 2005. “Hatred…It is not the gospel, and it’s being exported from this country to Africa and Asia, selling a bill of goods to the poorest of the poor: ‘Believe this message, and your pigs won’t die and your wife won’t have miscarriages, and you’ll have rings on your fingers and coats on your back.’ That’s coming out of America—the people that ought to be giving our money and our time and our lives, instead selling them a bunch of crap called ‘gospel.'” Sarah Eekhoff Zylstra, The Gospel Coalition, February 14, 2017

Strong language and that’s not all. You can read the article for yourself and even hear the 3-minute clip. Caution: John is very intense, and I’m not sure I could or would say some of what he says here. John himself says that he has “no recollection” of that part of his sermon.

There have always been false gospels of one sort or other. We’ve talked a lot about a “gospel” based on legalism, for example, and the Apostle Paul, probably at least as intense as John Piper, would have none of it:

But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed. (Galatians 1.8, 9, ESV)

Paul, like Jesus, did not experience prosperity:

…Far greater labors, far more imprisonments, with countless beatings, and often near death. Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. (2 Corinthians 11.23 – 27, ESV)

And yet, even without what we call prosperity, Paul experienced joy:

What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice. Yes, and I will rejoice, for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance, as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. (Philippians 1.18 – 21, ESV)

What happens when we’re full of the Holy Spirit and led by the Spirit? Answer: it depends.

Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heavens were opened, and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form, like a dove; and a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”…And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness for forty days, being tempted by the devil. And he ate nothing during those days. And when they were ended, he was hungry… And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and a report about him went out through all the surrounding country. And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all. (Luke 3.21, 22…4.1, 2…14, 15, ESV, emphasis mine)

From a high:

• The Holy Spirit descended on him
• The Father blessed him
• He returned “full of the Holy Spirit”

To a low:

• Led by the Spirit in the wilderness for 40 days (say what?)
• Tempted by the devil
• Hungry

To a high:

• In the power of the Spirit
• Teaching
• Glorified by all

These few verses by themselves are enough to knock the “prosperity gospel” in the head. Jesus himself was not prosperous, and his life was not easy. There are those who say that God promises health and wealth to those who follow Jesus. Some people might say that, but none are in the Bible! More tomorrow. In the meantime, follow Jesus!

Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.” (This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, “Follow me.” Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them,… When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, “Lord, what about this man?” Jesus said to him, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!” (John 21.18 – 22, ESV)

Why was Paul so adamant against legalism in Philippians and Colossians? We’ll see that Jesus takes the Pharisees to task over it as we go through Luke. We get a glimpse in Luke 6:

On another Sabbath, he entered the synagogue and was teaching, and a man was there whose right hand was withered. And the scribes and the Pharisees watched him, to see whether he would heal on the Sabbath, so that they might find a reason to accuse him. But he knew their thoughts, and he said to the man with the withered hand, “Come and stand here.” And he rose and stood there. And Jesus said to them, “I ask you, is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to destroy it?” And after looking around at them all he said to him, “Stretch out your hand.” And he did so, and his hand was restored. But they were filled with fury and discussed with one another what they might do to Jesus. (Luke 6.6 – 11, ESV)

There’s something wrong with a religion when a significant healing, the liberation of a man from a physical impairment, produces anger instead of joy. It happens again:

Now he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath. And behold, there was a woman who had had a disabling spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not fully straighten herself. When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said to her, “Woman, you are freed from your disability.” And he laid his hands on her, and immediately she was made straight, and she glorified God. But the ruler of the synagogue, indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, said to the people, “There are six days in which work ought to be done. Come on those days and be healed, and not on the Sabbath day.” Then the Lord answered him, “You hypocrites! Does not each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or his donkey from the manger and lead it away to water it? And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan bound for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath day?” As he said these things, all his adversaries were put to shame, and all the people rejoiced at all the glorious things that were done by him. (Luke 13.10 – 17, ESV)

This last story might explain why Jesus said he would be producing division:

Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. (Luke 12.51, ESV)

There were two groups when he healed the woman in the synagogue: the adversaries and “all the people” – the common people. There was division between the legalists and those who loved what Jesus was doing. It’s the legalists that often cause division! “My church is better than your church…my theology is better than your theology, our pastor celebrates communion the right way…”

Legalists causing division is an idea that might be worth pursuing later…

But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and every herb, and neglect justice and the love of God. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others. (Luke 11.42, ESV, emphasis mine)

We’re always looking at how we should live; for example, Colossians 3.12 – 17 is a nice list! John the Baptist came preaching repentance as we all know. What did he say repentance looked like? Keeping some or all of the Jewish law? Looking more like their holy men – their Pharisees? Nope.

And the crowds asked him, “What then shall we do?” And he answered them, 

• Whoever has two tunics is to share with him who has none, and 
• whoever has food is to do likewise.” 
• Tax collectors also came to be baptized and said to him, “Teacher, what shall we do?” And he said to them, 
  • Collect no more than you are authorized to do.” 
• Soldiers also asked him, “And we, what shall we do?” And he said to them, “
  • Do not extort money from anyone by threats or by false accusation, and 
  • be content with your wages.” (Luke 3.10 – 14, ESV, bulleted for clarity)

Share with those in need. Be content with your wages – tax collectors and soldiers would extort money only if they thought that what they had wasn’t enough. 

But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth. (1 John 3.17, 18, ESV)

Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Hebrews 13.5, ESV)

I’m always struck by Luke 3.1, 2: Luke firmly fixes John the Baptist’s appearance in history:

• In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, 
• Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and 
• Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and 
• his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and 
• Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, 
• during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, 
• the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness. (Luke 3.1, 2, ESV, bulleted for clarity)

Peter’s testimony is clear:

For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased,” we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain. And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. (1 Peter 1.16 – 19, ESV)

And John echoes the theme: this stuff really happened!

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life—the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us—that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete. (1 John 1.1 – 4, ESV, emphasis mine)

It’s always fun to note whom the Gospel writers are careful to include in the nativity stories.

• Shepherds: low-class working men (Luke 2.8 – 18)
• Magi: upper class, educated, foreigners (Matthew 2.1 – 12)
• NOT Herod and the upper class of Jerusalem (Matthew 2.3)
• Simeon: a regular guy (not a priest) who listened to God (we don’t know that he was old) (Luke 2.25 – 35)
• Anna: an old widow (Luke 2.36 – 38)

For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong. (1 Corinthians 1.26, 27, ESV)

If you feel as I do that it appears that there is less and less room for Jesus or Jesus followers in the public square, we’re not experiencing anything new.

And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. (Luke 2.7, ESV)

No matter how this is explained, it’s still a good metaphor: no place for Mary, Joseph, and the baby Jesus. It’s becoming that way in the US. No place for God so that a football coach who just wants to pray after every game at midfield has to get an OK from the Supreme Court.

If one gets one’s marching orders from something or Someone other than the state, there is often “no place.” “Freedom of worship” means you can go to church if you want, just don’t bring any of its values into the public square.

It’s OK. We’re in good company. There was no place for Jesus either.

And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to make the people holy through his own blood. Let us, then, go to him outside the camp, bearing the disgrace he bore. For here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that is to come. (Hebrews 13.12 – 14, NIV)

It’s time to start recording some highlights from Luke’s gospel, the next book in our New Testament Reading Plan for this year. Chapter one starts with some vignettes on faith, or its lack.

• Zechariah believes not

And Zechariah said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.” And the angel answered him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time.” (Luke 1.18 – 20, ESV)

• Zechariah believes and “fulfills his ministry.” Zechariah might not have believed at first, but after being struck dumb, he does believe and takes appropriate action.

After these days his wife Elizabeth conceived… (Luke 1.24, ESV)

There’s only one virgin birth. John the Baptist’s birth is by ordinary means. Zechariah had a required action for Elizabeth to conceive – this falls under the category that if you’re praying to win the lottery, you must at least buy a ticket!

• Mary believes, understanding, as The Passion Translation puts it:

No promise of God is empty of power for nothing is impossible with God. (Luke 1.37, TPT)

This is a great verse, usually translated “For nothing is impossible with God.” But the translator of The Passion Translation explains:

This verse can be translated in two different ways: “There is nothing impossible with God” or “The word of God will never fail.” The translator has chosen to include both for this verse. – Note on Luke 1.37

Dawson Trotman, the founder of The Navigators, preached a sermon on prayer called “The Need of the Hour.” He seemed to understand the double meaning of this verse when he said:

Let me tell you what I believe the need of the hour is. Maybe I should call it the answer to the need of the hour. I believe it is an army of soldiers, dedicated to Jesus Christ, who believe not only that He is God, but that He can fulfill every promise He has ever made, and that there isn’t anything too hard for Him. – Dawson Trotman, The Need of the Hour, emphasis mine

• Then when Mary visits Elizabeth, Elizabeth seems to contrast Mary’s faith with her husband Zechariah’s initial unbelief:

And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.” (Luke 1.45, ESV)

Do we believe? Do we act on our belief?

[Abraham] did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was as good as dead (since he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah’s womb. No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. (Romans 4.19 – 21, ESV)

By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith. By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God. By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised. Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born descendants as many as the stars of heaven and as many as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore. (Hebrews 11.7 – 12, ESV)

I wrote back in August 2020 about Colossians 4.17:

And say to Archippus, “See that you fulfill the ministry that you have received in the Lord.”

I wrote a couple of days ago about Paul’s letter to Philemon, verses 1 and 2:

Paul, a prisoner for Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, to Philemon our beloved fellow worker and Apphia our sister and Archippus our fellow soldier, and the church in your house…

I argued two years ago that each of us has received a ministry from the Lord, and we need to fulfill it. It needn’t be considered a “spiritual ministry.” I just now put two and two together: one of the ministries of Archippus was hosting the church. We don’t know that he was even an elder. He just had a big-enough house to host the people when they met. Why would you need encouragement for a ministry like that?

Have you ever hosted a small group in your home? It’s fun at first, but then it gets tiresome. There is work involved! You can’t even opt-out of a meeting!

What about the brother I wrote about yesterday? I’m sure it’s fun to get written up in your alumni magazine, but what Rick Hagans did was hard work! Running a home for men on the street and another home for homeless women and children is no mean feat.

The lesson remains: God gives us something to do. It’s our job to do it, day in, day out. One of my ministries is the daily Ewellogy. Thanks for reading! It’s fun to write, but it’s also daily. So Paul’s word to Archippus encourages me, also.

And say to Archippus, “See that you fulfill the ministry that you have received in the Lord.” (Colossians 4.17, ESV)

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord…(Colossians 3.23, ESV)

Some stories are too good not to share: this one is about Rick Hagan, Auburn University, class of 1984. He was written up in the Summer 2022 edition of Auburn Magazine. I recommend you read it in its entirety (it’s not long – I just don’t have permission to print it all).

Here’s the pictograph summary:

Here are a few highlights:

Rick Hagans ’84 has spent his life walking, preaching, rescuing and breathing hope into those who no longer have any… 

[After dropping out of Auburn and then dropping out of bible college,] In the fall of 1980, he returned to Auburn and started a ministry in a room downtown, but so many people showed up on the first night that the police had to shut it down.

So, Rick and Kim rented a house and opened “The Challenge.” In addition to college students, addicts, alcoholics and the homeless began to come hear Rick preach.

“We would get all the leftover hot dogs after Auburn football games, so these men figured out that we would feed them,” Hagans said. “1982 wasn’t a very good season, so we got a lot—a lot—of hot dogs.”

…In the early ’90s, Hagans opened “His Place” in Opelika, a ministry that provides food, lodging, an intensive recovery program, support and the word of God.

Around the same time, a woman and her newborn were living in a tent that got blown away during a storm. With no other options, police brought her to Hagans because they knew he wouldn’t turn her away. From there, Rick and Kim opened “Hosanna Home” for women and children in the former Chambers County Tuberculosis Hospital in Lafayette, Ala. Both “His Place” and “Hosanna Home” are fully supported by private donations...

He has ministered in the slums as well as in the largest church in New York City—and everywhere in between. He led a group that built an orphanage in Mexico and led a Bible study for U.S. congressmen in Washington, D.C. Hagans says coffee tastes just as good when you drink it with hobos as it does when you drink it with congressmen.

“There’s good in both and there are needs in both,” Hagans said. “My mission is to meet those needs and make sure all of them know Jesus.” – From Walking Humbly with My God, Auburn Magazine.

I get the impression that he just stumbled into ministry, and God multiplied his efforts, using him in mighty ways. Reading about Rick strengthens my faith in God! You can read more about, and donate to, Rick’s ministry here.

I don’t know Rick, but I think he would gladly apply Paul’s words to himself:

God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. (1 Corinthians 1.27 – 31, NIV)

And according to the article’s title, Rick lives by these words:

He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God? (Micah 6.8, NKJV)