DO NOT MISHANDLE GOD'S WORD!

It always amazes me when I read quotes from the Bible, written by those who have no concept of biblical context.  Most often, it is someones effort to encourage other Christians, using promises God made to His chosen people, Israel.  First of all, it is clear from Scripture that God's promises to Israel were quite different than those He made to the Church.  The Jews were rewarded for "good behavior" here on earth:  longevity, health, wealth, many children, etc.  The Church is promised nothing of the sort.  We are told that we will be hated, persecuted, and even martyred for having faith in Jesus.  Our rewards will not happen in this world, but, in fact, they will be reserved for us in heaven!  Notice the difference between these two passages:

"Ye shall observe to do therefore as the LORD your God hath commanded you: ye shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left.  Ye shall walk in all the ways which the LORD your God hath commanded you, that ye may live, and that it may be well with you, and that ye may prolong your days in the land which ye shall possess" (Deuteronomy 5:32-33).

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to His abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time" (1 Peter 1:3-5).

I can just "see" those of you reading this and thinking, what about all the promises Jesus preached to His people in the Gospels?  The first clue one should have, is that He was speaking to HIS PEOPLE:  Israel!  John wrote:  "He (Jesus) was in the world, and the world was made by Him, and the world knew Him not.  He came unto His own (Israel), and His own received Him not.  BUT, as many as received Him (whomsoever will), to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name:  which (who) were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God" (John 1:10-13)!  Except for a very few cases, He and His disciples rarely spoke to Gentiles (non-Jews)!  In fact, the entire Church was made up of Jewish believers until Acts Chapter Ten!

 

Haven't you ever wondered why there are Christians by the millions, who are being raped, tortured, and martyred, when so many people are preaching the prosperity gospel?  Do you actually believe God loves Americans more than He loves Christians in the Sudan?  People who quote the passage about never seeing "His seed begging bread" (Psalm 37:25), would have a hard time convincing born again believers in third world countries, that the Bible is all true.  And yet, it is; it simply needs to be "rightly divided!"  Israel and the Church are two different entities, with one being promised earthly rewards and the other heavenly rewards! 

I know you mean well, but don't use God's Word out of context!