All right... Good morning everyone Today, I wanna speak on a event that has confused a lot of people. Discouraged some of us, angered a few of us; I wanna speak on an event that has given a lot of pleasure to those who do not know Christ. Given a lot of ammunition for them to hit the things of Christ. This event has also discouraged a lot of people from ever wanting to know Christ. I'm talking of the greatest, biggest scandal in our religious scene in this country, ever. It involves the biggest church in this country. Allegedly, it involves $50 million in abuse of misuse of funds. You know who I'm talking about, and today, a lot of us are... unsure what's happening. I get emails sent to me with a little triumphant from friends who have not known Christ. And just forwarded to me all kinds of stuff. And I think a lot of you maybe are faced with questions and you do not know how to answer them. We're talking of the scandal that involves this huge church that is the leading promoter of the prosperity gospel in Singapore. So first we need to ask ourselves, "what is the prosperity gospel?" A lot of us are not clear, I hope today, at the end of it, you'll be clear, and you will know this is not a gospel. The gospel is good news, this is bad news. You will leave this place clear, that this is a scam. And I believe, the truth will set a lot of people free today. All right, the prosperity gospel is also called the "Health and Wealth" gospel. You know health and wealth... attract everybody. Very rarely will a person say, "I'm not interested in my health." "I don't care if I have good health or bad health." Very rarely will a person say, "I don't care if I'm dead broke and I don't have a penny on me." I think everybody is concerned about health and wealth So we are talking about something that attracts loads of people. This is... a gospel, or a message, that will attract a lot of people. When did this new "message" come out? About 50 years ago, around the early 60s, late 50s. In the charismatic movement. And then it was propagated through TV. TV was a big thing at that time. And through very, very charismatic, able, tele-evangelists This thing went... really swept... the country. And today, 3 out of the 4 largest churches in all of America are churches that promote the prosperity gospel. I think the situation is fairly similar in our country. Typically, a prosperity gospel church is one that is independent, non-denominational, usually led by a very charismatic personality, very able person. This kind of people, some of them you may have heard names, some names that may ring a bell. I'm sure you are familiar with some of those names. Benney Hinn's been here, several times I think. Joel Osteen, David Yonggi Cho, formerly called, Paul Cho Yonggi. That was a little bit of a scare for me, because I went to different places and they said, "can I have your signature? I love your book." I said, "I never wrote a book." "No! you wrote a book, I read it from cover to cover! You are Paul Cho, from Korea!" I said, "No." Thankfully now he's changed his name to David after some dream of his. Now my son has got the nightmare, now. Alright. Ok. David Yonggi Cho, leads the largest church in the whole wide world. Some say half a million, some say 1 million depends on how you count. Alright. And this are men that are very, very influential. So today when we say "the prosperity gospel," you say, "what's it gotta do with you and me?" Well let me tell you this, these men are so influential, That whether you know it or you don't know it, a lot of the stuff they have been teaching and preaching has impacted our churches in Singapore - Mainline churches. And influenced many of us sitting right here. I will show you some statistics in a few moments, alright. So this is something that impacts us. It has impacted our country, and I hope we will be very, very clear. What do they teach? What is this doctrine, that is so new, so exciting, that attracts so many people, that 3 out of 4 largest churches are brand-new churches? I mean, churches have been here for hundreds of years. People abandon those and go to this new one that preaches this attractive gospel. What are they teaching that is so attractive? Well, basically they tell you that God has promised us, in the Bible, that we can be rich, financially. And God wants, listen carefully, God wants every Christian, to be financially rich. Alright. So that is what they teach. Now that sounds good, I mean, what's wrong with being rich? Sounds nice, sounds actually quite attractive. And so, that's their promise. And they tell you that, if you're poor, you're a bad testimony. You scare people from being Christians. So poverty, or bad health, they tell us, is a curse, that needs to be broken. What a terrible thing if you're sick. Any of you are sick today, you are a shame to your faith, that's what they tell you. You should be brimming with health, oozing with wealth, and that is what you should be. That will be a good testimony. That will attract people to come to Christ. How do they prove their case? Well they prove their case, by using what I call, proof verses, or proof text, in the Bible. And they have a few favourites, and I will show you some of their favourites, of their top hit verses. and these are the ones that are used and reused. And from these verses, they have deduced this prosperity gospel. Now before I go into showing you the verses, let me teach you a very simple principle of reading the Bible, OK. When you take a text, or a verse, out of its context, you can give a pretext. You get it? Anybody who says a whole bunch of words and you take one line of it, out of context, you can make him look superhero or super bad. Any statement, big fat statement with hundreds of words, and the Bible has got a lot of words, you take some out of context, and you can get a pretext. And you can make a case out of anything. Alright. I don't like to be taken out of context. I don't think you like. You don't like people to quote you out of context, that's not fair. But, let's just see what happens, as people prove a theology to suit their purpose. Alright. Favourite one. Favourite one. Malachi 3:10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. Favourite text. Used to tell Christians, "now my friend, all you need to do now is, understand this and you will have so much blessing, you will be oozing with wealth." Sounds good. If I were to read this verse by itself, I will see this as, "Wow! this is the little missing key to prosperity for all of us!" "Wow we only just got this, why didn't I read Malachi earlier?" Some of you don't even know where Malachi is, alright? It's the old testament or new testament, alright? Malachi is the last book, in the old testament, a book written, to a nation of Israel that was so degenerate. Spiritually they had spun literally down to the bottom of the pit. They were desperately, desperately, in bad shape. This is not written for good Christians, who know God, and then, "Wow!, we just find this missing formula to move on." Let's see the context of Malachi 3:10. Go back and please read this all yourself. The context of Malachi 3: 10 begins actually from Malachi 1. It's a book telling these degenerate Jews, "You are in such horrible conditions, please get back right! Oh, if you just will obey God, things will be OK. You are so miserable!" It's one horrible book you read - you get depressed, alright. And let's just see now for the sake of time, Malachi 3: 8-10: Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. I hope God won't be saying this to us today, alright. I don't like this to be applying to me. Being a robber is bad. Being a robber of God, get caught, and still deny, that's tough, alright. And then God goes to say, "Please, you are in such horrible condition, will you still please get back and get right with Me." OK? So just look at that, this is their favorite verse. Now let's look at another one. And this will cover, I'm going to have 4 verses, but it will cover for like 80%. (Thanks for doing that.) Alright. 2 Cor 9: 6 says, "But this I say, he with soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully." Wow, this sounds good ah?! Right? If I put a little bit of money into the offering bag, then I get a little bit of blessing from God. If I put more into the offering bag, I get big blessings from God. That's what is taught through this verse. Alright? Wow, if I put more, God gives me more, I can drive my BMW, I can have a nice car, a Sentosa covehouse, why not? Alright? You put, guarantee get more! Now, let's look at the context: 2 Cor 9. Go to verse 5. A text must be read in its context. Alright? Therefore I thought necessary, I want you to understand this whole context is not about Christians learning how to get more money and live more fancy; this whole passage is about Christians making an offering, a love offering, to a very needy group of poor Christians somewhere. Right? They were taking an offering, because of a group of Christians that were in great need, and Paul writes to them about preparing this love offering to be given to these poor Christians. "Therefore I thought necessary to exhort the brethren that they would go before unto you, and make up beforehand your bounty", that word there, put 'love offering', alright? "Whereof ye had notice before", (I told you that you should take a love offering to help these people), "that the same love offering might be ready, as a matter of bounty, and not as of covetousness." So Paul says, "I have told you about this, their need, and now I'm sending some brothers so that they can prepare you to give generously to this love offering, so you can help this poor group." "But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully." "Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loves a cheerful giver." OK, verse 8. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every? Nice car? Every nice house? No! You may abound to...? Every? Good work. I'm going to bless you! I'm going to bless you! That you can bless others! That's what it's saying, alright. As it is written, he hath dispersed abroad, he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth forever. Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, multiply the seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness. Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiveing to God. For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but it is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God. Alright? What is the context of this? Don't be afraid to give! I know you guys are not that rich too, and there is this other group out there that has needs, and you know every time you want to give, you think, "I give then I might get broke!" And God says, "Don't worry!" "You help those guys and I will take care of you!" Get the context? It's not that you put money in the offering bag, more bounce back into your pocket, you can buy nicer houses! This one has nothing to do with that. The context is about 'don't be afraid to help others, because God will supply your needs'. You can be generous to help others. You know, every time you want to help, don't you have that feeling some times? I'm not that rich too. You tell me that these people have needs, I also have needs - I've gotta pay my bills. And every month I'm until up to there! Alright? Better don't give too much! And Paul is saying, "Don't worry. As you generously help others, God will take care of you." It's not about self, it's about you may abound to good works. Not abound to have more things. Another favourite one: Alright, this one - very interesting. Matthew 13: 8, it's a parable of the sower. You remember this parable of the sower? But other fell (the seed) into good ground, and brought forth, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold. Wow, investors love this kind of thing. Ooooh, I put 1 dollar and I get 30 dollars. Wow, that's a lot man! I get 10% extra, it's already very good! You mean, I get 3,000 percent?! (30 times 100... 3000, alright?) Wow! That is amazing! So it's told - you put in, and give your seed (money), (seed - money) put in the offering bag, and behold, you will get thirtyfold! Sixtyfold! Hundredfold. Now, how may of you if I told you it was an investment, that you put 1 dollar get 30 dollars, will not put money in? If you put your hand up, I tell you, you need to go to the asylum, alright? If I guarantee you that you put 1 dollar you get 30 dollars, and you would not put 1 dollar, you need a head check. Serious case, very serious. But let's see the context, of this thirtyfold, sixty... it's a parable of the sower. What's the parable of the sower about? Sowing money? Seed money? No! It says in Matthew 13: 18-19, Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower. When any one heareth the word of life... Sowing what here? Sowing the Word, not sowing money! When I preach to you, maybe I preach only a few words. Maybe I preach only John 3: 16 to you. And it took me 1 second or 1 minute to explain John 3: 16 to you, and you know something? It changes your life. In an amazing way. It's not about money, folks. This whole thing about thirtyfold, sixtyfold is freely share the Word of the kingdom of God! And what you share in weakness, sometimes, some of you who came back from e-campaign you went up there, you stood, you shiver; you 'ahh... ahh...', you speak Singlish, and all the Filipinos look at you: "What are you talking?" "What talking you?" [mumblings] You're so nervous the first time you talk, and then in the end you just quote John 3: 16, because that's the only thing you know well, all the other verses you jumble and mumble, you know what happens? Some got saved. You know why? Because God has a way of multiplying the Word in people's hearts. An amazing way! I got saved through exactly no preacher, through one verse called John 3: 16, no preacher. And the impact has lasted 32 years. And will last to eternity. Now that's what it's talking about here. It's about the Word, it's not about putting seed money in there and then come out: thirtyfold. Never mind, people love to take things out of context, but we will not allow the pretext, alright? Another favorite one. And these four cover 80% of all their favourite verses. Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, (wow I love that) even as thy soul prospereth. Wah, not bad. My soul spiritually well, my wallet full, I'm brimming with health, wow, I like this - God promised me this. Really? Context again. Got the context? This is an introduction to a letter to a man called Gaius. Whoever he is, I don't know. But when you write a letter, you don't straightaway, you say, "Dear John, I trust that God is blessing you, and all is well with you." That's a nice..., I think you guys in the SMS age maybe don't know this kind of thing. But my generation, we don't go straight into the letter, we actually greet first. Alright? We actually have a few words of greeting. That is polite. So when John wrote this letter to Gaius in 3 John verse 1 and verse 2, this was a...? Greeting! It's not a promise from God, this is a greeting from John to Gaius, not a promise from God to you! Is your name Gaius? Imagine you walk, you intercept one of my SMS, and you see, "Wow!" Then you say, "This is for me." Sorry la, wrong address. Alright. Now we see all these are taken, merrily taken, and then a whole doctrine of 'God wants every Christian to be prosperous', because you see, you give, windows of heaven open. Wow. It's quite big ah, heaven. Cannot receive. Wow. Then if I give little, the window's small. Give more, the window's big. Then I put seed/ money, into the bag, woah, thirtyfold come back. Can talk la, I think this doctrine not bad. Quite nice. And God wants me, my soul to prosper, my health to propser, and my wallet. Wow, this is a beautiful doctrine. And so, this is now taught, re-taught, emphasized, re-emphasized. Seen that before? I hope you didn't see it on the wall outsider your house. Alright? Outside your own house. Owe money, pay money. This is a loan shark's very cryptic, simple SMS. Owe money, pay money. Alright? When you see that, you get terrified, alright? Add it with a pig's head and a few other things, just to terrify you. Let me show you something, the exact opposite of 'owe money pay money', alright? That doesn't terrify, it seduces and attracts. Pay money, get money, money, money! I couldn't put 100 dollar signs there! But that's what it is! In summary, let me summarize. The doctrine of a loan shark can be summarized like Einstein's theory, alright? E = m c squared. Ah long says, " 'O' dollar, 'P' dollar." Prosperity gospel says, " 'P' dollar, get ..." [hissing sound] You know, if this doesn't draw people, attract people, I'll be surprised, alright? So, here we have this doctrine that is so, so much perpetuated. Now some of you will say, "Come on, pastor. Doesn't affect me. I don't go to a propserity gospel church. What's it got to do with me?" You don't have to go to church, the church will come to you. Today, we don't need to look for evil, evil looks for us. You don't need to go to a bad place to see bad things, the computer will bring it right to your room. You don't need to go to a casino to gamble, it will bring it right to your room. You don't need to go out to a bar to find a girl to go out with, and get into trouble with. The computer will bring it right to your room. Let me tell you, these influential men have got this doctrine right where you are. Some statistics taken from America because we don't have anything from Singapore. But let me tell you, American statistics are usually only a few months ahead of us. What happens there happens here. 17% of all Americans are members of prosperity gospel churches. But 31% of them believe the formula. That you give to God, that it will come back as more. Financially. Money, money I'm talking about, alright? 61%, that's a lot, that's scary, that's a majority! 61% believe Christians should be financially rich. Scary, isn't it? 61%, majority. Are we so spiritual, are we in another world, do we live in another orbit, that this all doesn't affect us? I don't believe so. I believe this bombardment, constant bombardment, has influenced our minds. A lot of people will come to church, I'm not saying that's their only motive, but one of their motives is "I'm good to God, God will be good to my wallet." Later we'll see the perspective, alright? Let's try and get the right perspective. They preached that it's not something wrong to be rich, and that's true, but they used Jesus' name and said Jesus was rich. If you don't believe me, just key in this church's name, and Pastor Kong, he preached 10 reasons why Jesus is rich. One: when He was even a little baby, He got gold. [laughter] You know, when we (Chinese here), when you're little, someone is born, I don't know about this generation, but the old generation, when a little baby is born, you buy a little piece of gold, especially when the price of gold not so high, alright, little piece of gold, tiny, skinny, skinny thing, to hang around the kid's anklet or whatever. Alright? But the sermon said, you think the wise men brought little bit of gold? They were kings from the East! They brought boxes of gold! You know the baby is just born, he's full of gold! Wow. Go and google. Just type it. Listen to sermon. Jesus is rich, I tell you! Was rich all His life, you know why? He never worked a day in His life, and yet, He never lacked anything. How may of you don't work 3 years can survive, if you're not rich? Wow, makes a lot of sense. You see, Jesus' needs were few, greeds are limitless. Now another reason, there were 10, I can't even remember them, after the third or fourth I've had enough. Do you know how much it costs me to do a city-wide campaign? Millions of dollars! Jesus did a city-wide campaign every day! Now, who paid for all that? Who paid for the sound-man, the audio man, the whatever man? You see, twisted and turned. So here we have people sitting in churches like this are told over, and over again. So let's now transport ourselves into a little, not a little, they don't come little, prosperity gospel church. Say we're all now in a prosperity gospel church. Number one, you all don't fit. Because you're told to dress well. I don't mean Sunday best. You must dress so that you look a picture of success. I look at you, I think, sorry la. I don't know who will come to Jesus with you guys Bata shoes, shirt no brand, my goodness, which barber did you go to? 10 dollars one? 10 dollar barber. No wonder your hair looks like that. Who will come to this church when all you can afford is a 10 dollar barber? And a Bata shoe. You know, they're told, listen carefully, they are told if you want to be a good testimony, dress and show the world you made it. Alright. The crowd is there, all dressed nice, of course there are innocent bystanders, don't get me wrong, alright. Sometimes they invite a friend, and the friend actually wears Bata shoes and comes. That's OK. But, He doesn't know any better. Alright? One day, he will know the truth. Now, a lot of innocent, you know why those innocent bystanders are there? And not here? Because you didn't invite them in. Those people, they are more zealous than you. And so there's this crowd of expectant, crowded foyer of successful looking people, all excited, all expectant, expecting to hear something wonderful that will change their lives. It's not about God. It's about the finances. Very clear, very focused. It's almost like Warren Buffet came to town. And Bill Gates, and they're gonna give you the secrets of wealth. Wow. [ecstatic sounds] Everybody's so excited, alright? All early, that's why those churches you have to take number. I'm serious! Our church, half an hour after starting, "Should we start yet? I think can la..." "One third full, can la. Can start." Where's the expectancy? None! You guys dragged yourselves here this morning. But if I told you tomorrow that Warren Buffet's going to come and tell you how to make money, I'll have to tell you, seats are limited. Otherwise, I'm sorry. It's going to be crowded, all your friends, your neighbours, all you'll invite. Alright? So there's this sense of expectancy. Music. Music. Like Jonathan Chong taught this morning? Abiding, peace... Let me tell you, it's charged up. It's charged. Your adrenaline is pumping. OK, if, let me tell you, let me side track for one moment. There is a silly idea in Christianity that music is neutral. It's the lyrics that count. That is a dumb idea! Music is the most powerful language in the world without words. No need words. Everybody understands. Music can make you cry, can make you laugh, can make you jump, can make you fight. At the door, someone said to me, "Pastor, I watch Korean serial, no music, I cannot cry." Just told me! Before I came in. I watched, I don't even understand, I cried. Music's powerful - don't you come up with this nonsense that music has no language. Music is a language of the soul. More powerful than anything. Oh come on, it's just the lyrics. Tell a night club singer, a night club owner. Let's say you own a night club, I tell you: "Play amazing grace, but use sexy words in it." I tell you, you'll be a bankrupt night club owner. It's not the words. The words add on to the music. Anyway, they understand this. And they play this charged up music and everybody is ready for action! Expecting something. Pumping music. And there are two sermons, usually. Before offering, and after offering. Not "B.C", "B.O.". Before offering - it's about 'give, give, give!'. And usually preceded by some testimonies. Some guy's going to come up, tearfully tell you how he was broke, and he had to decide whether to buy milk for his child, or give it to the church. And he took a step of faith and he gave it to the church. And today, he drove in in his BMW, and his kid can drink proteic milk. [laughters] One after another. If you think I'm exaggerating, just go to your internet, folks. And then the hype begins. After the testimony, the preaching, the real preaching begins. It's the first one, not the second one. The second one is just motivational. Feel-good message, second sermon. First sermon is about giving. How many of you believe God is great? "Hallelujah, hallelujah! Praise the Lord!" How many of you believe God owns everything in the world? "Hallelujah!" How many of you believe God is generous? "Hallelujah!" Hallelujah everywhere. How many of you believe God loves you? "Hallelujah! Praise the Lord!" How many of you believe that God wants you to be rich? "Hallelujah!" Then I look, why not all of you are rich? You! What are you wearing? What kind of shoe is that? How did you come to church, by bus? You expect to be a good testimony to come by bus? You? Japanese car? 2nd hand? If God wants you to be rich, why did you come in a 2nd hand car? Wow... No faith. If you had faith - everyone of you had faith, God will bless you. You give your offerings, and God will open the windows of heaven, and pour out the blessing on you! Wow. Sounds good, huh? You put your little seed faith in the offering bag, thirty times! Sixty times! Hundred times will return to you. God promised you that. Wow, sounds good. And so on. Now tell me, if you were sitting in the crowd, you don't know the Bible, but you keep seeing these verses popping in front of you; you see success all around you, you see things being pushed. And you are told that all you need, all you need, is to put money in the bag. Let me tell you how they do it, right. They believe that God's promises, those ones that I showed you, a bit taken out of context, can be claimed by the word of faith, they call it the word of faith, or by actualization. Two things. The word of faith, or sometimes called positive confession, simply states that if I recite that verse that was told to me, alright, example - I'm told now: Give, give, give! And then I remember this verse: If I give my offerings, God will open the windows of heaven and pour out a blessing on me. Now, I must not only say that verse - that's called positive confession, I must actualize it in my mind. Actualize means actually imagine it. So as I, before I put my money in, I must say, "If I will give an offering to my God. He will open the windows..." And in my mind I see... a curtain is pulled back... Offerings are coming. And you can actually, according to their teaching, actualize exactly what you want. BM, BMW... BMW... sun roof... sports rims... silver colour... If you can actualize it, that's called faith. Faith. You think I'm joking? Read it! Read it! Alright? It's called the 4th dimension. Cho Yonggi teaches it. 3 dimensions - length, width, height, is it? 4th dimension is inside here. Wow. As you put the money in, imagine - not thirtyfold, too small. Hundred... hundredfold. Wow, all the money bouncing back. Sentosa Cove. Facing the sea. Wow... And God must give it to you. Because you exercised faith. Who is the master now? Who is the slave? Whatever I can imagine, God must give me. Who becomes the master? God's the office boy, you know. Sentosa Cove. I can picture everything, curtains and all. Come on, bring it to me. BMW, come on, give it to me. I pictured it already. Very clear, I can actually see the shine, I see my wife sitting there, it's real, it's faith! They become the master. God is the servant. Alright, so this is what happens. People pass round the bag, people feel guilty. Now, what kind of crowd, let's just look at the congregation, I'm looking at the congregation. All, majority, very driven. Very focused. I look hard at you, I can see dollar signs in your eyes. Dollar signs. That's a very focused crowd. Very clear motivation. They're here to make money. Now let me ask you a question. When you get a person very focused, and determined to make money in a country like this, like Singapore, will he make money? Chances are yes! Yes! Very likely! And so that crowd, some of them become very wealthy. They make money. And when they make money, they give money. And when they give money, they see themselves as having men of more faith, they have greater courage, and they invest more in something. And you know something? They make money. And they give more. Wow. Seems like a wonderful spiral. But some of you are wise - you say, come on, Pastor. Even if they've got motivation, even if they've got talent, even they're focused, can everybody make money? No! Some won't make right? OK let's now picture some of those less succesful ones. They came in, they start up a business, they believe in it that they're going to make money and they actually lose money every week. What do they do? Give more la! Please, that's what it is, alright? You know why you've got no money? You've got no faith! So what do you do? Put more. Next week, your business' still lousy. What do you do? Give more! Dig in! Tell your wife - sell this, sell that. We need to invest! Give more. But then some of you are wise to say: Reach a stage no more to give, then how? So now you're bankrupt right, friend? You bankrupt, you've go no money, you're discouraged, you don't believe what I preach to you, what do you do? You leave right? Do I cry for you? Why should I? You've got nothing more to give what. You might as well go! Furthermore you're taking one of my seats! You know how crowded these places are? You bankrupt guy take one of my seats! You're a lousy testimony, you came by bus this morning, your shoe all broken-broken, and then you discourage everybody, you take one seat some more! You might as well go! So am I going to cry for you? I don't think so. What about skeptics like some of you? Your friend brings you there, you will say, "Wah, I don't think this is from God la." The building is made of titanium, wow. What a fountain! How much is the fountain? 580 thousand ah?! The toilet! Wow, so stylo ah. So you are skeptics, some of you are skeptics. When you go in there like that. So after a while, skeptics, you will go. Do they cry for you? No use la, cry for skeptics for what? He will never give what! You want to give 5 cents, he look round, look round, look round... alright, think so hard... Forget it! And the worst of all are Bible-believing Christians. Bible-believing Christians go and say, "Eh! That verse taken out of context you know!" For goodness sake, that's about preaching the Word, that's not about giving money! Wow that type they want to get you off fast. They 'please please please...', show you out, because you will never give money, you discourage people, you'll tell people all those things that will discourage them, 'please, please go'. You know something, it's not only a big crowd, it's a select crowd. Are you with me? It's a select crowd. Self-selecting. Beautiful - the whole business model is amazing. You know something? It's even recession proof. Let's say a big recession comes. Euro-crisis, all kinds of crisis come. Everyone of us no money, what will you do? We go church more faithfully, you know. And we give more, you know? It's recession proof, up to a point. It's a fantastic business model. You give me 100 percent. As an investor you give the company 100 percent, he has to give you back dividends, has to pay you off, right? This one no need, you give me 100 percent, I keep the 100 percent. God will give you the rest. Wow, not bad. You give me, I take all, then God give you, don't disturb me, alright, please ah. You don't need to know my accounts, alright? None of your business. Tax-free some more. Tax free! Wow, you make money, make 100 percent, and no tax! All tax-free because it's charity! And then, the best of all, is blame-proof. Let me explain, ok. If I am the leader of a charity, let's say NKF, alright, National Kidney Foundation, you came to my toilet by chance, with a plumber, and then you saw gold tap. Wow! NKF got gold tap, woah! Then one day you saw me go to airplane, I walk up first class. Wooh! Dr Choo sit first class ah! SIA you know! Woah, I'm in deep trouble. 3 weeks later, I'll be in Changi. Because, how dare you, you take public money, and then you spend on yourself. You die. But this business model, no worries. If I've got Sentosa Cove house, five, you cannot point a finger at me. You can only say, "Hallelujah!" Because you know why? I've got plenty of faith, that's why I've got plenty of money! If I've got 10 Sentosa Cove, you've better respect me more, you know that? You get it? If I don't have money, I prove I don't have faith. The more I have, and the more I show it off, the more I'm telling the world something. Not I'm a spendthrift, not I'm greedy, not I'm a abusing funds, but I am a man of God! Because God is blessing me, are you with me? Wow, you can have a cake and eat it, that's amazing! You know, people who cheat, they always pretend to be very poor here. Then one day, poof, they run off to some place, you know, and then at the Caribbean, they sit there, enjoy their money. This one, you can enjoy it right here. Wow. This is unbelievable. Brilliant. Now, questions that will be asked. I hope now, you more or less have the answers. Why you all Christians so stupid, why? This guy, take your money, spend, show off, do all these things, and people, you all, still want to give him more money. What's wrong with you guys? Just for the record, Do you know that their attendance has gone up? After this scandal? Just check on google, internet. Actually went up. Not down, up. That shows you the resilience of this business model. And people ask me, "Paul, how come! People like you guys, Christians, you all stupid or what?!" This guy is swindling you, and you people go more to his church, and give more!" Well, he's prepared that already. You give more to me, I live it up, it's nothing more than a mark of God's window of heaven open, pour on me, not on you. You've got no faith. I've got faith." You see? So people who are brainwashed, many of them, are going to support him! Don't get confused! Don't get discouraged and baffled! Because that's how they think! Why don't they leave the church? Why more go? You mean everybody's brainwashed? Everybody's like that? Well let me tell you. Many will not leave because this is the best scheme they have ever seen in their life. You know, you put money in the bank now, how many percent do you get? Less than 1 percent, right? Quarter percent, I heard. Someone told me. You put money in a bank, bank can go bankrupt, you know? Some banks have gone bankrupt. You put money in this scheme, prosperity gospel scheme, backed by God, you know? Not backed by bank, not backed by US government, not backed by Swiss government or Singapore, it's backed by God, you know? You know how powerful God is? If you can't trust God who can you trust? Sometimes you buys schemes, you go to a sales man, he just underlines and highlights the nice things to see, then you say, wah, this contract, how do I know it's real or not? Let me tell you, this scheme, according to them, is backed not by God but also by the Bible. I show you la, Malachi 3: 10, you don't believe me, I'll show you! Wow! Alright? So here we see, how can they leave a scheme like this, it's so attractive! Quarter percent? This one gives you minimum 3000 percent! Thirtyfold. Did I get my maths right? Thirty... hundred... ya, OK. Hundredfold? Ten thousand percent. Why do you want to take the money out and put in the bank? You're stupid or what? This is backed by God, endorsed by men of God! You know something? One reason why this whole scheme has continued is because not of one man, but because this one man has been endorsed by many other people. Good men. Pastors who say, "Who are we to judge?" Pastors who keep quiet. Let me tell you, when you keep quiet, when people ask you a scheme like that, silence is consent, do you know that? You as a Christian, what do you think of this? "Dunno la. It's OK la. Don't have to think too much of these things." You know what you're saying? It's not bad. Let's say you are a financial guy, let's say you are a banker, you know that there is a scam, that everybody is using and scamming people. As a banker, what must you do? You must tell people, "Ehh, please! Run from that! Have nothing to do with that!" But you and I as Christians, most times, we keep quiet. And there are pastors of big churches that endorse this. It's not about one man, it's about a whole system that stinks. It's about a whole system of men who keep quiet, so that bad men can do scams. And I will not be a part of that. We must not be a part of that. We know the truth, we must speak the truth! I don't like to do this, I'd rather preach the gospel, good news is better than telling about scandals and bad things. Why should I go and run down people? You think it's a nice thing? As a Christian, we don't like to do these things. I'd rather say, "God loves you!" "Jesus died for your sins!" "Jesus paid a price!" These are wonderful, wonderful things to talk about. Why do we talk about these things? Because somebody has to say something. And I hope we will. Someone asked me, his wife, have you seen the video? I said, "No I haven't." He said, "You'd better see it." You can watch it for 3 minutes, 5 minutes, if you still watch more than that, you're sick. You're sick. Half-nude, doing provocative things with men, bunch of men, in the name of God?! Saying this is how you reach the world for Jesus?! China wine. And people say, "How, you Christians?!" Even I'm not a Christian, I look at this, I get sick, and if my wife's like that, I'll slap her!" they'll tell me. Quote-unquote, they're telling me in the face. "You guys, this is Christianity!" You know why people cannot say anything about it? Because the key performance index is money. How can you question her? She's so rich. If she's so rich from nothing, it must be from God, right? If she's anointed by God, why do you want to say anything against her? The thing that makes a difference in this thing is have you got money? If you have money, you are anointed, you are specially blessed by God. They don't preach holiness. Second message, the second sermon I told you the two, one before giving; so I'm giving the second is motivational. Not about holiness. And so all these are realities, folks. People are going to ask you this, and what are you going to say? You know at the end of it all, only God can stop it. And only God will do it. God's a patient God. I thank God for being this patient. If God dealt with me the moment I sin, I'm dead. He is a patient God. Amazingly patient. But there will come a time, when God will say "You have taken My name in vain." "And I will not hold you guiltless. You will pay." Till that day, our job is to warn people. This is not Christianity! This is not the gospel, this is a scam! Period! Using the name of God - it is a financial scam! Don't mince your words when you have to explain that. Don't try win popularity like all those pastors saying "Oh he's not that bad, who are we to judge others?" We are not here to win popularity, we're here to tell truth. If you go to church to be popular, you're in the wrong place! We came here because there's truth. Truth will set us free. So I hope today, you have the truth, and you will speak the truth. But speak it in love. Many are victims. They're victims. Don't treat them as if they are perpetrators. Speak the truth in love. Put an arm the guy and say, "Can we talk? Can I show you something?" Take those verses, ask them, "Think about it." Is this about money? Is God the God of money? Is that all He is? You want the God of money, go to the casino. Go to the temples. They've got little things that are called god of money, go to the Cantonese Canto-pop, that's the god of money. And the god of luck. He's not the god of money. He's God. He doesn't just care for my wallet, He cares for me. He loves me. You know, having said all this about the prosperity gospel, let's not swing to the other extreme and say God does not prosper us. Right? Don't go to the extreme. Swinging to the extreme left is not the answer to the extreme right. Standing on the Bible truth is the answer. What is the truth? Let's see a few things, help put us in perspective, we don't have time to do this too much, just in perspective. Let's see it. Has not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith? Is poverty a shame to God? Is it when you're poor you've got no faith? I thought it's the opposite in my Bible! It's the exact opposite! God allows poverty in many of our lives so we will turn to God. You know, when I'm rich I have a lot of friends, I have a lot of ATM, a lot of credit cards, I have a lot of support from the people of this world, I may not even turn to God. I may forget my God. But every now and then, God allows us to go through trials that we, while we are through trials our friends leave us, our doctors cannot help us, nothing can help us, you know what we do? We turn to God. And our faith is built up. God allows poverty. Because He cares for us, He wants us to know the best thing in the world is relationship with Him, not a big fat wallet! He is not an idol, He's not the god of money! He's a God that cares for me from head to toe. So don't you go around thinking (when) some one is sick, or (when) someone is poor, he lacks faith. Sometimes, that is what is going to build him up to be the man of the greatest faith. How discouraging when you are sick and some tells you "You have no faith. Give more. Give more." When I have no more money, give more. Alright. Let's get our balance. Jesus said, "I am come that ye might have life, and ye might have it abundantly." When I trusted Jesus as my Savior 32 years ago, I can say every word of that is true. I trusted the one who went on the cross for my sins, that day all my sins were settled. Past sins, present sins, future sins, I knew my Savior took them all and paid the price. I had peace. The peace lasts till now. It will last forever. I don't face fear death. I'm ready. I sleep well, why? Because I have a partner. He is in me! I can go to sleep, He will take care of me! That's a life of abundance. I have peace that passes all understanding, wallet or no wallet, I can loose my wallet, I can't lose Him! He lives in me! He will never leave me or forsake me! 32 years I received Jesus, I had peace in my heart, purpose in my life, a partner for life for eternity, my relationship with my family, my wife, my kids, my mum, my dad, are all better. Is that life abundant? Yes! It's not about this folks, not what is in that fat wallet. I can tell you, thousands of people with big fat wallets are miserable. That's a wrong place to start to look for happiness. The right place is God. When you have God, that's where it begins. We don't come to church because we will have money, because we'll find God! How can we reduce God to just an idol that gives money? And then let me end by this: I don't want to discourage those that are wealthy. God does give us wealth. He tells us here, "charge them that are rich in this world." Some of you, God has blessed you, well don't feel guilty about it. God's blessed you. God's blessed you talent, don't feel guilty about it, be thankful. God gives you wealth, what must you do? That they be not high minded, when you've got wealth, don't think you are special. You're different. Nor trust in uncertain... don't think your money is your protector. But in the living God. When God gives you money, still, love the giver more than the gift. Who giveth us richly all things to enjoy. Peace. Joy. Peace in my heart, in my mind, in my family, with my God, all things to enjoy. Now, why did God give us wealth? Look at the next verse. That they do good. 1 Tim 6: 17-18, that they do good, that they be rich in...? Nice car, nice houses? No. In good works. Ready to distribute to those in need, willing to communicate, a better word in modern English: share. Willing to share. When God gives us much, we can bless many people. It's not God give us so that we bless ourselves, but with what we have, we... when God gives us much, we can make a lot of difference to many lives. Laying up in stores for themselves a good foundation against the time to come that they may hold an eternal life. Salvation cannot be bought. It's not about that you may get eternal life. But that you may have that firm grip, I don't mean that you can lose it. But that all your life, the devil will come to you and say, "How do you know you're a Christian? How come you know you're Christian?" "You mean just John 3: 16 your'e saved?" You say, "No." Why? I know with all my heart, because He changed my heart. From a selfish guy, one who when I had money in the past, looked down on others, loved my money, loved to take care of myself, you know something? He not only gave me wealth, He gave me a new heart. How do you know you're Christian? How do you know you have eternal life? I know. Because He changed my life. It's not just a verse. Sometimes we just say it by the skin fo our teeth. And we wonder, and the devil shakes us, when you live a life of abundance and give to others, as opposed to the unsaved, who make money and see it as their right to do what they want with their money, I can say, you can say, "It's not mine. He gave it to me." "He's my master." You lay hold the confidence, the devil cannot shake your faith. The devil cannot take your salvation away. He can take your confidence of your salvation away. Alright? So today I end by saying: stand for truth. Not many in this country are going to stand for this. Many are just going to pretend they don't know, and they don't care. You are witnesses, not only of the good news, but also to warn of deceivers. May God bless you.
