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Making Bread from stones

Matthew 4:3 And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.
Matthew 4:3(NLT) During that time the devil came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become loaves of bread.”

Introduction: Happy New year to you and your family. I greet you all in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. We give glory to God Who grants us ability to read His spoken words every week.  

May this words transform our lives in this world of abounding iniquity in Jesus name.

Sometimes ago during the pandemic,  a video went viral about a supposed man of God which gave an occasion to unbelievers to mock Christian faith. During his sermon, he was quoted in media as follows;
“The cleric further stated that he was praying for the pandemic not to end because he was prospering and resting. He said, “In COVID, I bought a jet. The third one. I have three. I was praying for COVID not to end because I was resting. While people were complaining, my wife asked, ‘Can life be this sweet?’. Am I talking to somebody here?.”

Unbelievers may not abide by the truth in the word of God, but they know the truth. That’s why if Christians misbehave against God’s word, you’ll hear unbelievers saying “And you called yourself a Christian”.

By the message of this so called  man of God, unbelievers had occasion to blaspheme the name of God. When David allowed fleshly lust to overcome him, and he was appealing to God for the life of child born in adultery, God said;             

🗣 2 Samuel 12:14  Howbeit, because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme, the child also that is born unto thee shall surely die.

Believers that are not grounded in the faith also queried justification of paying Tithes for men of God to accumulate wealth while they struggle. Tithe payment is Scriptural but many  men of God are actually making Bread from stones out of Tithes for their selfishness. It is a subtle trap from Satan which several men of God are falling into.

Satan came to Jesus Christ when He was hungry and told Him to make Bread from stones. Jesus, our perfect example, despite His hunger refused and quoted Deuteronomy 8:3.
🗣 Matthew 4:4(NLT) But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
What was Satan telling Jesus to do? It was not to gather stones and magically turn them to Bread. Satan requested Jesus to get His needs from the followers who will easily provide at all cost since they can see God’s power and miracles.
Stones are followers of Jesus Christ. Children of God that we call Christians today.
🗣 1 Peter 2:5(NLT) And you are living stones that God is building into his spiritual temple. What’s more, you are his holy priests. Through the mediation of Jesus Christ, you offer spiritual sacrifices that please God.

You see how Christian leaders fall into same temptation that Jesus Christ overcame due to greed and covetousness. You can see why several people are founders of Christian ministries for pleasure. Ministry has now become business and source of income NOT soul winning.

When Satan couldn’t succeed in making Jesus Christ to make money from His followers, Satan showed Him worldly glory in exchange for satanic worship.
🗣 Matthew 4:8-9(NLT) Next the devil took him to the peak of a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. “I will give it all to you,” he said, “if you will kneel down and worship me.”
Jesus Christ our perfect example also refused to bow down and sent Satan away from Him.
🗣 Matthew 4:10( NLT) “Get out of here, Satan,” Jesus told him. “For the Scriptures say, ‘You must worship the lord your God and serve only him.’”
 On the contrary now, many Christian leaders indirectly worship Satan for worldly glory. Message of salvation is substituted with prosperity messages and enticing words for financial gains from members.
Ministry has now become big business with conglomerates such as schools that are unaffordable by members. Members (stones) are squeezed to finance such businesses.
Church cannot be differentiated from business world with management theory. There is competition amongst churches to snatch members.
Apostle Paul warned  Colossians Christians;
🗣 Colossians 2:4,8 And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words. Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ.

 Success in ministry is now determined by worldly possession such as auditorium edifice, Jets and several expensive things generated from living stones ( Christians or priests of God).
Once Satan has succeeded in getting Christian leaders to fall by making bread from stones, they will surely compromise and fall down to worship Satan for the glory of this world. That is why unrepentant politicians,  traditional chiefs and government officials are given prominence on the altar of God with poor zealous brothers and sisters serving as their protocol officers to make them comfortable during Church special programmes.

Is it sinful to gather money from stones (members)? No, if it is for the benefits of members in genuine need.
Hear the Scriptures speak concerning apostles of old;

🗣 Acts 4:34-35 Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold,  And laid them down at the apostles’ feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.

 Unlike the early days of apostles, money from lively stones(members) are not equally distributed. The Church leaders now leave word of God and serve their bellies.  The man of God  boasted of third jet among stones that produced the Bread and spoke; “While people were complaining, my wife asked, ‘Can life be this sweet?’. This is error of speech caused by covetousness.

While some started ministry with sincerity of purpose but fell for Satan’s temptation of making Bread from stones, many now seek to be in ministry not because of souls but for Bread. Jesus Christ knows them all.
🗣 John 6:26(NLT) Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, you want to be with me because I fed you, not because you understood the miraculous signs.
 Jesus advised those in ministry for perishables,
🗣 John 6:27(NLT) But don’t be so concerned about perishable things like food. Spend your energy seeking the eternal life that the Son of Man can give you. For God the Father has given me the seal of his approval.”
 In Matthew 16: 5-12, Jesus warned His Disciples about the leaven of Pharisees and Sadducees. That is what pastors add to message of the cross so as to make it more attractive for their benefits.
🗣 Matthew 16:6 Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.
Leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees  is what is added to doctrine by those upholding God’s law to make it more interesting and cheerful.

When the Disciples thought Jesus was talking about the bread (money and material needs) they forgot to take along in ministry, Jesus corrected them and said;
🗣 Matthew 16:11-12(NLT) Why can’t you understand that I’m not talking about bread? So again I say, ‘Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.’” Then at last they understood that he wasn’t speaking about the yeast in bread, but about the deceptive teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

Christian leaders are deceptively attracting members with worldly attractions to draw men to church without sincere words of God that condemn sin and bring godly sorrow for true repentance. They are interested in the pockets of converts and not their souls.
🗣 2 Corinthians 7:10(NLT) For the kind of sorrow God wants us to experience leads us away from sin and results in salvation. There’s no regret for that kind of sorrow. But worldly sorrow, which lacks repentance, results in spiritual death.

In that viral video,  you can hear members of that church clapping and hailing the pastor who bought the third jet and prayed that pandemic should continue. Many Christians are spiritually dead and still thinking they are alive in Christ. They are like Sardis Church that Jesus wrote to;

🗣 Revelation 3:1(NLT) “Write this letter to the angel of the church in Sardis. This is the message from the one who has the sevenfold Spirit of God and the seven stars:“I know all the things you do, and that you have a reputation for being alive—but you are dead.

I heard Christians saying they will not pay Tithes again after listening to the pastor’s message. Satan took advantage and use the occasion to attack the kingdom of God making many to loose salvation. Christians without closer walk with God will be in darkness and under Satanic bondage.

🗣 Matthew 11:12(NLT ) And from the time John the Baptist began preaching until now, the Kingdom of Heaven has been forcefully advancing, and violent people are attacking it.

Finally brethren, as you advance towards God’s kingdom, beware of covetousness, know that God will never allow you to lack basic needs such as; food, cloth and shelter which are your daily needs. 
Jesus Christ warned His Disciples;

 🗣 Luke 12:15(NLT) Then he said, “Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own.”

It is obvious greed is making Christian leaders to make bread out of stones. It is Satan’s trap. Whenever you go hungry like Israelites did in the wilderness,  God knows and wants your attention to His words.
🗣 Deuteronomy 8:3(NLT) Yes, he humbled you by letting you go hungry and then feeding you with manna, a food previously unknown to you and your ancestors. He did it to teach you that people do not live by bread alone; rather, we live by every word that comes from the mouth of the lord.

Jesus Christ our perfect example was also hungry and refused to make bread from stones. He esteemed God’s word more than food before the Tempter.
🗣 Job 23:12 Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.
Hear Apostle Paul asking Christians in Rome to watch out for Christian leaders serving their bellies.
🗣 Romans 16:17-18(NLT) And now I make one more appeal, my dear brothers and sisters. Watch out for people who cause divisions and upset people’s faith by teaching things contrary to what you have been taught. Stay away from them. Such people are not serving Christ our Lord; they are serving their own personal interests. By smooth talk and glowing words they deceive innocent people.
✋ Maranatha