Things that God Forbids us from Doing (2nd Part)

WE ARE GOING to continue with the studies that we are making on the prohibitions of God. This subject matter is not really being touched by many religious denominations because that will prevent people from joining their groups.

There are people who prefer doing things that they are prohibited from doing. That is why, if preachers would teach the “don’ts” of God, people will surely be prevented from joining their group. And because their main concern is to increase their membership, they do not impose their members to observe these “don’ts”. Their members are free to do as they please. In II Peter 2:19, it says—

“While they promise them liberty, thy themselves are servants of corruption . . .”

They promise them liberty. There are no prohibitions. There are no restrictions. There are no disciplinary measures because they are servants of corruption. They are free to drink if they want to drink. If they want to womanize, they can womanize, without being excommunicated. If they want to gamble, they may gamble. If they want to use prohibited drugs, they are free to do that because their pastors will not excommunicate them. Why will they excommunicate their members when they, too, are doing the same things! Let us read Romans 1:32—

“Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such doings are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.”

No wonder, they tolerate them. Despite their knowledge that what they do is worthy of death, they do not only do those things but they also find pleasure in doing what other people do. Generally, among the religions built by man, there are no prohibitions; there are no disciplinary measures. They do not excommunicate a member even if he womanizes for 70 years. Actually, they would even give him benediction when he dies, despite his being a womanizer. They say that you would still be saved so long as you were able to say “Jesus, Maria, Jose” before you die. They believe that even if you had been an infidel for 70 years, you would still be saved if you tried to be good when you were about to die. But that doctrine is not biblical!

Therefore, for us to see the difference between the things that were written in the Bible from the things which are being taught by some religious denominations around us, let us find out for ourselves what these “don’ts” are, which they do not teach. They do not bother to teach these prohibitions because their members are free to get engaged in all forms of worldly pleasure. They are free to do whatever they want to do. Will your pastor prevent you from doing those things? No! Especially so if you will increase your donation. There was a man who had been found out to be a womanizer by his pastor. But, did he excommunicate him? No, because the donations that his entire family give amount to a million. So, how do you expect this pastor to excommunicate his member? That is how most churches are today.

As we continue, let us compare the churches around us with the Church in the Bible by studying the “don’ts” of God. Let me reiterate that, whenever the word “don’t” is used, it always implies a prohibition. It is an order not to do something. For a start, read Matthew 6:19—

“Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rusts doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through and steal.”

Is it a prohibition or not? That is very clear. Our Lord Jesus Christ is telling His Apostles that they must not lay for themselves up treasures upon earth. I just want you to take note, my fellowmen, that when God says, “Thou shalt not commit adultery,” He meant that we are forbidden from committing adultery. The laws are given due to man’s transgressions. Why did the Bible say, “Thou shalt not commit adultery”? Because there are people who commit adultery. It is not because God is angry with the adulterer, but He wants to stop the adulterer to further commit adultery because He wants them to be saved. It is a preventive measure. For example, if we want to prevent an illness, we are injected with a vaccine, or we undergo medication. Actually, there are two ways of dealing with an illness: preventive and curative. The word of God can be a remedy to a person that is already sick, as well as to a person who is prone to getting to sick.

The commandment “Thou shalt not commit adultery” applies even to a person who is still not committing adultery. He is already being prevented from doing it. And when a person is already committing it, he is being commanded to stop it. That is the very intent of God.

Let us cite another example. But let us first read Ephesians 4:28—

“Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give him that needeth.”

Let him that stole steal no more. Therefore, God is preventing you from stealing further. That is how much God loves man. It doesn’t follow that if a person has become a thief, God is already condemning him. No! The primary reason why He set prohibitions is because of His love for you, so that you won’t totally succumb to stealing. “Thou shalt not steal” … “Thou shalt not commit adultery” … because God knows that there are thieves and there are adulterers.

When God says, “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rusts doth corrupt, ands where thieves do not break through and steal,” is He not forbidding us from enriching ourselves, or not? To whom did He say this? He said this to the Apostles, to the preachers. Jesus said, “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon the earth.”

This is the reason why a preacher must not make himself rich. Now, let me ask you. Have you heard any pastor telling his members that Christ forbids pastors or preachers from making themselves rich? No, because riches is what they want. In fact, many of them have become very rich. Let us read Jeremiah 5:26-27—

“For among my people are found wicked even they lay wait, as he that setteth snares; they set a trap, they catch men as a cage is full of birds, So are their houses full of deceits: Therefore they are become great and waxen rich.”

Don’t they become rich, or not? Who becomes rich? “Among my people are found wicked men.” When a person capitalized on religion in making himself rich, that person is considered wicked by God. Why is he considered wicked? Because he defied what Christ had commanded him –

“Lay not up for yourself treasures upon the earth.”

Instead, he did the opposite. He laid treasures up for himself. And that makes him an anti-Christ.

That is why, brothers and sisters, we can easily distinguish a preacher who is of Christ from a preacher who is an anti-Christ. He is of Christ if he is not making himself rich, because Christ says—

“Lay not up for yourself treasures upon the earth...”

Instead, spend it to something worthwhile and beneficial.

In our group, all donations to the Church are spent to where they should be spent. We spent it in propagating the word of God. We use it in paying radio and television stations which we employ in spreading the word of God. We do not keep treasures or riches for ourselves. We spend it rightfully. In the first place, how can we keep treasures when there is nothing to keep? And should there be something to keep, still, we will not keep it because Jesus prohibited us from doing so. Here, in our group, we are confident that no one among our members could point an accusing fingers on us that we take advantage of their donations, or that we use their donations for our personal needs. All of us have our means of livelihood. We earn a little amount but, still, we do not have riches to keep because Christ forbids us from keeping riches. Actually, most of the time, we are short of finances, but still we are able to manage with the help of God. We only bank on the help of God. As Philippians 4:13 says—

“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”

All of us here (in our organization) believe that a minister of God should not enrich himself. A preacher should not store material riches. That is against the commandment of Christ.

But today, most of the pastors and ministers have grown rich. Where did they get their riches when, in the past, they did not have money to pay their monthly apartment rental? But look at them now, they have lots of money. Each of their sons has his own car. They have, at least, three rest houses. How did they acquire those? They simply capitalized on shamelessness and the Bible.

But will they become rich if they would just follow what Jesus said? No! Many preachers become rich because they solicit many collections – tithes, love offering, prayer request, regular offering, special offering, very special offering, etc. And why will they not become rich when they came up with so many collections without any biblical basis? Where in the Bible can you read that you have to give money for a prayer request? Can’t they pray without obliging you to give donations? It is not surprising that many pastors are angry with me because I divulge their irregularities. One of the laws taught us, through the Bible is that, Christ forbids the preachers from enriching themselves. They are prohibited from storing material riches. In fact, Paul’s admonition to Timothy in I Timothy 6:9 says—

“But they that will be rich fall into temptation . . .”

It means that the moment a minister desires to become rich, he has already fallen into temptation and snare. Let us continue I Timothy 6:9-11—

“. . . and snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil; which while some coveted after, they have entered from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. But thou, O man of God, flee these things . . .”

Paul didn’t want Timothy to be engrossed in making himself rich because he knew that it was against the will of God. That was why he admonished him to flee from it, because in desiring to make oneself rich would make a man fall into temptation as well as in many foolish and hurtful lusts because, “the love of money is the root of all evil; which while some coveted after, they have entered from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. But thou, O man of God, flee these things.” That explains why a minister of God must not enrich himself. But just take a look at how many pastors and ministers today have become very rich. They glitter with gold. They used to be dark skinned but now they have become fair skinned because they can now afford body bleaching. They now have the means to buy all sorts of beauty and skin care products. Personally, I do not have any insecurity about my physical appearance. I do not have to go through bleaching. What for? Actually, if only I could have my way, I would rather wear shorts and t-shirts. It is because I personally believe that expensive and elegant apparels are not the basis in rating a preacher. Let us read what I Samuel 16:7 says—

“But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature . . .”

God said, we must neither look at a preacher’s countenance nor on the height of his stature. “… because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance but the Lord looketh in the heart.”

What is our proof that it is the preacher’s heart that considers? This is what I Thessalonians 2:3-4 says—

“For our exhortation was not a deceit, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile: But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the Gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.”

Which is being examined by God in a preacher? It is his heart. Paul said, our exhortation is not of deceit, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile. But as we were allowed of God to put in trust with the Gospel, even so we speak. We should not please men, but God, who tries our hearts. God looks at the heart of a preacher. He is trying to find out if he is twisting His doctrines, or not. And God will never give wisdom to a preacher who misleads other people.

That is why many of them do not teach God’s pure doctrine. Most of their teachings are mere inventions. Aside from that, they employ a little acting. That is where they excel. They are very good actors. They just raise and wave their hands. Have you come across a preacher in the Bible who kept on waving his hand as if he were going to board an airplane? Is that actuation biblical? Of course, not! There is one particular pastor who asks his members to leap three times. And for each leap, they must gulp a fresh egg. So, you have to bring fresh eggs if you are going to attend their gathering. But where in the Bible can we read that you have jump three times, and for each jump you have to gulp fresh egg?

Unfortunately, in this world, whoever speaks of the truth is being harassed. But I strongly believe that they are employing harassment because their anomalies are being exposed. Have you ever heard before that a preacher is forbidden to store material riches? This is what Psalms 112:9 says—

“He hath dispersed, he hath given to the poor; his righteousness endureth forever.”

What must a preacher do? Since God does not want him to store material riches, He wants him to spread, or share it with the poor. He should give his riches to the poor. It should not be stored for personal use only. “His righteousness will endure forever.” Who is being referred to in this verse? Let us read Paul’s explanation in II Corinthians 9:9—

“As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor; his righteousness remaineth forever.”

Whose righteousness endures forever? It is Him who shared his riches with the poor. But do the pastors today share their riches to the poor? No! Instead of sharing their riches, they are storing riches. And our proof to that is that they have amassed immense wealth. They have lots of money. In fact, their lifetime is not enough to spend all the money they have accumulated. Even until the day they day, they could not spend all their money. One group claims that they total to about 10 million. Therefore, if only these 10 million will give a peso each, how much will they be able to solicit during their Thursday gathering? Ten million pesos! But they also hold a gathering on a Sunday, so that means another 10 million. What if they are commemorating the holy supper, or the "Santa Cena"? Nobody gives a peso during a “Santa Cena”. On this occasion, their donations are placed in an envelope with their names. Most especially if they are celebrating their annual thanksgiving, for this occasion, their members begin saving as early as January until December. Whatever amount had been saved for 12 months serves as his thanksgiving offering. And this amount could still increase if their member receives a yearend bonus. A part of their bonus has to be added to the amount they had saved for their thanksgiving offering.

Is it still surprising why and how their leaders have become very rich? However, Christ said, “Lay not up for yourself treasures upon the earth.” I can prove that pastors who have capitalized on religion in making themselves rich are not of God. They are all anti-Christ because they defy what Christ had commanded.

How about me, am I laying up treasures for myself? No! If you want you may investigate. You may inquire from banks, and you will discover that what I have are debts! That is a proof that I am not rich. I have lots of debts. Perhaps you would ask how I incur those debts? You may ask the congregation if you want. They know everything about it. I work in order to earn money. And no member of our congregation can point an accusing finger on me that I have enriched myself out of their donations to the church. Actually, the donations from our members are not even enough to pay the radio and television networks, which we use in propagating God’s ministry. We also maintain and support our orphanages. But through the help of God, we are able to manage. That is where our money goes. We do not store it. We have no savings. We used our money in looking after our less fortunate members. The money of the congregation is being used in doing good to others because that is what a true religion is all about. According to the Bible, a true religion is not an instrument in making the pastors rich. In following Christ, both the ministers/pastors and the members must make sacrifices.

I started in this ministry in 1968. But until now, I have no money. Yet, there are pastors who, in ten years time have already amassed millions. But we in this group believe that storing treasures of this earth is against the commandment of Christ. Christ says—

“Lay not up for yourself treasures upon earth, where moth and rusts doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through and steal.”

Let us ask the Lord why the members are not prohibited from saving, or storing, riches. You see, the members are not really prohibited from laying treasures, which they labored and sweated for. Actually, you should not squander what God has given you. What God prohibits is riches coming from illegal and immoral means. And it is the pastors who are prohibited by God from laying up treasures. Why? It is because God wants the pastors to use their money in doing good. But why does God forbid the pastors/ministers to pile up riches? This is what Matthew 6:24 say—

“No man can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will held lo the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.”

Therefore, the reason why God does not want a pastor to store material riches is because no man can serve two masters. He can no longer attend to godly matters. This is what I guarantee you, all pastors and ministers that have amassed riches are all ignorant of the Bible. They only know three verses, which are wrongly interpreted. Whenever they preach, they always hold an index card, which serves as their note card. Without the index card, they have nothing to say. And they always speak of the same thing.

Christ was right when He said, No man can serve two masters. You cannot be faithful to both. If you have riches, you think of nothing else but it. You look forward to Sundays because Sundays spell millions of pesos. You are bothered about which bank will you keep your money? How you will subdivide it among the members of your family. How will you be able to think about the Bible when your thoughts are already preoccupied with money matters? These pastors are ignorant of the Bible; they are pastors and ministers of the devil. Theirs is a religion that is only after money. Let us read Ephesians 4:19—

“Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.”

They utilize all forms of uncleanness with greediness. Imagine, very early in the morning, they are already in the market with an amplifier. About twenty of them collect donations from passers-by. If there is a traffic jam, they will knock at the car windows, and they even use the name of God in their solicitations. They tell people that what they collect is for the Lord. What has God got to do with that? Does God have any need for money? Let us read what hilippians 3:19 says—

“Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly . . .”

Which is their god? Their belly! To continue—

“… and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.”

They think of nothing but earthly things. Their god is their belly. Roman16:18 says,--

For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly.”

They are serving their belly. And how are they able to deceive people?—

“… and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.”

They get rich because they deceive people. But do not forget that Christ forbids the ministers and pastors from enriching themselves. Why? because they cannot serve two masters. For either they will hate one and love the other. And these pastors have greater love for riches that is why they do not teach the complete doctrines. In fact, you have never heard any pastor before declaring that a preacher is forbidden to enrich himself.

This is the reason why nothing and nobody can prevent me from speaking of God’s righteousness, even if you cut my tongue. Anyway, I can still resort to the use of sign language. Besides, I am leaving behind men and women who would still speak even if I am no longer around. Let us read what our Lord Jesus said should there be nobody who would speak for the salvation of man. Luke 19:40 says—

“And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if there should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.”

If nobody would dare speak, God will make the stones speak. But today, there is no need to make the stones speak because I have taught many ministers and workers. They are the ones who would speak when I am no longer around. Nobody can silence this ministry. This group will continue to divulge the wrong doings of false preachers. Have you heard these preachers criticize or attack one another? No! Because if they disclose each other’s anomalous acts nobody will give them donations anymore. So, they opted to shut their mouth. No wonder, they do not react when one of them claims that they are “born again”, and that they perform miracles. But from whom did their miracles come from? Matthew 24:24says—

“For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.”

According to Christ, those who show great signs and wonders only deceive people. It doesn’t mean that since they made you recover from your illness, they are already of God because devils also perform miracles. They can also heal illnesses. Do not be readily deceived. Before you know it, they are already asking for your money. So, please beware! Always bear in mind that God prohibits a preacher from making himself rich because no man can serve two masters. No man can serve God and riches at the same time. For this reason, God prohibits a minister to make himself rich. That is against the will of God.