Thanks to the work of the blog WasJesusPoor? (WJP?), this article will be part of a series examining the false Jesus of Kong Hee. We would like to ask you to please consider the work of those from WJP? and visit their site.
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A while ago, Kong Hee preached a sermon titled, “Was Jesus Poor?”.
This particular sermon helped many Christians and pastors around the world rightly discern that City Harvest Church was nothing more than a Prosperity cult, using a false Jesus and a false faith as a means to get wealthy.
WasJesusPoor? wrote the following article that exposed point by point what was wrong with the above sermon:
#3 Reason: He was able to pay for his entire ministry team.
Continuation…
#3 Reason: He was able to pay for his entire ministry team.
Kong Hee claims that Lord Jesus cannot be poor because He had a ‘sophisticated’ travelling ministry, which is ‘very expensive’ — just like his. He describes now what he meant by ‘sophisticated’. Let’s see if that is true, biblically.
First, he explained Lord Jesus’ travelling ministry was:
“The whole family, all their wives and all their children, of the twelve (apostle), they went along”
I got to say that this is a big lie! You can never read such happening. In the bible, at the time of our Lord Jesus, we can read that only Simon was mentioned of having a wife but the rest of the Apostles were not mentioned. This pastor really loves adding story (not just few words) in the bible which is condemned by God.
And let’s assume for a moment (but not accepting) that all the Apostles have wife and children, the bible clearly stated that the Apostles did not bring their family with them, we can read this in Mark 10:28,
MARK 10:28
Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee.
The Apostle Peter said “we have left all” then here comes this pastor saying, No! You did bring your whole family!
As the Apostles were too busy in preaching the gospel, most probably, they have left their families at home and they just visit them from time to time when they have the opportunity. But certainly, they did not go along as this pastor’s story.
I’m not sure but I guess Kong Hee and his other pastors, who come along with him in their so-called ministry campaign abroad, always bring their whole family along. Well, that is really expensive. What a very comfortable life these pastors have.
But the Apostles of our Lord Jesus were not like that, “Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee.”
Then, he read Luke 9:1-3 to prove that Lord Jesus was able to pay His entire ministry team.
LUKE 9:1-3
Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases. And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick. And he said unto them, Take nothing for your journey, neither staves, nor scrip, neither bread, neither money; neither have two coats apiece.
He compared this to most Christian organizations today who have no money to support for their mission. And he’s implying that Lord Jesus gave money to the twelve disciples because Jesus said, “Take nothing for your journey, neither staves, nor scrip, neither bread, neither money; neither have two coats apiece.”
Kong Hee continued,
“I want to show you how he provided for all their needs.”
To show this, he read Luke 22:35,
LUKE 22:35
And he said unto them, When I sent you without purse, and scrip, and shoes, lacked ye any thing? And they said, Nothing.
Then, he finally concluded,
“If Jesus sends his workers out he makes sure they are all paid more than enough to take care of their families.”
This is clearly a deception! We cannot read in those verses, that he just read, that Jesus had given them money.
When Lord Jesus said, “Take nothing for your journey, neither staves, nor scrip, neither bread, neither money; neither have two coats apiece.” Does it mean that He will give them money because He was rich?? Definitely, not!
If this pastor just read few verses down, he will discover the answer in Luke 10:5-9
LUKE 10:5-9
And into whatsoever house ye enter, first say, Peace be to this house. And if the son of peace be there, your peace shall rest upon it: if not, it shall turn to you again. And in the same house remain, eating and drinking such things as they give: for the labourer is worthy of his hire. Go not from house to house. And into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you: And heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.
Who will provide their needs? Is it because Jesus will pay them? No!
But God will provide their needs through those people who will accept the kingdom of God.
Our Lord Jesus was teaching them the greatest virtue of Christians, which is “Trust in God” who is the Great Provider. In Luke 12:22-31 we can read this:
LUKE 12:22-31
And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on. The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment. Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls? And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit? If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest? Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith? And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind. For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things. But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.
The Lord Jesus said, “But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.” The food, drink, clothing are just additional if you will seek the kingdom of God.
I think Kong Hee, deep in his heart, does not possess this virtue, so he always talks about money, money, and money. He even forgot the prayer taught by our Lord Jesus Christ saying, “Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth. Give us day by day our daily bread.” (Luke 11:2-3)
He still continue and read Luke 9:51-52
LUKE 9:51-52
And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem, And sent messengers before his face: and they went, and entered into a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him.
He stopped reading in verse 52.
Then talks about the money again,
“Before Jesus went to a city, before Jesus went to the city, very often he will send an advance team. Go and prepare the lodging, go and prepare the event, go and prepare the transportation, go and prepare all the food.”
Is it true that the messengers are to prepare the lodging, prepare the event, prepare the transportation, and prepare all the food? Definitely, No!
If he only continued to verses 53-56, his listeners can get a hint:
LUKE 9:53-56
And they did not receive him, because his face was as though he would go to Jerusalem. And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did? But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of. For the Son of man is not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them. And they went to another village.
The verses said “And they did not receive him” and the disciples became so angry they said, “Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did?” but Jesus rebuked them.
If the messenger is to prepare the event, transportation, and all the food, Why were the disciples so angry? do you think the village will not receive Him? Business wise, this will generate income for the village so no way they will reject Jesus and his disciples, correct or not?
It simply doesn’t make sense that the messengers will bring income to the village yet they were rejected and the disciples were so angry.
So, definitely this is not the same the story Kong Hee is telling to his listeners that the messenger will prepare the lodging, transportation, and all the food. I guess, this what happens to Kong Hee ministry campaigns abroad wherein an advance team is sent who will prepare the lodging, transportation, and don’t forget ALL THE FOOD.
But what will the messengers of Lord Jesus do? They were sent by Lord Jesus to preach the kingdom of God as preparation for His arrival just like what we have read in Luke 9:1-3. Our Lord Jesus doesn’t care for material things just like Kong Hee.
Did Lord Jesus pay His disciples with money? No. This is what Apostle John has to say:
I JOHN 2:25
And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life.
The greatest promise or payment that we can have from our Lord Jesus is ETERNAL LIFE.
#4 Reason to be continued with God’s help.
Source: #3 Reason: He was able to pay for his entire ministry team., https://wasjesuspoor.wordpress.com/2012/08/04/3-reason-jesus-was-able-to-pay-for-his-entire-ministry-team/, Published 04/08/2012. (Accessed 21/02/2015.)
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Kong Hee’s false Prosperity Jesus exposed (Part 1)
Kong Hee’s false Prosperity Jesus exposed (Part 2)
Categories: City Harvest Church
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