I know we know that money is good. Money is not evil, money is not a demon.

But it can be a worser problem than the devil. Money is so subtle it can replace God.

1.

Because money can compete for worship and service at the same level as God Himself.

Mat 6:24 (NIV) "No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money." Amazingly, the competition for worship and service is not between God and the Devil, but between God and money. This is why idolatry is a very base and primitive form of backsliding. Worshipping celebrities, materialism is base. On the scale of things it is low. Yet money ranks high in demand for the hearts of men. Money is even above the Devil, it competes with God himself. It is not a spirit, or a demon, but has the power to activate the spiritual world to be involved in the realm of the natural, both for good and bad. God demands service, the devil demands service, money demands service too. Yet the demands of money for service are far louder than those of the devil. In other words our pre occupation with the devil being the cause of all our problems is a little overstretched. Even Jesus when He came, he was here to redeem mankind, from the curse of sin and its consequences. The devil comes in on the consequences, according to Jesus, he is a small problem. Man and his desires are the real problem. 2. Because when you love money it is the root of all evil 1 timothy 6-9-10 People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. There are three types of people. 1. Those that are poor and needy, 2. Those who want to be rich. 3. Those that are rich. We all don t want to be poor and needy. There are not many rich people. Most of us are in the want to be rich group. As such sermons on prosperity are interesting to us. Motivational speech is appealing, because we want to be rich. The love of money in this scripture is subtly equated to those who want to be rich. in truth to love God, He says, he who love himself and his possessions cannot be My disciple! . That is Jesus! In other words to desire to be rich breeds loving money and opens one to all kinds of evil. One cant love money and stay in the faith, they will wander from the faith. Few signs money can be dangerous: y Rich people or people who want to be rich seldom evangelise, they give money to fund others to evangelise. y Rich people or people who want to be rich can attend expensive gatherings and contribute to public causes for Christ . Yet they won t attend the all-night prayer at the local church! y Rich people or people who want to be rich sometimes fail to raise disciplined kids. y Rich people or people who aspire to be rich are materialistic and justify it. They have excessive appetites for many things; cars, expensively built houses, clothes, shoes. y People who aspire to be rich follow prominent men of God. What they are looking for is something to be rich by, a secret, an anointing.

People, who aspire to be rich, will never participate with sacrifice of their time in ministry. If they do, they will be shallow and vain, so vain they make those who are called look like they are doing nothing. It is with the rich that there are most divorces, adultery and fornication. While it exists everywhere, those who aspire to be rich are exposed to bigger sexual and financial temptations. Many casualties exist in this area.

3.

Because money answereth all things

Money competes with God in trying to answer all the needs of man. As such, it is not a shock to assume that everyone who is Rich is probably closer to God. This is because rich people have money and poor people without money, try to obtain money by asking God. As such those with money can answer many questions and this competes with God. Money argues with God Jehovah Jireh. Money makes it hard for him who has it to place the involvement of God in his life. Who indeed answers all things? Is it God or money? Is it Money through God or God through Money? It gets hazy sometimes in that area. When we give, we give because we have or because God compelled? When we give and it is given back to us, good measure pressed down shaken together; running over, shall man give unto your bosom, who compels the men? Check this out, in all this the devil remains a liar a thief, not to steal your money, but your relationship with God. The devil only steals your money if the end result is jeopardy of your relationship with God. 4. Because people can serve God for it and serve the devil for it.

Money is the single biggest reason most people connect to the spiritual realm. Without money the devil will have few people to serve satanically to despise Christianity. But because of money, those who seek it and want it will be tempted to serve the devil for it, and with good results for that matter. Those who seek God for money are at risk of turning God into a talisman for riches. The only justification they have is that their money is obtained in a cleaner way only. In today s church a good percentage of the people are not serving God with pure motives. He is like to them, an insurance, a risk protection of their investments. He is like an inside trader Who knows the share price and advises timeously for profit and He gets His share too in the form of tithes and offerings. Pure service is declining, as we have a number of us serve God for money. Others go astray and serve the devil. Depending on the returns, we serve He who gives the most returns. If at that juncture God pays more, we stay in church. If the devil pays more we go devilish, underground of course! 5. Because money gives you power on earth, he who has it controls everything

What we call powerful people are basically people with money. Their names will be mentioned when power is being talked of. In the world there is power which is beyond the presidential powers, beyond the monarchial powers of kingdoms of Norway, Britain and Spain and Swaziland. There is power which is not military. Its money power. Just a slide of an envelope with money, people die, presidents are elected, regimes change, laws change. On the internet, when one googles, they will meet groups like the Bilderberg Group, the Illuminati, who are being peddled as the real powers behind everything. While the internet is full of lies and rumours and false reports, the

concept of monied people controlling everything is seen and is true. Whether these groups exist or they are just theories and internet drama is up to the reader. I don t believe they exist in the manner being presented on the net. But I believe the fundamental truth of control exists and in a sense are a window dressing of present and actual realities being played by the devil in a subtle way. Control of musicians, actors, banks, churches, oh yes churches too, is based to some extent on money. Churches sometimes are as influential as the amount of money they have. With powerful pastors, well raised sons and powerful leaders, a church can remain on the fringes of publicity and media frenzy due to money limits. On television, we sometimes complain that there is nothing to watch. This is because the people being shown are, truth be told shallow, but due to money they have access to the air waves and we will hear them. 6. Because money is one of the things which can arouse all emotions of a person

Money allows a person to lust. Without money there are some lusts which we end as thoughts. But with money the lusts come to life. In other words the full expression of the lusts in the heart of a person is shown based on the degree and amount of money present. Sometimes poverty looks like holiness, lets not despise the preachers of old who thought so. There was a point there. Poverty limits expression, hence a semblance of external holiness, not internal holiness. Poverty makes the lusts which are burning within remain as that, lust thoughts. But if one has money and still walks with God, he is a true man of God. Money awakens all lusts and emotions of a person. In fact, money allows us to lust! Pornography costs, the dvd s the bandwidth needed is not for free. Those who can afford can lust after it! There are certain cars who are designed to fulfill all the lusts in a person who loves cars. There are computers, laptops, iphones, ipads which are designed to carter for lust. They have all function, but beyond that, there is the lust fulfillment part. This is the part which costs a lot. There are seldom many poor homosexuals. But rich homosexuals abound. They can afford to be gay. They have the means and the money to be gay. They can pay for the proliferation of their rights, fighting for their freedom of expression. This is whilst we struggle to pay our own church rentals!

7.

Because money when found justifies the means

When someone has money, money is money. It will accomplish what the bearer wants it to do. This is irregardless of the source of the money. Whether you served God to get it, or served the devil to get it, the results are, you have money. It can pay fees, rentals, purchase. A dollar from the devil and a dollar from God can buy the same loaf of bread! Today we do not quiz people how they obtain money. We don t quiz people how they work, we just accept money. We receive and use it. Wives receive money and never question their husbands how they got it. People even tithe from such cursed money! Because money is money, there is need for the Petrine apostolic anointing, which will ask the source of the money and the amount! As leaders we need to check every envelope where necessary, in case there are requests or special inscriptions with the tithe or offerings. We need to check and see changes. When a person tithing 10 usd tithes 20 usd the next month, we must be interested. There could be a testimony of promotion, increase, new job, or a sinister scheme of darkness that needs to be nipped in the bud! 8. Because money is easier to serve than the devil point blank

Money is not evil. Money is good. Money is needed and answers a lot of things. Yet money love is subtle, money pursuit is a serious heart issue. Money touches the heart and its pursuit borders on your spiritual allegiance. To get it and the happiness it brings you have to dive deep into your spirit and the object of your Worship and service! As such the devils comes with a money veil. Many in the world serve the devil due to the money veneer he uses. Even in the church, he knows we want to be rich, so he knows the money trap will work. No wonder those who pursue riches will start being cold, and become diplomatic Christians[ those who attend the right events at the right time, before the right people] [those who give, labour at the right place right time, right people]. 9. Because money has its own laws, which are different from God's laws

The laws of how to obtain money are complex and are a mixture of god and evil, but mostly evil. To get money, your conscience is affected and afflicted. Lies, presumptions, illusions are presented so that business goes. Relationships, networks, racism, tribalism, and sometimes outright Satanism are applied and accepted and compromised on to get money. The laws of God are different. They serve His Kingdom, they serve His interests first. While God will bless and prosper us, He has his own laws. His laws are self abasing, loss of one s life and embracing the life of Christ. Loving God more than money. Loving to see His Presence more than His presents!

10. Because money is visible and makes the holder justify whatever he says Money competes with God for the power to validate concepts and theories. He who has money is easier to believe than he who says he has God. Sometimes God has a take it or leave it approach to His Kingdom. He says here is it, make a choice, wont force you. But the one with money makes the one who holds to have a bigger voice. All want what he has, so when he speaks what he says is taken hook line and sinker. Even preachers who go to lengths to tell us what they have, the jets, the cars, the houses etc, sometimes, not all the time, do so, so that we listen to them to be like them ! 11. Because money gives means to hide flaws. The wicked person when they have money, their wickedness is hidden. Money polishes them and they appear different. Ladies and gentlemen we have prominent politicians, businessmen whose flaws are hidden by their opulence. Murderers are innocent due to the presence of money. Lawyers labour to clear a thief and conman and make him have an impeccable character, when they are paid handsomely. Even in the church, shady characters come in, and give, and tithe and be counted among the brethren and earn a visit or recognition of the resident servant of God! While the flaws may be hidden, they still persist. Churches with money and means can get away with preaching a shallow gospel. Churches with questionable appointed leaders escape using money and means. 12. Because money can fight for your gifts against God Money can force people to use they God given gifts to obtain it. Of course the devil will take advantage of this and bring in satanic servitude. But no one will willfully want to sing for the devil. Yet millions will sing for money. Talents and gifts are rated by the amount of money they bring, not the service to God and mankind they bring.

Isn t it a wonder the most gifted musicians, actors, businessmen, entrepreneurs are using their abilities in the entertainment and luxury fronts of life. Doctors are not the richest people. Even in surgery, the richest surgeons are not the heart surgeons, who serve lives, the trauma orthopedian, like the one who saved me from potential paralysis after my near fatal accident. But it is the plastic surgeon! Lining his pockets on people who come to do breast reduction, breast enlargement, breast implants, sex changes, transvestites, nose changes, lip changes, and other changes I won t mention in this family friendly note! Many are gifted and the Creator is not receiving the pleasure he intended to get from the gifts he gave to men. Singers start in church but crossover for money, e.g. R Kelly, Beyonce, Maria Carey, Britney Spears etc. such lovely voices, lovely gifted musicians, but in it for the money. Well, a few gospel hits here and there so that you know we know God. Remember I sing for business, but that is not who I am you know, I believe in God and I pray, I go to church too. 13. Because money creates classes and grades Whenever there are problems in the way we view people, they emanate from money. The rich are looked up to. The poor are despised. The rich have a voice. The poor are valued based on their service. The rich don t work hard, their money works for them! Oh so you thought that having money work for you is a godly thing? Welcome to the bible dude! He who does not work must not eat! In the kingdom we work, because we are laying treasures in heaven! Money mustn t work for us, it must works for God. We use money because we are on earth. We must amass money based on a divine assignment. As AW Tozer puts it, Never Own Anything--Get Rid of the Sense of Possessing. He who possesses money will soon realize he can do without being owned by God . For a Christian, money is for power, influence, destiny shaping purposes of the Kingdom. The kingdom Gospel is given free, but the church members must pay the price ensure the receiver gets it free. People complain when televangelists ask for their money. They curse and call them charlatans. I also get pissed off by the money requests, but I realized that as long I don t pay the cost to preach to my neighbours, to preach to my fellows, I mustn t be irritated by those who are at least trying to! If I pay the cost for my fellows, I can ignore their calls cause I am paying at local level. 14. Because money is one of thing which can pass from generation to generation All people whether good or bad will leave a legacy for the next generation. Parents will leave a legacy for their children. Parents will leave an inheritance. It will either be one of riches only, or of poverty, or of God or of curses! It will be worse for the children who are left with poverty, for they will bear the burden of the curse. But it will be even worse for those who are left with money without God, for they are at risk of serving the devil and money. In fact it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom. Rather a camel through the eye of a needle than a rich man getting to glory land! 15. Those who desire to rich have challenges which can lead to error. I Timothy 6:9-10 But those who crave to be rich fall into temptation and a snare and into many foolish (useless, godless) and hurtful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction and miserable perishing. For the love of money is a root of all evils; it is through this craving that some have been led astray and have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves through with many [a]acute [mental] pangs.[Amplified] They have the following problems according to the above scripture: y They will fall into temptations: in other words thoughts and challenges they never thought of come their way cause they now want to be rich.

y y

They will have snares: in other words, they attract in the spirit realm, spiritual snares. This is because when you want to be rich you forsake the basic tenet of Jesus, leave all you have and follow me! They will have foolish and hurtful desires: those who crave to be rich are destructive to themselves and their faith. They will crave silly things which may not be sinful, no, not at all, but useless and godless! I know of certain believers who have created new laws of romantic outing for married couples! Unless its in Hawaii, Durban, them your man doesn t love you! Yoyoyo!!! The ring must be 1000 carat, with a few Ngodas if possible!! And they will parade these desires in couples meetings! If baby aint born at avenues, mater-dei then my hubby don t care about my life! Where your money can afford, go there. Your baby won t be more prosperous in life because he was born in opulence! I personally, this writer, wasn t born in a hospital! I was delivered by my mother in our rural home. So there you are exsir, God raised me up from there and I have done better than my place of beginning. They will be led astray: people who want to be rich have to follow the richness path. That path maybe away from God. The moment you want to be rich, please note you are likely to be lead away from God. Compromises, lies, gray areas, fence positions are the lot of the richness aspirants. They will wander or get into error: there is danger when we want to get rich. one things that happens is we begin to read in reverse. We no longer read the bible to formulate doctrine to live by, we read the bible to validate the methods we use and live by! Hence we are always arguing and debating. We follow our pastors but with murmuring and arguments in our hearts. We say yes, but we mean no in our hearts. We become passive and become content with letting money serve for us. And leaders too, need the money so much they eventually get preoccupied with those who have it. Error!