[Updated] I just thought of something. This is huge!

I’ve often wondered how the love of money can be the root of all evil. Consider this.
David Wilkerson here says:

Idolatry has to do with a much deeper heart issue. The number-one idol among God’s people isn’t adultery, pornography or alcohol. It’s a much more powerful lust. What is this idol? It’s a driving ambition for success. [or in other words: “the love of money”]

So what logically follows is that when people get rid of, excise the root of all evil, the love of money, then the other sins can’t be a bondage, because the ROOT of all evil is gone.
Remember:
“The love of money is the root of all evil.”
The love of money is an actual demonic stronghold that can only influence us if we give it a place.
And the consequences are losing our inheritance:

“It is easier for a camel to go through a needle’s eye than for a rich man to enter into the Kingdom of God.”

– Jesus (Mark 10:25)

And the kingdom of God means heaven, you all — just as it means eternal life in Galatians 5. See Who-Goes-To-Heaven Scriptures — Narrow is the Way | Who are the Children of God?

This doesn’t mean that all of us need to sell everything and give it to the poor; though, God is probably telling some to do exactly that. We need to do whatever is necessary so the love of money doesn’t have us — so we can walk free in LOVE.

“Those who are led by the Spirit are the children of God.” Paul in Romans 8:

12 So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. 13 For if you live after the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are children of God. 15 For you didn’t receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God; 17 and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ; if indeed we suffer with him, that we may also be glorified with him.

18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which will be revealed toward us. 19 For the creation waits with eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed.

So what is the Holy Spirit telling us — to be right-with-God-and-people, going-to-heaven children of God?
And pastors, why are you still teaching old covenant tithing, putting this weight of bondage on the people, keeping them from being led by the Holy Spirit in this important issue: what to do with their money?

Let’s be free from all of the weights that encumber — every willful sin that leads to death — by making sure we are free of the root of all evil — the love of money!

Let us be ONE in Him!

“Then the world will know” — Jesus heart-cry for us in John 17.

Jeff : )

——

From: World Challenge

IT BEGAN WITH REPENTANCE

by David Wilkerson | December 20, 2010

The church as we know it today began with repentance. When Peter preached the cross at Pentecost, thousands came to Christ. This new church was made up of one body, consisting of all races, filled with love for one another. Its corporate life was marked by evangelism, a spirit of sacrifice, even martyrdom.

The wonderful beginning reflects God’s word to Jeremiah: “I had planted thee a noble vine, wholly a right seed” (Jeremiah 2:21). Yet the Lord’s next words describe what often happens to such works: “How then art thou turned into the degenerate plant of a strange vine unto me?” (2:21). God was saying, “I planted you right. You were mine, bearing my name and nature. But now you’ve turned degenerate.”

What caused this degeneration in the church? It always has been, and will continue to be, idolatry. God is speaking of idolatry when he says to Jeremiah, “My people have changed their glory for that which doth not profit” (2:11).

Most Christian teaching today identifies an idol as anything that comes between God’s people and himself. Yet that’s only a partial description of idolatry.

Idolatry has to do with a much deeper heart issue. The number-one idol among God’s people isn’t adultery, pornography or alcohol. It’s a much more powerful lust. What is this idol? It’s a driving ambition for success. And it even has a doctrine to justify it.

The idolatry of being successful describes many in God’s house today. These people are upright, morally clean, full of good works. But they’ve set up an idol of ambition in their hearts, and they can’t be shaken from it.

God loves to bless his people. He wants his people to succeed in all they undertake honestly. But there is now a raging spirit in the land that is overtaking multitudes—this is the spirit of love for recognition and acquiring of things.

A man of the world said recently, “He who dies with the most toys—wins.” Tragically, Christians, too, are caught up in this pursuit.

How far we have strayed from the gospel of living through dying to self, ego, and worldly ambition.