Being Blessed and Prosperous: Not What You Think - Part 3

How Does God Bless?

In Part 3 of the series on Blessings and Prosperity, we're going to explore exactly what the Bible, and therefore God, considers blessings. As mentioned in Part 2, contrary to what many people think, God is not impressed by money or wealth.

In fact, Jesus even warned about loving money and how difficult it is for a someone of wealth to come into a relationship with God. Despite that warning, in the church climate of today, especially in the United States, prosperity is still a big draw and the subject of many sermons.

In fact, you can't turn on a television preacher and find him preaching much of anything that doesn't in some way contain assurances that God wants to bless you with wealth. Of course, along with that assurance comes the caveat that any blessing will be directly tied to how much you give.

In the Prosperity Gospel, God will bless you IF you give, and consistenly give, and that blessing with be direction proportion to your giving, multiplying many times over.

However, if you look at the Word for how God blesses, you'll see many promises of blessings that have nothing to do with money. Perhaps it's time to reeducate ourselves as to how He wants to bless us. Afterall, if you're expecting one thing and He gives you another, how likely is it that you will recognize that blessing when you get it?

Blessed with a Good Memory and Mind

Pro_10:7  The memory of the just is blessed: but the name of the wicked shall rot.

Now, this is the verse that every Believer needs to be speaking aloud every single day. Instead of accepting that with age you might develop Alzeheimer's or dementia, the Word says our memory is blessed. So instead of just accepting that there may come a time when you will disappear inside your head, why not begin speaking a blessing over your mind and memory?

Today being to speak this about yourself: "According to the Word, the memory of the just is blessed. The Word also says we are justified by faith. Therefore I am just because I have been justified by my faith in the saving power of Jesus Christ. That means that my memory is blessed. I have the mind of Christ, and do NOT have memory loss or trouble remembering."

Children (Seed) are Blessed

Pro 20:7  The just man walks in his integrity: his children are blessed after him.

Isa 44:3  For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring:

Again being "just" means that you can claim blessings on your children and your children's children. Not only that, but as you hunger and thirst after righteousness, you have the promise from God that He will pour out (overflow) His Spirit on your children. So if you want to see your children saved and serving the Lord, make sure you are hungering and thirsting after God.

How many Christian parents are now wondering why their children seem to not want anything to do with the church or serving God, yet fail to see the connection to their own example?

• As parents did you find it easy to spend time at the lake on a gorgeous Sunday rather than in church? 
• Did you find watching the Superbowl much more attractive that going to church?
•  Did your children watch as you fought down and dirty with your spouse, only to see you turn on the smiles and charm when you walked into church?

Perhaps it's time for some parents to repent, and for other parents there's still time to refocus while your children are young.

Physical Needs

Exo 23:25  And ye shall serve the LORD your God, and he shall bless thy bread, and thy water; and I will take sickness away from the midst of thee.

Now, this seems to indicate that as long as we are serving God He is bound to bless our food, what we ingest, and that He will take sickness away from us.

Hey! Here's a suggestion: Instead of praying that trite little "Grace" before eating...you know the one: "Lord, thank you for this food. Bless the hands that prepared it and bless us. Amen." Isn't that basically how it goes?

So how about praying the Word over your next meal? Something like this: "Thank you, God, that as we serve you, you bless our food and nourishment and remove all sickness from amongst us. In Jesus Name Amen"

Blessed with Children/Offspring

Deu 28:4  Blessed shall be the fruit of thy body...

Deu 33:24  And of Asher he said, Let Asher be blessed with children; let him be acceptable to his brethren, and let him dip his foot in oil.

Vigor

Pro 5:18  Let thy fountain be blessed: and rejoice with the wife of thy youth.

In this instance "fountain" is referring to the procreative ability. Is it possible that the reason so many men have to take that little blue pill is because they have been unfaithful in their marriages? Is is possible that infidelity ultimately leads to inability?

Anecdotal support: One day talking with someone whose husband had been unfaithful, having many affairs during their marriage, she shared that eventually he was unable to perform.

Advice: If you want to retain your ability to perform sexually, then perhaps you need to "rejoice" (brighten up, make gleesome, cheer up, make glad, make joyful, make merry, cause to rejoice)...be happy with the wife you have.

That doesn't just mean being physically faithful in the marriage, it also means being emotionally, mentally and spiritually faithful. Avoid like the plague anything that would cause you to look away from your wife. No pornography. No "innocent" flirtations at work or church. No "just looking" at those short-skirted young things prancing past you in the mall.

Spiritually might also mean that if you are praying for your wife's best and for her to be blessed, you are not going to be tempted then to stray.

Spiritual Blessings

Eph 1:3  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:

Every Area of Your Life Blessed

God promised the Nation of Israel (and by adoption, Believers) great blessings for obedience. Even today, if we will seek Him first we will see these blessings in our lives:

Deu 28:1  And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the LORD thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth:

Deu 28:2  And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God.

Deu 28:3  Blessed shalt thou be in the city, and blessed shalt thou be in the field.

It doesn't matter where you live, you will be blessed and by the same token will be a blessing to those around you.

Blessings of Reproduction

Deu 28:4  Blessed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy ground, and the fruit of thy cattle, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep.

"Fruit of your body" would be your ability to reproduce. Since these blessings were originally given to a society that were basically farmers and ranchers, today those blessings would apply to whatever endeavor, profession, trade or avenue in which we make a living or put food on the table.

Blessings on Your Thriftiness and Planning

Deu 28:5  Blessed shall be thy basket and thy store.

Once the food is on the table or in the pantry, it will be blessed to NOT spoil and to provide nourishment to your physical body. This also implies blessings on those provisions you make for your family's sustenance, perhaps even their inheritance.

Blessings on Your Movements and Direction

Deu 28:6  Blessed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and blessed shalt thou be when thou goest out.

By implication, all your movements will be blessed. So whether you are working in your house or driving down the road you will be blessed.

Victory and Peace

Deu 28:7  The LORD shall cause thine enemies that rise up against thee to be smitten before thy face: they shall come out against thee one way, and flee before thee seven ways.

No matter who comes against you, God will cause them to come to nothing.

Think of it this way: He is our Father. Just like you don't mess with a man's kids, you really don't want to mess with His kids!

Endeavors/Work Blessed

Deu 28:8  The LORD shall command the blessing upon you in your storehouses, and in all that you sett your hand unto; and he will bless you in the land which the LORD thy God gives you.

In everything you do, wherever you go, He has promised to bless you in every  way that could be all that is good.

Abundant Blessings on a National Level

While the blessings below may sound like a repetition of those blessings promised in verses 1 through 8, however, if you look closely those seem to be directed toward the individual. While these following verse seem to be directed toward the entire nation of Israel.

So it is possible that this promise of blessings could apply to a nation that started off by dedicating it's very existence to God. Only two nations in history have started out in such a way...Israel and the United States of America.

With that in mind, read the promises of blessings below, and you will see just how God has blessed the United States. Sadly, if you read on in Deuteronomy you will see a list of curses that will come upon a people or nation that does just the opposite.

Deu 28:9  The LORD shall establish thee an holy people unto himself, as he hath sworn unto thee, if thou shalt keep the commandments of the LORD thy God, and walk in his ways.

Deu 28:10  And all people of the earth shall see that thou art called by the name of the LORD; and they shall be afraid of thee.

Without a doubt the United States was once a force to be reckoned with throughout the world. Today, it appears that we have become the laughingstock...like the Emperor's new clothes. Most Americans don't realize that as a nation we are naked and exposed before the world. 

Deu 28:11  And the LORD shall make thee plenteous in goods, in the fruit of thy body, and in the fruit of thy cattle, and in the fruit of thy ground, in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers to give thee.

America was once considered the Breadbasket of the World. We fed the world. No longer. 

Deu 28:12  The LORD shall open unto thee his good treasure, the heaven to give the rain unto thy land in his season, and to bless all the work of thine hand: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, and thou shalt not borrow. 

The US is now the largest debtor nation in the world, borrowing money from our enemies just to stay afloat. At the same time the weather has gone crazy and drought is a major concern.

Deu 28:13  And the LORD shall make thee the head, and not the tail; and thou shalt be above only, and thou shalt not be beneath; if that thou hearken unto the commandments of the LORD thy God, which I command thee this day, to observe and to do them: 

If the US had continued to honor God He would have continued to bless us, however...

Deu 28:14  And thou shalt not go aside from any of the words which I command thee this day, to the right hand, or to the left, to go after other gods to serve them.

As a nation, we turned away from God and are now following the gods of celebrity, money, power and self.

You might wonder what a study on blessings and prosperity has to do with End Time events. Well, read Psalm 37. The righteous are promised that they will "inherit the land", while 11 times you will see that the wicked and evil are going to be destroyed.




Choose this day whom you will serve. Will you serve God and learn to see His blessings in other things than money, or will you continue to seek and serve mammon and jeopardize your eternal destiny?

Being Blessed and Prosperous: Not What You Think - Part 2

What is the Criteria for Being Blessed?

If you listen to most prosperity teachings, you will quickly find that they are full of promises of blessings in return for giving...giving money that is. In essence this makes it a doctrine of works.

Yet we know that as Christians we are to live by faith, with works being a natural result of being conformed into the image and likeness...nature...of God.

However, there is something so sneaky about the prosperity gospel and man's desire to take the easy way to blessings. Afterall, it is much easier to toss some money at something than to begin to submit to the shaping and pummeling that takes place when we put ourselves into the hands of the Master Potter.

In the U.S. we live in a society that tends to value money and visible signs of wealth above almost anything, so when we listen to those give-to-get message about how God will bless us for paying money to Him, we are all to ready to believe that He values the same things we do.

However, that's just not the case. In fact, the Bible has a lot of reasons for why God will bless us, and only a few have anything to do with giving.

If you want to be blessed, then know that God finds many reasons to bless us:

Bless Israel

Gen 12:3  And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curses thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.

How many so-called Christians are anti-Semitic, that hate or talk against Israel and Jews? According to this verse, God is NOT going to bless them; instead He will actually curse them. If that's true, then someone who is against Israel is NOT going to be able to give their way out of God's curse on them.

Obedience 

Deu 28:2  And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God.

God places great importance on our obedience. In fact, in this day and age of New Testament grace, the word "obedience" is only found in the New Testament.

Of course, the word "obey" appears quite often in the Old Testament, which shouldn't be surprising as the whole concept of salvation was based on obedience of the law. However, while we live in an age of Grace, that doesn't mean we can do anything we want and still be blessed.

Walks Separately from the World

Psa_1:1  Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.

Pretty sure that you can't live like the Devil Monday thru Saturday, partying it up at the bars, telling dirty jokes and conducting business dishonestly and still expect God to bless you.

Is Forgiven

Psa 32:1  A Psalm of David, Maschil. Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.

Psa 32:2  Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.

Wow! According to this, Jesus has already paid the price for us to be blessed.

Governmental Blessing

Psa 33:12  Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.

Pro 11:11  By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted: but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.

Even a nation or city that honors God will be blessed. Why do you think the United States was so blessed for the first 200 years? Because (despite what the modern textbooks say) the Founding Fathers did dedicate this nation to God.

Trusts in God

Psa 34:8  O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.

God values our trust or faith in Him. He knows that as frail humans it is easier to believe in that which we can see, taste, touch and feel, but to trust in Someone that cannot be perceived by any of our physical senses? That's tough. So this says that anyone who trusts in Him is blessed, and to be a true follower of Jesus Christ...a Christian...don't you have to start out by trusting in Him?

Is Merciful and Compassionate

Psa 37:26  He is ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed.

Psa 41:1  To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the LORD will deliver him in time of trouble.

Pro 22:9  He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor.

Act 20:35  I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.

This is kind of about giving, but it's about giving to a need because you are moved by compassion or being merciful. This is not about dropping a tithing envelope in the offering plate, this is about having eyes to see those in need and a heart to reach out.

Unfortunately in this day and age of grifters, frauds, generationally needy and fear of becoming a victim, to protect ourselves we all too often close our eyes to the needs around us. It is safer to send a check to some charity or to drop our change in a red bucket at Christmas.

Generous in Business

Pro 11:26  He who withholds grain, the people shall curse him; but blessing is on the head of him who sells.

This is probably the same subheader as being merciful and compassionate, but seems to have more to do with how we operate our business. In today's global economy I can see how this could apply to a business that withholds from selling in a local market because they can get more money by shipping overseas, or visa versa.

As followers of Jesus Christ, putting money above compassion will put our business in jeopardy of failure as it bring a curse on it from the very ones that would have been the first to bless.

Not only that, but you don't have to spend more than 30 minutes on Facebook to see that social media will spread the word about a business that puts people above profit, and by the same token spread the word about a business that is only about money and profit and doesn't care who it harms to get there. (Hmmm...I can think of a couple off the top of my head: Monsanto being at the top of the list).

Firstfruits

Eze 44:30  And the first of all the firstfruits of all things, and every oblation of all, of every sort of your oblations, shall be the priest's: ye shall also give unto the priest the first of your dough, that he may cause the blessing to rest in thine house.

So does this mean the firstfruits every pay period, and what is that? You'll have to figure that out, however, it is obvious that we are to support the priests or those who minister to us and where we receive our feeding.

On a side note, I wonder if this is where money began to be called "dough".

Tithes

Mal 3:10  Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.

Here is the verse used by so many to assure us that God will bless us when we give, but it is by no means the main reason God has said He will bless us.

Has Integrity

Psa 40:4  Blessed is that man that maketh the LORD his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.

Pro 10:7  The memory of the just is blessed: but the name of the wicked shall rot.

Pro 20:7  The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him.

What exactly is "integrity"? The dictionary defines it as: "possession of firm principles: the quality of possessing and steadfastly adhering to high moral principles or professional standards.

Synonyms: honesty · truth · truthfulness · honor · veracity · reliability · uprightness

While there are still men and women of integrity, this is not something that seems to be as highly valued as it once was. But if one operates with integrity and honor, the heritage of that person will receive the blessing.

When Corrected by God

Psa 94:12  Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest, O LORD, and teachest him out of thy law;

Being corrected by God is sure evidence that we are indeed His children. Afterall, only a parent can correct a child and a loving parent only corrects out of love.

Loves the Word

Psa 112:1  Praise ye the LORD. Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD, that delighteth greatly in his commandments.

Psa 119:2  Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart.

Loving the Word or Truth is a sure promise of blessing, and at this point on the prophetic timeline, it may be the only thing that will ensure that the Lord Himself won't send you a strong delusion (2 Th 2:11).

Fears the Lord

Psa 128:1  A Song of degrees. Blessed is every one that feareth the LORD; that walketh in his ways.

Sadly, too often in today's churches the Lord is not feared or revered. Instead of being held in awe, He is treated like an errand boy or someone that can be commanded to do our bidding. You can't have it both ways.

Faithful in Marriage

Pro 5:18  Let thy fountain be blessed: and rejoice with the wife of thy youth.

If you don't want to have to resort to those little blue pills, you need to be rejoicing in the woman you married. If a man continually steps outside of his marriage and treats fidelity as an option rather than a mandate, pretty soon he may find he's resorting to artificial means to keep his "fountain" flowing.

Endures Temptation (what is "temptation"?)

Jas 1:12  Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

Here "temptation" means adversity or trials, troubles...it doesn't necessarily mean to be tempted. Although if one is being forever tempted to do wrong and endures that temptation rather than giving in to it...that is a trial.

However, we live in a sinful, fallen world with wickedness all around and the persecution of the righteous is becoming more and more prevalent. Here we are promised that if we will endure..."stay under, remain, undergo, bear trials, have fortitude, persevere, patiently suffer and tarry behind"...that we will receive a conspicuous honor (you can't hide a crown).

Look for His Return

Luk 12:37  Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them.

If we want to be blessed then we need to be watching...not just hoping for His return, but actively watching. You don't watch by avoiding studying Biblical prophecy which is the tendency of many Christians today. They just accept what they're told about end time events and never study it for themselves.

This is one reason so many sincere Christians believe the lie of a pre-trib rapture. Afterall, you can't study prophecy very long before you realize that the doctrine of a catching away before the Tribulation is not in the Bible and that in fact the Bible says the very opposite thing. (2Th 2:3).



So you see money is the least of the reasons why God will and does bless us, and to only tie His blessings to our giving not only short changes us, but will change our relationship with Him.

Next we'll be looking at what the many ways God blesses us that have nothing to do with money.

Being Blessed and Prosperous: Not What You Think-Part1

You Say You Are Blessed, But Are You Really?

Sadly, this is what many consider to be blessings

Do you even know what it is to be blessed or why you are blessed?

This is the start of a study on Being Blessed and Prosperous: Not What You Think

Yesterday, someone on Facebook shared a Huffington Post article that was actually quite eye-opening about what we are really saying when we say "I'm blessed". (Link to the article at the bottom of this post)

Here's my response:

I very much agree with the guy. I'm totally disturbed by even the most (seemingly) benign teaching on double blessings, prosperity and overflowing outpourings on my seed. 

In fact, I heard a sermon a week-ago Sunday talking about how God is a giving God. As I was listening to it I became more convinced that if we want to be like Him, then we are to give because it is His nature to give. But we are to give not expecting anything in return. 

Unfortunately that doesn't seem to fit in our like-for-like, gotta-give-it-to-get-it, God is a fat Buddha just waiting for us to rub his belly and chant our demands, or worse that he's a God-shaped (or cross-shaped) piggy bank, where we drop in our tidbits and expect a double, triple and even hundred-fold return.

Since God is a giving God, He does bless us. But the prosperity gospel turns Him into one that can be manipulated by our actions. It no longer becomes a matter of Him giving to bless us or because giving is His nature, but of Him dutifully rewarding us because He should be grateful that we have paid Him.

It becomes a works-dependent blessing where we are rewarded for our giving, and if we are not getting the financial blessings that we think we should get, then we must be doing it wrong: not giving enough, or have some terrible sin in our life which God is punishing us for (because obviously the Blood of Jesus is not enough!).

I'm going to be doing a study on what  the Bible actually says about things like prosperity, prospering, wealth and being blessed. I've already started the research, and it's actually quite eye-opening, and may be surprising for you as well.

Huffington Post Article  http://www.huffingtonpost.com/scott-dannemiller/christians-should-stop-saying_b_4868963.html


Sermon "He Gave"  http://gatewaypeople.com/sermons/198371

Back to Jewish Roots a Problem?

Below is a copy of a thread I posted in a forum at a Chrstian website. Please read it prayerfully and ask the Holy Spirit if there is indeed a problem with the "back to our Jewish Roots" movement popping up in churches all over the place.

"Please don't take this wrong, but I have some concern about this growing tendency in the Christian churches to focus on our Hebrew roots, which seems to be taking away from the focus on Jesus Christ and the Finished Work.

Here's why:

1. A Christian young man (that I know personally) began attending a Messianic synagogue. A year later he has become convinced that Jesus is NOT the Messiah! He is not Hebrew and did espouse Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Now, he has stepped back into bondage.

2. The Star of David is featured prominently in churches participating in this "back to our Jewish roots" movement and being worn by many christians instead of a cross. For more information about the roots of the star of David: http://www.seedofabraham.net/stardavd.html. What I find extremely interesting is that I went to find this teaching, I typed in star of david. Where before this teaching had appeared on the first page...now it doesn't appear at all. Every site that came up was promoting this symbol.

What prompted this post was when I was reading a response to another thread. The writer was writing in English and quoting the New Testament but several times used Hebrew names for the scriptural references that most English-speaking people, like me, wouldn't recognize. What is even more interesting, is that the New Testament was not written in Hebrew it was written in Greek! So, if the writer was wanting to go back to the original text, shouldn't they have been using the Greek name for Paul/Saul, instead of the Hebrew?

I see a separation developing where instead of "Jesus" one sees "Yeshua" all the time. Maybe that doesn't matter, but is there much difference in insisting on using "Yeshua" than what the Jehovah's Witnesses do in insisting that one cannot use the name "God"?

Don't take me wrong, I'm not saying anything against our Hebrew roots. My Lord and Savior was born Jewish, God has a special relationship with His chosen people. I am grafted in to the Vine and become an adopted daughter of Abraham...however Jesus came to set the captive free. And while a good understanding of Jewish festivals is vital to understanding prophecy, one must guard against falling back into bondage.

One must be especially diligent NOT to fall for every wind of doctrine. The Enemy will use whatever he can to lead Christians into false teaching. I'm not saying that the "back to our Hebrew roots" is a false teaching...but I do get a check in my spirit when I see a "movement" developing in the church. Unfortunately, the church just loves new movements... and doesn't always use wisdom and discernment in deciding which movement is ordained by God...after all look how entrenched into doctrine has become the pre-tribulation rapture teaching!

I would imagine that when the pre-trib rapture teaching first was introduced, there were some people that felt in their spirit that something wasn't right about that. Unfortunately, the majority decided this was a good teaching, and even had scripture to "back it up"...so that today on the eve of the Tribulation, we find the Body of christ more interested in prosperity than in preparedness."

Jim Bakker from Prosperity to Preparedness

Most people who have heard of Jim Bakker remember him as the televangelist who went to prison for tax evasion(?)/fraud...something like that (you can tell that it's really not important). I remember him as one of the first preachers of the prosperity gospel.

Today he'll be the first to tell you that when he was in prison he really started studying the Bible (afterall, what better way of knowing where he'd gone wrong?). During this time of intense study he realized that the Bible doesn't teach a pre-tribulation rapture...instead it makes it very clear that we are going to be here.

That's a teaching that does not go along with the prosperity gospel. Why not? Prosperity and preparedness do not go hand-in-hand. Afterall, the way the prosperity teaching goes you have to "plant your seed" into the ministry (which in turns lines the ministry's pockets and empties yours) in order to trick God into blessing you financially.

Preparedness on the other hand in about planting your seed (in a garden) and getting prepared for the "saving" of your household (as Noah did) and ministering to the lost and hurting during the Tribulation. Well, you can't get prepared and plant seeds for financial prosperity at the same time.

Today thousands (maybe millions) of people are being mislead into trying to build their kingdom here on earth, having the big house, the fancy car, the best clothes...yada yada yada...all as a sign that they are favored by God. In the process they are helping many of those ministries build their own little kingdoms.

"Kingdoms" because after the "king" steps down, then the prince takes over and keeps the kingdom going. Without looking too hard you can find several examples of those ministries that have passed on to the next generation or whose progeny are being groomed to step into the pulpit/throne.

Remember: "they have their reward". The Bible is very clear about those shepherds/pastors who mislead their flock. Their blood will be required of them.

Instead of coming out of prison and taking up the prosperity mantra again, Jim Bakker came out and basically said, "wake up folks! There's no getting out of here before the Tribulation". This could explain why you don't see him much on television...afterall it takes money to buy television time. Plus the major "Christian" networks rely on the prosperity teaching to pay the bills. So I doubt that his views find much support there.

BTW: I haven't talked to Jim Bakker about any of this, so much of the above is paraphrasing based on what he's said and written in recent years.

You may visit his website to learn more: http://www.jimbakkershow.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=5&Itemid=65