Wolves Among the Sheep > Is Duplantis inviting Satan to test him like he tested Job?

 

Televangelist Jesse Duplantis calls poverty a ‘curse,’

says his wealth is because he’s ‘blessed’

By Leonardo Blair, Senior Reporter Monday, April 29, 2024

Televangelist and prosperity gospel preacher Jesse Duplantis, who has an estimated net worth of around $20 million, has called poverty a "curse" and says his wealth — which includes a private jet and a 40,000-square-foot mansion in Louisiana — comes from being "blessed" by God. 

He may be right. God blessed Job with riches twice, but, in between, Job suffered greatly. Has Duplantis been tested by Satan like Job. Has he received his reward in full like the hippocrites? Asking for a friend.

In New Testament days our riches should be counted in spiritual blessings not financial blessings. Is he teaching his followers how to draw close to God, or how to use Him like a genie to get rich? God never appeals to the flesh. 

"Let me give you a prime example why I don't care what people think about me, about what I have. Now look at me. Look at me. I am a very blessed man," Duplantis said in an online "Boardroom Chat" session with his wife, Cathy, earlier this month.

"Me and Cathy are very blessed. I'm spiritually, physically, and financially [blessed]. I've had more people criticize me over that jet. They still can't get over it. Criticize me over my house. They didn't pay for it. I paid for it. Do you understand what I say?" he asked.

In 2018, Duplantis faced widespread criticism for trying to raise money from his followers to purchase a $54 million jet.

In the "Boardroom Chat" session, Duplantis argued that most people's troubles stem from disobedience and claimed "Christian propaganda" makes people think "poverty is a blessing." 

"Most people's troubles come because people disobey. That is just simply the truth. Wars, rumors of wars, people always mad about somebody," he said. "It's usually someone who has enough power to change 'people's thinking,' I call it. Especially in the Church, I call it Christian propaganda."

The televangelist highlighted what he sees as propaganda in the Church.

"You know that 'poverty is a blessing?' That's a lie. Poverty is a curse. It's not in Heaven, none whatsoever," he said, quoting common phrases some Christians use to challenge the prosperity gospel. "'Jesus was poor.' When was He poor? Did you ever hear Him say, 'I can't eat today [because] I don't have anything?'"

Duplantis further suggested that people frustrated about not being blessed when they give financially to a ministry are emotionally manipulated into giving instead of giving out of obedience to Scripture.

"If you move on people emotionally to give, and you do that a lot of times with poverty … why don't you move on people to simply obey God's glorious word that He will do what He says," Duplantis argued. "A lot of people raising money on people's emotions, so they don't get blessed."

Duplantis attempted to use Psalm 49:16 to suggest that the Bible tells believers not to worry about how much another person has. The scripture he read and the verses that follow appear to warn against being enamored by financial wealth.

"Do not be overawed when others grow rich, when the splendor of their houses increases; for they will take nothing with them when they die, their splendor will not descend with them," the Scripture states. "Though while they live, they count themselves blessed — and people praise you when you prosper — they will join those who have gone before them, who will never again see the light of life. People who have wealth but lack understanding are like the beasts that perish."

Duplantis shared his thoughts on Christians turning the other cheek, according to Matthew 5:38-48. He argued that Christians should not interpret this as the scripture asking Christians to be pacifists because he does not subscribe to that view.

"I'm just going to be honest with you. … I've been spit on, slapped and everything when I've been preaching. But I'm not going to let somebody just come up to me and slap me if I'm not preaching and somebody just wants to slap me," he said.

"You better believe in healing because something's coming down. … Don't let this small stature fool you. I get me a baseball bat if I got to. You know what I'm saying? I don't mean that pridefully but … I know what I can do with a baseball bat."

According to Got Questions Ministries: "Turning the other cheek does not imply pacifism, nor does it mean we place ourselves or others in danger."

"Jesus' command to turn the other cheek is simply a command to forgo retaliation for personal offenses. He was not setting government foreign policy, and He was not throwing out the judicial system," the ministry notes. "Crimes can still be prosecuted, and wars can still be waged, but the follower of Christ need not defend his personal 'rights' or avenge his honor."

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Osama bin Laden's Son and Heir Hamza bin Laden is Dead – Report

©  FBI

US officials claim Washington has intelligence that the son and possible successor of Osama bin Laden has been killed, NBC reports. As of yet, the officials have provided few additional details.

Three US officials who requested anonymity told NBC that Hamza bin Laden – son of terror leader and founder of al-Qeada Osama bin Laden – has been killed. The circumstances of his death, or whether there was American involvement, are not clear.

Hamza bin Laden gave his last known public statement to the al-Qaeda group’s media arm in 2018, threatening Saudi Arabia with attack and calling for the overthrow of the Saudi monarchy, but has not been heard from since.

According to former FBI agent and counter terrorism expert Ali Soufan, Hamza was “being prepared for a leadership role in the organization his father founded,” and would likely be looked on favorably by the “jihadi rank-and-file” were he to take on that role.

Born around 1989 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Hamza has been wanted for some time by the FBI for ties to terror groups. He was thought to travel frequently between Afghanistan, Pakistan, Syria and Iran, according to the FBI. Hamza was also reportedly married to the daughter of a senior al-Qaeda leader, Abdullah Ahmed Abdullah, who operates under the alias Abu Muhammad al Masri. Abdullah is wanted for his role in embassy bombings in Kenya and Tanzania in 1998.

The FBI had offered a reward of up to $1 million for information that would lead to Hamza’s whereabouts.

I'm guessing the body of Hamza would be sufficient information to collect the reward?

Hamza’s father, Osama bin Laden, helped to found al-Qaeda, the Islamist militant group notorious for the 2001 September 11 attacks, which killed nearly 3,000 people. Osama was killed in a US Navy SEAL raid in 2011 while in hiding in Pakistan.

CDC Official Who Handled Zika and Ebola Outbreaks Mysteriously Missing

© Tami Chappell / Reuters

A respected Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) official who worked on the Ebola and Zika outbreaks has disappeared without a trace. He was last seen leaving work midway through the day, saying he was feeling ill.

The Harvard-educated epidemiologist and US Navy officer Timothy J. Cunningham, 35, has been missing since February 12, when he left work after saying he was feeling unwell.

His parents became concerned when he wouldn’t answer any texts or calls. They drove all the way from Maryland to Atlanta, Georgia, after some relatives went by and saw his house was empty and two windows were open. Inside the house, they found Cunningham’s phone, wallet and driver's license. His car was still parked in the garage and his dog, Mr. Bojangles, aka Beau, was left on his own.

“Tim never leaves Beau unattended,” the missing man’s father, Terrell Cunningham told NBC News. "He just doesn't do it.”

“None of this makes sense,” Timothy’s brother Anterio told WAGA-TV, a Fox affiliate in Atlanta. “He wouldn't just evaporate like this and leave his dog alone and have our mother wondering and worrying like this. He wouldn't.”

“I feel like I’m in a horrible Black Mirror episode,” his sister Tiara told the New York Times.

With two degrees from Harvard, Cunningham worked on the government’s response to the Zika and Ebola crises. He had recently been promoted to the rank of commander, and was one of The Atlanta Business Chronicle’s ‘40 Under 40 Award’ winners. But family members said in recent calls and texts that Cunningham seemed to not be himself.

Family, friends, and Timothy’s college alumni are all taking part in the search, and have raised more than $20,000 as a reward for any information, a sign of the high regard in which Cunningham was held. His family hopes that someone may recognize him somewhere, perhaps as a patient at a hospital.

R1 Million Reward for Info Leading to the Arrest of the Guptas and Zuma’s Son

Corruption is Everywhere - Certainly in South Africa

But Ramaphosa appears determined to clean it up - God bless him!

The reward pool for information leading to the arrest of the Gupta brothers and former president Jacob Zuma’s son Duduzane, has now been boosted to R1 million (about $86,000 USD).

This follows the announcement from the non-profit, Forensics for Justice this week that a R100,000 would be paid out for information leading the arrest of Ajay Gupta, who is considered a fugitive on the run by the Hawks.

The Hawks are South Africa's Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI) which targets organized crime, economic crime, corruption, and other serious crime referred to it by the President or the South African Police Service

On Saturday, FFJ put out a further notice, adding a R100,000 reward each for Ajay Gupta’s alleged conspirators, namely his brothers Atul Gupta and Rajesh (Tony) Gupta, as well as their business associate Duduzane Zuma.

If all four are arrested on the same information, a further bonus of R100,000 will be paid out, FFJ said, bringing the total to R500,000.

Responding to the FFJ’s reward, CEO of Sygnia, vocal critic of the Guptas and state capture opponent, Magda Wierzycka said she would match the reward, rand for rand, effectively doubling the total reward pool to R1 million.

“South Africans, contribute your spy skills. We need these crooks in jail where they belong. As soon as possible,” she said.

Despite calls for information relating to the arrest of the other Gupta brothers, so far the Hawks have only confirmed that there is a manhunt on to arrest Ajay Gupta, the patriarch of the family.

Hawks spokesperson Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi confirmed on Friday that Ajay was in the country and that the unit was negotiating with the security company protecting him.

However, he dismissed reports that Atul and Rajesh were also being sought.

Ajay Gupta and Duduzane Zuma are wanted in connection with the Free State dairy project that is currently at the centre of fraud, corruption and money laundering charges against Free State government and Gupta associates.

The Gupta family and their associates – including government the officials – allegedly received over R100 million in funds unlawfully through the project, which only got 1% of the reported R220 million budgeted to get the farming project going.

Eight accused, including former Oakbay chief executives Varun Gupta and Nazeem Howa, as well as current its CEO Ronica Ragavan, we arrested in a Hawks raid on Wednesday morning.

They appeared in the Bloemfontein Magistrates Court on Thursday, where they applied for and were granted bail for between R10,000 and R200,000.

Seems like pretty cheap bail for multi-millionaires. A good opportunity to run?

“We need as many people as possible to step up and help find Ajay Gupta. While it is extremely unlikely that any of the Gupta family will ever come back to South Africa voluntarily, we at Forensics for Justice believe that the one that’s here, must stay here and face the music. As a result of the reward, we have already started receiving information, which we have passed on to the Hawks,” FFJ said.

Anyone with information can contact the group at 0800 118 118 or tweet them @FfJZA or e-mail sarah.trent@forensicsforjustice.org.

And if he's arrested will you let him out on bail so he can join his family?