Although John Avanzini, one of the main proponents of the Prosperity Gospel
might disagree, neither was it to enable church leaders to build themselves large
expensive homes.
ìJesus had a nice house, a big house - big enough to have
company stay the night with Him at the house. Let me show
you His house. Go over to John the first chapter and I'll
show you His house...Now, child of God, that's a house big
enough to have company stay the night in. There's His
house.î 14This scripture in John chapter one never describes the size of the house; itís
ownership or even if it was a house. Sleeping outside was not an unknown
practice in those days, and a field would be more than adequate room to have
company stay the night.
ìThen Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith unto
them, What seek ye? They said unto him, Rabbi, (which is to
say, being interpreted, Master,) where dwellest thou? He saith
unto them, Come and see. They came and saw where he dwelt,
and abode with him that day: for it was about the tenth hour.î
John 1:38-39
But if we allow scripture to define scripture, the picture of Jesus being a wealthy
homeowner here on Earth takes on a whole new perspective. There were many
times during the ministry of Jesus when He withdrew into the wilderness to pray.
ìAnd he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed.î
Luke 5:16
ìAnd it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a
mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.î
Luke 6:12
If Jesus has to go into the wilderness to pray, this brings some questions to
mind. If Jesus were a wealthy homeowner ñ why did He not go to His own house
to pray?
Why did He tell one of those that sought to follow Him that He had no certain
place to stay?
ìFoxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son
of man hath not where to lay his head.î Luke 9:58
Contrary to what John Avanzini and his cohorts have to say, there is absolutely
no scriptural evidence to support the theory that Jesus owned a home of any
size.