PROSPERITY
Why you should prosper.
Financial prosperity is a subject that never fails to light a fire in people. In some that fire is one of faith, in others it is a fire of a less favorable kind.
What makes it such a volatile subject is the simple fact that in the minds of many people, money is a dirty business. They have seen it tied up so often with carnality and corruption that they can’t believe that God would ever give us any more money than we absolutely need.
The question is why would he give us more money? We will never fully understand Gods will about prosperity until we know the why behind it. We all need to know the why.
Think for a moment, what is God reason for prospering his people? Is it so we can get bigger TVS or finer houses or maybe a more luxurious car?
If you are like most people it may be difficult to even imagine any other reasons for prosperity. The reason is, your view about money has been shaped by a world view that pursues it strictly for selfish purposes, greed. In the word of God, the Lord provides us with two entirely different purposes for prosperity.
Deuteronomy 8:18 18 But thou shalt remember the Lord thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day.
They were watchful lest prosperity caused them to forget the redeemer who delivered them from the bondage of Egypt. They were to guard against thinking that their prosperity was due to their own intelligence and their own power.
God intends for us to use the wealth he give us to help establish His covenant on Earth.
Ephesians 4:28 28 Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.
Establishing Gods covenant on earth and giving to those in need. Those are Gods purposes for prosperity.
It is tragic how foreign that concept is to most peoples thinking. I have actually heard people say: I don’t need much prosperity. I am a simple person with simple needs. I just ask God for enough to meet my needs.
They are mistaken if they think that is humility. It is not, it is selfishness. They could have asked God for more money than they need, take what they need out and use the rest to help others. They have been brainwashed by a world that says if you have money you have to keep it.
Without realizing it these people are saying, all I care about is meeting my own needs.
Jesus never built a worldly empire for himself, that does not mean he was poor. It simply means he was the greatest giver who ever walked the face of the earth.
It is time to stop pretending that money is not important, you know it, and God knows it. Why do you think he said where your money is there will your heart also be.
19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Psalms 73:12 12 Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches.
Most of us do not realize that there are two different types of prosperity, one from the word and one from the world. Ps.73:12 speaks of the latter.
Let your faith stir withing you and reach out and receive what you as a redeemed child of the living God have a divine right to. Don’t accept the curse of poverty, rather accept the blessing of hope and prosperity.
3 John 2 2 Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.
This is referring to financial prosperity and should be the case for every believer. Be in health, speaks of the physical prosperity; as your soul prospers is speaking of spiritual prosperity. Here is the whole gospel for the whole man.
One reason people don’t prosper, believers, is not from lack of faith, it is from doubt when they pray. The tiniest amount of doubt will cancel your faith and keep you from receiving what God has for you. He is waiting for you to ask and believe you will receive.
Don’t think he will prosper others and not you. That is a lie from Satan. Do not be deceived God loves you whether or not your prosperous. Your lack of prosperity has nothing to do with his love for you.
There is much love of money in the world and not enough love for the one who created the world. The LOVE of money is the root of all evil, not the money.
29 And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's,
30 But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.
The bible presents no data to support the idea that being wealthy is wrong. We find evidence to the contrary. The blessing of the Lord makes one rich and no sorrow is added with it.
Scripture also offers many notable examples of godly wealthy people, Job, Abraham, Barnabas and Philemon.
God does not disapprove of people with money, however, he does speak out against those who rely on riches as this young man did in the following verse.
Mark 10:23-24 17 And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?
18 And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God.
19 Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother.
20 And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth.
21 Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.
22 And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.
23 And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!
24 And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God!
Jesus also said it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.
Proverbs 11:28 28 He that trusteth in his riches shall fall; but the righteous shall flourish as a branch.
Now we begin to see why Jesus says it is hard to be rich. It is because rich people stop trusting God and trust in their money. This gives money the glory, not God.
People, even Christians, don’t seem to understand the importance of money. Everything, even money belongs to God. we as human being own nothing. Everything we have belongs to God. it is only on loan to sustain you and to help others.
Don’t be afraid to ask God for finances, enough to help others and enough to further the kingdom.
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