Seeking God will Prosper You!

Seeking God will prosper you

Job 8:5 If thou wouldest seek unto God betimes, and make thy supplication to the Almighty;
6 If thou wert pure and upright; surely now he would awake for thee, and make the habitation of thy righteousness prosperous.
7 Though thy beginning was small, yet thy latter end should greatly increase.

Doesn’t matter where in life you are right now. If you are with God, you are increasing, because He loves you and loves to show Himself strong to His children.
Let’s Pray:
‘Father, you see where I am at, and I am seeking you for increase today, in your name I pray Lord Jesus, Amen’

Gods provision – Tithe!

God’s Promise is Basic Provision

If Jesus is Lord, and we are under a better covenant based upon better promises, then

 

(2 Cor 1:20 NIV)  For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken  by  us to the glory of God.

 

Let’s look at some of the examples of God’s provision in the Old Covenant.

 

We’re not under the law pastor, why not stay in the New Testament? It is written:

 

(1 Cor 10:1 NIV)  For I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers, that our forefathers were all under the cloud and that they all passed through the sea.

 

(1 Cor 10:2 NIV)  They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea.

 

(1 Cor 10:3 NIV)  They all ate the same spiritual food

 

(1 Cor 10:4 NIV)  and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ.

 

(1 Cor 10:5 NIV)  Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them; their bodies were scattered over the desert.

 

(1 Cor 10:6 NIV)  Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did.

 

God still wants us to obey Him. Look at the result of obeying God under the lesser covenant.

 

Think of it this way. If you have the choice of receiving a fifty-dollar bill, or a hundred dollar bill, which one will you take? $100? Why? They are both money. Why? Because the $100 bill is more. Think of the covenants of God  this way. The old covenant was good, but the new covenant is more.

 

Deuteronomy 28:1-14

 

28:1 If you fully obey the LORD your God and carefully follow all his commands I give you today, the LORD your God will set you high above all the nations on earth.

2  All these blessings will come upon you and accompany you if you obey the LORD your God:

3  You will be blessed in the city and blessed in the country.

4  The fruit of your womb will be blessed, and the crops of your land and the young of your livestock–the calves of your herds and the lambs of your flocks.

5  Your basket and your kneading trough will be blessed.

6  You will be blessed when you come in and blessed when you go out.

7  The LORD will grant that the enemies who rise up against you will be defeated before you. They will come at you from one direction but flee from you in seven.

8  The LORD will send a blessing on your barns and on everything you put your hand to. The LORD your God will bless you in the land he is giving you.

9  The LORD will establish you as his holy people, as he promised you on oath, if you keep the commands of the LORD your God and walk in his ways.

10  Then all the peoples on earth will see that you are called by the name of the LORD, and they will fear you.

11  The LORD will grant you abundant prosperity–in the fruit of your womb, the young of your livestock and the crops of your ground–in the land he swore to your forefathers to give you.

12  The LORD will open the heavens, the storehouse of his bounty, to send rain on your land in season and to bless all the work of your hands. You will lend to many nations but will borrow from none.

13  The LORD will make you the head, not the tail. If you pay attention to the commands of the LORD your God that I give you this day and carefully follow them, you will always be at the top, never at the bottom.

• Do not turn aside from any of the commands I give you today, to the right or to the left, following other gods and serving them.

 

 

Notice here that the rest of this chapter is all the curses that come upon the children of Israel if they won’t obey. But, Bless God, read with me Gal 3:13

 

Galatians 3:13-14

 

13  Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.”

He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.

 

You are redeemed from the curse. Some day, for fun, read each verse of Deuteronomy 28:15 until the end, like this. As you read out loud each of the curses, say after each one. Praise God! Jesus redeemed me from the curse of the law. None of this junk can touch me, I’m a child of the king.

 

Let’s look at this curse here recorded in Deuteronomy 28:47-48:

 

 

Deuteronomy 28:47-48

 

 

47  Because you did not serve the LORD your God joyfully and gladly in the time of prosperity,  ( Notice that if you do serve the Lord, you’ll have joy, and prosperity)

 

• therefore in hunger and thirst, in nakedness and dire poverty, you will serve the enemies the LORD sends against you. He will put an iron yoke on your neck until has destroyed you.

 

Do you see it? Who do you know who died on the cross to become a substitute curse for you? He was hungry, He said “I thirst!”, they cast lots for his garment, and…

 

(2 Cor 8:9 NIV)  For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.

 

Let’s  look at the words of Jesus, recorded for us in Matthew 6. I call it my “Don’t worry, be happy”, verses.

 

 

Matthew 6:25-33

 

 

25  “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?

26  Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?

27  Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life ?

28  “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin.

29  Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.

30  If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?

31  So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’

32  For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.

• But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

 

Yes, obedience to God will always produce basic provision. Why? God loves you. You are His child. If He created you, he has provided for you. Your job is to pray, obey, and study the word to learn his ways, so that you can have everything He wants you to have.

 

Yet, God wants us to move from the land of almost enough into more than enough.

 

(Isa 1:19 NIV)  If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the best from the land;

 

Tithing

700 years before the Law was given, Abraham paid tithes.

500 years before the Law was given, Jacob paid tithes.

 

Genesis 28:20-22

 

20  Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me and will watch over me on this journey I am taking and will give me food to eat and clothes to wear

21  so that I return safely to my father’s house, then the LORD will be my God

• and this stone that I have set up as a pillar will be God’s house, and of all that you give me I will give you a tenth.”

 

Notice here, what the Bible says about the love of money.

 

I Timothy 6:10-12  — Love of money

 

10  For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

11  But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.

• Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

 

It’s the root of all evil. It’s Satan’s main root in controlling people. When you begin to tithe and believe God in the area of finances, you attack his main root in the earth. That’s why Paul had to tell us to “Fight the good fight of the faith”, here. The issue is a heart issue. Who is Lord of your money? Where is your trust? Are you trusting God to provide, or are you trusting in your own strength? Remember, Satan steals, people hoard, but God so loved the world that He gave… Giving is the greatest expression of love.

 

When you tithe, it’s an act of war.

 

You see there are three heavens. The natural heavens that we see (the sky and the stars), the third heaven where Jesus lives where there are streets of gold and no sickness, dying or pain, but the heaven we need to look at is the second heaven, where Satan is prince of the power of the air, or god of this world. It is here that the angels and demons fight

 

Ephesians 6:12  For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

 

Jesus taught us to pray our Father, that “ your kingdom come, your will be done” where? In the earth, as it is in heaven. Which heaven is he talking about here? Well, the third heaven of course, where He calls home. The place with streets of gold. People say, now gold is bad. God doesn’t hold that opinion.

 

Genesis 2:11  The name of the first is Pison: that is it which compasseth the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold;

Genesis 2:12  And the gold of that land is good: there is bdellium and the onyx stone.

 

Everyone say “good gold”. No, gold is not your enemy. It’s your heart. Where will you place your trust? Is it in God, to give you all things richly for you to enjoy? Or in the beggerly things of this world that are not designed to satisfy the deep things of your heart.

 

I am convinced that tithing is spiritual warfare. Why?

 

Haggai 2:6  For thus saith the LORD of hosts; Yet once, it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land;7  And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith the LORD of hosts.

8  The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the LORD of hosts.

• The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, saith the LORD of hosts: and in this place will I give peace, saith the LORD of hosts.

 

When Satan tempted Jesus, he took him up to a high place

 

Luke 4:5  And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.6  And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it.

 

I believe Satan showed Jesus the second heaven, where he ruled as god of this world. Otherwise this would not have been a true temptation.

 

I believe when we tithe, we make a declaration before God Almighty that Jesus is Lord of our provision, and that the victory that Jesus won on the cross, is in force and in place in our lives.

 

Colossians 2:15  And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.

 

Haggai 2:21  Speak to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah, saying, I will shake the heavens and the earth;22  And I will overthrow the throne of kingdoms, and I will destroy the strength of the kingdoms of the heathen; and I will overthrow the chariots, and those that ride in them; and the horses and their riders shall come down, every one by the sword of his brother.

• In that day, saith the LORD of hosts, will I take thee, O Zerubbabel, my servant, the son of Shealtiel, saith the LORD, and will make thee as a signet: for I have chosen thee, saith the LORD of hosts.

 

I believe this is a prophetic book speaking not only to Zerubbabel, but to us the church today. God is now shaking the heavens and the earth, destroying the strength of the kingdoms of the heathen. What is the strength of these kingdoms? I believe it is the same strength Jesus saw when tempted by Satan. Devils ruling through the minds of men. We are the church where these gates of hell shall not prevail, for Jesus has come to destroy the works of the devil.

 

The earth is God’s and we are to rule and reign here as His ambassadors.

 

18 ¶ Therefore shall ye lay up these my words in your heart and in your soul, and bind them for a sign upon your hand, that they may be as frontlets between your eyes.

 

Deut 11:19  And ye shall teach them your children, speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.

20  And thou shalt write them upon the door posts of thine house, and upon thy gates:

• That your days may be multiplied, and the days of your children, in the land which the LORD sware unto your fathers to give them, as the days of heaven upon the earth.

 

See it? If you give yourself totally to God, and His word, and are faithful to walk with Him. He is the same God, His will is for you to experience days of heaven upon the earth.

 

Ephesians 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:

 

As far as God is concerned, your needs have already been provided for you, where? In heavenly places in Christ.

 

How do we get them? Well, Christ means the anointed one and His anointing. It is the anointing that breaks the yoke. How do we generate an anointing that will produce financial deliverance? We tithe, we obey God, and then we exercise faith in God’s word. When you tithe you declare before God, the great cloud of witnesses that went before, and the holy angels, that this world is not your source. Jesus is my provider, and I am no longer limited to this world and my strength to provide.

 

You need to see this as an act of war. God has already provided for you all spiritual blessings as His child. When you tithe and pray, you are simply taking what is rightfully yours. He then shakes the heavens for you, and the wealth of the sinner that is stored up for the righteous, begins to come into your hands.

 

Leviticus 27:30-32

 

On what should I pay  tithes?

 

30  “‘A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the LORD; it is holy to the LORD.

31  If a man redeems any of his tithe, he must add a fifth of the value to it.

32  The entire tithe of the herd and flock–every tenth animal that passes under the shepherd’s rod–will be holy to the LORD.

 

 

Numbers 18:21,23

 

Who shall I pay  them to?

 

21  “I give to the Levites all the tithes in Israel as their inheritance in return for the work they do while serving at the Tent of Meeting.

22  From now on the Israelites must not go near the Tent of Meeting, or they will bear the consequences of their sin and will die.

23  It is the Levites who are to do the work at the Tent of Meeting and bear the responsibility for offenses against it. This is a lasting ordinance for the generations to come. They will receive no inheritance among the Israelites.

• Instead, I give to the Levites as their inheritance the tithes that the Israelites present as an offering to the LORD. That is why I said concerning them: ‘They will have no inheritance among the Israelites.'”

 

Hebrews 7:6  But he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises.

Hebrews 7:8  And here men that die receive tithes; but there he receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth.

 

The answer to the question as to where we pay tithes is in this verse. You are going to pay them to men that are set apart by God for His work in the ministry. Eph 4, five fold ministry gifts.

 

Hebrews 7:2

 

This verse shows that Abraham paid tithes:

 

2  and Abraham gave him a tenth of everything. First, his name means “king of righteousness”; then also, “king of Salem” means “king of peace.”

3  Without father or mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, like the Son of God he remains a priest forever.

• Just think how great he was: Even the patriarch Abraham gave him a tenth of the plunder!

 

 

Luke 11:41-42

 

Jesus told the Pharisees to pay tithes (the only thing he commended them for)

 

41  But give what is inside the dish to the poor, and everything will be clean for you.

• “Woe to you Pharisees, because you give God a tenth of your mint, rue and all other kinds of garden herbs, but you neglect justice and the love of God. You should have practiced the latter without leaving the former undone.

 

 

I Corinthians 16:2

 

When should I pay tithes?

 

• On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made.

 

Malachi 3:8-12

 

What if I do and what if I don’t?

 

8  “Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. “But you ask, ‘How do we rob you?’ “In tithes and offerings.

9  You are under a curse–the whole nation of you–because you are robbing me.

10  Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the LORD Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.

11  I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not cast their fruit,” says the LORD Almighty.

• “Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land,” says the LORD Almighty.

 

Exodus 20:8

 

Remember  the Sabbath day

1/7 of our time; 1/10 of our money

 

Exodus 20:8

 

8  “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.

9  Six days you shall labor and do all your work,

• but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor

 

Notice here. When you tithe, you make a solemn declaration before God, the angels, the great cloud of witness that have gone before us, and Satan and all his evil bunch. Yes, you declare in the heavenlies that this world is not your source. Jesus is Lord of my money. No I’m not trusting in my riches or my own strength of arm to provide for myself, but am taking Jesus as my provider. Jehovah-Jireh, El-Shaddai, the God who is more than enough. This is one of the few places in Scripture where God dares us to test Him. I tithe, Karen tithes, and your church tithes on every dollar that goes through the bank account.

 

When to Canada from Tulsa, we had an old car, and pretty much nothing, and we gained  a computer, T.V. , appliances, a satellite dish, and many other financial blessings, all of which are paid for, cash. Why? Because we are tithers and givers, and God supplied for us financially. In fact, we have determined to see how much we can believe God for, so that we can increase our giving. God will do the exact same thing for you if you tithe and obey Him, He is a good God, who loves you, and He is no respector of persons.

 

Homework:

1.Let’s Pray: Father God, I now receive Jesus as my provider, as well as my Lord. I purpose in my heart to tithe and give, and trust you to increase me, as I obey you in this. Amen.’

Come Out of the Tombs of Defeat and Despair with Shouts of Victory!

“Come Out of the Tombs of Defeat and Despair with Shouts of Victory!”
by Emily-Rose Lewis, Charlotte, NC

This was sent to me on the Elijah List email list, and it bears witness to me, so I am reposting it. Please subscribe to Emily-Rose blog: https://desertroseinbloom.wordpress.com/2017/05/05/prophetic-word-may-2017-restoration-redemption-and-replacement/

Restoration, Redemption and Replacement!

The Lord says, “I have raised you from the dead. I have redeemed your life from the pit and am restoring to you the things that you have had stolen or forfeited to the enemy.”

“The month of May is a month of restoration, redemption, and replacement. I am giving you revelation into the deeper things of the Spirit to assist in this transfer of power. Rise up. Come out of the tombs of defeat and despair. Cry out with shouts of victory. Remove your grave clothes and stop sleeping among the dead. Come out from among them,” declares the Lord of hosts.

“I am a God of the living. I am breathing life into what was once dead. Speak to the dead dry bones, ‘Arise!’ Speak to the weak and wobbly knees, ‘Be strong!’ Come out. Rise up. Remove and lay aside the grave clothes. I am clothing you with those things that pertain to the abundant life that I have promised you by My Word. Do you believe in My redemptive power, My power to replace that which has been lost or stolen, My power to restore those things that have been destroyed?“

“This month is a month of divine replacement. I will replace the old with the new. The dead with the living. What is lacking with overflow. Sorrow for joy. And garments of praise for your former shame. Divine replacement will take place through My Spirit and My Word.

“Respond to this revelation of restoration, redemption, and replacement by faith. Release the dead, the old, the empty, the broken, the loss or lost, the shame, the burden, or the lack with confident anticipation of the divine replacement that I am pouring out over My people in May. Respond with release. Respond by faith. Respond in rest. Begin to praise Me for the victory that has already been won.”

Renew Your Confidence in the Goodness of God

Allow your confidence to rise beyond your former understanding of the goodness of God. Hope has deferred because of prayers that seemed to go unanswered and have challenged your faith. There is a shift happening, even this month, from waiting on God to respond to you, to an understanding that God is waiting on you to respond to His Word and His love. I am seeing long held beliefs about the Lord being shifted in the depths of your consciousness to better align with the truth of God’s heart toward you.

A revelation into the accusations that have been leveled against God’s character by your unbelief will bring repentance, restoration of relationship, and divine alignment with the purposes of God in your life. Those who are determined to trust in and rely on, not their own understanding, but the Lord of Heaven and earth, are going to be receiving an outpouring of His glory and grace. Faces that were formerly covered with shame, despondency, and despair will brighten in the light of His countenance that will be clearly revealed to those that have eyes to see.

Renounce all doubt and wavering. Draw near to God and resist the whispers of the enemy reminding you of your past experiences. Do not look through a faulty lens that is darkened by your refusal to trust in God’s grace and promise to bring good out of all things for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.

Come Out From Among the Tombs

Tombs marked “regret,” “shame,” “cursed,” “poor,” “neglected,” “rejected,” “ugly,” “weak,” and “broken” are giving up their dead!

“Come out from among the tombs of the past,” says the Lord of hosts, “what was, will never be again. Today is the day of salvation. Forget what lies behind and press on to the good things that are ahead.”

This is a season of harvest. Hard work and faith will yield massive results in May. The rain has come. The rain of the Spirit of God is pouring down for those to receive. The rain of God’s blessing and glory are falling!

Come out from among the dead and walk in the newness of life that Christ Jesus died for you to have. Peace is now! Life is now! Jesus says, “Come out.”

Obedience to His commands will release you. Your will is no longer captive to sin and death. Make up your mind to choose life, and the grace of God will flood your soul, enabling you to live life to the full. The glory and life of God will fill you up and overflow into the lives of others. You are called to be a container of the glory of God here in the earth. (To Subscribe to the Elijah List go here.)

Emily-Rose Lewis
Desert Rose in Bloom Ministries
Email: Desertroseinbloom@outlook.com
Website: www.desertroseinbloom.wordpress.com

Emily-Rose Lewis is a prophetic speaker, author and coach with over 16 years of service in the Kingdom of God. She founded Desert Rose Ministries in 2014 to bring healing and restoration to the Body of Christ through teaching, coaching and prophesying. She has studied dreams, visions and the supernatural, developing deep revelatory understanding into the ways the Lord desires to bring healing, guidance and prophetic insight into peoples lives and futures. Having walked through the process of healing from trauma and brokenness herself, she is a gracious, grounded instructor who has helped countless people achieve a more intimate connection with Holy Spirit and an understanding of how to cause their hearts desires to manifest in the natural realm. Emily-Rose walks in the miracle-working power of God and has seen countless miracles of healing in both body and soul. She imparts the heart of God with messages of faith, hope and love, equipping people with powerful weapons to rise above adversity and apply the victory of the Cross to their everyday lives.

Money with a Mission!

Power to get wealth

May 16, 2011 at 10:53pm

 

Deut 8:17 And thou say in thine heart, My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth.

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.

Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

Money with a Mission. Power to get wealth is the promise. Yet, like many of the promises of God it comes wrapped in conditions designed to protect us from even ourselves. We are to glorify God as He brings us money, recognizing He is the one who created us and who gave us the strength and skill to accumulate wealth for a purpose. What is the purpose? To establish His covenant in the earth. God and sons Inc. He has a business in the earth; the redemption business. Reaching people with the gospel, making them disciples, and sending them out to tell others. The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness therof. No matter how much real estate you accumulate, or how much equity you create, you are only a steward of that wealth. God’s desire is to prosper you, so that you can help fund His business. Some would say that’s Old Testament pastor. Nope. He still gives power, the power of the Holy Ghost, to do what? To be His witnesses to the uttermost parts of the earth. What does a witness do? Tells about Jesus. What happens to those who call upon the name of the Lord? They become born-again, establishing His covenant in the earth, through the blood of Jesus. Think about this:

Acts 16:16 And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying:

If a woman operating under the power of an evil spirit can bring much financial gain to her masters, how much more a blood bought child of God operating under the power of the Holy Spirit of Almighty God.

Even if we ‘own’ land here, we are only renters in the earth before God, because He owns everything. Paying our tithes at a good Bible believing church that is evangelizing and raising up people in the Word of God and their destiny is establishing God’s covenant in the earth. As you give today, know that you qualify for this promise. Let’s believe God for more of the Holy Spirit today, and His power to get wealth.

Want to get wealthy more quickly? Share the gospel with someone today, tell them about Jesus and get them adopted into the kingdom of God. You will find several things happening: 1. It’s fun, there is joy in it, because one third of the kingdom of God is joy! 2. There’s power in it, because it takes the power of God to translate someone out of the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of light. 3. There is money in it. You are fulfilling your part of the money with a mission message, and actively establishing His kingdom in the lives of others. He will do His part, and give you power and finances to get the great commission done. Truly, he that wins souls, is wise!
Let’s Pray:

‘Father, I ask you today, for the power of the Holy Spirit to extend and expand Your kingdom. I believe you will set before me today, opportunities to lovingly share Jesus with people, today. As You do, and I share the gospel with them, I believe You will release prosperity and blessing upon me and my house. I ask, knowing I am heard and answered, for I ask in Your name Lord Jesus, Amen’

The Lord has need of it?

The Lord has need of it…

Mark 11:3 And if any man say unto you, Why do ye this? say ye that the Lord hath need of him; and straightway he will send him hither.

We all know the story, how Jesus spoke to his disciples to go procure for Him a donkey for the triumphal entry, and told his disciples where to get one, and what to say to the owners.When the owners came out to see what was going on with a couple of guys apparently stealing their donkey, they were informed: ‘The Lord has need of it!”
Interesting verse, especially in today’s Christian culture.
Could you imagine a minister showing up in your driveway, and taking your car proclaiming: “The Lord has need of it?”
Yet, we say, that Jesus is Lord of our possessions, that we are only stewards of them.
Round here, all I can say, is the Lord better be speaking to you, or you’re going to get shot!
This verse exists, and I am convinced that God still speaks to His disciples to give certain things at certain times.

Problem is, we have all seen the excesses.

 

Prosperity preachers who prophesy money out of people’s pockets, clearly padding their own pockets, and giving the gospel a bad name.

 

Yet, there have been clear cases where God did speak to His servants to tell people to give, and they heard correctly.

Like my pastor, Billy Joe Daugherty, getting a word in prayer, that he was to claim a summer camp for youth, of at least 100 acres, and he was not to pay one dime for it. We call it Camp Victory now, and it is a remarkable testimony, how God did it.
Or when God spoke to us to believe for a second vehicle for my wife, and a couple came to the church, having just closed their driving school, asking God what to do with one of the cars. They learned of the need, and showed up at our house with a little Toyota Tercel, that we drove for several years. We had no idea they even had an extra car, much less were intending to give it to us.
Yet, on the other side, we all get the letters, you know the kind: “I was praying last night on my prayer rug, and the anointing fell from heaven, and flowed down my forehead, over my body, and into this rug. The Lord instructed be to cut this rug, endued with Holy Spirit power, into 1000 pieces, and to send it to 1000 people with the following instruction: Lay this upon your body, and you will be healed, and if you sow $99.95 into this ministry, when you receive this, you will receive $10,000.00 harvest in the next 9 months”
Could God have spoken to a man like that?

 

Sure He could. Did He?

 

Probably not.

Why?
1. You cannot buy a miracle. You can sow a seed, and believe God for increase, but notice that when hankerchiefs were sent forth from the apostle Paul for healing, he was simply moving in love and power to heal the sick. He was not taking up an offering.

2. Judge the fruit of the person’s ministry. If they were using this gimmick this month, what will it be next month?

The American industrialist, Henry Ford, was once asked to donate money for the construction of a new medical facility. The billionaire pledged to donate $5,000. The next day in the newspaper, the headline read, “Henry Ford contributes $50,000 to the local hospital.” The irate Ford was on the phone immediately to complain to the fund-raiser that he had been misunderstood. The fund-raiser replied that they would print a retraction in the paper the following day to read, “Henry Ford reduces his donation by $45,000.” Realizing the poor publicity that would result, the industrialist agreed to the $50,000 contribution in return for the following: That above the entrance to the hospital was to be carved the biblical inscription: “I came among you and you took me in.”
Bits & Pieces, March 3, 1994, pp. 1-2
I am not cynical about giving, like every Christian, I love to give. It is the nature of God, for God so loved the world that He gave…yet I preached a message recently entitled, ‘Be led, not bled”. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_x13nAPRbCE
I believe in vision based giving. Where a man or woman of God receives a visionary directive from God, then using common sense and sound business practice, they investigate how much what they believe God has called them to do is going to cost them, and they make the need known.
In the meantime, strong Christians and ministries are working the unshakable principals of the kingdom of God: Tithing, sowing financial seed, aggressively believing, and placing pressure on promises, not people.

http://chrisaomministries.com/2015/08/07/gods-promises-of-provision-from-scripture/

God must honor His Word, but how He does it, is up to Him.
I have been thinking about the work of the Holy Spirit in all this too.

When God sent Elijah to Zerephath, 1 Kings 17:8 ¶ And the word of the LORD came unto him, saying,
9 Arise, get thee to Zarephath, which belongeth to Zidon, and dwell there: behold, I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee.
10 So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, behold, the widow woman was there gathering of sticks: and he called to her, and said, Fetch me, I pray thee, a little water in a vessel, that I may drink.
11 And as she was going to fetch it, he called to her, and said, Bring me, I pray thee, a morsel of bread in thine hand.
12 And she said, As the LORD thy God liveth, I have not a cake, but an handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse: and, behold, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die.
13 And Elijah said unto her, Fear not; go and do as thou hast said: but make me thereof a little cake first, and bring it unto me, and after make for thee and for thy son.
14 For thus saith the LORD God of Israel, The barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day that the LORD sendeth rain upon the earth.
15 And she went and did according to the saying of Elijah: and she, and he, and her house, did eat many days.
16 And the barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse of oil fail, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake by Elijah.
Similar situation I’d say. God had spoken to Elijah, and He also had spoken to the widow woman. Had they not both obeyed, things could have been pretty rough for both of them. God had the provison of the widow and the prophet on his mind.
Notice the key in my mind to the whole account, God spoke to both the woman, AND the prophet!

Much can be said here, but I will end with this thought: While God governs by principals, He speaks individually to people.

It is a relationship He requires, not religion. He is alive!
John 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:

 

No matter what the emotional plea, the screaming financial need of a sin sick, hurting earth, we are only responsible to give what Jesus tells us personally.
If someone shows up at my door asking for money, generally, my answer is no, unless He should speak to me.

And speak He has!

 

I cannot count the times, we have had the privilege of God to meet human needs!

 

Truly, it is more blessed to give than to receive! There is wonderful joy in giving!
When I owned my companies, and would receive the countless support letters sent out by various ministries, I would carefully open them, and place the reply letter on my shelf. When we were paid on various contracts, and there was some money in the bank, I would take down this sheaf of envelopes, and get quiet before God to see what He might have me do financially for any of them.

 

Sometimes, He would instruct me to give our men a bonus, or buy a new tool, or take my wife out to eat, but often, regularly, I would write checks to many of these ministries, sometimes sacrificially, as part of my worship towards God. He fully understood the long hours worked to earn the money, the battles fought, the fatigue, frustration, pressure, and sacrifice we had endured to earn the money.

 

In those moments of giving, I had a fresh insight into the verse:
Rom 12:1 ¶ I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
Giving, at those times was a deep sacrifice between me and God, worship, only He and I fully understood. Truly, He understands the long hours, stress, sweat, and brutal deadlines met, that produces the money, and this is our sacrifice…

Where your pleasure is, there is your treasure; where your treasure is, there is your heart; where your heart is, there is your happiness.
Augustine

Yet, whatever a man sows, he must also reap. As I step out again on this well worn gospel trail, I am convinced that those sacrificial seeds, will richly provide the needs of this family, and this ministry…

Joh 6:29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.
Let’s Pray:
‘Father, you have created us all uniquely with different jobs to do to develop us, support our families, and to build your kingdom. As we see the next season approaching, may we remain faithful where we are, carefully hearing your voice, and living in obedience to you, daily. Shepherd, pastor; lead, feed, grow, and speak to me today Lord Jesus, Amen’

 

 

Money simply makes more of YOU!

Pr 10:16 The earnings of the godly enhance their lives,
but evil people squander their money on sin

Some years ago, I was over at Rhema listening to Deon Sanders, the football legend speak.

He made the statement: Money simply makes more of You!

He went on to explain:

If you love Jesus, your money will go to help support His work, and to build great things for your family. If you love immoral women, money will buy more women. If you love partying, money will buy more expensive parties, more cocaine, fancy wines, superb whiskey. If you love cars, boats, computers, toys, etc, money just buys more of them, but if you love Jesus, you will use wealth with wisdom….

I don’t know about you, but I am determined to make my life count for eternity!

I want each and every day to make an eternal difference in this sin sick, war torn, hurting world. I want to see people’s lives changed, by the love and power of God, and I’m hard after it.

Money simply helps me love more people, and do good in building cool projects.

Sure, the love of money is the root of all evil, but money itself is not evil, in fact, it can become an great tool to use in developing people. It makes a great servant, but a lousy Lord.

Seems the Lord has directed me to write and study often on the topic of Biblical wealth, the motives that govern our money. Here are a couple of thoughts:

https://chrisaomministries.wordpress.com/2016/01/12/wealth-gods-way/

https://chrisaomministries.wordpress.com/2016/01/02/good-gold-money-with-a-mission/

https://chrisaomministries.wordpress.com/2015/11/21/the-money-test/

https://chrisaomministries.wordpress.com/2015/06/18/what-spirit-do-you-serve-with-your-money/
https://chrisaomministries.wordpress.com/2015/10/27/wisdom-for-biblical-prosperity/

When I had my carpentry company, and was determined to produce the highest quality of woodwork possible, money was a great way to keep people motivated. Not only did it provide for us as we carefully managed and produced some incredible projects, but it was a great way to reward men who took the time to hone their skill set and develop as master craftsmen over years.

People who would never take time to listen to you about Jesus, have a lot more interest, when you are the one writing their paycheck each week, and they actually see God’s love being walked out in the workplace, a boss who regularly walks, talks, and sacrificially loves the people we are called to serve, earns respect through the sweat, that can come no other way.

Matthew 23:11

But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.

Seems God’s promotions simply mean more responsibility, and the privilege of serving and loving more people…

The truth is, there is a spiritual war being fought every day in the earth, and control of money is one of the weapons employed.

Matthew 6:24

No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

I have a couple of questions for you today:

In this verse, that has been often misquoted, I believe Jesus is not speaking about money directly, but naming an actual evil spirit that controls people through money, named mammon. Light and darkness, you can’t serve God and money, but surely you can serve God WITH your money.

Not all of the thoughts that cross your mind with respect to your spending, are your own. Holy Spirit will gently nudge you to do good things, and evil spirits will encourage you to indulge your lusts, and spend your hard earned cash on worldly pleasures…

1. What do you do with your money? Have you taken a look at your bank statement, and honestly tried to look at your cash-flow with the eyes of Jesus? Could you cook at home a couple of days, or pack a lunch, so that you could give some of the money you presently spend eating out, on supporting an orphanage, a missionary, or some unique Jesus project perfectly tailored to your gift?

2. What are you doing to grow in your gift and calling? Do you have a night course you can take, some books you can read, or a mentor that you could carve time out with, that will help you grow intellectually, spiritually, physically? Are there ways that you can improve, so that you might earn more money, not only to improve the quality of your life (God does love you and want you to have nice things), but to deliberately to earn more income to do your part in alleviating human suffering somewhere in the world…

 Let’s pray:

‘Father, please supply my needs today, and lead me and guide me in my spending, my giving, my stewardship of the resources and gifts you have given me, and give me creative ways to increase in all of these areas. May I ever be led by You Holy Spirit, not bled by the screaming needs and schemes of people, or the deceptive thoughts of devils. May I be generous, as You are Father, but careful to only give where You lead, not moved by the apparent need. I trust that You are good, and that You hear and answer me today, for I come to Your throne, in Your name Lord Jesus, Amen.

Ministers – Don’t Manipulate People for Money

If people in ministry have not learned the principals of tithing, giving, exercising our authority in prayer in the financial realm, dispatching angels, binding devils,and putting pressure on prayer and promises, all that is left, is the desperate, manipulative ways of man, as they sidle alongside potential donors, attempting to get their ministry needs met.

From the age old ‘selling of indulgences to rescue perishing souls from purgatory’, to the latest book or tape offer, ministers have used various techniques attempting to get people to give them money. It is a horrible sight, and brings great reproach to the gospel…

Yes, those of us who preach the gospel and who live by the gospel, are worthy of support, and yes, we depend upon the donations of God’s people that we might Go into all the world…

In a church, this is simple, people are conditioned to ‘bring their whole tithe into the storehouse’, and this offering supplies for staff support, lights, building, etc.

Yet, what about those of us who are five fold ministers, who are not pastors? There are four other ministry offices represented in the Body of Christ, and each of these is worthy of financial support.

In a perfect world I guess, everyone in the kingdom, would tithe and give offerings, and there should be such an abundance in the house of the Lord, that missions are easily funded, evangelistic crusades are paid for, compassionate ministries (hospitals, schools, orphanages, food banks, prison outreaches etc) are funded, and elders are only concerned with managing money well enough to ensure everything flows correctly, so that there is no lack of supply for kingdom initiatives, but for those of us serving as leaders in the Body, we quickly discover the brutal truth – many of God’s people do not tithe, and there are huge screaming financial needs all around us as we try to alleviate human suffering, and we need to be aggressively in the face of God to both ensure our personal needs are met, and then the needs of the helpless we are called to serve.

In the book of Acts, clearly the work of God was demonstrated in great power, and there was no financial lack:

Acts 4:³³ And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.

³⁴ Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold,

³⁵ And laid them down at the apostles’ feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.

I have learned that I MUST consistently obey and demonstrate great power with God among people, and great grace and supply supernaturally happens. It takes the power of God to shake devils free of the money they control!

And yet we see the fund-raising appeals, the telemarketing letters, the tele-thons, and the carefully planned meetings with potential donors…Ministers chasing money, instead of people with money chasing them!

We do a yearly missions banquet, where we show pictures of our missions trips, and present our vision for the upcoming year. We post often on Social Media, and send out a monthly newsletter, showing what God is doing through us, and encouraging people to give.

Gal 6:6 AMP The one who is taught the word [of God] is to share all good things with his teacher [contributing to his spiritual and material support]

This is why I stay faithful to the Word of God, digging deep into mine of revelation contained there, seeking fresh living teaching to feed the people of God, this is why all the books, blogs, and myriads of Social Media posts, this is my way of teaching, training, equipping, and ministering to people the Word of God….

True Faith places pressure on God’s promises in prayer, never upon people.

Holy Spirit is well able to speak to people to give, when our ministry is fully obeying God.

 

I took the time to research 100 verses promising God’s provision. Here, is the promises that will provide for you, for Jesus is faithful to His word, He cannot lie.

https://chrisaomministries.wordpress.com/2015/08/07/gods-promises-of-provision-from-scripture/

I then took these verses, personalized them, and they have become my sword of the Spirit, my confessions of violent faith as I exercise His authority through His Word, from before His throne, into the earth.

https://chrisaomministries.wordpress.com/2015/08/07/prosperity-prayer-and-confessions/

I have learned that as I become more accurate in my Spirit led obedience, God has been faithful to provide what I need, as He graciously deals with others to give into our ministry.

No, as we work, preach, travel, and perform the works of compassion required of us, Holy Spirit will deal with men’s hearts about our support.

2 Corinthians 9:7

Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.

I guess if anything I have written has blessed anyone, trained, equipped, or helped them walk with God, then they will be moved to send in donations and offerings to our ministry. If they don’t give, and yet somehow, I am able to encourage someone to believe God, get their needs met through His promises, my reward will be in heaven, for He sees, He knows, and He provides.

The gospel will never have a price tag upon it, for what price can one place upon eternal life?

Freely we are given, so freely we give…trusting Jesus for both the power to perform what we preach, and power to supply our every need, so that we can preach…

We all have out part to play in the kingdom…

Let’s pray:

Father, I trust you again with this day, to perform Your Word, with signs following. I trust You to provide for all the needs of my life, my family, and every family who has in any way received from this ministry. Together, our eyes are upon You, purposed to obey, in whatever path You have called us to walk in this life. Thank you for clear direction, and I believe I receive it for I ask again, in Your precious name Lord Jesus, Amen’

 

Negotiations – Not Every Offering is acceptable

Negotiations

2 Kings 5:26 Is it a time to receive money?

I remember this verse well, but to begin, let’s look at the account of Abraham looking for a burial place for his beloved wife, Sarah.

Gen 23: 4 I am a stranger and a sojourner with you: give me a possession of a burying place with you, that I may bury my dead out of my sight.
5 And the children of Heth answered Abraham, saying unto him,
6 Hear us, my lord: thou art a mighty prince among us: in the choice of our sepulchres bury thy dead; none of us shall withhold from thee his sepulchre, but that thou mayest bury thy dead.
7 And Abraham stood up, and bowed himself to the people of the land, even to the children of Heth.
8 And he communed with them, saying, If it be your mind that I should bury my dead out of my sight; hear me, and intreat for me to Ephron the son of Zohar,
9 That he may give me the cave of Machpelah, which he hath, which is in the end of his field; for as much money as it is worth he shall give it me for a possession of a buryingplace amongst you.
10 And Ephron dwelt among the children of Heth: and Ephron the Hittite answered Abraham in the audience of the children of Heth, even of all that went in at the gate of his city, saying,
11 Nay, my lord, hear me: the field give I thee, and the cave that is therein, I give it thee; in the presence of the sons of my people give I it thee: bury thy dead.
12 And Abraham bowed down himself before the people of the land.
13 And he spake unto Ephron in the audience of the people of the land, saying, But if thou wilt give it, I pray thee, hear me: I will give thee money for the field; take it of me, and I will bury my dead there.
14 And Ephron answered Abraham, saying unto him,
15 My lord, hearken unto me: the land is worth four hundred shekels of silver; what is that betwixt me and thee? bury therefore thy dead.
16 ¶ And Abraham hearkened unto Ephron; and Abraham weighed to Ephron the silver, which he had named in the audience of the sons of Heth, four hundred shekels of silver, current money with the merchant.

Notice the heart of Abraham here. He could have simply received this grave site cave as a gift, but his heart fully belonged to God, full of honor.

He knew that in the long run, not paying full price for this burial plot would have caused strife between him and Ephron, and there is no honor in strife. How? Think about it for a minute: the people in the community would say: Abraham is really wealthy, yet he took some of our land to bury his wife. He could have paid for it, but he took advantage of ‘uncle’ Ephron’s kindness…You know how all that can go…

Reminds me of the heart of Elisha after Naaman was healed of leprosy, yet he did not receive an offering from him.

Let’s look at the account here:

2 Kings 5:15 ¶ And he returned to the man of God, he and all his company, and came, and stood before him: and he said, Behold, now I know that there is no God in all the earth, but in Israel: now therefore, I pray thee, take a blessing of thy servant.
16 But he said, As the LORD liveth, before whom I stand, I will receive none. And he urged him to take it; but he refused.

26 And he said unto him, Went not mine heart with thee, when the man turned again from his chariot to meet thee? Is it a time to receive money, and to receive garments, and oliveyards, and vineyards, and sheep, and oxen, and menservants, and maidservants?

As we study church history, we have seen great abuses of spiritual authority in this area.

The great healing evangelists who would see the power of God open a number of deaf ears, or raise cripples miraculously from deathbeds or wheelchairs, only to announce:

‘Now let’s honor God by taking up an offering!’

As if one can buy the miraculous power of God!

Matthew 10:8

Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.

Not every offering is acceptable before God, and though folks may offer us money, gifts, great deals, not every offering is acceptable before God.

I remember how the Lord dealt with me along these lines while I attended Bible school at Rhema back in the 90’s.
I had prayed for some new suits, and while at a revival meeting, a man approached me and told me that God told him to give me three new suits that he had just purchased. We went to his house after the meeting, and they were beautiful suits, and exactly my size! I went home praising God, thanking Him for this blessing, but had a gentle nudge down in my heart, that something wasn’t quite right. Wasn’t sure quite what yet.

Next morning, in devotions, the Lord showed me the motives of this man’s heart that had given me the suits, and they were not right before him.

Mt 9:4 And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts?

The man was extremly bitter against Rhema, and was in gross rebellion towards God Himself. I prayed about what to do, and the Lord told me to return the suits that very minute to the man, so I jumped in my car, drove across town, and left them on the doorknob of his house with a note on them. Never saw the man again, but God ignited my heart with joy, and I knew that I had done the right thing.

The heart of any true minister of God, is to receive offerings, in faith, just like Jesus received the little boys lunch: When people give to us, we should have not merely gratefulness that OUR needs are being met, but more importantly, that they honored God in their giving, so that we could, with the faith of Abraham, believe God would multiply their gift exponentially so that THEIR needs are met.

This is the heart of the apostle Paul in the famous verses, often misquoted at offering time that he wrote in his letter to the Phillippians:

4:¹⁶ For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity.

¹⁷ Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account.

¹⁸ But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God.

¹⁹ But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Paul saw, before the throne of God, how God Himself was honoring the offerings of the Phillipian church, and ‘fruit was being added to their account’ so that he could state clearly that God would become personally involved in their finances, and would supply all of their needs according TO HIS RICHES IN GLORY by Christ Jesus!

Hope this helps someone today, trying to walk in their calling, and to keep their heart right before the Lord.

Let’s pray:
“Father God, I come before you right now, trusting you, and You alone fully for my provision. Show me where to give, and where to receive, and give me strength of heart, to never be bought, nor compromise our vital, living relationship. In your name I pray Lord Jesus, Amen’

Wealth – Gods Way

Gen 26:12 When Isaac planted his crops that year, he harvested a hundred times more grain than he planted, for the Lord blessed him. 13 He became a very rich man, and his wealth continued to grow.

I see a couple life principals in the life of Isaac that help me this morning:

1. He honored God. He prayed, obeyed, and sought God for direction. In the natural, this was a dry year, a year of famine, but because of supernatural direction, In the natural, it appeared to be good business sense to go down to Egypt, and he was obviously thinking about it. Yet, He prayed, and renewed the covenant his family had with God, and God told him to stay in Gehar, and not to go down to Egypt. Isaac planted his precious seed, worked his field, and received a bumper crop that year.
   

2. He honored his parents. All his life, he served and obeyed his dad Abraham, and learned the principals of love by which he operated. Abraham had 400 employees, so while we know him as the father of faith, he is also a leader with great integrity and responsibility. We know he is governed by love for his people, as demonstrated by the way he handled the conflict over well water with the herders. He didn’t end the conflict by digging more wells, not with the sword, though he was a warrior and could have surely handled it that way.
   
3. Though I said it in point one, I say it again. He worked. While waiting for a woman for his wife we see him m Gen 24:63 One evening as he was walking and meditating in the fields, he looked up and saw the camels coming. He understood the natural laws of the land, seedtime and harvest. He met with God in the fields, while checking and carefully guarding his crops, meditating on the promises of God after his days work. Surely he began his day with God, and now we see him ending it seeking our heavenly father. He was single at this time, and he was not a prodigal, chasing women, for he exemplified Proverbs 24:27 Prepare thy work without, and make it fit for thyself in the field; and afterwards build thine house He got his education, learned to handle the responsibility of the family business, then allowed God to add to him his precious Rebekah.
   

This is all I am going to say today, but as I  meditate upon it more, I will probably add more:

Joshua 1:8

This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

 

Prosperity Gods way is not about just money. It includes wisdom to deal with your career, the ability to balance the conflicting demands of family, work, culture, employees. It includes your health, no fun having money, when you are sucking your meals through a feeding tube…

 

God is love, and He is holy. In my opening verse, we see the organic nature of God’s prosperity: Gen 26: 13 He became a very rich man, and his wealth continued to grow.

 

We grow, spiritually, academically, relationally, in responsibility, in wisdom, ‘as our soul prospers’ and lo and behold, our wealth grows too.

 

Let’s do our part, and determine to grow.

 

Let’s pray:

 

‘Father, I determine to serve You, and seek You for Your supernatural directions and provisions. I want to grow. Teach me how to take more responsibility, and to grow as an adult, learning continually academically, spiritually, financially, and becoming a loving, firm spouse, parent, and honorable member of my community. I ask that you prosper me, and bless my house, and the families of all of those I am called to serve and lead. In Your wonderful name I pray Lord Jesus, Amen.’

Wisdom for Biblical Prosperity

PROSPERITY NUGGETS

 

I found this in my old sermon notes, and thought it might be helpful to someone today…

Habits and Actions to Avoid

Spiritual and Moral Actions

Covering sins (Proverbs 28:13 KJV 13 (MKJV) ¶ He who covers his sins shall not be blessed; but whoever confesses and leaves them shall have mercy.)  He…shall not prosper…

Ignoring the poor (Proverbs 21:13 13 ¶ Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard.)  …he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard.

Immorality (5:8-10 8  Remove thy way far from her[a harlot], and come not nigh the door of her house:

9  Lest thou give thine honour unto others, and thy years unto the cruel:

10  Lest strangers be filled with thy wealth; and thy labours be in the house of a stranger;) “Lest strangers be filled with thy wealth…”  (See also 29:33 ¶ Whoso loveth wisdom rejoiceth his father: but he that keepeth company with harlots spendeth his substance.)

Getting money by wickedness (10:3 3  The LORD will not suffer the soul of the righteous to famish: but he casteth away the substance of

the wicked. )  “The Lord…casteth away the substanceof the wicked.”

Keeping vain companions (28:19 19 ¶ He that tilleth his land shall have plenty of bread: but he that followeth after vain persons shall have poverty enough.)  “…shall have poverty enough.

Loving pleasure or wine (21:17 17 ¶ He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man: he that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich.)  “He … shall be a poor man…”

Overeating (23:21 21  For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty: and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags.)  “…shall come to poverty…”

Refusing correction (13:18 18 ¶ Poverty and shame shall be to him who refuses instruction, but he who listens to correction shall be honored.)  “Poverty and shame shall be to [you]…”

Troubling your family (11:29 29 ¶ He that troubleth his own house shall inherit the wind: and the fool shall be servant to the wise of heart.)  “…shall inherit the wind…”

(Other Bible students have found additional harmful actions)

Financial Mistakes

Co-signing a note (11:15 5 ¶ He that is surety for a stranger shall smart for it: and he that hateth suretiship is sure.)  “He that is surety for a stranger shall smart for it…”

Not being generous with the Lord and others (11:2424 ¶ There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty.)  “…it tendeth to poverty”  (see also Malachi 3:10-11).

Getting money without labor (13:11 11 ¶ Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labour shall increase.)  “…shall be diminished…”

Unwise use of credit (22:7  ¶ The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.)  Note: An incentive to being debt-free is to think about what could be done (both giving and increasing) with that money if it wasn’t servicing all that debt.

Giving to the rich (22:16 16 ¶ He who crushes the poor to multiply for himself, and he who gives to the rich, only to come to poverty.)  “…shall surely come to want.”

Charging usury (28:8 8 ¶ He that by usury and unjust gain increaseth his substance, he shall gather it for him that will pity the poor.)  “…he shall gather it for him that will pity the poor.”

Get-rich-quick schemes (28:22 22 ¶ He that hasteth to be rich hath an evil eye, and considereth not that poverty shall come upon him.)  “…poverty shall come upon him”  (see also 20:21; 21:5)

Lack of sales resistance (14:15 15 ¶ The simple believeth every word: but the prudent man looketh well to his going.)

Not having a budget (24:3-4 ¶ Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established:

• And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches.) “Any enterprise is built by wise planning…” (TLB)