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Money And Prosperity It is important for Christians to receive the revelation of true biblical prosperity.

Although we see in the scriptures more evidence in the Old Testament of God materially and financially blessing His people, the New Testament is also very clear in communicating Gods will to abundantly supply all the needs of His sons and daughters. In truth, God has set laws in motion from the very begining of creation, that when obeyed, will bring prosperity into the lives of all those that adhere to those laws. To limit prosperity to money only is to limit God. It is essential at this time that we let Gods word define for us prosperity. I) Prosperity Defined Psalm 35:27 Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favour my righteous cause: yea, let say continually, Let the Lord be magnified, which has pleasure in the prosperity of his servants. OT Hebrew: Strongs 7965-shalom, shaw-lome; from 7999; safe. well. happy, friendly; also welfare, i.e. health, prosperity, peace: It carries the implication of total soundness and wholeness. The word shalom carries the equivalence of the New Testament word salvation, or in the Greek, soteria, which is all inclusive. Thus, when the bible, both Old and New Testaments use the word prosperity, it carries the implication of total prosperity. Spiritual (John 3:3, 11; 2Cor. 5:17-21; Rom. 10:9-10) -Mental (2 Tim. 1:7; Rom.12:1-2; Isa. 26:3) Physical (Isa. 53:4-5; Matt. 8:17; 1 Pet. 2:24) Financial 3Jn2; Mal. 3:10-11; Luke 6:38; 2Cor. 6-10; Deut.28:1-14) Social (Prov. 3:4). Joshua 1:7 Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper withersoever

thou goest. OT Hebrew: Strongs 7919 sakal, saw-lal. To have success by making wise decisions. 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 may 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. OT Hebrew: Strongs 6743 tsaleach- tsaw-lakh- to push forward or breakthrough. Eccl. 11:6 In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand: for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good. OT Hebrew: Strongs 3787 kasher kaw-share. To be straight or right, to succeed, to be acceptable. 3Jn.2 Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth. NT Greek: Strongs 2137 euodoo yoo-od-o-o. To help on the road, to succeed in reaching, to succeed in business affairs. II) Poverty Versus Abundance John 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. It is clear, from an overall examination of the entire word of God that He is a God of abundance in every area of every aspect, spiritual, mental, emotional, physical, financial and social, in the lives of His people. If God delights in the prosperity of His servants (Ps. 35:27) and He is no respecter of persons (Acts 10:34), then it is His will to abundantly supply in all areas of life for all people at all times. Psalm 23:1 The Lord is my shepherd I shall not want (be in lack).

The Hebrew names of God, El Shaddai, (the busty one, the God thats more than enough) and Jehovah Jireh, (the Lord that provides) tell of His nature as much as Jehovah Rapha (the Lord our healer). Examining the lives of Adam, Noah, Moses, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, David, Solomon, Jesus, to name a few, demonstrates Gods willingness to bless His people in all areas of their lives. From John 10:10 it is clear that anything short of abundance, in any area of our lives is not the will of God. So anything that is stealing from our lives or our loved ones lives or anyones life spiritually, mentally, emotionally, physically, financially or socially is not God, but identified as the enemy, the devil. III) The New Testament Provision of Abundance 2Cor. 8:9 For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich. NT Greek: Strongs 4145, 4147 plousious, plouteo. Wealthy, abounding with, increased with goods, (be made, wax) rich. The provision for abundance in every area of our lives, in this case financially, was accomplished by Jesus at the cross. Hebrews 10:14 For by one offering he hath perfected forever, them that are sanctified. Jesus is the one perfect sacrifice for all time and eternity. The provision of the all-inclusive salvation is by Gods grace which we receive by faith in Jesus Christ. 1) Jesus was punished so we could be forgiven. 2) Jesus was wounded so we could be healed. 3) Jesus was mades sin with our sinfulness so we could be made righteous with His righteousness. 4) Jesus died our death so we could share His life. 5) Jesus was cursed so we could inherit the blessing. 6) Jesus was made poor with our poverty so we could share His riches or be in abundance. Galtians 3:13-14 v13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us:

for it is written, cursed is everyone that hangeth on a tree: v14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. Gen. 24:1 And Abraham was old, and well stricken in age: and the Lord blessed Abraham in all things. It is clear from 2Cor. 8:9 and Gal. 3:13-14 that poverty is a curse. The alternative provided by Jesus finished work on the cross is abundance. Let us define abundance: It is having enough for your own needs and more left over to bless someone else. True biblical prosperity has two main functions. The first is found in Deut. 8:18. Deut. 8:18 But thou shalt remember the Lord thy God: for it is he that giveth the power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day. God intends for us to use the wealth He gives us to establish His covenant on the earth or another way of saying that is to advance the kingdom of God on this earth. The second function of Gods intent to prosper is found in Eph. 4:5. Eph. 4:5 Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may give to him that needeth. Giving to those in need is the second purpose for financial prosperity. So, according to Paul, Jesus on the cross took our poverty that we may have His abundance as stated in 2Cor.8:9. Deut 28:47-48 v47 Because thou servedst not the Lord thy God with joyfulness, and with gladness of heart, for the abundance of all things: v48 Therefore shalt thou serve thine enemies which the Lord shall send against thee, in hunger, and in thirst, and in nakedness, and in want of all things: We can define poverty, the curse we have been redeemed from, from these verses of scripture as hunger, thirst, nakedness, and in need of all things. That is

poverty. However, this curse of poverty was perfectly removed in Jesus at the cross: 1) He was hungry He hadnt eaten for over 24 hours. 2) He was thirsty. John 19:28 I thirst. 3) He hung naked on the cross. 4) He was in need of everything. He had absolutely nothing when He died. 5) He was buried in a borrowed tomb in a borrowed robe. At this point, we want to emphasize that according to 2Cor. 8:9, Jesus became poor with our poverty at the cross at Calvary. Jesus was not poor prior to the cross. To suggest that Jesus was poor prior to the cross is misleading. Jesus could go anywhere and demonstrate the provision of His Father in every aspect of need, and the Father honored His actions. An example was the feeding of the five thousand. (John 6: 1-6). So on the cross, Jesus became the poverty curse so we may have abundance. 2Cor. 9:8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work. The grace abounded toward us is on the basis of Jesus finished work on the cross. In 2Cor. 9:8, in the Greek language, the word all is used five times and the word abound is used twice. Any time you see grace in the bible, it cannot be merited. Grace is a gift based on Jesus finished work on the cross. It cannot be earned, only received by faith. People live at one of three levels in their lives. 1) Insufficiency less than what one needs. 2) Sufficiency just enough. 3) Abundance more than enough. Why does God want all His children to have abundance? Acts 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. There is a greater blessing. God has provided abundance, not that we may only re-

ceive, but give so that we may give and obtain the greater blessing. IV) Giving is Worshipping God Ex. 34:20 But the firstling of an ass thou shalt redeem him not, then thou shalt break his neck. All the firstborn of thy sons thou shalt redeem. And none shall appear before me empty. Ps. 96:8 Give unto the Lord the glory due his name: bring an offering, and come into his courts. Prov. 3:9-10 v9 Honor the Lord with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase. v10 So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine. 2Cor. 9:10-12 v10 Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown,and increase the fruits of your righteousness; v11 Being enriched in everything to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God. v12 For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God; V) The Law Sowing and Reaping Gen. 1:11-12, 24-25 v11 And God said, let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so. v12 And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good. v24 And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kind: and it was so. v25 And God made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind, and everything that creepeth upon the earth after his kind: and God saw

that it was good. These scriptures refer to what is called the law of seed time and harvest, or the law of increase. It is important to note that every kind reproduces after its own kind. Apples produce apples not oranges. Dogs produce dogs not cats. Humans produce humans not anything else except after its own kind. When applying this to the law of sowing and reaping pertaining to finances, when you sow finances (money) you get finances (money). We are adamantly opposed to sowing finances for anything other than finances. In other words, one doesnt sow finances in order to reap healing, or deliverance or any other blessings except for what they sowed, in this case finances. Luke 6:38 Give and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that you mete withal it shall be measured to you again. This again is the principal of increase. The term running over refers to Gods abundance or increase. The term same measure refers not to quantity but the kind of seed sown. Again, every kind reproducing after its own kind. Gal. 6:7-8 v7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. v8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap everlasting life. Again, flesh reproduces flesh and spirit reproduces spirit, every kind after its own kind. 2Cor. 9:6-10 v6 But this I say, he which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he that sows bountifully shall reap bountifully. We maintain that the terms sparingly and bountifully refer more to frequency rather than quantity. The following verses will show this to be true. v7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly or of necessity: for God loves a cheerful giver. v8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye always

having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work: Please note that chapters 8 and 9 of 2Corinthians is dealing exclusively with financial giving which Paul expresses as an act of grace. 2Cor. 8:7 v9 (As it is written, he hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth forever. v10 Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness. This provision of the spiritual law of seedtime and harvest or sowing and reaping or increase or action and reaction (these are all synonymous terms for the same spiritual law) was instituted by God Almighty Himself for all that will apply this principle to their life in whatever area it is applied. It is an added benefit apart from Gods provision by grace. Phil. 4:19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Salvation is by grace. Inclusive of salvation is healing, protection, wholeness, soundness and yes prosperity. Romans 8:31-32 v31 What shall we say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? v32 He that spared not his own son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? Salvation is a free gift. Healing is a free gift. Prosperity is a free gift. We dont pay for the gift of salvation, healing or prosperity. Its all by Gods grace. To say that God will heal me by faith, save me by faith, but I have to give to get is inaccurate. This final scripture will clarify this point once and for all. Matt. 6:25-34 v25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? v26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor

gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? v27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? v28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: v29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. v30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? v31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? v32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. v33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. v34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. What did the fowls of the air, the lilies of the field or the grass of the field do? What did they sow in order for God to so abundantly supply and cause increase? How much more will our heavenly Father so abundantly supply for His own by grace through faith? This is Divine Providence. This is Gods abundance. This is Gods prosperity. Even the law of sowing and reaping, which is an added benefit, a spiritual law set in motion by God for all people before Gods provision of grace through Jesus Christ is a provision of Gods grace.

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