The Reality of Prosperity

WHY PROSPERITY?

There is an “anti-prosperity teaching” attitude in the church today, and yet most of the people with that attitude want to prosper. People that are anti-prosperity are usually bitter and jealous. To be frank, jealousy is really to be envious on someone that has something that you want. Who does not want to prosper? To be saved is to prosper, if you don’t like prosperity - you can’t enjoy being saved, and to be even more radical, if you don’t like prosperity, you don’t like the kingdom of God. When I used to live in Sweden, I loved to go visit my grandmother for a cup of coffee and some good time together. What I loved the most was, that she always ended up praying for me and this was always her prayer: “Lord bless Jakob, to be a blessing”. She understood that the blessing is not for us to keep, but for us to give. When God told Abram that He would bless him, the reason for the blessing, was to make him a blessing (Gen. 12:2). You can’t give away what you don’t have. Abram couldn’t be a blessing to others until he had been blessed himself, so that’s why the devil wants to make you think that prosperity is something bad. If the devil can make you think that prosperity is bad, you can never be a blessing to other people - and the gospel won’t be preached. Without prosperity you and I cannot fulfill God’s purposes for our lives. God’s kingdom cannot advance without God’s people prospering. We need this revelation. We need to know how to prosper! I’ve come to realize that people who reject teaching on biblical prosperity do so because they see it as selfish or greedy. Usually they say, “I’ve got enough. I may not be rich, but I have a roof over my head, I got food on my table and I got a family that is whole. I don’t want or need anymore.” Even though how good, sweet and unselfish that sounds, that is really a selfish attitude. The moment “you have all you need” you can not help anyone but yourself. People that have “just enough for themselves” forget about everyone else. God don’t want you to stay on the level you are on now, but always wants you to be a bigger blessing. According to Mal. 3:10b God want to pour out a blessing over you, that there shall not be room enough for you to receive it. He wants your cup to run over! Jesus said “Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom.” This is not talking about “having just enough” - it’s talking about having too much to even keep for yourself. And who will give it to you? The scripture says “shall men give”. God will use people to bless you, and he will use you, to bless other people. Remember that Jesus came for this reason recorded in John 10:10 “I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance [to the full, till it overflows].”

PROSPERITY - GOD'S WILL

We have been taught that money is the root of all evil, which is totally inaccurate. It is the love of money! “The wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just.” (Prov. 13:22b). If money would be bad, why would God want to bless us with wealth? When the saints come to understand God’s plan to prosper, every gentleman’s club, bar, casino and liquor store will be bought up and rebuilt into churches. The wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just! “The blessing of the Lord, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.” (Prov. 10:22) - The world is toiling for wealth, while God gives wealth to his saints even while they are asleep (Ps. 127:2). The world serves money, but money is serving the saints “surely goodness and mercy shall follow you”! Understand that God wants to bless you abundantly! Unexpected favor is coming your way! The blessing of the Lord will overtake you! The blessing will chase you down, attack you and shock you. When God is blessing you, you will know it, because it will overwhelm you! Receive God’s blessing today!