Genesis 12:2 (NLT2) God said to Abram:
I will bless you. . . and you will be a blessing to others.
In the very beginning of God dealing with covenant people, He reveals the law and purpose of blessing and prosperity. His blessing in our lives is so that we can have the opportunity to be a blessing to others. That is why the Bible says, “It is more blessed to give than to receive,” Acts 20:35. Because it is a greater blessing to be in a position to be able to give to others than to be in a position of needing to receive from others.
The covenant promise from Genesis 12:2 is the foundation for the Biblical concept of blessing and God’s plan for prosperity among His people. Through this we see God at work in the lives of His people to counter the effects of the curse.
Genesis 12:1-4 (KJV) 1 Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee: 2 And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: 3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curses thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. 4 So Abram departed, as the LORD had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him: and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran.
In this passage of scripture, what I hear and see is God saying to Abram, “Follow Me, focus on Me, trust in Me, climb out of the Tree of Knowledge and get back to Me, the Tree of Life. . .” This promise of blessing belongs to each one of us who has received Christ by faith under the New Covenant. Galatians 3:29 (WEY) “And if you belong to Christ, then you are indeed true descendants of Abraham, and are heirs in fulfilment of the promise.”
Too many born-again Christians exempt themselves from the promise of blessing, and the promise of healing because of past experience, sin, insecurity, feeling of unworthiness, or what others might think of them. But, if you take a look back at the complete story of Abram/Abraham he was also imperfect. Doing mostly what God tells him but, not doing exactly what God tells him, how God tells him, he goes through situations where he cowers to fear and anxiety. Abraham always turned back to God, and yet the Bible tells us that God was faithful to give him and do for him what He promised him that He would do.
Hebrews 11:6 (WEY) 6 But where there is no faith it is impossible truly to please Him; for the man who draws near to God must believe that there is a God and that He proves Himself a rewarder of those who earnestly try to find Him.
John 10:10 (NLT2) 10 The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life. (The Zoe life- The Life of God)
Luke 4:18 (NLT2) 18 “The Spirit of the LORD is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free,
2 Corinthians 9:8 (NLT2) 8 And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others.
3 John 1:2 (KJV) 2 Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospers.
What is prosperity?
1. Prosperity of the spirit – the new birth – from darkness to light
2. Prosperity of the soul – emotional prosperity – the fruit of the Spirit
3. Prosperity of the mind – the renewed mind – Truth shall set you free
a. The unrenewed mind is equal to mental poverty
4. Prosperity of the body – health and healing – physical prosperity
5. Prosperity in relationships – Love – marriage, family, friends
a. Opposite is relational poverty
6. Prosperity in resources – abundance in every good work
a. 1-5 is a prerequisite to number 6 . . .
God is against everything that causes poverty: ignorance, injustice, laziness, sickness. Genesis 1 tells us that God created plants and animals for increase (Verse 11). Verse 28 He told Adam and Eve to “be fruitful and multiply.”
When God was bringing His covenant people out of Egypt, out of captivity, the first time, we have Him telling His people. . .
Deuteronomy 8:7-9 (AMP) 7 For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and springs, flowing forth in valleys and hills; 8 A land of wheat and barley, and vines and fig trees and pomegranates, a land of olive trees and honey; 9 A land in which you shall eat food without shortage and lack nothing in it; a land whose stones are iron and out of whose hills you can dig copper.
THIS is where I want you to live: in a place of “No Lack, and of No Need!” I, God, want you to remember Me, to focus on Me, to follow Me.
Deuteronomy 8:18 (AMP) 18 But you shall [earnestly] remember the Lord your God, for it is He Who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day.
Proverbs 10:4 (AMP) 4 He becomes poor who works with a slack and idle hand, but the hand of the diligent makes rich.
First He gives us, by grace, the power to create wealth, in order that He may establish His covenant which He swore to our fathers, now, today. The key to entering into it is our agreement (Amos 3:3) and our responsive action of faith.
How much of your wealth or abundance is being used for its God-ordained purpose? If we don’t understand the purpose of a thing, abuse, neglect, and failure are the result.
Perhaps one of my favorite illustrations in the Word about the kind of Father that God is can be found in 1 Timothy.
1 Timothy 5:8 (KJV) 8 But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.
Does the Word say that we are His own, once we accept Jesus we are His? Is God an infidel?
2 Corinthians 9:6-15 (AMP) 6 [Remember] this: he who sows sparingly and grudgingly will also reap sparingly and grudgingly, and he who sows generously [that blessings may come to someone] will also reap generously and with blessings. 7 Let each one [give] as he has made up his own mind and purposed in his heart, not reluctantly or sorrowfully or under compulsion, for God loves (He takes pleasure in, prizes above other things, and is unwilling to abandon or to do without) a cheerful (joyous, "prompt to do it") giver [whose heart is in his giving]. 8 And God is able to make all grace (every favor and earthly blessing) come to you in abundance, so that you may always and under all circumstances and whatever the need be self-sufficient [possessing enough to require no aid or support and furnished in abundance for every good work and charitable donation]. 9 As it is written, He [the benevolent person] scatters abroad; He gives to the poor; His deeds of justice and goodness and kindness and benevolence will go on and endure forever! 10 And [God] Who provides seed for the sower and bread for eating will also provide and multiply your [resources for] sowing and increase the fruits of your righteousness [which manifests itself in active goodness, kindness, and charity]. 11 Thus you will be enriched in all things and in every way, so that you can be generous, and [your generosity as it is] administered by us will bring forth thanksgiving to God. 12 For the service that the ministering of this fund renders does not only fully supply what is lacking to the saints (God's people), but it also overflows in many [cries of] thanksgiving to God. 13 Because at [your] standing of the test of this ministry, they will glorify God for your loyalty and obedience to the Gospel of Christ which you confess, as well as for your generous-hearted liberality to them and to all [the other needy ones]. 14 And they yearn for you while they pray for you, because of the surpassing measure of God's grace (His favor and mercy and spiritual blessing which is shown forth) in you. 15 Now thanks be to God for His Gift, [precious] beyond telling [His indescribable, inexpressible, free Gift]!
Jesus said that if we give, there will be increase: Luke 6:38 (KJV) “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 ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.”
One of our first places to learn to hear God was in the area of our finances. Very shortly after Jimmy and I married, I started selling Mary Kay cosmetics, and there were several times when out of my own funds, I would give to God and see blessings given back immediately. In sharing this testimony/news with Jimmy, we then started making sure that tithes were being given out of our household monies, the amount that we were pulling from the business (which was the dairy at that time) to live on. We continued to see God respond to our steps of faith and still to this day see the same answers. My daddy always said, “You can’t out give God.” But we both say today, “It sure is fun to try!”
Our giving not only meets the needs of saints but also releases thanksgiving, glorifies God, models generosity, and causes others’ prayers to go up for us. We have approximately 400 employees across our companies, which means 400 households that depend on us to do good, I can guarantee you that our plane crash got some people’s attention! There was a lot of praise going up to the Father over that.
We have to give out of the goodness of our hearts.
1 Corinthians 13:3 (AMP) 3 Even if I dole out all that I have [to the poor in providing] food, and if I surrender my body to be burned or in order that I may glory, but have not love (God's love in me), I gain nothing.
KJV says “charity” instead of love. I think todays definition of “charity” is sometimes watered down, and doesn’t actually include love, but love should always include charity.
Galatians 6:7-10 (AMP) 7 Do not be deceived and deluded and misled; God will not allow Himself to be sneered at (scorned, disdained, or mocked by mere pretensions or professions, or by His precepts being set aside.) [He inevitably deludes himself who attempts to delude God.] For whatever a man sows, that and that only is what he will reap. 8 For he who sows to his own flesh (lower nature, sensuality) will from the flesh reap decay and ruin and destruction, but he who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. 9 And let us not lose heart and grow weary and faint in acting nobly and doing right, for in due time and at the appointed season we shall reap, if we do not loosen and relax our courage and faint. 10 So then, as occasion and opportunity open up to us, let us do good [morally] to all people [not only being useful or profitable to them, but also doing what is for their spiritual good and advantage]. Be mindful to be a blessing, especially to those of the household of faith [those who belong to God's family with you, the believers].
2 Corinthians 8:7 (WEY) 7 Yes, just as you are already very rich in faith, readiness of speech, knowledge, unwearied zeal, and in the love that is in you, implanted by us, see to it that this grace of liberal giving also flourishes in you.
We must develop a sensitivity to God about money by practicing discerning what part of your income is seed to sow and what part is bread to meet your needs. The grace of making room in your heart to be blessed so you can be a blessing, is not an option!
In about 2001, I came across a little book by Bruce Wilkinson called “The Prayer of Jabez.” In it I was introduced to the story of Jabez from I Chronicles 4:9-10, which is tucked in among the long, boring list of family genealogies and related inheritances. It was not an accident that he was mentioned in this context. Something must have occurred with his father that brought shame to his family and caused him to lose his inheritance and covenant blessing. In this time and culture, the father is supposed to pass on the family blessing, and Jebez’ brothers were following in their father’s footsteps.
But, Jabez was different, and He called on the covenant-keeping God to reverse the curse in his life. Jabez asked (demanded) God to, “Bless me indeed.” Jabez didn’t just want the hope of the promise but the real blessing that God promised to others who were Abraham’s seed – the real thing. Jabez was asking God to “Bless me that I might be a blessing.” Help me become a producer, not just a consumer; a giver, not a user and a taker. He asked God to “Enlarge my territory.” Give me land, possessions, and inheritance, for a base from which I can bless others. He then asked, “Let Your hand be with me” that I would have Your favor, grace, and anointing upon my life. He finished his prayer to God with, “Keep me from evil (bondage and sin) that I might not cause pain.” He was saying help me Lord to not pass down this pain to others – especially to my children.
And then the Word says, “So, God granted him what he requested.” God, is, right now, a God of His Word. Test Him, Try Him, Prove Him. He will keep His Word for you, just like He has and will continue to keep His Word for me.
2 Corinthians 8:12 (AMP) 12 For if the [eager] readiness to give is there, then it is acceptable and welcomed in proportion to what a person has, not according to what he does not have.
Mark 12:41-44 (WEY) 41 Having taken a seat opposite the Treasury, He (Jesus) observed how the people were dropping money into the Treasury, and that many of the wealthy threw in large sums. 42 But there came one poor widow and dropped in two farthings, equal in value to a halfpenny. 43 So He called His disciples to Him and said, "In solemn truth I tell you that this widow, poor as she is, has thrown in more than all the other contributors to the Treasury; 44 for they have all contributed out of what they could well spare, but she out of her need has thrown in all she possessed—all she had to live on."
Matthew 6:4 (AMP) 4 So that your deeds of charity may be in secret; and your Father Who sees in secret will reward you openly.
God is a God of increase on every level and in every dimension. The grace of God is alive in all His creation to produce increase. God wants there to be increase in your life; an increase of joy, peace, love, faith, health, vision, and resources. It is God who gives the increase. All we do is sow what He has already given us, and increase will take place.
“Here” is a harvest from the past. . . We are sowing seeds right now of “there” for in the future. God works by the principle of “Seed, time, and harvest.” Everything is seed. Your thoughts, words, actions, possessions, and resources are seeds.
We must possess our mind, possess our expectations, and our hope:
Watch your thoughts; they become words.
Watch your words; they become actions.
Watch your actions; they become habits.
Watch your habits; they become character.
Watch your character; it becomes your destiny.
The very nature of grace is increase and prosperity. “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you,” Matthew 6:33. “Honor the Lord with your possessions, and with the first fruits of all your increase; So your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine,” Proverbs 3:9-10.
Bless what you have, speak over it, call in the harvest . . .
Lesson pieces from Barry Bennett’s “Possess the Land”
Greg Mohr’s “Prosperity God’s Way”
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