Living a Prosperous Life in 2011

(A message on prosperity)

Every woman wants to experience prosperity in her life.  For the majority of individuals, that prosperity is generally material. To those of you living a life of lack, we have good news; you no longer have to live a life of lack. To those of you living in a state of just enough, we have good news for you as well; you no longer have to live your life in a state of just enough. The question is not “Can I have it?” The better question is “What am I willing to do to receive it?” Too many ministries are raising Christians with unrealistic expectations of financial wealth and other forms of prosperity. It is not enough to state with your mouth that you have accepted Christ as your personal savior. The confession, if it reached your heart, is your ticket to heaven. However the abundance, the pressed down shaken together, the barns bursting open, is obtained with much more sacrifice.  

You can have a life with more than enough if you are willing to stand by and on the word of God. Very few preachers these days want to speak about holiness. They have failed to speak the truth and tell you that prosperity is not simply due to your tithes and offering. I know what Malachi says about robbing God.  Please remember you cannot simply stand on one scripture. You must study the word in its entirety. Never let one scripture be the basis of your Christian walk. You must read the bible in its entirety and receive the richness of God’s word and understand fully the mind of Christ. Very few preachers want to make it plain that receiving God’s abundance is based upon obedience to His word and His will. Holiness is the true condition of obtaining a prosperous life that is pleasing to God. We will support these principles by taking you through the word of God. You tell me whether the truth is being provided without compromise.  

In order to live a full life we recommend that you read Deuteronomy 28:1-14 daily.

Deuteronomy 28: 1-2, Now it shall be, (This is the promise. Remember the promises of God are all yes and amen. 2 Corinthian 1:20) if (Key word. It shall be if you do the following.) you will diligently (Diligent is defined “constant in effort to accomplish something; attentive and persistent in doing anything.” Synonyms:  tirelessly, unremitting, untiring. You put everything into it.) obey (Don’t miss this ladies, please read and study with care. Obey means to comply with or follow the commands, restrictions, wishes and instructions of. To submit or conform in action to. To be obedient.) the Lord your God, being careful to do all His commandments which I command you today, the Lord will set you high above all the nations of the earth. All these blessings shall come upon you and overtake (This is rich so hide these words in your heart ladies.  Overtake is defined this way, to catch up with and pass. If you diligently obey God, your prosperity will catch up with and pass you! Now you have to admit that’s good word and good news! Overtake is further defined to move ahead of in achievement, productions, scores, etc, to surpass!) if (There’s that word “if” again. “If” always means a condition of.) you will obey the Lord your God.  

The promise of abundance is given twice in the first two scriptures with the same conditions following the promise. Don’t miss! You want to internalize this “if” a life of prosperity is your goal. God is so good that after He spells out what He requires of you to receive blessings, He gives you a glimpse of what a life that reflects obedience and love for God looks like. He is so wonderful that He takes out the questions of what is and is not covered and He lovingly shares His plan of treasures and promises waiting for you “if” (There is that word conditional again.) you live a life that is obedient to His specific commands. I know I keep repeating this but so does God.  If God thought it important enough to keep saying it, who am I to stray from His guidance? 

Deuteronomy 28:3-9, Blessed (divinely or supremely favored, blissfully happy, content. Bringing thankfulness and happiness) shall you be in the city, and blessed shall you be in the country. (No matter where you go blessings will overtake you.) Blessed shall be the offspring of your body (Your obedience and blessings will transfer to your children. They will be blessed because of your obedience.) and the produce of your ground (These were farmers generally so you can apply this to your work place or your place of business.) and the offspring of your beast (This can be transferred to your employees or anything else that is part of your ability to prosper.) the increase of your herd and the young of your flock. (Everything that pertains to your prosperity will bring you much joy and continued advancement.) Blessed shall be your basket and your kneading bowl (The cupboards in your home shall always remain plentiful). Blessed shall you be when you come in, and blessed shall you be when you go out (Coming or going blessings will follow you and overtake you). The Lord will cause your enemies who rise up against you to be defeated before you; (You will see God’s hands on those who are attempting to bring you harm. Your enemies will be defeated.) they (your enemies) shall come out against you one way and shall flee before you seven ways (They won’t know what hit them. They will be breaking their necks to get away from you.) The Lord will command the blessings upon you in your barns and in all that you put your hand to and He will bless you in the land which the Lord your God gives you. (Wherever God moves you, you will flourish.) The Lord will establish (Found, institute, build or bring into being on a firm or stable basis. To bring about permanently) you as a holy (set a part for God) people to Himself, as He swore to you if (There’s that condition again.) you will keep the commandments of the Lord your God, and walk in His ways. (God reminds you what you must do to receive bountifully from Him.)  

Deuteronomy 28:12, The Lord will open for you His good storehouse, the heavens, to give rain to your land in its season (Once again the focus is farming. Transfer the thoughts to your career and other things that deal directly with your prosperity. Notice God says “in its season”. Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 reminds us that there is a time for everything under the sun. This is a key point to your sanity. You have a season for all these blessings to over take you if (the clause) you live your life according to the word of God. Don’t stress out and put your timeline on it. Let God put His timeline on it and simply live your life as God has instructed. Be reminded that God is not slack (slow) about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you (This passage speaks specifically about salvation, yet the principle applies.) God is not slack. He will do what He said He would do in His timing. I might add His perfect timing. God knows when you are ready to receive various things in your life. He spends time preparing us so when blessings come we can receive them in the spirit they were intended. I could give you many scriptures about waiting on the Lord. I encourage you to do an in-depth study on waiting on God and the promises and rewards associated with waiting.  Store this scripture in your heart: “God is not a man that He would lie nor the son of man that He should repent” (change His mind.) Numbers 23:19. In order to please God during this waiting period, we must stand on Proverbs 3:5, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not unto your own understanding.” Trust God to do exactly what He says He is going to do. Try not to figure out in your finite mind when the Infinite mind is going to manifest those blessings in your life. Actually I take that back; we do know when God is going to announce our season; when we are ready.) and to bless all the work of your hand (Everything you put your hand to God is going to bless); and you shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow.     

Deuteronomy 28:13-14 And the Lord shall make you the head and not the tail (You will be first and not last), and you shall be above and you shall not be underneath if you will listen to the commandments of the Lord your God, which I charge you today, to observe them carefully, and do not turn aside from any of the words which I command you today, to the right or to the left (Don’t get distracted by the world and ungodly counsel. No matter how good it may sound, test all counsel by the word of God. Stop going by feelings or “it sounds good”.  Stand on what the word says and do it.) to go after other gods to serve them. (Other gods are anything that takes your focus away from God.) 

If you still doubt the validity of this message, please read through the Old Testament and see when the Jews had much and when they had lacked. You will discover that they always had much when they walked (lived their life) according to the Word of God. When they turned from God and decided to be wise in their own eyes they lost everything.   

Here are some scriptures to store in your heart to remind you of your priorities as a child of God.  

·       Paul reminds us that because Christ died for us, we are not to live our lives for ourselves, but for God.  2 Corinthians 5:15 

·       For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. 2 Corinthians 5:10  (What are you living for, things or holiness unto God?) 

·       James 1:27 reminds us that true undefiled religion is taking care of widows and orphans and keeping oneself holy. Ladies  we will be judged on this standard. What are you doing with your resources? What are you doing with your time? What are you doing with your talents? 

·       Search me. O God, and know my heart (my motives) try me (test my motives) and know my anxious thoughts and see if there be any harmful way in me and lead me in the everlasting way. Psalms 139:23-24 

·       No good thing does He (God) withhold from those who walk uprightly.  Psalms 84:11b 

·       Man cannot serve two Gods. He will love one and hate the other. Matthew 6:24. You cannot serve God and money. God is letting us know that if we covet material things and not the things that concern Him, then our true love is material and not God. Don’t get confused.  

Now I know some of you are still challenged. You are wondering if I am saying wealth is not a good thing and anyone who enjoys nice things is wrong. Did I say obtaining nice things is wrong? God forbid! I enjoy nice things like the best of them. I am saying don’t let your pursuit of prosperity begin and end with a desire for riches and the acquisition of nice things.  Don’t allow your heart to get clouded with stuff.  Instead, let it get clouded with the Stuff Provider. Seek His will and His desire and He in turn, will give you the desires of your heart. Psalms 37:4.  Since 1 Peter 1:16 instructs us to, “Be ye holy; for I am holy,” the ultimate goal of our walk should be the pursuit of holiness.

The most important heart felt sentiment you should store in your heart and take out of this message is, when you seek the things and take care of the things that are important to God, He will take care of those things that are important to you.

Much prosperity to you and yours in 2011!