The Blessing of Prosperity

The message on prosperity has been "abused", "misused" and received undue emphasis in the Church worldwide. We are aware of the errors that have crept into the Church because of an undue or wrong emphasis on prosperity. However, the fact is that God does bless and prosper His people. He has also taught us the kind of life we need to live that would be pleasing to Him as we walk in His blessings. Hence we need to present Biblical truth in context of the entirety of Scripture.

God desires to bless His people. God releases His blessing of prosperity in many ways. But walking in prosperity is more than receiving a blessing. It involves stewardship, fruitful labor, wisdom, obedience, giving, learning, and co-laboring with God.

Some Errors To Avoid
We are aware of some of the errors that have crept in because of the "prosperity" message. Some obvious errors include:

#1, Making prosperity as an indicator of your spiritual life, e.g. the bigger car you have, the bigger house you live, the finer clothes you wear the more blessed you are ..etc..

#2, Stating that a lack of prosperity is because of a lack of faith.
For both #1 and #2, we know that the Scripture does say that God has "chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him." (James 2:5)

#3, Doing no work, but claiming to "live by faith" and expecting money to just come to you.

We know that the Bible teaches us to work with our own hands:

2 Thessalonians 3:10,12
10 For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat.
12 Now those who are such we command and exhort through our Lord Jesus Christ that they work in quietness and eat their own bread.

Ephesians 4:28
28 Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need.

#4, Using "tithing and giving" as a scheme to "get rich"

Tithing and giving is an act of our stewardship and an expression of our gratitude and generosity. It is not a scheme to force God to bless you.

#5, Preachers claiming a "prosperity anointing" to actually squeeze money out of people and further their own agendas.

It is true that God anoints people for special ministries and kinds of miracles. But we cannot under any circumstance use our anointing to make money out of it.

The Truth is...

The truth is that God desires to bless His people. God releases His blessing of prosperity in many ways. But walking in prosperity is more than receiving a blessing. It involves stewardship, fruitful labor, wisdom, obedience, giving, learning, and co-laboring with God. This is what we want to remind us and encourage us in, through today's message.

Both the Old and New Testaments reveal a Generous God, a God who blesses His people. Prosperity is not, as some wrongfully state an Old Testament concept. God's nature - who God is - has not changed across the Testaments. The "El-Shaddai" of the Old Testament is still the "El-Shaddai" of the New Testament. He is still the many-breasted One who is more than enough for His people.

Christ died to provide "Shalom"

Isaiah 53:5
But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace (shalom) was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.

Shalom is soundness, health, total well-being, prosperity.

Shalom was provided for us through Christ's death. Shalom is God's redemptive blessing for us.

Some examples where "shalom" is translated “prosperity".

Psalm 35:27
Let them shout for joy and be glad, Who favor my righteous cause; And let them say continually, "Let the LORD be magnified, Who has pleasure in the prosperity (shalom) of His servant."

Psalm 73:3
For I was envious of the boastful, When I saw the prosperity (shalom) of the wicked.

Psalm 122:7
Peace (shalom) be within your walls, Prosperity (shalom) within your palaces."

Receiving The Blessing of Shalom (prosperity)

P#1 : Believe that God will bless and prosper you in life

Have faith and expect God to bless and prosper you.

Psalm 1:1-3
1 Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;
2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night.
3 He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper.

Remember that the expression of His blessing will be varied and cannot always be measure in monetary terms. God will bless you with more than what money can buy.

P#2, Do what God has taught us to do

While there are many Scriptures on this subject, and each point below can be elaborated on, we are being very brief, simply to remind us of these principles.

A, Walk in obedience to God

Isaiah 1:19
If you are willing and obedient, You shall eat the good of the land;

Obey God by doing your work diligently, fairly, and with integrity.

Proverbs 13:11
Wealth gained by dishonesty will be diminished, But he who gathers by labor will increase.

[Later this year, in June, we will do a complete series on "Timeless Principles for the workplace" where we will cover several Biblical principles in detail.]

B, Work hard, work smart.

Proverbs 10:4,5
4 He who has a slack hand becomes poor, But the hand of the diligent makes rich.
5 He who gathers in summer is a wise son; He who sleeps in harvest is a son who causes shame.

C, Be a good steward. Give generously. Handle money correctly.

Give your tithe, offerings and alms. (Malachi 3:9-10, Luke 6:38).
Be wise in the use of your money. Save. Invest. Don't waste.

Luke 16:11
Therefore if you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?

D, Avoid wrong-attitudes of greed, selfishness, pride.

Luke 12:15
And He said to them, "Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses."

1 Timothy 6:17-19
17 Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy.
18 Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share,
19 storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.

Deuteronomy 8:18
"And you shall 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.

We guard ourselves from greed and selfishness by practicing generosity and always giving thanks and glory to God. Remember that it is He who gives us what we have.

Make these simple principles part of your normal lifestyle.

P#3, Expect Miracles, Expect Divine Interventions

The Bible is full of miracles of supernatural provision, blessing, and divine interventions where God steps in to bless, prosper and provide for His people.

Favor and Promotion
Psalm 75:6,7
6 For exaltation comes neither from the east Nor from the west nor from the south.
7 But God is the Judge: He puts down one, And exalts another.

Supernatural Increase
Proverbs 10:22 The blessing of the LORD makes one rich, And He adds no sorrow with it.

Breakthrough Ideas
Isaiah 48:17
Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, The Holy One of Israel: "I am the LORD your God, Who teaches you to profit, Who leads you by the way you should go.

Complete Turnarounds
A people who had been slaves for 400 years, in one night took the wealth of an entire nation and walked out into freedom! Only God can do such a thing!
Exodus 12:35,36
35 Now the children of Israel had done according to the word of Moses, and they had asked from the Egyptians articles of silver, articles of gold, and clothing.
36 And the LORD had given the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they granted them what they requested. Thus they plundered the Egyptians.

God can do these for you and me today!

Remember, God desires to bless His people. God releases His blessing of prosperity in many ways. But walking in prosperity is more than receiving a blessing. It involves stewardship, fruitful labor, wisdom, obedience, giving, learning, and co-laboring with God.