Wednesday, February 24, 2010

The Message of Prosperity


PROSPERITY!

What is it? Do Christians need to be prosperous?

What does prosperity mean?

Prosperity: the condition of being successful or thriving; especially : economic well-being

What is wrong with this?

Why should Chrisitans not be able to succeed and thrive?

How on earth would we be able to give to the needs around us?!

You need money to do many things.
Just the other day I was thinking of a family in my church who were sitting with a cold sort of look. I came up to them and introduced myself with a big smile (no not cheesy) and genuinely wanted to get to know them. They were very distant. I understand sometimes you never know who is faking their hellos in Church. SAD BUT TRUE! Maybe they were thinking--(does this person really want to say hi to us?) Anway, they were cold. I tried to start conversation but they were cold. They just talked amongst themselves.

I am going to make a point to love on them every Sunday, whether they like it or not! Then the thought came to mind
I thought--If I handed them $50 and told them to go out to lunch and have a great time. Would they still be cold towards me? Yeah, they would be taken aback, but I know they would take the money. I would tell them the Lord wanted them to have it.....I would tell them this.

This sort of behavior doesn't happen in most churches.
Why?
Most Christians haven't been taught to give abundantly! We are always looking out for our needs first, not the needs of others.

YES
GOD
DOES
WANT
US
2
PROSPER
FOR THE
SAKE
OF
OTHERS
NOT TO
FILL
OUR
SELFISH
BELLYS


Ephesians 4:28

Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.


Why do we work? For what purpose....?

God's heart is that we would be givers.....Read the above scripture again.


2 Corinthians 9-12

(As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever.

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;)

Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God.

For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God;


He wants us to be givers where ever we go! Money can move many mountains when used right. It can open up doors that have never been opened before. Queen of Sheba was able to dine with King Solomon because of her gifts she brought. He then gave her triple the amount of blessing back.

Yes, the prosperity message needs to be taught in a way that is not seen as covetousness. It isn't about the nice things we can get. Even though it isn't a SIN to live in a nice home for entertaining and making it a refuge for families to retreat.

I'm not against ministers that have airplanes. They are spreading the Gospel all over the world.

Why is it OK for Oprah to have it?

Donald Trump?

Many celebrities?

But not the man or woman of God?

Why do preachers have to walk in poverty and preach in creaky run down churches?

Many ministers have built churches, homes, orphages, hospitals, etc.... all over the world.

We can use money to touch many, many lives.

I pray that every Christian, Young and Old alike will come into prosperity for the sake of the Cross!

ALWAYS BE READY TO:

give someone a $100, for Jesus

Fill someones gas tank, for Jesus

Pay someone's car payment or mortagage, for Jesus

Buy someone groceries, for Jesus

Be a GIVER! A Cheerful GIVER!


2 Corinthians 9:7

Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.


Why is it good to be abundantly blessed?

Because it opens doors to peoples hearts!


And let me leave you with this one to ponder on.

Who is the one in the Bible who said

"Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?"

Was it Jesus?

Of course not!

It was the traitor Judas Iscariot


John 12:4-6

Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, which should betray him,

Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?

This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein.


To those who want to criticize, judge, and condemn those who have used money to bless many people around the world, or maybe have a nicer home than you...

Are you jealous? What makes you despise and be angered?

Mostly those who want to bite are usually the MOST COVETOUS people on the planet. Beware your spirit isn't like Judas! Check your hearts because the bitterness and lack of love that dwells in there is from Satan Himself (the ruler of the world who would love the gospel to crumble and never be spread)

The prosperity message, when preached right is A HUGE BLESSING in the KINGDOM OF GOD!

FREE IN CHRIST


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