Biblical Prosperity

If you're new here - you’ve learned something pretty quickly.

we want to change the world, and we don’t mess around with that.

we’ve got lofty goals:

a completely transformed community that follows all of Christ in all of life

children that are carrying on the legacy of their parents - fulfilling the mission of Christ

schools and universities founded on Jesus’ words

redeemed hospitals that serve the people of their communities well

and eventually? we see the kingdom of Christ expanded across the nation and across the world.

well, how would we do such things? how would such lofty goals be accomplished?

By the grace of God, of course. And that grace would work in many ways...

ONE of the ways - is God’s blessing to his people.

God empowers his people with resources to accomplish his goals

and we, in turn, are called to be faithful with those resources.

so what should we do? how should we as God’s people pursue such resources? such blessings?

well, that’s what we’re getting at today.

3 John 1:1-4 “The elder to the beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth. Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul. For I rejoiced greatly when the brothers came and testified to your truth, as indeed you are walking in the truth. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.”

First off - we pray for them.

What is John praying for? - he’s praying for health and wealth. yikes John. Reformed people don’t pray that way.

listen - there are extremes that we gotta make sure we fight - I get that.

but prosperity is a doctrine - a promise from God for his people.

and we should pray for it - for ourselves, our legacy, our children, our brothers.

“Beloved, I pray that all may be well with you”

John is asking the Lord for his brother to prosper.

but in what way - just his soul? spiritually?

nope - he said “all” then he immediately references what - his health.

we’re not talking only the spiritual realities of the soul, we’re talking about “ALL” THE WHOLE PERSON

it assumes too, the spiritual realities of the soul.

which makes sense - think about it - if your soul is sick - you don’t want wealth.

why? - you’ll misuse it. you’ll throw it away.

wealth for those with a sick soul is at best cumbersome, and at worst judgement.

Mark 10:21-22 “And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” Disheartened by the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.”

the KJV brings out the point of the story better in v24. - “Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God!”

in other words - those with sick souls have sick uses for money - it’s an idol.

they TRUST in their riches. it’s their RICHES that give them happieness, protection, provision.

and Jesus wasn’t going to let him go any longer without knowing what his idol was.

But then, watch what happens just after that spectacle goes down.

Mark 10:28-30 “Peter began to say to him, “See, we have left everything and followed you.” Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life.”

Notice - The getting is connected to the giving up.

same as the rich young ruler. - he just couldn’t do it.

in other words - Jesus is teaching to live your lives with an open hand - they moved and lived in the way the Lord would have them and in return he promises blessings.

That’s the life of a steward. Someone who’s job is to build someone else’s kingdom.

You obey, you are fruitful and faithful - and the king allocates more resources for you to build with.

But preacher - does that mean we aren’t to just ENJOY things?

1 Tim 6:17 “As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy.”

it is to be enjoyed - but it is stewardship.

what does that mean? - You can feast to the glory of God - you can rest to the glory of God - you can enjoy festivals to the Glory of God.

but that doesn’t mean that you do so in some secret internal way while celebrating the pagan days.

“I went to burning man, and the whole time all the orgies and drugs were happening I was worshipping God quietly in my heart.” - that’s not to the glory of God.

You see - it’s BOTH - it’s PHYSICAL and SPIRITUAL - it’s the WHOLE PERSON - like the text in 3 John says - it’s ALL

LET ME HELP US PAINT THIS PICTURE A LITTLE.

what if at our feasts - they’re in the name of the Lord? And we give them a distinct rhythm and liturgy that is Christian? Bible reading, prayer, catcheism, singing, thanksgiving??

and what if we are throwing our own festivals to build a distinctly Christian culture?

and what if in our leisure we are celebrating the goodness of the Lord and his provision for us in our work?

It’s a distinctly Christian culture we’re trying to build here - in ALL OF LIFE

IMAGINE BUILDING SUCH A ROBUST CHRISTIAN CULTURE AND COMMUNITY THAT THE IDEA OF FINDING OUR PLACE IN ANY OTHER NICHE OF SOCIETY DOESN’T EVEN MAKE SENSE ANYMORE

a culture where we LEARN how to ENJOY and STEWARD the blessings of GOD WELL

and let me take a moment to lay the charge -- fathers, this is your job.

husbands and fathers are the tip of the spear of this initiative. In making your homes distinctly Christian. You are the initiative taker. You are the one who is out in front.

You set the course and direction for your family, so do it with INTENTION.

Your wife can take what you’re leading her into and multiply it by a thousand.

women are culture building pressure cookers.

but she needs YOU to start the charge.

so what does that look like? First - you repent. “Lord I’m sorry for being lacadaisical and lazy with my family culture, not leading them intentionally to you.. please forgive me.”

Then - you confess to your family - and you let them know things are going to be different now. “We’re going to follow Jesus in every way… and that means in every aspect of what we do”

and then… you do it. The Bible comes out at the dining table, the entertainment you pursue shifts, you begin to sing to the Lord together in your family culture… and then you know what happens?

Stewardship - that’s what happens- your whole family becomes a nuclear reactor of power for the kingdom. -

now you’re stewarding your resources well. and guess what that means....

So - we are stewards, and the Lord promises to bless us if we are faithful stewards - and those blessings are to be enjoyed to his glory further used to build the Kingdom - a culture of JOY.

NOW - if you’re new here - you might only be hearing me say “give your money to the church and God will give you more of it.”

that’s not it. you’re missing it.

tithes, offerings, care for the poor - all of those are important parts.

but what I’m really trying to get at is using your resources for kingdom building.

so tithe, give your offerings, care for the poor

but also - provide for your family, equip and educate them, and leave an inheritance for your children AND YOUR GRANDCHILDREN

with the state? - pay just taxes, which for many means get a good CPA that can show you how to save as much as possible without going to jail.

support Godly civil leaders - fight for BIBLICAL justice...

This is all good stewardship.

if you don’t, the bible teaches us that when you die, it’ll all be gone. the devourer will come.

if you do, he will bless you with more TO BE USED for the kingdom.

Matthew 6:33 “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”

Matthew 5:5 ““Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.”

2 Corinthians 9:6 “The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.”

2 Corinthians 9:7 “Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”

So - stewards - use your resources faithfully - and ask for more. To use it faithfully.

money to use it faithfully - business to build more from - health to serve the church and family even better.

and what does the Lord say? - if you are faithful in little, he will give you more to be faithful with.

so let’s ask the Lord right now, for faithfulness, and for the blessings of wealth and good health for generations to come.