Spiritual Prosperity
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Introduction:
Introduction:
We all want to succeed in life. We all want to have everything that we might ever want, and to never be in need of anything. This is the human condition the desire to be successful.
The problems lie with defining what is success.
A traditional dictionary definition describes success as the favorable conclusion of attempts, gaining wealth or honors, or a person/thing that succeeds
This is likely of the same mind that we get our definition of success from.
We haven’t made it until we’ve made it.
Physical prosperity seems to be the name of the game through a worldly lens.
I have made it,
I have done it,
I have achieved it.
Being prideful in the achievements of your own merit and doing. Physical prosperity is a worldview that unfortunately has infiltrated Evangelicalism.
Pride is basically a sin of attitude and of the heart and spirit
A high look, a proud heart,
and the plowing of the wicked are sin.
This is how we deem prosperity, and the Church world has grabbed hold of it. Countless books talking about the “Prosperity Gospel”.
Countless sermons preaching for the Prosperity Gospel, and countless sermons preaching against the Prosperity Gospel.
I have found often, that people who are for the prosperity Gospel are hoping and praying for a lotto ticket, and people who are against the prosperity Gospel are those who are trying to be as humble as possible with the situation that they’re in and they’re not grabbing hold of the Scriptures which do talk about prosperity.
So, Pastor, where are we? Where is the line, what said does the Bible talk about? I am confused, do we stand for Prosperity or run from it?
That is what we’re going to talk about today, what is true prosperity. In a couple of weeks we’re going to start a new series on God’s Economy, but today I want to discuss Prosperity.
The cause of all prosperity is the favour of God.
John Calvin (French Reformer)
The problem that we find ourselves in often is that we try to look at the Bible through a one sided lens. We want the prosperity, without any of the work. John Calvin’s statement is so true, it is the Favor of God that is the route cause of Prosperity.
In our pit stop in Route 66 this week, we see the 3rd epistle of John. John in this epistle is writing to a church leader named Gaius, and in the letter also commends Demetrius. There are some great talking points in 3 John.
Like, as leaders we need to uphold the Word of God, we need to walk in truth, we need to imitate good and not evil. All of those we will touch on but there is this verse that jumps out at me at the top of Letter it is.
English Revised Version 3 John
2 Beloved, I pray that in all things thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.
Prosper with a Purpose
. I often wonder if we know what it means to prosper. I mentioned in the introduction that we all have an idea of prosperity, however, it is typically based off the World’s view of prosperity.
i. What if I told you that God cares more about your Spiritual well-being than your physical being?
a. This statement does not take away from the fact that your physical well being is very important to the Lord, however, it truly is secondary.
b. John writes, that he wants Gaius to prosper, but only as his soul prospers.
c. If your soul isn’t prospering, then physical prosperity is null and void.
We need to learn what it means to Prosper with a purpose.
Prosperity Theology- makes the wider statement if prosperity is not present in the lives of professing Christians, then God’s blessing may not be upon them.
This is not prospering with a purpose, it puts wealth and health physically above spiritual, whereas John identifies it only secondary.
Prospering with a purpose is identifying the priority of prosperity.
I want us to notice this when we talk about Purposeful prosperity. “To prosper” and different variations of that is very important in the Scriptures, 76 verses learn towards that idea and or have the word “Prosper” in them.
Therefore, keep the words of this covenant and do them, so that you may prosper in all you do.
I would venture to say that
God views prosperity in a different light than how man views it.
The first key point I want us to see about
Prosperity is that it is tied to Obedience.
The prosperity that see in these verses that are tied directly in with obedience is physical.
Your obedience brings about your physical prosperity AND your Spiritual Prosperity.
Obey the commandments of God.
Quickly
The Greek word here for
prosper is euodoo (yoo-od-o-o) from two root words:
eu (yoo) meaning
"well done",
hodos
(hod-os) meaning;
progress in a long journey
to help on the long road
to succeed in reaching,
an act in traveling a great distance.
So the real definition of
prosper in this passage is "to succeed or have a prosperous journey."
Our Spiritual journey, Spiritual Prosperity, is tied directly into your Obedience of His Word. This brings about a physical prosperity because of you desiring to follow Christ. What we notice firstly is Spiritual prosperity.
Obedience to the commands of God- Spiritual Prosperity
Therefore be perfect, even as your Father who is in heaven is perfect.
This means that to strive to obey, to strive for spiritual prosperity, to strive for spiritual growth, is striving to Listen to what the Holy Spirit tells you.
Obeying is not going through those open doors when God tells you to wait.
Obeying is giving your last dollar not knowing what is coming next.
Obeying is walking up to that person that you do not like and laying your hands on them and pray for them as the Spirit leads you.
Obeying is Spiritual Prosperity.
How does that happen?
What does it look like?
How do i get there?
Maybe they can be answered like this.
Rejoicing Always- 1 Thess 5:16
Praying without Ceasing- vs 17
Giving thanks in everything- vs 18
Not Quenching the Spirit vs19
Not despising Prophecies vs 20
Examine all things and hold to what is good vs 21
Abstain from all appearances of Evil vs 22
Prospering with a purpose is understanding that Spiritual Prosperity is not only more important to God but it is vital to our walk with Him.
For this reason John writes after he talks about prospering as your soul prospers he says “I rejoiced when i heard about your walk in the truth.”
Our Walk with God should be our number one priority!
Above all else
Above financial Goals
Above a big house.
Above children that obey.
Above how much you love your spouse.
Your Walk with God is the most important thing.
To prosper financially and walk in direct opposition to the direction that God would be leading is gaining worldly things but losing your soul.
The Tony Evans Bible Commentary I. Greetings (1–4)
Some people have wrongly tried to advocate a “prosperity gospel” using these verses. Now, God is not necessarily against prosperity and health. There’s nothing inherently evil in having money or being physically fit. Getting a raise at work and improving your fitness are fine. But these things are only beneficial “as your soul prospers.” Without a prospering soul—that is, without spiritual development—your motivations will be misplaced, and your health and wealth will leave you hollow.
Let me ask this question to you today, what is your purpose when we talk about prosperity?
Is your purpose to retain all the money and wealth that you can?
Is it to make sure you’re healthy at all times and that is your key priority?
Or is it your Spiritual growth, and whatever comes after your spiritual growth you have made up your mind you are Okay with?
Are your Prospering with a purpose?
2. Pursue Abundant Life
The thief does not come, except to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
I love this Scripture there is so much truth found in two sentences. Firstly it identifies what the adversary has come to do. He has come to steal, to kill, and destroy.
If you are facing a battle it is the sole desire of the enemy to steal your dream. Once he has it he’s going to attempt to kill your dream, and then destroy it so it feels like you can’t pick it back up.
He wants to make it so it feels like there is no way of ever getting it back together. It can’t happen,
you can’t put those pieces of your marriage back together.
You can’t get off drugs and stay off drugs.
You can’t get freedom from depression.
You can’t get freedom from anxiety.
YOU can’t.
Here is the thing, the devil isn’t lying about that, you can’t. You can’t retrieve those things. You can’t go and get them back within your own power.
The thief cometh not with any good intent, but to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. First, Those whom they steal, whose hearts and affections they steal from Christ and his pastures, they kill and destroy spiritually; for the heresies they privily bring in are damnable.
Matthew Henry (Nonconformist Biblical Exegete)
But I know a God who can. I know a God who went down to the grave and defeated the grave, defeated the devil on the cross. Let me tell you about the man who died on the cross and rose again so that in his own words.
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me,
because He has anointed Me
to preach the gospel to the poor;
He has sent Me to heal the broken-hearted,
to preach deliverance to the captives
and recovery of sight to the blind,
to set at liberty those who are oppressed;
to preach the acceptable year of the Lord.”
Then He rolled up the scroll, and He gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all those who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him. And He began to say to them, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”
I love this scripture in John 10:10 for the other reason that sometimes we kind of Skip over. “I have come to give you life and life more abundant.”
I love this challenge presented by Charles Spurgeon one of the greatest Theologians to live.
1912 Christians should have such abundant life that their circumstances should not be able to overcome them, such abundant life that in poverty they are rich, in sickness they are in spiritual health, in contempt they are full of triumph, and in death full of glory.—20.11
Charles Spurgeon
I wonder if we viewed an Abundant life differently than we tend to if we would be more apt to present the Gospel.
Church, your life is Abundant because Christ saved you and made you new and changed who you used to be into who you are now.
Your life is Abundant because you have a New Name written down in glory. The world knows your old name, but God has changed you and made you knew and put you as part of His Kingdom.
Your life is Abundant! It may not look like it on the outside, but on the inside if you know Christ you have a life to the full!
We should be willing to pursue that Abundant life, that life of overflow, that life of like the
Psalmist “In my prosperity I said, I will never be moved.”
I am reminded today that an Abundant life is placing Christ Above all. His Sacrifice above all. His love above all
The lyrics to the old worship song. “Above all” Are:
Above all powers
Above all kings
Above all nature and all created things
Above all wisdom and all the ways of man
You were here before the world began
Above all kingdoms
Above all thrones
Above all wonders the world has ever known
Above all wealth and treasures of the earth
There's no way to measure what you're worth
Crucified
Laid behind the stone
You lived to die
Rejected and alone
Like a rose trampled on the ground
You took the fall
And thought of me
Above all
Pursue an abundant life. Pursue a life that prioritizes Christ and its walk with Him!
Pursue a life that when people talk about you, it points to Christ and what He has done in your life. A life that you can not be ashamed of.
How do you do that? How do you prosper with a purpose, and pursue an Abundant life?
By
3. Prioritizing Divine Direction
We all too often go whatever direction we feel like going. We follow our hearts and minds, when we ought to be following the Holy Spirit and His guidance.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways acknowledge Him,
and He will direct your paths.
We are told in the Scripture that our heart is deceitful and desperately wicked. Your heart will lead you down a path of destruction because it is self-serving.
It is a heart that is desiring to follow the world and what it wants.
The heart of every problem is the problem in the heart, and the human heart is deceitful (Jacob in the Hebrew) and incurable.
Warren W. Wiersbe
Following the Direction of the Divine, or Following God, will always lead you down the correct path. It is what leads you to spiritual prosperity.
Following God is an act of Obedience.
Following God is an act of Faith.
It involves walking in God’s ways
Serving Him.
Adhering to His commandments.
Following Christ is walking in an Upside down type of life.
Take up His cross and follow Him.
Praying for those who use you.
Feeding those who have taken advantage of you.
Forgiving those who have fought against you.
Following Christ, Following the Divine, is Directly different and in opposition to the World.
Being Committed to Christ may be leaving behind a career.
Being Committed to Christ may mean leaving by the person you are dating or are engaged to.
Being Committed to Christ may mean leaving your possessions behind.
Stepping outside of your comfort zone.
Are you committed to following Christ?
We must be able to recognize that we are only free if we make ourselves slaves.
We are only free if we become slaves to Christ. To follow Him even when everything around says otherwise, to follow Him even when things seemed to break and not work out.
Follow Christ.
One of the deceitful things about sin is that it promises freedom but only brings slavery.
Warren W. Wiersbe
Conclusion: I want us to understand something this morning, this is not a bash on prosperity Gospel per se. God wants us to Prosper and be prosperous. He wants us to have more than we ever have before.
He wants us to ask and keep asking.
Seek and keep seeking.
Knock and keep knocking.
This is what He wants for us, He desires to give u the desires of our heart.
We are destined and it is part of His will that we be saved, and healed. It is part of His will that we be the giver and not hte borrower. This is his Scripture,
None of it amounts to a Hill of beans if we aren’t Spiritually prosperous.
But how does God measure prosperity?
He sure doesn’t measure it by our
standards. God didn’t send his son to
die on a cross so that we could have money like Bill Gates. The Bible says he made his son poor so that we could become rich; do you really
think he meant that in the physical sense that we define rich? The Bible also
says “he died so that we may have life
and have it more abundantly”
What did he mean by “more abundant?”
More stuff?
More money?
You really think so?
So, how does God want to
prosper us and what is true prosperity?
What is more important
than money and stuff?
What about…
Joy
Peace
Happiness
Love
Freedom from sin and the consequences of
sin
Freedom from fear, guilt and worry
Freedom from Death, Hell and the Grave
And most important…the
ultimate prosperity of the soul…
He wants us to make it to Heaven. He wants us to spend eternity in Heaven with
him.
Our flesh lasts a moment, but our
souls lasts forever—which one do you think God is more concerned with (even if
it is apparent that we seem to be more concerned about the lesser of the two.)
Would you rather be rich
on Earth and go to Hell…or poor by the world’s standards and go to Heaven?
Which is really more prosperous? How would God define prosperity? Could it be that my status of wealth and health could have a lot to do with the status of my spirit?
