God's Attitude Towards Prosperity
Publish date: 03/07/2017
Foundation scriptures:
Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: 14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. Galatians 3:13-14 KJV
And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise. Galatians 3:29 KJV
1. We have been redeemed.
a. All those who transgress God’s Law are under a curse. (Galatians 3:10-12)
b. The curse of the Law is poverty, sickness, and spiritual death.
c. Yet there is no man who is capable of keeping all of God’s Laws.
d. Jesus, the sinless Son of God, became a curse for us and redeemed us from it.
e. He was our substitute.
f. 2 Corinthians 8:9 KJV – “For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.”
g. 3 John 2 KJV – “Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.”
h. It is God’s will that we prosper.
2. How to walk in prosperity.
a. Deuteronomy 29:9 KJV – “Keep therefore the words of this covenant, and do them, that ye may prosper in all that ye do.”
b. Joshua 1:8 KJV – “This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.”
c. Psalm 1:1-3 KJV – “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. 2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. 3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.”
3. God’s attitude towards riches in the Old Testament.
a. Psalm 50:10 KJV – “For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills.”
b. Haggai 2:8 KJV – “The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the Lord of hosts.”
c. Genesis 13:2 KJV – “And Abram was very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold.”
d. Genesis 14:22-23 KJV – “And Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have lift up mine hand unto the Lord, the most high God, the possessor of heaven and earth, 23 That I will not take from a thread even to a shoelatchet, and that I will not take any thing that is thine, lest thou shouldest say, I have made Abram rich.”
Only God made Abraham rich.
e. 1 Chronicles 29:12 KJV – “Both riches and honour come of thee, and thou reignest over all; and in thine hand is power and might; and in thine hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto all.”
f. 2 Chronicles 17:3-5 KJV – “And the Lord was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the first ways of his father David, and sought not unto Baalim; 4 But sought to the Lord God of his father, and walked in his commandments, and not after the doings of Israel. 5 Therefore the Lord stablished the kingdom in his hand; and all Judah brought to Jehoshaphat presents; and he had riches and honour in abundance.”
g. Deuteronomy 28:8 KJV – “The Lord shall command the blessing upon thee in thy storehouses, and in all that thou settest thine hand unto; and he shall bless thee in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.”
h. Deuteronomy 28:11-12 KJV – “And the Lord shall make thee plenteous in goods, in the fruit of thy body, and in the fruit of thy cattle, and in the fruit of thy ground, in the land which the Lord sware unto thy fathers to give thee. 12 The Lord shall open unto thee his good treasure, the heaven to give the rain unto thy land in his season, and to bless all the work of thine hand: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, and thou shalt not borrow.”
j. Proverbs 13:22 KJV – “A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children’s children: and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just.”
4. God’s attitude towards riches in the New Testament.
a. Philippians 4:19 KJV – “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”
b. Matthew 6:33 KJV – “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”
c. 2 Peter 1:3 KJV – “According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue.”
d. 1 Corinthians 3:21 KJV – “Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours.”
e. Matthew 26:6-13 – Alabaster box
f. John 12:1-8 – Anointing Jesus
g. Matthew 27:57 KJV – “When the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus’ disciple.”
5. Riches are a blessing – poverty is a curse.
a. Deuteronomy 8:18 KJV – “But thou shalt remember the Lord thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day.”
b. Proverbs 10:22 KJV – “The blessing of the Lord, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.”
c. Psalm 84:11 KJV – “For the Lord God is a sun and shield: the Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.”
d. Psalm 34:10 KJV – “The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing.”
e. Proverbs 22:4 KJV – “By humility and the fear of the Lord are riches, and honour, and life.”
f. Proverbs 15:6a KJV – “In the house of the righteous is much treasure…”
g. Proverbs 8:20-21 KJV – “I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment: 21 That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures.”
h. Isaiah 1:19-20 KJV – “If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: 20 But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.”