Friday, June 19, 2015

Devotion: Prosperity Pleases God


We have talked numerous times about prosperity and the reason God gives us the power or the ability to get wealth.  We have continually used Deuteronomy 8:18 as the anchor to our message to make clear the specific purpose for this wealth, which is “that he may establish his covenant,” a covenant “which he sware unto thy fathers.”  God gives us the power to get wealth to fulfill his promise, that agreement he made with our ancestors.

“Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will show thee: and I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: and I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed” (Genesis 12:1-3).

In this passage, God asked Abram, who would be later become known as “Abraham,” to leave all that he would inherit behind.  Back then, everything was tied to the land.  People were considered prosperous or wealthy based on how much land, cattle, sheep, other livestock, and other various things they owned.  People accumulated wealth and passed that wealth down from generation to generation.  But we see here, God asked Abram to leave all of this inheritance behind, to leave his country, his kindred, and his father’s house so that he could travel to this unknown land, unknown to Abram but not God, which God would guide him to.

God made several promises to Abram, should he choose to obey this command to leave everything behind.  God promised to make him “the father of a great nation and to make his name great and famous.”  God also promised to “bless all that blessed him and to curse all that cursed him.”  But the most important of all, was “the promise to bless him so that he could be a blessing to others,” for it would be through him that “the entire world would be blessed.”  Long story short, Abraham (Abram) did as God asked of him and because of his obedience; God did what he had promised.  He made Abraham the father of a great nation, made his name great and famous, and made him “to be very prosperous” (Genesis 12, 13, and 14).

“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: 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).

Jesus, who redeemed us from the curse of the law, also gave us the privilege to become “a child of God” (John 1:12-13), so that all could share in “the blessing of Abraham and receive the promise of the Spirit through faith” (Galatians 3:14), which includes “the right to good health, wealth, and total life prosperity” (III John 1:2).  However, keep in mind that this blessing, this prosperity on Abraham had a purpose.  This prosperity on Abraham was so that he could be a blessing to others, which he was.  It was promised through Abraham, through his faith in God’s promises, that the entire world was to be blessed.  It was promised through Abraham that we, the children of God would prosper, so “that God may fulfill his promise, that agreement he made with our ancestors.”  It was promised through Abraham that “we would be blessed in this day to be a blessing to others.”

“Let the Lord be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant” (Psalm 35:27).

God wants his children to prosper and he enjoys helping us to prosper.  God wants his children to be givers.  God wants his children to be in a position to be a blessing to others.  Therefore, magnify the Lord by having the same faith in the promises of God as Abraham that you too can be a blessing to others.  Live your life to be a giver, continually giving to others, continually blessing others with the prosperity that God has promised, through Abraham, to bless you with.  Become a blessing to others, which is the true purpose for the prosperity, as God “fulfills the promise he made with our ancestors.”

We pray that this inspirational message will continue to add to your understanding and be a great source of revelation knowledge.  If you are blessed by this message, please share it so that others may be blessed as well.  Amen.

Enjoy your blessings - KW

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