Devotion: Prosperity God’s Way

Here we go once again, talking about prosperity and how it is God’s will for his children to prosper.  In the past, we have shared several passages of scripture that show it is God’s will for his children to prosper.

“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” (Deuteronomy 8:18).

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.

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

Devotion: Rest A While

When we are tired or worn out, most of us know what it means, “to rest a while.”  Most of us would define this “rest” as a period where we would take a break from our labors in order to relax and regain our strength.  We would use it as a time to refrain from all strenuous or stressful activities so that we could refresh or rejuvenate ourselves.

“And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.  And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made” (Genesis 2:2).

Following his six days of creation, God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it because he rested from all the work of creating he had done.  When we think of God resting, we should not confuse this “rest” with being worn out where he could not do, make, or create one more thing.

Devotion: God Has Already Given

Most believers do not understand what the statement, “God has already given” actually means.  Some believers have accepted religion’s definition of “the sovereignty of God” and believe that nothing happens without “the approval of God.”  They make God responsible for any and every thing that happens, whether it be good or bad, and completely removes our responsibility as to what happens in our life.  Other believers have accepted the other side of the coin, where the belief is that we control what happens to us.  They believe that we can motivate, convince, or even persuade God to move on our behalf through our persistent prayer, by our obedience to God’s laws, and even because of the good works that we do.  They make us responsibility for any and everything that happens, whether good or bad, and make God’s response subjected to our performance.

“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: whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust” (II Peter 1:1-4).

Devotion: You Are Not A Loser

There are a lot of so-called Christians walking around defeated.  By defeated, we mean that they have not yet fully experienced all that God has made available to them through the new covenant, “a better covenant, which was established upon better promises” (Hebrews 8:6).  By defeated, we mean that they have not yet experienced that “more abundant life” that Jesus spoke of in John 10:10.  The really sad part is that they do not even realize that they are defeated, living a defeated life.  They claim the blood of Jesus over their lives but it is of no effect or at best, it has a partial effect on their lives.  The biggest culprit is not the devil or any other outside forces, but it is an internal force known as “self,” what we will refer to as “an image problem.”

“For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: …” (Proverbs 23:7).

Devotion: God Loves A Cheerful Giver

In the religious circles, when the subject of money comes up, it incites all kinds of emotions in people.  Though the passage, “the love of money is the root of all evil” (I Timothy 6:10) is guaranteed to be mentioned in the conversation, it is the misinterpretation and misapplication of this passage that creates the most controversy.  Many believers do not believe that man should prosper financially or have wealth because it goes against the teachings of Jesus.  Based on the story surrounding his statement, “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God” (Matthew 19:24), many have interpreted this passage to mean that a person with riches cannot enter into the kingdom of God.  So, the belief is that God is against his children having money.  Those familiar with the story of the young rich man (Matthew 19:16-22), saw Jesus tell the man to “go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor” (Matthew 19:21).  Most do not make the connection between when Jesus told the young rich man to give and when he tells us to give, especially when giving to the poor.

Devotion: Thank You!

Dear God,

I praise you!  I worship you!  I thank you!

I woke up today and I am healthy.  I have a roof above me and a floor beneath me.  I have food on my table and a great place to sleep.  I have shoes on my feet and clothes on my back.  You have granted me another beautiful day to see and hear the goodness you have left here for us.  Thank you.

I have family and friends who love me.  I have people around me who make life more meaningful.  You continually cover my family and me with your blessings.  Each day, you give me courage, strength, clarity and you remove all my fears.  I know you are bigger than all of my problems.  Thank you.

I know that I am not perfect.  I forget to praise you, to worship you, the give you thanks.  There have even been times when I have questioned my faith but your love never fails.  You are continually working things out for me, even when I don’t feel it.  You love me unconditionally and you bless me with that same unconditionalness.  Thank you.

You have forgiven me and cleansed me.  You have granted me grace, mercy, and forgiveness.  You have arranged for all of my debts to be paid through the sacrifice Jesus made on the cross for my sins.  You give me the strength and power to extend that same grace, that same mercy, and that same forgiveness to those in my life who have hurt me.  Thank you.

Scripture tells us that everything that has breath is to praise you Lord.  I am thankful for you Lord God, for there is always something to give praise to you.  I praise you!  I worship you!  I thank you!

In Jesus name, we lift this prayer of thanksgiving to you,
Amen and Amen.

If this prayer has blessed you, please share so that others may be blessed as well.  Amen.

Enjoy your blessings - KW

Devotion: Live Long And Strong

The scripture tells us that Jesus said, “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly” (John 10:10).  When Jesus died on the cross, he gave man the privilege to become a child of God, so that all could share in the blessing of Abraham and receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

“But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.  They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God” (John 1:12-13NLT).  “Through Christ Jesus, God has blessed the Gentiles with the same blessing he promised to Abraham, so that we who are believers might receive the promised Holy Spirit through faith” (Galatians 3:14 NLT).

As a child of God, man now has the right to the inheritance of the new covenant, a better covenant, built with better promises (Hebrews 8:6-13), the right to a divine inheritance to the best in life, deserving all the Father has to offer (Romans 8:14-17), which includes the right to good health, wealth, and total life prosperity.

“He is despised and rejected of (forsaken by) men; a man of sorrows (pains), and acquainted with grief (sickness): and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.  Surely he hath borne our griefs (sicknesses), and carried our sorrows (pains): yet we did esteem (reckon) him stricken, smitten of (struck down by) God, and afflicted.  But he was wounded (pierced through) for our transgressions, he was bruised (cruised) for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes (blows that cut in) we are healed” (Isaiah 53:3-5).  “Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes (wounds) ye were healed” (I Peter 2:24).

Let us point some important things that you may not have noticed.  Jesus carried all of our sicknesses and all of our weaknesses.  He was weighed down by our sorrows and by our pains.  He was pierced through for our transgressions and for our rebellion.  He was bruised for our iniquities and crushed for our sins.  He was beaten so we could be made whole; whipped so we could be healed.  Jesus, in his own body, personally bore all of these things on the cross so that we could be dead to sin and live for righteousness.  It was by these stripes that we were healed; a past tense action, meaning that our healing is already a done deal, already paid for.

“Beloved, I wish above all things (I pray in all things) that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth” (III John 1:2).  “My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings.  Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart.  For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh” (Proverbs 4:20-22).  “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.  In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct (make smooth or straight) thy paths.  Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil.  It shall be health to thy navel (body), and marrow (strength) to thy bones” (Proverbs 3:5-8).

Jesus came so that we might have life, and in having this life, we might have it in greater measure and more abundantly.  A life where above all things, all is well, we prosper and are in good health just as our soul prospers because of the word of God.  Yes, this is true.  God tells us that if we listen carefully and give ear to his sayings, keeping them in the midst of our hearts and mind not allowing them not to depart from our eyes, then we will find that God words are life unto those who find them and health to all their flesh.  In all that we do, trust in the Lord with all our heart, putting God first, and he will make straight our way and crown our efforts with success.  We are to turn from evil and be not proud of your own wisdom, but instead, trust and reverence the Lord and as we do, this will be health to our body and strength to our bones.  This type of life is a godly life and is the healthful, more abundant life that we as children of God are supposed to live.  Jesus paid the price for every one of us to have a life that is long, a life that is strong, and a life that is more abundant.

We always give thanks to God for the ability to share our inspirational message with you.  We constantly pray that you will be blessed as well as informed by them and that you will be the better for having read them.  If you are blessed by them, please share so that others may be blessed as well.  Amen.

Enjoy your blessings - KW

Devotion: Delay Is Not Denial

There has always been some question in the minds of most believers as to how God answers our prayers.  We have been taught that God is always faithful to answer our prayers, but we have been told that God answers some prayers with a “Yes,” some prayers with a “No” or so it seems sometimes, and other prayers with a “Wait.”  Is this really how God answers our prayers?  Does he really tell us “No” or to “to wait” or is this something that has been created by man to console ourselves when we do not get that immediate, desired answer from God?

For the answer to these questions, let us turn to a prayer by Daniel, who was seeking wisdom on a prophesy that Jeremiah had given to the children of Israel that said they would be held in captivity for seventy years (Jeremiah 25:11-12; 29:10).  The time had passed and it looked like the prophesy was not going to come true so Daniel prayed seeking revelation from God.

“And whiles I was speaking, and praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the Lord my God for the holy mountain of my God; yea, whiles I was speaking in prayer, even the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening oblation.  And he informed me, and talked with me, and said, O Daniel, I am now come forth to give thee skill and understanding.  At the beginning of thy supplications the commandment came forth, and I am come to show thee; for thou art greatly beloved: therefore understand the matter, and consider the vision” (Daniel 9:20-23).

We see from this passage that while Daniel was still praying, the answer to his prayer was so immediate that it interrupted his prayer.  God had sent forth the angel Gabriel to deliver the answer to Daniel’s prayer.  Besides giving Daniel the answer to his prayer, we also note that Gabriel explained to Daniel that when he first began to pray, the commandment came forth for Gabriel to come forth and show him the answer to his request.  We see from the onset of Daniel’s prayer, God immediately answered his prayer and within a matter of minutes, the answer manifested itself in the form of the angel Gabriel.  By the way, the answer was seventy weeks of years or seven times seventy years (490 years in all) (Daniel 9:24).  But Daniel had a second prayer, but with this prayer, Daniel prayed and fasted for three full weeks (Daniel 10:1-2).  Why was such a delay in God answering this prayer?  Had he somehow told Daniel to “wait?”

“And, behold, an hand touched me, which set me upon my knees and upon the palms of my hands.  And he said unto me, O Daniel, a man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak unto thee, and stand upright: for unto thee am I now sent.  And when he had spoken this word unto me, I stood trembling.  Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words.  But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia.  Now I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people in the latter days: for yet the vision is for many days” (Daniel 10:10-14).

We see from this passage that while Daniel prayed this time for three full weeks, the angel told him that from the first day that he had set his heart to understand, God heard his prayer and the commandment came forth for this angel to come forth and show him the answer to his request.  We see from the onset of Daniel’s prayer, God immediately answered his prayer, but for some reason this answer took three weeks to manifest.  Why was there a delay of three weeks for this prayer and manifestation for the previous prayer received immediately?  According to the angel, it the prince of the kingdom of Persia or a demonic entity that delayed him one and twenty days or three weeks and it was not until the angel Gabriel came to help him that he was able to get free and come to make Daniel understand what would befall the children of Israel.  From this, we see from this prayer that the delay was not of God but of a demonic force.

“And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: and if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him” (I John 5:14-15).  “For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us” (II Corinthians 1:20).

Scripture tells us that we can now have this confidence in knowing that if we ask any thing according to his will, he hears us and knowing that he hears any request that is according to his will, whatever the request, we have the petitions that we have asked of him.  But here is the icing on the cake, all of the promises of God and any thing based on the word of God are “Yes” and “Amen.”  God simply does not answer “No” to our prayers, however, he just doesn’t answer, honor, or listen to any request that is not in his will.  As for the delays being or not being denials, we see that had Daniel not stood on his faith and on the promise of God for three weeks, waiting for the manifestation, “the delay” may have been seen as “a denial.”  But now that you know the truth, knowing that God answers all prayers that are according to his will, immediately, how will this knowledge change the way you view prayer?  Will you now preserve one and twenty days or one and twenty years?

We pray that this inspirational message will be a blessing to you as well as informative.  If blessed by this message, please share so that others may be blessed as well.  Amen.

Enjoy your blessings - KW

Devotion: God’s Word Is A Seed

Most of you are familiar with “The Parable Of The Sower.”  Jesus explains the parable to his disciples this way.

“And his disciples asked him, saying, What might this parable be?  And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand.  Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.  Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.  They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.  And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.  But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience” (Luke 8:9-15).

The disciples asked Jesus why he spoke to everyone in parables.  He replied with, God has arranged for you to know the meaning of the parable because it tells about the mysteries of the kingdom of God.  He was telling them that anyone that hath ears to hear would hear the parable and understand.  Everyone else who received the parable would see and yet not see, and would hear and yet not understand.  Jesus went on to explain the meaning of the parable.  The seed represents God’s message to men, which falls on all types of ground.  The ground is a representation of the hearts of man.  Some seeds fell on the roadside, which represents those with hard hearts who hear the words, but then the devil comes and steels the message away, which prevents them from believing and being saved.  Some seeds fell on the stony ground, which represents those who enjoy listening to sermons, but somehow the message never really gets through to them.  Even though they know the message to be truth and they believe for a short period, the message never takes root and grows.  Their enthusiasm fades as the winds of persecution blow because of their beliefs and they lose interest as the temptations come.

Some seeds fell among the thorns, which represents those who listen and believe God’s words but the message is choked out by the cares of the world and their quest for money.  Their faith dies because they allow anxiety and worry, wealth and riches, the responsibilities and pleasures of life, and the gaieties of time to reign in their lives instead of the word of God.  They are never able to help anyone else to believe the Good News because they are never in a position to be a living testimony for the kingdom of God thus yielding no return and bringing forth no fruit.  Some seeds fell on good ground, which represents those who are honest and good-hearted people that have ears to hear.

And it was those who are honest and good-hearted people that have ears to hear that listens to God’s message with open minds and in the right spirit.  They hold tightly to the message and steadily spread the Good News to others because they are always in a position to be a living testimony for the kingdom of God thus yielding a great return and bringing forth much fruit.  They are the spiritually and morally mature believers that understand the terms used by the Holy Spirit to reveal those mysteries of God to them.  They understand the wisdom that has come down from God, telling them of his plans for man which have been hidden throughout the ages but are now reveal by the Spirit.  The others do not have the understanding and they do not recognize the truth because their wisdom is that which the world uses or the kind of wisdom that the rulers of this world use.  Their wisdom comes from the earth realm and is the kind that appeals to the great men of this world.

“The word of God is a seed” and it gets planted in the hearts of man.  Depending on the heart of the man, depending on the type of soil available, the seed will grow differently in each heart.  Many believe themselves to be that honest and good-hearted people, who have ears to hear God’s message with open minds and in the right spirit, however the truth of the matter is that they are those, who actually hear the words of God without understanding.  They have the wisdom that comes from the world, not the wisdom that comes from God.  Know this about the word of God.  The word of God is a single seed that produces a single crop; it is not a seed that produces a variety of crops.  The word of God does not and cannot produce a variety of truths; it produces only one truth, which is “the gospel truth.”  If you be among them who have an ear to hear, then hear this revelation, understand and let it produce a crop.

As always, we pray that today’s inspirational message will abundantly bless you, greatly inform you, and that you will be the better for having read it.  If blessed by this message, please share so that others may be blessed as well.  Amen.

Enjoy your blessings - KW

Devotion: The Deceitfulness of Riches

Scripture upon scripture has revealed that God wants his children to prosper and he enjoys helping us to prosper.  Misinterpretations have caused many to reject the prosperity message, seeing it in a negative light.  Since “no man can serve two masters, because he will either love the one and hate the other or he will keep or hold on to one and have not respect for the other” (Matthew 6:24), prosperity has been taken off the table.  However, the Bible makes it clear that there is a right way or a godly way to prosperity and that there is a wrong way or an ungodly way to prosperity.

“Then someone called from the crowd, ‘Sir, please tell my brother to divide my father’s estate with me.’  But Jesus replied, ‘Man, who made me a judge over you to decide such things as that?  Beware!  Don’t always be wishing for what you don’t have.  For real life and real living are not related to how rich we are.’  Then he gave an illustration: ‘A rich man had a fertile farm that produced fine crops.  In fact, his barns were full to overflowing—he couldn’t get everything in.  He thought about his problem, and finally exclaimed, ‘I know—I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones!  Then I’ll have room enough.  And I’ll sit back and say to myself, “Friend, you have enough stored away for years to come.  Now take it easy!  Wine, women, and song for you!”’  But God said to him, ‘Fool!  Tonight you die.  Then who will get it all?’  Yes, every man is a fool who gets rich on earth but not in heaven” (Luke 12:13-21 TLB).

Although this rich man had a fertile farm that produced fine crops, his only concern or problem was that, “his barns were full to overflowing and he couldn’t get everything in.”  His biggest problem was that he did not have enough room to store all that he had amassed.  He thought he was the source of his prosperity, which is why he had the conversation with himself about what he had done and what he was going to do.  But God revealed to him “the deceitfulness of his riches,” eventually saying “every man is a fool who gets rich on earth but not in heaven.”

Before you throw this message under the bus, like other prosperity messages, keep in mind that we stated, “there is a right way or a godly way to prosperity and that there is a wrong way or an ungodly way to prosperity.”  Most people use the world’s roadmap to obtain their riches and/or to measure their wealth.  When we are the source of our financial prosperity and not God, we worry about everything and we tend to take credit for everything that we have amassed.  However, when God is the source of our prosperity, we do not have to worry about anything.  God’s roadmap is different from the world’s roadmap.  This is what God is talking about when he says, “every man is a fool who gets rich on earth but not in heaven.”  If we used the world’s roadmap to get rich and to measure our worth, then “we are fools.”

“Don’t store up treasures here on earth where they can erode away or may be stolen.  Store them in heaven where they will never lose their value and are safe from thieves.  If your profits are in heaven, your heart will be there too” (Matthew 6:19-21).

This rich man tried to store all of his wealth on earth, in barns no less.  None of his profits were stored in heaven and his heart was not on the things of God.  Scripture tells us that “The blessing of the Lord, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it” (Proverbs 10:22).  According to this passage, it is “the blessing of the Lord” that makes a person rich.  When our prosperity comes this way, there is no sorrow added with it.  It appears that having “the blessing or favor of the Lord” is the key to receiving true prosperity God’s way.  With “the blessing or favor of the Lord,” we do not have the burden or the weight of producing and/or maintaining our own riches.  “The blessing or favor of the Lord” will bless all that we do and make us prosperous with no sorry or bad success added, for the sole purpose of enabling us to be a blessing to others.

To strive or chase after money as our main purpose or goal in life is the lure or “the deceitfulness of riches.”  It is this love of money, when money holds first place in your heart, that scripture says, “is the root of all evil” (I Timothy 6:6-10).  It is this love of money that leads many down that dark path where they will do all kinds of wrong things to get it.  It has the same properties as being addicted to something, where a person will do anything to satisfy that desire, that itch, or that need for more.  This is completely different from having money and knowing God’s purpose for having the money.  When correctly understood, prosperity is not for us, where we amass as much wealth as we can for ourselves.  This is “the deceitfulness of riches,” because “real life and real living are not related to how rich we are.”  The primary goal for the prosperity is for us to be a channel for money to flow through so that God can use us, “that he may establish his covenant” and that we may be a blessing to others.  Our personal wealth is a by-product of having “the blessing or favor of the Lord” in our life and is not the primary goal for the prosperity.  Do not allow yourself to be “deceived by the riches.”

As always, we pray that our inspirational message will abundantly bless you, greatly inform you, and that you will be the better for having read it.  If blessed by this message, please share so that others may be blessed as well.  Amen.

Enjoy your blessings - KW

Devotion: The Blessing Of The Lord Will Make You Rich

We know that we continually talk about prosperity and how it is God’s will for his children to prosper.  We have shown you many passages that reveal it is God’s will for us to prosper.  We know that many look around the Christian circles and only see those who preach about prosperity prospering while others appear to struggle to make ends meet, while waiting on their own prosperity.  Because we see the apparent injustices of those in religious leadership positions wearing the expensive designer clothes, riding in the expensive luxury cars, and living in the big expensive houses with servants and the like, many have decided that prosperity can only be of the devil and so they do not want any part of the so-called prosperity message.  What they do not realize is that they are actually hurting themselves.

First of all, not everything in this world that we live in is as it appears to be.  This is just a fact of life.  Since the beginning of man, we have been deceived, manipulated into doing things that have gone against the truths that are found in the word of God.  The really sad part is that the same deceit and manipulation still goes on today by the very one that has continually deceived the world.  The devil’s craftiness and deceitful nature was first depicted during the fall of mankind (Genesis 3:1-13).  If he was able to alter what God had said in the mind of Eve (II Corinthians 11:3), what makes you think he cannot do the same today?

Many are aware of the devil and his minion’s infiltration into the Church, but has any thought been given to other areas that he may have influenced.  It should not be out of the question to consider the devil’s role in the translation of the very Bible that we use.  And no we have not lost our minds nor are we speaking against what some consider to be the very word of God.  We know that Satan himself can masquerade around as “an angel of light” (II Corinthians 11:14).  We also know that his ministers can be transformed into “ministers of righteousness” (II Corinthians 11:15).  And we know that his only purpose, since the beginning, has been to deceive mankind (Revelation 12:9).  We all have been taught that the devil knows the Bible, so not to consider this possibility may prove to be detrimental.

Scripture upon scripture has revealed that God wants his children to prosper and he enjoys helping us to prosper.  Misinterpretations have caused many to reject the prosperity message, seeing it in a negative light.  Since “no man can serve two masters, because he will either love the one and hate the other or he will keep or hold on to one and have not respect for the other” (Matthew 6:24), prosperity has been taken off the table.  According to scripture, it is “the love of money” that is “the root or cause of all evil” (I Timothy 6:10), so by taking money out of the equation, then we get rid of the evil that is cause by this “evil money.”  You see, if you do not have this “evil,” then you can love the Lord God with all of your heart, soul, strength, or mind.  Problem solved, right?  Not exactly.  Money in and of itself is not evil.  In this economical system, money is just a tool necessary for you to live.  It is the “love of money” that is the problem not the money itself.

God wants his children to prosper and he enjoys helping us to prosper.  And as we have continually stated, there is a specific reason for the prosperity.  God gives us the power or the ability to get wealth to fulfill his promise, that agreement he made with our ancestors (Deuteronomy 8:18).  But in order to prosper the right way, we have to understand that there is a godly path to prosperity, a way that adds no sorrow.  Of course, if there be a right way to prosper, then surely there be a wrong way to prosper.  You just need to make sure that you find the right path to prosperity.  We will give you a clue, it involves having “the blessings of the Lord” for “the blessing of the Lord makes a person rich, and he adds no sorrow with it” (Proverbs 10:22 NLT).

Again, we pray that today’s message will abundantly bless you and that you will be the better for having read it.  If blessed by this message, please share so that others may be blessed as well.  Amen.

Enjoy your blessings - KW

Devotion: Is Desiring To Be Rich Wrong?

Most of you are familiar with “the story of the rich young ruler” (Matthew 19:16-30; Mark 10:17-31; Luke 18:18-30).  He was the one who came to Jesus wanting to know what he must do that he might have eternal life?  In answering this question, Jesus, who “looked upon him and loved him,” ended up telling the young ruler, “One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me” (v. 21).  Scripture tells us that the young ruler was saddened by what Jesus had said and that “he went away grieved” (v. 22).

Jesus would go on to say to his disciples, “How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God” (v. 23).  Was having riches the primary reason why the rich young ruler could not enter into the kingdom of God?  Did Jesus, in answering the young ruler’s question, intend for us to follow these same instructions to sell all we possess and give to the poor so that we might have eternal life?  Is this that one thing that the rich young ruler lacked?  Most of the time when studying the word of God, we focus intently on the things that are actually written in the passages that we are looking at.  However, on occasion, it is important that we focus our efforts and our attention on what is not included in the passage of scripture so that we can get clarity and understanding of what God is truly trying to reveal to us with the passage.  For example, as we look at the list of commandments mentioned by Jesus, we find that he left out the most important one of all.

“Master, which is the great commandment in the law?  Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.  This is the first and great commandment” (Matthew 22:36-38).

Yes, that’s right; Jesus did not mention the greatest commandment of all in the list he gave to the young ruler.  The most important commandment of all, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind” was not even mentioned in the passage.  Could this be what Jesus was talking about when he told the rich young ruler that he lacked one thing?  If this be what Jesus was talking about, then it would appear that the young ruler did not love the Lord God with all his heart, with all his soul, and with all his mind.  It appears that the young ruler loved his riches more than he loved God and this is why he was saddened and went away grieved.  Even though he claimed to have observed from his youth all those commandments that were listed by Jesus, the one that Jesus did not list appears to be the one thing that the rich young ruler lacked, a love for God above all other things.  The rich young ruler did have “great possessions” (v. 22), but the truth of the matter was that he was unable to give up those possessions, even for the eternal life he sought, because “his possessions actually possessed him.”

At first glance, this story appears to be about having riches and how hard it will be for those who have such riches to enter into the kingdom of God.  However, Jesus would later say to his disciples, “Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God” (Mark 10:24).  This message is actually about those who “trust in their riches” and how hard it is for those who put their riches ahead of God to enter into the kingdom of God.  Those who “trust in their riches,” though they have great possessions, find it most difficult to part with their possessions, even for eternal life, because the truth of the matter is that “their possessions actually possesses them.”  This is what the story of the rich young ruler revealed and that is why he was saddened and went away grieved.  We are to “seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness” (Matthew 6:33), putting our love for God above everything else that we have in our life.  There is nothing found in scripture against having possessions as long as we are not “possessed by our possessions,” for this is when it becomes hard or most difficult for those with riches to enter into the kingdom of God.  Jesus went on to say that it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man, who “trust in his riches” to enter into the kingdom of God (v. 25).

We forever pray that our inspirational message will abundantly bless you and that you will be the better for having read it.  If blessed by this message, please share so that others may be blessed as well.  Amen.

Enjoy your blessings - KW

Devotion: Giving Is Planting Seed

In several of our recent commentaries, we have discussed prosperity.  We have continually used Deuteronomy 8:18 as the anchor to our message, which says that God gives us the power or the ability to get wealth, although it be for a very specific purpose.  We have expressed this purpose as being “that he may establish his covenant.”  We also mentioned that it is vital that we understand there is more to the message and the purpose than just giving or as some have put it, “sowing seed for a harvest” and expecting some kind of hundredfold return based on the amount a person gives.  While being a generous giver, being obedient, and walking in faith are important ingredients in the mixture, it was understanding the true purpose that was the key to receiving the revelation of the prosperity message from God’s point of view.

So many people view prosperity as something that increases their bottom line.  Because the world places such high value on things like cars, houses, and other tangible items, we are led to believe that by amassing as many of these items that we can, we make ourselves prosperous by varying degrees.  We are taught that the more such things or “assets” we amass, the more prosperous we are and the more prosperous we are, the more highly regarded, by man, we become.  Nevertheless, God’s way to prosperity is just a little different.

God wants to prosper us.  God does not want us to prosper so that our needs are barely met or even met with the barest of necessities.  God wants us to prosper so much so that we can actually be givers.  God wants us to give, to be in a position where we can be a blessing to others.  The reality of prosperity is that we should live to give and not live to get.

The Bible makes it clear that there is a right way or a godly way to prosperity and that there is a wrong way or an ungodly way to prosperity.  Most people use the world’s roadmap, which is tied to the world’s financial economy, to obtain their riches.  When we are the source of our financial prosperity, we worry about everything.  However, when God is the source of your prosperity, you do not have to worry about anything.  God’s roadmap is different from the world’s roadmap and is not subject to the ebbs and flows of the world’s financial economy.

“The blessing of the Lord, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it” (Proverbs 10:22).

According to this passage, it is “the blessing of the Lord” that makes a person rich.  When our prosperity comes this way, there is no sorrow added with it.  It appears that having “the blessing or favor of the Lord” is the key to receiving true prosperity God’s way.  With “the blessing or favor of the Lord,” we do not have the burden or the weight of producing and/or maintaining our own riches.  “The blessing or favor of the Lord” will bless all that we do and make us prosperous with no sorrow or bad success added, for the sole purpose of enabling us to be a blessing to others.  When correctly understood, prosperity is not for us, where we amass as much wealth as we can for ourselves.  The primary goal for the prosperity is for us to be a channel for money to flow through so that God can use us “that he may establish his covenant” and that we may be a blessing to others.  Our personal wealth is a by-product of having “the blessing or favor of the Lord” in our life and is not the primary goal for the prosperity.

Again, we know that this short commentary will not settle the on-going debate about prosperity, however, it just might give those who have that same “ear to hear,” as we do, a little different perspective and a clearer understanding into the true purpose for the prosperity, from God’s point of view.  As always, we pray that our commentary will abundantly bless you, greatly inform you, and that you will be the better for having read it.  If blessed by this message, please share so that others may be blessed as well.  Amen.

Enjoy your blessings - KW

Devotion: Giving Is Not The Main Ingredient In Prosperity

In many religious circles, the prosperity message has become a dividing force in the body of Christ.  Misused and abused by some religious leaders for personal gain, many believers now completely tune out any messages that even skirts the issue of money, finances, tithing, and/or prosperity.  Though we understand the negative connotations associated with the prosperity message and the views of both sides of the issue, we thought it to be extremely important that we attempt to discover the truth about prosperity from God’s point of view and not just man’s viewpoint, since so much is written about the topic in the Bible.

We will be the first to admit that we are not scholars nor do we claim to be any experts in the field, but we do have a love for the word of God and we seek the truth in his word.  We will also admit that our motives for discovering the truth are somewhat selfish; however, we do share any and all results with those who have that same “ear to hear” as we do.  We previously found that God gives us the power or the ability to get wealth, but it is for a very specific reason; so “that he may establish his covenant” (Deuteronomy 8:18).  This is God’s viewpoint, his purpose for giving us the ability to get this wealth, and the main reason why we need to talk about prosperity.  This is completely different from man’s viewpoint of prosperity, which is only to “increase one’s own self.”

It is vital that we understand there is more to the message and the purpose than just giving or as some have put it, “sowing seed for a harvest” and expecting some kind of hundredfold return based on the amount a person gives.  Being a generous giver, being obedient, and walking in faith are important ingredients in the mixture, but understanding the true purpose is the key to receiving the revelation of the prosperity message.  In order for any of this to work God’s way, all must be done with the right motives, with the right intentions, and with the right heart.

“Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver” (II Corinthians 9:7).

Attitude plays a very important part in understanding God’s point of view about prosperity.  Each of us must make up our own minds and decide in our own hearts as to what to do with this revelation on the purpose of prosperity message.  No one should force you to participate nor should you participate grudgingly, reluctantly, out of necessity and/or under compulsion because this is not God’s way.  However, understanding the purpose will make you a cheerful and joyous participant in helping God to establish his covenant, which is the true purpose for the prosperity, from God’s point of view.

As always, we pray that today’s inspirational message will abundantly bless you, greatly inform you, and that you will be the better for having read it.  If blessed by this message, please share so that others may be blessed as well.  Amen.

Enjoy your blessings - KW

Devotion: Be A Giver

We have had several discussions about prosperity over the past few months.  We know that scriptures say, “for it is he (God) that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant” (Deuteronomy 8:18).  While the passage makes it abundantly clear that prosperity is truly of God, it also appears to state the purpose, the reason God gives his children this ability to get wealth or as some have put it, to get rich.  We know that most of the time, the prosperity message is taught as a means for an individual to increase one’s own self.  But, while this may be man’s purpose for striving to achieve wealth, it is not God’s purpose for giving us the ability to get this wealth.

God’s purpose or reason for prosperity is to not to increase someone so that person can get more things for him or herself.  No, God needs us to help him establish his covenant.  God needs us to help him fulfill his promise to our ancestors.  God’s purpose or reason for the prosperity is to increase someone so that person can be a blessing to others.  God needs us to give, so that we can be a blessing, so that we can be his blessing to others.

God may have been able to rain manna from the sky for the children of Israel while they were in the desert (Psalm 78:24), but when it comes to money, it is a completely different story.  God cannot manufacture currency and have it rain down from heaven to help those in need.  For one, it is illegal to manufacture currency.  Then, imagine what an influx of counterfeit money would do to the financial stability of a country or even the world’s financial stage; it would be catastrophic.  Therefore, God has instituted a system, where he uses the wealth that he gives his child the ability to get, to provide for those children who have need in the kingdom.  This is the covenant God made with our ancestors, and he uses his children to help him establish it.

So maybe now you can see the truth about prosperity.  God is not against prosperity or against you having financial prosperity as long as you remember the reason for your prosperity, to be a giver.  God wants you to be a giver, so that you become a blessing to those that need God’s blessings.  You are all God has to do this.  You should live to give and not live to get.  We know that this goes against all that the world’s financial system has taught you, but you need to get plugged into God financial system.

“Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom.  For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again” (Luke 6:38).

Having money will only amplify that which is already in someone’s heart.  If a person has a heart for selfishness, then having money will only intensify that selfish desire.  But, if someone has a heart for giving, the money will make stronger that desire to give.  When a person has the heart of a giver, they understand that what they give returns to them, in full and overflowing measure, pressed down and shaken together to make room for more, and running over.  Please note that it is man, who will give into the giver’s bosom and not God.  The person understands that with what measure they use to give is the same that men will use to give back.  The person understands that they have been entrusted to watch over what they already know, belongs to God.  This person understands the true purpose, the true reason for the prosperity.  The person understands that everything belongs to God; the earth and everything in it and all of the inhabitants belong to God (Psalm 24:1).  This person knows that no man has ever taken any of what they claims belong to them, with them when they left this earth.  If any of it were theirs, you would think that they would be able to take it with them.  It has not happened yet.

Once again, we know that our commentary will not settle this long-running debate.  However, we do pray that our commentary just might offer a clearer understanding of the true purpose for the prosperity.  As we always do, we pray that you will be abundantly blessed, greatly informed, and that you will be the better for having read the message.  If you are blessed by this message, please share it with others so that they may be blessed as well.  Amen.

Enjoy your blessings - KW

Devotion: Job’s Blessings

Jesus tells us that he came so that we might have life, and in having this life, that we might have it in greater measure and more abundantly (John 10:10).  A life where, above all things, all is well, we prosper and are in good health just as our soul prospers because of the word of God (III John 1:2).  Yes, this is true.  God tells us that he knows the plans he has for us; plans for good and not evil, plans to give us a future and to give is hope (Jeremiah 29:11).

First, we must trust in the Lord completely with all that we are.  Then, we need to acknowledge him in all our ways, putting God first in all that we do.  We should not be conceited where we trust in our own wisdom and lean to our own understanding, but instead, we should trust and reverence the Lord, as we turn our back on evil.  Finally, if we do all these things, God will direct our paths, give us renewed health and vitality, and crown our efforts with success (Proverbs 3:5-8).  This type of life is a godly life and is the healthful, more abundant life.

God tells us that if we listen carefully and give ear to his sayings, keeping them in the midst of our hearts and mind not allowing them to depart from our eyes, then we will find that God’s words are life unto those who find them and health to all their flesh (Proverbs 4:20-22).  There are thousands of promises in the Bible and God has not broken one of them.  As you discover them, let them be your reasons to hold on.  Therefore, let us hold fast to our confession of our hope without wavering, because he who has promised is faithful and can be trusted (Hebrews 10:23).  Job held on to his confession of hope without wavering and the Lord blessed him in the latter end more than he was in the beginning (Job 42:12).

Begin to see yourself as God sees you, as a prosperous person.  Recognize that God is with you, recognize that you are anointed, and recognize that you are highly favored.  You are a child of the most high God (Psalm 82:6).  When you cross the deep rivers, you won’t drown for God is with you.  When you walk through the fire, the flames won’t burn you for God is with you (Isaiah 43:2).  Though you may walk through the valley of the shadow of death, fear no evil, for God is with you (Psalm 23:4).  Don’t be afraid or discouraged, for God is with you and he will not fail nor forsake you (I Chronicles 28:20).  Have faith in God, for he is always with you, even though it may not seem like it.

Be strong and courageous, not terrified nor discouraged, for God is with you wherever you go (Joshua 1:9).  Remember to keep the faith (Ephesians 6:10-20), stay the course (Philippians 1:6), and always, fight the good fight of faith (I Timothy 6:12).  It has been said that a good life is when you smile often, dream big, laugh a lot and realize how blessed you are for what you have.

We forever pray that our inspirational message will abundantly bless you, greatly inform you, and that you will be the better for having read it.  If blessed by this message, please share so that others may be blessed as well.  Amen.

Enjoy your blessings - KW

Devotion: God’s Way Is Best

God wants the best for all of his children.  He wants the best for every aspect of our lives, no matter how large or how small that aspect may be.  We need to understand that God only gives us his best, the best advice and the best course of action for every situation that could possibly arise in our lives.  The problem for many of us is that we tend to ignore God and try to go it on our own.  Instead of allowing God to “drive the car,” so to speak, we throw him in the back seat as we hit the road of life.  Some of us throw him as far back as the trunk, Amen.  We then try to follow the road map that we have laid out for our lives instead of the one that God has for us.  Truth be told, we really should trust in the Lord and allow him to direct our path.

“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.  In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct (make smooth or straight) thy paths.  Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil.  It shall be health to thy navel (body), and marrow (strength) to thy bones” (Proverbs 3:5-8).  “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end” (Jeremiah 29:11).

God has declared that he knows the thoughts or the plans he has for us, plans to prosper us and not hurt or harm us.  He has plans to give us hope and a future.  It would only make sense to follow God’s plans for us, which guarantees us peace and an expected end.

“My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings.  Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart.  For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh” (Proverbs 4:20-22).

Yes, this is true.  God tells us that if we listen carefully and give ear to his sayings, keeping them in the midst of our hearts and mind, not allowing them to depart from our eyes, then we will find that God words are life unto those who find them and health to all their flesh.

“Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (II Timothy 2:15).

God tells us to “study to show thyself approved” so that we can “rightly divide the word of truth” (II Timothy 2:15), but most of us do not adhere to this command.  This word of truth is given “to tell you what to believe (for doctrine), what is wrong (for reproof), how to correct wrong (for correction), how to live (for instruction in righteousness).  You are to rely on the word of truth because it includes everything needed to grow in maturity, to be perfect (meaning proficient or capable), and to do what God wants” (II Timothy 3:16-17).  The idea that we are to “attend to his words” holds little meaning for some because just carrying a Bible with them fits the commandment.  When we attend to his words, we learn that “they are life unto those that find them” (Proverbs 4:20-22), meaning, “God’s words are full, abundant life unto those that hunt for, look for, or seek those words.”  And this is why you have to pick that Bible up, open it, and do a little more than just read it.  You may have to dissect it.  You have to pick it apart.  You have to analyze it.  You have to examine it.  You have to study it.  You have to rightly divide it.  This is God’s best for us, the best advice and the best course of action that will give us the best results for every situation that could possibly arise in our lives.  He does not offer alternatives or suggestions.  Don’t just get into his word, but get his word in you, get his word into your very being.  You must immerse yourself in his word; you must hunt for, look for, and seek the answers that he has provided through his instruction manual.

As you read today’s inspirational messages, we pray that the messages will be an inspiration to you as well as a blessing and that you will be the better for having read them.  Please share this message so that others may be blessed as well.  Amen.

Enjoy your blessings. - KW

Devotion: Offering Time

A lot of discussion in the body of Christ on this topic of “tithing” has left many questions as to what should and should not be given.  Webster defines “tithe” as “one tenth of the annual produce of one’s annual income, paid as a tax or contribution to support a church or its clergy; a tenth part.”  Tithing is the practice of giving ten percent of one’s income to the Lord.

“Honor the Lord with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: so shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine” (Proverbs 3:9).

We are to give honor to God with our substance or our very wealth and possessions as well as with the firstfruits of our increase.  As you read the rest of this verse, you see that those who obeyed this command had an increase; they had their barns filled with plenty, and their presses burst with new wine.  While we do not trade in the same commodities or the same ways as they did in those days, the basic principle still applies to us today.  The giving of tithes and offerings is the process of giving from the income that you receive, while firstfruits is the process of giving from the increase in income that you receive

“Will a man rob God?  Surely not!  And yet you have robbed me.  What do you mean?  When did we ever rob you?  You have robbed me of the tithes and offerings due me.  And so the awesome curse of God is cursing you, for your whole nation has been robbing me.  Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so that there will be food enough in my Temple; if you do, I will open up the windows of heaven for you and pour out a blessing so great you won’t have room enough to take it in!  Try it!  Let me prove it to you” (Malachi 3:8-10 TLB)!

In order to rob someone of something would mean that the something that was taken must already have belonged to the person it is taken from.  No one can be robbed of something that doesn’t belong to him or her.  Therefore, these tithes and offerings that are spoken of here must already belong to God.  In addition, we see that basic principle being applied here, where those who obeyed this command had an increase even though we again do not trade in the same commodities or the same ways as they did in those days.

This basic principle we are talking about is the principle of “seedtime and harvest or sowing and reaping” a principle which God established that says, “For whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap” (Galatians 6:7).  We know that this principle applies to the words we speak as well as the things we do, where our words and actions are like seeds being planted in the ground that produces a crop from which we reap a harvest, be it good or be it bad, depending on what we have sown.

“But remember this—if you give little, you will get little.  A farmer who plants just a few seeds will get only a small crop, but if he plants much, he will reap much.  Everyone must make up his own mind as to how much he should give.  Don’t force anyone to give more than he really wants to, for cheerful givers are the ones God prizes.  God is able to make it up to you by giving you everything you need and more so that there will not only be enough for your own needs but plenty left over to give joyfully to others.  It is as the Scriptures say: “The godly man gives generously to the poor.  His good deeds will be an honor to him forever” (II Corinthians 9:6-9 TLB).

There are those that believe that if they give away their money, they won’t have anything left for themselves.  They have no faith in the scriptures, fearing that if they give away their money, they will not have enough to survive.  They struggle to make sense of what they see and what they think they know, believing that they have to take matters into their own hands.  Reality says that it is a major undertaking to make it through life with the money that they have, and they can’t believe that they are expected to give some away and are required to live on less.  Jesus validates this principle of giving in the following scripture.

“Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom.  For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you” (Luke 6:38 NKJV).

Jesus assures us that we can count on the principle of “sowing and reaping.”  This principle works, and it works the same way for everyone.  Give and you will receive.  Not only will you have enough for yourself, but the more you give, the more you'll be given.

“It is possible to give away and become richer!  It is also possible to hold on too tightly and lose everything.  Yes, the liberal man shall be rich!  By watering others, he waters himself” (Proverbs 11:24-25 TLB).

The more you sow into the kingdom of God the more you will reap from his kingdom.  Many don’t believe in the principle, but just because you don’t know about or believe in a thing has no bearing on how the thing works.  Many have problems with giving away their money and with tithing.  They find all kinds of excuses as to why they should not give their hard-earned money away.  To them, it makes no sense to give away what they consider theirs.  Look at it this way: We go out to eat and afterwards will give a total stranger (a waiter/waitress whose only job is to serve us our food), a fifteen (15) to twenty (20) percent tip because we don’t want them to think bad of us or it’s the politically correct thing to do, but we won’t give God the 10 percent or so that he is due.  He has never raised his rates.  They have remained the same since the beginning.  And to beat it all, when we are in trouble, we do not call on the name of that stranger (waiter/waitress) to help us, we will call on the Lord.  Now that is something to ponder.

But here is the most important thing to keep in mind about offering time. Giving an offering to God is a way of honoring and worshipping God by telling him, “I am trusting in and depending on you, God, to make it through and not myself or my money.”  Now that be a walk of faith, Amen.

We pray that our inspirational message will be a blessing to you as well as informative.  If blessed by this message, please share so that others may be blessed as well.  Amen.

Enjoy your blessings. - KW