Prosperity
By: Overflowliving.com
Did you know that you don't have to wait to get to heaven to enjoy prosperity? Yes, it's true. 3 John 1:2 shows that God wants you to be prosperous right this very minute.
But what is prosperity? Prosperity is more than just wealth. It's a lifestyle that includes divine health, peace, joy, protection, provision and happiness. The term shalom is used throughout the Bible and means nothing missing, nothing broken. It is complete wholeness for your spirit, soul and body. This is true Biblical prosperity.
I'm sure everyone would agree that it wouldn't be a very enjoyable life if you were a millionaire but were dying of a terminal illness. That's why Biblical prosperity is more than just financial abundance. It's a way of life that reflects the hand of God on everything around you. The "fruit" or result of having the hand of God on your life will be wealth, divine health, peace, joy, etc. We often refer to those fruits as blessings. That's with a little "b". But, the root to the fruit is The Blessing (singular with a capital "B") which comes from the zoe life of God living inside us. (Please refer to the section on God's Redemption Plan for more details on the zoe life of God.)
God's Blessing is an empowerment and annointing that will cause success in every area. It's an equipping and an enablement. It's God's "super" on top of your "natural" that allows you to do supernatural things. We were originally expected to function under God's Blessing at all times. However, the Blessing was blocked when the curse was released in the Garden. The good news is that God loved us so much that He wove an intricate plan through Jesus' death, burial and resurrection that brings us back into a place of no more limits. A life that functions under the Blessing.
The purpose of the Blessing on our lives is that we are supposed to be a blessing to others. The Blessing will bring supernatural restoration, progress, favor and change in status. Proverbs 10:22 tells us that the Blessing of the Lord makes rich and He adds no sorrow with it. The Amplified Bible goes on to say that toiling does not increase as a result. This means that working harder or working more hours isn't what makes you rich. It's God's Blessing on your life that makes you rich. You see God never expected us to have to work for our provisions. The Garden had all of the provisions that were ever needed. Our labor is supposed to be in learning and standing on Gods Word and resting on the assurance that He will provide all that we need. (Hebrews 4:3-11) And, because all of our needs are met, we can focus on the assignment that God gives us.
The problem is that once Adam and Eve lost relationship with God, they lost their source of provision. Now they had to work and toil for what they needed. Not only did that require great effort, it also took them away from completing their God given assignment. Anyone who has not committed his or her life to Jesus still has to function under this same system of toil. But, those who are in Christ can now function under God's system. His way of doing things is that we have faith in Him and He provides our needs. His way of doing things is that of sowing and reaping. His way of doing things is believing and receiving. His way of doing things is speaking to the mountains in our lives and telling them to move.
Unfortunately, many Christians are still functioning under the old system. They are so focused on working to make money to meet their needs, they don't have time (or energy left) to labor to stand on God's Word and rest in Him. Their focus is on provision and not on their assignment. When we take our eyes off of God as our source and try to do it on our own, we are going to struggle and fail. This failure and frustration leads people to work harder and harder, again trying to do it on their own. They fall deeper and deeper into debt and fall farther and farther away from God who is the only One who can rescue them.
As Christians we need to step out from under the world's system and learn how to function in God's system. Please note that it isn't a get rich quick scheme. It's going to take dedication, commitment, patience and a lot of work. You are going to need to spend time getting to know who God is and what He has done for you. You are going to need to learn what God's promises are and why you have a legal right to them. You are going to need to spend time studying and meditating on God's Word so that you build your faith and get revelation knowledge. You are going to need to spend time talking with God to get His direction and wisdom. You are going to need to start confessing with your mouth what God says about you and your situation. You are going to need to start sowing seeds so that you can see a harvest. You are going to need to spend time praising and thanking God that He has provided a way for you even when it looks like there is no way.
I'm sure this sounds like a lot of work. However, the benefits far outweigh anything the world's system can offer. In the world you get back basically whatever you put in. You swap your time for money. There's no getting ahead. In God's system, you sow and He multiplies it back to you. You walk away with more than what you started with. That means more love, more joy, more peace, more happiness, more contentment, more time, more health, more money, more of every good thing. Because that's why Jesus came to earth. He came to give us the keys to the good life. Not just any life but a life that is in abundance, to the full, until it overflows! (John 10:10)
If you aren't enjoy this type of life, make a commitment to start doing all of the steps I listed above. Below are verses and supporting notes that will also help in your faith building journey.
Prosperity Verses
Psalm 23:1, Psalm 112:1-3, Proverbs 3:10, Proverbs 10:4, Proverbs 10:22, Isaiah 48:17, Isaiah 62:7, Malachi 3:10-11, John 10:10, Romans 3:16, Romans 5:16-17, Romans 8:15-17, II Corinthians 8:9, II Corinthians 9:6-11, Galatians 3:1-29, Galatians 4:1-6, Galtians 6:7-8, Ephesians 1:12-21, Ephesians 2:10, Hebrews 4:3-11, I Peter 5:7
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