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PROSPERITY SCHOOL 101
Part Twenty Three - Limiting God with Passive Insufficiency           

  

Beloved I pray above all things that you might PROSPER - 3 John 2

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By: Dr. Bill Miller                                                 Volume XVI Number 10                                                 March 10, 2013
 

Greetings in the Name of Jesus and welcome to the PLN Sunday Night Bible Fellowship:

 

Thanks for joining us again as we continue discussing the subject of biblical PROSPERITY. As always let's start tonight by re-stating the main points we've wanted to establish through this series so that new readers can catch up and so the rest of us can regain our focus from the enemy who ALWAYS comes to steal the Word (Matthew 13:19 and Mark 4:15). And so the main idea has been that clearly according to Scripture God has a special kind of PROSPERITY for Believers and the desire of His heart is to get it into our lives so that we can use it for His purposes. The word PROSPERITY is a Bible word that's mentioned there more than 90 times in a positive context in contrast to numerous man made traditions that for centuries have worked to discourage both the use of the word itself and its underlying concept that God actually wants New Covenant Believers to receive His PROSPERITY in all areas of life including financial PROSPERITY. Unless otherwise noted the word PROSPERITY in this series ALWAYS includes financial PROSPERITY just as the Bible does.

 

This will be the third consecutive week now that we're considering the bible-based idea that Believers are LIMITING what God wants to do in our lives in a manner similar to what the Israelites did in the wilderness when they refused to TRUST Him to take them safely into the Promised Land (Psalm 78:41 KJV). Religious folks are fond of saying that it's impossible for people to LIMIT God, but the Bible actually teaches that God allows us to make our own choices even when those choices LIMIT what He would otherwise prefer to do and even though He knows beforehand what we're going to choose. The Word of God is FULL of references to the choices people have to make in life and we're ultimately accountable to God for what we choose. The Israelites made the wrong choice, delayed the plan of God by 40 years and most of their original group lost the opportunity to be a part of going into the Promised Land. Indeed, the Bible says to let the Israelites be an example of what NOT to do in our lives (1 Corinthians 10:6) because wrong choices ALWAYS produce negative consequences which most of us would prefer to avoid.

 

Unfortunately though all these years later, even with Christ in us and now living under a New Covenant that has better promises (Hebrews 8:6), we're still LIMITING God. And one of the main ways we're doing that is by participating in the hindering of our own PROSPERITY. According to the Word, God wants us to have PROSPERITY NOW. Jesus died on the Cross of Calvary so we could have it NOW in ABUNDANCE (John 10:10) and it's been available for Believers to TAKE possession of for more than 2000 years by GRACE through FAITH. Under this wonderful New Covenant God has ALREADY released His GRACE which includes ALL His favor and His FULL empowerment to accomplish great things for the Kingdom of God according to His plans and purposes. But for a variety of reasons most of the Body of Christ hasn't responded yet to the opportunity of receiving this awesome PROSPERITY God wants us to take possession of so the work of the Kingdom can be fully carried out in preparation for the return of Christ. Indeed, God has made an announcement that PROSPERITY is available for any Believer who'll drop by to pick up some of it by FAITH but only a relatively few folks have shown up so far to make a valid claim.

 

More About Why God Wants You Prosperous

 

Here's the problem with that: according to your Bible the main work in the Kingdom of God right now is, 1) going into all the world to preach the gospel (Mark 16:15), and 2) teaching Believers to be disciples of Christ (Matthew 28:19-20). These are "people-jobs" that God has delegated to the Body of Christ. A lot of attention has been given to the first type of work and without question it costs a lot of money these days to take the gospel everywhere it needs to go. So that's obviously one of the main reasons God wants us to be PROSPEROUS and the Word confirms that by stating clearly that God has given us the ability to obtain wealth (PROSPERITY) for the purpose of establishing His Covenant on the earth (Deuteronomy 8:18). Even 3500 years ago they needed money to do the work of the Kingdom so how much more do we need it today as we pursue going into the entire world. God has chosen to do this work through people instead of doing it all Himself so He needs for you and me to be PROSPEROUS. He needs for us to be willing to be PROSPEROUS, to decide to do whatever is necessary to become PROSPEROUS. He needs for us to show up with strong FAITH for the sake of the gospel to claim and receive the gift of PROSPERITY He's ALREADY made available.

 

In addition to that, the lesser publicized second work of teaching Believers to be DISCIPLES of Christ is by my estimation far more cost-intensive than the first. According to Scripture becoming a DISCIPLE of Christ requires that I learn and observe His commandments. Where can I find out about those commandments? I can only find the authentic unfiltered and unvarnished commands of Christ in the Word myself, and together with the teaching and mentoring of the Holy Spirit I can learn them and grow someday into a true DISCIPLE. That's why Jesus said in red letters to some Jewish Believers one day that IF they continued (to live and grow and develop) in His Word, only then would they be His DISCIPLES (John 8:31). The reason for that is that knowledge of the Word leads us to His commandments, the keeping of which make us free (from the bondages of the world, the enemy, sin consciousness, the Flesh, fear and self reliance) so that we can become His DISCIPLES (John 8:32). I recommend that you read these two verses (John 8:31-32) for yourself if you haven't looked at them lately because we have a lot of Believers these days sitting around doing as little as possible, passive in their pursuit of scriptural knowledge, thinking everything is okay when according to Scripture they're NOT okay because they're NOT true DISCIPLES of Christ.

 

A lot of people think that a DISCIPLE is simply a Follower but in actuality it doesn't really mean that. The original Greek word means a student who's in the process of learning something according to a particular discipline. In other words, a DISCIPLE is someone who's pursuing knowledge through the teaching of someone who has more knowledge to pass on to the one with lesser knowledge. But to be a "student" you have to spend time with the Teacher, to be a "student" you have to study the course material and in this case you have to actually carry out what the course material is telling you to do. And, all of this teaching and learning is the process of DISCIPLESHIP that should be leading to a time when the student will be able to help in the dissemination of the teachings of the Master to Believers with lesser knowledge. In sum the huge cost of DISCIPLING Believers to do the work of the Kingdom REQUIRES Believers to be PROSPEROUS. Where is the money supposed to come from if not from PROSPEROUS Believers?

 

Including these two areas of work that we're bringing up tonight, the following is a reminder list from last week of all the main reasons according to scripture that God needs for us to be PROSPEROUS. Both of tonight's points are subsets of the first item on the list:

 

1) Establishing the Kingdom of God on the earth (Deuteronomy 8:18)

2) Blessing other people and ministries (2 Corinthians 9:8-11)

3) Providing for current financial needs of you and your family (Matthew 6:25-34)

4) Personal financial growth as a reward from God for faithful stewardship (Matthew 25:21)

5) Estate accumulation to benefit succeeding generations (Proverbs 13:22)

 

The Problem of Passive Insufficiency

 

Most Christians don't live with adequate income even when many of us have two jobs and both husband and wife are working. The truth is God doesn't want you to have two jobs anyway so you can be at home with enough time to train and oversee your children. And His best for wives according to scripture is that they work at home to care for the children and supervise the activities of the home. Nevertheless, most Christian families routinely pursue their "livelihood' as a first priority in life the same way the World does not knowing, not understanding or not accepting that God has a different/better way for them. They're NOT supposed to be operating and conducting their financial affairs like non-believers in the World do because that way will NEVER lead to God's PROSPERITY. In fact, that way ALWAYS leads to INSUFFICIENCY.

 

I've come to call this condition in the Body of Christ PASSIVE INSUFFICIENCY because most Believers who're involved in it aren't trying to work their way out so they can start moving toward a true Bible-based PROSPERITY. People have just resigned themselves to continuing on in the direction they've been going, even though for a decade or maybe two that direction hasn't produced PROSPERITY. They work harder and longer but nothing really changes.

 

So, what are we going to do to make a change, to learn what the Word says about this subject and to PURSUE God's GRACE? What are we doing to do to RESIST the enemy and stop him from stealing our money and destroying our wealth? You can't RESIST Him with your natural brain power or by begging God to come to the rescue because He ALREADY did that 2000 years ago. And you can't RESIST INSUFFICIENCY by chasing harder and faster and longer for more money the way the World does with their same priorities and objectives. No friend, you can only RESIST INSUFFICIENCY and the enemy who sent it to you with the Word of God and the Name of Jesus.

 

The truth is God wants you to have His PROSPERITY and it will replace your INSUFFICIENCY. But you have to PURSUE it through FAITH with the same intensity you used to exert back when you were chasing the World's money. INSUFFICIENCY has never been about the lack of money as much as about the lack of God's PROSPERITY. And most of us have been chasing the wrong things trying to become experts in the World's ways of attracting money instead of attracting God's GRACE. Being PASSIVE about the Word and about becoming a true DISCIPLE of Christ LIMITS what God can do in our lives and ALWAYS leads to INSUFFICIENCY. But the opposite of that which is PROACTIVE pursuit of the Word and becoming a productive DISCIPLE of Christ who's living by FAITH will ALWAYS produce God's PROSPERITY. The truth is each of us has been given the freedom to choose how we want to live our lives and we WILL live through the consequences of our choices, either positive or negative.

 

Thanks for stopping by tonight. We'll be looking for you again NEXT Sunday night March 17, 2013. In the meantime RECEIVE every spiritual blessing causing you to PROSPER not only in finances but in every area of life!

 

Sinners' Prayer

 

If you've never invited Jesus to be the Lord of your life, you need to and you can do it today just by saying out loud the following simple prayer:

 

Jesus I declare today with all my heart that I believe in you and that God raised you from the dead. I acknowledge that my sins have been forgiven and I ask you to come into my life today and be my Lord and Savior. Thank you for salvation and eternal life.

 

If you were sincere as you prayed this prayer, God has already come into your life and you are a new creation, a totally new species recreated in His image. Now ask the Lord to lead you to a good faith-based, bible-teaching church where you can be equipped to fulfill your potential in the Kingdom of God.

 

And, when you get a chance have someone help you look up the following scriptures because they confirm what you've done by saying this prayer today and believing what you said:

 

Romans 10:9

2 Corinthians 5:17

Ephesians 2:8

 

Prayer Requests

 

If you have a Prayer Request, please connect to the Link below and follow the promptings. The PLN staff members pray over Prayer Requests every Tuesday morning at 10:00 AM eastern time. Agree with us for God to answer your petition.

 

http://www.creditcounseling.net/prayer-request.aspx 

 

Donations

 

If you've been edified by Prosperous Life Newsletter, you may want to consider making a SEED FAITH offering to support the Ministry (Galatians 6:6-7). God has instructed us to simply provide folks with an opportunity to sow seed into good ground so in due season you'll be eligible to reap a harvest and the rest is up to you as the Spirit leads. For your information PLN is a nonprofit gift to the Body of Christ so your financial offerings will usually be tax deductible (consult your tax advisor). Just go to the secure Shopping Cart on the Cornerstone web site by connecting through the following link. We appreciate your support and generosity.

 

http://www.creditcounseling.net/shop/item.aspx?itemid=1 

 

 

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