Greetings in the Name of Jesus and welcome to the PLN Sunday Night Bible Fellowship!
We're still enthusiastically going to PROSPERITY School and enjoying all the things the Lord has shown us about His kind of PROSPERITY. Over the months we've emphasized that the word PROSPERITY with all its various tenses and forms is mentioned almost 100 times in the Bible. That makes it a serious bible word that was put in writing under inspiration of the Holy Spirit as the best English translation of the equivalent word in their original languages. To say it a different way: God Almighty is using the word PROSPERITY in His Bible because He wants to communicate a special meaning that you and I need to bring into our RENEWED Christian thinking that no other word can convey as well.
But there's a problem: a few folks in the Body of Christ have misused and misinterpreted this word PROSPERITY and they are still misusing and misinterpreting it. As a result, a bunch of well-intentioned other folks want to go to another extreme and ban the use of this Holy Spirit's bible word. Just innocently bring up the word PROSPERITY in certain Christian circles and then watch out for the condemnation and anger that comes back at you. I've shared with you in past articles that more than a few times I've been REQUIRED not to use this particular bible word on Christian radio and in one instance we were banned from the entire radio station because of what we said in this Newsletter. So, I have chosen to make it a priority this year to defend the bible word PROSPERITY and to explain why it's important for us to get on the right side of this subject according to the Word of God.
Have you ever given some thought as to why this word PROSPERITY gets some people so stirred up that they want to ban it or at the least strip all the power out of it? Since it so prominently appears in our bibles, would it make sense that the enemy has been trying to separate us from a particular word that has a special anointing on it (from Christ) to bring deliverance and victory and God's peace to the lives of Believers? Is it possible for Believers to be used by the enemy to bring bondage and defeat and separation to other Believers? Of course we can. It happens all the time when we get off into causes that aren't grounded in the Word. As distressing as it sounds I have to say that those who advocate condemning or de-emphasizing the use of one of God's special bible word are just as much in the wrong as those who misuse and mischaracterize it for the purpose of personal financial gain. In short, you don't throw out one of God's special words just because a few folks misuse it. Instead of throwing it out, wouldn't it be better to learn what it truly means and what God actually intends to convey with it? I think so and that's why we've been pursuing this series.
Last week we discussed the point that the pursuit of God's kind of PROSPERITY must lead through an intimate relationship with the Father. The closer the relationship and the more personal the intimacy, the easier it is to perceive the GRACE we need for empowering our PROSPERITY. As we get into tonight's topic, let's start by revisiting a fundamental point from last week because the two messages from last week and this week are closely related.
Perceiving God's Grace
Under the New Covenant ALL blessings including PROSPERITY come by GRACE which is defined as the favor and empowerment of God. We live under a Covenant of Grace because we've been offered unmerited REDEMPTION in exchange for our FAITH. He doesn't give selective GRACE in response to some righteous work we perform because by definition GRACE is unmerited, undeserved. So, there's nothing we can actually DO to qualify for it other than "believe in our hearts." In sum then, blessings come by GRACE through FAITH and not by works. And therefore because the work of Christ on the Cross was perfect and complete, ALL of God's GRACE has ALREADY been released and made available so that anyone at any time can receive and connect to what they need simply by latching onto it with their FAITH. All you have to do is find it and then take it confident that it's yours to have (see Hebrews 4:16).
Now tonight I want to emphasize this essential REQUIREMENT called FAITH. The entire New Covenant works by GRACE through FAITH. You were saved by GRACE through FAITH (Ephesians 2:8) and the blessings in your life come the same way. God doesn't send over a few blessings because we prayed and begged Him real nice for two weeks or because we fasted for forty days or because we obeyed all His commandments "perfectly" for a few hours or because we haven't missed a church service for two years or because of any other of our really, really good works we've tried to impress Him with. No, blessings such as PROSPERITY are ALREADY available and are a matter of COVENANT between the Father and Jesus. Our PROSPERITY was paid for at the same time that ALL sins for ALL time were paid for(Hebrews 9:12, 10:12). So under that new COVENANT, your PROSPERITY is a PROMISE from God accessible by you through FAITH in Christ. But notice that PROSPERITY isn't going to just fall on us, it comes by applying our FAITH. It's conveyed through FAITH over a period of time and preparation and study and perceiving and perseverance.
So here's how this has to work. We have to first hear/see/perceive the PROMISE of God so we know about it, and then we have to find a way to believe and trust in that PROMISE. And that second part is not so easy especially for the financial part of our PROSPERITY. We have the world telling us it's not true and we have to overcome more than 18 centuries of negative teaching about financial success to the point that our culture now looks disapprovingly at success and PROSPERITY. Even major parts of God's own Church talk bad about it. We have to overcome all those negative influences by the renewing of our minds to the Truth. What's the Truth? The Truth according to the Word is that it's in the heart of God that YOU the individual Believer become PROSPEROUS not only financially but in every area of life spirit, soul and body leading to the PEACE that passes all understanding (Philippians 4:7). In sum, we have to come into agreement with the Word of Truth and leave permanently behind our former ways of thinking.
So where can we hear the PROMISES of God? The first place to look is the written Word; it's full of PROMISES that can only be claimed by FAITH. We see the written Word but we have to hear it speaking to us with our spiritual ears. We can also experience a Word from God spoken directly to the part of us that's spirit. In fact, among other things the Holy Spirit lives within each Believer for the precise purpose of leading us (Romans 8:14) to the knowledge, to a personal revelation of the PROMISES of God. And, whatever He speaks directly to us will ALWAYS agree with the written Word.
Whichever way we hear/see/perceive a particular PROMISE of God, we have to then accept that it's for us and that we're well able to take possession of it. Then we release our FAITH over it and believe for it and trust that the Holy Spirit is working to get it to us, and we persistently RESIST the enemy (James 4:7 and 1 Peter 5:8-9) who will come to steal it from us, and we speak in agreement with the PROMISE and stand in FAITH until it manifests. And it will manifest if we do our part because God doesn't make PROMISES and then not deliver on them. If He makes a PROMISE, it gets done. On the other hand, He won't be able to deliver on His PROMISE without our FAITH and unless we actively and forcefully RESIST the enemy. We LIMIT God by our lack of FAITH (Psalm 78:41 KJV).
Connecting to a Rhema
Now when a Word from God becomes yours whether it came through the Bible or was spoken directly to you by the Holy Spirit, it's called a RHEMA Word. RHEMA is a Greek word that means utterance or something spoken. The Truth is the Holy Spirit is speaking to each of us all the time. He's making Words available for us to hear so we can learn how to take ownership of PROMISES that belong to us under the terms and conditions of the NEW COVENANT. God's not holding back your finances under this wonderful NEW COVENANT of ours. On the contrary, He's constantly speaking Words to us and then teaching and working with us to make it possible for those Words to become our personal RHEMA. He wants PROSPERITY for you more than you do.
Recently a certain minister I was speaking with helped me better understand the POWER that resides within God's RHEMA and I want to share that revelation with you tonight. We should be coveting God's RHEMA because resident within each of those spoken Words is everything that's needed to make it come to pass. Within each RHEMA is all the GRACE, all the empowerment, all the information and instruction, all the patience, all the character, all the gifts, all the determination and commitment, and all the talent and ability that's needed to make it come to pass. A RHEMA is alive (Hebrews 4:12) and it's there for us to ENTER into. We need to abide with and in each RHEMA we receive because it contains everything we need to cause that special Word to manifest and achieve its purpose. We don't have to dream up any plans and strategies to make it work, we don't have to go out somewhere in our own strength to make it happen and we don't have to worry about it. The RHEMA takes care of itself and all we have to do is ABIDE in it!
In order to receive a RHEMA though we usually have to take time and make an effort to study and mediate on the Word of God (Scripture) so the Holy Spirit can have a way to move it from writing on a page to a personal revelation that's especially for you to abide in. That's why God told Joshua to mediate on the Word day and night and to do what it says, and that then he (Joshua) would make his way PROSPEROUS and have success (Joshua 1:8). Are we going to believe this or not? Are we going to reorder our priorities so we can have time with the written Word on a daily basis and at least have the possibility that one day we might come upon an actual RHEMA about PROSPERITY? By the way on our website www.makeaway.net there's a place where you can download 100 PROSPERITY scriptures to put your eyes on and get started on your meditating.
We also have to take time to just sit quietly and listen for the still small voice of the Holy Spirit teaching and giving us instruction. That's the way spoken RHEMA comes but most of us are so busy with all our important stuff that we don't spend any significant time with Him. I heard recently about a PROSPEROUS Christian businessman who's made it a priority in his life to take one complete day each week to do nothing but spend time alone with the Lord listening and communing and developing an intimate relationship. He specifically ascribes his financial success to this practice. And according to George Washington Carver he got all those ideas for the peanut by spoken RHEMA Words from God during his quiet time.
Friend, God's PROSPERITY is residing inside the RHEMA. We have to hear the RHEMA and then get into it by FAITH to find everything we need to make it come to pass. Where do you stand tonight with God's promise of PROSPERITY? Is it hard to see yourself prosperous and successful? If so, you haven't taken possession of God's PROMISE. You have reservations about it or you think God may be holding it back from you for some reason. Or you feel guilty about wanting to succeed financially because of what other people say or might think. It's God's idea that you PROSPER, not yours. He came up with it for the Garden of Eden (Genesis 2:11-12) and has never looked back. Every single hero of FAITH in the Old Testament was a person of financial PROSPERITY and you're no different. Nothing has changed in God's heart or in His Word. It's yours to receive and enjoy by GRACE through FAITH. Just take God at His Word the way the folks of the Old Covenant did by abiding confidently in the PROMISE that Jesus later died for you to have access to. Just BELIEVE it and see what happens!
Thanks for stopping by tonight. We'll be looking for you again next Sunday night on September 29. In the meantime may you RECEIVE through FAITH every available spiritual blessing while you PROSPER 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
© Make A Way Ministries, Inc.
204 Turner Circle
Granbury, Texas 76048
