Kingdom Prosperity and The Believer

Prosperity has nothing to do with how hard you fast and pray; it’s the Lord’s doing. God is the One who prospers you. He delights in your prosperity (Psalm 35:27). You don’t have to wonder whether or not God wants you to prosper. He doesn’t want you to put your trust in step-by-step human calculations, because that won’t work. They may seem to work for some time, but they won’t last. True and lasting prosperity comes by grace.

A story is told in Mark 10 of a rich young ruler’s attitude to wealth. He wanted to know what he must do to inherit eternal life. Jesus told him to obey all the commandments, but he said, “Master, all these have I observed from my youth.” The Bible says Jesus looked at him with love, and said to him, “Go and sell all that you have, and give it to the poor, and come and follow me” (Mark 10:21). At that, the rich young ruler went away sad. He was tied to his possessions, for the Bible says he had great possessions; or, as someone rightly put it, “his great possessions had him.”

Jesus then looked around and said to His disciples, “…How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!” (Mark 10:23). Jesus was letting them understand that salvation wasn’t going to be by their money, or great possessions, but by the Spirit of God. Jesus wanted the rich young man to put his trust, not in his wealth, but in God, the giver of wealth.

Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth (3 John 1:2).

Many have only thought of prosperity in terms of money or the multiplication of material possessions, but prosperity is first an ability. Material possessions or finances are often the most common symbols or indications of prosperity, which is why many equate prosperity with money; but it’s beyond money.

Let’s review the example of Joseph in Genesis 39:2; the Bible describes him as a prosperous man: "And the Lord was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian." We’re told that he (Joseph) made his master, Potiphar, to prosper, to the extent that Potiphar made Joseph overseer of all that he had: "…the Lord blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake; and the blessing of the Lord was upon all that he had in the house, and in the field. And he left all that he had in Joseph’s hand…" (Genesis 39:5-6).

Even after he was falsely accused and sent to prison, the Bible says that Joseph was still prosperous. He was put in charge of the prisoners, and the Lord made him successful in all that he did (Genesis 39:22- 23). You can be "in prison" and be prosperous. You can be working for somebody or an organization and be the reason for their prosperity. Consider Jacob: The Bible says he made Laban prosper. In Genesis 30:27, Laban testified of this to Jacob and said, "…I have learned by experience that the LORD hath blessed me for thy sake."

Much more than the acquisition of material possessions, prosperity is the ability to help others prosper! It’s the ability to do what you want to do, go where you want to go, and be whatever you want to be to the glory of Christ! It’s the ability to please God, walk with the Spirit, and have His glory manifested in your life! It’s the Spirit of dominion at work in your life as a child of God.

You’ve been empowered by God, not just to prosper spiritually, mentally, physically, and materially, but also to make others prosperous.

And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper (Psalm 1:3).

No one born into this world was destined by God to be poor, sick, broken, depressed, downcast, or afflicted. Rather, God’s will be for all men to prosper and be in health, even as their souls prosper (3 John 1:2). He seeks the prosperity of your spirit, your soul, and your physical body: the reason you shouldn’t accommodate or accept sickness, poverty, or defeat.

I’m aware of those who say, “We shouldn’t always expect good from God; we should sometimes expect bad things, because life is full of ups and downs.” That’s a great misconception of the message of the Gospel. God isn’t the mastermind of the evil and suffering in the world. His dream, which has already been actualized for you in Christ Jesus, is for you to walk in complete prosperity.

This prosperity, however, is beyond money; the presence or absence of money doesn’t change your state or condition spiritually and therefore shouldn’t change your testimony of God. Money is a tool. If for example, you require something, and your money isn’t enough for it, that doesn’t mean you can’t have it; you can get it free! That’s the life of prosperity I’m talking about. God never said, “Except you have the money, nothing will be yours”; rather, He said plainly, “…all things are yours” (1 Corinthians 3:21). What’s important is the purchasing power, and your purchasing power isn’t money, it’s your faith! You’re what God says you are, irrespective of the currencies you have at hand or don’t have.

This same principle applies to your health. It makes no difference if you feel severe discomfort in your body; proclaim healing and health! Maintain a good confession, and your faith will prevail!

For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich. (2 Corinthians 8:9)

This portion of Scripture is your guarantee for a life of supernatural abundance. I’ve often said that the Christian is not the poor trying to be rich, but the rich discovering his inestimable inheritance in Christ. There are Christians who don’t believe in prosperity, but what we read in the scripture above reveals that it’s God’s will for you to prosper. 3 John 1:2 says, “Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.”

Not only does God want you healthy and strong, but He also wants you to prosper financially; it’s your God-ordained right, for you’re Abraham’s seed. The Bible says Abraham was blessed in all things (Genesis 24:1); he was very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold (Genesis 13:2). In today’s language, it will be right to say he had a lot of money. As the seed of Abraham, you also have been blessed and enriched in all things unto all bountifulness: “And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise” (Galatians 3:29).

You’re an heir of God, and a joint heir with Christ; therefore, learn to talk big. Refuse to talk about poverty. When you talk big and things start looking up for you in life, some people, especially the religious folks around you, will grumble at you and raise eyebrows. Don’t be moved by that. Just keep talking your way to abundance and keep enjoying your prosperity in God. One thing religious folks can’t stand is our prosperity. It unsettles them and makes them restless: “…the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt” (Isaiah 57:20). But thank God the Bible says, “Good men everywhere will see it and be glad, while evil men are stricken silent” (Psalm 107:42 TLB).

Prosperity is your God-ordained right in Christ Jesus, so don’t let anyone deceive you. There’s nothing too good for you because you’re the King’s kid! Refuse to be broke. Make it a conscious confession as you live in the light of God’s Word daily.

Keep talking prosperity, and when you see a fellow brother or sister prospering, be happy and rejoice with him or her, for that’s the life to which we’ve been called as God’s children.

There are those who think financial prosperity isn’t for Christians, and they’re wrong. There are three people we find in the Bible that God identified Himself with: Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and they were super wealthy. In Exodus 3:6, God said to Moses, “… I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob….” Read about these three individuals, and you’ll be amazed at the extent of their prosperity.

Genesis 13:2 tells us that Abraham “…was very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold.” The Bible says of his son Isaac, “And the man (Isaac) waxed great, and went forward, and grew until he became very great: For he had possession of flocks, and possession of herds, and great store of servants: and the Philistines envied him” (Genesis 26:13-14). Jacob, too, had a similar testimony; the Bible says, “And the man (Jacob) increased exceedingly, and had many cattle, and maidservants, and menservants, and camels, and asses” (Genesis 30:43).

God’s prosperity isn’t for a select few; it’s for all who follow and live by His Word. He said in 3 John 1:2, “Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.” As a Christian, you’re an heir of God, and a joint heir with Christ (Romans 8:17), which makes prosperity your birthright. All the wealth in this world belongs to you. This is how you ought to think. 1 Corinthians 3:21 say all things are yours; believe, think, and talk accordingly. Have the consciousness of sufficiency and superabundance.

If you’ve struggled all your life in lack, want, and penury, what you need is a new orientation, a new mindset. Change your language, your consciousness, and you’re thinking, and your situation will change. Romans 12:2 says, “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind….” Think and talk prosperity until your whole mentality isn’t just overhauled but supplanted by the possibilities of the prosperous life.

And God is able to make all grace (every favor and earthly blessing) come to you in abundance, so that you may always and under all circumstances and whatever the need be self-sufficient [possessing enough to require no aid or support and furnished in abundance for every good work and charitable donation] (2 Corinthians 9:8 AMPC).

God’s plan is for His children to have an abundant supply. I’ve searched the Scriptures, and I find no place where it gives us the idea that poverty, lack and want might be God’s will; there isn’t even a suggestion of that in the Bible. Recall that even the devil blamed God for making Job rich and blessing him with great substance (Job 1:9-10).

You have to embrace this reality! Your financial and material prosperity is important to God!

He said in 3 John 1:2, “Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul l prospereth.” Think about that!

Then Job 22:24-25 says, “Then shalt thou lay-up gold as dust…and thou shalt have plenty of silver.” If you ever wiped a table clean of dust, you’d observe that after a while, dust settled again on the surface. It paints a picture of the kind of prosperity God’s people are called to experience—an unending and abundant supply.

It brings to mind the words of David in Psalm 23:1-2, “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures…” That’s the way to think. You’re plugged into an unending supply. This has nothing to do with the country where you live; it’s the life you’ve been called to in Christ Jesus.

Recall again what we read in our opening scripture. God doesn’t want you conscious of need. You’re an heir of God and a joint heir with Christ (Romans 8:17). 1 Corinthians 3:21 says, “…all things are yours.” Your heavenly Father owns the whole world and has willed it to you because you’re Abraham’s seed: “And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise” (Galatians 3:29).

Choose the joyful, prosperous life in Christ. Don’t see your job or business as your source of livelihood but as a medium to bless others. In Christ, you’ve been brought into the life of superabundance; acknowledge and enjoy your inheritance.