190944006 feasting on prosperity

7/25/2019 190944006 Feasting on Prosperity

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Feastingon

Prosperity

Frances Hunter

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Internet Edition

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Introduction

Prosperity is one of the most excitingareas of the Bible to study because it speaksto just about everyone right in theirimmediate area of need. You can go to anytype of hristian gathering and ask! "#o$

many out there need a financial miracle%&!and a sea of hands $ill $ave all over theauditorium. 'ither the people of (od don)thave enough money! or they are notmanaging $ell the money they do have.*hey need to be taught the principles $hich

you are going to feast on throughout thisbook.

+t is hard to believe that people debate$hether or not (od $ants #is people to

prosper. ,ome believe (od $ants you poor!

and the poorer you are! the more spiritualyou are. *hat is $rong thinking. -o$here inthe Bible does (od say "+ $ant you to livein lack and have mountains of debt so youcan be holy.& life of poverty does notmake anyone holy/ it means there is less

money available for the body of hrist touse in reaching the $orld for 0esus

(od has so much to say about prosperitythat both the ld *estament and the -e$


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*estament are full of instructions on ho$ toreceive financial blessings. 4hen hristians

really develop the right thinking! there isgoing to be a transfer of $ealth in the bodyof hrist $hich $ill knock ,atan over. +ttakes money to do $hat (od $ants done.4hen you apply (od)s principles! you are

going to get right in the middle of (od)s$ill for prosperity5rances #unter

The Three Components

of Prosperity

re you ready for one of the mostprofitable spiritual feasts that you have everhad% Prosperity is an area $here there areoften people $ho are starving rather thanfeasting. *he body of hrist probably has

more problems in the area of prosperity thanin any other area of their life. 4hat + really

believe is that $e have more problems ingiving this area to God than $e do anythingelse.

#ave you ever said! "(od! + can trust

You $ith my soul. + can trust You $ith mylife. + can trust You $ith my healing. + cantrust You $ith my marriage. + can trust You$ith my children! but +)m going to hang on

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to my o$n money +)ve got to manage everysingle penny of it because it)s all spoken

for&4hen you are $orried about having

enough money just to get by on! your mindsays! "+ need to stay in control.& 4hen your

bills are not being paid! and you believe

there is al$ays something just around thecorner that is going to rob you as soon asyou start to get ahead! your thinking

becomes clouded. ,o + $ant to retrain yourthinking. + $ant to sho$ you the secret of

prosperity! because it is so simple.

*he first step is for you to kno$ that!$hatever your financial status is right no$!Gods prosperity is for you. 4hen + $as astudent in school! + learned the basics of'nglish grammar. *he subject of a sentence

is $hat the sentence is about. Prosperity isthe subject not only of that little sentence!but it is the subject of a great deal of the$ord of (od. ccept in your thinking that

prosperity is a good thing. Prosperity isattainable by the people of (od. Prosperity

is a blessing (od $ants you to possess.,econdly! in that sentence! (od)s

prosperity is for you, $hat is the destinationfor that prosperity% +ts destination is you.

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You are to be the object! the recipient! theholder of prosperity.

-o$ let)s add the emphasis that is goingto change your thinking. (od)s prosperity isfor you. 4hen you put the emphasis on (od!you should feel a little leap inside yourspirit. ll three $ords $orking together 8

God!prosperity! andyou8 are the ans$er toprosperity.4hen you put the emphasis on (od! it

takes the pressure off of you. (od is not indebt. (od is not searching for a ne$ job.Psalms 69:19 says! For every beast of the

forest is Mine, and the cattle on a thousandhills.

+f (od)s prosperity is for you! and if #eo$ns the cattle on a thousand hills! $ith the

price of beef being $hat it is today! that

means your 5ather is pretty $ealthy! doesn)tit% But your 5ather not only o$ns the cattleon a thousand hills! #e o$ns the hills! #eo$ns the grass that is on the hills! and #eo$ns everything that is underneath the hills.ll the riches that lie on or beneath the earth

$ere put there during the time of creation! tobless (od)s people until 0esus returns. +fsinners have gotten hold of some of it! don)t$orry ; (od has plans that $ill be fulfilled


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in days to come. Prosperity is intended andset aside for you! (od)s child.

Prosperity by Design

*he subject of prosperity actually beganin the book of (enesis. 4hen (od createdthe heavens and the earth! and $hen #e

created dam and 've and placed them inthe (arden of 'den! #e gave themeverything! didn)t #e% #e gave them everyform of provision they $ould ever need for a

beautiful and fruitful life. #e gave themdominion over the fouls of the air. #e gave

them dominion over the creatures of the sea.#e gave them authority and o$nership overeverything that existed in the earth.

4hat did (od have in mind $hen #ecreated a human being from the dust of the

earth! and breathed life into him! and thengave to this ne$ly created human suchincredible provision and o$nership of everyliving thing%

(od $anted fello$ship. #e $anted afamily. #e $anted these ne$ human

creatures to be his very o$n children! and#e $anted the very best for #is children. =oyou think (od $ould place his supremecreation! dam! in the earth and breathe #is

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o$n breath of life into him! and then pointout to him that he $as on his o$n from that

time forth% an you picture (od creatingdam in one of the desolate places of theearth and saying! "4ell! dam! + hopeyou)ll be ok out there in the $ilderness/maybe you can find a fe$ li?ards in the sand

to eat. 4atch out for the lions! they feed inthe evening! and they have a preference forhumans. 4hen you $ant a drink of $ater!

just keep searching and! one day! you mightfind a pool $ith a little muddy $ater left init.&

You $ouldn)t bring your children intothe $orld and not provide for them! andneither $ould (od

(od brought dam and 've intoexistence in a garden that $as intended to be

a utopia. *here has never been anyhabitation on earth that $as as complete andperfect as the (arden of 'den. (od providedall the fresh $ater they needed! every kindof delicious food from trees and plants! andall the beauty and peace of absolute

perfection. *here $as no lack of anythingthey $ould ever have needed/ and + believeif they actually did discover some need intheir life! (od $ould have immediately

provided it. #e $anted to $alk in the cool of

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the day $ith his children! and enjoy theirchildren and their children)s children. 4hy

$ould #e $ant any of the gro$ing family#e $as anticipating to think #e $as stingy%

dam and 've had it all. *hen! throughdisobedience! they ruined the beautiful!abundant life (od had provided them. But

(od is never taken by surprise! and #e had aplan.(od is Aove. #e never stops loving us! in

spite of $hat $e do. fter man sinned! (odlaid do$n some la$s concerning prosperity.*he beautiful thing about the la$s of

prosperity is that they can only do good foryou. 'very one of (od)s la$s is for yourgood and for your benefit. (od is kind. #e isgenerous. #e $ants to re$ard and heap

prosperity on those $ho pay attention to his

la$s.4hen (od first began to speak to meabout prosperity! it $as in the book of=euteronomy. *hese la$s $ere given tooses! but they are eternal la$s. 4hen0oshua became leader of +srael! the la$s

$ere still in effect. ll the $ay through theld and -e$ *estaments! up to today! anduntil 0esus returns! (od)s la$s of prosperity$ill remain effective.

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The Blessing of Obedience

+n =euteronomy >! (od $as talking tooses! and #e said! Every commandmentwhich I command you today you must be

careful to observe, that you may live and

multiply, notice what !e says ne"t# and go

in and possess the land of which the $ord

swore to your fathers.(od told oses that #e had not changed

#is plans. *he land $hich had beenpromised to their fathers no$ rightfullybelonged to the ne$ generation. #o$ever!there $ould be enemies $ho $ould$ithstand them! and they $ould needsupernatural help $hen they $ent in toclaim the territory. *he people $ould haveto have an obedient relationship $ith theAord in order to possess the promise.

(od $ants us to have everything thatrightfully belongs to us. 4e! too! haveenemies $e $ill have to overcome! and $emust look to (od)s $ord to provide us $ithinstructions on ho$ to receive #is promises.

% &nd you shall remember that the $ord

your God led you all the way these fortyyears in the wilderness, to humble you and

test you, to 'now what was in your heart,

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whether you would 'eep !is commandments

or not.

(od kno$s $hat is in your heart. Youcannot fool (od. You can)t say! "-o$! (od!+)m being obedient to you!& and then turnaround and live in sin or careless disregardfor (od)s $ord. 4hen the +sraelites $ere in

the $ilderness! (od kne$ $hich ones had adisobedient! rebellious heart and $hich ones$ere committed to serve and honor #im. #ekne$ $hich ones trusted #im and $hichones believed only in $hat they could see$ith their eyes. Cight no$! as #e $atchfully

considers each one of us! #e kno$s if thereis anything that needs to be brought out inthe open so it can be dealt $ith.

( )o !e humbled you, allowed you to

hunger, and fed you with manna D'ven

though (od allo$ed them to experiencehunger for some of the things they $ereused to! #e still fed them abundantlyE which

you did not 'now nor did your fathers 'now,

that !e might ma'e you 'now that man shall

not live by bread alone* but man lives by

every word that proceeds from the mouth ofthe $ord.

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Gods !ife is in His "ord

#o$ do $e live% re $e truly living$hen $e shuffle through each day $ith no?eal! no purpose! no heart of praise andthanksgiving% re $e living $hen all of ourthoughts and energy are consumed $ith$here the next dollar is coming from and

ho$ fast it)s going to go% -o one can enjoylife that $ay

(od $ants every one of us to enjoy life.#o$ can $e do it% 4e live and enjoy lifenot by bread ; or possessions ; alone! but byevery $ord that proceeds out of the mouthof (od. +n (od)s $ord is purpose. +n (od)s$ord is life. +n (od)s $ord is hope!direction and enthusiasm for each day! everyday. (od)s $ord is given to us! first! to

provide all $e need to enjoy life ; and then

to take us beyond ourselves! $hich brings usto higher levels of truly living an abundantlife.

4hy does (od place such emphasis onobeying #is $ord% (od doesn)t say just toobey the *en ommandments. *he

commandments are the basis for living a lifethat glorifies (od! but #is $ord containsmuch more than commandments. *here is

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good reason for (od to $ant us to meditateon #is $ord day and night.

=o you reali?e that every scripture is(od8breathed% 2 *imothy 3:17 says that&ll)cripture is given by inspiration of God. +nthe (reek! the $ord inspired comes from thecompound $ord! +heopneustros! $hich

means "(od8breathed.& *he breath that (odbreathed into dam)s body of dust andbrought it to vibrant life is the same breaththat #e breathed into every $ord in theBible.

*his is $hy (od)s $ord is alive *he

breath of #is life flo$s right into you fromevery page of (od)s $ord. 4hether youhear #is $ord spoken in a church orseminar! $hether it comes to you throughyour eyes reading it! or $hether it comes out

of your lips $hen you speak it ; real life!vibrant faith! unshakable belief comes toyou by the $ord of (od. #is living $ord isgiven to you so that you might truly prosperas you obey $hat (od speaks to you.

Prosperity in #our Possessions+ love $hat (od did for the +sraelites

$hen they $ere out there $andering aroundfor forty years. *heir life of slavery in 'gypt

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had not provided them $ith a very extensive$ardrobe! and there $ere no places for them

to shop for ne$ clothes in the $ilderness! so(od extended the life of the clothes they$ere $earing $hen they left 'gypt.

=euteronomy >: says! our garmentsdid not wear out on you, nor did your foot

swell these forty years. ,ome of you mighthave a thing or t$o in your closet that isforty years old! but did you ever stop tothink that! if you had been in that group of

people as a little child! your clothes $ouldhave gro$n right along $ith you Your

shoes $ould have increased in si?e along$ith your foot! and you $ould not havegotten s$ollen! blistered feet

+ remember one time $hen + lived in ,t.Aouis! issouri! and a group of us teenagers

$alked home from Belleville! +llinois! $hichis about seventeen miles. 4e had to $alkacross a municipal bridge and mile aftermile of hot pavement. By the time $e gothome! my feet $ere so blistered and s$ollenthat + couldn)t $alk for days! and neither

could anybody else that $as on that hike.But for forty years! the children of (od$alked and $alked and never had a blister.

(od is able to send prosperity to anysituation

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4hen harles and + $ere married! $ebought a ne$ set of sheets for our bed. 4e

both had a lot of sheets and pillo$ casesfrom our individual homes/ but because $ehad our bedroom redone in red velvet! $ethought it $ould be really exciting to havesome matching sheets! so $e $ent shopping

and picked out a set of red satin sheets. 4eloved to sleep on those sheets because they$ere nice and cool to lie do$n on! and $efelt they $ere the most comfortable sheets inthe $orld.

Year after year! $e never took any of the

other sheets out of the closet. 4hen + got upin the morning! + $ould take the sheets offour bed and thro$ them into the $ashingmachine! transfer them to the dryer! and putthem right back on the bed. You $ould think

those satin sheets $ould have $orn out afterbeing $ashed hundreds and hundreds oftimes But they $ere as beautiful $hen $efinally redecorated our bedroom as they$ere the first day $e bought them. 4hy%

-ecause thy raiment wa"ed not old upon

thee. + am al$ays so thrilled $hen (odkno$s the most intimate desires of my heart.#e gave special prosperity to our sheets

because #e kne$ ho$ much $e enjoyedthem! and #e extended their natural sheet

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life for many! many years beyond theordinary.

any times! $e think that to prosper $eneed to have a lot more money. But (od hasthe ability to stretch the life of things so thatyou don)t have to spend the money toreplace $hat $ould normally $ear out.

harles and + also had a set of bathto$els that $e used for years and years$ithout ever taking any other to$els out ofthe closet. 4hen the to$els $e enjoyedusing got dirty! they $ent into the $asherand dryer and then right back onto the to$el

racks in the bathroom. 4e never did $earout that set of to$els.

(od has the ability to stretch the life ofyour clothes! to stretch the life of yourshoes! to stretch the life of everything that

you have in your home.any people have $ondered over theyears $hether + have a lot of clothes. *heyare often ama?ed $hen + come back the nextyear! and the year after! and +)m still$earing clothes they have seen before.

4hen + shop! + pick out dresses that + like!and the next year + still like them! so (od

blesses me by extending the life of mydresses. + suppose $hen they get to the point$here + feel they look old! + might give them

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a$ay or thro$ them a$ay! but + reallyhaven)t found a dress yet that + felt got old.

*hey all go into the $ashing machine ; allthose long dresses of mine go in the $asher

; $eek after $eek! but they don)t $ear out.(od has the ability to maintain your

prosperity in many areas $hich $ill be a

blessing to you. + believe that (od $ill blessthe life of your car! the appliances in yourhome! or keep your home safe from disaster!as a form of your prosperity. #e has theability to make everything you have last along time.

The !o$e of a Father Has

E%pectations

=euteronomy >:687 begins to outlinesome of (od)s conditions for prosperity:

ou should 'now in your heart that as aman chastens his son! so the $ord your Godchastens you. +herefore you shall 'eep the

commandments of the $ord your God, to

wal' in !is ways and to fear !im.

4e! as natural parents! do not re$ard our

children for disobedience. 4e $ant them togro$ into loving adults and good citi?ens$ith strong character. ,o $e let them kno$$hat $e expect of them. +t $ould be $rong

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of us to let our children gro$ up doinganything and everything that came into their

immature minds! $ithout ever correctingthem. (od has a commitment to help us togro$ into better hristians! and #e loves usenough to correct us $hen $e are $rong. #e$ill not re$ard foolishness and rebellion.

re you $alking in the fear andreverence for (od that #e reFuires% =o youbelieve there are re$ards that (od has$aiting for you%

ne thing (od $anted to do $asencourage the children of +srael by letting

them kno$ $hat $as ahead for them if theychose to obey #im. *hey had been living asslaves in 'gypt. ,laves $ho made bricks ofmud and $ho $orked in the fields of the'gyptians did not eat from the tables of their

masters. *hey received meager portions ofthe poorest Fuality grains and rotted fruitthat the 'gyptians $ould not feed their o$nfamilies. (od sa$ $hat they had lacked! and#e $anted to lead #is people to a life ofabundance. Gerses


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barley, of vines and of trees and

pomegranates, a land of olive oil and

honey* a land in which you will eat breadwithout scarcity, in which you will lac'

nothing* a land whose stones are iron and

out of whose hills you can dig copper.

+f people $ould just believe that (od is

not a (od of lack! and that #e is a (od ofabundance! their faith for prosperity $ouldgro$ by leaps and bounds. 0ust look at $hatthe Aord $anted #is people to look for$ardto receiving: a land $ith plenty of fresh$ater flo$ing every$here! a land of the

finest grains and fresh! plump fruits for theirtable! a land $here their children $ould notgo to bed hungry! and $here they $ould notlack anything.

4e $ould be concerned if our children

$ere not eating properly! $ould $e not%(od $as moved $ith compassion $hen #ispeople $ere mistreated! over$orked! andgiven insufficient food and $ater by theirtaskmasters. 4hen #e sent oses to leadthem out from those conditions! + believe

(od literally could hardly $ait to see hispeople planted in a land $here they couldenjoy everything they had been deprived offor hundreds of years. =oes that not makeyour faith leap! to kno$ that (od truly

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$ants our lives to overflo$ $ith #isgoodness%

+ $ant you to notice that! $hen (od)speople arrived in the land of abundance! #ealso $as going to provide materials to makelife productive and satisfying. any of those$ho had been confined to back8breaking and

monotonous tasks $ere gifted and talentedcraftsmen. (od let them kno$ that this land$ould be full of iron and copper for them tocraft into useful tools and beautifulornaments. People $ould be allo$ed to usetheir (od8given talents to bring joy and

satisfaction to their lives! as $ell as toprovide a means of increasing theirprosperity.

any times! people have a $rong ideaabout prosperity. *hey think (od is going to

rain prosperity do$n on them like prilsho$ers. Hsually (od $ill give youinspirational ideas! $isdom for $ittyinventions! and sound financial abilities tohelp increase and manage your finances. #e$ill give you divine connections and lead

you to open doors. ll are examples of(od)s po$er $orking to help you gro$

prosperous.nce (od)s children $ent into the

promised land and possessed it! there $ould

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be a time of rest and refreshing! and thenthey $ould discover resources all around

them to build and invent and improve theirenvironment.

& Than'ful Heart Blesses God

Gerse 19 says! hen you have eaten and

are full, then you shall bless the $ord yourGod for the good land which !e has given

you.

4ould you sit do$n at a banFuet table!hosted by a ruler of high authority! eat yourfill and take home gifts and delicacies for

your family! and fail to thank your host% +nother $ords! don)t be rude to a loving (odand 5ather. =on)t take your blessings forgranted. *hank #im for $herever you are!for $hatever you have. *hank (od for the

house you live in. *hank (od for theapartment you live in. *hank (od for thecity you live in! for the country you live in.*hank #im! thank #im! thank #im ; blessthe Aord for the good land $hich #e hasgiven you. 'ven if you are not $here you

$ant to be just no$! if you can see to readthis page! you have something priceless to

be thankful for. +f you have a mind to dreamof a better future! you have a precious gift. +f

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you can turn your head or raise your handand greet a loved one $ith a smile or a

$ave! thank (od continually.=euteronomy >:11816 continues:-eware

that you do not forget the $ord your God by

not 'eeping !is commandments, !is

/udgments, and !is statutes which I

command you today, lest 0 when you haveeaten and are full, and have built beautiful

houses and dwell in them* and when your

herds and your floc's multiply, and your

silver and your gold are multiplied, and all

that you have is multiplied* when your heart

is lifted up, and you forget the $ord yourGod who brought you out of the land of

Egypt, from the house of bondage* who led

you through that great and terrible

wilderness, in which were fiery serpents and

scorpions and thirsty land where there wasno water* who brought water for you out of

the flinty roc'* who fed you in the

wilderness with manna, which your fathers

did not 'now, that !e might humble you and

that !e might test you, to do you good in the

end1,o many times! $hen $e are poor! or in

debt! orattempting to rise out of lack! $e cry out!

"h (od h (od Bless me Prosper me

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Prosper me! oh! (od! and $hen + have a lotof money! + $ill do this or that for you.&

*hen $e hear the $ord of (od! and $ebelieve/ $e use our faith! and $e begin toreceive the blessings $e asked for. 4e payoff those debts and get a ne$ television anda ne$ car and begin shopping for a bigger

house in a better neighborhood. (od kno$shuman nature. #e pleaded $ith #is peoplethousands of years ago! to not forget #im$hen they came out of their poverty into theland of milk and honey. #e reminded themof the tender love #e had sho$n to them and

all the miracles #e had done in order toprovide for their needs.

(od should not have to remind us of ourblessings. #e shouldn)t have to plead $ithus to remember #im. #e $ants us to just

look up to the heavens spontaneously andsay! "h 5ather! + am so grateful for You.You are so good. *hank You for such$onderful $ays that You have taken care ofme. + just $ant to praise You $ith all myheart and soul&

Gerse 1< is one of caution. +t says! thenyou say in your heart, 2My power and themight of my hand have gained me this

wealth.

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#aven)t you heard people say those very$ords% +n these days! it is said more like!

"h! $o$! +)m smart. + did this greatbusiness deal. + $ent into that bigcorporation and talked to the boss! and hegave me everything + $anted.My power DmytalentE and the might of my hand Dmy

kno$ledgeE have gained me this wealth.3

God (esists the Proud

*here is a little story in =aniel :2>83that has al$ays fascinated me. Iing

-ebuchadne??ar $as reigning over Babylon

in great po$er and prosperity! and hebecame lifted up in pride and failed to give(od glory.

&t the end of the twelve months he was

wal'ing about the royal palace of -abylon.

+he 'ing spo'e, saying, "+s not this great-abylon, that I have built for a royaldwelling by my mighty power and for the

honor of my ma/esty43

hile the word was still in the 'ings

mouth, a voice fell from heaven5 67ing

8ebuchadne99ar, to you it is spo'en5 the'ingdom has departed from you: &nd they

shall drive you from men, and your dwelling

shall be with the beasts of the field. +hey

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shall ma'e you eat grass li'e o"en* and

seven times shall pass over you, until you

'now that the Most !igh rules in the'ingdom of men, and gives it to whomever

!e chooses.&+hat very hour the word was fulfilled

concerning 8ebuchadne99ar* he was driven

from men and ate grass li'e o"en* his bodywas wet with the dew of heaven till his hair

had grown li'e eagles feathers and his

nails li'e birds claws.

nd at the end of the time +!-ebuchadne??ar! lifted my eyes to heaven!

and my understanding returned to me/ and +blessed the ost #igh and praised andhonored #im $ho lives forever: 5or #isdominion is an everlasting dominion! and#is kingdom is from generation to

generation.+t $as al$ays incredulous to me tovisuali?e a rich and po$erful king out in thefields eating grass like the oxen! not for justa fe$ days but for seven years. + don)t ever$ant to be in a position $here (od resists

me! do you% *he $ay to have (od bless youand not resist you is appreciate #im andgive #im the glory for $hat #e has done.4ouldn)t it be much better for your successto be shared $ith others as a $itness to

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(od)s love and faithfulness than for (od tohave to remove you from your position of

prosperity and influence%

God is )ot an *nfit Parent

#ere is a verse + $ant you to memori?e.=euteronomy >:1>:&nd you shall remember

the $ord your God, for it is !e who givesyou power to get wealth.

(od kno$s $hat your talents are. #ekno$s $hat kind of debt you have. #ekno$s if your children are lacking anything/and #e $ants to lead you right into the land

of milk and honey. +t is #e $ho gives youpo$er to get $ealth! because you are #ischild and #e $ants you to have the best ofeverything. Aet)s finish that verse:

&nd you shall remember the $ord your

God, for it is !e who gives you power to getwealth, that !e may establish !is covenant

which !e swore to your fathers, as it is this

day.

(od)s covenant $as that #e $ould beresponsible to provide for every need for #is

people for as long as they lived! if they$ould obey #im. +f (od)s people did seek#im and did their best to live as #e toldthem to! #e $as bound by his $ord to

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provide all of their needs! forever. (od$anted other nations to see ho$ $ell #e

took care of #is children. #e $anted theenemies of #is people to see #is favor allover them.

#o$ $ould it look if you had a son ordaughter $ho al$ays tried to please you and

never caused you any trouble! and youdressed them in dirty rags! sent them toschool $ithout any pencils or paper or lunchmoney! and fed them only $atered do$n

broth every night for dinner% +n this day andtime! local authorities $ould soon be

knocking on your door to investigate and seeif you $ere fit to keep your children.

#o$ can anyone believe that (od treats#is children like the unfit earthly parents$hose children are taken a$ay from them%

#o$ can any hristian believe that (od$ants them to be in poverty% s you readthrough this book! + $ant you to be soconvinced of (od)s love for you and #isover$helming desire to bless you that you$ill claim your blessings! ask (od to send

your angels to get to $ork on your behalf!and trust (od and thank #im for everything#e is going to do for you! even if you don)tsee it yet.

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#o$ can (od give us anything good if$e don)t believe in #is goodness% +f you

have ever put (od in the same class as achild abuser $ho doesn)t meet the basicneeds of their children! + $ant you to repentright this moment! and tell #im ho$ muchyou love #im and trust #im! and then thank

#im! thank #im! thank #im.

& Promise "e Dont "ant

to (ecei$e

*here is a promise for those $ho do notrecogni?e (od)s hand in their life or thank#im for his goodness.

=euteronomy >:1@ is a solemn $arning:+hen it shall be, if you by any means forget

the $ord your God, and follow other gods,

and serve them and worship them, I testify

against you this day that you shall surelyperish.

*hose $ho lift themselves up in pridebecause they have gained great $ealth and$ho boast of all their self8made successhave forgotten (od. *hey have made money

their god or looked to things money can buyas idols in their life. s surely as (od hasspoken! they are going to perish.

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*he promise to the proud and the $ickedis one from $hich $e can escape if $e are

obedient and thankful. =on)t forget the Aord$ho loves you and has given you increaseand abundance. =on)t grieve #im $ith anungrateful heart.

4hen you receive your promotion! or

$hatever means (od uses to multiply yourfinances! don)t be ashamed to say! "(od didit + give #im all the praise and glory& +fyou can believe that (od $ill give you

po$er to get $ealth! and then you see #imat $ork in your life to bring you to a ne$

level of prosperity! don)t you think it)s timeto get do$n on your knees and thank #imfor it%

(od said! "Be careful& and "Be$are& offorgetting the Aord in your prosperity. *hose

$ords are strong $arnings that there aretraps and dangers ahead. You may feel thatyou $ould never $orship other gods andthat you $ould never follo$ evil $ays. But(od kno$s ho$ Fuickly someone canchange a life of prayer and praise and

dependence on #im! over to pride andhaughtiness $hen they have reached a pointof financial abundance. (od simply $ants to

protect us from the love of money. #e $antsto protect us from temptations that could soil

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our integrity. #e $ants to protect us fromhaving an ego problem and turning a$ay

from our first love! the Aord 0esus hrist.

Prere+uisites for Prosperity

=id you kno$ that there are prereFuisitesfor (ods) prosperity% any times $e take a

verse of scripture out of context! and $ebelieve that just because $e confess andbelieve that one verse! that is going to mean(od)s true prosperity $ill be ours. +n doingso! $e fail to receive the real blessings (odhas for us! $hich go beyond finances.

+ think it is interesting that prosperitybegins in the ld *estament and goes all the$ay through the Psalms! Proverbs and theProphets and then all the $ay through the

-e$ *estament and ends up $ith (od in

heaven surrounded $ith gold and diamonds!rubies and pearls! and fabulous je$elsbeyond our imagination. (od is everconscious of #is children and their need to

prosper. #e desires to develop the $holeperson! ho$ever! not just their bank account.

+ $ant to sho$ you some of theprereFuisites of prosperity that arementioned in the ld *estament. You mighthave heard someone say! "*he ld

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*estament $as replaced by the -e$*estament.& -o! the -e$ *estament

revealed 0esus! $ho came to fulfill the ld*estament. *he ld *estament lays afoundation $hich portrays the heart of a$ise and loving heavenly 5ather. *he ld*estament reveals (od)s nature and human

nature! and the conflict bet$een the t$o.*he ld *estament depicts a (od $hore$ards good and punishes evil. +t reveals(od)s longing to love and to bless us! and#is constant cry for #is people to call on#im! trust #im and obey #im.

0esus preached the ld *estament anddemonstrated in the flesh the 5ather)s love.+f (od)s heart is first revealed in the ld*estament! and later demonstrated by 0esus!$e can rely on the fact that (od has not

changed. 4e can learn from $hat $asrevealed to dam! braham and oses!=avid! ,olomon! and the prophets. ,ome ofthe greatest truths of history and mostnotable $ords of (od are recorded in theld *estament.

(emember the )eedy

=euteronomy 16:819! in the AivingBible! says:

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For the $ord will greatly bless you in the

land he is giving you if you obey this

command. +he only prere;uisite for hisblessing is that you carefully heed all the

commands of the $ord your (od that I amgiving you today. !e will bless you as he

has promised. ou shall lend money to many

nations but will never need to borrow: oushall rule many nations, but they shall not

rule over you: -ut if, when you arrive in the

land the $ord will give you, there are any

among you who are poor, you must not shut

your heart or hand against them* you must

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someone o$ed money to another! the debt$as cancelled. ,o (od told them to not let

their generosity be hindered by thinkingabout $hether or not they $ere going to be

paid back.+ think that is good advice for us today

$hen $e loan money. +f (od points out

someone that you feel strongly to blessfinancially! don)t put a burden on them ofhaving to pay it back. +t is better to just giveyour gift to them and say! "(od blessed me!and +)m blessing you.& *hen! the Aord $illsee $hat you have done! and #e $ill prosper

you.*here are a lot of needy people all

around you. (od $ould be verydisappointed if you became prosperous andthen stored up all that prosperity just for

yourself. But that doesn)t mean you have tostretch your hand to every needy person inyour city or even on your block. 4hen (odis directing you! certain needy ones $illstand out to you. ften they $ill be people$ho are close to you. You may have elderly

parents! or children $ho are struggling topay bills! or a family member $ho couldreally use a financial blessing. (od has

blessed you! so you bless them.

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,ome of the greatest blessings you canreceive are in obeying the #oly ,pirit and

just slipping some money into someone)shand $hen (od says! "*hey have a needright no$! and + $ant you to bless them.& +tmight be someone you kno$! and it might

be a perfect stranger $ho is sitting near you

in a restaurant or in church. *o be able togive and help someone is one of the greatestjoys of prosperity.

+n the -e$ Iing 0ames! verse 19 says!the $ord your God will bless you in all your

$orks and in all to which you put your

hand. Besides the joy of obeying (od! andthe satisfaction of helping someone)s needsto be met! you $ill be re$arded by (od

prospering everything you do 0ust think'verything! everything! everything that you

set your hand to is going to prosper becauseof your compassion to others.

Bless Those "ho !ea$e #ou

*here is a special blessing in releasingsomeone to go and do $hat (od called them

to do. =euteronomy 16:1281 D*ABE says! +fyou buy a #ebre$ slave! $hether a man or$oman! you must free him at the end of thesixth year you have o$ned him! and don)t

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send him a$ay empty8 handed (ive him alarge fare$ell present from your flock! your

olive press! and your $ine press. ,hare $ithhim in proportion as the Aord your (od has

blessed you...and the Aord your (od $illprosper all you do because you havereleased him Dverse 1>E.

Aet me explain this in today)s language.'very once in a $hile in #unter inistries!$e have an employee $ho feels that (odhas called them on to another place. 4eonce had a girl $ho $as doing an excellent

job and $as very valuable to us because she

$as so efficient. ,he came to us andexplained that (od had called her into achurch $here she could sing in the choir and$ork $ith young people! and she $ould not

be able to continue $orking full time $ith

us. 4e "set her free& $ith our blessing.4henever someone leaves youremployment! or your ministry! or some typeof service to you! (od said that #e $ill

bless and prosper you if you release them$ith your blessing.

+ $ant to add here that! even if someoneleaves you on not the best of terms! (od $ill

prosper you if you let them move on in theirlife $ith your blessing. (od cannot prosperyou if you hold a grudge or bitterness

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to$ard that person! so release them!kno$ing that! as you bless them! (od $ill

bless you.*hese prosperity blessings $ere spoken

in the days of oses. But oses died! so$hat happened% =id (od)s prosperity godo$n the drain% =id (od just say to oses

that #is people in that day $ould beprosperous if they obeyed! and that $ould bethe end of it% -o! along came 0oshua! and0oshua $as promised exactly the same thingthat oses $as promised.

,ta'e #our Claim0oshua 1:183 says! &fter the death of

Moses the servant of the $ord, it came to

pass that the $ord spo'e to =oshua the son

of 8un, Moses assistant, saying5 Moses My

servant is dead. 8ow therefore, arise, goover this =ordan, you and all this people, to

the land which I am giving to them 0 the

children of Israel. Every place that the sole

of your foot will tread upon I have given

you, as I said to Moses.

*hat verse has a very special meaning toharles and me. ,everal years ago! harlesand + $ent out and $e $alked on a piece of

property that is a beautiful $ooded area of

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about t$enty8six acres. 4e $alked all overthat property and $e claimed it. 4e stood

upon this verse and said! "(od! $e believethat every place upon $hich the soles of ourfeet shall tread shall be given to us just likeYou promised oses.&

4e sa$ that very promise come into

existence! because (od honored our faith!and #e honored #is $ord. 4e dedicatedthat property to the Aord! and it $as used asour ministry headFuarters for many years!sending the (ospel out into all the $orld andtraining believers to do the $ork of the

ministry.+ believe (od honors $hat you claim for

#is glory. #e isn)t going to honor youdriving up to the 4hite #ouse and claimingthat property. #e honors $hat you claim by

the leading of the #oly ,pirit. +t could be apiece of property for a ministry! or it couldbe a nice lot on $hich to build your home. +fit is the desire of your heart! and if (od is

prompting you to claim it and believe #imfor it! #e $ill help you to receive it.

You can also stake a spiritual claim overevery place upon $hich the soles of yourfeet shall tread. 'very$here $e go! $eclaim that land and its people for thekingdom of (od. 4e have friends $ho $alk

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around their neighborhood! praying for alltheir neighbors and claiming them for the

Aord. (od hears those claims! and #e is evermindful of the po$er of your $ords as youclaim territory for #is glory.

God "ill Bac' #ou in the !and of

#our Enemies0oshua 1:86 describes the magnitude of

$hat (od $as giving to #is people and ho$#e $ould help them to possess it:From thewilderness and this $ebanon as far as the

great river, the >iver Euphrates, all the land

of the !ittites, and to the Great )ea toward

the going down of the sun, shall be your

territory. 8o man shall be able to stand

before you all the days of your life* as I was

with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not

leave you nor forsa'e you.=o you kno$ $hat my Bible says% +t

says! "5rances! + $ill be $ith you/ + $ill notleave you nor forsake you.& Put your namein there and see $hat it sounds like

Gerses 78< is a beautiful passage of

(od)s encouraging $ords to 0oshua:-e strong and of good courage, for to

this people you shall divide as an

inheritance the land which I swore to their

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fathers to give them. ?nly be strong and

very courageous, that you may observe to

do according to all the law which Moses Myservant commanded you* do not turn from it

to the right hand or to the left, that you may

prosper wherever you go.

(od $as preparing 0oshua for battle.

*here $ould be enemies that $ould try tokeep the +sraelites from possessing their landof prosperity. (od promised that they $ouldreceive every bit of their inheritance if they$ould believe (od and not doubt! if they$ould not give in to pressures from the

enemies! and if they $ould not turn a$ayfrom the Aord.

+sn)t this the same thing (od $ould tellus today if #e $ere sitting do$n $ith usadvising us on ho$ to get to our land of

prosperity%#e $ould let us kno$ #e $as $ith us.#e $ould $arn us about enemies $e

$ould have to conFuer ; enemies like doubt!unbelief! obstacles! hardship! times ofhaving to start over.

#e $ould tell us to keep our courage anddon)t think of Fuitting.

#e $ould remind us to keep #im first inour life and not stray from #iscommandments.

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#e $ould smile and give us #is $ordthat if $e did these things! $e $ould prosper

in everything $e do! $herever $e go ; justlike #e said to oses and just like #e saidto 0oshua.

*hen #e $ould tell us the key to beingable to believe #im and stay courageous:

Ho- to Belie$e and (ecei$e

Gerse >: +his -oo' of the $aw shall notdepart from your mouth, but you shall

meditate in it day and night, that you may

observe to do according to all that is written

in it. For then you will ma'e your wayprosperous, and then you will have good

success. *he mplified says! ...and then youshall deal wisely and have good success.

*he $ord of (od is $hat $ill give you

$ings to soar over obstacles. *he $ord of(od in your heart and in your mouth $illgive you courage and faith. *he $ord of(od $ill give you $isdom. *he $ord of(od $ill lighten your path$ay and bringyou into the success you desire. But it $on)t

happen by reading a verse here and thereevery no$ and then. +t $ill happen $henyou mediate on (od)s 4ord day and nightand make it the standard for your life.

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(od)s message to 0oshua continued $ithan unusual command. 4e usually think of

commands coming from someone in amilitary position ; a high ranking officergiving an order to an enlisted person or to anofficer of lo$er rank. command is not anoption. +t is to be obeyed. =o you $ant to

get into the mind of (od $hen it comes tothe kind of faith #e expects from you% Aookat this command:

(od says in 0oshua 1:@! !ave not Icommanded you4 -e strong and of good

courage* do not be afraid, nor be dismayed,

for the $ord your God is with you whereveryou go.

(od had already told 0oshua to be strongand of good courage. 4hen there arerepetitive statements from (od to his

people! it is to sho$ added emphasis on theimportance of $hat #e is saying. +n these$ords to 0oshua! (od is restating his earlieradvice as a command! letting him kno$ thatthere is absolutely no excuse for fear!confusion! doubt or hesitation in going

$herever (od directs.(od is adamant that the $ord your God

is with you! and #e doesn)t expect anyinsubordination ; #e expects his people totrust #im. Put yourself into that scripture!

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and let faith in (od)s nearness andfaithfulness rise up in you. 4hen you are

going into your promised land! be it healing!prosperity or any blessing (od $ants you tohave! you must remember that (od said #e$ould be $ith you $herever you are going!and then you go and keep going until you

receive $hat (od has for you.Gerses 19811 tell $hat 0oshua did: +hen=oshua commanded the officers of the

people, saying, 6Pass through the camp and

command the people, saying, 2Prepare

provisions for yourselves, for within three

days you will cross over this =ordan, to goin to possess the land which the $ord your

God is giving you to possess.3

4hat $ould you have done if you hadabout six million people you $ere

responsible for and a river to cross $ithbabies and herds and flocks tagging along%0oshua could have said! "h! + don)t kno$$hat +)m going to do + don)t kno$ ho$ tostart -o $ay can $e get over there. 4e)vegot too many people. + can)t s$im. *he

$omen and babies aren)t strong enough.4hat about all the animals%&

=oes your mind jump back at you $ithall kinds of Fuestions $hen you kno$ thatyou kno$ (od has directed you to do

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something% You can starve yourself of(od)s blessings $ith those kinds of

Fuestions! or you can feast on (od)sassurance that #e is $ith you $herever yougo.

5ortunately! 0oshua)s heart had beenproved to (od many years before $hen he

$ent over to the land of anaan as a spy andcame back $ith a good report! declaring!"4e can = this& ,o! 0oshua commandedthe officers of the people and told them tostart packing and get ready to cross over the0ordan and possess that land (od had

promised. s hristians! oftentimes $e needto stop making excuses and get up and =something.

0oshua delegated (od)s command to hisofficers! $ho branched out and got $ord to

all the people. 5orty years earlier! an entiregeneration had responded to (od)scommand $ith fear and doubt/ and they haddied in the $ilderness. 0oshua and a ne$generation no$ had another chance to obeythe Aord and take the land. Gerses 1781829describe braham voluntarily offering atithe of everything to the Aord.

+hen Meichi9ede' 'ing of )alem brought

out bread and wine* he was the priest of

God Most !igh. &nd he blessed him andsaid5 6-lessed be &bram of God Most !igh,

possessor of heaven and earth* and blessed

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be God Most !igh, who has delivered your

enemies into your hand3

&nd he ga$e him a tithe of all.

braham)s tithe $as not reFuired. +t $asa gift from the heart. #e kne$ he $ould nothave anything apart from (od)s goodness!

and he thanked #im generously. +sn)t thatthe $ay $e are all supposed to respond tothe goodness of (od%

any years later! the tithe $asincorporated into the Aa$! and everyone$as reFuired to give a tenth of their

increase. + expect that in those days manypeople gave the tithe just because they hadto and not because they $anted to. 'venthough they $ould have nothing $ithout(od)s blessing! they became hard of heart in

their giving back to (od.+n alachi 3:19! (od gave a po$erfulmotivation for people to really get involvedin the tithe! because #e $as ready torespond in a big $ay to those $ho $ereobedient.

6-ring all the tithes into the storehouse,that there may be food in My house, and try

Me now in this,3 says the $ord of hosts, 6if I

will not open for you the windows of heaven

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and pour out for you such blessing that

there will not be room enough to receive it.3

4hat a promise of (od +f + had beenone of those +sraelites! + $ould have takeneverything that + could tithe into thestorehouse. + $ould have taken in t$o tithes!

because + $ould have $anted everything

that (od had ready to pour through those$indo$s of heaven.+t is interesting to me that (od

challenged them to "prove #im.& *hat $aslike saying to them! ",ee if +)m telling youthe truth or if +)m lying.& 4e kno$ (od

cannot lie! so that means #e $ill back up#is $ord $ith action every single time.

+f you don)t think the tithe is for today!just look at atthe$ 23:23 $here 0esus saidyou ought to tithe and do more as $ell.

(od)s la$ didn)t end $ith 0esus/ it $asfulfilled. #o$ could anybody pass up suchan opportunity to just give a mere ten

percent of your increase back to (od andreceive more from #im than your housecould hold% =o you kno$ anyone you could

go into business $ith $ho $ould give youthe same opportunity that (od does%

+n my entire life! + have never kno$n atither to be sorry that they tithed. + haveheard testimony after testimony after

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testimony of $hat (od $ill do $hensomeone makes a commitment and is

faithful in tithing.ne tithing family $e kno$ has t$elve

beautiful! healthy children. *hey definitelyhad to get a larger house But! just think ; tohave a large and healthy family $ith smart!

perfectly formed children is an above8and8beyond blessing(od can literally overflo$ your home

$ith blessings so that you $ill need a largerhome. #is overflo$ing blessings mightcome in a number of other $ays! as $ell ;

$e can)t limit (od or put him into ourboxed8in thinking.

,everal years ago! a alifornia familyclaimed the tithe blessing $hen their eight8year8old son $as diagnosed $ith a type of

terminal cancer. *he boy)s father got do$non his knees and said! "(od! + am a tither.y tithe is my part of the covenant/ no$You do Your part.& *he boy improved andnever again had any sign of cancer. *hat is a$indo$s8of8heaven! overflo$ing blessing

*here is a business expanding throughoutklahoma and *exas! $hich tithes on all ofits business profits. +t also does not open itsdoors on ,undays. People today think itstrange to have a business not open on

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,undays! but years ago! almost allbusinesses $ere closed on ,undays.

*his business $hich faithfully honors(od has gro$n to the point $here theyrecently $ere able to $rite a J


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6&nd I will rebu'e the devourer for your

sa'es, so that he will not destroy the fruit of

your ground, nor shall the vine fail to bearfruit for you in the field,3 says the $ord of

hosts*

ne of our partners! a couple $ho hastithed all their married life! lives in a flood

plain in klahoma. =uring a hundred8yearflood in their area! rising $ater rushed intohouses all around their neighborhood. *henext day! carpets $ere lying on la$ns allover the place. *his couple had just boughtthousands of dollars $orth of brand ne$

carpet! $hich had been delivered to theirgarage just prior to the flood. *heir homenot only did not get any $ater in it but!although the garage is lo$er than the street!not a drop of $ater $ent into the garage! and

the rolls of ne$ carpet remained perfectlydry. (od rebuked the devourer on theirbehalf

4ouldn)t it be the most exciting thing inthe $orld to have a book $hich just gavetestimonies of all the $ays the Aord has

blessed people $ho tithed $ith a $illingheart% + don)t believe our bookshelves! orour house! or our city library $ould be ableto contain all the volumes of testimonies ofho$ (od pours out #is blessings on the

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tither/ but one day $hen $e are all inheaven! it $ill be glorious to spend eternity

sharing $ith one another all that (od hasdone.

ne of the reasons that (od is a blessing(od is that #e is a proud parent. #e $antsto sho$ off all the re$ards that #e heaps

upon #is children $ho are obedient.6&nd all nations will call you blessed,for you will be a delightful land,3 says the

$ord of hosts Malachi (5A%#.

& )e- Gi$ing Cycle

+n the ld *estament! (od prepared! #ecreated! and #e gave. #e initiated giving!

because#e $as so full of love for #is ne$

family. #o$ever! it did not take long for

(od to discover that #e could not trust thehuman race! and #e had to make somereFuirements. #e said! "k! +)ll give! andthen you give back to me.&

=avid is a good example because =avidreceived! and then =avid gave back to (od.

+n the old covenant! (od gave increase tothose $ho $ere obedient! and then the

people gave back to (od $hen they receivedtheir harvest.

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Aet me sho$ you $hat happened $hen0esus came into the earth. 4ith 0esus came a

ne$ covenant. +n the ne$ covenant! 0esussaid something that! to me! is one of themost exciting things in the Bible ; (odgives you a money back guarantee that $hatyou give to #im is going to come back to

youAuke 7:3> says! Give, and it will be givento you5 good measure, pressed down,

sha'en together, and running over will be

put into your bosom. For with the same

measure that you use, it will be measured

bac' to you.+n the Aiving Bible! it says!If you give,

you will get: #o$ simple does (od have tomake it%

4hen (od sent 0esus for the forgiveness

of our sins and for the redemption of oursouls! (od gave a ne$ covenant because #ereali?ed the hardness of the human heart. #ehad said up until that time! "+)ll give! andthen you $ill give back to me.& #e changedit in the -e$ *estament and said! "ll right!

you give first. +)ll see if you love me. +)ll seeif you trust me. +)ll see if you are obedient.You give! and then +)ll give.&

*hen (od added the bonus. #e is soexcited about our giving that #e promised

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#e $ould give back much more than $egave ; good measure, pressed down, sha'en

together, and running over will be put intoyour bosom. For with the same measure that

you use! it will be measured bac' to you.+ have to be real honest $ith you. +

thought for a long time! before + $as saved!

that the only ones $ho ever talked aboutmoney $ere preachers. *hen + became ahristian and got into the $ord of (od. +discovered that (od has a tremendousamount to say about money. *he interestingthing that you $ill notice is! $hen (od talks

about money! it is giving it a$ay! giving ita$ay! giving it a$ay

=id you ever get a bad attitude $hen apreacher took up an offering% + did. + $ouldjust sit there and mutter! "oney! money!

money. *hat)s all they are interested in.*hat)s the only reason they $ant me to cometo church.& Praise the Aord that + got savedand found out (od)s vie$ on money.

4hen people become uncomfortable assomeone begins to talk about an offering!

it)s because they don)t give enough. +f youare fidgeting in your pe$ and sFuirming inyour seat! it)s because you kno$ that youare not fulfilling the $ord of (od. 4hat youare indicating $hen you sFuirm is that you

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don)t see $hy (od $ants your money andyou don)t believe #e $ill give anything

back to you. You)re saying! "+ really don)tbelieve $hat (od said.&

4hen + look out into an audience atoffering time and + see some people begin toshift! clear their throat! $iggle in their seats!

+ have to laugh. You have no idea ho$ manytimes people decide that they have to havelittle bathroom privileges just at offeringtime. *he reason is they kno$ they are notgiving enough. 4hen you learn that thesecret of prosperity is giving to (od! you)ll

never be uncomfortable again. s a matterof fact! you $on)t be able to $ait foroffering time.

+ often $onder $hat $ould happen if! atoffering time! the speaker got up and said!

"4ill you all please open your $allets andpurses right no$ because $e)re going to fillthem up.& an you imagine the mad rush toget your $allet and purse% 4ouldn)t it besensational to see everybody making a maddash to get to the altar to make sure they got

their share before the money ran out% But!the Bible has better ne$s than that! because(od)s supply never runs out

ffering time is blessing time. *o thenatural mind! it doesn)t make sense that you

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can be blessed $hen you give a$ay moneythat you need yourself. Praise (od that #is

$ord doesn)t depend on $hat you think $ithyour natural mind ; #is $ord issupernatural! and 0esus said you are going toreceive $hen you give.

&d$ancing in Prosperity3 0ohn 2 says!-eloved, I pray that youmay prosper in all things and be in health,

/ust as your soul prospers.

4hen (od talks about prospering! #emeans it for every area of your life. +n the

mplified it says!-eloved, I pray that youmay prosper in every way and Cthat your

bodyD may 'eep well, even asCl 'nowD your

soul 'eeps well and prospers.

Cemember! there is a condition to all of

(od)s promises. 4e need to put the $holepackage together ; not just the beginning ofthe verse. *he prosperity of your soul has alot to do $ith the prosperity of your

pocketbook. Aet your soul get fat $ith (od)s$ord. *rain your mind! $ill and emotions to

apply (od)s principles. 'very other area inyour life $ill follo$ the prosperity of yoursoul! including your pocketbook.

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y 4ebster)s dictionary defines"prosper& as: to advance or gain in anything

good or desirable. (od $ants your body toprosper. #e $ants your marriage to prosper.#e $ants your family relationships to

prosper. #e $ants your businessrelationships to prosper. #e $ants your

church relationships to prosper. 'very areaof your life can prosper if your soul isprospering.

=id you ever have a time $hen thingslooked so bad in your life that you thought!"(od doesn)t love me. (od has forgotten all

about me. #ere + am! do$n here all bymyself. #e)s not even thinking about me atall.& 4hen your soul is prospering in the$ord of (od! you kno$ that you kno$ that(od is thinking about you all the time. You

kno$ that! in #is $onderful! loving heart!#is desire is for you to prosper in every area; spirit! soul! body! marriage! children!finances! business! ministry! gifts andcallings. 4hen you train your soul! yourfaith $ill gro$.

+ $as talking to a $oman at church $hohas had a very tragic life. #er first husbandran off $ith another $oman! so she had todivorce him. ,he married a second time! andher second husband $as killed in a horrible

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automobile accident. ,he married again! andher next husband committed suicide. ,he

said to me! "'verything + have ever had! +have laid on the altar of (od/ $hy does (odkeep taking it a$ay% =o you really meanthat (od $ants me to prosper%&

+ said! "Yes. 4hat did you do $hen those

things happened%&,he ans$ered! "+ $alked a$ay from(od.&

+ told her! "You)ve got the ans$er rightthere.&

You cannot just $alk $ith (od $hen you

think things are going $ell. +f you can befaithful and you can be obedient to (od!then + guarantee you that (od $ill help youto overcome any circumstance in your life.*here isn)t a single place in (od)s $ord

$here #e says! "+ $ant you to be sick and +$ant you to be poor.& 4hat #e does tell usin very simple $ords is! "+f you give! you$ill receive.&

Gi$ing is !i$ing/

You have to give first. *hen (od $illgive back to you. + learned this even before +$as saved. t the time! + didn)t reali?e that

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(od)s #oly ,pirit had revealed to me one ofthe greatest truths in the Bible.

+ $as in a hospital prior to an eyeoperation! and just to do the right spiritualthing! + opened my Bible and read the firstverse of the t$enty8third psalm. *hen +closed the Bible and began to pray! "h!

(od don)t let the operation hurt tomorro$. +can stand anything! but don)t let it hurt $henthey operate on my eye.& + did $hat $e allare prone to do. + really ignored (od duringthe good times! and then + ran screaming forhelp $hen the tide $ent against me.

+ tried to recall the $ords + had read: *he$ord is my shepherd* I shall not want. *hen+ picked up my Bible again to look and see$hat + had actually said. + think $hat + sa$that night $as the hand$riting of (od. +

opened my Bible! and! to my ama?ement!(od had $iped all the printing right offthose pages. (od had $ritten on them! $ith#is finger dipped in the blood of 0esus! five$ords. #e $rote! "5rances (ardner Dthat$as my name thenE! + love you.&

f all the people in the $orld! (odpersonally told me that #e loved me.

4hat happened to me at that instant $as!in one $orld8shattering moment! + got aglimpse of $hat my life had been ; a

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constant 0h1 (od! do this for me. h! (od!do that for me. h! (od! give me this and

this and this.& nd + had never once thoughtas to $hat + could do for #im.

+ really didn)t kno$ $hat + $as doing atthat moment! but + said! "(od! + take backthat prayer. + don)t care ho$ much it hurts

tomorro$! but + promise you this ; $hen +get out of this hospital! + $ill spend the restof my life seeing $hat + can do for 0esushrist and not $hat #e can do for me.&

=o you kno$ $hat% + didn)t reali?e it! +had no idea that as a rank sinner! + $as

speaking the real ans$er to everything in thehristian life ; giving.

+n that transforming moment! + changedmy prayer from! "h! (od! do this for me/h! (od! give me this! this! this...& to "(od!

+ $ill spend the rest of my life seeing $hat +can do for 0esus hrist and not $hat #e cando for me.&

+ did not become a hristian until + $asforty8 nine years of age. + praise the Aord

because the first place #e got me $as in the

pocketbook. #e said! "*he devil has hadyour money long enough/ no$ + $ant it.&*hen #e said! "(ive me 29K of everythingyou)ve got.& + $as so excited because +finally discovered that (od loved me. + $as

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so excited that all my sins $ere forgiven andthere $asn)t any guilt left. + really thought

that 29K $as (od)s charge for saving me. +didn)t kno$ any better. ll + kne$ $as thatin a beautiful instant! in the t$inkling of aneye! (od forgave every sin that + had evercommitted/ and + didn)t even kno$ salvation

$as free.+n my complete ignorance of $hat the$ord of (od promised! someho$ + kne$ +had to be obedient to (od. + had never readthe $ord of (od. + didn)t kno$ anythingabout the promises of (od. ll + kne$ $as +

$as born again. + said! "+f You $ant $hat isleft of this mess! take all my life! not just

part.& + had no idea that (od $anted me toprosper and be in health even as my soulprospered. + didn)t kno$ anything except

something had happened to me! and + hadfallen in love $ith a man named 0esus. ll +$anted to do $as love #im and listen to#im and obey #im.

+ began giving (od 29K of everything +had. + didn)t kno$ anything about Auke

7:3>. -obody ever told me that if + gave to(od! #e $as going to multiply it back tome. *hat doesn)t make any difference ;$hether you are ignorant or not of (od)s

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$ord! #e has to fulfill #is $ord $hen youhave fulfilled the condition.

(od began to give back to me. #o$ #eshoveled it back on me $as unbelievable.#e pressed it do$n! #e shook it together! #elet it run all over the place. =o you kno$$hat + had to do then% + had to give it back

to (od. *hen #e gave to me. + gave to #im.#e gave to me. + gave to #im. #e gave tome. 4e have been having a running battlefor years! and + have never been able to out8give (od. You $ill never! ever be able toout8give (od. *he fantastic thing is! + have

never had a need in my life! and neither $illyou.

+ have heard of so many people $ho havehad a struggle in their hristian life after

being born again. + have never had a

problem in my spiritual life! and + believethe reason is because (od got mypocketbook the day #e got me. (od neverreally has you until #e has your pocketbook.

4hen you learn to give to (od! you $illlearn the secret of living! because the secret

of living is giving. y life has never beenthe same since + said! "(od! +)m $illing todo anything + can for you. + don)t ask You todo a thing for me/ + just $ant to doeverything + can for You.&


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4atch $hat (od does $hen you are$illing to do that. +n the Aiving Bible it

says! our gift will return to you in full andoverflowing measure, pressed down, sha'en

together to ma'e room for more and

running over. *hat is not a maybe.. .(odsays that is the $ay #e $ill return it to you.

+f you give love! you are going to getback love. +f you give fello$ship! you)regoing to get back fello$ship. +f you givetime to (od! you)re going to get back moretime than you kno$ $hat to do $ith. +f yougive money to (od! you)ll get back money.

Gods &ccounting ,ystem

*he next phrase is $here so many peopleget trapped. hatever measure you use to

give, large or small, will be used to measure

what is given bac' to you. ccording to the$ord of (od! $e actually are the ones $hocontrol the amount that (od gives back tous! because #e is going to use the samemeasure that $e used in giving to #im! togive back to us.

+n the back of my Bible! + have a tinyspoon. + often get tea on a plane! and theairlines give a little spoon to stir it $ith ; +think it is the tiniest spoon + have ever seen


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in my life. *he bo$l of the spoon at thelongest part is about a half inch and is about

three8eighths of an inch $ide. +t is probablya sixteenth of an inch deep. You canvisuali?e in your mind $hat a tiny littlespoon this is.

+f + gave to (od $ith that little spoon!

(od! by #is $ord! is obligated to use thatsame little tiny spoon to measure $hat he$ill press do$n! shake together! run overand then give back to me. #o$ long do youthink it $ould take to move a mountain $itha little bitty spoon like that% Cemember!

(od can only $ork $ith $hat you give #im.-o$ + $ant you to think about something

else. Picture a nice big bushel basket. Youcan get a lot into a bushel basket. +f you giveto (od $ith a great big bushel basket! just

think ho$ (od can press it do$n! shake ittogether and run it all over the place $hen#e gives it back to you.

4hat is your part% (ive generously to(od. +f you $ill do your part! (od $ill do#is part. You give generously. #e gives

generously.+ $ant to put your mind at rest! because

there are people reading this right no$ $hoare thinking! "4ell! there)s no $ay + can use


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a big bushel basket to give to (od because +only have a teaspoon income.&

Your generosity is not based on anamount but on your attitude and the

proportion that you give of $hat you have togive. +f you have fifty cents and give anickel or dime! you are giving as much in

proportion as someone $ho has fiftythousand dollars and gives five or tenthousand. (od)s accounting is not like a

bank on earth ; (od)s accounting system isbased on supernatural insight that #e hasinto every situation. #is system is based on

the principle of you releasing $hat you haveand trusting #im to multiply it back to you.

Cemember the little $ido$ $ho livedduring a time of severe famine throughoutthe land D+ Iings 1816E. ,he had about a

half cup of flour and a little oil in thekitchen! and she $as going to feed her sonand then prepare to die of starvation. (odkne$ this $oman)s heart! just as #e kno$severything about each one of us. #e sent his

prophet 'lijah to her because (od kne$ she

$ould be $illing to give all she had to theman of (od.

'lijah came along and! kno$ing the$oman had only a little handful of flour!asked her to feed him first. ,he took of $hat


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she had and offered it as unto the Aord! and(od multiplied back to her enough food to

feed her son and 'lijah and herself for theentire duration of the famine.

*hat $oman $as not able to give abushel basket of food to 'lijah! but she$illingly gave a handful. (od then gave her

more than a three year supply of food ;good measure! pressed do$n! shakentogether and running over. (od)s prosperityla$s are based on obedience! attitude! andgenerosity! no matter $hat the amount isthat you are able to begin giving to #im. +

also $ant you to notice that (od didn)t giveher dollars in her bank account ; money$ould not have helped her because there$as no food available to buy. ,o (od gaveher something far more valuable. 4hen you

give to (od! #is return gift to you $ill beexactly $hat you need and $ill be right onschedule.

Gods Interest (ate

#ave you ever set aside a little money in

a savings account% You put that money intosavings so that it $ill dra$ interest and $ill

be $orth more at the end of the year. *heinterest rate could be any$here from t$o


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percent to five percent. +f you have somemoney invested in the stock market! you

might get ten or fifteen percent return in agood year. =o you kno$ $hat (od)s interestrate is% Aook at $hat 0esus says in atthe$1@:2@.

&nd everyone who has left houses or

brothers or sisters or father or mother orwife or children or lands, for My names

sa'e, shall receive a hundredfold, and

inherit eternal life.

0esus said that you $ill receive a hundredtimes as much in return. ne hundred times

more is 19!999 percent Plus! #e)s going togive you eternal life

+n a lot of our services! there are people$ho say! "+ don)t believe $hat you aresaying.& +t)s all right if you don)t believe

$hat + say! but this is $hat the $ord of (odsays. +f (od says that #e is going to giveback a hundred fold! + believe $ith my heartand soul that (od is going to give it back ahundred fold. + have seen #im do it over andover again.

4e received a letter from a lady $ho$rote to tell us $hat happened after shegave a sacrificial gift at one of our meetings.*his is $hat she said:


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"t one of your meetings this summer +gave t$enty dollars. 5rances prayed that the

gift $ould be multiplied a hundred fold. +n,eptember! $e $ere given fifteen hundreddollars from a source $e never dreamed of. +never connected the t$o incidents until +received a #unter Prayer Aetter this $eek.

#o$ever! then + $ondered about the otherfive hundred dollars! since she had prayedfor a hundred fold and $e had only receivedfifteen hundred dollars. 4hen + asked (od!#e reminded me that my son had received afive hundred dollar scholarship to ral

Coberts Hniversity for this year. Praise(od.&

+sn)t it $onderful that! even though (odmay not give it to you all at one time! #edoes get around to eventually giving the

$hole amount to you%4hen harles and + give our offerings inchurch! $e fold our check and put it in

bet$een Auke 7:3> and atthe$ 1@:2@/ andthen $e say! "(od! $e expect you to act.&

But let me remind you ; there is a

condition to that hundred fold interest ratethat (od promises.

+f you are $illing to give up the thingsthat you hold dear to you! and put (od in thehighest priority position in your life ; do


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$hat #e tells you to do and go $here #etells you to go ; then (od $ill return your

gift to you a hundred times over. 4e have tomeet (od)s conditions to make #is

promises a reality. (od $ants you to prosperin exactly the same manner that your soul is

prospering. Your soul cannot prosper until

you are $illing to do your part and give (odauthority over your entire life.Cecently! someone said to me! "4hat did

it cost you to get $here you are today%&+ simply replied! "-othing! except my

$hole life.&

*hat)s all it takes! just your $hole life.*he minute you are $illing to say! "(od! +$ill give You everything You $ant! + $illgive You first place in my life. + $ill do$hatever You ask me to do.& *hen (od $ill

begin to move in the finances of your life.4hen you say that! you had better meanit! because (od looks deep into our hearts!and #e kno$s exactly $hat our intentionsare. re you $illing to say! "(od! + $illserve You even if + never have one dollar

more than + have right no$%& +f you meanthat do$n in the deepest recesses of yoursoul! that)s $hen (od can begin to open the$indo$s of heaven in your life.


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+t is al$ays interesting $hen people are$illing to try and see if (od really does

mean $hat #e says. nother lady $rote usand said she had been to one of our meetingsand had heard me say that (od $ould give

back a hundred fold. ,he said! "(od! that)sall right for an evangelist. + kno$ they have

$ays because they take up offerings andthey can get their money back. But ho$ cana poor little house$ife like me ever get it

back% *here)s no $ay + could receive ahundred fold.& *hen! she said! "(od! +

believe You. + believe that 5rances read

from the $ord of (od. + believe the $ord of(od is true. ,o! (od! +)m going to try Youand +)m going to test You! and +)m going to

prove You! just like You said over inalachi. +)m going to prove you! (od! and

see if You $ill give it back to me a hundredfold.&*his $oman $as a totally committed

hristian. ,he had given her $hole life to(od and sought first the kingdom of (odand his righteousness. Before she got out of

that meeting! someone $alked over to herand said! "*he Aord impressed me to giveyou this.& #e handed her a t$enty dollar

bill. -o one had ever done that to her in herentire life.


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*he next day! she got a check for fifteenhundred dollars from the government! $ith a

letter $hich said! "4e made a mistake inyour income tax! and $e are returning thisamount to you.& *he refund $as from acertain year for $hich she had neverdreamed there $as an error. ,he could not

believe the government $ould ever make amistake or that they $ould send moneyback. But there it $as.

By this time! her cup $as really runningover.

*hen (od did the final thing. ,he $ent

into the bathroom! and $hen she unrolledthe harmin! out fell a t$enty dollar bill(od really goes out of #is $ay once in a$hile! doesn)t #e! to prove a point% +$ouldn)t suggest you go around your house

and make an inventory of everything! butyou never kno$

&ll These Things ,hall be &dded

Aook at $hat 0esus said in atthe$ 7:33:But seek first the kingdom of (od and #is

righteousness! and all these things shall beadded to you.

4hat kinds of things $ill (od add to ifyou seek #im first and #is righteousness% +


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believe #e $ill add the things you needmost and desire most. #e may even add

things you don)t reali?e that you need! butbecause of the incredible 5ather)s love #ehas for you! #e $ill add just the right thingsunto you.

ne of the things that (od added to me

$as so ama?ing that + still get excited justthinking about ho$ $onderful (od $as tobless me $hen + didn)t even kno$ + neededto be blessed.

+ had met harles #unter at a gatheringand + never had even one date $ith him. +

sa$ him that one time and never sa$ himagain until he came to iami to claim mefor his bride

*he day that (od spoke to me that + $asto marry harles! + $as in church! and + $as

absolutely miserable. + $as standing upthere proclaiming the $ord of (od andsaying! "-othing! nothing! nothing! nothing!nothing is impossible to (od.& =o you kno$$ho got convicted% + did. *he preacher isal$ays the one that gets convicted the most

by $hat he or she is saying.(od said to me! "You keep telling that

audience that nothing is impossible to e!and yet you don)t think you can marryharles. You don)t think you can be an

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evangelist and do $hat + have called you todo and still marry harles. You think it)s

impossible! even though you are tellingpeople that nothing is impossible for e.&

+ $as the first one to the altar that day. +did not even $alk around to the altar/ +

jumped over the altar and $as the first one

there at the altar call. + $as kneeling thereand just crying all over the place. + said to(od! "(od! either get harles into my lifeone $ay or the other or get him out!&

because + $as completely miserable.*hat afternoon! + $ent back to the room

$here + $as staying. + said! "(od! + am somiserable.& (od does not $ant you to bemiserable! but sometimes #e can reallyspeak to you $hen you are in that conditionand you cry out to #im. + said! "(od! every

time + think about You! + think aboutharles and + think about 0esus. + get the$hole bunch of you all mixed up.&

(od spoke to me as clearly as if #e $erestanding beside me. #e said! "Because youhave sought first y kingdom and y

righteousness! + am adding harles to you. +am adding a husband to your life ; ahusband to love you! to protect you! tocherish you! to be a father to 0oan. +)m

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giving you this thing that you need in yourlife.&

Because + truly gave all of me to (od! #eadded to me the most $onderful husband inthe $orld. 4e have been able to do more for(od than + could ever have done alone! so(od fulfilled the deepest desires of my heart

in every $ay.*here are many things (od $ants to addto us ; happiness! health! prosperity!$isdom! kno$ledge and understanding.4hen 0esus said to the cro$d! )ee' first the'ingdom of (od and !is righteousness, and

all these things shall be added to you, they$ere concerned about food and clothes anda home to live in. +n today)s language! they$ere $orried about their house payments!car payments and clothes or tuition for their

children. 0esus said that all of these things$ould be added to them! but #e alsoindicated that the 5ather kno$s every typeof thing that #is children need ; and allthose things $ill be provided by seeking#im first.

Ho- to Get a Promotion

+)m going to give you another key toyour prosperity! and this is a very practical

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type of giving $hich can allo$ (od to blessyour life. +n the Aiving Bible! 'phesians 7:68

> says!)laves, obey your masters* be eager to

give them your very best. )erve them as you

would hrist.


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respectful. Be cheerful. You $ill begin tostand out from among the cro$d. ost of

you spend a lot of time on the job! so a lot ofyour opportunity to plant seeds of prosperity$ill be at your $ork place. Yourconscientious job performance is justanother $ay of giving that $ill enable you to

receive. Promotion $ill be in your future!and you $ill be putting money in the bank.

The 2oy of a Gi$ing !ifestyle

(od has a lot to say about giving. *heBible uses the $ordgive >17 times. (od is a

giver. #e is generous. +t is not any surprisethat #e places such significant emphasis on#is children learning to give.

+n atthe$ 19:> 0esus says! ...Freely youhave received, freely give. Freely simply

means generously. (od never tells you togive in a stingy manner. #e tells you to giveliberally. 4hen you have a constant fear ofgiving or a dread that you $ill do $ithoutsomething you really need! that is just thedevil talking to you. *he devil kno$s $hat

the $ord of (od says! and he doesn)t $antyou to receive (od)s blessings. #e doesn)t$ant (od)s people to become prosperous!

because then they $ill give more and more!

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and (od)s kingdom $ill gro$ larger andlarger.

*he entire chapter of 2 orinthians @ is aprofound teaching on (od)s prosperity. +nverse 7! Paul explains the principle ofso$ing and reaping:

-ut this I say: 6!e who so$ssparingly

will also reap sparingly, and he who sowsbountifully will also reap bountifully.3 +f afarmer $ants a big crop! he plants a lot ofseeds. +f he $ants a little crop! he plants fe$seeds. 4hat kind of crop do you $ant%

Gerse < says! ,o let each one give as he

purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or ofnecessity* for God loves a cheerful giver.

'xamine your heart! and determine yourattitude for giving. +f you give bountifully$hen you really $ant to give sparingly! you

are giving $ith a grudging heart. 4hen youfeel you have to do something but you don)t$ant to! you are destroying the blessings of(od for yourself.

*he next time you are in church! $henyou $rite out your check! hold it up in the

air and thank (od for the opportunity togive. *hank #im for souls that are going to

be saved and for lives being changed as aresult of the offering you are giving. *hank(od for that person in frica $ho is going

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to receive a Bible and medical help! food orfresh $ater. *hank (od for your money

being able to go all the $ay around the$orld! or to go right into your neighborhoodto help some homeless person or drug addictfind out that they can be delivered through0esus hrist.

laim the eternal value of the money yougive! and thank (od that $hen your moneyis put together $ith all the other money thatis received in the offering! mighty things$ill be accomplished. Your heart is going to

be cheerful $hen you give that $ay. You are

going to get excited that you are in apartnership $ith (od to get #is $ill done inmany people)s lives. 4hen you really getinvolved in $hat your money $illaccomplish for (od)s glory! you $on)t be

satisfied until you are a generous! abundantgiver.#ere is some practical advice. (od)s

$ord al$ays has a balance. Aook $hat 2orinthians >:12 says in the Aiving Bible:

If you are really eager to give, then it

isnt important how much you have to give.God wants you to give what you have, not

what you havent.

=id you notice that little $arning% =on)t$rite any "hot checks& +)ve kno$n people

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$ho tried to fool (od by putting a bad checkinto the offering! but (od kno$s very $ell

$hat you have given and $hat you haven)t.*here might be someone $hose heart is

moved $ith compassion during a specialoffering! and they $rite a check on moneythat is not in their account! and convince

themselves that (od is going to put themoney in there before the check bounces.*hat is not $hat (od $ants you to do! and#e is not going to cover your bad checks.#e $ants a cheerful giver but also an honestgiver. You can start by giving real cash or a

check for a real amount! even though it maybe small/ and $hen (od multiplies yourmoney back to you! then you can give moreand more.

2 orinthians @:> D*ABE describes $hat

(od $ill do.&nd God is able to ma'e it upto you by giving you everything you needand more, so that there will not only be

enough for your own needs, but plenty left

over to give /oyfully to others.

5irst! (od $ants you to give cheerfully!

in faith! as a partner $ith #im. ,tart $ith thetithe! and then add your offerings. (ive!

believing #is $ord that #e $ill give back toyou. -ext! after #e blesses you by supplyingabove and beyond all your needs! you move

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to a ne$ level. You have the joy of beingable to give all over the place. *he -e$

Iing 0ames says! that you, always havingall sufficiency in all things, may have an

abundance for every good wor'. 4hat a joyto be able to give abundantly to every good$ork that (od lays on your heart

*he Aiving Bible! verses @81 sho$s abeautiful chain reaction to the giving cycleof you giving! then (od giving! then yougiving! then (od giving.

It is as the )criptures say: +he godly mangives generously to the poor. !is good deeds

will be an honor to him forever. For God,who gives seed to the farmer to plant, and

later on, good crops to harvest and eat, will

give you more and more seed to plant and

will ma'e it grow so that you can give away

more and more fruit from your harvest.4henever + read that! + have to rejoiceand thank (od for being so just and sogenerous. #e is bound by #is $ord to giveyou back more and more and more eachtime you give as you purpose in your heart!

$ith a true joy in giving! and $ith faithexpecting your harvest.

-o$! in verses 13 and 1! look for fourincredible benefits of getting into a lifestyl

190944006 feasting on prosperity

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