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The Money Thing Prosperity — Abundance (without the associated stress) See also Providence To have a proper understanding of money, we need to briefly review the beginning—Points 3 – 9: When Adam and Eve were created, the Kingdom of God is universal – God is the Supreme Moral Governor of the universe, and everything in harmony with Him (Job 38; Daniel 4:17, 25, 32, 35). God is love (1 John 4:7-8,16). As we know from Genesis chapters one and two, Adam and Eve were made the rulers of the earth and all things therein. They co-operated with God and everything they needed was provided, in abundance. No worries. (Genesis 1:26-2:15; Psalm 8:4-8; Hebrews 2:7-8) When Adam and Eve ‘fell,’ they fell from their dominion of the earth. Satan gained the dominion of the earth, through deception. He became the ruler of the earth and all things therein (Gen. 3; Luke 4; 2 Corinthians 4:4; Ephesians 2:2; 1 John 5:19). This world changed governmental systems—from one kingdom to another. Corruption, perversion, and death now reigned on the earth. God therefore delivered to Adam the catastrophic news: “Cursed is the ground because of you; in sorrow
[painful, laborious toil],
you will scratch a living from it all the days
of your life. It will
grow thorns and thistles for you, though you will eat of its grains. From
dawn to dusk you will sweat to
produce food, until your
dying day…” (Genesis
3:17‑19). Adam and Eve were now under a cursed,
bankrupt government system. Satan’s kingdom could not freely provide anything
that Adam and Eve needed. Stress (fear) came (Gen. 3:10). As you may have noticed, that cursed
world system is still in effect today. If we do not sweat or labor in
painful toil, we do not eat. This perverse
system is what we were raised in—it’s ‘normal’ for us. Because of that curse,
we are busy trying to find (or keep) money through our own painful toil and
sweat. This is the only system this world knows in order to get its needs
met. This mindset is deeply ingrained in all of us. It even operates beyond
the conscious level and greatly influences nearly every life-decision. Because of this cursed world system,
we get so tired of being consumed with finding or keeping provision. We are tired of sweating, laboring, toiling, and worrying around
money. We now call it “the rat race” and we want out. That’s what the lure of ‘get rich
quick,’ the lottery, schemes, or ‘millionaire’ game shows is about—money with
no labor attached. Most people are dreaming of finally having more than
enough so they can stop running and being a slave to producing provision. People who are not wealthy spend
their time running after money, and those who have money hoard it away.
Because the only way of escape from this cursed system of finances is to
possess more money than needed. Therefore, those who have it are consumed
with thoughts of how to keep it, and those who don't have it filter every
decision through the mindset of finding it. Stress is now “normal.” Jesus the Christ gave us laser
insight into our condition: “No
one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other, or be
devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money” (Matthew 6:24). Jesus’ instruction is essentially
that we will serve the master we trust to meet our needs. Jesus didn’t mention a third option;
no “middle ground.” Most of us serve the master we trust to meet our needs.
We are consumed with finding and or keeping money. God has a purpose for your life—here
and now—that is joyous and fulfilling. And until the financial pressure is
lifted, we cannot avoid the consuming thoughts around finding or keeping
money long enough to realize God’s intention for our life. Adam and Eve, and therefore humanity,
lost that place of abundant
provision
and purpose. But God had a plan of restoration He was enacting
to bring people back to that place, the place in which God had originally
intended people to
live, a place of more-than-enough provision
and peace with Himself (Genesis 3:15; John 3:16-17; 10:10; 2 Corinthians 8:9;
9:8; Philippians 4:19). God has definitely made many promises concerning every
known need for the human life here and now as well as for the life that is to
come. And that all His children can be prosperous and happy. Through the
life, death, and resurrection of Jesus the Christ, God has restored a
practical way of living life free from lack and financial stress. “The blessing of the
LORD, it makes rich, and He adds no sorrow [painful, laborious toil]
with it.” (Proverbs 10:22) "For after all these things [good things of life] do the Gentiles seek: for your heavenly Father knows that you have need of all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you" (Mt. 6:31-33) "... God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every [all] good work" (2 Cor. 9:8). In this passage, there are two instances of the word abound and four instances of the word all. What does it describe? God's grace. … A grace that also operates in the realm of money. "But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus" (Phil. 4:19). “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might be rich.” (2 Cor. 8:9) We can become rich and then become poor again, but to "be" rich has a sense of permanence. On the cross, Jesus took the evil—poverty—so that we might have the good—riches. Jesus took our poverty so that we might have His wealth. See also Isaiah 53; Deuteronomy 28:48 and these 60 Scriptures. Do you feel like you’re working and struggling to achieve your dreams? You’re not meant to do all the work! Find out how the blessing will get you there. Toiling and working, and working and toiling. Does that sound like your life? Sometimes it can feel like you’re spinning your wheels and getting nowhere—struggling to advance but facing setback after setback, or simply staying in the same place year after year. Certainly, there is an adversary who is always ready and willing to throw hindrances your way, but what if increase and advancement could be achieved with a simple tweak in your thinking? The blessing of the Lord was established by God to enforce all your covenant rights and advance you along in life, but sometimes it can be tempting to flip over to the natural and try to take the reins yourself. The unintended consequence ends up including delay and frustration. God has put in each one of us the natural instinct to work hard, but we must balance our own work with a submission to the supernatural. If you’re ready to stop running, struggling and toiling to reach your dreams, goals and vision—begin to change your thinking with the following ways to put the blessing to work in your life. Our God’s Kingdom (government system) is outrageously abundant; not poor, not stingy, not limited. The problem is, we don't know how to access God's more-than-enough provision in this present cursed world system. We lack the understanding of how to receive it and what to do with it when we do. "Beloved, I wish above all things that you may prosper and be in health, even as your soul prospers" (3 John 2:1). May God grant that revelation to you as you learn: With wisdom and depth, respected Bible teachers show you how to step into your inheritance. God wants to bestow His generous Kingdom blessings on you. Start enjoying His practical way of living life free from lack and financial stress in the here and now. Laying A Solid Foundation In various places the Bible compares the life of a believer to the construction of a building. Naturally, the first and most important feature of any permanent structure is its foundation. The foundation necessarily sets a limit to the weight and height of the building to be erected upon it. To lay a solid foundation in your
financial life, be strongly encouraged to read through this important
handbook entitled Successful
Living as You Have Never Been Taught. A Practical Guide to Your
Financial Freedom Jesus the Christ instructs
us, “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these
things shall be added unto you” (Mt. 6:33). We don’t seek the “things”;
we seek His “kingdom.” Then God adds all the “things” that we need.
Therefore, it is essential for us to learn how God’s Kingdom operates. (Note
that these teachings are not ‘budgeting’ or ‘numbers’ teachings.) We sincerely hope that you
lay a solid foundation with Successful
Living as You Have Never Been Taught. After doing so, be
strongly encouraged to consider the ministry of a Pastor named Gary Keesee which is bearing much
good fruit, and especially in the area of stepping into our financial inheritance.
God has utilized Gary Keesee to found Faith
Life Now. In each teaching, Gary Keesee, who has been involved
in the financial service industry for more than 30 years, not only deepens
the understanding of Successful Living
as You Have Never Been Taught solid foundational principles, but Gary
also makes them extremely practical. Deepening your understanding and the
practical application of God’s principles can revolutionize your financial
life and open your eyes to the revelation of what it means to live in God's
Kingdom. Enjoy the excitement in each lesson and discover, step by step,
God's way of living life free from lack and financial stress. Gary uses
Scripture, relevant stories and personal experiences to illustrate the
principles that are igniting a financial revolution internationally. As a proper introduction,
be encouraged to consider Gary’s remarkable audio teachings entitled Financial
Success 9-Part Download or Financial Success
9 Set USB
both of
which include the essential teaching entitled Fixing Your
Faith. Also be strongly encouraged to invest in this Spirit-Immersion
booklet by Derek Prince. Gary
Keesee’s ministry, Faith Life Now has recommended these
audio teaching series in the following sequence:
Faith Life Now may
offer a cost-effective bundling of the above list of teachings. If and when
you do choose the above-recommended resources and you would like to begin
laying a solid foundation while your guides reach you, be encouraged to begin gaining
knowledge immediately. Key Scriptures You’ll enjoy
balanced scripture-rich financial teaching, including the following important
key scriptures: ·
“And you shall
remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth,
that He may establish [or confirm] His covenant which He swore to your
fathers, as it is this day (Deut. 8:18).” ·
“The blessing
of the Lord makes one rich, and He adds no sorrow [laborious painful toil]
with it (Proverbs 10:22).” ·
“For you know
the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your
sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might be rich (2 Cor.
8:9).” ·
“A feast is
made for laughter, And wine makes merry; But money answers everything (Eccl. 10:19).” ·
“Do not lay up
for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where
thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven,
where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also (Matt. 6:19-21).” ·
“Give, and it
will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and
running over will be put into your lap. For with the same measure that you
use, it will be measured back to you (Luke 6:38)." ·
2 Corinthians
9:6-13 states: “Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap
sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man
should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or
under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is
able to make all grace
abound to you, so that in all things at all
times, having all that you need,
you will abound in every good work. “As it is written: ‘He has
scattered abroad His gifts to the poor; His righteousness endures forever.’ “Now He who supplies seed
to the sower and bread for food
will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge
the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched—made rich—in every
way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your
generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. This service that you perform
is not only supplying the needs of God's people but is also overflowing in
many expressions of thanks to God. Because of the service by which you have
proved yourselves, men will praise God
for the obedience that accompanies your
confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with
them and with everyone else (2 Corinthians 9:6-13; see also Eccl. 10:19).” As you’re
discovering God's practical way of living life free from lack and financial
stress and you find yourself wanting to learn more about ‘tithing,’ don’t
miss Chapter 8 of the book Fixing the Money Thing (listed above). If
you are interested in more, we would highly recommend the audio teaching entitled Tithe a Fence
Around Your Life, offered by Gary Keesee /
Faith Life Now Ministries. God longs for you to have
fruitfulness in every area of your life. God is a God of abundance. I pray
that He will grant that revelation to you as you gain knowledge of God, the
ways of His Kingdom, and put its ways into practice. —Derek Prince From Providence |
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