What is a truly Prosperous Life? God gave Joshua a key.

Jos 1:7-9 Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest. This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.

In order to “observe” and do according to God’s Word, we would need to study His word. Particularly that Word of God that applies in our administration (The administration of Grace that started on the day of Pentecost and that is laid out in the Church Epistles of Romans – Thessalonians).

Read it for yourself and then think about it and meditate on it.

The first Psalm of David also speaks of The Prosperous Life.  (Interesting to note that God speaks to us about how to prosper in the very first Psalm).

Psalm 1:1-3 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

Any person who walks with God, believes (observes) His Word, and carries it out is walking in The Prosperous Life.  They may witness to or help the ungodly and sinners, (like Jesus did), and avoid the scorners.   But these types are not their best friends.  Our friends, those that we counsel with, stand with, and sit with, are those who revere God and His Word above all else. Those who are endeavoring to walk according to God’s Word.

So it is not only important to learn God’s Word and do it, it is also important who you hang out with.  People have a great influence on us.  For instance, if your friends are not givers/tithers or savers, you probably aren’t or won’t be one either. If they go into debt for all the new shiny stuff, you probably will too.

Pro 27:17  Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.

Pick good friends. Who your friends are and what they believe and do from God’s word are important.

So why did we deal mostly with finances in these blogs of The Prosperous Life?

• There are many that teach about the great work that JC did to accomplish our redemption.
• There are many now that teach that God gave the gift of holy spirit on the day of Pentecost and is available to all.
  There are some that teach about how to operate the manifestations of spirit (that gift that is born within).
  There are some that teach that we are to do the works that JC did and even greater works.
  There are many that teach Old Testament history.

People teach many different topics from the Bible but accurate teaching on money is hard to find. Yet money is a huge part of our life.  We spend our days working for it and our evenings paying bills.  God knew this and so included many principles in His Word on how to properly handle what He gives you.

Our adversary, the devil, has convinced many that God is the one that sends sickness, disease and death (calling them home.) The devil has convinced many that God’s will is for us to give all our earthly goods away and live one paycheck to the next until we die.  That to save money is to store up treasure on earth.

Yet of all the things that God could wish for His children to have as we wait for the return of Christ, God said he wishes for this in 3 John 2

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

Some have written great books on God’s will for our health and healing.

Mike Verdicchio   Healing from God Is Available
Dave Bergey         100 Scriptures to Help you Recover your Health

We, on the other hand, learned about prosperity. God’s desire is for us to be healthy and prosperous.  Yet prosperity is a much-maligned topic in much of the church. The misconceptions and wrong teachings about money have abounded for thousands of years.  Some stem from a wrong interpretation of the scriptures.  As I began to learn what God really said about money, it shocked me at the beginning that I had NEVER heard some of these things growing up in the church.  Yet there they were — in His word.  So, I began to share them with others. Thus a blog that only deals with the financial side of prosperity.

I have many teaching on other topics. There are over 700 teachings available on our fellowship website.  Most have nothing to do with “prosperity” per se.  I have another blog site www.selah.rogerbraker.com.

I continually post blogs about prosperity because most of us don’t change our minds quickly.  We may acknowledge the truth, but it takes time for the truth to become part of our inner life. That happens more quickly as we look at the scriptures over and over. This is easier to do when we are younger, and our heads are not yet so full of what those in the pulpit expound.

The Prosperous Life is a life that has, first of all, been Born again, that is the greatest prosperity of all.  It is a life that endeavors to learn God’s Word and do it. To Walk and talk with God, our Father.

This is why prosperity is such an interesting topic. Because giving/tithing and saving and staying out of debt is part of what God asks us as His children to do. It is part of walking with God. Many might say “yes I walk with God but don’t ask about my money.  Money is personal and I don’t have any to spare”.  Walking with God involves every aspect of your life, including your money.

You could do the same with the manifestations of spirit.  You know how to speak in tongues but don’t really have the desire to do it.

This is a case like the Pharisees, they held the truth, they knew the truth of God, but the truth did not hold them

Mat 23:1-3 Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples, Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat: All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.

Remember walking with and for God is a personal thing. It is not a group thing or a church thing.  It is you and God walking together.  God instructs us in His word how to walk and God tells us of the benefits He has in store for those that do.

Deu 28:1-5 And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the LORD thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth: And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God. Blessed shalt thou be in the city, and blessed shalt thou be in the field. Blessed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy ground, and the fruit of thy cattle, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep. Blessed shall be thy basket and thy store…..

This is an exceptionally long list of what God has in store for those who choose to believe His word and walk with Him. The list basically deals with prosperity as an agricultural issue because their economy was agriculture.  Our economies are completely different, but God has not changed.  They were under the law, we live in the administration of Grace. This is why reading God’s word for yourself is so important.  What did God really say?

My hope is that over time, some will gain a new appreciation for the promises and instructions God put in His word about money.  What God actually said. This is why you need to read it for yourself, think about His Word and then do it.  This is part of walking with God and part of The Prosperous Life God wishes for you.