Biblical Prosperity

Biblical Prosperity

Lesson 1

Introduction to the Subject of Prosperity

The word prosperity, prosper, prospered, prospering, prosperous and prospers is mentioned in the Bible 98 times. In the Old Testament three words are used for prosperity in the Hebrew Language. The first word is tsalech which means: to push forward, break out, come mightily, go over, be good, be profitable, and to prosper. These describe outward sociopolitical and bodily prosperity. The second word is sakel, which means: expert, deal intelligently, skill, have good success, wise. This describes the prosperity of the soul - of mind, will, emotion and intellect. The third word is shalah, which means: to be tranquil, be happy, be in safety, prosperity. These describe the prosperity of the spirit. Thus prosperity in the Old Testament was not simply the financial or economic prosperity. Most modern prosperity teachers make their mistakes here. God’s concern is not limited to man’s basic needs. It encompasses the totality of man. When God prospers it is the balance that is His concern, probably and often at the pain of some other area. It is the man as a whole who prospers, not his wealth. Wealth comes as a part of the package, and if and only if it prospers the total man. It is this that is echoed in 3 John 2:3. Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health (prospers in body --KJV echo)) and that all may go well with you, even as your (you prosper in soul and spirit-- KJV echo) soul is getting along well.

3 John 2:3 Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.3 For I rejoiced greatly when brethren came and testified of the truth that is in you, just as you walk in the truth. (NKJ)

2137 euodoo { yoo-od-o’-o)

AV - prosper 3, have a prosperous journey 1; 4

GK - 2338 {eujodovw}

1) to grant a prosperous and expeditious journey, to lead by a direct and easy way

2) to grant a successful issue, to cause to prosper

3) to prosper, be successful

Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon, (Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.) 1995.

If on the other hand if the soul does not prosper, then prosperity in wealth will become a curse. In the New Testament the Greek word ‘yuodoo’ (Strong p.496, p.525, p.548, and p.729) is used in 3 John 2 and also in 1 Corinthians 16:2.

1 Corinthians 16:2 On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income (as he prospers -- KJV echo) , saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made.

This word ‘yuodoo’ means to help on the road, to succeed in business affairs, to have a prosperous journey, to meet the desires of the heart. The Bible teaches us that we are on a journey on this earth. Our life is a pilgrimage towards a perfect place of eternal abode of New Heavens. All the patriarchs lived a life conscious of this fact. Heb 11:8 -10 says by faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. By faith he made his home in the Promised Land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. He was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.

Hebrews 11:8-10 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.9 By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise;10 for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.(NKJ)

The written definition of prosperity sounds wonderful, but with all the storms going on in your life you might say,” I don’t see how prosperity can be for me with all the bad luck I have.” The problem facing you is how to get your need met, spiritually, physically and financially while you live on this earth on your way to heaven. This comes to believers and non-believers. Your need changes from time to time, but the fact of life is that when one need is met, another need presents itself. You are never without a need. Sickness hits, the job market gets bad, taxes go up and trouble is in your family. There is more month than you have money. Bad news comes, causing pain and headaches. The car breaks down, the roof leaks where you live, you get a ticket running the red light or get a ticket going 65 in a 55 miles an hour zone. You get up to go to work, if you have a job, and have a flat tire which causes you to be late, then you get written up by a bad boss. You try to get your child up for school, your child gets sick. This causes more doctor bills. You can’t sleep at night; so-and-so won’t speak, looked right at you and walked on by. “Who cares?” That kid of yours, won’t he ever straighten out? You got a divorce today. Then you say, “Maybe I will go to church today to see if they have any answers?” You can’t relate to the preacher’s message. He doesn’t appear to be talking about you or where you are in life. Others appear to enjoy the message and the church service. You greet friends, and someone says hello to you or gives you a “God bless you.” You go home with the same old problems and still feel lonely inside.

You open the Bible to do what a good Christian should: read and study and let God speak to you from His Word. You read, but you wonder what it means. You read where it happened back there thousands of years ago to people and you question whether this a real person like yourself. Did they go through the things the Bible says they did? They had mighty prophets who said, “Thus saith the Lord, do this and things will work out for you, even if God has to give you a miracle!” Where are such mighty men and women of God today? This is the world we live in, not the heaven we’re going to someday. This is where you hurt. This is where you lack health, money, friends, and hope. This is where the battle is. This is where the struggle never goes away. This is the real world. Obviously you did not get into these problems over night. Jesus talked about this in Mathew 7:24-27.

Matthew 7:24-27“Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock:25 “and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.26 “But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand:27 “and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.”

Notice what Jesus said. The house is you. The rock is explained as Jesus according to Matthew 16:15-16. He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Proverbs 9:10 says that the fear (awe, confidence or trust) of the Lord is just the beginning of wisdom. A light bulb does not go off in your head all at once and you completely trust God, but you must begin to seek him daily, not just at one or two church services each week. The foolish man is one who lives in his five senses and has his confidence in the world’s system. The sand is the world system. The rain, wind, the floods are troubles and struggles of life you are going through. Notice that troubles comes to everyone, the good, the bad, and the ugly. No one is exempt from attacks. The person who has his faith in God and knows the Word of God knows that the attacks do not shake him. He lives by faith and not by sight. The more he knows about God and who He is makes one stronger. The person who built on the sand is destroyed by fear. The scriptures in 2 Peter 1:2 says:

2 Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord,

You turn on your television and see all the handsome men and beautiful women wearing all those beautiful clothes, driving those shiny new automobiles and living in beautiful mansions. Then you look at yourself in the mirror and wonder why God didn’t make you like what you saw on television. No matter how hard your tried you hair fell out until there is no more left. You have used every kind of diet pill you could find. You have starved yourself almost to the point of collapsing, but still just can’t make yourself as thin as those people on television. Your feet are too big, your ears stick out, and your nose is too long. Then you wonder if anyone else has as many problems as you. Then you ask yourself, “How on earth am I going to get out of this mess?” Begin to realize you did not get in this mess over night, and you will not change this mess over night. (Roberts p.10) So where do we start? Let’s begin with knowing about the Biblical way of prosperity. You should know that Biblical prosperity is in spirit, health, and wealth.