TOPIC: INTRODUCTION TO PROSPERITY IN HARD TIMES
Scripture: Genesis 26: 12. Then Isaac sowed in that land, and received in the same year an hundredfold: and the LORD blessed him.
Beloved, I welcome you to the month of September, the fourth quarter of the year! We give thanks and praise to God Almighty for making it possible for us to see the end of August. Today, we shall be looking at introduction to the theme of the month.
The economic situation around the world is not smiling on anyone especially in my country Nigeria! It is indeed a hard time for so many families to survive.
However, it is not strange that there had been hard times even in the Bible days. We can learn a valuable lesson from how men survive during difficult times in the Bible days and applied it to our situation because the Bible said:
Romans 15: 4. For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.
We understand from the scripture, that Abraham, Isaac and Joseph all prospered during hard times! Even the nation that came out of them that is termed Israel was also a prosperous nation despite the geophysical location in a desert land.
One question that often runs across our minds as we look at this patriarch of old is how were they able to survive the critical times in their days? And the answer here could give us a clue that if we abide by the same principles that governed their lives, we would certainly arrive at their solutions.
How were they able to prospered in a hard times?
1. They maintain a solid relationship with God and God was with them as in the case of Joseph:
Genesis 39: 2. And the LORD was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian.
2. They all walked the pathway of obedience:
Job 36: 11. If they obey and serve him, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures.
3. They all waked in the covenant :
Genesis 26: 24. And the LORD appeared unto him the same night, and said, I am the God of Abraham thy father: fear not, for I am with thee, and will bless thee, and multiply thy seed for my servant Abraham’s sake.
And many more principles which we shall consider as the month unfold itself on daily basis.
Why does God want us to prosper in hard times?
1. It is our redemptive heritage. The moment we are redeemed, we automatically takes both the family name and the family resources(Rom.8:17, Gal.3:29, Titus 3:7, James 2:5)! Hence, we are as wealthy as our heavenly father is! From all indication we should be as prosperous as our new family being God’s family!
This is the gospel truth! Even God Himself want us to be prosperous wether hard times or not, this He said in His word:
3 John 1: 2. Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.
2. God wants us to prosper because our prosperity is more Evangelical than our voice. In other words, with your prosperity evidence men are ready to join you to serve God than remaining in poverty. No body wants to identify with a poor man but everybody is the friends of rich man!
Proverbs 14: 20. The poor is hated even of his own neighbour: but the rich hath many friends.
Proverbs 19: 4. Wealth maketh many friends; but the poor is separated from his neighbour.
It is quite unfortunate, that the devil has hijacked this subject and convinced men to believe in a lies, such that men are hanging at two extreme ends by;
A. Taking God out of their lives and desires to prosper by all means and with believe that you can prosper any how after all, God wants you to prosper or
B. Decieved people not to talk about prosperity at all because it can take them to hell.
Well, both ends are extremely dangerous! There is a balance, and that is God desire you to prosper. He wants you to have resources and not resources having you! He wants you to be able to represent the kingdom in any capacity.
Beloved, join me on this platform of Moment of Daily Encounter, as we journey through the Bible while looking at the monarch of the universe as he beam His light on this subject of PROSPERITY IN HARD TIMES all through the month of September! We trust God for a new thing as the Holy Ghost will lead us into our breakthrough.
Remember this; Heaven is real and hell is real! Any one that gamble with his life on earth will have himself to blame in eternity.
Prayer points:
– Father thank you for your word to me today.
– Lord open my eyes to see your word and plans for my prosperity.
Prophetic Declaration:
– I prophesy mercy and Grace to be your companion this month in the name of Jesus.
– Your life is excuse from calamity and disaster in the name of Jesus.
– You will not be victim of evil circumstances all through these “ember” months in the name of Jesus.
Assignment: Make up your mind to prosper no matter how harsh the economic situation around you might be this period.
From your brother Alex
God bless you.
