Why do we work?
Just to survive?
No!
We are called to be a blessing. This is why devil fights the teaching on giving so hard.
Devil doesn’t want us to be a blessing!
Meaning of blessing in simple words is making happy
How can you really make someone happy if you do not favor the person?
If God has no intention to prosper His people, favor his people, why would He bless them, why would He give them prosperity scriptures.
Say – It is a million Dollar question!
Let us first understand the coming of Jesus,
Read John 10:10
The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
What was so wrong among us that Jesus had to come to destroy that?
Read Deuteronomy 28:47-48
Because you did not serve the LORD your God with joy and gladness of heart, for the abundance of everything, therefore you shall serve your enemies, whom the LORD will send against you, in hunger, in thirst, in nakedness, and in need of everything; and He will put a yoke of iron on your neck until He has destroyed you.
The experience of curses, poverty is vivid. It says-
Hunger
Thirst
Nakedness and
Awful Poverty
This is why Jesus the son of God had to come.
Now let us see the description of the cross. Jesus was –
Hungry
Thirsty
Naked and
Lost Everything
To fulfill the promise for our prosperity Jesus had to die hungry, thirsty and naked as atonement for our poverty so in turn we become a blessing.
Oh what a privileged generation we are
Say – We are privileged generation
I can share 3 simple truths about blessings, which I have learnt through my walk with Christ
1. There is a purpose for us to be blessed
2. There is a promise of God for us to be blessed
3. The blessing is precondition
Read Genesis 12:2
I will make you a great nation; I will bless you
And make your name great; And you shall be a blessing.
God blessed Abraham for the nations. Through Abraham we are blessed.
God blesses us financially for the preaching of His kingdom. The purpose of blessing is to spread the good news of Jesus Christ. That is why He says bring your tithes to the store house, where there is food (spiritual food) for you
God is called El Shaddai, God of abundance. Jesus says I have come to give you life more abundantly. God has promised and He will bless His people.
Say – I am destined to be blessed
But dear friends you must know that blessing is precondition as well
God’s love is unconditional, Jesus died while we were sinners, He gave us salvation as a free gift but blessing is precondition
Say – Blessing is precondition
Read Haggai 1:6
You have sown much, and bring in little; You eat, but do not have enough;
You drink, but you are not filled with drink; You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm;
And he who earns wages, Earns wages to put into a bag with holes.
What is God telling us here?
It tells us very clearly that people are working hard but still far from the favor of God
Why?
Read Haggai 1:8-9
Go up to the mountains and bring wood and build the temple, that I may take pleasure in it and be glorified,” says the LORD. “You looked for much, but indeed it came to little; and when you brought it home, I blew it away. Why?” says the LORD of hosts. “Because of My house that is in ruins, while every one of you runs to his own house”
There are two truths about prosperity
1. Hard Work
2. Generosity
Do not limit yourself for the kingdom of God; serve him with your tithes and offerings.
The Law of tithes initiates God to bless us
Read Malachi 3:10-12
Bring all the tithes into the storehouse,
That there may be food in My house, And try Me now in this,” Says the LORD of hosts,
If I will not open for you the windows of heaven. And pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it. “ And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes,
So that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground, Nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field,”
Says the LORD of hosts; And all nations will call you blessed, For you will be a delightful land,” Says the LORD of hosts.
The law of offering brings God into partnership with our business.
Read Proverb 11:24
“There is one who scatters, yet increases more; And there is one who withholds more than is right, But it leads to poverty.” Proverb 11:24
Say – We can never out give God
Say – There are two truths about prosperity
1. Hard Work
2. Generosity
There is no way we can be victorious in our jobs and finances if we miss any of these truths.
Say – I am building God's temple
Say – I am following the principles of God.
Prayer- Father in Jesus name, we thank you for your word which teaches us to prosper and keep in perfect health. I ask the grace of God to rest upon me so that we can be humble, hard working, greedless and generous in giving.
Amen
