“And you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day.

Deuteronomy 8:18 NKJV

This may be a startling revelation to some Christians, but God has actually given us the power to get wealth. This is the first step. Before you can learn the steps to attaining wealth, you have to first acknowledge that wealth is God’s plan for you. I pray by the end of this article the Holy Spirit will quicken this truth to your heart.

And you shall remember the Lord your God…

We as Westerners are at a disadvantage sometimes because we are reading an Eastern book. Do not get me wrong, it applies to Westerners but we must interpret the Bible in the light of the understanding of the people who initially received it. The Bible is a covenant book filled with covenant terminology. “Remember” is a covenant word. When we as Westerners read the word “remember” we think of it as having something stored somewhere back in our mental “hard drive”.  Actually, to “remember” means to have ever before our thinking. So remember (to use a contemporary example) means not to have the Word stored in you mental “hard drive” but rather have it constantly pulled up on the “computer screen” of your consciousness. We have to analyze everything we encounter in the light of the Bible. The main way we practice covenant remembrance is through meditation.

I remember the days of old;
I meditate on all Your works;
I muse on the work of Your hands.

Psalm 143:5 NKJV

1 Blessed is the man
Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,
Nor stands in the path of sinners,
Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;

2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord,
And in His law he meditates day and night.

3 He shall be like a tree
Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season,
Whose leaf also shall not wither;
And whatever he does shall prosper.

Psalm 1:1-3 NKJV

 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.

Joshua 1:8 NKJV

Biblical meditation means to speak, mutter, ponder to one’s self, and imagine. Meditation is the process that gets the scripture from our heads to our hearts. When we study and read the Bible it is like preparing a meal. When we meditate the Word it is like feeding on that meal. To study and not meditate the Word is like preparing an elaborate meal and not feeding upon it.  We meditate by taking a scripture apart in bite sized portions and “chewing on” it over and over. Here is quick non- exhaustive example of meditation taken from Acts 10:38.

how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.

Acts 10:38 NKJV

..how God anointed Jesus of Nazereth…..Christ means the anointed one and His anointing…Here is a glimpse into what Christ means to us…

with the Holy Spirit and with power….Jesus said that we would receive the same power (Gr-dunamis) after that the Holy Spirit has come upon us.

.. who went about doing good… God anointed Jesus to do something….. If we want more anointing we must do something… Jesus did good things… Anything that is not good does not come from the Father or Jesus….  Jesus came to give us life more abundantly….. It is the thief (satan) who steals kills and destroys (John 10:10).

…healing all who were oppressed by the devil… the Bible calls sickness oppression of the devil, not God’s little blessing in disguise…. Jesus healed all.. it is God’s will that everyone be healed…

… for God was with Him. Jesus in the incarnation emptied himself and accepted the limitations of man (Philippians 2:7 Gr)….. So everything Jesus did, He did as a man anointed with the Holy Spirit….. He said the works He does we can do also because He went to the Father….

Another definition of meditation is to imagine. We have to imagine ourselves walking out the provision God has promised us.  It is not enough to imagine God giving someone wealth. We have to see ourselves walking in the provision. We have to see God’s Word speaking to us personally. So when you meditate the scripture  put it in the first person.

When You said, “Seek My face,”
My heart said to You, “Your face, Lord, I will seek.”

Psalm 27:8 NKJV

God says “I will supply all your needs” (Philippians 4:19). I say “You, God, supply all of my needs”.

God says “I give you power to get wealth” (Deuteronomy 8:18). I say “I receive Your power that gives me wealth!”`

For it is He (God) who gives you power to get wealth…

We have to let the Word of God define wealth for us. Some say, “Well brother God just makes us spiritually wealthy”. Really? Let us look at how the Bible defines wealth.

1. An abundance of natural resources.

7 For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and springs, that flow out of valleys and hills;

9 a land whose stones are iron and out of whose hills you can dig copper.

Deuteronomy 8:7,9 NKJV

1. An abundant supply of food.

8 a land of wheat and barley, of vines and fig trees and pomegranates, a land of olive oil and honey;

 9 a land in which you will eat bread without scarcity…

10 When you have eaten and are full, then you shall bless the Lord your God for the good land which He has given you.

Deuteronomy 8:8,9-10 NKJV

3. An abundance in livestock.

when your herds and your flocks multiply…

Deuteronomy 8:13 NKJV

And Abram was very rich in cattle…

Genesis 13:2 NKJV

…..for he (Isaac) had possessions of flocks and herds.

Genesis 26:14 NKJV

Blessed shall be….the increase of your herds, the increase of your cattle and the offspring of your flocks.

Deuteronomy 28:4 NKJV

4. Beautiful homes.

…when you… have built beautiful houses to dwell in them.

Deuteronomy 8:12 NKJV

5. Fine Clothing.

28 “So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin;

 29 and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

30 Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?

Matthew 6:28-30 NKJV

How do you suppose  Solomon, who threw away silver because he had so much gold, would be clothed?

…I will clothe you with rich apparel.

Zechariah 3:4 Amp

…for her (Tyre or the wicked’s) gain will be for those who dwell before the Lord, to eat sufficiently, and for fine clothing.

Isaiah 23:18 NKJV

Even Jesus’s garment was so expensive that the Roman soldiers gambled for it rather than dividing it (John 19:23-24).

6. Multiplication financially.

And Abram was very rich cattle, in silver and in gold.

Genesis 13:1 NKJV

Now I ask you, was this a spiritual cow? Was this spiritual silver and gold?

And when …your silver and gold are multiplied…

Deuteronomy 8:13 NKJV

He (God) also brought them (His people) out with silver and gold….

Psalm 105:37 NKJV

I the Lord…multiplied her silver and gold…

Hosea 2:8 NKJV

…Who lavished on her silve and gold….

Hosea 2:8 Amplified

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 become rich.

2 Corinthians 8:9 NKJV

in order that by His poverty you might become enriched (abundantly supplied).

2 Corinthians 8:9 Amplified

7. Freedom from debt.

 For the Lord your God will bless you just as He promised you; you shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow; you shall reign over many nations, but they shall not reign over you.

Deuteronomy 15:6 NKJV

The wicked borrow and pay not again [for they may be unable], but the [uncompromisingly] righteous deal kindly and give [for they are able].

Psalm 37:21 NKJV

God does not want us to be a servant to this world system.

The rich rules over the poor,
And the borrower is servant to the lender.

Proverbs 22:7 NKJV

And the Lord will make you the head and not the tail; you shall be above only, and not be beneath, if you heed the commandments of the Lord your God, which I command you today, and are careful to observe them.

Deuteronomy 28:13 NKJV

8. Multiplication of all things.

 Now the land was not able to support them (Abram and Lot), that they might dwell together, for their possessions were so great that they could not dwell together.

Genesis 13:6 NKJV

…and when…all that you have is multiplied…

Deuteronomy 8:13 NKJV

“The Lord will command the blessing on you in your storehouses and in all to which you set your hand, and He will bless you in the land which the Lord your God is giving you.

And the Lord will grant you plenty of goods….

The Lord will open to you His good treasure, the heavens, to give the rain to your land in its season, and to bless all the work of your hand.

Deuteronomy 28:8,11, 12 NKJV

8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.

11 while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God.

2 Corinthians 9:8,11 NKJV

You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous in every way.

2 Corinthians 9:11 Common English Bible

32 For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.

33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

Matthew 6:32-33 NKJV

Set your heart on the kingdom and his goodness, and all these things will come to you as a matter of course.

Matthew 6:33 J.B. Phillips

Now that we have let the Bible define wealth we have to renew our minds to the fact that God wants us to have wealth.  If poverty would have been the will of God, Adam would not have been put in such a prosperous place. God would have dropped him off in a desert rather than the garden of Eden. And he certainly would not have told him that the gold is good.

And the gold of that land is good. Bdellium and the onyx stone are there.

Genesis 2:12 NKJV

I can hear God telling Adam, “I know some religious joker will try to tell you differently later, but the gold is good.” It is interesting in history every civilization that has quit having gold backing their currency has fallen into financial ruin. God set a law in motion that gold is good. Not only is prosperity God’s will He initiated it. This fact is mirrored in the life of Abraham.

1Now the Lord had said to Abram: “Get out of your country,
From your family
And from your father’s house,
To a land that I will show you.

2 I will make you a great nation;
I will bless you
And make your name great;
And you shall be a blessing.

Genesis 12:1-2 NKJV

Notice that God did not call out Abram (who would become Abraham) and Abram say, “I will if you bless me financially”. God initiated prosperity. We read earlier one way that prosperity manifested in Abram’s life just one chapter later.

Abram was very rich in livestock, in silver, and in gold.

Genesis 13:2 NKJV

God’s purpose in blessing Abram and us is also illustrated in the fact that cattle, silver and gold are God’s signature blessings.

For every beast of the forest is Mine,
And the cattle on a thousand hills.

Psalm 50:10 NKJV

You have also taken your beautiful jewelry from My gold and My silver, which I had given you..

Ezekiel 16:17 NKJV

‘The silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine,’ says the Lord of hosts.

Haggai 2:8 NKJV

Do not get me wrong, cattle, silver and gold are not the only way God blesses as we pointed out earlier. I would not know what to do with a cow if I had one. God will bring prosperity to us relative to how our culture defines it. I simply am pointing out the fact that the Holy Spirit orchestrated the events in such a way to illustrate that He was the source of Abram’s blessings.

13 Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”,

14 that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

Galatians 3:13-14 NKJV

 And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

Galatians 3:29 NKJV

We as New Testament believers have a right to claim the same blessings Abraham walked in. We cannot define what Abraham’s (Abram’s) blessings were. We have to allow the Bible to do that. Abram was blessed the equivalent of material prosperity of his day.

David, who God Himself referred to as a man after His own heart (1 Samuel 13:14), knew the source of wealth.

Both riches and honor come from You,
And You reign over all.
In Your hand is power and might;
In Your hand it is to make great
And to give strength to all.

1 Chronicles 29:12 NKJV

David’s life demonstrated just that. A man who started off as a humble shepherd who was not even invited in when Samuel came to anoint a king in his household, gave a multi billion dollar offering to build the temple.

So he (David) died in a good old age, full of days and riches and honor; and Solomon his son reigned in his place.

1 Chronicles 29:28 NKJV

These are just a few examples of people who walked with God and prospered .The Bible is full of examples of people who, when they were in right relationship to God, increased financially. Isaac, Jacob, Solomon, and Jehoshaphat just to name a few.  I encourage you, do not take my word for it. Study the Word for yourself and you will see it is true.

If the ax is dull, And one does not sharpen the edge, Then he must use more strength; But wisdom brings success.

Ecclesiastes 10:10 NKJV

Solomon, the wisest man in the Old Covenant, to illustrate the value of wisdom uses the imagery of a man cutting wood. The picture is of a man trying to cut wood with a dull ax. If you have ever tried to cut something with a dull instrument, be it an ax or knife, you know it takes more effort to bring forth the desired result. It can also be dangerous causing injury. Many people who have tried to cut something with a dull knife have ended up cutting themselves because the knife finally cuts through the object when they least expect it and they end up stabbing or cutting themselves in the process. There is also the wear and tear on the body from using dull equipment.  At the very least, it will take more time to produce the desired results.

As we have established, it is both dangerous and time consuming to try to cut wood with a dull ax.  Why, then would anyone do it? Because they do not want to take the time that it takes to sit down and sharpen the ax. They look and their friend is already in the woods cutting trees, so they already feel like they are running behind.

I believe the sharpening of the ax represents preparation.  Many people’s health and productivity is being affected by their lack of preparation. Much like our wood cutting friend, they are so desirous to accomplish their goal, they want to skip the preparation process and get right onto the “good stuff”.

1.    Keeping Sharp Through Preparation for Ministry.

 My spiritual father in the faith Dr. Jefferson Thompson used to tell me when I was just starting out in ministry, “Preparation time is never lost time”.  Of course, that was not what I wanted to hear but it was true nonetheless. The fact is that the greater the calling, the longer the preparation time. Jesus prepared 30 years for 3 years of ministry.  Moses knew he was to be a deliverer of God’s people when he was about 40 years old (Acts 7:23-25).  He tried to fulfill his destiny in the flesh by killing an Egyptian and ended up fleeing for his life. However, after submitting to God’s sharpening (preparation) process, in the spirit he killed a whole Egyptian army who drowned in the Red Sea.

Preparation in ministry is important, first, because you need to know something if you are going to help someone else.

Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

2 Timothy 2:15 KJV

 From this passage, we see that we need to have understanding of the Word and we need to learn to rightly divide the Word. I realize that understanding is a journey and not a destination. Even the Apostle Paul says we know in part. However, we have to stay sharp in our Bible study. One problem for ministers is we can become so topical in our approach to Bible study that our doctrine gets lopsided. We need devotional study of the Bible as well as topical. By “devotional”, I mean reading through the Bible. It is easy to fall in the trap of only reading the highlighted parts of your Bible. First, this leads to pride, because if you only study what you do know you lose sight of how much you do not know.  Secondly, (which leads us to our next point) in reading only your favorite “bread box” scriptures you lose sight of what he was talking about in the context of the chapter and book as well as in the light of the rest of the Bible. We have to learn how to rightly divide the Word of truth. At the time of this writing, the national presidential elections are around the corner. There are many sound bites being aired by various news networks. I have noticed that depending on the networks agenda, the sound bites can be arranged in a certain way to paint their view of a certain candidate. The same is true with those who only study their favorite scripture. They use biblical sound bites to push their spiritual agenda and not God’s. We have to draw out of the Bible what God intended not use the Bible to “proof text” what we wanted to believe to start with. (If you think this does not apply to you because you are not a five-fold minister that is not true. Ephesians 4 says the five-fold ministry is to equip believers for the work of the ministry. Every believer is called to the ministry of reconciliation.) A good example of misusing the scripture is taken from the following scripture.

 And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.”

John 12:32 NKJV

 I have heard it taught, using this passage as a proof-text, to prove that if we lift up Jesus in praise then all peoples will be drawn to Him. Yet, if we read just one verse later we get clarity

This He said, signifying by what death He would die.

John 12:33 NKJV

The “lifting up” spoken of in verse 32 according to verse 33 is His death on the cross. Therefore, when Jesus was lifted up on the cross we were identified with Him in the mind of God and sin’s justices were paid in the high court of heaven.

I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

Galatians 2:20 NKJV

You see although praise is important, that is not what that passage is talking about.

The second reason preparation in ministry is important, is the development of character. We need to have our character developed so that when we are promoted it blesses us and does not destroy us.  Paul says that maturity is a qualifier for ministry.

not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil.

1 Timothy 3:6 NKJV

 How is our character developed for ministry? It is developed through faithfully serving a man of God in the context of the local church.

And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry,

1 Timothy 1:12 NKJV

 And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.

2 Timothy 2:2 NKJV

Many young ministers are trying to “break into” the ministry. The key to promotion and enabling in ministry is faithfully serving in the local church.  Faithfulness is key to promotion and greater anointing. Elisha served Elijah and received an impartation. Timothy served Paul. Joshua served Moses. Philip, in the Book of Acts, started out as a deacon waiting tables and was promoted to being an evangelist mightily used by God. Now, you cannot be an evangelist just because you serve, you have to be called. However, to be released in your calling you have to be faithful. The greater your calling, the greater the amount of character development needed through preparation and service.

This has been a challenge for me over the years.  I have been much like our wood cutting friend who saw his friend chopping down trees while he was still sharpening his ax. I have seen people in ministry a shorter amount of time than myself pastoring churches and doing other things that makes it seem like I am being passed up, especially when they make their verbal jabs at you to make them feel superior. However, I know I am being prepared and cannot compare myself to others and I must run the race set before me.

For we dare not class ourselves or compare ourselves with those who commend themselves. But they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.

2 Corinthians 10:12 NKJV

 All they are doing, of course, is to measure themselves by their own standards or by comparisons within their own circle, and that doesn’t make for accurate estimation, you may be sure.

2 Corinthians 10:12 J. B. Phillips

 But in all this comparing and grading and competing, they quite miss the point.

2 Corinthians 10:12 Message

 Our destiny comes in seed form. Although it starts small, as we are faithful it will grow to fruition.

Does anyone dare despise this day of small beginnings? They’ll change their tune when they see Zerubbabel setting the last stone (of the temple) in place!”

Zechariah 4:10 Message

2.    Love Prepares.

As our main text illustrates, wisdom and preparation are inseparably linked. Too many Christians are reactive rather than proactive. If you move with God, you will always be ahead of the enemy and circumstances of life. There is much teaching (as there should be) on healthy marriage relationships. However it amazes me how little emphasis there has been in the preparation phases leading up to marriage. So we with a “dull ax” are trying to cut back opposition and hold together marriages that if there had been proper preparation would have cost a lot less time, energy and pain.

 It is the nature of unrenewed man to worship the creation more than the creator and by doing so we exchange the truth of God for a lie.

They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.

Romans 1:25 NIV

Does Paul mean we tell a lie? No. In my opinion, it means we believe a lie. For example, we are created social creatures so much so that losing your right to fellowship was a means of correction in the New Testament church. However, in some circles, the creation (social need) gets elevated above God and the purpose for which He created it and things get out of whack. The purpose for fellowship in the context of the local church should be to strengthen our relationship for the purpose of bringing unity and harmony that will in return strengthen our prayer and worship. Also, we are to come together to glean understanding from each other. You will never live long enough to learn everything on your own. That is why we are the Body of Christ. However, in some church circles the social has rose to preeminence to the point of carnality. If my flesh likes your flesh we have a basis for fellowship, if it does not I reject you. I am not talking about in a sexual context, but rather the basis for fellowship being carnal fleshly interest that may not be bad within themselves rather than a spiritual connection. The Word of God is also never mentioned in these carnal relationships, because if I listen to someone else it might imply they know something I do not (Newsflash, they probably do). In so doing we believe that we are doing what the Bible says and having unity. It is, however, a counterfeit unity and therefore you believe a lie to be true.

The same is true in relationships. The following example is some of the most ignored wisdom of God in the Bible.

Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?

2 Corinthians 6:14 NKJV

 God instituted marriage and said it was good. However, some have elevated and worshipped being married above God the creator of marriage and it results in shipwreck. God said do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. Yet week after week in our churches across America another young man or woman brings some unsaved person of the opposite sex into the church with them and sit on the back row because they do not understand what is going on (of course they don’t they are lost).  If that person is a coworker that you brought to church then that is wonderful. These people however are bringing them as a potential mate! They believe the lie (remember Paul said that is what we do when we worship the creation more than the creator) that they can change that person. The truth is, however, the person they are before you marry them is the best they will ever be. If you feel like someone who is not saved is to be your mate then wait and pray for him or her. However, you should not go into a rebellious relationship with them cutting them and you off from the very grace of God to move in their life.  Much like our wood cutting friend they see friends of theirs getting married and their life seems to be blissful. In addition, they have aunt Nellie asking them at every family function when they are going to get married.  So they succumb to the pressure, reject the Word, marry the person, and spend years in counseling that could have been spared through the preparation of doing the Word in the first place.

Ephraim is oppressed and broken in judgment, Because he willingly walked by human precept (rules of action or conduct).

Hosea 5:11 NKJV

 Brutal Ephraim is himself brutalized— a taste of his own medicine!
He was so determined to do it his own worthless way.

Hosea 5:11 Message

 I also believe that “unequally yoked” extends beyond saved and unsaved. If you believe speaking in tongues is a valid New Testament experience and you marry someone who believes they are of the devil, then you are unequally yoked.  Unbelief comes in many forms. If you do not believe in divine healing you are an unbeliever on that level whether or not you are saved. Remember that when you choose a mate you are also choosing a parent for your children. If they come from a denomination that rejects the biblical truth of divine healing and health then who will agree with you when your children are sick?

“Woe (great sorrow and distress) to the rebellious children,” says the LORD “Who take counsel, but not of Me, 
 And who devise plans, but not of My Spirit, That they may add sin to sin; 
      

 Who walk to go down to Egypt (who is a type of the world system), And have not asked My advice, To strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh, And to trust in the shadow of Egypt! 
      

  Therefore the strength of Pharaoh 
Shall be your shame, 
And trust in the shadow of Egypt 
Shall be your humiliation.

Isaiah 30:1-3 NKJV

 Therefore shall the strength and protection of Pharaoh turn to your shame, and the refuge in the shadow of Egypt be to your humiliation and confusion.

Isaiah 30:3 Amplified

 In addition, on a more practical level, if a man says that he loves a woman then he prepares.

I (Jesus) go to prepare a place for you.

 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.

John 14:2-4 NKJV

 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her,

Ephesians 5:25 NKJV

 For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy. For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.

2 Corinthians 11:2 NKJV

 I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to him.

2 Corinthians 11:2 NIV

 For I am jealous for you with the jealousy of God himself. I promised you as a pure bride to one husband—Christ.

2 Corinthians 11:2 NLT

 When we harmonize these passages, we realize that Christ love for us is the pattern of true love that should exist between a man and a wife. Jesus said He goes to prepare a place for us. I am amazed at how many boys (the omission of the word “men” here was deliberate) will ask a girl to marry them without a home, job, or ambition to get either. That is not love. If you are in love, you will give yourself for her. Love will not take a girl out of a home where she is cared and provided for without providing for her. He is actually lusting her. Lust desires to get at the expense of others. Love, on the other hand, desires to give at the expense of self. So ladies if that dude loves you he will have a j-o-b.  Before God gave Adam a wife, He gave him a job. When he did not cover and take care of his wife, he then lost his job.

In addition, if a guy walks in love he will establish himself by getting an education before getting into a relationship to start with. Much like the man with the dull ax, relationships struggle and have to put forth more effort because of a lack of preparation (sharpening your ax).

3.    Keeping Sharp Through 
Spiritual Preparation.

 As I said earlier, many Christians are reactive rather than proactive. They react to problems as they arise rather than preparing ahead of time. The same people who will not drive across town to go to a church to teach them how to walk in divine health will drive a hundred miles to get treatment once they get sick. Some will refuse to give God ten percent and yet will give the credit card company fifteen percent to catch up their finances because they are laboring under a curse from robbing God.

  “ Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me!  But you say, ‘ In what way have we robbed You?’  In tithes and offerings.

  You are cursed with a curse,  For you have robbed Me,  Even this whole nation.

  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.

Malachi 3:8-10 NKJV

 They say they have no time to read the Word of God and yet they can tell you a blow-by-blow account of the entire career of their favorite sports star or who was voted off the Island last week. I am not criticizing sports or entertainment but they had better not be your top priority. The amount of time spent in church three times a week is not as big of an investment as dying early.

With long life I will satisfy him, And show him My salvation.”

Psalm 91:16 NKJV

 Be proactive and not reactive. Seek the Lord and He will tell you what preparations you need to make to stay sharp and to be ahead of any problems that may arise.

Redefine-1.: to define (as a concept) again :reformulate<had to redefine their terms>

2 a : to reexamine or reevaluate especially with a view to change

b : transform

Miriam-Webster.com

 What is faith? Everyone has an Idea. We must let the Bible define what Bible faith is. We undo religious preconceptions and allow God to redefine faith in this message ministered at Russellville Christian Center.

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 become rich.

2 Corinthians 8:9 NKJV

It is amazing to me that church people will use this verse that promises wealth and riches to try to talk us out of it! They are so focused on the “Jesus became poor” part that they fail to appropriate the “that you…. might become rich” part. They reason that because Jesus was poor, and He was our example, that we are doomed to poverty as well.

I believe the key to unlocking this verse is in the phrase “for your sakes”. Another words, Jesus became poor as a result of His substitutionary work in redemption. So let us continue in that vein.  So when did Jesus become poor?  We will view it in the light of the rest of His redemptive work.

The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 5:21 that Jesus became sin for us (note the word “with” identifying it as part of His substitutionary work).

For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

2 Corinthians 5:21 NKJV

When did Jesus become sin for us? Did He become sin as the little baby in the manger? Did Jesus become sin during His earthly ministry? No. The New Testament clearly tells us at what point He became sin.

who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree (cross), that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed.

1 Peter 2:24 NKJ 

So we see Jesus did not become sin as the little baby in the manger. Nor did He become sin in His earthly ministry. He became sin on the cross in redemption.

The Bible also teaches us that Jesus bore our sicknesses and was literally made sick with our sicknesses.

 He is despised and rejected by men, A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. 
      

  Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted.

Isaiah 53:3-4 NKJV

“Griefs” is an unfortunate translation of the word in both verse four and five.  According to the Strong’s Concordance the Word “griefs” literally means “sickness”. Hebrew Scholar, Dr. Robert Young even translates it that way in his translation.

He is despised, and left of men, A man of pains, and acquainted with sickness, And as one hiding the face from us, He is despised, and we esteemed him not.

Surely our sicknesses he hath borne, And our pains — he hath carried them, And we — we have esteemed him plagued, Smitten of God, and afflicted.

Isaiah 53 :3-4 Young’s Literal Translation

So when did Jesus become sick with our sicknesses? Did Jesus become sick as the little baby in the manger? Did Jesus become sick during His earthly ministry? Not once did Jesus turn to Peter and say, “ Peter, you need to teach for me tonight. I caught the hog flu.”  Also if you continue reading in Isaiah you find out when these events transpired.

But He was wounded for our transgressions, was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.

Isaiah 53:5 NKJV

The “stripes” spoken of in this verse speaks of the flogging Jesus received at the hands of the Roman officers. This event was not part of His normal life and ministry, but was accomplished in His redemptive work.

So if Jesus did not become sin as the little baby in the manger or in His earthly ministry, nor did he become sick at that time, why do people reason that He was born poor and remained that way throughout His earthly ministry?  I will agree that leaving heaven and coming to earth and accepting the limitations of humanity would definitely be a step down. But as I pointed out earlier, the phrase “for us” ties it to His redemptive work not His earthly life and ministry.

For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

2 Corinthians 5:21 NKJV

For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:

1 Corinthians 5:7 KJV

…Christ died for us.

Romans 5:8 KJV

He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?

Romans 8:32 KJV

Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:

Galatians 3:13 KJV

We also know from the Bible that Jesus was not poor in His life and ministry because He fulfilled the law.

“Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.

For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.

Matthew 5:17-18 NKJV

It is true that Jesus fulfilled the righteous requirements of the law. But we forget that the book of Deuteronomy is part of the law.

“And you shall remember the LORD your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day.

Deuteronomy 8:18 NKJV

Remember the Lord your God. He is the one who gives you power to be successful, in order to fulfill the covenant he confirmed to your ancestors with an oath.

Deuteronomy 8:18 NLT

If Jesus did not get wealth, He did not fulfill the law.

Some use this passage in Luke 9 to prove that Jesus was poor.

Now it happened as they journeyed on the road, that someone said to Him, “Lord, I will follow You wherever You go.”

And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.”

Luke 9:57-58 NKJV

Opponents of the prosperity message say, “See there, Jesus had no place to even lay His head. He was a poor peasant.”  This is a prime example of pulling a passage out of its context to prove a point without considering the rest of the passage. Why did Jesus have no place to lay His head? Was it extreme poverty and lack? No. We get the answer only a few verses before.

Now it came to pass, when the time had come for Him to be received up, that He steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem, and sent messengers before His face. And as they went, they entered a village of the Samaritans, to prepare for Him. But they did not receive Him, because His face was set for the journey to Jerusalem.

Luke 9:51-53 NKJV 

The reason Jesus had no place to rest his head is because the Samaritans refused to let Him come into town. No matter how much money you may have, if you cannot go into town you are going to be sleeping out under the stars.  Jesus was basically telling the guy who wanted to follow him, “If you follow Me, you may have to sleep out under the stars.  Because, they may not let you come into town.”

We see in John 13 that Judas carried Jesus’s money box.

For some thought, because Judas had the money box, that Jesus had said to him, “Buy those things we need for the feast,” or that he should give something to the poor.

John 13:29 NKJV

We also see in John’s gospel that Judas was skimming off of the top and “helping himself” to some of that money.

This he said, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the money box; and he used to take what was put in it.

John 12:6 NKJV

If there was not but two dollars in the money box, and Judas stole one, don’t you think someone would have noticed it missing? Jesus had enough money in the box that Judas could steal from it and no one ever notice. Also we see from John 13:29 that the disciples were accustomed to Jesus providing for them. He had anywhere from twelve to seventy as a conservative estimate following Him at any given time. You cannot do that if you are broke.

Jesus wore a garment that was so expensive that the Roman soldiers gambled for it rather than dividing it.

They said therefore among themselves, “Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be,” that the Scripture might be fulfilled which says: “ They divided My garments among them,
And for My clothing they cast lots.” Therefore the soldiers did these things.

John 19:24 NKJV

Now that we have let the Bible demonstrate that Jesus became poor in redemption, I want to conclude with the passage we began with.

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 become rich.

2 Corinthians 8:9 NKJV

Jesus came to the earth to demonstrate the faith life including walking in God’s provision of financial abundance.  He then suffered and died and rose from the dead to give us the legal right to walk in that same financial abundance.

“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.

John 14:12 NKJV

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Hebrews 11:1 NKJV

Definition of Faith

In part one of the definition of faith, we determined what faith is not. Now let us let the Bible define what faith is. I encourage you to take your religious glasses off and not assume that you know what faith is. This will not be an exhaustive definition of faith, for the entire Bible is designed to produce faith and contains further insight on principles of faith.

Notice that in Hebrews 11:1 that faith is the substance of things hoped for. Both faith and hope are eternal and will never pass away.

And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

1 Corinthians 13:13 NKJV

Hope is important but has no substance. Hope can be compared to a dream.

It shall even be as when a hungry man dreams, And look—he eats; But he awakes, and his soul is still empty; Or as when a thirsty man dreams, And look—he drinks; But he awakes, and indeed he is faint, And his soul still craves…

Isaiah 29:8 NKJV

Faith is the spiritual force that brings substance to our hopes, dreams, and desires. Now, these hopes, dreams and desires must be produced from the Word of God.

Delight yourself also in the LORD, And He shall give you the desires of your heart.

Psalm 37:4 NKJV

Another words, you cannot desire another man’s wife, for example. That is contrary to the written Word and does not come from God. Faith will not bring substance to that desire.

Just as faith brings into manifestation what we do hope for, fear brings into manifestation what we do not want. Fear is misguided faith. Anytime you try to tell someone about victory in Jesus they always say, “well what about Job?” The Book of Job is a whole study in itself. But , the reason Job experienced the things he did was because of fear.

For the thing I greatly feared has come upon me, And what I dreaded has happened to me.

Job 3:25 NKJV

Faith is gateway for the goodness of God to be manifest in our lives. Fear is an open door for oppression from the devil.

In righteousness you shall be established;You shall be far from oppression, for you shall not fear; And from terror, for it shall not come near you.

Isaiah 54:14 NKJV

Fear is the reciprocal force of faith. Another words, the higher level of fear operating in your life, the less faith operating in your life. The higher your level of faith, the lower your level of fear.

But He (Jesus) said to them, “Why are you fearful (full of fear), O you of little faith?”

Matthew 8:26 NKJV (Parenthesis mine)

But He (Jesus) said to them, “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?”

Mark 4:40 NKJV (Parenthesis mine)

NOW FAITH is the assurance (the confirmation, the title deed) of the things [we] hope for…

Hebrews 11:1 Amplified

Notice that the Amplified Bible includes “title deed”  in its description of faith. If I have a title deed to a car or any other piece of property, it is mine legally whether it is presently in my possession or not. The same is true with any promise in the Word of God. If you put faith in the Word the promise is legally yours.

Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.

Mark 11:24 NKJV

The Word translated believe (Gr-Pisteuo) is the verb form of faith (Gr-Pistis).

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Hebrews 11:1 NKJV

In the second part of Hebrews 11:1 we see the origin point of faith and provision.

So Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God.

Mark 11:22 NKJV

And Jesus answered and said to them, Have ye the faith of God;

Mark 11:22 Wycliffe Bible

The second rendering of this verse from the Wycliffe Bible is more accurate to the Greek text. It could be rendered, “Use or employ the God kind of faith”. This means that this is God’s faith we are using. This takes the struggle out of faith when you realize it is God’s faith, not ours that we have at our disposal! Do you think God’s faith will have trouble producing results?

Both faith and its provision come forth from the Spirit realm or unseen realm.

while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

For we walk by faith, not by sight.

2 Corinthians 4:18,5:7 NKJV

Everything in the seen realm came forth from the unseen realm and is therefore subject to the spirit realm.

By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.

Hebrews 11:3 NKJV

If your problem can be seen it can be subdued from the power that originates in the spiritual dimension.

For by it (faith) the elders obtained a good testimony.

Hebrews 11:2 NKJV

Continuation of the Definition of Faith

According to Greek scholar Kenneth Wuest, the preceding verses are connected to verse one of Hebrews 11. They are a continuation of the definition of faith. “Obtained a good testimony” is a little blind to us. The word “testimony” is the Greek word “martureo”. It literally means they were borne witness to. Now this has a twofold application.

1. The Word of God is witnessed to our spirit.

For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.”

The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,

and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.

Romans 8:15-17 NKJV

This is where many people miss it. They mentally agree with black print on the white page of the Bible and call it faith. They do not have the witness of the Spirit on the subject. We have to meditate the Word until we receive a revelation of that word in our spirit and then faith comes.

So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Romans 10:17 NKJV

The word translated “word” is rhema. And that is a word that has been quickened in your heart by the Holy Spirit. That brings us to another point. We cannot get faith by praying for it, although prayer is important for other reasons. We cannot get faith by having hands laid on us. You only get faith from the revealed Word. A revealed Word from God has binding and loosing power.

Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.

And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.

And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”

Matthew 16:17-19 NKJV

Not only did Peter get a revelation from God, Jesus said that this revelation is the foundation that the entire church will be built upon. And according to the Greek text with that revelation we can bind and declare unlawful in the earth whatever heaven has declared unlawful.

…whatever you bind (declare to be improper and unlawful) on earth must be what is already bound in heaven; and whatever you loose (declare lawful) on earth must be what is already loosed in heaven.

Matthew 16:19 Amplified

There is abundance in heaven. Therefore we have the right to loose abundance in the earth. There is no sickness in heaven. Therefore we have the ability to bind and declare unlawful sickness and loose health in our physical bodies.

2. God bears witnessed by manifesting the Word in our lives in manifest reality.

God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will?

Hebrews 2:4 NKJV

True Bible faith will produce results in this natural seen realm. Many people do not believe that their faith will produce anything this side of heaven. This is not Biblical faith. This is not the God kind of faith. The God kind of faith will produce in this natural realm. Some say “Well, brother, didn’t Jesus say, we are more blessed if we believe without seeing?” Yes He did.

Jesus said to him, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

John 20:29 NKJV

We have to harmonize that with everything else that He said.

Jesus said to her, “Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?”

John 11:40 NKJV

In context, in John 11:40 Jesus was referring to raising Lazurus from the dead.  When we harmonize these two passages we conclude that if we believe regardless of what we see, we will see what we believe come to pass.  Another words, if we see sickness manifest in our body and we believe “By his stripes we were healed” (1 Peter 2:24), we will see the manifestation of our healing. If we see a need in our life and we believe that “my God will supply all my need according to His riches in glory” , then we will see that need met.

We see the progression of the twofold witness illustrated in 1 John 5:10-15.

He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself; he who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed the testimony that God has given of His Son.  And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.

Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.

1 John 5:10-15 NKJV

Notice the progression:

1. God bears witness.

2. We continually believe on Jesus and what He accomplished in redemption.

3. We ask confidently.

4. We receive the manifestation.

By faith we understand …

Hebrews 11:3 NKJV

Faith is grounded in understanding and not ignorance. Many Christians, always tie faith with ignorance. They say, “We just never know what God is going to do. But we just have to have faith”. You can only have faith to the degree that you know the will of God. You can only endure through knowledge.

My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing…

James 1:2-3 NKJV

Another principle tied to this passage is understanding comes through faith obedience. Many say, “I will obey God when I get more understanding”. That is putting the cart before the horse. You have to obey God before you get complete understanding.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding;

In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.

Proverbs 3:5-6 NKJV

Many say, “When I understand the Baptism in the Holy Spirit, I will obey Jesus and be filled.” You will never get understand. You have to obey then He will give you further direction.

Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit…

1 Peter 1:22 NKJV

Our soul includes our mind, will, and emotions. Mind renewal and understanding come through faith obedience.

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.

Hebrews 11:8 NKJV

But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

Hebrews 11:6 NKJV

We cannot please God without faith. The writer of Hebrews goes on to clarify what he means. First of all we have to believe He is. That goes beyond believing He exists. It means we have to believe He is who He says He is.

He is:

The Lord our Provider (Genesis 22:8,14)

THe Lord Our Healer (Exodus 15:26)

The Lord Our Banner (Victory)(Exodus 17:15)

The Lord Our Peace (Judges 16:24)

The Lord Our Shepherd (Guide) (Psalm 23:1)

The Lord Our Righteousness (Jeremiah 23:6)

The Lord Ever Present (Ezekiel 48:35)

If you do not believe God is all these things, you cannot be pleasing to God. Secondly, You must believe that God is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. How does He reward them? By being all those things He says He is to us personally.

After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.”

Genesis 15:1 NKJV

If you think He may or may not heal you, you are calling Him a liar and cannot please Him. If you say He may or may not provide for your needs you are calling Him a liar and cannot please Him.

How do we release faith?

Now that we have looked at what faith is we now need to know how to release it. There are two kinds of energy. There potential energy and kinetic energy. Potential energy is like the energy that is in a stretched spring. Kinetic energy is the energy produced when you release that spring. Potential energy is stored energy while kinetic energy is energy in motion. Faith is released primarily two ways. Faith filled words and faith filled actions.

1. Faith filled words.

So Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God.  For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.

Mark 11:23 NKJV

The Bible says we are created in God’s image (Genesis 1:26). God released His power through His words. According to Jesus we have the same ability to release the power of faith through our words.

Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit.

Proverbs 18:21 NKJV

2. Faith filled Actions.

For as the human body apart from the spirit is lifeless, so faith apart from [its] works of obedience is also dead.

James 2:26 Amplified

And in Lystra a certain man without strength in his feet was sitting, a cripple from his mother’s womb, who had never walked.

This man heard Paul speaking. Paul, observing him intently and seeing that he had faith to be healed,

said with a loud voice, “Stand up straight on your feet!” And he leaped and walked.

Acts 14:8-10 NKJV

Notice this man had faith to be healed but was still crippled. He had to act on the faith that was in Him.  If we want deliverance in our finances we have to tithe and give. When we give we are releasing our faith. We have to lay hands on the sick to see them recover (Mark 16:18). An act of unbelief separated man from God initially in Adam. An act of faith will reconnect us to God and His provision in Christ, who is the last Adam.

When you know the Definition of Faith, Faith will work for anyone who will put it to work.

—Jeremiah 32:17-20

Everyone is looking for a sure thing. Security is a commodity sought after even in prosperous times. A lifetime guarantee that everything will be well for you and your family would be quite a calming assurance. God said through the prophet Jeremiah that the effect of righteousness would be quietness and confidence forever. Doesn’t that sound like a guarantee? A secure home, an undisturbed place of rest and blessing are certainly things I want for my life. My friends, such a guarantee does indeed exist—it’s God’s Covenant.

Even if you’re flat broke, jobless and homeless, you can get in on this. You can earn four figures or six, it doesn’t matter to God. The nation you were born in will not inhibit The Covenant’s ability to change your life. All you have to do is believe—it’s as simple as that. Abraham believed and entered into that Covenant. Today, The Blessing of Abraham comes upon us when we enter into The Covenant through Christ.

This is The Covenant—the lesser being blessed by the greater and God swearing to bless you! All you have to do is agree and act. There is security in God’s Covenant. Study the lives of biblical people who walked in The Covenant. Old and New Testament—they overcame every trial. When human err affected them, The Covenant was still in tact. In the Old Testament, it was sealed with an animal’s blood. For you and me, it is Jesus’ blood.  Let’s look at Hebrews:

When God made his promise to Abraham, since there was no one greater for him to swear by, He swore by Himself, saying, “I will surely bless you and give you many descendants.” And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised. People swear by someone greater than themselves, and the oath confirms what is said and puts an end to all argument. Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, he confirmed it with an oath. God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be greatly encouraged. We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.

—Hebrews 6:16-20

Because of this oath, Jesus has become the guarantor of a better covenant.

—Hebrews 7:22

Regardless of circumstances, The Covenant offers security. It was designed for those who agree with God to live in His comfort and provision at all times. God does not show favoritism. Anyone who chooses to enter into God’s Covenant is assured protection, peace and, yes, prosperity. Psalm 84 is one of my favorites. It concludes by saying, “For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless. LORD Almighty, blessed is the one who trusts in you.”

Cain and Abel both brought offerings to God, but Abel obviously believed what He had been taught by his father about The Father. Abel was counted as faithful and righteous because his belief caused him to act in obedience. Noah believed and was therefore obedient when God told him to build the ark. And Abraham, who is the father of our faith, was considered righteous because he believed God. Abraham’s act of obedience again ushered in The Covenant. What does this have to do with you? How does this help you deal with whatever challenges you are currently facing?

All of these men were ordinary people who responded to God’s call and accepted His invitation into The Covenant. Today, you are invited to do the same by way of Jesus Christ. Enter the security that comes with life in The Covenant. Yes, that includes the tithe. But before you get uptight about that, remember First John 5:2-3 which states, “This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome….” Jesus also encourages us this way in Matthew 11:28-30, “ ‘Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.’ “ Tithing is simply an act of obedience. It’s not meant to be a burdensome unbearable yoke. Besides, most of us don’t own livestock, so cash is easier. And for those of us who do, we still can’t bring our best cow or goat to put in the offering Sunday morning!

The Covenant ensures security and ushers in The Blessing. It’s not complicated. Just believe and act. The Kingdom of God is immune to economic downturns, epidemics and mass panic. God can not lie. He wants to bless you, and earth’s conditions will never change that. Psalm 89:34 reminds us, “ I will not violate my covenant or alter what my lips have uttered.” God has and has always had a wonderful plan for your life. Find out what God wants you to do and just do it. Choose Jesus Christ and The Covenant today—your life will NEVER be the same.

It’s human nature. Everyday people try to shrink God down to size—make Elohim experience their human experience. Yes God did, through Christ, victoriously walk though our mortal existence. And in so doing, He empowered us to do what many in previous generations only dreamt of doing—live outside the box. It is His nature to constantly remind us that our thoughts and His thoughts are vastly different. Visualize it. Isaiah wrote, “As far as the East is from the West…. And as far as Heaven is from Earth.” Think a thought, then, multiply it one hundred times! Ephesians 3:20 declares that the Lord is able to do immeasurably more than we can ask or think! So whatever level you’ve been thinking on, it’s probably too low. If you truly believe in the awesomeness of God, then you must believe that not only can He do awesome things in your life, but He wants to as well! Let’s take the lid off the box, a Blessing Blocker you probably didn’t even know you’d put God into.

I’ve been there. I thought I was doing everything God wanted me to do. Somewhere along the way though, I’d placed barriers on myself and God. Isaiah 1:19 says, “If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the good things of the land,” verse 20 contrasts, “But if you resist and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword.” In these situations, I was actually unknowingly resisting and rebelling. I thought I was being willing and obedient. What I had done was allowed my experiences and distorted thoughts to trap me and limit God. These verses in Isaiah seem easy enough to understand (and verse 19 is definitely easy to quote!), but applying them could pose a challenge.

Case in point: Think about a difficult situation you are facing or have faced. As far as you know, you’ve been faithful to God in everything. Now at some point, was there an action the Holy Spirit prompted you to take that defied your natural mind? Why would Elisha tell Naaman to dip in the Jordan River seven times and be clean? What was Jesus thinking when He spat on the ground and made a spit and dirt patty to heal a blind man? And what was up with Peter and John when they, while broke and in the middle of controversy, had the audacity to tell the lame beggar at the gate called Beautiful to get up in the name of Jesus?! They were all out of the box!

The bottom line is this people—The Blessing can’t flow inside the box. I don’t care how long you’ve been saved. You must guard your thinking on this. Constantly renew your mind, hear sound teaching and, by all means, protect your spirit. Don’t listen to any and everything people say, or what’s flowing though the media. Check your caller ID—don’t just pick up the phone! It could be the box calling!

If I seem extra passionate on this point, it’s because I’ve recently been on a personal journey out of the box. It was an epiphany. My thinking on an area was so tightly in the box, that at one point I literally had a person sitting in my home telling me what to do, and I missed it! It took me two years to realize that God was using that person to speak to me.  The box also blocks God’s Blessing in our lives by stealing our time. Two years? Yes, two years. Thank God that this mistake was neither grave nor at the point of no return. My husband and I saw God using it to show us that when we say absolute things like always and never, we limit Him. Whoa! The only thing we should be absolute about is His Word. We’d been obedient, but we weren’t willing. And actually, we weren’t trusting. We weren’t willing to hear and obey God no matter what. So we put Him in a box and struggled until we corrected the mistake. How’d we correct it? We took the barriers off our thinking. We began to trust God in that area and let Him do His part.

Please understand that even though our paths may cross, and our testimonies may be similar, God will not require the exact things from us (outside the basics, of course). Even in the Bible you will not find identical stories of people’s experiences with God. Decisions must not be based on what someone else did or said. It’s not always safe to repeat a previous action either. Remember our examples in the Word. God’s people were always asking for His direction and permission to do things, even if they’d done those same things and succeeded or failed before.

Go ahead and bottle-feed your baby if God gives you peace about that. I did, and my children live in divine health. Go on the missions trip that none of your friends signed up for; you may meet your spouse. Witness to the person that everyone else has given up on. You might help save their life. Don’t abandon your dream, but stop trying to tell God how to use you and how to bless you—you can’t manipulate him. You must be willing and obedient. Solomon wrote in Ecclesiastes 12:13, “Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.” Don’t allow the box to block you from The Blessing. You must learn to seek Godly advice, hear God, and obey Him. Liberate yourself. Whatever He tells you to do, do it. Put this Blessing Blocker where it belongs—in the box!

Every committed parent wants their children to be happy, strong and successful. And, we who are in covenant with God expect more—we expect our seed to walk in The Blessing. However, this does not happen automatically.

The promises of the Lord, including those in the Deuteronomy 28:1-14, are based on the If/Then Principle. If you adhere to the command or take the action on it, then you will receive the accompanying promise. In the opening passage Jesus said, “If you abide (or remain) in me.” The same verbiage is used in Deuteronomy, “If you fully obey these commands,” and “If you refuse to obey these commands.” So if you want your children to live in The Blessing, then, you must sow the Word; and, at the proper time, it will activate The Blessing.

Jacob’s children are a good example to look to for insight on this truth. Genesis 37 begins the story of Jacob and his sons. The Bible does not record what type of father Jacob had been to his older sons, but it is clear in the text that he took more time sowing into his then youngest son, Joseph. As a result, God began using Joseph at a young age through prophetic dreams.

It is also apparent in this chapter that the older sons were in fact living off the benefits of The Blessing in their father’s life. This is what many young people who were brought up in Christian homes are doing today. They have no regard for the source of their blessed lifestyle nor do they recognize the dedication it took by their parents to get there. So going to church once or twice a week and taking a trip with the youth group is just something they do to keep the nagging down and their allowances up. Joseph’s brothers prove this when they immediately blame him for the troubles they had with their father. They concluded that by getting rid of him, they could return to life as usual—that is, they could continue to pull the wool over their elderly father’s eyes. But ultimately, who was to blame for this bitter sibling rivalry?

When Joseph, who had been trained in righteousness, brought back an evil report (v.2), his brother’s turned on him. In the years and trials that followed, The Blessing was activated in Joseph’s life. He had not been spoiled and he was not ungrateful. Joseph was aware of Who had blessed his father Jacob and why. I imagine that since Jacob was older when he had Joseph, he was more reflective and probably spent a great deal of time telling Joseph about his own trials. Surely Jacob shared with Joseph about how he fled from home as a youngster, made a covenant with God, and became more blessed than he could’ve imagined—and Joseph took it all in.

Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. (Proverbs 22:6)

Joseph had been properly trained in the way of the Lord. Consequently, he was able to stand through humiliating adversity and save his entire family.

What good is it to live in covenant with God and have The Blessing on your life only to have it trampled on and squandered by your own children? Moses commanded in Deuteronomy 6:7, “Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.” The word impress really stands out to me in this passage. Your life lived in The Blessing should have an impression on your seed—a life changing one.

It is your responsibility to sow the Word into their hearts and teach them to seek the kingdom of God and His righteousness above all else. They learn from you how to be Christians, husbands, wives, moms and dads. Your children should know that you tithe and why you do so. The Word must be sown into them in order for them to truly inherit The Blessing. I often say, “I must be what I want my children to be.” This is a tall order and definitely holds my feet to the fire where my children are concerned.

Whenever I see some unpleasant trait or behavior in my son or daughter, I immediately conduct a self analysis. God blessed me with the responsibility of preparing His children for their destiny. They must know His Word and recognize Him as the source of all Blessing. If you succeed in doing this, then you will see The Blessing in the lives of your children just as Jacob saw it in Joseph’s.

They only get to be children once, but that time will affect their entire lives. For some, this is confirmation. For others, it’s a wake up call. Yes, I know it’s work. But the rewards are multigenerational and literally priceless. This was also a command of Moses in Deuteronomy (Chapter 4:9). God wanted to ensure that The Blessing endured.

Continuously remind your children of how and why they enjoy the things they enjoy. Impress upon them that without a real relationship with the Source, they’ll never be truly happy, successful or strong. You sow the Word and, at the proper time, The Blessing will carry your children to their destiny in Him.

I started Creflo Dollar’s 21 Day Change Experience this morning, and I’m so glad that I did. It starts with an introduction by Dr. Dollar, which explains a little of what the Change Experience is about. There are three areas to choose from: Family and Relationships, Finances, and Spiritual Growth. The sign up was quick and easy allowing you to start right after completing a form with your name, address, etc.

I completed the first lesson this morning in about 15 minutes. It begins with a quick video. Then, there is a small devotional with a question at the end. A really interesting feature, is the option to listen song samples from a CD while you complete your devotional. I chose this option this morning and will most likely do this again. The music was soothing and uplifting at the same time.

Everything you need to usher you into a nice quiet time with God is right at your fingertips on the screen. There are other tabs on the page. One of those tabs allow you to see a map of others around the world who are currently doing the Change Experience. It is really comforting knowing that you’re not alone. One of the coolest features is the journal, which e-mails you the notes you took during the devotional when you are finished. It doesn’t save them on the server, which I personally like.

I’m definitely looking forward to tomorrow to see what’s next.

Here’s the website: MyChangeExperience.com

Have you ever tried to quiet your mind? I mean really try to think nothing? I tried this exercise recently and found it to be very difficult. I know there are various techniques that enable you to quiet your mind for a period of time; however, the quiet can’t last forever.

The interesting thing about this exercise is that I realized that my mind communicates to me during my waking time primarily in voices. The voices are only audible to me; however, they are definitely a sound in my thought realm.

The bigger question is whose voice is speaking to you? Often the voice sounds like you, sometimes it doesn’t. You know the voice sounds like you because you know the sound of your voice and what you would say. Do you know when God is speaking to you? The Bible refers to a still, small voice. If you listen carefully, you’ll realize that God is frequently speaking to you.

“Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” – Psalm 46:10

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