“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.

That which has been is what will be, That which is done is what will be done, And there is nothing new under the sun.

   Is there anything of which it may be said, “ See, this is new”? It has already been in ancient times before us.   

Ecclesiastes 1:9-10 NKJV

Many times in my Christian walk, if I implied that God wanted to do something new or even express old truths from a fresh perspective folks would get a distant, far away look in their eyes and quote this passage. However, I believe this passage requires further study. One foundational principle of hermeneutics (which is the science and art of Bible interpretation) is that we always view a scripture in the light of the rest of the Bible. Do you realize how many “new” things God talks about after this scripture?

 I am the LORD, that is My name; And My glory I will not give to another, 
Nor My praise to carved images. 
    

 Behold, the former things have come to pass, 
And new things I declare; Before they spring forth I tell you of them.”

Sing to the LORD a new song, And His praise from the ends of the earth, You who go down to the sea, and all that is in it, You coastlands and you inhabitants of them!

Isaiah 42:8-10 NKJV

 “ Do not remember the former things, Nor consider the things of old. 
 

  Behold, I will do a new thing, Now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness 
And rivers in the desert.

Isaiah 43:18 NKJV

 “ You have heard; See all this. 
And will you not declare it?
 I have made you hear new things from this time,  Even hidden things, and you did not know them.

Isaiah 48:6 NKJV

How long will you gad about, O you backsliding daughter? For the LORD has created a new thing in the earth— A woman shall encompass a man.”

Jeremiah 31:22 NKJV

 “Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah—

 not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, though I was a husband to them, says the LORD.

Jeremiah 31:31-32 NKJV

 Through the LORD’s mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. 
      

 They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.

Lamentations 3:22-23 NKJV

New heart and new Spirit. (Ezekiel 36:26)

New tongues (Mark 16:17)

New Birth (John 3)

New Commandment (John 13:34)

New creation (II Corinthians 5:17)

New and Living Way (Hebrews 10:20)

 There is nothing new under the sun.

I believe the qualifier to that verse is “under the sun”. In this natural world, there is no new thing. However, God is not limited to this natural world. In Christ neither are we.

 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us,

 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),

  and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,

Ephesians 2:4-6 NKJV

This is good news because satan is called the god of this world.

 The eyes of those who do not believe are made blind by Satan who is the god of this world.

2 Corinthians 4:4 New Life Version

Since there is nothing new under the sun, then satan cannot bring something new from out beyond Pluto somewhere against us. Satan is limited to what is common to man.

 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

1 Corinthians 10:13 NKJV

The fact is that God is infinite.  As long as God is infinite, there is more to learn about Him. There is always a deeper depth of relationship with Him than we are currently experiencing. There are deeper depths to the moving of His Spirit than we have experienced before. God is a God of wonders.

Wonder- something strange,” causing the beholder to marvel, is always used in the plural, always rendered “wonders,”

A sign is intended to appeal to the understanding, a “wonder” appeals to the imagination, a power (dunamis) indicates its source as supernatural.

(Vines Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words)

According to W.E. Vines, if God does something you could fully understand it is not a wonder. It is sad how many Christians stand in judgment of the various ways God manifests Himself. However, some of the same people say that God works in mysterious ways! When someone dies unexpectedly in a tragedy or do not receive their healing for whatever reason they say, “Well brother, God works in mysterious ways.”  According to Jesus, anything that steals, kills and destroys is not from God (John 10:10),but from satan. When someone moves in the Spirit in a way that their flakey flesh does not like or understand they criticize it.

Many object to the way the Spirit of God moves because they cannot find a specific scriptural example for God moving in that way. The truth is God has an infinite amount of ways of moving in our lives. John says that if everything Jesus did was recorded, that the world could not contain the books. The Bible gives us a representative sampling of ways God moves.  Where did Peter find a scriptural precedent that people can be healed from his shadow? Where did Paul get the Spiritual “green light” to use aprons and handkerchiefs to minister healing and deliverance to people? These are examples of wonders.

Paul says that our natural mind cannot receive the things of the Spirit of God because they are spiritually discerned.

But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

1 Corinthians 2:14 NKJV

The word natural man literally means “soulical man”. You will not be able to discern the will of God with your natural mind. Mind renewal is important, but is a result of spiritual illumination that ends in the renewal of the mind.

So if you see something a minister does that you do not understand, just put it on the shelf and pray for God to give you insight. But, never come against something just because you do not understand it. Discrediting someone’s ministry is one way of not discerning the Body of Christ.

 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup.

 For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.

 For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep (die prematurely).

 For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged.

1 Corinthians 11:28-31 NKJV

We should be open for God to manifest Himself in whatever way He desires even if it is new to us.

Call to Me and I will answer you and show you great and mighty things, fenced in and hidden, which you do not know (do not distinguish and recognize, have knowledge of and understand).

Jeremiah 33:3 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

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

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.
Romans 8:14 NKJV

There are actually principles found in the Word of God that increase sensitivity to the Spirit of God. God is always speaking. If we are not hearing Him it is not because He is not saying anything. The church I attend owns the radio station KMTC. I do not pick up KMTC on my radio unless I am tuned to their station. If I am not picking it up I do not need to call their station mad at them, especially if my tuner is not set to their station. I may be on an AM frequency when they are on FM. I may be too far away, out of range (Selah). I do not need to sit down and cry saying that God does not want me to hear the radio. The only reason this scenario sounds ridiculous is because we are so developed in natural understanding that very few people do not know how to operate a radio. We should be equally diligent to understand how matters of the spirit function. 1 Corinthians 1:1 literally says concerning matters of the spirit, I do not want you ignorant (gifts is italicized, the Greek word spiritual is “pneumaticon”, literally translated “spirituals” or “matters of the spirit”).

Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant:
1 Corinthians 12:1 NKJV

I am going to discuss some of the ways to get your “spiritual tuner” set to God’s “frequency”.
The first key I want to consider is that God always moves from the general to the specific. There are two realms to the will of God, God’s general will found in the Word of God, and the specific will that is unique to the individual. A good example of this is what has come to be known as the “great commission”.

And He (Jesus) said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.
Mark 16:15 NKJV

That Word is valid to every believer whether or not you have a five-fold ministry call on your life. But although the Bible says “Go into all the world” it does not say “Travis, go to Mexico next week and have a crusade”. “Go into all the world” is God’s general will, whereas, “Travis, go to Mexico” is God’s specific will. This is important for several reasons. First of all, we need to understand we need not put the faith destroying words, “If it be thy will” at the end of our prayers when we are dealing with God’s general will expressed in the Bible. You need not pray, “Heal uncle Ned, if it be thy will. If not give him grace to bear it.” Why? Because we have God’s will concerning healing in Isaiah 53.

And by His stripes we are healed.
Isaiah 53:5b NKJV

We certainly would not pray, “Lord, save uncle Ned if it be thy will, If not give him grace to bear it. He is willing to go to hell for thy glory”. Why? Because we know God’s will relative to Uncle Ned’s and everyone’s salvation, God does not show partiality.

Then Peter opened his mouth and said: “In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality.
Acts 10:34 NKJV

For there is no partiality with God.
Romans 2:11 NKJV

We do, however, need to seek God’s will when it pertains to God’s specific leading. “Lord, do I need to buy this stock? “ “Lord, do I need to go this church?”
The next reason it is important to differentiate between God’s specific will and general will is understanding God flows from the general to the specific. For example if you are not faithful to the local church, you are not in position to expect to hear God for his specific will for your life. God is merciful and there are exceptions but I want to be in position where I can expect to hear from God. God tells us not to forsake the local church.

not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
Hebrews 10:25 NKJV

I get amused at spiritual tumbleweeds rolling from church to church that always have a “word” for you. I got a word for them, GO TO CHURCH! Until you get that right, you probably will not get any specific direction for your life.

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
James 1:22 NKJV

According to James if you see something from the Word of God and do not act on it you are self deceived. We all know people who say that everytime it comes time for a church service an “emergency” happens and they just cannot make it. Yet the same people make every ball game, fishing tournament, garage sale or Tupperware party within a fifty mile radius. Why? They are self deceived. They are not trying to lie to you when they say they cannot make it. They truly believe it. Others tell you that they cannot pay their tithes and yet eat out every meal. They are self deceived. We have to purpose to do the Word if we are going to be sensitive to God’s leading in the realm of the specifics of our life.
Another way of illustrating this principle is that power steering only works when the car is moving. We have to do what we are all called to do in the Word of God to be in position for specific leading on how we are to function in the Body of Christ. Every believer is called to be these five things.

1. Supernatural witness (soul winner)
2. Intercessor
3. Helps
4. Giver
5. Worshipper

To the degree that you fulfill these ministries that are common to every believer, is the degree you will find and fulfill your individual grace and giftings.

The second key to developing sensitivity is Faith.

By faith we understand …
Hebrews 11:3 NKJV

Faith is foundational to leading and understanding. My spiritual father Dr. Jefferson Thompson told me years ago that I am not to trust in my ability to hear God but rather, God’s ability to speak to me if I trust Him. We can get so intimidated by the notion of hearing from God that we become like the donkey chasing a carrot on a string. We have to have faith in God’s leading even if it is painfully apparent that the last hundred decisions we made were contrary to the leading of God.

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
James 1:5-8 NKJV

Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
Ephesians 5:17 NKJV

Notice that Paul equates wisdom with understanding the will of the Lord. So when we harmonize these two passages we understand that if we lack understanding of the will of the Lord or His leading, let us ask in faith regardless of our track record. Repent of past mistakes and move on.

The third key to developing spiritual sensitivity is humility.

The pride of your heart has deceived you…
Obadiah 1:3 NKJV

Those who refuse to walk in biblical humility are deceived and do not even know it. The more proud you are the more deceived you are.

But when his heart became arrogant and hardened with pride, he was deposed from his royal throne and stripped of his glory.
Daniel 5:20 NIV

Pride causes hardness of heart thus dulling us to the inner promptings of the Holy Spirit.

“ God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.”
James 4:6 NKJV

Though the LORD is on high, Yet He regards the lowly;
But the proud He knows from afar..
Psalm 138:6 NKJV

The fourth key to developing sensitivity is keeping the strife out of your life.

For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.
James 3:16 KJV

Unity, agreement, and harmony is what God inhabits.

“Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.” Matthew 18:18-20 NKJV

Many believers misquote this verse and say where two or three are gathered Jesus is in their midst. But He gives part of the qualifier in verse 18 which is agreement.

Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brethren to dwell together in unity!
It is like the precious oil (symbolizing the Holy Spirit) upon the head, Running down on the beard, The beard of Aaron, Running down on the edge of his garments.
It is like the dew of Hermon Descending upon the mountains of Zion; For there the LORD commanded the blessing— Life forevermore.
Psalm 133:1-3 NKJV

Also notice that the oil which represents the Holy Spirit starts at the head. We have to have a submissive attitude to spiritual authority to have sensitivity to the Spirit of God. God inhabits unity and demonic forces inhabit strife. Many are taken off of the earth prematurely because they were in strife which led to confusion which opens the door to every evil work. Marital strife can be a source of dullness.

Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered.
1 Peter 3:7 NKJV

Abram did not receive any further revelation (which is part of God’s leading) until he remedied the strife.

And there was strife between the herdsmen of Abram’s livestock and the herdsmen of Lot’s livestock. The Canaanites and the Perizzites then dwelt in the land.
So Abram said to Lot, “Please let there be no strife between you and me, and between my herdsmen and your herdsmen; for we are brethren.
And the LORD said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him (the source of the strife)…
Genesis 13:7-8,14 NKJV

The fifth key that is crucial to being led on a consistent basis is praying in other tongues.

He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself…
1 Corinthians 14:4 NKJV

Praying in other tongues edifies (Greek-builds up) our spirit man causing the voice of our spirit to supersede the voice of the flesh and mind.

These are sensual persons, who cause divisions, not having the Spirit.
But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit,
Jude 19-20 NKJV

It is these who are [agitators] setting up distinctions and causing divisions–merely sensual [creatures, carnal, worldly-minded people], devoid of the [Holy] Spirit and destitute of any higher spiritual life.
But you, beloved, build yourselves up [founded] on your most holy faith [make progress, rise like an edifice higher and higher], praying in the Holy Spirit;
Jude 19-20 Amplified

In order to compare scripture with scripture we must acknowledge that the praying in the Holy Spirit that Jude is talking about is the same praying in the Spirit Paul speaks of in 1 Corinthians 14 which is praying in other tongues.

For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful.
1 Corinthians 14:14 NKJV

The spirit of a man is the lamp of the LORD, Searching all the inner depths of his heart.
Proverbs 20:27 NKJV

The spirit of man [that factor in human personality which proceeds immediately from God] is the lamp of the Lord, searching all his innermost parts.

Proverbs 20:27 Amplified

Because the spirit of man is the lamp of the Lord, that is the part of us that God communes with. Because praying in tongues is spiritual activity it makes us more aware of our spirit from which that leading originates. Bro. Keith Moore says that if you are expecting a call you have to stay close enough to hear your phone. Praying in tongues keeps us in contact with our spirit thus making us more sensitive.

The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God…
Romans 8:16 NKJV

The sixth key to developing sensitivity is that you have to be willing to be led.

If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority.
John 7:17 NKJV

If you want to truly be led you have to be willing to do His will. Some believers say that they have peace about doing something but they are not willing to hear a “no”. They have their mind so set on something that they are just going through the motions of seeking God’s will.

If you are willing and obedient, You shall eat the good of the land;
Isaiah 1:19 NKJV

The seventh key to being led is anointed praise and worship. Praise and worship prepares our heart for God’s leading.

While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”
Acts 13:2 NIV

Praise and worship also brings God’s manifest presence (for more information on this see “The Three Levels of God’s Presence”, also on this site) which is key to receiving direction.
But You are holy, Enthroned in the praises of Israel.
Psalm 22:3 NKJV

…thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.
KJV

But now bring me a musician.” Then it happened, when the musician played, that the hand of the LORD came upon him (Elisha). And he said, “Thus says the LORD…
1 Kings 3:15-16a NKJV

The eighth and final key to developing sensitivity that we will discuss is fasting.

As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”
Acts 13:2 NKJV

We must understand that fasting changes us and develops sensitivity. It does not change God. Fasting to change God’s mind is a hunger strike. Hunger is one of the most dominate voices of the flesh. We can develop sensitivity by temporarily putting under the voice of the flesh making way for the voice of our spirit.

I humbled myself with fasting…
Psalm 35:13 NKJV

When I wept and chastened my soul with fasting…
Psalm 69:10 NKJV

Please consult a physician before going on an extended fast.

THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING LED

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.
Romans 8:14 NKJV

I want to say first of all that this is by no means an exhaustive study on being led by the Spirit. This is such a vast subject I am only giving a representative overview to get you started in the exciting, fulfilling life of being led by the Spirit. We spend our life learning to be led by the Spirit and developing sensitivity through relationship with the Holy Spirit. Paul tells us that one of the primary marks of our sonship is the ability and willingness to be led by the Spirit of God. It is possible to know the principles of redemption, faith and confession and not be led and still fail. Many believers are trying to override God’s leading with confession (don’t get me wrong, confession is a vital part of walking in victory). I heard a good example of this from Bro. Keith Moore. He was working for Kenneth Hagin Ministries taking calls for prayer. A lady called and said that she claimed Psalm 91 over herself and got mugged anyway. She wanted to know why her angel did not protect her. After questioning her for a few minutes he found out that where she was mugged was a rough part of town. He then asked if she felt she needed to go there, to which she responded not only did she not feel she needed to go, she actually got a check in her spirit about going from the Holy Spirit. Please understand me, I am not being critical, I have done it. Many of us has done it. But let us not kid ourselves. We cannot override God’s leading with confession. This is why some people go home to heaven early.

We Are To Be Led By The Spirit And Not By Need.

Many ministers in particular wear themselves out because they are not led. They never have time for their own families because they are not led in to whom they minister to. I realize I am not called to help everyone. We would be a lot more effective if we were led. Many bankrupt themselves ministering to the poor. Jesus said that the poor we would have with us always (Matthew 26:11). So if we are led by need there will never be enough. There are also many worthy causes that need millions of dollars of support. So the answer is be led. If everyone does what God leads them to do, God’s purpose will be carried out in the earth. God himself is not and cannot be moved by need. Jesus is touched by the feeling of our infirmities (Hebrews 4:15) but not moved by them. God can only move through our faith in the Word of God. If God was moved by needs there would not be a need in the world. Our need moved God 2000 years ago when He sent His Son to the cross. In that act of redemption every need of ours was met in the mind of God. We have to appropriate it by faith. So if we are going to be led by the Spirit we cannot be led by need.

We Are To Be Led By The Spirit And Not By “Fleeces”

Many believers are “putting out fleeces before the Lord”. If you are not familiar with this line of thinking it comes from a misappropriation of the story of Gideon in Judges 6.

So Gideon said to God, “If You will save Israel by my hand as You have said—  look, I shall put a fleece of wool on the threshing floor; if there is dew on the fleece only, and it is dry on all the ground, then I shall know that You will save Israel by my hand, as You have said.” And it was so. When he rose early the next morning and squeezed the fleece together, he wrung the dew out of the fleece, a bowlful of water.  Then Gideon said to God, “Do not be angry with me, but let me speak just once more: Let me test, I pray, just once more with the fleece; let it now be dry only on the fleece, but on all the ground let there be dew.”  And God did so that night. It was dry on the fleece only, but there was dew on all the ground.
Judges 6:36-40 NKJV

Although it is true that Gideon did ask to be led by wet and dry fleeces and God honored it, we have to view this story in light of its historical context. First of all the Bible is progressive revelation.

But the word of the LORD was to them, “ Precept upon precept, precept upon precept, Line upon line, line upon line, Here a little, there a little,”… Isaiah 28:11 NKJV

Simply put the characters in the Old Testament did not know everything we know under the New Covenant. Both Paul and Jesus said they were revealing mysteries kept secret from the foundation of the world. So we cannot get away with doing some of the things people did under the Old Covenant because they were walking in all the light they had. We, however, should know better.
The second thing to consider about Gideon, as well as all other Old Testament believers, is they were spiritually dead. The New Birth was not available as we know it until Jesus presented His blood on the Heavenly Holy of Holies. That is why God had to deal with His people in such drastic ways. They did not have the Spirit of God residing in their spirit to the same degree we do under the New Covenant.

He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified. John 7:38-39 NKJV

The Holy Spirit would come upon the prophet, priest, and king to accomplish a particular task. Jesus had the Spirit of God come upon Him and remain.

And John bore witness, saying, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and He remained upon Him.  I did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘Upon whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’  And I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God.” John 1:32-34 NKJV

Jesus also said when we receive the Holy Spirit under the New Covenant, that He would remain with us.

Now that we have the Holy Spirit we should flow with God’s process under the New Covenant which is being led by the Spirit.
The third fact about Gideon is that his whole nation was out of fellowship with God. The whole reason God called upon Gideon to deliver His people is because they had gone into captivity because of their rebellion.
You may say, “Well brother that is all well and good, but I have never put out a fleece.” There are different variations of the fleece that believers use all the time. The underlying principle of the fleece mentality is trying to determine the will of God through natural circumstances. Some say, “Lord, if this is Your will, open the door, if not close it.” That is a fleece prayer. We are led by the Spirit, not opportunities. Satan will always offer a shortcut to your divine destiny. This is what satan did when he offered Jesus all the kingdoms of the world. Jesus would ultimately gain authority over the world through His death burial and resurrection. Satan was offering it to Him without having to pay the price for it. So if we require evidence in the seen realm to follow God’s leading Satan can compensate us with a counterfeit. On the other hand we are not to be led by “closed doors”. If you are led this way, all satan has to do is throw up a few roadblocks and you will say, “well, it must not have been the will of God after all”. No! If we have God’s Word and leading on it we should keep standing and keep knocking until the door opens.

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.
Matthew 7:7-9 NKJV

Another example of a fleece prayer is, “Lord, if this is really you, let three men with red hats walk by.”  Once again, if you are looking in the natural seen realm, you are opening yourself up for deception.

If you want to be in position to expect to receive God’s leading, you must be led by the Spirit.

Another way God led his believers that was valid under the Old Covenant was casting lots. This is how the apostles selected Matthias.

This part is a little blind to us in English. In the Greek the word “sons” is the word “Huios” (pronounced whee-os). It literally means mature sons. Contrast that word with “children” in Romans 8:16.

The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,
Romans 8:16 NKJV

The word translated children is the Greek word “teknon” which simply means offspring. In Hebrew culture when a son reached maturity his father would take him to the city gates, where all the business of that day was carried out (much like city hall or the courthouse of our day), and would say, “This is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased. Hear him.” From that day forward when the son spoke it was as if the father was speaking. He carried all the clout of the father. He would give him his signet ring that acted as a stamp that is just like the fathers signature. This is when he transitioned from a child (teknon) to a son (huios). So according to Paul, being led by the Spirit is one way we are released into greater measures of responsibility.

Not Seeking God’s Leading Is A Manifestation Of Pride.

Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”; whereas you do not know whatwill happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.”  But now you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil.
Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.

James 4:13-17 NKJV

When we refuse to seek God’s direction we deny His Lordship which is the height of arrogance thus causing God’s grace to wane off of our life.

But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “ God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.” Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

James 4:6-7 NKJV

It is also not wisdom to not seek counsel from someone eternal when we are finite (see James 4:14).

God’s Provision Is Tied To His Leading.

The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing.

Psalm 23:1 NIV

To the degree we submit to God as our Shepherd is to the degree we can expect to walk in His provision. We see this illustrated in the life of Elijah in the time of famine.

“Get away from here and turn eastward, and hide by the Brook Cherith, which flows into the Jordan.  And it will be that you shall drink from the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to feed you there.”

1 Kings 17:3-4 NKJV

The provision was at the Brook Cherith. Had he not gone there he would  not have received God’s provision. Just when he started to get settled in God led him to move again.

Message Continued on Part 2.

Message Completed on Part 3.

They’re selling it daily in immeasurable doses. Its seductive tactics have driven an entire society into a panic. It’s the big bad wolf outside about to blow your house down and run off with your wife and children – fear.

Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour – 1 Peter 5:8

If the enemy of your soul can attack you with fear, he can run roughshod over everything in your life. That verse says like a lion; it does not say that he is a lion. Jesus is the Lion of the tribe of Judah and He’s living in you if you’re born again. So why are so many Christians living in fear along with the world? They lack what I believe is fear’s worst enemy. I found it by meditating on the following two verses:

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

 – I John 4:18

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

–       2 Timothy 1:7

I know what you’re thinking. Love, right? Take a closer look. John uses the adjective perfect to describe the love that casts out fear. And Paul said that a sound mind and power accompany the spirit of love that God has given us. In my own quest to conquer fear, I read these verses again and again. I kept asking, “How does love overcome fear?”

Then, I discovered that unbelief is at the root of all fear. What if this? What if that? How are we ever going to get out of this situation? But the doctor said such and such. That is where the tormenting worry comes from. It was that which lead me to fear’s worst enemy—trust. More specifically, trust in God.

From the verses above, it would seem that love is fears worst enemy. There are scores of people who would say they love God, yet they are full of fear. Take a closer look. Perfect love casts out fear because it is founded on trust in God, His Word and His ability to make that Word good. The spirit of power, love and a sound mind can only be activated and properly used if we trust what God said about those three things. Do I believe I have power to tread on all the power of the enemy, that love never fails and that I have the mind of Christ? It’s all about trust.

How could David go against Goliath with no previous combat experience and five rocks? How could he say that because of the victory he was about to obtain, “The whole world will know that there is a God in Israel.”? Complete trust in his God. If Americans were more like David and really believed the statement printed on our money, this country would be the head and not the tail financially.

Yes, I am saying that people who live in fear don’t really trust God. Here’s a practical example. My husband and I have been married more than twelve years. I love him perfectly because I trust him. You see my love for him is perfect as a result of him never giving me a reason to mistrust him. If he had in some way broken my trust, I would still love him; however, there would now be fear in my heart and my love would no longer be perfect. I would always have the doubt and worry that he might be unfaithful or gamble away his paycheck.

Has God ever lied to you while campaigning for your vote? Spent your mortgage at a topless bar? Did He tell everyone He knew all of your personal business? Then why don’t you trust him? How do you feel when you come to the realization that someone you love doesn’t trust you? It hurts doesn’t it? Let’s look at what Jesus said in Matthew 22:36-38 when asked about the greatest commandment.

Jesus replied: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

This is huge. How can you love someone you’ve never seen with all your heart, soul and mind? Trust. The Law and the prophets hang on these commandments because they trust in God — the One who gave them.

And finally, I got it. It was actually while reading a Norman Vincent Peale book (one of the authors who changed my life). It fit perfectly with the verses I already had. This reference was used to deal with a case of intense fear and worry. Isaiah 26:3-4 is posted on my refrigerator right now.

Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength…

Now compare these verses with 2 Timothy 1:7 and 1 John 4:18. They create a fear-busting bomb! My mind is sound because I keep it on Him. He gives me everlasting strength and power. I have perfect love and perfect peace because I trust in God. Fear runs screaming out the door when he hears you speak those words with the authority of the Lion of the tribe of Judah!

Trust is fear’s worst enemy. Show God how much you love him by trusting in His Word—not in money, the government or the media. He said that those who trust in Him will never be put to shame (Romans 10:11). So let them sell their fear; but treat it like any tangible thing the enemy has to offer—alcohol, drugs, pornography—don’t buy it! The Word has more than six thousand promises for you. Don’t be stifled by fear another moment. Trust in God, eradicate fear and prosper in every area of your life!

In part two of this series, I’ll tell you about the fear that fuels your faith.

Be blessed friends and have the perfect day everyday!

–Shontta

Psalm 138:8

—Hosea 4:6

It’s an inaccurate cliché—ignorance is bliss. Hosea specifically states that a lack of knowledge can actually destroy you. Ignorance is a blessing blocker. And even though they are often used interchangeably, ignorance and stupidity are not synonyms. Stupidity means lacking in intelligence, foolish or idiotic. In contrast, ignorance is the state of being uninformed, uneducated or unaware—without knowledge. It’s like the difference between a restroom and a bathroom. They have some similar traits, but they are not the same. A person can actually act in ignorance and stupidity simultaneously. The trust be told, most stupid people aren’t ignorant at all (that’s another article). But what you don’t know can hurt you, leave you in financial ruins and cause you to miss out on God’s best for your life.

If you’ve been walking in a state of ignorance, you are vulnerable. A lack of knowledge causes you to be easily led astray. And, ignorance doesn’t give you a free pass. Let me give you an example. Being ignorant of the law is no excuse for breaking it. If you are pulled over and given a citation for driving 40 mph in a 30 mph zone, you can’t use the excuse that you didn’t know what the speed limit was to evade the ticket. It’s similar to saying, “Lord I didn’t know I was supposed to tithe. Can’t you just bless my finances anyway?” No. Your ignorance had placed you under the curse.

The first place a Christian should go for knowledge is the Word of God. Solomon wrote in Proverbs 1:7, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.” According to this verse, it’s the foolish (or stupid) person who despises wisdom, not the ignorant. Jesus said that the truth would set us free. And, Paul told Timothy, “Study to show thyself approved unto God….” Paul also started phrases this way on more than one occasion, “Brothers, I would not have you ignorant….” Our greatest weapon against the enemy is the Word of God in our mouths. We can not be ignorant where it is concerned. Jesus overcame the enemy with the Word (Matthew 4:3-12) and we overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony (Revelation 12:11). But how can we, if we are ignorant of it?

Examples from the Word

I want to share some occasions in the Bible where people were ignorant of the Word. They were being blocked from receiving the blessings of God. Notice how they reacted, how they corrected it and the results of their actions.

Josiah was just a young boy when he became king (2 Kings 22). He had begun to make some repairs on the temple when the Book of the Law was found and read to him. When he became aware of all the ways they were not obeying God, he was immediately distraught.

When the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, he tore his robes. He gave these orders to Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam son of Shaphan, Acbor son of Micaiah, Shaphan the secretary and Asaiah the king’s attendant: “Go and inquire of the LORD for me and for the people and for all Judah about what is written in this book that has been found. Great is the LORD’s anger that burns against us because our fathers have not obeyed the words of this book; they have not acted in accordance with all that is written there concerning us.”

—2 Kings 22:11-13

The previous generation had been led astray, and now the people were walking in ignorance. Yes they were also being disobedient, but remember the traffic ticket example. Once Josiah inquired of the Lord, the report came to him that his life would be spared, and he would be buried in peace.

Nehemiah had a similar experience after rebuilding the wall in Jerusalem (Nehemiah 8). When the people heard the words from the Book of the Law, they wept. Their hearts and minds were being enlightened by the Word of God. They had been operating in ignorance, and it grieved them.

Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who were instructing the people said to them all, “This day is sacred to the LORD your God. Do not mourn or weep.” For all the people had been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law. Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is sacred to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.” The Levites calmed all the people, saying, “Be still, for this is a sacred day. Do not grieve.”

—Nehemiah 8:9-11

After the celebration, the people repented and rededicated themselves to the Lord. Study the final chapters of Nehemiah. It is a great example of what should be done when someone comes out of ignorance into knowledge.

And finally, the prison guard in Acts 16. I love this story! Paul and Silas were in chains in prison praying and praising God! They weren’t in the today’s version of the United States Federal Penetintury either. This was a scene I’m sure none of us would want to find ourselves in—and they were praising God! As a result (and because of the Blessing of the Lord on their lives), the entire prison was shaken and everyone’s shackles were loosed! Hallelujah!

And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled. But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here. Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas, and brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?

—Acts 16:27-30

This ignorant prison guard came into the knowledge of the Living God. What did he do next? Read the rest of the account. He gathered his entire household to be saved and baptized. He cleaned the wombs of Paul and Silas, fed them and rejoiced in God! If the man was stupid, after being freed from ignorance he would have completed his suicide or attempted to recapture the prisoners. There’s the difference.

Notice in each example the reactions of the people when they realized they were ignorant. They wept and repented. They chose God’s way and simultaneously chose His Blessing. You will never rise above the level of your knowledge. What you don’t know can block the Blessing of God from your life and destroy you. Don’t be ignorant and don’t be destroyed—get in the Word and get some knowledge today!

Be blessed friends, and have the perfect day everyday!

—Shontta

Psalm 138:8

The noise factor is the amount of other actions that you are taking that are not in alignment. Instead of corresponding action, our actions are sometimes in direct contradiction to what we want or just not supportive. This noise factor makes it more difficult to see the clear connection between our actions and the results that we are getting.

Since these two factors, lapse of time and noise, are at work in our lives; we must have diligence to re-establish our awareness of the connection. We know that God always tells the truth, so, we are rewarded for diligently seeking Him. Thus, if you are not seeing these rewards, make sure that you are being diligent in your pursuit of God and His Word.

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. – John 10:10

We know from the Bible that God’s intentions are to bring us the fullness of life. If we are not receiving the fullness of life, then, we know that the problem is on our side. One of the ways for us to re-connect to the blessings that God has for us is to re-connect to the Old Testament. We know that Jesus is a fulfillment of the Law; thus, it is helpful for us to understand the benefits of following that Law.

Since we are righteous through Jesus, we have access to those blessings even if we don’t live sin-free. First, you must confess and repent of those sins. Then, we must receive God’s promises. We are to put God into remembrance of His promises for you. Promises of His good plan for your life, plans to prosper you and not to harm you.

I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins. Put me in remembrance: let us plead together: declare thou, that thou mayest be justified. – Isaiah 43:25,26

To make sure that we are following God’s laws and repenting when we don’t takes diligence. Don’t let time and noise deceive you into giving up on living God’s best.