The Prosperous Soul-Summary

The Prosperous Soul

by Adam Carver

• Read 1 John 3:2

• Explain summing up – fed well, easy to forget etc

What is it to be prosperous?

• Read Genesis 1:27-30

• Right from the beginning it’s God’s desire that we be fruitful. He put that desire within each one of us and made us all to want advancement and fruitfulness. If you feel guilty about that desire then it's the enemy trying to bring that on you.

• To prosper is to succeed, thrive and flourish. In Christian circles prosperity has come to mean wealth – TV etc. True biblical prosperity covers every aspect of our lives – body, soul and spirit.

• We looked at 2 Chronicles 26 and King Uzziah and saw that the Lord prospered everything he touched:
• Battles (vs. 6, 7)
• Reputation (vs. 8, 15)
• Buildings (vs. 9)
• Agriculture (vs. 10)
• Wisdom (vs. 9,10,14)
• People (vs. 15, 17)

Tim Mann Prophecy

…some of you are getting ready to prosper the next 2-3 years, it’s going to be very dramatic in the prosperity of God coming into your homes. Make sure you do what is right with it. Thank God, you get to enjoy and eat of it – you also give a portion of it, you have to give your tithe and need to give an offering beyond that – Amen? So don’t quench the flow of God when it starts hitting your house. You say, “I won’t quench it”. Well start doing what’s right with what you’ve got, and don’t quench it when the increase starts to come. There’s a flow that must come to you, so it can come through you

The life of Joseph

• We looked at Joseph and how his prosperous attitude meant that God poured out His blessing on a whole nation.

Gen 37:2 This is the history of Jacob. Joseph being 17 years old was feeding the flock with his brothers. And the lad was with the sons of Zilpah....and Joseph brought a bad report to his father.

• He was a hard working lad
• He took his work seriously.
• He was conscientious in his work.
• He wasn't telling tales. His report was accurate because later in Chapter 37 we can see that they were not where they should have been, but had decided to go somewhere else.
• He was a person who wanted to do his very best.
• He gave more than he was given.
• He was doing the best he could and put his heart into it (Col 3:23)
• At the same time he believes that because he is faithful in what He does and says, God will prosper him in all he does.
• And sure enough: Read Gen 39:2

• When you do all that you do as though for the LORD, the LORD is with you. Then you begin to know some success.

• Even though he was a slave and in an unfamiliar country, he worked for his "master" as though for the LORD.

• Because of this attitude and ethic, the master "saw" the LORD (that's how powerful your testimony can be).

• He also saw how God made all that Joseph did prosper! What God does for someone else He can do for you!

• Joseph found favour because of this attitude and this work ethic. He wouldn't have found favour if he had not have worked so hard, or displayed this attitude. He wouldn't have found favour if he had acted like an idiot, or if he had been arrogant and full of pride, or been a know it all...

• He found favour because he had learnt how to serve someone else. Joseph had a word from God and a vision and a dream, but the LORD would not release him into that before he had learnt to SERVE SOMEONE ELSE'S VISION.

• And see again the importance of accountability. Joseph had a 'master' he was 'under' someone else and served him. Because he humbles himself under the mighty hand of God, God exalted him OVER Then he made him OVERSEER of his house...

• If you don't humble yourself in His house, you will never be OVER anything in His house.

Prosperous Thinking or Poverty Thinking

• Our outlook will determine our outcome. The way we think will cause us to act in a certain way. I’m more convinced of this every day.

• Poverty thinking leads to poverty living. Prosperous thinking leads to prosperous living.

• Prosperous thinking says things like:
• What I have is enough.
• I can do what God says l can do.
• I'm going, no matter what.
• I have enough to give.

• Whilst poverty thinking says things like:
• l don't have enough.
• I can't give because l don't have sufficient.
• I can't go there just yet.
• l don't think that's possible, etc.

• Prosperous thinking starts from a place of faith and plenty. Poverty thinking starts from a place of self and lack.

• Prosperous thinking understands that we need to play the long term game. Poverty thinking is locked into the here and now.

• When you have a prosperous attitude you have a different lifestyle from the majority. Initially it may not be in the things you have or possess materially, but it will be in the ways you think about life and yourself.

• It's interesting to see how the majority have a "lottery" mentality. They want a quick fix to the drudge of their normal life, thinking that this will fix all their problems.

• Interestingly, many people who put money on the lottery are poor people waiting for the big break. The odds of winning are miniscule - so purchasing a ticket is throwing away money, but none the less "perhaps one day will be my lucky day".

• The poor buy the tickets, the poor throw away money, and the poor remain poor - it's definitely something to do with a poverty mentality!

• Prosperous minded people understand that they will see good things, but that often these things come through steady, consistent and diligent work.

• Christians with a prosperous mind-set fuel this even more by their Kingdom mind-set. They dream big dreams - but understand that it's in the little things, the things that people don't always see, that they must be faithful.

• Contrast these two men: Prov 27:23-27 - Diligent, attentive, hard working. Prov 24:30-34 Lazy, lack of understanding, slumber.

• We know that, and are so blessed when God does miracles, provides in incredible ways....but we also know that advancement and prosperity comes to those who are diligent in applying God's principles on a consistent and long term basis, with a heart that is continually turned towards God.

• We are to be those who are imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

• Again, interestingly, you like me have probably read many stories about those who were lottery millionaires many of them lost what they had very quickly...why?

• A poverty mind-set, no long term foundational principles in their lives, they had no idea how to use what they had when they got it, consequently they lose it...

• But now it's up to you to take responsibility to allow the life of God within you to flow through and transform you on the inside!

• Allow the Holy Ghost to get a hold of your character, your attitudes, your mind-set and bring you HIS MIND which will begin to bring you a PROSPEROUS THOUGHT PATTERN, which in turn will slowly but surely bring forth a wonderful harvest

Prosperity thinking is long term mind-set.

• Many Christians just like those in the world want a quick fix thinking that it will be the answer.

• Everything about God's nature though is LONG HAUL, although He will do things 'quickly', and can bring forth a nation in a day, YET He has planned it, thought it, established it, knows its beginning and its end and all the bits in between.

• He's a LONG HAUL God.

• He thinks generationally. He thinks not just about your children but your children's children.

• He thinks not just about your father, but his father before him.

• Why do you think the Bible is full of genealogies? It's because every generation is important, every person has a specific assignment, the past, present and future are all important to our lives.

• When we don't understand longevity, we get caught up into our own lives and needs.

• We don't think about what we need to do in order to prepare for the future.

• And if we are not looking ahead, there is a great possibility that we will meet something 'unforeseen' which will stop our momentum.

• Most Christians have a 'Mac Donalds' mind set. "I want it now, and if l can't have it now I'll get upset".

• But I'm tired of fast food, l want a proper cooked dinner. One that took time to prepare and one that takes time to eat, and one that takes time to digest.

• Christians need a long term mind-set for the sake of all those who follow behind.

• To bring in a harvest takes time, but more than that there is a great amount of time, effort, patience, slog, endurance and sowing before you can ever get the harvest.

• We need to be preparing the ground and sowing the seed now, not just for ourselves, but for our children and for their children, for the future.

• But remember before you can "sow" anything of worth outwardly, there must be good seed in good soil bringing forth fruit on the inside.

Prosperity is released as right honour is given

• Where there is no honour there is no prosperity. Our honouring involves giving the firstfruits of our possessions that blessing can begin and can overflow. Prov 3:10

• Tithing is an initial heart response to God. Giving a tenth of all we earn or are given is a starting point. Gen 14:20

• Tithing is nothing to do with law, but everything to do with submission to the King of Kings.

• It’s not about amount but about heart – it begins when we have nothing Gen 28:22

• Our tithe should be sown into the storehouse – i.e. where we are fed. Mal 3:10a, 1 Cor 9:11

• Since honour is about heart, then the question should not be How much can I get away with?, but rather How much can I bless

Conclusion

• Tim Mann Word – it is going to happen – and it could be you.

• Developing a prosperous soul is a process. It doesn't happen overnight, but is something which develops over a period of time through hard work and consistent application of the truths that have been shared.

• It’s God’s desire that you be prosperous in all things – but how prosperous is up to you. Choose to let God make you prosperous.