Prosperous Mindset #10 - Determined To Possess What God Promised

 Judges 11:24b - "So whatever the LORD our God takes possession of before us, we will possess."

There Will Be A Cost

As we've already learned, there are too many people who want prosperity because they think it will get rid of all their problems. "Once I get rich," they think, "I'll never have another problem, never have to work another day in my life, and will have everything I want!" 

But we've seen, this is NOT what true Biblical prosperity is!

True prosperity doesn't mean "No more work."
True prosperity doesn't mean "No more problems."
True prosperity doesn't even mean "I can do whatever I want to!"

Picture the Israelites standing at the border of their promised land. Crossing that border will bring them into abundance. It'll mean stepping into all the supply, provision, and possessions that God promised them. However...that possession was never going to be a passive act. If they wanted to prosper, they were going to have to take action.

This is why many Christians won't prosper, even though they may believe God wants them to. They fail to realize the divine partnership that needed to work:
 - GOD promised the prosperity.
 - In response, WE must believe that promise.
 - When we do, GOD gives us instructions on how to possess that prosperity.
 - Then WE must step out and follow those instructions
 - And when we act, GOD delivers supernatural results!

We've already covered a lot of those heavenly instructions. We've talked about being disciplined in our finances, and not letting ourselves lose control in our spending. We've already seen that prosperous people must be selfless givers. And we now know that walking in prosperity will not make everyone around us happy. When faced with these challenges, or any other that may arise, many believers give up and revert back to the "easy way". 

But not us! WE will be prepared to act...WE will be ready to follow God's lead, and possess what God promised!

WHY prosperity Is God's Will

Deuteronomy 8:18 - "And you shall remember the LORD your God, for it is He who gives you the power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day."

Why are we so determined to prosper?

Is it because we want to live an easy life? Is it because we crave all the same luxuries and comforts that the world is chasing? Is it because we believe that money is the answer to life's problems? Not at all!

We are determined to prosper - but for selfless reasons!

1 - We will prosper so we can freely give into the ministries that are advancing the Kingdom of God.

In the Old Covenant, God told His people that "none shall appear before Me empty-handed." (Deuteronomy 16:16) In the New Covenant, this statement is echoed; "so that you can give on every occasion." (2 Corinthians 9:11) We're called to be generous toward the ministries that are spreading God's Word to this world - and we can't do that when we have nothing. 

2 - We will prosper so we can provide the needs of those around us.

Margret Thatcher once said, "No one would've remembered the Good Samaritan if he didn't have money." That's an important point: You cannot be a blessing to others if you have nothing to give. Of course, we as believers can meet spiritual needs that no one else can...but shouldn't we also be free to meet material needs too?

Deuteronomy 15:11 - "For the poor will never cease from the land; therefore I command you, saying 'You shall open your hand wide to your brother, to your poor and your needy, in your land.'"

We've already established the fact that God is the Provider, correct? If we're called to be like Him, shouldn't we also have something to provide to those in need?

3 - We will prosper as an example to the world that God is true to His word!

The bottom line is that God promised to bless His people. His word says over and over again that doing things His way will lead to prosperity and will keep us from permanent poverty. We also know from God's Word (and by our own personal experience) that being bound up in poverty is not good.

And so...we are determined to prosper, so that the world will see the blessing of doing things God's way! We will give God glory in our prosperity!

Psalm 35:27 - "Let them shout for joy and be glad, who favor my righteous cause; and let them say continually, 'Let the LORD be magnified, Who has pleasure in the prosperity of His servant.'"

We Will Prosper By Faith!

Judges 11:24b - "So whatever the LORD our God takes possession of before us, we will possess."

Going back to the Israelites at the edge of their promised land the first time; why did they turn back? Why did they refuse to go in and take what God had already given to them? Because they did not believe what God had promised. Their lack of faith led to a lack of action, that that kept God's promise from being fulfilled in their lives.

We will not be like that generation! We will not waver at the promises of God. We will believe His Word, and we will put that faith into action! 
Even knowing that there will be discipline required....
Even knowing that there will be work involved...
Even knowing that there's more to prosperity than just money...
Even knowing that true prosperity comes with persecution...
Knowing all this...WE CHOOSE TO PROSPER!

The Kingdom of God needs obedient, God-fearing, selfless people to be wealthy!