INTRODUCTION

In last week’s study, we looked at Learning to think in line with God's Word. We saw that unless we thought this way we would miss out on the very many blessings God has for us.

In today’s study we shall be looking at an interesting topic: “Qualifications for Walking in Prosperity.” Qualification referred to here is a condition that must be fulfilled before a right can be acquired. As a foundation of this study we need to establish the following:

There is nothing wrong with being rich and having money. But it is wrong for money to have you! It is wrong for money to be your ruler or master or for you to consume finances entirely on your own lusts. God wants us to prosper in every area of our lives but He does not want us to live our lives with misplaced priorities.

PART 1: TYPES OF PROSPERITY

John writes in 3John2 (NKJV):

" Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things (Materially) and be in health, (Physically), just as your soul (Spiritually/Emotionally) prospers." Emphasis mine.

In this verse, John talks about financial or material prosperity, physical prosperity, and spiritual prosperity. Notice that material and physical prosperity are dependent upon spiritual prosperity. He concluded the verse by saying “even as thy soul prospereth”.

From 3 John 2, we can therefore conclude that there are broadly three types of prosperity

Material Prosperity
" Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things. . .”
Material prosperity refers to but not limited to wealth, possessions, etc. In Deut. 28:1-14 and Prov. 3:10, the Lord talked to the Israelites about their "basket and store" being blessed, their barns being filled, and about them being the head and not the tail.
Physical Prosperity
“. . . and be in health. . .”
Physical prosperity refers to being healthy. In Exod. 23:25-26. God said: So you shall serve the Lord your God, and He will bless your bread and your water. And I will take sickness away from the midst of you. No one shall suffer miscarriage or be barren in your land; I will fulfill the number of your days.”
Spiritual Prosperity
“. . . just as your soul prospers "
Spiritual prosperity refers to walking in the truth. John continued in 3 John 3 (NLT): “Some of the traveling teachers recently returned and made me very happy by telling me about your faithfulness and that you are living according to the truth.”
It also refers to our general well-being; of the mind, emotions, relationships, position, etc. Deut.28:13 says: “The LORD will make you the head, not the tail. If you pay attention to the commands of the LORD your God that I give you this day and carefully follow them, you will always be at the top, never at the bottom.”

PART 2: QUALIFICATIONS OR CONDITIONS

In this second part we will be looking at qualifications or conditions for walking in prosperity. These conditions are not man-made conditions but directions from the Lord in His word! No wonder he told Joshua how to make his way prosperous (how to walk in prosperity) in Joshua 1:8 the Bible says: “Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.”

So, what are the contents of this book of law we keep always on our lips and meditate on day and night?

Let’s look at five of them.

CONDITION 1: PUT THE SPIRITUAL BEFORE THE MATERIAL

Matt.6:28-33. Emphasis on verse 33.

“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

Putting the spiritual first guarantees material prosperity.

CONDITION 2: BE WILLING AND OBEDIENT

Isaiah 1: 19 says: “If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land".

God wants us to prosper materially! But our prosperity depends on our putting first things first. From this scripture, we find two words coming ahead of eating the good of the land. “willingness” and “obedience”.

Willingness:
Willingness refers to us consenting in our wills to the Father. Mark 14:36 (NLT): “Father, everything is possible for you. Please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will, not mine"
Obedience:
Obedience here implies our being submissive in our actions. To be compliant with an order, request, or law or submission to another's authority. Abraham was completely obedient. Genesis 12:4 says:
“So, Abram went, as the Lord had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he set out from Harran.:”
These actions; willingness and obedience guarantee Material and Emotional Prosperity!
Deut. 28:1 says “Now it shall come to pass, if you diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God, to observe carefully all His commandments which I command you today, that the Lord your God will set you high above all nations of the earth.”

CONDITION 3: ESTEEM EARTHLY THINGS LIGHTLY

Matthew 6:19-21 (NIV) says:

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

You must esteem earthly things lightly and esteem heavenly things highly! Align your desires and will with the Lord’s. This action guarantees Spiritual/Emotional prosperity.

Proverbs 11:28 (NKJV) says: “He who trusts in his riches will fall, But the righteous will flourish like foliage.”

You cannot hold tightly to earthly things and expect to prosper as God desires you to.

Ephesians 1:3 says:

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ”

CONDITION 4: COMMIT TO SERVING THE LORD

John’s prayer in 3John2 is that we “be in health” or have good health or prosper physically.

Exodus 23:25 - 26 tells us how we can guarantee this

“So you shall serve the Lord your God, and He will bless your bread and your water. And I will take sickness away from the midst of you. No one shall suffer miscarriage or be barren in your land; I will fulfill the number of your days.”

Very clearly therefore, to guarantee physical prosperity and divine health, serve the Lord!

CONDITION 5: ENGAGE IN PRAISING GOD

The popular phrase “When the praises go up, blessings come down” is coined from Psalm 67:5-6 “Let the peoples praise You, O God; Let all the peoples praise You. Then the earth shall yield her increase; God, our own God, shall bless us.”

This action praise guarantees Material Prosperity and other blessings.

CONCLUSION

God wants us to prosper in every area of our lives but He does not want us to live our lives in misplaced priorities. He wants us to prosper materially and physically based on our spiritual prosperity. Our material and physical prosperity are hinged on our spiritual prosperity. Also, Obedience and Service are key requirements for living in prosperity according to Job 36:11 which says: “If they obey and serve him, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures.”

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