For over 35 years I have taught that Christians should be prosperous, yes, God wants us to prosper and be in health. I know some groups don't like this message and other groups abuse it. The groups that don't believe it stay in their poverty mindset because they think that is what they are supposed to do. And the groups that abuse it make God sound like an ATM machine. Both of them really bother me!
I don't get mad at the people because I know they being taught these mindsets and think that anything to the contrary goes against God's will. So, I get upset with those in positions of authority who have taught these lies. Yes, I know, I've heard all the "scriptural arguments" on the evils of prosperity and the other side about promises of God being our "Sugar Daddy" and they all make sense when you listen to those pushing their agenda. But when you look at all of the scriptures as a whole the story takes on a different view.
Part of the poverty mindset goes back to a time when the landowners and the Church were together in power and it was convenient for the masses to stay poor and were told to focus on rewards in the here-after. This meant the rich landowners could stay rich and not be bothered. My question has always been if it was so good for the masses why wasn't it good for the leaders to live in poverty and wait for their rewards in heaven as well? But they were too busy enjoying the benefits of wealth and power.
But it does no good to worry about what others are doing so I decided to teach that God has a different plan. God wants you to prosper, that is my message and if people really want to hear that message, they will set aside all their preconceived ideas and ideologies and look at the facts.
It can get sticky at times talking to people who have made up their minds that coins and bills are evil. And of course I am aware of corruption, greed and abuse and how bad it can get. But there is a way to avoid all that and do it the right way.
I've just gotten so sick and tired of good people who love God and want to live wonderful lives being beaten down and defeated because they have the wrong information and the wrong mindset.
If you have these views, make a change today by at least entertaining the possibility that God wants you to prosper and live abundantly. That at least gives us a starting point.
Copyright (c) 2008 Good News Publications
Waiting in prayer and doing nothing, you believe God will see your faith and take action. God may be teaching the virtue of patience while you ponder God's silence with a stoic resignation and a belief that the prayers have not been heard.
Continuing to pray longer and harder, you hope (not trust) that God will eventually answer those prayers. Jesus implied persistence in the parable of the man who kept knocking on his neighbor's door in the middle of the night asking for bread, until the neighbor got up and gave him the bread to make him go away (Luke 11: 5-8). His persistent action produced the desired response. In the parable about the widow, she kept returning to an unjust judge begging for justice. She wore away at him until he relented and granted justice (Luke 18: 2-5).
Sometimes praying seems to leave you feeling like the nagging wife. You hope for an answer to your heart's desires. Pray persistently and you will get what you want. But is that really what Jesus was saying? Will God grant your request just to get rid of you therefore allowing him to attend to countless others so demanding of His attention?
Surely, you know God is not like that. Jesus personifies the character of God in the flesh. The Bible shows various accounts of Him being prepared to help the needy and showing compassion towards them. God always hears and answers prayers. Sometimes, the immediate response to a prayer is a resounding 'Yes.' At other times He responds negatively despite persistent praying and patience you exhibit as the wait continues.
Have no doubt. God wants you to pray persistently. Why? The life of the apostle Paul is an example of faith. Paul was believed to have "a thorn in the flesh" (2 Corinthians 12:7). There is no description but readers believe the "thorn" was a chronic and debilitating problem that kept him from doing his work. Paul prayed many times asking for God to take the 'thorn' away and waited in patience for an answer. But God didn't take the "thorn" away.
Yet, Paul got something better. Because he persistently prayed, he heard God's voice and found out God's will. He heard God say to him, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."(2 Corinthians: 9) Further, Paul realized that his 'thorn in the flesh' kept him from being conceited. He had such wonderful spiritual experiences and preaching prowess that it would have been hard not to brag about them. His 'thorn' kept him humble, however. He was always aware of his weakness and knew that whatever he achieved was God's doing, not his.
Returning to God repeatedly in prayer keeps the lines of communication open. It allows God the opportunity to communicate with you. In the silence of prayer it provides the opportunity to hear God speak. Many times it is after repeated praying that the words no longer come. This is the time when you stop talking that you will hear God in the silence.
Persistent prayer provides God the opportunity to give you the solutions you're looking for. You may have your own idea of what the solution should be, which guides you as you continue to pray. However, what you think as the solution may not be God's. There are times when God bends your will and allows the broken spirit to shine. It is in prayer that you realize that letting go is the answer that lets God work miracles in your life. God will reshape your desires and show the right resolution.
Hence, pray persistently not because you think that by doing so you will eventually get what you want, but because by doing so you are keeping your communication lines with God active which is what He wants. Don't lose heart. Keep on praying. Otherwise, you will miss out on a great opportunity, that is, allowing God to work through you, in you and with you.
Pray for the right reasons and experience His presence, experience His goodness, experience His mercy and experience His power in your life!
Both Duke Clarke & Babes Tan-magkalas are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.