Introduction
• Last week we discussed some of the first steps that are necessary to obtain true prosperity.
o True prosperity is the ability to meet the needs of others at any given time.
o The Bible teaches us that we can be successful in every aspect of life.
o Money is a tool to get kingdom business done.
o Learning to operate in the kingdom of God, positions us to have true prosperity.
• Now let’s continue on with the steps to true prosperity.
• True prosperity is developed in the love of God. The kingdom of God is a kingdom of love.
• As Believer’s we must develop the character of love in order to prosper in God’s ways.
• Let us look to the Word this week as we learn more about true prosperity – God’s way.
A. All of the laws that govern prosperity hang on the law of love
(NKJV) Matthew 22 37 Jesus said to him, “ ‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”
1. We must develop the character of love. We need to take Jesus’ example and work it daily.
2. We must always make decisions that line up with love in order to develop the character of love.
3. When you meet the requirements of love, you become a mature Christian in God's kingdom. We must understand, think and speak love in order to be considered a mature Christian.
B. Kingdom prosperity will always be insulated, protected & shielded by love.
(NKJV) 1 Corinthians 13 11 When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
1. When you lack in being mature in the love of God, you think, speak and act as a child.
2. God is not going to put financial wealth, supernatural power and increase into the life of a selfish person or one that acts like a child. (Inheritance is given at 18 or 21yrs of age)
3. God will not give you more than you can handle. If you are not mature in love, then things will control you.
a. Example: A person that is given great wealth when their love walk is not right, will squander it on selfish and ridiculous things. (Prodigal Son)
b. Like too much alcohol, money is an amplifier of the inner person. If you are immature in love, then your behavior will be of one that is selfish
c. Money is a tool to be used for loving God and people and not to be squandered on selfish lusts.
4. It is “traditional thinking” to believe that God does not want you to be wealthy; however He cannot trust you with wealth if you are selfish.
5. God desires that all Believers be successful in every area of life such as health, relationships, finances and careers.
6. Jesus perfected the character of love. As a result, He became the most prosperous man to ever live. We are joint heirs with Him!
7. We must not seek to be rich, but to seek the one who can give us the riches (God).
a. The wrong relationship with money is the root of evil.
(NKJV) 1 Timothy 6 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
b. If your relationship is right with God, money will come.
C. You must love God with all your strength in order to walk in true prosperity.
(NKJV) Luke 10 27 So he answered and said, “ ‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,’ and ‘your neighbor as yourself.’”
1. Loving God with all your strength, is loving God with your possessions, abilities, anointing, influence, power and money—whatever you have that can make a difference in another person’s life.
(AMP) Proverbs 18 11 The rich man's wealth is his strong city, and as a high protecting wall in his own imagination and conceit.;
2. The rich young ruler did not love God with all his strength and, as a result, missed an opportunity to prosper.
(NKJV) Mark 10 17 Now as He was going out on the road, one came running, knelt before Him, and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?” 18 So Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. 19 You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not bear false witness,’ ‘Do not defraud,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother.’” 20 And he answered and said to Him, “Teacher, all these things I have kept from my youth.” 21 Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.” 22 But he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.
a. Jesus asked the rich young ruler to sell what he loved in order to prove his love for God. He had to make a choice to serve God or money!
b. The rich young ruler lack of love for God led him to choose his possessions over God’s love- eternal life.
3. When you love God with your possessions you put yourself in position to prosper like never before.
4. A man that fails to make God his strength will satisfy his own selfishness through his possessions.
(NKJV) Psalm 52 7 “Here is the man who did not make God his strength, But trusted in the abundance of his riches, And strengthened himself in his wickedness.”
D. Precious seed and a pure heart will enable the Believer to live in great wealth.
1. (Old Testament) Abraham sowed Isaac as a precious seed and the harvest of that seed allowed the children of Israel to leave Egypt wealthy.
a. Egypt was only a reservoir for Israel's wealth as they learned to love God even in oppression.
2. God gave Israel great wealth to see if they would love Him with all their substance.
3. Good seed must be planted into the heart of man in order to have a successful journey.
a. Wrong words (seed) will hinder the journey.
b. The children of Israel would have lived in great wealth however their wrong words hindered them from God’s best.
i. If you speak negative, you create a war between good and bad seed in the soil of your heart.
4. A mature Christian does not hesitate to give God what is precious to him or her. It is all God’s anyway.
Conclusion
• All of the laws that govern prosperity hang on the law of love.
• We must always make decisions that line up with love to develop the character of love.
• Kingdom prosperity will always be insulated, protected & shielded by love.
• God is not going to put financial wealth, supernatural power and increase into the life of a selfish person or one that acts like a child.
• Money is a tool to be used for loving God and people and not to be squandered on selfish lusts.
• Loving God with all your strength, is loving God with your possessions, abilities, anointing, influence, power and money—whatever you have that can make a difference in another person’s life.
• Precious seed and a pure heart will enable the Believer to live in great wealth.
• This week, let us make these steps to walk in true prosperity.
• Let us pray.
