DEDICATION
To the faithful who are catching c atching the vision to be a part of the end-time harvest. To those individuals individuals God is raising up to fund the churches and ministries that are doing the work of God. To those who never thought they could ever get out of debt or pay off their cars and homes but did. To all my children, ch ildren, whom God has blessed bless ed me with. They were there when there was was nothing left after the devastation devastation in 2000, and they rejoice with me in all that God has blessed me with during my restoration. nd especially to my daughter !harity. !harity. " had never thought about paying off my car until she encouraged me to do it. " paid it off within three months# $he started me on the road to this revelation about God%s miraculous provision.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
" would like to acknowledge &aida 'ohnson Trott, (&, !)$, *!!)$, and ordained minister, who is my friend and dedicated editor. " have known &aida for almost three decades, and she has given her life in service to 'esus. $he is one of the most selfless people " have ever ever known. $he did a great job in compiling and editing this book. book . )hile she was working on it, she applied the revelation about prayer and prayed for her mate to come. fter all of her praying, seeding, proclaiming, and believing, God sent her an incredible blessing+her husband, dward dward Trott# The information in this book can be used in every area of your life, including your relationships. " would also like to thank my husband, elley urrell, for his endless hours of proofing and helping me decide which stories and testimonies to include. n e/tended thank-you to the )hitaker family and )hitaker ouse team for making this book a reality. reality.
CONTENTS 1edication cknowledgements *oreword y $id (oth "ntroduction 3. 4) 4)ord4 ord4 conomics 2. !reated *or bundance 5. 6ur 1aily read 7. Giving God%s G od%s )ay 8. The 9ower 6f 9artnership :. The arvest 6f 6bedience ;. 9rovision !omes "n any )ays <. !laim =our "nheritance >. voiding *inancial 9otholes 30. 9ersonal Testimonies !onclusion? God%s Greatest 9rovision bout The uthor
FOREWORD FOREWORD BY SID ROTH
s a new ne w believer, believer, " attended a healing seminar hosted by enneth agin $r. " knew that what he was sharing was truth, and " couldn%t wait to start praying in faith for people to be healed. )hen " got home, " found that a close clos e relative had developed cancer. cancer. " prayed prayed for her healing, but she was not healed. "mmediately, the devil tested me for the )ord%s sake, and he won. any years later, later, the spiritual scales came off my eyes, and " was able again to clearly see the truth of enneth agin%s teaching. Then, the devil tried his same strategy str ategy on me with prosperity. prosperity. " saw the manipulation of the prosperity teachers on television, and, frankly, frankly, " got turned off. The messenger turned me off to the message. )hen prosperity teachers wanted to be guests on my television show, show, "t%s $upernatural#, " was not interested. 6ur ministry was prospering, and " also had never personally had a financial problem. " used to say that my 'ewish mother took care of my every need, even as an adult, and when she was promoted to heaven, my 'ewish essiah took over. The reason " prospered was that the moment " became a believer, " learned about tithing. fter that, " never considered not tithing.
y ministry has prospered because " have always looked for other ministries to support. " can honestly say that God has taken care of all of my financial needs and has blessed me e/trav e /travagantly agantly in the fortyplus years " have known im. s the economy deteriorated, God continued to bless us financially financ ially owever, " have seen many believers suffer in the area of finances. 'oan unter unter has been a guest on "t%s $upernatural# $upernatural# many times. $he has also supported our ministry financially on a monthly basis, but " was not aware aware of this until recently. )hen my producer brought me 'oan%s latest latest book on healing, " was was e/cited to to interview her again. $he has had more reports of healings than any other guest "%ve interviewed. Then, when my producer told me 'oan 'oan had a book on financial prosperity, " was not interested+at first. =et the $pirit of God told me to take a look. look . " was ama@ed to find out that she had come from a background of poverty. poverty. " knew her parents, !harles and *rances unter. unter. *rances was an a n accomplished author and speaker. speaker. ven in my wildest imagination, " could not no t see *rances allowing her son to go to grocery stores at night to rummage through dumpsters dumpsters for rotten fruit. &e/t, " listened to 'oan%s teaching !1 of the material that was developed developed into this book. book . " found out about the impossible financial problems she had faced as a single parent. " also discovered how she had believed
and acted on the financial promises in the ible with such childlike faith and seen ama@ing results. r esults. " felt that if she could get these t hese results, anyone else could get the same results. 'oan lists e/ample after e/ample of people who have achieved financial breakthroughs by applying her teaching. er principles have even worked for people in Third )orld countries. earing about 'oan%s e/periences has caused my own faith to soar. )hat she shares is absolutely contagious# $o, after listening to 'oan%s !1, " called ca lled my producer and said, to her surprise, 4Aet%s do the show with 'oan on finances.4 " know we are coming into into the worst economic times in the history of the Bnited $tates, but it will be the best economic times for believers in 'esus. )atch for the transfer of wealth from the sinners to the righteous. C$ee 9roverbs 35?22.D God wants you to be a part of this great e/change. " believe 'oan%s book will help make the difference. +$id (oth ost, "t%s $upernatural# television program
INTRODUCTION
" have known what what it is to be in financial need. )hile " was growing up in south *lorida, my mother, my brother, brother, and " e/perienced some very tough times. om, a single parent, started a secretarial company to support us. 6ur once-a-week once -a-week treat was bologna, the only meat my brother and " ate, other than t han whatever whatever we were served in the school cafeteria. " remember watching om hoist my brother into the dumpster behind a grocery store to retrieve a bushel of spoiled peaches. )e took them home, and om cut off the inedible parts so that my brother and " could have a small bowl of fruit to eat. )e did not know the Aord at that time. Today, " thank im for getting us through those years of financial hardship. "n my youth, God turned total devastation and poverty into incredible blessings, and e did so again in my adult years. "f e did it for me, e will also do it for you, for e is not a respecter of personsE e shows no partiality. partiality. C$ee cts 30?57 'F, &'F.D God does not lie. is )ord is always always true, is love is never ending, and is plans for us are the best. God promises to provide for all of our needs and to bless us above and beyond our wildest imaginings. C$ee phesians 5?20.D
God has an inexhaustible supply of resources to meet our every need. =ou =ou may find find it difficult to believe believe these truths in the midst of a world in which the economy often seems to teeter on the brink of collapse. The financial forecast is seldom encouraging, and it tends to incite panic in a large portion of the t he world%s population. ven so, God has an ine/haustible supply of resources to meet our every need. s 9aul wrote wrote to the 9hilippians, 4y God shall supply all your need according to is riches in glory by !hrist 'esus4 C9hilippians 7?3>D. "n the pages of $upernatural 9rovision, we will discuss this truth+and others that pertain to God%s endless supply+ in greater depth. *or now, it%s important to reali@e that the e/tent to which you will receive your inheritance of the bountiful blessings e has promised to you depends upon how you relate to im+specifically, im+specifically, the degree to which you trust and obey im im with your finances. s long as you rely solely on your own efforts to earn money to pay the bills, you will not enjoy the richness r ichness of is supernatural resources. ut, if you acknowledge im as your $ource and $ustainer, $ustainer, e will provide for you +tangibly, +tangibly, to meet your your physical needs, and spiritually, spiritually, through revelation by is oly $pirit. The key to receiving revelation is surrender. s you believe God and seek to know im more+as you
surrender your reliance on carnal ways ways and rely r ely more and more on the power of God, rather than on what you can see or control+ e opens your spiritual eyes. s you read this book and a nd listen to the accompanying !1, ask God for is guidance and wisdom. sk for and receive is blessings. 6pen your heart to im and is revelations. Then, 4the eyes of your understanding will beH enlightenedE that you may know what is the hope of is calling, what are the riches of the glory of is inheritance in the saints4 Cphesians 3?3
I have have watched watched God God take my my provisions provisions from piddling piddling to to plentiful. plentiful. He has always been there for me.
CHAPTER 1 "WORD" ECONOMICS Blessed is the ! #h$ t%&sts i the L$%d' !d #h$se h$(e is the L$%d) F$% F$% he sh!ll *e li+e ! t%ee (l!ted *, the #!te%s' #hi-h s(%e!ds $&t its %$$ts *, the %i.e%' %i.e%' !d #ill $t /e!% #he he!t -$es0 -$ es0 *&t its le!/ #ill *e %ee' !d #ill $t *e !2i$&s i the ,e!% $/ d%$&ht' $% #ill -e!se /%$ ,ieldi /%&it) 34e%ei!h 156578 )hen you hear the word economics, you probably think of the largely secular discipline that deals with the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. =ou may think of the stock market, which rises and plummets in an alarming pattern. =ou =ou may think of ta/es and tariffs and a nd currency e/changes. The realm of money may seem incompatible with faith, having little or nothing to do with the supernatural. =et =et the !hristian life is not a dichotom dichotomy y of material and spiritual, natural and supernatural. Those of us who call God our $avior and Aord know that every aspect of life has a natural and a supernatural component+economics included. 6ur financial wellness matters as much to God as our physical health, and we should not look at our finances from
a standpoint that%s informed solely by secular investment analysts and stockbrokers. &o part of your life can be understood without revelation from the oly $pirit. Bnderstanding divine financial provision and the supernatural flow of money reIuires a personal revelation from God, just like every other area of !hristian e/perience. en cannot understand God%s methods using the world%s logic, which tells us to save / dollars each year, invest in certain funds, and otherwise make our own way. ost !hristians have subscribed to worldly financial thinking? only 30 to 20 percent of all churchgoers tithe faithfully, faithfully, which indicates that many do not believe that God will enable them to do more with the >0 percent they keep after tithing than with the money they save by by refusing to tithe. 6thers are ignorant ignora nt of the ible%s teachings on tithing. They have have not discovered that God keeps covenant with is children and provides for their needs from is ine/haustible riches in glory, not their limited incomes.
God's economy is thriving, with enough provision for you to do everything He has planned for you. !hristians must know the difference between world economics and a nd 4) 4 )ord4 economics+the divine ways ways in which God provides for is children as they
advance advance is kingdom on earth. ear th. is )ord+the oly ible+is the answer book for Iuestions about the realm of personal finances, especially as it concerns the call of God on your life. "n these end times, the economy of God is not the same depressing picture that the world paints, with its bu@@ about deflation, inflation, recession, depression, unemployment, et cetera. is economy is God%s economy is thriving, with enough provision for you to do everything e has planned for you. e knows knows what what works all the time. A STEADY CONSTANT AMID AN ECONOMY IN FLU9 "n the world%s economy, economy, it%s a 4buyer%s market4 one day, a 4seller%s market4 the ne/t. The stock e/change is unpredictable, with investment brokers changing their tune every day day. The threat of market crashes haunts investors investors everywhere, so that an atmosphere of panic and confusion permeates )all )all $treet and a nd financial analysts. )ho is the author of confusionJ )ho is the author of scare tactics and a nd liesJ )e )e all know that it%s God%s opponent, $atan. ecause he is God%s enemy, enemy, he is also our enemy, enemy, and he will do anything and everything to discourage !hristians. "f he can get us to doubt God%s provision and live in paranoia about unemployment, unemployment, bankruptcy, and the like, he has the upper hand.
The great thing about God%s economy is, it never changes. )hile the world%s economy is in constant flu/, the principles by which God%s economy operates are eternalE they do not shift according to the latest trends on )all $treet. The current curr ent economic conditions do not limit God. e doesn%t have more money when stocks are soaring and less when The market tanks. 4The earth is the Aord%s4 C/odus >?2>DE e owns it all, all a ll the time. e could cou ld turn stones into loaves loaves of bread if e chose to. C$ee atthew 7?5-7.D e used ravens to feed the prophet lijah. C$ee 3 ings 3;?:.D e supplied sustenance for &oah and the other inhabitants of the ark during the great flood. C$ee Genesis :?35->?3.D e can provide for those who trust im in any situation. )hen the enemy tries to tell you something negative, laugh out loud# "f he whispers fear and paranoia into your mind, call him a liar and Iuote God%s )ord to him, just as 'esus did when $atan was tempting im in the wilderness. C$ee atthew 7?3-33.D HEED THE TRUE ANCHOR' NOT THE NEWS ANCHOR ost !hristians read the ible and pray when they are at a crossroads and need wisdom on what to do. =et =et many of them make the mistake of seeking the ible%s wisdom for every area of life e/cept their finances# They consult the th e )ord )ord of God for answers to Iuestions about health, emotions, relationships,
and the like, but neglect to search the ultimate source of wisdom for financial advice+with tragic results. " know a woman whose husband could not stay away from the news. e listened to, watched, watched, or read the news all day and long into the night. 9anic invaded his mind on a daily basis and also permeated his marriage and family, and his wife was at a loss for how to deal with the spirit of fear that had taken over her home. $adly, many people devote much of their attention to the news, whether it%s by watching TF, listening to the radio, surfing the "nternet, or checking *acebook, Twitter, Twitter, or other social media sites for updates. The news from these sources is almost a lmost always always from man%s perspective, perspective, not God%s. Granted, being informed about world events is useful+how else can we know when to pray for change or when to rejoice over the fulfillment of God%s God%s promisesJ promisesJ ut the fact remains that most news broadcasts emphasi@e the negative and end up inciting panic and undermining our confidence. WATCH WHAT YOU LEAN ON ow many people do you know who trust the news without IuestionJ They are totally consumed with the opinions?? man as their ultimate source of knowledgeE they 4lean on4 4worldly news and then wonder why they do not have peace and joy#
1oes the ible say, say, 4Trust in the news with all your heart, and it shall direct your path4J &o# God%s )ord )ord tells us, 4Trust in the Aord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understandingE in all your ways ways acknowledge im, and e shall direct your paths4 C9roverbs 5?8-:D. "n the midst of a seesawing stock market and high unemployment, trusting in God%s provision can be a challenge. The key is to be more focused on is promises+is economy, economy, as revealed in is )ord+than on the world economy. GUARD YOUR EARS =ou =ou may be be familiar with (omans (omans 30?3;? 4*aith 4*aith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. 4)hat you may not reali@e is that, like faith, fear also comes by hearing+listening to the news, to the world around you. "f we try to keep up with the world%s financial reports and heed messages of economic doom and gloom, we are bound 30 become an/ious and prey to fear. *ear, as you know, know, is the opposite of faith, and it is not from God? 4*or God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind4 C2 Timothy 3?;D. gain, if the news is what you focus on, a spirit of fear will pervade your thoughts. =our spirit will be dominated by whatever whatever you feed your mind.
s " wrote earlier, earlier, the 4news4 that bombards us 27K; should not be our primary source of information, especially when it comes to our finances. "nstead of depending on the newscasters, we should turn to the )ord of God. The more we depend on the )ord, the more content and confident we will be. )here do you go for answersJ God%s )ord or the news broadcastsJ GUARD YOUR MIND )hen you spend hours surfing the "nternet, reading the newspaper, and watching TF news anchors broadcast their negative messages, what will enter your mindJ &egativity. 'unk. Trash. *ear. 9overty. e careful about the thoughts you entertain. "nstead of dwelling on negativity, negativity, use your God-given discernment. )hen the financial forecast is dire, you will be free from an/iety and fear, fear, because the truths about God%s economy+the promise of is supernatural provision and ine/haustible resources +will keep your soul soul at peace. "n addition, when you renew your mind Csee (omans 32?2D, you will have the 4mind of !hrist4 C3 !orinthians !orinthians 2?3:D. nd, when you think with the mind of !hrist, you end up making wise decisions based on your faith in God and your obedience to is )ord.
GUARD YOUR TONGUE De!th !d li/e !%e i the ($#e% $/ the t$&e6 !d the, th!t l$.e it sh!ll e!t the /%&it the%e$/) :P%$.e%*s 186;1 K4<= "t may come as a revelation to you, but your words can affect the level of your material wealth. =ou =ou can bring in money by the words you use. =ou speak by faith and you act a ct in obedience to the )ord )ord of God. &o matter how you feel at the time or how much money you have, when you speak in faith and obey God%s )ord, )ord, e blesses you and your offspring. !onsider the words you speak. re they words of peace and faith, or are they e/pressions of fear and panicJ )hen you choose to fill your mind with God%s truth and speak words of faith alone, a lone, you withstand the spirit of fear and dwell in the prosperity of God. "f anything is blocking your income, you must pray positive words over your finances. 1eclare good things. $peak increase and prosperity. prosperity. The words of your mouth will determine your success, not the t he naysaying of the newscasters. )e have this assurance in the 9salms? Blessed is the ! th!t #!l+eth $t i the -$&sel $/ the &$dl,' &$dl,' $% st!deth i the #!, $/ sie%s' $% sitteth i the se!t $/ the s-$%/&l) B&t his
deliht is i the l!# $/ the L$%d0 !d i his l!# d$th he edit!te d!, !d iht) Ad he sh!ll *e li+e ! t%ee (l!ted *, the %i.e%s $/ #!te%' th!t *%ieth /$%th his /%&it i his se!s$0 his le!/ !ls$ sh!ll $t #ithe%0 !d #h!ts$e.e% he d$eth sh!ll (%$s(e%) :Ps!l 1617> K4<= )hen we set our minds in agreement with the promises in the )ord of God, we can ca n e/pect incredible blessings from our *ather, for e supernaturally blesses is people# FAITH FOR FINANCES IN TUMULTUOUS TIMES "n the midst of the housing bust and economic downturn of 200<-200>, our ministry ministr y had to relocate. 6n top of that, my husband, elley, and " moved. The logistics of such an undertaking are usually overwhelming, not to mention the added difficulty of my having having to help direct the process from a distance due to my e/tensive travel schedule. =es, " continued to travel travel wherever God sent me during this time and usually found myself out of town. 1espite the circumstances that surrounded us, our needs were met supernaturally. supernaturally. 6ur ministry has more workspace than ever before, and our new home is beautiful. )e are grateful for God%s
blessings, and we e/citedly e/citedly anticipate the blessings to come as we faithfully follow is leading. True prosperity is found in the )ord of God. "f we feed ourselves continually on the things of God, our souls will prosper. s our souls prosper, prosper, our bodies and minds also prosper. The effects effects of these blessings overflow into into every corner of our lives. "s everything in our lives perfect 27K;J &o# )e still live on earth and daily face challenges to overcome. owever, we are so blessed that we just hop over each challenge to catch the ne/t blessing. )e listen to God%s )ord, speak is )ord, and believe is )ord. )hen you turn to the )ord of God, you receive only good news+the promises e has in store for you. s we have have discussed, a steady diet of world news produces nothing but fear, worry, and an/iety. )hat will you listen toJ )hose report will you believeJ C$ee (omans 30?3:-3;.D )ill you continue to rely on the world%s economy, or will you walk into and stay within the economic principles designed by our !reatorJ very day, you will make such a choice. !hoose carefully. an may fail you, but God never will. nd e is the greatest 4personal financial adviser4 you could hope for, because e always has your best interests in mind.
"F$% "F$% I +$# the (l!s I h!.e /$% ,$&'" de-l!%es the L$%d' "(l!s t$ (%$s(e% ,$& !d $t t$ h!% ,$&' (l!s t$ i.e ,$& h$(e !d ! /&t&%e)" :4e%ei!h ;?611 NI<= )hich will you trustJ The words of man with w ith doom and gloom, which plant seeds of doubt and disbelief, or the wonderful )ord of God with its promises of abundant lifeJ )hen you turn to the )ord of God, you receive only good news+ the promises e has in store for you. "f you answered 4God%s 4God%s news,4 read on. "n this book, " will reveal financial principles from the )ord of God and show you the joy of putting your faith not in a paycheck paycheck or another source of income but in your ultimate 9rovider, the Aord God lmighty. God has only good things for you, but you have have to turn to im and a nd open your mind and heart to hear, discern, understand, and follow is plans for you. )hen you deposit faith for your finances in the bank of heaven, heaven, you will receive the greatest possible return, and is peace and prosperity will permeate your life. ay it be so for you today#
CHAPTER ; CREATED FOR ABUNDANCE I/ ,$& the' *ei e.il' +$# h$# t$ i.e $$d i/ts t$ ,$&% -hild%e' h$# &-h $%e #ill ,$&% he!.el, he!.el, F!the% F!the% i.e the H$l, S(i%it t$ th$se #h$ !s+ Hi@ 3L&+e 1161> )hen one of my children gets a raise, do " say something like, 46h, no# "t is terrible that you got a raise4J bsolutely not# " cheer and yell# God does the same thing for us. GOD DELIGHTS IN THE PROSPERITY OF HIS CHILDREN Let the sh$&t /$% $, !d *e l!d' #h$ /!.$% /!.$% , %ihte$&s -!&se0 !d let the s!, -$ti&!ll,' -$ti&!ll,' "Let the L$%d *e !i/ied' #h$ h!s (le!s&%e i the t he (%$s(e%it, $/ His se%.!t)" :Ps!l >6;5= God does not take pleasure in our poverty or our hunger. hunger. e takes ta kes pleasure in our prosperity# 9ersonally, " want im to get a lot of pleasure through my prosperity and yours.
ave you ever heard someone say, 4God is going to humble me by making me poor4J " have. have. "s that in agreement with is )ordJ &o. =ou should not have to lose everything and live in poverty in order to develop humility. $cripture actually teaches that the 4love of money4+ not money itself+4is the root of all kinds of evil4 C3 Timothy :?30D. aving money or possessions is not evil, as long as they don%t 4have4 you. "t is natural to desire good things for your life. =ou =ou do not wake up in the morning saying, 4" hope " oversleep, oversleep, get a flat tire on the way way to work, and spill hot coffee on my new shirt.4 (ather, (ather, you hope for all green lights on the way to work work and no traffic traf fic on the freeway. owever the lights change or however crowded the freeway may be, you can accept those things as part of life and be thankful for God%s timing and protection.
Don't ever think think that it isn't isn't scriptural to have money. It most certainly is " want you to have so much money that you couldn%t give it all away, even if you wanted to, and your children and grandchildren won%t be able to spend it all after you die. " want you to be able to give them anything and everything they need, including
houses, and still have money left over after giving millions of dollars to the kingdom of God. "t is totally scriptural to believe that your heirs will have a great inheritance. 1on%t ever think that it isn%t scriptural to have money. "t most certainly is# God wants is children to prosper. DONT SA SAY Y' "I DONT DON T DESER
coin in the mouth of a fish. C$ee atthew 3;?27-2;.D 'esus may may not supply supply a gold coin in the mouth mouth of a fish for you, but e can use anything e chooses to meet your needs. e wants to supply more than you need+e desires to meet your 4wants,4 4wants,4 as well. God is an awesome God, an ama@ingly generous *ather, who wants wants you to live in abundance, not merely survive. e wants wants to be the 6ne who meets your needs imself. ESCAPE THE PO
increasing kingdom, not one in a state of decline or recession. mind-set CspiritD of poverty will make you think that you are on your own, that you have no support when you have a need or face a 4giant4 in your life. =et =et nothing could be further from the truth. =ou =ou are never alone, for God is always with youE e will never leave you or forsake you. C$ee, for e/ample, 1euteronomy 53?:,
6;=
God will do more for you than you could could ever accomplish accomplish with your own wisdom or strength. )hen you trust in God%s provision, you will cease c ease to depend upon your natural abilities and reali@e that the evening news does not have the ultimate answer. God will do more for you than you could ever
accomplish with your own wisdom or strength. $ince you are reading this book, you obviously are not satisfied with just getting by and a nd want to move up the ladder to success. (epeat (epeat this simple pra pr ayer?
!ather !ather,, I thank "ou "ou for for giving giving me the power power to to get wealth. I break the spirit of poverty off my life and everything I do. I thank "ou for giving me a mind to use and the talents to accomplish what "ou have planned for my life. !ather !ather,, I thank "ou "ou for for a promotion promotion and increase in my finances. I command any hindering forces that have been keeping me from receiving to be gone. I ask that that "ou "ou would would bless the company company that I work for. I believe they will prosper and bless me with a bonus. I want more in order to give give more to to "our "our work, work, !ather !ather.. I thank "ou, "ou, !ather !ather,, because "ou "ou are my my #ne and and only true true $ource. In %esus' name, amen. BLESSED TO BE A BLESSING This $st ee%$&s G$d #h$ i.es seed t$ the /!%e% th!t *e-$es *%e!d /$% ,$&% e!ls is $%e th! e2t%!.!!t #ith ,$&) He i.es ,$& s$ethi ,$& -! the i.e !#!,' #hi-h %$#s it$ /&ll7/$%ed li.es' %$*&st i G$d' #e!lth, i e.e%, #!,' s$ th!t ,$& -! *e ee%$&s i e.e%, #!, #!,' (%$d&-i #ith &s %e!t (%!ise t$ G$d) G$d) C!%%,i $&t this s$-i!l %elie/ #$%+ i.$l.es /!%
$%e th! hel(i eet the *!%e eeds $/ ($$% Ch%isti!s) It !ls$ (%$d&-es !*&d!t !d *$&ti/&l th!+si.is t$ G$d) This %elie/ $//e%i is ! (%$d t$ li.e !t ,$&% .e%, *est' sh$#i ,$&% %!tit&de t$ G$d *, *ei $(el, $*ediet t$ the (l!i e!i $/ the Mess!e $/ Ch%ist) Y$& Y$& sh$# ,$&% %!tit&de th%$&h ,$&% ee%$&s $//e%is t$ ,$&% eed, *%$the%s !d siste%s' !d %e!ll, t$#!%d t$#!%d e.e%,$e) Me!#hile' $.ed *, the e2t%!.!!-e $/ G$d i ,$&% li.es' the,ll %es($d *, (%!,i /$% ,$& i (!ssi$!te ite%-essi$ /$% #h!te.e% #h!te.e% ,$& eed) Th!+ Th! + G$d /$% this i/t' his i/t) :; C$%ithi!s ?6871 MSG= God wants wants us to be rivers of financial prosperity that flow into the lives lives of others, not reservoirs that hold on to wealth indefinitely =es, we should each maintain a savings account, but we are not to hoard our blessings. )e must allow is blessings to flow through us to others as e directs. 4es&s 4es&s s!id t$ His dis-i(les' "W " W!t-h $&t@ Be $ ,$&% &!%d !!ist !ll +ids $/ %eed0 ! !s li/e d$es $t -$sist i the !*&d!-e $/ his ($ssessi$s)" Ad he t$ld the this (!%!*le6 "The %$&d $/ ! -e%t!i %i-h ! (%$d&-ed ! $$d -%$() He th$&ht t$ hisel/' Wh!t sh!ll I d$ I h!.e $ (l!-e t$ st$%e , -%$(s) The he s!id' This is #h!t Ill d$) I #ill te!% d$# , *!%s !d *&ild *ie% $es' !d the%e I #ill st$%e !ll ,
%!i !d , $$ds) Ad Ill s!, t$ ,sel/' ,sel/' "Y$& "Y$& h!.e (let, (let, $/ $$d this l!id &( /$% !, ,e!%s) T!+e li/e e!s,0 e!t' d%i+ !d *e e%%,)" B&t G$d s!id t$ hi' Y$& Y$& /$$l@ This .e%, iht ,$&% li/e #ill *e de!ded /%$ ,$&) The #h$ #h$ #ill et #h!t ,$& h!.e h!.e (%e(!%ed /$% ,$&%sel/ This is h$# h$# it #ill *e #ith !,$e #h$ st$%es &( this /$% hisel/ *&t is $t %i-h t$#!%d G$d)" :L&+e 1;617;1 NI<= BLESSED TO SUPPORT MINISTRIES AND SPREAD THE GOSPEL gain, serving God does not reIuire a life l ife of poverty. poverty. Think about it? spreading s preading is )ord around the world, as the Great !ommission commands c ommands us to do, costs money. !hristian television reIuires finances. inistries across the globe have have to depend on donations and offerings in order to continue the work of God%s kingdom. 9rinting books and ibles and producing !1s and 1F1s 1F1s with !hristian messages and music can be costly. God asks for different things from each person. $ome are ordained to teach, some are blessed with talents to write or sing, while others are chosen c hosen to have have special abilities to accumulate wealth in order to finance the kingdom Ceven though we can all do this to some degreeD. Together, ogether, all the parts of !hrist%s body function as a whole, utili@ing is blessings in the best possible way. $o, we must listen to is
guidance and discern how e intends us to serve ser ve in is kingdom, which will determine how much money our particular 4function4 reIuires. Wh!te.e% ,$& d$' #$%+ #$%+ !t it #ith !ll ,$&% he!%t' !s #$%+i /$% the L$%d' $t /$% /$% e' si-e ,$& +$# th!t ,$& #ill %e-ei.e ! ihe%it!-e /%$ the L$%d !s ! %e#!%d) It is the L$%d Ch%ist ,$& !%e se%.i) :C$l$ssi!s >6;>7; NI<= Be ee%$&s6 I.est i !-ts $/ -h!%it,) -h!%it,) Ch!%it, ,ields hih %et&%s) D$t h$!%d ,$&% $$ds0 s(%e!d the !%$&d) Be ! *lessi t$ $the%s) This -$&ld *e ,$&% l!st iht) :E--lesi!stes 11617; MSG= "f you give generously, God will bless you generously. nd e blesses you generously so that you might give generously+what generously+what a beautiful cycle# T!+e heed #h!t ,$& he!%) With the s!e e!s&%e ,$& &se' it #ill *e e!s&%ed t$ ,$&0 !d t$ ,$& #h$ he!%' he!%' $%e #ill *e i.e) :M!%+ 6;= God%s principles work# There is no Iuestion about that fact in my heart. 9eople who give will receive. 9ut others first, and God will reward you. 6bedience to is voice brings untold blessings.
gain, many 4!hristian4 teachers elevate elevate the attributes of poverty and self-sacrifice, to the point that believers are led to think that having material possessions and financial wealth is sinful. This concept is far from scriptural truth# The key is to live with humility of spirit while working to further God%s kingdom through financial gifts and service. $acrificing one%s personal desires to benefit another is commendable, of course, but God doesn%t reIuire 300 percent sacrifice from anyone, since 'esus 'esus has already given everything God blesses you to purchase salvation for all mankind.
God blesses you so that you may bless others, and He blesses others so that they might bless you. =ou =ou must learn that God wants wants to bless others. &o &o matter how God gets it to you, all you have to do is say 4Thank =ou. Thank =ou. 'esus#4 e blesses you so that you may bless others, and e blesses others so that they might bless you. =ou =ou should give give whenever whenever God blesses you. Guess whatJ e blesses you every day, though not always monetarily. monetarily. (egardless of the forms is blessings take, when you receive them, you should immediately look for a way to give back to is work.
BLESSING OTHERS BRINGS A DOUBLE BLESSING 'ust as God blesses other people through your generosity, generosity, e uses other people to bless you. $o, the ne/t time someone does something thoughtful for you or offers you a gift, recogni@e the person as a conduit of God%s blessings. (eali@e, too, that as he or she gives in obedience to God, he or she is also blessed. Gi.e' !d it #ill *e i.e i.e t$ ,$&6 $$d e!s&%e' (%essed d$#' sh!+e t$ethe%' t$ethe%' !d %&i %& i $.e% #ill *e (&t it$ ,$&% *$s$) *$s$) F$% F$% #ith the s!e e!s&%e th!t ,$& &se' it #ill *e e!s&%ed *!-+ t$ ,$&) :L&+e 6>8= The above truth is important to keep in mind, especially because the average average !hristian today does not know how to receive from God or from others. This tendency seems to stem from a determination to 4go without4 in order to avoid avoid becoming materialistic. " can%t stress this enough? 'esus never commanded us to live in deliberate poverty# 1uring a ministry trip t rip to Tulsa, 6klahoma, " told one of the male team members that if he wanted wanted to get something nice for his girlfriend, g irlfriend, he ought to purchase it from a particular store. " had no notion
of the pricing of their merchandise, but " knew the store%s reputation. )hen we went shopping at this store, " saw a beautiful leather business card holder with a little littl e heart on it. " needed a new one, so " inIuired about the price. "t was more e/pensive than " felt " could afford. " did not intend to spend that much money on a business card holder. Aater, on the plane going home, " felt convicted for not buying it when God said to me, 4" have blessed you with finances. =ou liked that card holder and should have gotten it. " have have blessed you so that you can have some things that you want, want, not just the things that you need.4 ven though " needed a card case, " had decided that a less e/pensive one would be fine. ut God had wanted to bless me by giving me enough money to afford a more e/pensive card holder. $o, " determined to purchase the card holder from another location of the same store, which has a presence throughout the country. 6ver the ne/t month, " kept an eye out for a branch of the same store, but " never managed to find one. " was about to leave on a trip when " stopped by my office and found a little package on my desk. " opened it and saw the credit card holder " had wanted. The card accompanying the gift read, 4Aove, from God.4 God wanted to bless me. Luite rudely, " had said no to is gift, but e used the postal service
to deliver is blessing to my office, anyway. ow awesome is e# t the airport a few weeks later, later, " saw a branch of the store that carried the card holder. holder. )hy hadn%t " seen it there beforeJ God must have have blinded my eyes. 6n display display with the t he card holder was a coordinating checkbook. The woman accompanying me knew my story, and she asked me, 4)ould you like to have the checkbookJ4 " said, 4)ell, " really don%t need it.4 $he said, 46kay,4 46kay,4 but her head fell in disappointment. $he wanted to bless me. $o, " said, 4"f you would like to buy it for me, you can.4 )ith great enthusiasm, she replied, 46kay#4 1uring this e/perience, God spoke plainly to me about is desire to bless us, even in the 4small4 things. e may want to bless you with a new car. "f you respond, 4" don%t need a new carE my ten-yearold vehicle is fine,4 God may say, 46kay, then "%ll give it to someone else.4 =ears =ears ago, ago, a friend of mine had that that same attitude. er family had many needs. $omeone came up and Iuietly slid some money into her hand. $he responded by saying, 46h, you need this more than "
do#4 er benevolent friend looked her straight in the eye and said, 4"f you don%t receiv r eceive e my gift, you will rob me of my blessing#4 Thanks to this wise response, my friend accepted the gift gratefully, gratefully, and she has continued to accept gifts graciously through the years. ven if she receives r eceives something she does not need or is not likely to use, she knows that she will encounter someone else who will need it. !hristians are to be prosperous, not poverty-stricken. )hen we trust in the Aord as our $ource, we prosper as a testimony to is provision and shine a light of hope to a world under the shadow of doom-andgloom financial forecasts. Aet%s proclaim to those around us that God is our $ource $ourc e and we e/pect is blessings every day. BLESSED TO BRING GLORY TO GOD Y$& #ill *e !de %i-h i e.e%, #!, #!, s$ th!t ,$& -! *e ee%$&s $ e.e%, $--!si$' !d th%$&h &s ,$&% ee%$sit, #ill %es< i th!+si.i t$ G$d) :; C$%ithi!s ?611 NI<= God will go far beyond your e/pectations to show you that e is alive and loves you. e wants to bless you+not because of your education or what you can
do for yourself, but based on is faithfulness to fulfill is )ord. )hen we prosper supernaturally+when we are blessed in a way way that God alone could orchestrate+e is glorified. gain, it is not God%s will for us to submit to evil circumstances and adopt a poverty mentality. mentality. e desires to provide for all of us in a supernatural way way so that e can get all the glory. glory. 9eople will recogni@e is love and glorify im, just as 1arius and &ebuchadne@@ar did when God delivered delivered 1aniel from the lions and his three friends from the fiery furnace. C$ee 1aniel 5?2
&hen we trust in the ord as our source, we prosper as a testimony to His provision. BLESSINGS THAT INSPIRE AWE
God wasn't attracted to you and didn't choose you because because you were were big and and important(the important(the fact is, there there was was almost nothing nothing to you. He He did it out of sheer love, keeping the promise he made to your ancesto ancestors. rs. God stepped stepped in and and mightily mightily bought you back out of that world of slavery, freed you you from from the iron grip of )haraoh king king of *gypt. +now +now this God, your God, God, is God indeed, indeed, a God you can depend upon. He keeps his covenant of loyal loyal love with those who love him and observe his commandments for a thousand generations. -Deuteronomy /0 1$G2
" know a wonderful man of God from )est Te/as. 6ne night, God gave him a dream of a detailed design. The ne/t morning, he drew a design for a new piece of machinery. e took it to an engineering firm and said, 4" want to show you something. )hat do you think of itJ4 fter looking over the design, the engineers said to him, 4This is the most intricately designed piece of machinery we have ever seen. )here did you get your engineering degreeJ )here did you ever come up with thisJ4 e replied, 4" got it in a dream.4 6ne engineer asked, 4=ou got it in a whatJ4 e repeated, 4" got it in a dream.4 "n the end, he made millions of dollars from a Godgiven design. e did not receive the dream because he was an engineer. e did not have an engineering degree. e had not even passed the ninth n inth grade. God simply gave gave him the dream. e obediently wrote everything down and presented it to the right company, company, and he was blessed with millions of dollars. "n this case, God glorified imself by granting a humble man a vision that confounded the wise. This is a great e/ample of 3 !orinthians 3?2;? 4ut God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak
things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty.4 God did not stop there. ecause this man was obedient, God gave him another supernatural dream. )hen God finds an obedient servant e can trust, e continues to bless him beyond measure# God will do this and more mor e for anyone who just trusts im. BLESSED TO PRO
than ever before. )e )e need to be bright lights to the world+ shining e/amples of supernatural prosperity amid an atmosphere of economic doom and gloom. Aet%s tell others that our $ource is God, so that e gets the glory when we are blessed beyond belief.
CHAPTER > OUR DAILY BREAD Ad , G$d sh!ll s&((l, !ll ,$&% eed !--$%di t$ His %i-hes i l$%, *, Ch%ist 4es&s) 4es&s) 3Phili((i!s 61? friend of mine is a private private security guard. 9eople hire him for protection when they travel, and he has been to many destinations across the globe. 6n one occasion, he was hired to escort two princes from a foreign country and provide their security while they were in the Bnited $tates. $tates. e met their plane at the airport and stayed with them around the clock. clock . They checked in to a lu/urious hotel that charged several thousand dollars a night per room. They always always used credit cards that had no limit. Then, they would order dinner at e/pensive restaurants and go to various various bars. " said to my friend, 4That must have been horrible for you.4 " thought he might have been jealous. e replied, 4&o, it wasn%t. wasn%t. "t was one of the most mos t incredible e/periences "%ve ever had.4 e told me that the princes and their entourage
would fly from Te/as to !alifornia just to have lunch and then fly back that night. The princes did whatever whatever they wanted to do and never thought about how much things cost. They never worried about paying paying their bills or having a place to sleep at night. They always held their heads up high and their shoulders back because they knew who their father was+a king with ine/haustible funds. ost of us cannot relate to that kind of lifestyle. owever, we need to reali@e that we can and should live with that same level of confidence because our *ather is even wealthier than the father of those princes. THE SUPPLIER OF ALL OUR NEEDS 6ur *ather *ather is the ing of ings and a nd the Aord of Aords. )e )e should not worry about where our ne/t meal is going to come from or where we will sleep. 6ur 41addy4 will provide from is abundance for is obedient kids, you and me# The%e/$%e I s!, t$ ,$&' d$ $t #$%%, !*$&t ,$&% li/e' #h!t ,$& #ill e!t $% #h!t ,$& #ill d%i+0 $% !*$&t ,$&% *$d,' *$d,' #h!t ,$& #ill (&t $) Is $t li/e $%e th! /$$d !d the *$d, $%e th! -l$thi L$$+ !t the *i%ds $/ the !i%' /$% the, eithe% s$# $% %e!( $% !the% it$ *!%s0 ,et ,$&% he!.el, F!the% /eeds the) A%e ,$& $t $/ $%e .!l&e th! the, Whi-h $/ ,$& *, #$%%,i -! !dd ! dd $e
-&*it t$ his st!t&%e S$ #h, d$ ,$& #$%%, !*$&t -l$thi C$side% the lilies $/ the /ield' h$# the, %$#6 the, eithe% t$il $% s(i0 !d ,et I s!, s !, t$ t$ ,$& th!t e.e S$l$$ i !ll his l$%, l$ %, #!s $t !%%!,ed !%%!,ed li+e $e $/ these) N$# i/ G$d s$ -l$thes -l$t hes the %!ss $/ the /ield' #hi-h t$d!, is' !d t$$%%$# is th%$# it$ it$ the $.e' #ill He $t &-h $%e -l$the ,$&' O ,$& $/ little /!ith The%e/$%e d$ $t #$%%,' s!,i' s!,i' "Wh!t " Wh!t sh!ll #e e!t" $% "Wh!t sh!ll #e d%i+" $% "Wh!t sh!ll #e #e!%" F$% F$% !/te% !ll these this the Getiles see+) F$% ,$&% he!.el, F!the% +$#s th!t ,$& eed !ll these this) B&t see+ /i%st the +id$ $/ G$d !d His %ihte$&sess' !d !ll these this sh!ll *e !dded t$ ,$&) :M!tthe# 6;7>>= "n chapter 3, " showed how we get into trouble when we heed what the world says and not what the )ord says. says. This is also true in regard to our priorities+ specifically, specifically, the things t hings we claim we need in order to survive. s we near the end times, we need to be careful not to be counted among those who love money and chase after anything we can afford, as mentioned in this sobering $cripture? B&t +$# this' th!t i the l!st d!,s (e%il$&s ties #ill -$e6 F$% F$% e #ill *e l$.e%s $/ thesel.es' thesel.es' l$.e%s $/ $e,' *$!ste%s' (%$&d' *l!s(hee%s' dis$*ediet t$ (!%ets' &th!+/&l' &h$l,' &l$.i' &/$%i.i' sl!de%e%s' #ith$&t sel/7 s el/7
-$t%$l' *%&t!l' des(ise%s $/ $$d' t%!it$%s' he!dst%$' h!&ht,' l$.e%s $/ (le!s&%e %!the% th! l$.e%s $/ G$d' h!.i ! /$% $/ $dliess *&t de,i its ($#e%) ($#e%) Ad /%$ s&-h (e$(le (e$(l e t&% !#!,@ :; Ti$th, >617' e(h!sis !dded= eaven eaven forbid we fit this description# Aet%s talk about how we can escape the dangers of materialism and keep our focus on God with hearts of gratitude. THE DANGER OF LABELING "WANTS" "WANTS" AS "NEEDS" &eeds include things like food, housing, clothing, utilities, transportation, and a source of income. 'esus told told us in atthew : not to worry about these things. )hat do you really needJ $ome people can live on very little. 'esus likely had only one pair of sandalsE e didn%t have twenty-plus pairs of shoes. e and is disciples traveled light. They didn%t carry suitcases with four changes of clothes as they traveled traveled from city to city. Toothbrushes, Toothbrushes, blow-dryers, and curling irons had not been invented yet. Aaptops and cell phones were none/istent. Television, Television, radio, r adio, newspapers, and the "nternet weren%t available available to spread the latest news, either.
=et, =et, consider the influence of 'esus 'esus and, later later, is hand-picked team of disciples as they spread the gospel across the iddle ast and a nd sia and into urope. Bnder the oppression of the (oman mpire, 'esus and is disciples kept their focus on God, God, not their economic condition, and made the gospel their greatest priority. priority. They did not allow their limitations, financial or otherwise, to stop them from spreading the Good &ews of salvation salvation or the healing miracles of the oly $pirit. God provided just what they needed to carry is message to the world. )hat are the bare necessitiesJ )hat are your needsJ any people believe that their 4needs4 include a fancy house, an e/pensive car, a closet full of clothes, dinner at an upscale restaurant every evening, and an e/otic vacation every year. year. "n the pursuit of influence, connections, and the like, a person%s 4wants4 4wants4 turn into 4needs4 as perspective is lost and priorities are turned around. This person 4needs4 success. That person 4needs4 a higher salary to afford lu/ury purchases. $omeone else 4needs4 to be pampered and comfortable. nother 4needs4 prestige and attention. any 4need4 a bigger home or a better car. =et =et none of these things is necessary necessar y for survival. survival. True happiness and success can occur only when man%s priorities line up with God%s priorities. fter all, God alone knows what is necessary for us to enjoy the 4abundant life4 life4 e intends intends to give us. C$ee
'ohn 3.0?30 'F 'F,, &'FD )hat is most important to to God should be most important to us, as well. Bnfortunately Bnfortunately, if someone doesn%t know or believe in God, he lives in accordance with his own priorities, not God%s principles+and misses out on 4life in all its fullness4 C'ohn 30?30 TAD. n individual whose main goal is to earn money to - satisfy selfish desires is far from God.
3rue happiness and success can occur only when man's priorities line up with God's priorities. owever owever,, when someone desires to increase his income in order to help fund the work of God, then God gets involved and provides whatever whatever is needed for that person to succeed+ whether people, supplies, or finances. 'esus is the the 4author and finisher of our our faith4 Cebrews 32?2D. e knows what you need and when you need it. 'ust as you believe that 'esus died on the cross for you, you should also believe that e has your best interests in mind. e will provide what what you need at the right time. BE FRUGAL' NOT STINGY TOWARD TOWARD GOD
Aately, we have been told by the financial gurus that we need to 4cut back4 in every area of life in order to survive. $ome people may take this to mean that, along with denying themselves certain lu/uries, such as a weekly pedicure, they also ought to decrease the amount of money they give toward God%s work. 6thers may decide to attend church once a month instead of every week in order to save money on gas. These are not the areas ar eas in which to cut back# (emember, we are to give faithfully if we e/pect God to reward us. !onsider the following account of the widow, which also appears in the gospel of Auke. N$# 4es&s 4es&s s!t $(($site the t%e!s&%, t% e!s&%, !d s!# h$# the (e$(le (&t $e, it$ the t%e!s&%,) Ad !, #h$ #e%e %i-h (&t i &-h) The $e ($$% #id$# -!e !d th%e# i t#$ ites' #hi-h !+e ! J&!d%!s) S$ He -!lled His dis-i(les t$ Hisel/ !d s!id t$ the' "Ass&%edl,' I s!, t$ ,$& th!t this ($$% #id$# h!s (&t i $%e th! !ll th$se #h$ h!.e i.e i.e t$ the t%e!s&%,0 /$% the, th e, !ll (&t i $&t $/ thei% !*&d!-e' *&t she $&t $/ he% ($.e%t, (&t i !ll th!t she h!d' he% #h$le li.elih$$d)" :M!%+ 1;617= 'esus honored honored the widow for for giving what what she had to God. $he knew the importance of giving and, even more, understood what a sacrificial gift her two coins represented. Trusting that God would supply her
every need, she gave all that she had to honor im. )e cannot afford to stop giving our tithes and offerings. God is generous toward toward us, and we are to be generous toward toward im. Aet%s follow is instructions, regardless of what man sa s ays. God is our $ource# e is our *ather# *ather# e wants to be first in our lives and always knows what is best for us. is wisdom is always available when we ask for it. )hen we make it our number one priority to fulfill is will for our lives, everything else will fall into place, including our finances.
&hen we make it our number one priority to fulfill His will for our lives, everything else will fall into place, including our finances. !onsider your daily habits+do you purchase three to four specialty coffees a weekJ C6r a dayJD dayJD ow often do you dine at restaurantsJ 1o you rent 1F1s or watch pay-per-view movies every nightJ Think about cutting back in these areas instead of shirking your responsibilities to God and is kingdom. 46h, no#4 most people would say. 4" can%t give up my coffee or my shows#4 $ome people are ar e Iuite willing to cut back on spiritual things that can nourish the inner man for eternity but insist on hanging on to small pleasures and empty amusements that
temporarily feed only the body or the soul. Their priorities are upside-down. SOW SEEDS OF AN E
The He #ill i.e the %!i /$% ,$&% seed #ith #hi-h ,$& s$# the %$&d' !d *%e!d $/ the i-%e!se $/ the e!%th0 it #ill *e /!t !d (leti/&l) I th!t d!, ,$&% -!ttle #ill /eed i l!%e (!st&%es) :Is!i!h >6;>= )hat happens if you turn all your seed into 4bread4 and waste it on e/pensive habitsJ =ou rob yourself of the prosperity God intends for you. Today%s oday%s society tells us that we need to have the newest gadgets, from i9ads to digital cameras to smartphones, and to wear the latest fashions. 4eeping up with the 'oneses4 is e/pensive e/pensive to do, do, since the trends are always changing. )hy not seed your money in soil that will produce a continual harvest, regardless of the latest fads and fashionsJ =ou =ou need to plant a significant portion of your seed in the soil of God%s kingdom. This principle is important to understand and put into practice. =our =our life literally depends depends on it. 1o not eat all your seed. "nstead, plant it so that it will multiply into a bountiful harvest of souls that have found eternal salvation. 1id you catch the other remarkable principle in the above two versesJ God provides seed for the sower and rain to provide growth. "f e tells you to do something, e will provide what you need to complete the task. task . *or e/ample, e/ample, God provided sustenance for the widow of Narephath and her son
when she obeyed the prophet lijah. C$ee 3 ings 3;.D nd no one could forget the manna from heaven that kept the "sraelites alive for forty years as they wandered around aimlessly in the wilderness.
If God tells you to do something, He will provide provide what what you need to complete the task. God hasn%t changed. e still s till provides. owever, owever, you do have to cooperate with is plans and live by is principles. )hen your finances are lined up in agreement with the )ord of God, you will be blessed +unbelievably +unbelievably,, incredibly blessed+ and you you will move out of recession into possession of all God has planned for you. E9ERCISE YOUR GOD7GI
is e who gives us the power to get wealth. e is certainly able to 4give4 us wealthE however, e goes beyond just a gift and gives us the ability and the wisdom to amass wealth for ourselves. This ensures that we will continue to receive as a way of life. That way way, it isn%t a onetime o netime blessingE it%s a source of continual provision. 6f course, God often blesses us with gifts or money that we have not worked for, but, most of the time, we have to work to generate an increase in our finances. s it says in 2 Thessalonians 5?30, 4"f anyone will not work, neither shall he eat.4 God gives us the ability to obtain wealthE however, however, that ability may may reIuire us to put on overalls and use some elbow grease. "n other words, we have to work# God rewards us for industriousness+for obeying the charge of the apostle 9aul in !olossians? Wh!te.e% ,$& d$' #$%+ #$%+ !t it #ith !ll ,$&% he!%t' !s #$%+i /$% the L$%d' $t /$% /$% e' si-e ,$& +$# th!t ,$& #ill %e-ei.e ! ihe%it!-e /%$ the L$%d !s ! %e#!%d) It is the L$%d Ch%ist ,$& !%e se%.i) :C$l$ssi!s >6;>7; NI<= "ncrease can come through our careers, inventions, gifts, or inheritances. owever, owever, the foundation that under-girds every avenue of increase is the )ord )ord of God.
(eading, speaking, believing, and obeying is principles and concepts will bring increase. 9ositive words, attitudes, and faith, as well as our generosity with our gifts and talents, are like seeds, which will grow and multiply into a harvest of blessings. To use another analogy, analogy, God draws us to is 4spiritual university4 for answers to life. )e each have to choose to attend is classes and learn from each lesson e brings us. "t is our choice. A
vehicle, try to make do with the one you have. The same applies when you desire new additions to your wardrobe? consider the clothing you already own and try to come up with some creative ensembles instead of rushing out to the mall. Aikewise, check your pantry and prepare a creative meal whenever you%re tempted to eat out. These simple suggestions can help you to develop a sense of contentment and patience as you wait for God%s miracles to meet your needs. THE REWARDS OF HARD WORK AND A RESILIENT SPIRIT 6ne of the most overlooked books of the ible is (uth, yet this book contains timeless truths that are pertinent to our current economic situation. )hen (uth, a woman from oab, found herself widowed, her mother-in-law, mother-in-law, &aomi+ also a widow+told widow+told (uth and her other widowed daughter-in-law daughter-in-law to go back to their people, since she had no means of supporting them. =et =et (uth was committed to remaining with her mother-in-law, mother-in-law, and she returned with &aomi to her hometown of ethlehem in 'udah. &aomi blamed God for her misfortune, and she lamented, D$ $t -!ll e N!$i0 -!ll e M!%!' /$% the Aliht, h!s de!lt .e%, .e% , *itte%l, #ith e) I #et
$&t /&ll' !d the L$%d h!s *%$&ht e h$e !!i e(t,) e(t,) Wh, d$ ,$& -!ll -!l l e N!$i' si-e the L$%d h!s testi/ied !!ist e' !d the Aliht, h!s !//li-ted e :R&th 16;7;1= )hereas her mother-in-law wallowed in despair, (uth got to work. $he obtained permission from &aomi to glean grain from some neighboring fields. )hen the man who owned the field found out about (uth, he showered her with favor? "Y$& "Y$& #ill liste' , d!&hte%' d!&hte%' #ill ,$& $t B$! B$! s!id t$ R&th) D$ $t $ t$ le! i !$the% /ield' $% $ /%$ he%e' *&t st!, -l$se *, , ,$& #$e) Let ,$&% e,es *e *e $ the /ield #hi-h the, %e!(' !d $ !/te% the) H!.e I $t -$!ded -$!d ed the ,$& e $t t$ t$&-h ,$& Ad #he ,$& !%e thi%st,' $ t$ the .essels !d d%i+ /%$ #h!t the ,$& e h!.e d%!#)" d%!#)" S$ she /ell $ he% /!-e' *$#ed d$# t$ the %$&d' !d s!id t$ hi' "Wh, h!.e I /$&d /!.$% i ,$&% e,es' th!t ,$& sh$&ld t!+e $ti-e $/ e' si-e I ! ! /$%eie%" Ad B$! !s#e%ed !d s!id t$ he%' "It h!s *ee /&ll, %e($%ted t$ e' !ll th!t ,$& h!.e d$e /$% ,$&% $the%7i7l!# si-e the de!th $/ ,$&% h&s*!d' !d h$# ,$& h!.e le/t ,$&% /!the% !d ,$&% $the% !d the l!d $/ ,$&% *i%th' !d h!.e -$e t$ ! (e$(le #h$ ,$& did $t +$# *e/$%e) The L$%d %e(!, ,$&% #$%+' !d ! /&ll %e#!%d *e i.e ,$& *, the L$%d G$d $/ Is%!el' &de% #h$se
#is ,$& h!.e h!.e -$e /$% %e/&e)" The she s!id' "Let e /id /!.$% i ,$&% siht' , l$%d0 /$% ,$& h!.e -$/$%ted e' !d h!.e s($+e +idl, t$ ,$&% !idse%.!t' th$&h I ! $t li+e $e $/ ,$&% !idse%.!ts)" N$# B$! s!id t$ he% !t e!ltie' "C$e he%e' !d e!t $/ the *%e!d' !d di( ,$&% (ie-e $/ *%e!d i the .ie!%)" S$ she s!t *eside the %e!(e%s' !d he (!ssed (!%-hed %!i t$ he%0 !d she !te !d #!s #!s s!tis/ied' !d +e(t s$e *!-+) Ad #he she %$se &( t$ le!' B$! -$!ded his ,$& e' s!,i' "Let he% le! e.e !$ the she!.es' !d d$ $t %e(%$!-h he%) he%) Als$ let %!i /%$ the *&dles /!ll (&%($sel, /$% he%0 le!.e it th!t she !, !, le!' !d d$ $t %e*&+e he%)" he%)" S$ she le!ed i the t he /ield &til e.ei' !d *e!t $&t #h!t she h!d le!ed' !d it #!s !*$&t ! e(h!h $/ *!%le,) *!%le,) :R&th ;68715= oa@ blessed (uth with protection, with favor, favor, with the fruit of his fields, and, ultimately ultimately, with the security of marriage when he took her as his wife. e was her 4kinsman-redeemer.4 "n this way, he was an 6ld Testament type CforeshadowingD of !hrist, our (edeemer. (uth bore oa@ a son named 6bed, who would become the grandfather of ing 1avid. "sn%t it ama@ingJ God redeemed a non-'ewish woman from an idolatrous people during a time of personal crisis that was both emotional and financial, blessed her
with a husband, children, and adeIuate wealth, and grafted her into the lineage of 'esus. )hat God did then, e is still doing today. any of us are in the same position posit ion that (uth and &aomi were in+suffering from poverty of spirit, from lack of provision, from concern and woe. large portion of the world is e/periencing economic decline. anks and multinational corporations are failing. Bnemployment rates are high in the Bnited $tates and around the globe. !urrencies are being propped up artificially. artificially. =ou =ou could say there is a kind of famine in the land. =et, like &aomi and (uth, we have a decision to make. )hen we face difficult circumstances, we can choose to become bitter and blame God, as &aomi did, or we can throw ourselves at the feet of 'esus, our (edeemer, and trust im to provide for us as we walk in humble obedience to im, similar to what (uth did. "f your attitude truly controls your 4altitude,4 this is the time to make sure you trust in 'esus as your $avior and speak only words of faith in im. *ather God is giving g iving is children dreams, visions, clever inventions, and new business ideas to sustain them in the midst of these difficult economic times. 'esus, as our our divine oa@, is directing directing is servants, both human and divine, to make provision for those who gain favor in is eyes+is 4(uths.4 e gives us the power to gain wealth in totally une/pected ways. The Aord wants wants to show imself strong on the behalf
of a generation that is destined to lead those who do not know im out of bondage and into the freedom that comes from having a personal relationship with im. e wants the release of is favor to be a sign and a wonder to the lost, proving that e lives and rewards rewards those who trust im.
God wants the release of His favor favor to to be a sign and a wonder wonder to to the lost, proving that He lives and rewards those who trust Him. "t is not is desire for is children to languish in bondage to foreigners who worship other gods, as (uth would have have done in returning to oab. e wants to deliver is people. e is calling us to occupy a position with im that allows us to look over the heads of our enemies and see into the heavenly heavenly realms to the $ource of our provision in !hrist. very crisis, whether it%s financial, emotional, spiritual, relational, or physical, has a supernatural solution that God makes available available to is people, if they will only tap into is wisdom in the proper way. God wants wants to take us from a lifestyle of gleaning the leftovers leftovers from the efforts of the world to entering into the fullness of is holy harvest+a place of abundance, a place of usefulness and a nd fulfillment. Aet%s enter in now#
CHAPTER GI6171; "n this passage from alachi, God challenges c hallenges us to test im. )hen we do, e will prove to us that e does not lie. e will do what e says e will do. e wants you to accept is offer to bless you. "sn%t that awesomeJ e also promises to protect you from the enemy+4the devourer.4 devourer.4 The only prereIuisite is giving faithfully to im. E9PRESSING GRATITUDE AND OBEYING GOD 6f course, we can say, 4Thank =ou, God#4 to show our
appreciation to the great 9rovider. owever, merely uttering those words does not adeIuatel a deIuately y e/press our belief in im and is )ord. The best way to thank im is to give freely, freely, as e guides us, through tithes, offerings, and alms to our churches, to !hristian ministries, to charities, and directly to those in need. "n doing this, we are not only showing im our heartsE we are also proving to im and to the world our faith in what e says about who e is. The act of giving back to God in the forms of tithes, offerings, and alms acknowledges im as the $ource of all we have and also proves that we trust im to provide for our needs. oreover, oreover, e commands us to do it# Y$& sh!ll see+ the (l!-e #he%e the L$%d ,$&% G$d -h$$ses' $&t $/ !ll ,$&% t%i*es' t$ (&t His !e /$% His d#elli (l!-e0 !d the%e ,$& sh!ll $) The%e ,$& sh!ll t!+e ,$&% *&%t $//e%is' ,$&% s!-%i/i-es' ,$&% tithes' the t he he!.e $//e%is $/ ,$&% h!d' ,$&% .$#ed $//e%is' ,$&% /%ee#ill $//e%is' !d the /i%st*$% $/ ,$&% he%ds !d /l$-+s) Ad the%e ,$& sh!ll e!t *e/$%e the L$%d ,$&% G$d' !d ,$& sh!ll %e$i-e i !ll t$ #hi-h ,$& h!.e (&t ,$&% h!d' ,$& !d ,$&% h$&seh$lds' i #hi-h the L$%d ,$&% G$d h!s *lessed ,$&) ,$&) :De&te%$$, 1;675= 1oes God need our moneyJ &o, of course not. e owns everything. owever, e does need to know that we appreciate is gifts, and e needs our
obedience as a sign of our faith in is ability to provide for us. (emember, (emember, God is not after your moneyE e is after your heart#
3he act of giving back to God in the forms of tithes, offerings, and alms acknowledges Him as the $ource of all we have have and also proves that we trust Him to provide for our needs. *urthermore, when we give money to support the servants of the Aord, we actually 4help4 im to help them. Giving is fun# "t%s rewarding# nd it%s a privilege to give give back to God, reali@ing that e trusts us to obey is voice and assist others in fulfilling is call on their lives. )e don%t 4have to4E we 4get to4 bless im with our appreciation, thankfulness, and love. God gives us life+every breath we breathe, every heartbeat. e created the earth to sustain us+the sun to keep us warm, warm, the rain to replenish the land. verything e created was was for our benefit. e gives g ives us all that we have now and all that we will possess in the future. )hy do people fuss over giving a small token back to imJ e is not asking ask ing for everything we have, have, just a small part of our 4increase.4 )hen we entrust our financial futures to the Aord, we can be confident that our needs will be met.
God is not after your money4 He is after after your heart very deposit you make in God%s heavenly bank has a guaranteed return for your future, as well as that of your descendants. This truth is included in God%s )ord, the ible, which is is contract with is children. =ou need to read the 4fine print4 of your personal contract with your !reator+the details of how and why e handles your finances+and accept is revelation for your financial situation. (egardless of any uncertainties we may have about giving sacrificially, sacrificially, we must keep in mind that God can accomplish more with our money than we ever could on our own. TITHES The tithe is simply 30 percent of all you make or receive+ your increase. )hen we tithe faithfully, faithfully, or give that amount back to God, e blesses us by causing the other >0 percent to stretch even further than it would have without the subtraction of the tithe. The practice of tithing t ithing was present before the law+ including the commandment to tithe+was given to oses. "n fact, the first scriptural reference to tithing occurs in Genesis 37?3<-20, 37?3< -20, which says that bram
gave gave elchi@edek a tithe of all he had+and it has endured ever since. 'acob promised promised to give give a tenth of of all he had to the Aord in return for is faithful presence and provision. C$ee Genesis 2' >;= "f something is holy, it belongs to the Aord. $o, the tithe is the part of your possessions that goes back to im. =ou are a steward of everything God has given to you, and a faithful steward tithes 30 percent and then distributes the remainder among his bank account, to be saved for future e/pensesE his wallet, to meet the e/penses of every day livingE and the church or other !hristian organi@ations, to support them financially. " believe there are two reasons for the tithe? one that is natural, and one that t hat is supernatural. "n alachi 5?30, God commands is people to bring their tithes into the 4storehouse. 4The 4 The eIuivalent eIuivalent of the storehouse for us today would be the church where
we are fed spiritually on a regular basis. )hy should we do thisJ $o that there will be 4food4 in the house of God. C$ee verse 30.D )hen everyone contributes his or her portion, there are plenty of resources available available to accomplish is work. $o, we see that the natural reason for tithing is to meet the physical needs of the church, by paying the utility bills, providing for the staff%s salaries, funding outreach events, replenishing supplies, and so forth. The tithe helps to cover the day-today-to-day day e/penses the church incurs. These things are necessary in today%s today%s society. )e like to go to a church where the lights are on, the sound system works, and there is running water in the bathrooms and water fountains. The supernatural reason for tithing is that it benefits you. There are blessings that come from your obedience. "n alachi 5?30-32, you will see that the promise of God%s protection is directly connected to your tithe. )hen you tithe in obedience, e rebukes the devourer, devourer, $atan, and a nd his minions, who are determined to derail you from your pursuit of God%s purpose for your life. God has made us a promise. )hen we tithe 30 percent, e will multiply the remaining >0 percent to meet our needs. 6ur obedience proves that we worship im and not our money. money.
OFFERINGS Going a step further, the oly $pirit will prompt us to give an offering+an amount above, or in addition to, our tithe. This is yet another a nother opportunity to give to im in obedience and entrust all that we have to im, because all of it came from im in the first place. 1uring most church services, part of the worship is called the 4offering.4 $ometimes, it is called a 4freewill offering.4 gain, an offering is an amount above and beyond your 30 percent tithe that you give g ive to to God. )hen the oly $pirit prompts you to give toward a specific need in the church or to a particular ministry, your gift is considered an offering. The donations given given to !hristian evangelists, evangelists, speakers, teachers, artists, and TF ministries also Iualify as offerings. specific offering known as the 4firstfruits4 offering comes from a biblical command Csee, for e/ample, e/ample, /odus 25?3>E Aeviticus 2?32E 1euteronomy 3
I/ the (!%t $/ the d$&h $//e%ed !s /i%st/%&its is h$l,' h$l,' the the #h$le *!t-h is h$l,0 i/ the %$$t is h$l,' h$l,' s$ !%e the th e *%!-hes) :R$!s 1161 NI<= H$$% the L$%d #ith ,$&% ($ssessi$s' !d #ith the /i%st/%&its $/ !ll ,$&% i-%e!se0 s$ ,$&% *!%s #ill *e /illed #ith (let,' (let,' !d ,$&% .!ts .!ts #ill $.e%/l$# #ith e# #ie) :P%$.e%*s >6?71= 6ne easy and practical way to fulfill the spirit of the firstfruits offering is to write a check for your tithe 4first,4 not after all the other bills are paid. =our =our commitment to God takes top priority and is given first. )hen you honor im above everything else, your money will seem to stretch to cover all the other e/penses. ALMS lms can include monetary monetar y giftsE however, however, alms can be more than just money m oney.. 6ver and above tithes and offerings, alms are given to the poor and needy and include such items as food, clothing, and supplies. I/ the%e is !$ ,$& ! ($$% ! $/ ,$&% *%eth%e' #ithi !, $/ the !tes i ,$&% l!d #hi-h the L$%d ,$&% G$d is i.i ,$&' ,$&' ,$& sh!ll $t h!%de ,$&% he!%t $% sh&t ,$&% h!d /%$
,$&% ($$% *%$the%' *%$the%' *&t ,$& sh!ll sh! ll $(e ,$&% h!d #ide t$ hi !d #illil, led hi s&//i-iet /$% /$% his eed' #h!te.e% he eeds))))F$% eeds))))F$% the ($$% #ill e.e% -e!se /%$ the l!d0 the%e/$%e I -$!d ,$&' s!,i' "Y$& "Y$& sh!ll $(e ,$&% h!d #ide t$ ,$&% *%$the%' t$ ,$&% ($$% !d ,$&% eed,' i ,$&% l!d)" :De&te%$$, 16578' 11=
He #h$ h!s (it, $ the ($$% leds t$ the L$%d' !d He #ill (!, *!-+ #h!t he h!s i.e) :P%$.e%*s :P%$.e%*s 1?615= "n biblical times, long before banks were established, it was common for people to barter goods and services rather than pay for them with actual currency. currency. "n similar s imilar manner, tithes and offerings in the forms of animals from the flocks and produce from the fields were brought to the priests by those who were obedient to God. Today, oday, most churches, !hristian ministries, and charities gain little benefit from live animals or trucks filled with corn and wheat. "n the modern world, cash functions better because it can more easily be applied to the area of need and keep the gospel spreading around the world. ven so, supplies and other items remain popular forms of alms. *or e/ample, when " traveled with a team to aiti to
feed the spiritually and physically physically starved people, our efforts would have been classified as almsgiving. )e all gave freely of our time, money, energy, comfort, convenience, and love to those who literally had lost everything they had. To them, even a warm hug was a treasure. Aiving with so much, we often take such simple gestures for granted. lms include those simple little things that you can do or give spontaneously without any anticipation of return or recognition. t !hristmas, you may choose to donate toys toys for children you will never see or meet. =ou =ou might purchase a gift card for a family in need. "n obedience to God%s voice, you may feel led to write a check or give a gift to a stranger at church or at the grocery store. The ible gives us a good e/ample of someone who was blessed because of his generosity in almsgiving. cts 30 talks about a centurion+a 4devout man4 named !ornelius+4who feared God with all his household, who gave alms generously to the people, and prayed to God always4 always4 Cverse 2D. n angel appeared to him, told him, 4=our prayers and your alms have come up for a memorial before God4 Cverse 7D, and directed him to summon the apostle 9eter to speak with him and his family, family, who were Gentiles. C$ee verses 8-:.D s a result of 9eter%s e/plaining the Good &ews to them, !ornelius and his household came to salvation and were filled with the oly $pirit. C$ee cts 30?27-7<.D !ornelius had given freely of his wealth on behalf of others and, as a
result, received a priceless gift? salvation salvation and the oly $pirit%s indwelling. SEEDING IN OBEDIENCE "t has been said time and time again, 4"f it is not enough to meet your need, it is enough to be your seed.4 "n obedience,you obedience,you plant your seed by sowing it when and where God tells you to. $eeds planted in a garden grow into plants. *inancial seeds, sown or planted into the supernatural, reap finances in the natural. This is not a get-rich-Iuick schemeE it is how God blesses obedience. (egardless of the dollar amount, when you give out of obedience to God, e will bless you in return, as we discussed briefly in chapter 3. "B%i !ll the tithes it$ the st$%eh$&se' th!t the%e !, *e /$$d i M, h$&se' !d t%, Me $# i this'" s!,s the L$%d $/ h$sts' "i/ I #ill $t $(e /$% ,$& the #id$#s $/ he!.e !d ($&% $&t /$% ,$& s&-h *lessi th!t the%e #ill $t *e %$$ e$&h t$ %e-ei.e it)" :M!l!-hi >61= 4aby4 CnewD !hristians are to 4test4 God, just as e instructs us in is )ord. re you ready to 4prove4 GodJ e has already given you seeds to sow through tithes, offerings, and alms. gain, your seed does not
always need to be in the form of cash. "f you think you don%t have any monetary seed to sow, place something you do have in the offering plate, such as a compact or a pen. !onsider volunteering volunteering your time and talents to meet a need within your church. God knows the talents e has blessed you with, and e will open doors of opportunity for you to use them to serve others. )atch )atch for and e/pect opportunities to give to im in uniIue ways. God wants to bless you. e is going to free you up to do what e has called you to do.
&atch for and expect opportunities to give to Him in uni5ue ways. )hen you%re sowing financially with cash or a personal check, how do you determine how much you should sowJ 6ften, " practice what " like to call 4scriptural giving.4 SCRIPTURAL GI-20? 4gain " say to you
that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by y *ather in heaven. *or where two or three are gathered together together in y name, " am there in the midst of them.4 $criptural giving is a means of using our money in agreement with God%s )ord. =ou =ou begin by identifying identifying your need+for e/ample, e/ample, perhaps you are ill, and you desire to trust God for healing. 6nce you have have identified your need, you then search the $criptures for verses that pertain to it. $o, if " needed healing, " might select 'eremiah 50?3;? 4*or " will restore health to you and heal you of your wounds,% says the Aord.4 *inally, you stand on that verse in faith while you are waiting for God%s answer, answer, and, to reinforce your faith, you seed a corresponding amount. Bsing the e/am e /ample ple of 'eremiah 50?3;, " might write write a check for M50.3; to place in the offering plate. There are certain verses, such as 'ohn 5?3:, that stick in our memories. any people have a 4life verse4 or a favorite passage that that they hold on to during times of crisis. gain, in the final step of scriptural giving, you not only stand on a verseE you seed, or give to to God, using the reference as your guide. )hen you write a check for a corresponding amount, it will remind you of the particular $cripture on which you are standing in faith. Aater on, when you receive the cancelled check or see the amount listed on a bank account acc ount statement, you will again be
reminded of that $cripture and of what you are trusting God to do. nd, when you plant your seed offering with God%s )ord )ord for a specific purpose, it will come back to you having accomplished everything it was sent to do. C$ee "saiah 88?33.D "t will be multiplied back to you repeatedly. MATCH YOUR SEED TO YOUR NEED woman came to a healing seminar where " was was preaching on 1euteronomy 3?33? 4ay the Aord God of your fathers make you a thousand times more numerous than you are, and bless you as e has promised you#4 6n *riday night, she gave gave a seed of M333, believing in faith that she would be able to afford to go on more missions trips in the future. The ne/t day, she received a telephone call saying that her mortgage had been cancelled. Talk about a blessing# 1o you know someone in the military or a missionary serving in a dangerous part of the worldJ 9salm >3 is a powerful $cripture about protection. friend of mine seeded M>3 for the safety of his son-inlaw, who was serving in the military, and what happened ne/t is very interesting. This young man was serving overseas, and his position reIuired that he work with jet fuel on a daily basis. 6ne day, day, a fuel container burst, dousing him with a dangerous amount of fuel. e was
immediately immediately put under a shower and scrubbed with iron bristles from the top of his head to the soles of his feet. Then, the doctors put him in a drug-induced coma and hooked him to an intravenous feed to flush the to/ins out of his body. body. 6n top of all that, the fuel had blinded him. ll of these precautionary treatments tr eatments caused the young soldier to miss the daily phone call he had scheduled with his wife, the daughter of my friend. The appointed time came and passedE he didn%t call, he didn%t call, he didn%t call. &eedless to say, say, his wife became very worried. er concern soon escalated into into full-blown panic. $he happened to be at my house the day this occurred, and so " also e/perienced her emotional upheaval. )hen the young man was finally able to call his wife to e/plain what had happened, " Iuickly prayed, prayed, 4*ather, this young man%s father-in-law seeded M>3 for his protection, and this situation does not line up with =our =our )ord. )ord. " speak his eyesight be restored, and " command anything bad that has happened because of this accident to go.4 The ne/t words his wife heard were e/citing. is eyes had opened up immediately, immediately, and his sight had been restored# Glory to God# God hears our prayers and answers them, oceans
away, sometimes within seconds. 1on%t ever limit im by doubting what e can can do#
Don't ever limit limit God by doubting what He can do "f you have a son or daughter who is not serving God, consider seeding M7>.28 as you stand on the promise of "saiah 7>?28? 4and 4and I will save your children.4 children.4 =ou =ou cannot purchase salvation, salvation, healing, or anything else from God+" know that. owever, owever, you can seed an amount that is significant in its correspondence to a $cripture that pertains to what you are praying for and believing God will give you. $eeding scripturally adds significance to the dollar amount of your gift. " have instructed people to plant a seed s eed specifically for the salvation, recommitment, andKor restoration of a prodigal child. $oon afterward, their son or daughter has walked walked down the aisle of the church, ready to dedicate his or her life to 'esus. This has happened hundreds of times. " know people who have adopted this practice as their number one strategy for giving. any people have have acted upon this instruction by seeding M333, in accordance with 1euteronomy 3?33, a verse " shared before. $ome seed M333.33 a month. These people are receiving so much in return that they hardly get their
seed back into the ground before God blesses them again. $eed M333.33, M3,333.33, or any variation of 33 + whatever whatever you can do, do, even if it is M33.33 or M3.33. sk God to direct you where to put the decimal point. DI3# "f you do not have have M>3 available available at this time, then give g ive M>.30 or >3 cents. "f people are coming against you, seed M87.3; as you repeat these words? 4&o weapon formed against meH shall prosper4 C"saiah 87?3;D.
nother popular verse for scriptural giving g iving is "saiah 7>?28, which " mentioned earlier? "But thus says the Lord: '...I will contend contend with him who who contends contends with you, and I will save save your children.'" " know people who have adopted this practice as their number one strategy for giving. any people have have acted " instructed a couple to give a seed of M7>.28 for a son who was was separated from his wife. Their son and daughter-in-law daughter-in-law are now reunited r eunited and doing great. God is so ama@ing# "saiah 7>?28 is also a great verse to stand on if somebody comes after you, either verbally or with a legal situation. $eed M7>.28, stand st and in faith, and watch God turn the situation around. This principle has always worked for me. The success " have e/perienced in my own life and witnessed in others% lives increases my faith in scriptural giving. "f you want want to give M300, invoke 9salm 300 as a sort of fertili@er to stimulate the fruition of a financial blessing. )hatever you choose to do, and whatever amount you decide to give, seed your offering with a supporting $cripture and watch how God responds. ere are some additional ideas to consider c onsider.. "f you desire greater wisdom and revelation, seed M33;.3>, based on the following passage? )))!, the G$d $/ $&% L$%d 4es&s Ch%ist' the F!the% $/ l$%,' i.e t$ ,$& the s(i%it $/ #isd$
!d %e.el!ti$ i the +$#lede $/ Hi' the e,es $/ ,$&% &de%st!di *ei elihteed0 th!t ,$& !, +$# #h!t is the h$(e $/ His -!lli' #h!t !%e the %i-hes $/ the l$%, $/ His ihe%it!-e i the s!its' !d #h!t is the e2-eedi %e!tess $/ His ($#e% t$#!%d t$#!%d &s #h$ *elie.e' !--$%di t$ the #$%+i $/ His iht, ($#e% ($#e%)) :E(hesi!s 161571?= "f you are believing for a spouse, seed M53, in line with 9roverbs 53, which is the picture of an ideal, biblically based marriage. friend of mine did this, and she is now counting down the days days until her wedding. $he is engaged to a wonderful man of God, and they plan to do more and more m ore for is kingdom as they unite their homes and lives. " also like to seed M88.33, in accordance with "saiah 88?33? 4y word...that goes forth from y mouth... shall not return to e void, but it shall accomplish what " please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which " sent it.4 The ible says that God%s )ord shall not return empty or without effect. $tand on this verse as you prepare pr epare to receive whatever whatever God has spoken to you. &ame your seed, plant it in good soil, and wait in faith. )hat are you believing God forJ e specific# e detailed in your reIuest# is promises are not wasted words. =our seed will return a harvest. "t will come back to you supernaturally. supernaturally. )hatever )hatever your situation, if you are planning to give
an offering, prayerfully prayerfully ask, ask , 4God, how much do =ou =ou want me to giveJ4 "f the amount e moves you to seed does not have a matching $cripture reference, do not worry about it. $imply give as e directs. owever, if you are believing God for a specific situation, search the $criptures for a verse you can align your offering with and stand on in faith. Then, your seed, planted in faith, will open the windows of heaven heaven Csee alachi 5?30D, and God%s blessings will pour out in abundance over and above anything you can hope or think. C$ee phesians 5?20.D
CHAPTER THE POWER OF PARTNERSHIP He who sows sparingly sparingly will also reap reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. $o let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity4 for God loves a cheerful giver giver.. (6 7orinthia 7orinthians ns 08/ any people believe that once their money goes into the offering plate, the story is over. =et the impact of your financial gifts, whether tithes, offerings, or alms +as well as the blessings you receive as a result+ result+ endures long after the offering plate has been passed. God blesses your immediate contribution, of course, but the future blessings will be untraceable. Think of a stone you toss into a pond. There is an immediate reaction+a series of rings spread out from the point of entry into the water. ut it doesn%t stop. stop. The ripples go on and on, spreading out far away from the center of the circle. &ow, &ow, picture yourself putting an offering into the plate. That simple act sets off a seIuence of events, like concentric rings in a pond, that is far-reaching. dded together together,, our gifts g ifts fund the spread of the
gospel across the continent and around the world. very dime, every dollar, is a vital brushstroke in the picture God is painting+a picture of a world in which 4every knee should how, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and...every and...every tongue should confess co nfess that 'esus !hrist is Aord, to the glory g lory of God the *ather4 *ather4 C9hilippians 2?30-33D. This masterpiece comes closer and closer to completion as God%s children partner with each other, other, as well as with local and worldwide ministries, to spread is healing )ord )ord to the hurting, the sick, sic k, and the unsaved. PARTNERS HELP TO STEER THE "SHIP" 6nce, in a church where " was was ministering, the pastor shared something profound that changed the way way " look loo k at partnerships. e e/plained that one o ne way way the dictionary defines partner is 4the wooden framework used to strengthen a ship%s deck at the t he point where a mast or other structure passes through it.4 erriam-)ebster%s erriam-)ebster%s 33th !ollegiate !ollegiate 1ictionary 1ictionar y words it as follows? 4one of the heavy timbers that strengthen a ship%s deck to support a mast.4 There is a remarkable parallel between a ship%s partner and those individuals who partner with a ministry by supporting it financially. *or e/ample, the purpose of the partners on a ship is to reinforce the masts. "n the case of a sailing ship, the masts hold
up the sails and rigging, r igging, which catch the wind that propels the ship on its course. course . "n similar manner, the partners of a ministry support and strengthen it so that it may catch the 4wind4+the oly $pirit+and move throughout the earth, spreading the Good &ews. 'ust as partners are vital to the the successful voyage voyage of a ship at sea, ministry partners are vital to the success of every ministry that seeks to fulfill the Great !ommission. C$ee, for e/ample, e/ample, atthew 2
PARTNERS INHERIT AN EUAL SHARE OF BLESSINGS The word partner also means 4one that shares? partaker.4 partaker.4 This definition invokes the idea of a joint heir, which is also the way you and " relate to 'esus !hrist. C$ee (omans
3he blessings that belong to a ministry belong to its partners, as well, because of their status as 9oint heirs. *ather God intends us to support each other as e steers our 4ship4 Cthe churchD through stormy seas to a peaceful harbor. e is our heavenly heavenly captain, and as we freely give of our resources and ourselves to is
purposes, we receive all we need. veryone on the ship partakes of the same eternal rew re wards as those who are the ship%s 4officers.4 s a partner with a healing ministry, for e/ample, e/ample, you become a part of every healing service. veryone who is healed, saved, saved, trained, or eIuipped to minister healing to others is credited to your account because of your support. FUNCTIONS OF A PARTNER very believer has an important part to play in the body of !hrist and the work of the kingdom. ach of us is a key piece of the big picture+the pu@@le that is being assembled to show God%s perfect plan for is world. F$% i /!-t the *$d, is $t $e e*e% *&t !,) I/ the /$$t sh$&ld s!, s !,'' "Be-!&se I ! ! $t ! h!d' h! d' I ! $t $/ the *$d,'" *$d,'" is it the%e/$%e t he%e/$%e $t $/ the *$d, Ad i/ the e!% sh$&ld s!,' s!,' "Be-!&se I ! $t ! e,e' I ! $t $/ the *$d,'" *$d,'" is it the%e/$%e t he%e/$%e $t $/ the *$d, I/ the #h$le *$d, #e%e ! e,e' #he%e #$&ld *e the he!%i I/ the #h$le #e%e he!%i' #he%e #$&ld *e the selli B&t $# G$d h!s set the e*e%s' e!-h $e $/ the' i the *$d, &st !s He (le!sed) Ad i/ the, #e%e !ll $e e*e%' e*e%' #he%e #$&ld the *$d, *e B&t B &t $# ideed the%e !%e !, e*e%s' ,et $e *$d,) Ad the e,e -!$t s!, t$ t$ the h!d' "I h!.e $ eed $/ ,$&"0 $% !!i the he!d t$ the /eet' "I h!.e
$ eed $/ ,$&)" :1 C$%ithi!s 1;617;1= )hile some partners may be able to embark on missions trips organi@ed by the ministry they support, others offer their help behind the scenes, yet their roles are no less important. FAITHFUL PRAYERS The faithful prayers of partners allow the wind of the oly $pirit to 4puff the sails4 and propel a ministry forward forward so that thousands are saved, saved, healed, delivered, delivered, and empowered. nd the blessings enjoyed by each fruitful ministry return to its partners, as well# n element of the power of partnership lies in the principle of agreement. )hen people work in agreement with each other, their strength is multiplied, not just added together. mos 5?5 says, 4!an two walk together, unless they are agreedJ4
*nthusiasm *nthusiasm and encouragement encouragement among people with common goals can produce miracles. 1isagreement separates, especially disagreement
with God%s )ord, )ord, which is an act of disobedience that results in destruction and loss. greement, on the other hand, solidifies and unites. nthusiasm and encouragement among people with common goals can produce miracles. 9ositive reinforcement and validation strengthen and support the entire organi@ation. greeing with God and is )ord whisks you into is blessings of joy, peace, and love. 9artners who intercede on a ministry%s behalf believe what 'esus 'esus said in atthew 3-20? 4"f two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by y *ather in heaven. *or where two or three are gathered together in y name, " am there in the midst of them.4 GENEROUS GIFTS )hat you give to a ministry for its work of advancing advancing the kingdom, God will return to you, many times over. Gi.e' !d it #ill *e i.e i.e t$ ,$&6 $$d e!s&%e' (%essed d$#' sh!+e t$ethe%' t$ethe%' !d %&i %& i $.e% #ill *e (&t it$ ,$&% *$s$) *$s$) F$% F$% #ith the s!e e!s&%e th!t ,$& &se' it #ill *e e!s&%ed *!-+ t$ ,$&) :L&+e 6>8= $everal years ago, a family volunteered to work with
my parents, !harles and *rances unter, unter, who had a well-known healing ministry. Two daughters in that family offered to watch watch some small children while those children%s parents attended one of the healing services. )hen these parents came to pick up their children, they blessed the two girls with M2 apiece. $urprised, the girls immediately took took the gifts to their parents. )hen asked what they wanted to do with these une/pected gifts, the girls g irls agreed to give all of the money to God. They seeded that small amount into unter inistries. The following day, an older woman came up to the girls at the motel pool and a nd said, 4" don%t get to see my grandchildren very often. =ou two look like such nice girls that " want to give you something.4 $he pulled out two M20 bills and a nd gave one to each of the speechless girls. The girls went running down the hall to share their 4miracle4 with the family. family. 4"t works# "t works#4 they e/claimed. 4God multiplied our two dollars#4 They have have never forgotten their first e/perience of giving all they had to a loving *ather *ather and receiving r eceiving is multiplied blessings. nd, throughout the years, they have have planted their seed into i nto good soil, again and again. YOU REAP WHAT YOU SOW
God has a special provision for those who participate in a ministry ministr y through partnership. =our =our partnership with a ministry will produce miracles+again, not only in the lives of the multitudes who are blessed by the ministry, but in your life, as well# "Wh$e.e% -!lls $ the !e $/ the L$%d sh!ll *e s!.ed)" s!.ed)" H$# the sh!ll the, -!ll $ Hi i #h$ the, h!.e $t *elie.ed Ad h$# sh!ll the, *elie.e i Hi $/ #h$ the, h!.e $t he!%d Ad h$# sh!ll the, he!% #ith$&t ! (%e!-he% (% e!-he% Ad h$# sh!ll the, (%e!-h &less the, !%e set As it is #%itte6 "H$# *e!&ti/&l !%e the /eet /eet $/ th$se #h$ (%e!-h the $s(el $/ (e!-e' #h$ *%i l!d tidis $/ $$d this@" :R$!s 161>71= s a partner, you put yourself in a position to receive the overflow from God%s miracle-working powerE you receive the anointing of the oly $pirit as it is released through others. "n short, you reap what you sow. B&t this I s!,6 He #h$ s$#s s(!%il, #ill !ls$ %e!( s(!%il,' s(!%il,' !d he #h$ s$#s *$&ti/&ll, #ill !ls$ %e!( *$&ti/&ll,) *$&ti/&ll,) :; C$%ithi!s ?6= ?6 = $ow into the release of financial, spiritual, and healing miracles for others, and you will reap in kind. $eed planted in the fertile soil of fruitful
ministries grows to produce a bumper crop at harvest time. Those who give obediently receive unspeakable blessings in return. BECOMING A PARTNER =ou =ou might choose to partner with with a particular ministry if it has had an impact on your life or simply because you desire to help touch the lives of others while building an army of eIuipped believers worldwide. worldwide. )hen you partner with a fruitful ministry, you can reach countless people with the good news of the gospel and the healing power of God, with signs, wonders, and miracles. N$t th!t I see+ the i/t' *&t I see+ the /%&it th!t t h!t !*$&ds t$ ,$&% !--$&t) Ideed I h!.e !ll !d !*$&d) I ! /&ll' /&l l' h!.i %e-ei.ed /%$ E(!(h%$dit&s the this set /%$ ,$&' ! s#eet7 selli !%$!' ! !--e(t!*le s!-%i/i-e' #ell (le!si t$ G$d) Ad , G$d sh!ll s&((l, !ll ,$&% eed !--$%di t$ His %i-hes i l$%, *, Ch%ist 4es&s) 4es&s) :Phili((i!s 61571?= true partnership or agreement a greement is similar to a covenant, such as the covenant formed between 1avid 1avid and 'onathan. C$ee 3 $amuel 3
evangelist, a pastor, a spouse, or a fellow believer, you must be aware aware that his or her actions and behavior behavior will affect a ffect you. /ercise wisdom and discernment before joining with someone, so that you may both enjoy God%s blessings. PRINCIPLES OF PRUDENT PARTNERING PARTNERING )hen visiting another church or attending a special service, many people toss a token amount of money into the offering plate out of habit or a sense of duty. 1on%t be one of them# This is a time for e/ercising wisdom and discernment in regard to where you are planting your valuable seed. PLANT YOUR SEED IN GOOD SOIL )henever and wherever you give, you need to make certain you plant your seed in good soil. 1o some research. =ou =ou would not send your children to a school with a reputation of producing poorly educated graduates. =ou want your children to spend their school years in an institution where they will learn what they need to know to be successful in life. $imilarly, you would not deliberately purchase nutritionally deficient food to feed to your family. =our =our loved ones would would not grow or thrive. thrive. "nstead, they would probably become ill and possibly even die from poor nutrition. uying or investing in less
than the best would be a waste of your hard-earned hard- earned money.
:ely :ely on God's wisdom wisdom and direct your offerings to a ministry where they will have the maximum effect on the growth of His kingdom. =our =our giving to to God should follow follow the same principle. $ow your seed where you know it will grow# There are many fruitful ministries and missionaries in need of financial support. (esearching their statements of faith or the work they are doing is not difficult, as most of them maintain )eb )eb sites or blogs on the "nternet andKor publish complimentary newsletters or maga@ines. =ou might also consider asking to see their *orm >>0, if they%re able to provide one, or simply reIuest a copy of their financial report. *ind out about their missions giving. sk about their goals and what they have have planned. (ely on God%s wisdom and direct your offerings to a ministry where they will have the ma/imum effect on the growth of is kingdom. "f you%ve been depositing seed in a church or ministry where nothing is happening, you have have been planting your finances into what " call 4dead ground.4 There will be a 4crop failure4 because your seed will not grow or prosper in that soil.
=ou =ou would not throw throw seeds in rocky soil, where where nothing can grow or thrive. harvest would be impossible. The same principle applies to your tithes and offerings. sk God where e would have you plant your seed. e knows where the best fertili@ed soil is located. e knows where the seed will multiply into an abundant harvest. PRAYERFULLY PRAYERFULLY SELECT YOUR HOME CHURCH 1o you know that you know that you know that the church you attend is where God wants youJ 1oes the preaching of the )ord minister to your heartJ 1oes the pastor speak as if he or she has 4read your mail4J "n other words, do the messages relate to the issues you have been asking God about latelyJ re you drawn to the church on a regular basis to be spiritually nourished, to receive prayer, and to find peaceJ "s there a place for you to serve and share God%s love and )ordJ re you e/cited to go to this particular house of the AordJ 1on%t choose a church because it is close by or because your family has attended there for multiple generations. God sometimes moves is 4kids4 to new places. Aife isn%t meant to be stagnant. 'ust as your spiritual life changes as you grow from a baby !hristian into a mature servant of the Aord, your church home may change, as well. 6ne pastor may start you on your !hristian journey, another
encourage you through your 4teenage4 years of growth, and yet another challenge you to 4graduate4 into the deeper things God wants you to learn and e/perience. $o, ask yourself these Iuestions regarding the church you attend or are considering attending? re people getting savedJ re they being set free and deliveredJ re the sick getting healedJ "s there obvious growth within the church and among people who attend regularlyJ 1oes the church minister to all age groupsJ "s there joy, joy, love, and peaceJ re the fruits fr uits of the $pirit in operationJ re missionaries missionar ies supported generously by the churchJ t our church, for e/ample, e/ample, we see people healed every week. )e minister to thousands every day in our meetings and through books, teaching materials, and e-mails. God is doing incredible things# Testimonies are received received daily at the t he ministry office. few years ago, a lady named Aucy came up to me in 9ortersville, !alifornia. $he had been diagnosed with stage "F lung cancer and was not e/pected to live. live. " laid hands on her, her, cursed the cancer, and spoke a new set of lungs into her body. $he went back to her doctor two weeks later. The doctor took P-rays, e/amined them very closely, and came to her with a look of bewilderment on his face. e said, 4" don%t know what you did, but you have two new lungs#4 "t was e/citing to see her the
following year, year, totally healed. 9raise God# )hen you give your seed to a church or a ministry ministr y where miracles are happening, you can e/pect to see miracles in your finances and personal ministry, as well. =ou =ou will share in the anointing of that ministry. "n contrast, give to a church that isn%t doing anything of real spiritual value, and your seed will be starved star ved and die. That church will receive your seed and use itE however, the seed won%t reproduce supernaturally. =ou =ou will have have wasted wasted your hard-earned money. money. nd you may feel like the church has 4taken4 your finances. *ind a church that is alive and working actively to spread God%s )ord )ord and reach out to others with the message of salvation. E
&hen God asks you to do something extraordinary, He intends to give give you an incredible incredible miracle in response to your obedience. 6ccasionally, the Aord may lead you to give what you feel is an e/orbitant amount of money to a church, ministry, or charitable organi@ation that meets the aforementioned conditions and about which you have have peace. "n those cases, know that e alone would make such a reIuest. $atan will never ask you to support a !hristian ministry or to position yourself to receive a wonderful blessing from God. )hen God asks you to do something e/traordinary e/traordinar y, e intends to give give you an incredible miracle in response to your obedience. )hen God tells you to give offerings or alms to the poor, poor, you can be sure e is tearing down the hindrances to your financial prosperity. e always supplies the provision necessary to complete what e has planned. "f e is telling you to plant something special, it%s because e has something special planned for you. =our seed will prepare the fields for a uniIue harvest. NE
God is pouring out is blessings on us. s this book is being written, the property on which our ministry is located is covered with beautiful grass that is being used to nourish some very hungry hungr y cows. $oon, that land will have buildings that will hold spiritually hungry people called by God to be fed, nourished, trained, and sent out to the four corners of the world to minister to the sick, hungry hungr y, and lost. )e have a big vision. )e do not want a little building in a strip mall where we feed a few people. )e want facilities that allow us to minister to, spiritually feed, and train hundreds of people on a regular basis. Aife seems to move at a faster and faster pace as we approach the end times. "n these days, days, we need as many people as possible actively ministering to the lost. )e )e need to optimi@e our efforts and our offerings. 6ur ministry believes in multiplication, not just addition. =et, =et, often, we all all have have to do things one step step at a time, one person at a time. t ime. "t always always starts with a simple seed, planted in faith. There is a reaction r eaction to every action, no matter how small. (emember the image of a stone thrown into a pond. $uch a simple action produces long-lasting effects. "magine what an offering can do and how far it will go in God%s world. The anointing on your gift can take you around the world and back, touching millions of other people. )hat can stop the anointing from coming back to youJ
gree and partner with those who stand on God%s promises of prosperity so that you may enjoy is bounty and success. )elcome is )ord and is promises# "n case you haven%t read the end of the ook yet, God wins# nd, as joint heirs with 'esus+as partners with im in God%s plan to redeem the world+we share in is victory.
CHAPTER THE HAR
&o matter how you feel, no matter how much money you have have in your bank account, God blesses you when you are obedient to im, especially insofar as your finances are concerned. "n the book of 1euteronomy, God gave is people a litany of instructions. )e e/plored the instructions that pertain to finances in chapter 7 of this book. )hile God rewards rewards our generosity with financial blessings, is goodness e/tends and spills over into every area of our lives+our health, relationships, careers, and so forth. THE BLESSINGS OF OBEDIENCE Aater on in 1euteronomy, 1euteronomy, in chapter 2<, the Aord delineates the blessings you will receive if you 4...diligently 4...diligently obey the voice of the Aord your God4 Cverse 3D. Ferse 2 goes on to say, 4These blessings shall come upon you and overtake you.4 "n other words, you do not have have to 4get lucky4 to e/perience good things in your life. lessings are a re a guarantee for those who 4keep the commandments of the Aord your God and walk in is ways4 Cverse >D. Aet%s look at an instance i nstance where obedience to God resulted in an abundant harvest. 'esus was was ministering by the sea, when... 4es&s 4es&s s!id t$ Si$' "L!&-h $&t it$ the dee( !d let d$# ,$&% ets /$% ! -!t-h)" B&t Si$
!s#e%ed !d s!id t$ Hi' "M!ste%' #e h!.e t$iled !ll iht !d -!&ht $thi0 e.e%theless !t Y$&% Y$&% #$%d I #ill let d$# the et)" Ad #he the, h!d d$e this' the, -!&ht ! %e!t &*e% $/ /ish' !d thei% et #!s *%e!+i) S$ the, si!led t$ thei% (!%te%s i the $the% *$!t t$ -$e !d hel( the) Ad the, -!e !d /illed *$th the *$!ts' s$ th!t the, *e! t$ si+) Whe Si$ Pete% s!# it' he /ell d$# !t 4es&s +ees' s!,i' "De(!%t /%$ e' /$% I ! ! si/&l !' O L$%d@" F$% he !d !ll #h$ #e%e #ith hi hi #e%e !st$ished !t the -!t-h $/ /ish #hi-h the, h!d t!+e) :L&+e 67?= ecause $imon 9eter obeyed the words of 'esus, he received a greater harvest than he and his fishing partners could gather. "t will be the same with us when we give obediently in thanksgiving to our $ource and $ustainer+we%ll be blessed beyond measure. )hen you obey God, e promises you the following? •
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e will set you high above all nations of the earth and give you favor that will distinguish you from others. C$ee 1euteronomy 1euteronomy 2
God has given to you. oreover, you will be blessed by the produce of your groundE the increase of your herds, your cattle, and the offspring of your flocksE your basketE and your kneading bowl. "n other words, you will have great success in all you do. C$ee verses 5-8, 33.D •
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=ou =ou will be blessed going out out and coming in, no matter where. C$ee verse :.D ll your enemies will be defeated. =ou win# C$ee verse ;.D =our =our storehouses will be blessed. This promise applies to all of your resources and investments, which will increase in value. value. C$ee verse <.D =ou =ou will be established as holy holy unto God, and the nations will fear you. The world will know that you belong to God and that the only way way they can succeed is by blessing you. C$ee verses >-30.D The windows of heaven will open up and give you rain for your land in its season. God will bless all the work of your hand, increase incr ease your business and resources, and provide for you in the seasons when you need it most. C$ee verse 32.D =ou =ou will lend and not borrowE borrowE you will be the
head and not the tail, above and not beneath. This promise assures you of prosperity, blessings at work, never being in debt, leadership within your industry, and a state of continual increase. C$ee verse 35.D BRINGING IN THE BLESSINGS God%s provision and protection enter your life in response to your obedience. )hen you obey God by tithing, e opens the windows of heaven Csee alachi 5?30D, so that is blessings come directly to you. )hat does obedience look like, you askJ "t%s simpler than you might think? tithe, even when doing so might seem 4unwise4 in the eyes of the world. =ears =ears ago, ago, when my family family was was torn apart and everything was lost, " went to my accountant. e e/amined e/amined my finances carefully, carefully, turned to me, and said, 4=ou 4=ou need to stop tithing and giving all these offerings. =ou =ou should also a lso plan on filing bankruptcy.4 bankruptcy.4 " said, 4Thank you very much,4 and then " walked out of his office. " immediately immediately cut off those negative words and promptly hired a new accountant who agreed with the )ord of God. s " continued to give faithfully, God supplied all my needs.
SUPERNATURAL SUPERNATURAL DELI
not have arrived# A NATURAL DISASTER SPARKS SUPERNATURAL BLESSINGS fter the 'anuary 2030 earthIuake in aiti, " traveled to the capital city ci ty,, 9ort-au-9rince. The unemployment rate there was close to >0 percent. The earthIuake had orphaned 800,000, killed 250,000, and left 500,000 injured. s many as 500,000 buildings had been destroyed, including most of the government buildings. "n the capital city alone, over one million people lived in tents erected on top of the rubble in the medians between major avenues. avenues. $anitation was dependent on portable toilets provided by the Bnited &ations. The underground water reservoirs were tainted, so bottled water was the only safe drinking dr inking water water.. aiti was and still is in a desperate situation. ut+ praise God#+" led two days days of pastoral training and three massive healing services. 6n one afternoon, " stressed the importance of tithing, yet the host pastor and " had previously agreed not to collect any offerings during the t he trip. God had other plans, however. however. 1uring my message, someone came forward and threw a few coins onto the stage. nother person did the same. ore and more people came forward to put a few coins on the stage. ven though most of these individu i ndividuals als had only a few cents left, they believed God%s )ord and
willingly gave what they had. nd God responded# )ithin the ne/t few days, days, some of these faithful people received job offers. 6ne man received a phone call regarding a teaching position at a university. university. 6ver the following weeks, we received numerous testimonies of healings and instances of God%s divine financial provision for those who had obeyed is )ord. A RADICAL TURNAROUND IN UKRAINE number of years ago, my parents, !harles and *rances unter, unter, held a healing school in the Bkraine when that nation was e/periencing severe economic depression. ost of the people who attended the classes were Iuite poor. y parents taught on the importance of tithes and offerings in relation to the release of God%s financial blessings. The people responded with great enthusiasm. )hen om and 1ad returned to Bkraine a year later, later, the team brought as many clothes as possible to give away to the poor. )hen they arrived at the church, they were ama@ed at the transformation in the people. ost of the Bkrainians were dressed better than the merican team members. nd many of these team members took their 4giveaway4 4giveaway4 clothes back home with them. large number of the Bkrainians were driving their
own cars. 6f course, om and 1ad wanted wanted to know what had caused the dramatic change in these people%s lives. They found out that the people had responded to the teaching from the previous year by tithing faithfully and giving offerings, and that, when they had started this discipline, God had begun to bless them with prosperity. prosperity. The people in this church had e/perienced a dramatic financial transformation in only one year, thanks to their obedience to God%s )ord# THE CURSES OF DISOBEDIENCE 'ust as there are blessings when when we obey God, there there are negative conseIuences when we disobey. These conseIuences are not to be taken lightly or ignored. alachi 5?30 tells us that the act of tithing opens the windows of heaven. ave you ever wondered what happens if you do not titheJ )hen we disobey, disobey, the e/act opposite occurs. 1isobeying God closes the windows of heaven. heaven. (ebellion against God%s direction locks them shut. 1euteronomy 1euteronomy 2
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!ursing, confusion, and rebuke r ebuke in all that you do until you are destroyed and perish Iuickly. C$ee 1euteronomy 2-:3.D =ou =ou will e/perience madness, blindness, and confusion of heart. C$ee verse 2<.D =ou =ou will not prosperE others will take
advantage of you and steal from you. C$ee verse 2>.D •
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=ou =ou will lose your spouse to to another, another, and others will enjoy the fruit of your labors. C$ee verses 50-55, 73, 83.D 6thers will rise higher and higher above you as you fall lower and lower. C$ee verse 75.D =ou =ou will borrow and and not lendE you will be the tail and not the head. C$ee verse 77.D =ou =ou will be made to to serve your enemies, and they will treat you brutallyE you will e/perience hunger, hunger, thirst, and nakednessE you will be in need of everything. C$ee verse 7<.D 6pposition, disrespect, dishonor, and complete destruction will come upon you. C$ee verses 7>-8;.D There will be e/traordinary plagues and serious prolonged sicknesses for you and the generation that follows you. C$ee verses 8>-:3.D Aack and decrease will occur on all sides. C$ee verse :2.D =ou =ou will be brought to to nothing and plucked from the land. C$ee verse :5.D
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=ou =ou will serve other gods. C$ee verses verses 5:, :7.D
=ou =ou will find no place to rest and will suffer from a trembling heart, failing eyes, and anguish of soul. C$ee verse :8.D =ou =ou will e/perience constant terror, terror, anguish, and discontent. C$ee verses ::-:;.D
=ou =ou may wonder wonder why " chose to list so many of of the curses from 1euteronomy 2<. fter all, the 4curses4 passage isn%t the type of $cripture $c ripture you%re likely to find in a devotional. =ou =ou wouldn%t select it as a reading on which to meditate as you start the day. =et it%s important to know what the )ord of God says concerning our obedience+the good and the bad. 9erhaps you never reali@ed that failing to tithe is an an act of rebellion. =et it%s a decision to do the opposite of what God has instructed you to do. "t is the same as your child not obeying your reIuest r eIuest to make his bed. Bnfortunately Bnfortunately, the conseIuences for not tithing are much more severe. )hen you withhold your tithes and offerings, your life gets out of line. =ou may e/perience a loss of money elsewhere+for e/ample, e/ample, your car be damaged in an accident and need costly repairs, or
you may be the victim of a robbery.
If you walk walk in obedience to to God and listen to the Holy $pirit, the curses delineated in Deuteronomy 6; will not come upon you. aintain your focus on God and make is priorities your priorities. Tithe from the 4firstfruits4 of your increase, and e will supply all you need. "f you walk in obedience to God and listen to the oly $pirit, the curses delineated in 1euteronomy 1euteronomy 2< will not come upon you. They become null and void. The ible says several times that if you listen to and obey what God has commanded, disease and destruction will not come upon you. The%e/$%e ,$& sh!ll +ee( the -$!det' the st!t&tes' !d the &dets #hi-h I -$!d ,$& t$d!, t$d!,' t$ $*se%.e the) The Th e it sh!ll -$e t$ (!ss' *e-!&se ,$& liste t$ these &dets' &d ets' !d +ee( !d d$ the' th!t the L$%d ,$&% G$d #ill +ee( #ith ,$& the -$.e!t !d the e%-, #hi-h He s#$%e t$ ,$&% /!the%s) Ad He #ill l$.e ,$& !d *less ,$& !d <i(l, ,$&0))) Ad the L$%d #ill t!+e !#!, !#!, /%$ ,$& !ll si-+ess' !d #ill !//li-t ,$& #ith $e $/ the te%%i*le dise!ses $/ E,(t #hi-h ,$& h!.e h!.e +$#' *&t #ill l!, the $ !ll th$se #h$ h!te ,$&) :De&te%$$, 561171>' 1=
FOLLOW DI
ere are the most important keys that " have have discovered? Ke, 16 Re(et (epent of any foolish spending. (epent of the times you have failed to tithe. (epent of the occasions you refused to give an offering in obedience to God%s direction. !onfess that you have withheld your tithes and offerings because of a lack of faith. Then, begin to give in faith, based on what the oly $pirit has told you, not out of an emotional response or a guilt trip. tr ip. ven when when you think you cannot afford to give, God will tell you how much to give because e wants to bless you. Then, when the blessings start to pour into your life, you will know they are from im. Re(e!t this (%!,e% !l$&d6
!ather !ather,, I repent of of all foolish foolish spending. spending. I confess that I have failed to tithe, and I repent of that, that, as well. I repent of any time I did not obey when "ou were prompting me to give an offering. I acknowledge those instances of disobedience as sin and ask that "ou would take that sin from me now and put it on the cross of %esus %esus 7hrist, never never to be held against me again. !ather, help me from this this day day forward forward to be careful about about
how I spend my money and to be faithful with the tithes and the offerings offerings "ou "ou tell me to give. In %esus' name, amen. Ke, ;6 Re/&se t$ C$(%$ise "f the oly $pirit directs you to give M300, and you give M28 with a mental promise to send the remaining M;8 at a later date, date, you have just compromised. y y this seemingly simple action, you have have invited the curse of disobedience into your life. "n addition, if the oly $pirit puts it on your heart to give M28, and you decide to give M300 instead, it is still disobedience. =ou =ou are 'esus% sheep, and you know is voice. C$ee 'ohn 30?5-7, 3:, 2;.D $o, regardless of what e tells you+ how much to give, where to serve, or how to help+complete obedience should always be your response. Ke, > O*e, With$&t Del!, "t is not uncommon for believers to pray pray and ask God for a Iuick fi/ in any given situation. They pray boldly, boldly, ask im to move on their t heir behalf, and e/pect their 4mountains4 to disappear immediately. immediately. )hile is )ord does tell us, 4sk, and it will be given to youE seek, and you will findE knock, and it will be opened to you4 Catthew ;?;D, there%s no guarantee that the results will come instantaneously. =et many
believers have have the audacity to be impatient with God# Aet me ask you some Iuestions. ow fast do you respond when God asks you to do somethingJ ow Iuick are you to listen to the still, small voice of the oly $piritJ ow often do you obey completely the first time aroundJ ow long does God usually have to wait for you to obey imJ 9arents know the importance of immediate obedience. )hen a father tells his children to pick up their toys, make their beds, or finish their homework, he e/pects them to obey immediately Cor in the very near futureD. "f the children delay delay in fulfilling their father%s reIuest, it can be very frustrating for him. )hat makes you think your heavenly *ather is any differentJ
God will never ask you to do something unless it will bless you and others. )hen God asks you, is child, to do something, e e/pects you to respond by obeying is instructions the first time around, without grumbling and groaning. e does not enjoy the whines and complaints of is children any more than an earthly parent does. (emember that e is your heavenly *ather, who wants only the best for you. e will never ask you to
do something unless it will bless you and others. E.e%, $$d i/t !d e.e%, (e%/e-t i/t is /%$ !*$.e' !d -$es d$# /%$ the F!the% $/ lihts' #ith #h$ the%e is $ .!%i!ti$ .!%i!ti$ $% sh!d$# $/ t&%i) :4!es 1615= )hen you are walking in complete obedience, you are dwelling in the perfect will of God. "t is impossible to do what God has called ca lled you to do unless you obey im. &ow that you know how important obedience is, you must make every effort to do all that God asks of you. "s it always easy to be obedientJ &o. $ometimes, you simply have to stand in faith to do things God%s way. $tart with small steps, and your walk walk of obedience will become more and more natural. 1isobedience is the deadbolt on the windows of heaven. heaven. 9ractice obedience so that God may throw them open wide and pour out is blessings on you# A ABOUT TITHES' OFFERINGS' AND ALMS " sometimes receive e-mails with specific Iuestions about tithes, offerings, and alms. s s you seek to obey
the Aord with your finances, you may have similar Iuestions about the particulars of these areas. Therefore, " have included some representative Iuestions here, as well as my responses, to further clarify these concepts and their implications. ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═
4"n the 6ld Testament, hungry people and priests benefited from tithed food. " understand that churches need money. )hat are some other instances of giving that would be considered tithingJ4 +9. +9. (.
y response? 4$ome people tithe off their crop or harvest. farmer in our church in 1allas did this. e always tithed his first crop to the ministry. 6bviously, he didn%t bring in truckloads tr uckloads of wheat or corn to the church. e sold the produce and donated his profit to the work of the ministry as his tithe.4 ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═
4Aet%s say that you are an electrician, and the church hires you to do a job, but you don%t accept payment for your services. 1oes this count as planting a seedJ nd does a donation of time and service count as a tithe or offering, or does planting a seed always always
involve giving moneyJ4 +'. $. y response? 4"t is good for everyone to give give of his time and talents to his church or to a specific ministry. Those people without an abundance of money to give give can tithe their time or their talents to meet the needs of God%s people. God will bless these donations with is usual generosity. =ou can seed or give anything+time, prayer, food, and even advice.4 ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═
4ow do we make a decision about where to tithe, and how much is rightJ "s there a minimumJ4 +. A. y response? 4The minimum tithe is 30 percent of your income, but whether you tithe off the gross or the net is up to you. " always always tithe based on the gross amount, before any ta/es or deductions have been taken out. Aisten for God%s direction and tithe accordingly. 4any people believe the tithe needs to go to the local church. " believe the tithe needs n eeds to go where God tells you to give it. 6ften, it is the local church. 6n occasion, though, e e may direct you to do something different. e may ask you to give the tithe where you are being spiritually fed. )ho is your
spiritual coveringJ To whom do you turn when you need someone to agree with you in prayerJ prayerJ )here do you go for spiritual consultation, mentoring, or counselJ4 ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═
4"s it considered tithing to give food when when someone is hungryJ4 +. ). ).
y response? 4&o, unless you have nothing else to give. Giving Giving food is often considered alms. Aet me e/plain with a vivid e/ample e/ample of almsgiving? " remember a story told to me by velyn (oberts, wife of evangelist evangelist 6ral (oberts. certain woman had sent her some cheese that she had received from the government government food bank. velyn held that cheese and cried. $he wanted wanted to send it back. back . ut God said to her, %This cheese was all she had to give.% velyn prayed prayed over the cheese and asked God to bless the woman for giving so sacrificially.4 ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═
4" am currently involved in the local church. )e have a new pastor. fter a year, " am reali@ing more and more that " don%t agree with much of her teaching. " don%t think that she believes the ible was truly
inspired by God or the miracles in the ible were anything more than bad weather and man%s attempt to e/plain it. " doubt she even believes that $atan e/ists. 4" find myself missing church more and more, which also means " miss putting money in the offering basket, which " always understood was tithing. " have never tithed with regularity and only recently r ecently in the last year decided that " wanted to do it, but " am not all that thrilled with my church. " feel guilty not giving there because it is an old building that needs a new roof. 4y church needs all the offerings and tithes they can bring in to repair the t he building. " love the church community and " don%t want to lose out on those friendships. )hat is a person to doJ The building will only outlive the pastor if it is taken care of.4 +1. !. y response? 4Give as God directs you to. e wants you to give give in faith and a nd obedience, not out of a sense of guilt or obligation. minister may beg and plead for people to give toward one project or another. Aisten to God%s voice, not man%s.4 ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═
4" have received a large sum of money and " feel
compelled to tithe, but whereJ ow do " decide where to seed my moneyJ Aast year, a new pastor asked for money for a healing service. e said he needed M300. "t was the largest amount " had ever given at one time. "t was wonderful to give it to him for this purpose. 4Two weeks later, later, he died, and the service serv ice went on without him. " have have no idea if the money was ever used for the service. "s that an e/ample of wasting wasting a titheJ " did not have a word from God before giving g iving it, nor did " e/pect one. " only prayed and asked God to use it.4 +. . y response? 4'ust remember, you gave to God. &o matter what the person did or didn%t do with it, you gave it to im. =ou have to trust that God used your money as e intended and will bless it back to you. t the time, you felt led to give by the oly $pirit, and you acted in obedience.4 ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═
4)hat do you do when you don%t hear from God and the plate is being passedJ4 +'. T. T. y response? 4God tells you what, where, and when to give when you are sensitive to is voice.4
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"n order to open up the windows of heaven and activate activate the blessings of God, the one thing you need to do is give. Give something to God. /ercise your faith in is promises. Give to the local church that is feeding you. Give Give to a ministry that has 4good soil.4 Give where where God tells you to plant your seed. 9ractice 9ractic e obedience and reap is blessings# P%!, this (%!,e% !l$&d6
!ather !ather,, I confess confess that I haven't haven't alwa always ys obeyed obeyed "ou "ou by giving my tithes, offerings, and alms, and I repent. "ou know what my need is, even better than I do. "ou also know better than the devil knows what I will do with the blessings that "ou will pour out upon me as a reward for my obedience. !ather !ather,, please tell me what to to give give and where. where. I know that "ou will take care of all my concerns and bless every corner of my life. In %esus' name, amen.
CHAPTER 5 PRO
I/ M, (e$(le #h$ !%e -!lled *, M, !e #ill h&*le thesel.es' !d (%!, !d see+ M, /!-e' !d t&% /%$ thei% #i-+ed #!,s' #!,s' the I #ill he!% /%$ he!.e' he!.e' !d #ill /$%i.e /$%i.e thei% si !d he!l thei% l!d) 3; Ch%$i-les 561 The above promise of blessings from God sounds a lot like those from 1euteronomy 2< that we e/plored in the last chapter. "n this particular verse, God tells is people that e will 4heal their land.4 " know that believers often get together to pray for their 4land,4 meaning their nation, but God has shown me that 4land4 means so much more. N$# the L$%d h!d s!id t$ A*%!6 "Get $&t $/ ,$&% -$&t%,' -$&t%,' /%$ ,$&% /!il, !d /%$ ,$&% /!the%s h$&se' t$ ! l!d th!t I #ill sh$# ,$&) I #ill !+e ,$& ! %e!t !ti$0 I #ill *less ,$& !d !+e ,$&% !e %e!t0 !d ,$& sh!ll *e ! *lessi) I #ill *less th$se #h$ *less ,$&' !d I #ill -&%se hi #h$ -&%ses ,$&0 !d i ,$& !ll the /!ilies $/ the e!%th sh!ll *e *lessed)"
:Geesis 1;617>= =es, =es, the Aord promised physical physical land to braham braham and his descendants in Genesis 32, but the blessings e had in mind were far greater than a piece of property. )hat is your 4land4J " believe the land God has for you to possess includes health and well-being for your body, body, your home, your transportation, your job, your family+everything that pertains to you and your life# Think of it as something very personal. RECOGNIE YOUR RICHES Ad G$d %!ised &s &( #ith Ch%ist !d se!ted &s #ith hi i the he!.el, %e!ls i Ch%ist 4es&s' 4es&s' i $%de% th!t i the -$i !es he iht sh$# the i-$(!%!*le %i-hes $/ his %!-e' e2(%essed i his +idess t$ &s i Ch%ist 4es&s) 4es&s) :E(hesi!s ;675 NI<= ven though much of this book discusses how God prospers us through the multiplication of our finances, is supernatural provision is not limited to cash. is blessings go far beyond the money that passes through your hands or collects in your bank account.
Bel$.ed' I (%!, th!t ,$& !, (%$s(e% i !ll this th is !d *e i he!lth' &st !s ,$&% s$&l (%$s(e%s) :> 4$h ;= 1ivine prosperity includes but is not limited to life, love, health, hope, and wealth. =our heavenly *ather wants you to prosper in all areas of your life+not only in your finances but also in your body, body, soul, mind, spirit, relationships, and so forth.
"our heavenly !ather wants you to to prosper in all areas of your life(not life(not only only in your finances. finances. )e have the opportunity every day to thank God for every breath we take, the food we eat, the clothes we wear, wear, our spouses, our families, fam ilies, our children, our jobs, and our health. verything we enjoy is a blessing from God. =es, =es, God receives receives the money we give give to im and and often multiplies it back in cashE however, however, is blessings may take a completel c ompletely y different form. 1o you recogni@e and acknowledge the many intangible blessings that e/ceed your ta/able incomeJ God is very creative in the ways ways e blesses us. &o matter how is blessings arrive, remember that you are blessed to be a blessing, not n ot to hoard the
blessings for yourself. gain, God wants you to have nice 4things,4 as long as those things do not have have you. s you read through the rest of this chapter, chapter, seek to recogni@e the ways ways in which God has blessed you that do not specifically involve money. money. Then, create a personal 4lessing Aist4 to acknowledge is supernatural provision in your life. *or instance, has someone taken you out for dinnerJ as a neighbor given your child a bicycle that her kids no longer useJ ave you found an e/cellent sale on something you needJ ll of these are blessings that increase your overall net worth. PROSPERING IN THE MIDST OF AD
this particular evening, " was checking one more thing online before turning out the lights. $uddenly, $uddenly, " heard an unfamiliar sound. s " walked toward my office, " noticed a strange light in the loft of my home. The dogs were in their beds downstairs, so " knew they were not the source of the strange noise " had heard. 4" climbed the stairs to the loft, wondering what could be happening. " had had a candle burning in my loft for twelve years, but " always used a protective protective device to prevent accidental fires and kept nothing flammable nearby. nearby. "n fact, the th e electricity didn%t even work in that area of my home. " would spend hours reading the ible or praying praying in this special 4prayer closet4 in my home. 4)hen " saw that the small table was on fire, " ran to the bathroom, grabbed a wastebasket, filled it with water, and rushed back to the loft. " poured the water over the fire. ut instead of dousing the flames, the water literally e/ploded the fire. lack smoke billowed up toward toward the ceiling and over the balcony into the rest of the house. $parks landed on both of my hands and my foot, as well as the hem of the caftan " was wearing. 4(eali@ing that " wouldn%t be able to control the flames, " ran downstairs and grabbed the house phone to call for help. The >-3-3 responder asked the usual Iuestions and then told me firmly to e/it the house immediately. " had fully intended to get my
fire e/tinguisher from the kitchen and return to the loft, but the woman was adamant that " get the dogs and myself out of the house without further delay. delay. $o, " released my dogs to run loose on the back patio and then ran in the other direction, toward the front door, door, still talking on the phone to the >-3-3 responder. 4arefoot, " ran out the door and traveled about five five feet when the window in the loft e/ploded, showering shards of glass behind me as " ran. "f " had been ten seconds behind, " would have been running over broken glass. 4)hen the fire trucks arrived, arrived, the flames were licking their way up through the loft window and a nd onto the roof as black smoke rolled throughout the rest of the structure. " stood on the cold street, watching the firefighters fire fighters aim a water hose through the broken window into my home, and several of my neighbors gathered with me. 9olice cars and an ambulance arrived with sirens blaring and lights flashing.
I praised God and and said, 'God is taking care of me. God, take it all, if "ou wish. It's all small stuff. "ou have have renewed and restored restored me before, and "ou will do it again'
4"t was a surreal scene. " was in shock, but my anger flared when " recogni@ed the source of this attack? $atan himself. " started binding him by proclaiming, %$atan, you tried, but you lose#% Then, " praised God and said, %God is taking care of me. God, take it all, if =ou =ou wish. "t%s all small stuff. =ou =ou have have renewed and restored me before, and =ou will do it again#% 4fter three hours of chaos, the firefighters allowed me to reenter my house, though " was not permitted to take anything out of the house. " walked across the waterlogged aterlogged carpet, surveying sur veying the mess with the dim beam of a flashlight. " grabbed my laptop, my ible, and my very unhappy dogs and left my beautiful home. y daughter and son-in-law had been contacted by the police and had come over to take me and my nervous animals to the safety of their home. 4" was sitting on the bed, trying tr ying to sort out the events of the evening, when my daughter brought me some of her clothes to wear. wear. " had never been able to fit into my daughter%s clothesE she has always always been slim and trim. ut, because " had recently lost 300 pounds, " was able to fit into her clothes# nd, for the first time that night, " actually smiled. 4*or the ne/t three nights, 4*or n ights, " lay awake awake and stared at the ceiling for hours at a time while thanking God for is protection. " even thanked im for the simple
ability to lie there and watch the ceiling fan go around and around and around all night long. " could still breathe. " could still st ill feel. " was still alive# 4" went back to the house every day and watched complete strangers from the restoration company pack up my belongings. "t was not pleasant knowing that it was up to others to decide what was salvageable and what needed to be thrown away. " forced myself to watch watch and accept the possibility that " would have nothing left. 4The fire destroyed most of the loft, including the roof The damage to the rest of my home was caused primarily by the smoke and soot, which permeated nearly everything. ecause of the carcinogenic properties of the soot, everything had to be professionally professionally cleaned. The air conditioner had spread the contaminated air throughout the house, and the heat had destroyed the ductwork in the attic, as well as the air-conditioning unit. 4The insurance company rented a home for me and contacted me regularly to make sure they were meeting my needs. " was not fussy about temporary housing. y concern was having a place conducive to my pets% comfort rather than my own. " would survive. " knew how to %camp.% "ndeed, my %camping% lasted four-and-a-half months. y freIuent visits to my home were bittersweet as " watched the workers gut my house and restore it piece by piece.
4)hen the restoration work was was nearly finished, " purchased new appliances for the kitchen. Two days after they were delivered, they were stolen. ut " refused to be defeated# ack to the store " went to buy another set. 4)hen moving day finally arrived, arrived, my furniture arrived from one side of town, while the rest of my belongings were delivered from the other direction. o/es were scattered throughout my house, with identification labels that were not at all detailed, which meant that every bo/ " opened was like a !hristmas surprise. " may never know e/actly what " lost, but " do know what " found.
3oday, I am alive to serve Him, and I thank Him for both spiritual and physical salvation. 4God was faithful in so many ways# e had kept me awake awake on the night of the fire. "f " had been asleep, " never would have gotten out of the house alive. The smoke would have trapped me in my bedroom. Today, " am alive to serve im, and " thank im for both spiritual and physical salvation. 4Three days after the fire, " had received a phone call informing me that " had been selected for a special honor in a national organi@ation to which " belong. &ot knowing whether to cry or to smile, " did a little
of both at the same time. t ime. " truly had God%s favor during a very difficult time. 4y home is now restored. "t is not e/actly the way way it was before+it%s better# " had replaced the roof, siding, windows, and foundation years prior to the fire. The interior needed work, but " hadn%t been able to start any major renovations or improvements. y the time this %adventure% was over, the insurance company had invested M370,000 into my life. )hen " found out the total, my first thought was, ow can " possibly tithe on that amountJ 4This was not the first miracle God has showered on me, and " know it will not be the last, either. either. e is so good# Truly, what $atan intended for utter disaster in my life, God turned into a total miracle. "t is now a great testimony to is faithfulness, goodness, and love for one of is kids#4 )hat a testimony# y friend was able to recogni@e God%s miraculous provision in the midst of what most people would see as a complete disaster. disaster. ow has the th e Aord blessed you in spite of dire circumstancesJ circumstanc esJ 1o your own ible study on is blessings. =ou will receive your own personal revelation of endless blessings as you read and discover what God has provided for your eyes only. 9ray that God will open your ears and that the scales will fall from your eyes as is revelations come forth through is oly oly $pirit. =ou =ou will find other verses that apply. apply. Aistening to !hristian radio or TF, you will be reminded of
other ways e is blessing you. $uddenly, you will reali@e that the 4riches of his grace4 Cphesians 2?; &"FD surround you every day. 'ust e/periencing everyday everyday life life with open spiritual eyes will show you the many ways in which God has blessed you, provided for your needs, and protected you from the attacks of the enemy. MAKE A "BLESSING LIST" $tart your 4lessing Aist4 today. today. Aist the blessings God has already given to you and those you love. e gives you every breath you breathe, every beat of your heart. eep thanking and praising im# e gives g ives only good gifts, and e%ll never stop# e loves you# )hat has God done for you todayJ )hat has e done for your familyJ )hat has e done for your churchJ (emember (emember, e cares about the little things, so include those on your list, too. e may not immediately drop provision at your feet when you think it should appear. owever, know that e will always supply in is perfect timing. To help you with your 4lessings Aist,4 here is a sampling of scriptural promises, but it%s by no means e/haustive.
THE DESIRES OF YOUR HEART D$ $t /%et *e-!&se $/ e.ild$e%s' $% *e e.i$&s $/ the #$%+e%s $/ iiJ&it,)))) iiJ&it,))))T%&st T%&st i the L$%d' !d d$ $$d0 d#ell i the l!d' !d /eed $ His /!ith/&less) Deliht ,$&%sel/ !ls$ i the L$%d' !d He sh!ll i.e ,$& the desi%es $/ ,$&% he!%t) C$it ,$&% #!, #!, t$ the L$%d' t%&st !ls$ i Hi' !d He sh!ll *%i it t$ (!ss)))) Rest i the L$%d' !d #!it (!tietl, /$% Hi) :Ps!l >561' >7' 5= EN4OYMENT OF THE FRUITS OF YOUR LABOR )))th!t e.e%, ! sh$&ld e!t !d d%i+ !d e$, the $$d $/ !ll his hi s l!*$%)))is l!*$%)))is the i/t i /t $/ G$d) :E--lesi!stes >61>= It is $$d !d /itti /$% $e t$ e!t !d d%i+' !d t$ e$, the $$d $/ !ll his l!*$% i #hi-h he t$ils &de% the s& !ll the d!,s $/ his li/e #hi-h G$d i.es hi0 /$% it is his he%it!e) As /$% e.e%, ! t$ #h$ G$d h!s i.e %i-hes !d #e!lth' !d i.e hi ($#e% t$ e!t $/ it' t$ %e-ei.e his he%it!e !d %e$i-e i his l!*$%3this is the i/t $/ G$d) :E--lesi!stes 61871?=
FA6= M, s$' d$ $t /$%et , l!#' l!#' *&t let ,$&% he!%t +ee( , -$!ds0 /$% leth $/ d!,s !d l$ li/e !d (e!-e the, #ill !dd t$ ,$&) Let $t e%-, !d t%&th /$%s!+e ,$&0 *id the !%$&d ,$&% e-+' #%ite the $ the t he t!*let $/ ,$&% he!%t' !d s$ /id /!.$% !d hih estee i the siht $/ G$d !d !) :P%$.e%*s >617= F$% #h$e.e% /ids e #isd$ /ids li/e' !d $*t!is /!.$% /%$ the L$%d) :P%$.e%*s :P%$.e%*s 86>= AN END7TI END 7TIME ME HAR
from the sinner to the righteous, from the disobedient to the obedient.D A $$d ! le!.es ! ihe%it!-e t$ his -hild%es -hild%e' *&t the #e!lth $/ the sie% is st$%ed &( /$% the %ihte$&s) :P%$.e%*s :P%$.e%*s 1>6;;= )))*&t t$ the sie% G$d i.es the #$%+ $/ !the%i !d -$lle-ti' th!t he !, i.e t$ t$ hi #h$ is $$d *e/$%e *e/$%e G$d) :E--lesi!stes ;6;= HEALTH AND HEALING M!, !%e the !//li-ti$s $/ the %ihte$&s' *&t the L$%d deli.e%s hi $&t $/ the !ll) He &!%ds !ll his *$es0 $t $e $/ the is *%$+e) :Ps!l >61?7;= Bless the L$%d' O , s$&l' !d /$%et $t !ll His *ee/its6 #h$ /$%i.es !ll ,$&% iiJ&ities' #h$ he!ls !ll ,$&% dise!ses) :Ps!l 1>6;7>= S&%el, 4es&s 4es&s t$$+ &( $&% i/i%ities !d -!%%ied $&% s$%%$#s' ,et #e -$side%ed hi st%i-+e *, G$d' sitte *, hi' !d !//li-ted) B&t he #!s
(ie%-ed /$% $&% t%!s%essi$s' he #!s -%&shed /$% $&% iiJ&ities0 the (&ishet th!t *%$&ht &s (e!-e #!s &($ hi' !d *, his #$&ds #e !%e he!led) :Is!i!h >6 NI<= LAND' INHERITANCE' INHERITANCE' AND DESCENDANTS B&t I s!id t$ ,$&' "Y$& "Y$& #ill ($ssess thei% l!d0 I #ill i.e it t$ t$ ,$& !s ! ihe%it!-e' ! l!d /l$#i #ith il+ !d h$e,)" h$e,)" I ! the L$%d ,$&% G$d' #h$ l&.' l&.' set ,$& !(!%t /%$ the !ti$s) :Le.iti-&s ;6;71 NI<= The the L$%d ,$&% G$d #ill *%i ,$& t$ the I l #hi-h ,$&% /!the%s ($ssessed' !d ,$& sh!ll ($ssess it) He #ill (%$s(e% ,$& !d <i(l, ,$& $te th! ,$&% /!the%s) :De&te%$$, >6= I -$!d ,$& t$d!, t$ l$.e the L$%d ,$&% G$d' t$ #!l+ i His #!,s' !d t$ +ee( His -$!dets' His st!t&tes' !d His &dets' th!t ,$& !, li.e !d <i(l,0 !d the L$%d ,$&% G$d #ill *less ,$& i the l!d #hi-h ,$& $ t$ ($ssess) :De&te%$$, >61=
The L$%d h!s *ee id/&l $/ &s0 He #ill *less &s0 He #ill *less the h$&se $/ Is%!el0 He #ill *less the h$&se $/ A!%$) He #ill *less th$se #h$ /e!% the L$%d' *$th s!ll !d %e!t) M!, the L$%d i.e ,$& i-%e!se $%e !d $%e' ,$& !d ,$&% -hild%e) M!, ,$& *e *lessed *, the L$%d' #h$ !de he!.e !d e!%th) :Ps!l 1161;71= PEACE' REST' AND ASSURANCE These this I h!.e s($+e t$ ,$&' th!t i Me ,$& !, h!.e (e!-e) I the #$%ld ,$& #ill h!.e h!.e t%i*&l!ti$0 *&t *e $/ $$d -hee%' -hee%' I h!.e $.e%-$e the #$%ld) :4$h 16>>= Y$& #ill +ee( hi i (e%/e-t (e!-e' ( e!-e' #h$se id is st!,ed $ Y$&' *e-!&se he t%&sts i Y$&) :Is!i!h ;6>= C$e t$ Me' !ll ,$& #h$ l!*$% !d !%e he!., l!de' !d I #ill i.e ,$& %est) T!+e T!+e M, ,$+e &($ ,$& !d le!% /%$ Me' /$% I ! etle !d l$#l, i he!%t' !d ,$& #ill /id %est /$% ,$&% s$&ls) F$% M, ,$+e is e!s, !d M, *&%de is liht) :M!tthe# 116;87>=
Ad He s!id' "M, P%ese-e #ill $ #ith ,$&' !d I #ill i.e ,$& %est)" :E2$d&s >>61= Pe!-e I le!.e #ith ,$&' M, (e!-e I i.e t$ ,$&0 $t !s the #$%ld i.es d$ I i.e t$ ,$&) Let $t ,$&% he!%t *e t%$&*led' eithe% let it *e !/%!id) :4$h 16;5= PROTECTION The the, -%ied $&t t$ the L$%d i thei% t%$&*le' !d He s!.ed the $&t $/ thei% dist%esses) :Ps!l 1561?= Let !ll th$se %e$i-e #h$ (&t thei% t%&st i Y$&0 let the e.e% sh$&t /$% $,' *e-!&se Y$& de/ed the0 let th$se !ls$ #h$ l$.e Y$&% Y$&% !e *e $,/&l i Y$&) F$% Y$&' O L$%d' #ill *less the %ihte$&s0 #ith /!.$% /!.$% Y$& Y$& #ill s&%%$&d hi !s #ith ! shield) :Ps!l 61171;=
The L$%d is , %$-+' , /$%t%ess !d , deli.e%e%0 , G$d is , %$-+' i #h$ I t!+e %e/&e' , shield !d the h$% $/ , s!l.!ti$) s!l.!ti$) He is , st%$h$ld' , %e/&e !d , s!.i$%3 /%$ .i$let e ,$& s!.e s!.e e) I -!ll -!l l t$ the L$%d'
#h$ is #$%th, #$%th, $/ (%!ise' !d I ! s!.ed s!.ed /%$ , , eeies) :; S!&el ;;6;7 NI<= ETERNAL REWARDS Blessed !%e the ($$% i s(i%it' /$% thei%s is the +id$ $/ he!.e) he!.e) Blessed !%e th$se #h$ $&%' /$% the, sh!ll *e -$/$%ted) Blessed !%e the ee+' /$% the, sh!ll ihe%it the e!%th) Blessed !%e th$se #h$ h&e% !d thi%st /$% %ihte$&sess' /$% /$% the, sh!ll *e /illed) Blessed !%e the e%-i/&l' /$% the, sh!ll $*t!i e%-,) Blessed !%e the (&%e i he!%t' /$% the, sh!ll see G$d) Blessed !%e the (e!-e!+e%s' /$% the, sh!ll *e -!lled s$s $/ G$d) Blessed !%e th$se #h$ !%e (e%se-&ted /$% %ihte$&sess s!+e' /$% thei%s is the +id$ $/ he!.e) :M!tthe# 6>71= Ad the, s! ! e# s$' s!,i6 "Y$& "Y$& !%e #$%th, t$ t$ t!+e the s-%$ll' !d t$ $(e its se!ls0 /$% /$% Y$& #e%e sl!i' !d h!.e %edeeed &s t$ G$d *, Y$&% *l$$d $&t $/ e.e%, t%i*e !d t$&e !d (e$(le !d !ti$' !d h!.e !de &s +is !d (%iests t$ $&% G$d0 !d #e sh!ll %ei $ the e!%th)" :Re.el!ti$ :Re.el!ti$ 6?71= 6?71 =
SUCCESS IN ALL YOU DO Y$& sh!ll s&%el, i.e t$ the ($$%' !d ,$&% he!%t sh$&ld $t *e %ie.ed %ie.ed #he ,$& i.e t$ the' *e-!&se /$% this thi the L$%d ,$&% G$d #ill *less ,$& i !ll ,$&% #$%+s !d i !ll t$ #hi-h ,$& (&t ,$&% h!d) :De&te%$$, 161= This B$$+ $/ the L!# sh!ll $t de(!%t /%$ ,$&% $&th' *&t ,$& sh!ll edit!te i it d!, !d iht' th!t ,$& !, $*se%.e t$ d$ !--$%di t$ !ll th!t is #%itte i it) F$% F$% the ,$& #ill !+e ,$&% #!, #!, (%$s(e%$&s' !d the ,$& #ill h!.e $$d s&--ess) :4$sh&! 168= Ad I #ill i.e ,$& t%e!s&%es hidde i the d!%+ess3se-%et %i-hes) I #ill d$ this s$ ,$& !, +$# th!t I ! the L$%d' the G$d $/ Is%!el' the $e #h$ -!lls ,$& *, !e) :Is!i!h 6> NLT= F$% I #ill l$$+ $ ,$& /!.$%!*l, /!.$%!*l, !d !+e ,$& /%&it/&l' <i(l, ,$& !d -$/i% M, -$.e!t #ith ,$&) :Le.iti-&s ;6?= Ad I #ill <i(l, the /%&it $/ ,$&% t%ees !d the i-%e!se $/ ,$&% /ields' s$ th!t ,$& eed e.e%
!!i *e!% the %e(%$!-h $/ /!ie !$ the !ti$s) :Ee+iel >6>= The L$%d ,$&% G$d #ill !+e ,$& !*$&d i !ll the #$%+ $/ ,$&% h!d' i the t he /%&it $/ ,$&% *$d,' i the i-%e!se $/ ,$&% li.est$-+' !d i the (%$d&-e $/ ,$&% l!d /$% $$d) F$% the L$%d #ill !!i %e$i-e $.e% ,$& /$% $$d !s He %e$i-ed $.e% ,$&% /!the%s) :De&te%$$, >6?= The %ihte$&s sh!ll /l$&%ish li+e ! (!l t%ee' he sh!ll %$# li+e ! -ed!% i Le*!$) :Ps!l ?;61;= Blessed is the ! #h$ t%&sts i the L$%d' !d #h$se h$(e is the L$%d) F$% F$% he sh!ll *e li+e ! t%ee (l!ted *, the #!te%s' #hi-h s(%e!ds $&t its %$$ts *, the %i.e%' %i.e%' !d #ill $t /e!% #he he!t -$es0 -$ es0 *&t its le!/ #ill *e %ee' !d #ill $t *e !2i$&s i the ,e!% $/ d%$&ht' $% #ill -e!se /%$ ,ieldi /%&it) :4e%ei!h 156578= Blessed is the ! #h$ #!l+s $t i the -$&sel $/ the &$dl,' &$dl,' $% st!ds i the (!th $/ sie%s' $% sits i the se!t $/ the s-$%/&l0 *&t his deliht is i
the l!# $/ the L$%d' !d i His l!# he edit!tes d!, !d iht))))Ad #h!te.e% he d$es sh!ll (%$s(e%) :Ps!l 1617;' >= Ad +ee( the -h!%e $/ the L$%d ,$&% G$d6 t$ #!l+ i His #!,s' t$ +ee( His st!t&tes' His -$!dets' His &dets' !d His testi$ies' !s it is #%itte i the L!# $/ M$ses' th!t ,$& !, (%$s(e% i !ll th!t ,$& d$ !d #he%e.e% ,$& ,$& t&%) :1 Kis ;6>= WISDOM AND KNOWLEDGE F$% G$d i.es #isd$ !d +$#lede !d $, t$ ! ! #h$ is $$d i His siht) :E--lesi!stes ;6;= I #ill -e%t!il, i.e ,$& the #isd$ !d +$#lede ,$& %eJ&ested) :; Ch%$i-les 161; 16 1; NLT= NLT= Blessed is the ! #h$ /ids #isd$' the ! #h$ !is &de%st!di' /$% she is $%e (%$/it!*le th! sil.e% !d ,ields *ette% %et&%s th! $ld) She is $%e (%e-i$&s th! %&*ies0 $thi ,$& desi%e -! -$(!%e #ith he%) L$
li/e is i he% %iht h!d0 i he% le/t h!d !%e %i-hes !d h$$%) He% #!,s !%e (le!s!t #!,s' !d !ll he% (!ths !%e (e!-e) :P%$.e%*s :P%$.e%*s >61>715 >61>71 5 NI<= I' #isd$' d#ell #ith (%&de-e' !d /id $&t +$#lede !d dis-%eti$))))C$&sel is ie' !d s$&d #isd$0 I ! &de%st!di' I h!.e st%eth))))I l$.e th$se #h$ l$.e e' !d th$se #h$ see+ e dilietl, #ill /id e) Ri-hes !d h$$% !%e #ith e' ed&%i %i-hes !d %ihte$&sess) M, /%&it is *ette% th! $ld' ,es' th! /ie $ld' !d ! d , %e.e&e th! -h$i-e sil.e%) sil.e%) I t%!.e%se the #!, #!, $/ %ihte$&sess' i the idst $/ the (!ths $/ &sti-e' th!t I !, -!&se th$se #h$ l$.e e t$ ihe%it #e!lth' th!t I !, /ill thei% t%e!s&%ies) :P%$.e%*s 861;' 1' 157;1= Th%$&h #isd$ ! h$&se is *&ilt' !d *, &de%st!di it is est!*lished0 *, +$#lede the %$$s !%e /illed #ith !ll (%e-i$&s !d (le!s!t %i-hes) :P%$.e%*s ;6>7= HIS WORDS TO SPEAK The the L$%d %e!-hed $&t his h!d !d t$&-hed , $&th !d s!id t$ e' "N$#' I h!.e (&t ,
#$%ds i ,$&% $&th)" :4e%ei!h 16? NI<= Ad the Ill sti% &( /%esh h$(e i Is%!el3the d!# $/ deli.e%!-e@3!d deli.e%!-e@3!d Ill i.e ,$&' Ee+iel' *$ld !d -$/idet #$%ds t$ s(e!+) Ad the,ll %e!lie th!t I ! G$d) :Ee+iel ;?6;1 MSG= N$# #he the, *%i ,$& t$ the s,!$&es !d !ist%!tes !d !&th$%ities' d$ $t #$%%, !*$&t h$# $% #h!t ,$& sh$&ld !s#e%' !s#e%' $% #h!t ,$& sh$&ld s!,) s!,) F$% the H$l, S(i%it #ill #il l te!-h ,$& i th!t .e%, h$&% #h!t ,$& $&ht t$ s!,) :L&+e 1;61171;=
CHAPTER 8 CLAIM YOUR INHERITANCE The S(i%it Hisel/ *e!%s #itess #ith $&% s(i%it th!t #e !%e -hild%e $/ G$d' !d i/ -hild%e' the hei%s0 hei%s $/ G$d !d $it hei%s #ith Ch%ist) 3R$!s 861715 $everal years ago, " was at the bank when " encountered a small, elderly lady who had just finished her business and appeared totally drained and burdened with sorrow. " approached her and said, 4ay " pray with youJ ay " give you a hugJ4 $he said yes, and so " gave her a hug. $he then asked me for a ride home, and " agreed to take her. "n the car, she said, 4=ou%re so sweet, honey. " know you don%t have any idea what it means to be betrayed.4 $he looked a bit surprised when " said, 4=es, " do. " even wrote a book about what happened to me.4 " had a copy of my book ealing the eart in the car, so " gave it to her. $he told me that her husband had died seven years prior. prior. They had lived in a very nice home, but she
had lost everything after he died. 6nly two weeks earlier, earlier, she had discovered that her husband had died a multimillionaire. eanwhile, ever since his death, she had been living below the poverty line. The e/ecutor of her husband%s will had withheld all of her inheritance and given it to her husband%s business partner and best friend, instead. )hat a tragic story of injustice# This woman%s inheritance was illegally withheld from her. " tell you this story because " want to ask you this Iuestion? )ho is holding back your inheritanceJ =our =our inheritance is the anointing of the oly oly $pirit, the power of the blood of 'esus over evil, peace that passes understanding, and an abundant life. ll of your needs are met in !hrist 'esus. This is your inheritance, already given to you, and it is a tragedy to suffer the injustice of it being withheld from you# =ou =ou have have to reach the point point where you are not going to put up with it anymore. =ou have had enough. The enemy+ 4the thief whoH does not come e/cept to steal, and to kill, and to destroy4 C'ohn 30?30D+has taken more than you should have to bear. "t is past time for restoration and and life. ick the enemy enemy out of your life and finances. )hen difficult situations come against me, " say, say, 4$atan, you are trespassing, and you must leave, in 'esus% name.4
BLESSING BLOCKERS $ometimes, however, however, we miss out on our inheritance because of our own sins and shortcomings. Aet%s discuss some of the major roadblocks to receiving our inheritance and how we can overcome them. DOUBT This almost goes without saying, but we must not doubt God%s ability to meet our needs+and even to e/ceed them. good e/ample of someone who was rewarded for unwavering faith is the widow in this account from 2 ings? A -e%t!i #$! $/ the #i.es $/ the s$s $/ the (%$(hets -%ied $&t t$ Elish!' s!,i' "Y$&% "Y$&% se%.!t , h&s*!d is de!d' !d ,$& +$# th!t ,$&% se%.!t /e!%ed the L$%d) Ad the -%edit$% is -$i t$ t!+e , t#$ s$s t$ *e his sl!.es)" S$ Elish! s!id t$ he%' "Wh!t sh!ll I d$ /$% ,$& Tell Tell e' #h!t d$ ,$& h!.e i the h$&se" Ad she s!id' "Y$&% "Y$&% !idse%.!t h!s $thi i the h$&se *&t ! !% $/ $il)" The he s!id' "G$' *$%%$# *$%%$# .essels /%$ /%$ e.e%,#he%e' /%$ !ll ,$&% eih*$%s0 e(t, .essels0 d$ $t !the% &st & st ! /e#) /e#) Ad #he ,$& h!.e -$e i' ,$& sh!ll sh&t the d$$% *ehid ,$& !d ,$&% s$s0 the ($&% it it$ !ll th$se .essels' !d set !side the /&ll $es)" S$ she #et /%$ hi !d sh&t the d$$% *ehid he% !d he% s$s' #h$ *%$&ht the .essels t$ he%0 !d she ($&%ed it $&t)
N$# it -!e t$ (!ss' #he the .essels #e%e /&ll' th!t she s!id t$ he% s$' "B%i e !$the% .essel)" Ad he s!id t$ he%' "The%e is $t !$the% .essel)" S$ the $il -e!sed) The she -!e !d t$ld the ! $/ G$d) Ad he s!id' "G$' sell the $il !d ! d (!, ,$&% de*t0 !d ,$& !d ,$&% s$s li.e $ the %est)" :; Kis 6175= ad the widow doubted lisha%s God-given instructions and ignored them, her oil would not have multiplied super naturally, and she would not have have been able to pay her debt. ut, because she obeyed in faith, she received a blessing+one that she alone had the power to limit, based on the number of vessels she managed to borrow. "f she had borrowed more containers, she would have have been blessed even more. &ever doubt God%s ability or desire to bless you. e knows e/actly e/actly where, when, and how the money you need will arrive. (aise your level of anticipation, and do not Iuestion is methods, even if they do not align with your e/pectations. PRIDE Aife%s twists and turns may sometimes prove more of an uphill battle than you anticipated. "n those times, you might pray and ask God to move on your behalf.
=ou =ou might beg and plead with with im to move move a mountain into the sea. 6r, you might stand on $cripture and believe that God will supply the money for a mortgage payment, for e/ample. ut you might not e/pect im to get the finances to you in the way that e chooses to. F$% the L$%d G$d is ! s& !d shield0 shield 0 the L$%d #ill i.e %!-e !d l$%,0 $ $$d thi #ill He #ithh$ld /%$ th$se #h$ #!l+ #!l+ &(%ihtl,) &(%ihtl,) :Ps!l 8611= )hen you trust God to meet a need, you have to understand that e often works through other people to supply the finances you have been praying praying for. e can move on anyone, anytime, anywhere, to bless you# $ometimes, we miss out on these blessings because of pride. " know a couple with two daughters. )hen the girls were nine and ten years of age, their parents set long-term goals for the girls% education and believed that God would supernaturally fund their college tuitions. said, 4y mom just died and left me millions of dollars. " would like to set your children up with a college fund, if for no other reason than for the ta/ deduction.4 $he said, 4Aet me go check c heck with my husband.4
ut when she told him about the woman%s desire to set up a college fund for their daughters, her husband said, 4&o, "%m not taking any of her money. money. " am going to do it on my own.4 God wanted wanted to bless this couple and their children, but pride blocked the blessing# e willing to receive blessings from others. e thankful when people around you have seen your need and offer their help. 1o not let pride keep you from accepting a gift. God is trying tr ying to get money to you. 1on%t ever say, say, 4&o# "%ll do it myself.4 (each (each out and receive# COMPROMISE $everal years ago, my daughter elody was signed up with an organi@ation that did overseas missions work with orphans. 6ne particular trip she wanted to make would entail going to (ussia and (omania for one month. $he needed to raise M5,800 to cover her cost of the trip. any people contributed money money to help pay her way. owever, two weeks before the deadline, she still needed M3,200. $he had contributed a lot of her salary salar y, as well as participated in various fund-raisers, to reach her goal. *acing this seemingly unreachable goal with the deadline fast approaching, she called her dad Cmy e/husbandD to ask him to help pay for the trip. $ince he
had not yet given any money for that purpose, she thought he might be willing to help her. "t turns out that he was not willing to give money, money, but he did suggest another solution? 4)hy 4 )hy don%t you come and speak at my church ne/t $unday $unday and tell everyone where you are going and what you are doingJ4 he said. 4ring pictures from your last trip and tell the congregation what your need is, and we%ll receive an offering for your trip. ow does that soundJ4 $ounds good, rightJ There were just a few problems with his offer. elody%s dad pastors a church where most of the members lead an alternative lifestyle. lifestyle. elody had never been to the church or attended a service there because of her position that this alternative alternative lifestyle is not scriptural. There was was no guarantee that the money she sh e needed for her trip would arrive before the deadline. $he could have compromised compromised her standards and taken this opportunity to try to raise the money she needed, but the oly $pirit spoke to her heart, 4This is not the best idea.4 1isappointed and a little frustrated, fr ustrated, elody told her dad, 4"%ll think about it.4 $he needed to pray about the opportunity that her father had presented. pr esented. $he chose to believe that God was going to provide through a different source. $he called her pastor, pastor, e/plained the situation, and asked for wisdom and
guidance. e did not answer immediately immediately but assured her that he would consider the options and let her know what he felt God wanted her to do in the situation. elody ultimately declined her father%s offer to speak at his church. few days days before the deadline for making her final trip payment, payment, elody was sitting with the team in the last meeting they would have have before departure. "n the middle of " he meeting, her phone rang. "t was her pastor calling to tell her the church was giving her M3,000 M3,00 0 toward toward the missions trip# $he ultimately received everything she needed to go to (ussia and (omania. $he had not compromised. $he had not Iuestioned God or panicked during the long hours of waiting for im to work out the final details. $he knew that speaking at a church that sanctions an alternate lifestyle would have been a compromise that would have have altered her future fut ure and weakened her witness. God has miraculously supplied her need on many occasions since then, and she freely shares her testimony about her great God with everyone she meets. THE ACCEPTANCE OF UESTIONABLE GIFTS $ometimes, receiving is easy. )e glorify God with thankfulness and e/citement. 6ther times, though, as
soon as we receive something, whether it%s a gift or some money, money, our stress level rises. nd this is not necessarily a bad thing. The oly $pirit can make you feel uneasy about receiving a gift for different reasons. e may be warning you about the heart motives of the person who offers you the gift. e knows when someone gives out of a generous heart or a greedy, greedy, self-seeking spirit. *or e/ample, when finances are offered with accompanying conditions to a friend or relati r elative, ve, it is often difficult for that friend or relati r elative ve to receive the assistance. "t is one thing th ing to give money and say, say, 4This is for your electric bill4 and e/pect the person to pay his bill. That condition is acceptable because the need is the electric electr ic bill. ut to say, say, 4ere is some money. money. 1on%t use it for getting coffee or going out. =ou =ou can have have it only if you agree to use it on suchand-such4 tends to put the recipient in an awkward position and may pressure him to compromise his standards.
God may be warning you about the motives of the person who offers you the gift. He knows when someone gives gives out of a generous generous heart or a greedy self/seeking self/seeking spirit.
$omeone who gives with conditions might say something like, 4"%ll buy your dinner if you come visit me.4 "f something is offered with strings attached, or if accepting it would reIuire you to compromise compromise your beliefs, ask the oly $pirit for guidance. =ou may get your bills paid, but the strain on your relationship with someone and the trapped feeling that accompanies indebtedness may not be worth what you receive in the long run. There can be some e/ceptions to this general wisdom about not accepting money with conditions attached. )hen one of my daughters graduated from college, a family member said, 4"%m so proud of you# ere is some graduation money. $pend it on whatever you like, just don%t buy a car.4 "t wasn%t enough to buy a car, car, but it was enough to make a si@able down payment. payment. y daughter needed a car, car, and she decided that it was her money to spend however she chose. $o, she bought a car. =ou may be thinking, "t was her need, it was her money, and she was an adult. That person didn%t have the right to tell her how to spend the gift. =et, =et, by the time my my daughter had finished finished paying paying for the car, she was beyond ready to get rid of it# $he nearly hated it. $he disliked spending money on that car+regular maintenance fees, oil changes, new tires, and so forth. )hen she received the money as a
graduation gift, she ignored the wisdom that was offered at the same time. 6ccasionally, 6ccasionally, accepting a gift with conditions and then contravening them can bring a curse. $ometimes, 4gifts4 are given in the form of a loan, on the condition that the recipient eventually repay with interest. (omans 35?< instructs us to 4let no debt remain outstanding, e/cept continuing debt to love one another4 C&"FD . God knows the awkwardness awkwardness that arises when one family member has loaned money to another and has not been paid back. back . e wants us to avoid avoid borrowing from one another. "f a family member is in need, and you have money to spare, consider giving it to him or her as a gift rather than a loan. 9ray and ask God if you should supply their need. "n Auke :?5<, 'esus said, 4Give, and it will be given to you? good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. *or with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.4 " would rather give freely to my relatives relatives in need and look to God to multiply the amount back to me with good measure, pressed down and shaken together, than to give them loans and then look at them in frustration, wanting to press them down and shake them together to force the payments plus interest out of them#
ow do you know when you should receive gifts of any kind from people around youJ "t is best to receive a gift when it is offered to you freely, without conditions. God freely give g ivess salvation and forgiveness. forgiveness. =ou cannot do anything to earn them. 'esus freely freely died on the cross for your your salvation salvation and took the punishment for your sins. s ins. is death gave gave you the provision for forgiveness. forgiveness. "t is a debt you cannot repay.
It is best to to receive a gift gift when it is offered to you freely, without conditions. nother appropriate time to receive a gift from someone is when it is a specific answer to a need or prayer, even if the answer comes through a relative. s long as the gift stays free of unreasonable conditions or compromise, thank God for your relative%s generosity. couple of years ago, my daughter elody was praying and believing God for a laptop. $he was working for me and had started traveling with the ministry team to help on the road. "n order to get the laptop with the 4friends and family4 discount at a particular store, she needed to order it within two weeks. To come up with the necessary M3,000 in two weeks
was unrealistic in the natural. elody was was traveling with me at the time, and God put it on her heart to give M300 to our ministry ministr y. $he went back and forth with God for a few minutes, e/plaining to im that she was just helping and did not have any finances coming in while she was on the road with me. ut, in her heart, she knew she had heard God and gave the money out of obedience. Two days later, " received a phone call. The person on the other end of the phone said, 4" believe God told me to give elody M3,000. "s that okayJ4 " paused for a second and then said, 4=es.4 4=es.4 That person had no idea that elody had been praying praying and believing for that e/act e /act amount of money to purchase a laptop. )ith no strings attached, without any guidelines as to how elody was to use the M3,000, that person gave freely. )hile it is crucial to evaluate evaluate the motives of the gift giver before before you accept a gift, it is eIually important to know your own motives before you ask for something from God or from another person. eep in mind 'ames 7?5? 4)hen you ask, you do not receiv r eceive, e, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures4 C&"FD. THE TRAP OF DEBT e aware that the enemy may give you curses
disguised as blessings in order to rob you of your inheritance. *or e/ample, perhaps you have received a credit card offer that says says you have been preapproved for for a M8,000 credit limit. 1o not jump up and down and praise God# That card is not a essing from im. !redit is pure debt, and a river cannot ow from a place of indebtedness. river in debt is just a desert. )hen people use a credit card c ard to purchase nonessentials and become financially burdened because they can%t pay off the card, it means that the card is not from God. "t is a temptation from the enemy. The hidden clauses and fine print in contracts can come back to bite the one who buys into the facade. *or instance, are the freIuent credit card offers we get in the mail really r eally free moneyJ 1o they bring instant relief when the bills are dueJ They may may seem that way, until the credit card bill arrives with e/orbitant interest interest tacked on. $oon, the rising credit card bills become more of an issue than the original problem. THE PO
emphasi@e it enough? you must live with a mind-set of prosperity, not poverty. (emember, 4death and life are in the power of the tongue4 C9roverbs 3
!ather !ather,, in the name name of %esus, %esus, I renounce renounce and break off the spirit of poverty. In %esus' name, I declare that I no longer walk in poverty poverty,, and that that I am going going to walk walk in prosperity prosperity,, according according to "our "our &ord. &ord. I will will walk in prosperity, not only in my finances, but in every area of my life. !ather !ather,, I have have the mind mind of 7hrist, 7hrist, not a poverty poverty mind/set. mind/set.
am blessed to be a blessing to others, in %esus' %esus' name.
&hen you pray pray for your finances, finances, be specific. God is ready to pour out His blessings to meet your needs, but you have to articulate what they are
"nstead, say, 4*ather, " declare that " have more than enough money in my account to meet all my needs# *ather, " am so glad " can give =ou more than just 30 percent of my income. *ather, " can freely give whatever, whenever, and wherever =ou tell me to give. " can be a radical giver. " am a cheerful giver. Thank =ou for all =our blessings.4 !onsider this specific prayer of 'abe@ from the book of 3 !hronicles? Ad 4!*e -!lled $ the th e G$d $/ Is%!el s!,i' "Oh' th!t Y$& Y$& #$&ld *less e ideed' !d el!%e , te%%it$%,' te%%it$%,' th!t Y$&% h!d #$&ld *e #ith e' !d th!t Y$& #$&ld +ee( e /%$ e.il' th!t I !, $t -!&se (!i@" :1 Ch%$i-les 61= ow did God respondJ 4$o God granted him what he reIuested4 Cverse 30D. e heard the particulars of 'abe@%s prayer prayer,, and e granted them# them# LAYING LAYING CLAIM THROUGH PRAYER FOR SPECIFIC NEEDS " want you to be financially healthy. " want you to be able to give freely to further God%s work. work . " want the windows of heaven to open wide so that your inheritance of abundant prosperity may overwhelm you in every area of your life.
Do you need physical physical healing= healing= 7all it by name. 7ould 7ould you use use more finances= $ay exactly what your need is. &ow that we have discussed the keys to breakthrough in your finances, " am going to lead you in prayer prayer in regard to specific situations. s ituations. "f a situation pertains to you, pray about it by name. e specific. ll the hindering forces in your life must go at your command# =ou =ou are going to commission jobs and promotions, break the spirit of poverty, poverty, and declare pay raises, bonuses, and donations to support what God has given you to do. "f hindering forces have stopped the flow of finances in your life, be specific when you pray pray against them, naming na ming your need. 1o you need physical healingJ !all it by name. !ould you use more financesJ $ay e/actly what your need is. " will start by agreeing with you in prayer. 4*ather, " agree with =our =our will for this dear reader%s r eader%s life, and " come against any hindering spirits that have been blocking the full release of =our =our blessings, in 'esus% name. men.4 &ow it%s your turn# (oll up your sleeves and put on your fighting gloves. )hen you come to a prayer that fits your specific need, pray it aloud. That way, you will see the words, read the words, and hear the words+a threefold reinforcement.
I/ s$e$e $#es ,$& $e,)))
>!ather >!ather,, I thank "ou in %esus' name that any money owed to me will be restored 5uickly. ?less -insert name2, !ather, so that he or she may fulfill this commitment. commitment. In the name of of %esus, %esus, I ask "ou to move in the heart of my debtor to pay me the money I am owed so that I may use it to bless others. In %esus' name, amen.>
I/ ,$& #$%+ i s!les #ith ! -$issi$)))
>!ather >!ather,, "ou know that I work on a commission basis. I command any forces that would hinder my success to be gone, in %esus' name. I speak supernatural increase for my sales, in %esus' name.
I/ ,$& desi%e ! i-%e!se i (!, !d *$&ses)))
>!ather >!ather,, I believe "ou want to bless and prosper me, so, whether I have been promised a pay raise or not, I speak a pay raise into my finances. I speak bonuses into my life, in %esus' name.
I/ ,$& desi%e $% eed ! di//e%et $*)))
>!ather >!ather,, I thank "ou for the 9ob 9 ob you hav h ave e planned plann ed for me. me. I thank "ou "ou for the 9ob that is coming in the near future that will far exceed any hope, dream, or desire I have, in %esus' name. I/ ,$& eed d$!ti$s $% $&tside i-$e t$ s&(($%t ,$&% iist%, iist %,))) )))
>!ather, I command any forces that are hindering church members or ministry partners from giving giving generously generously to to "ou "ou and "our "our work work to to be gone, in %esus' name. !ather, !ather, I thank t hank "ou "ou that the support they have pledged will come in supernaturally, in %esus' name.
I/ ,$& eed ! e# e# h$e $% #!t ,$&% h$e (!id $// this ,e!%))) ,e!%)))
>!ather, I thank "ou for the home coming to me in the near future, in %esus' name.> >!ather, in the name of %esus, I thank "ou that my home mortgage is supernaturally paid off.
I/ ,$& eed ! e# -!% $% ,$&% e2isti .ehi-le %eJ&i%es %e(!i%s)))
>!ather, I need a new car. 3hank "ou for supernaturally supplying enough money and@or discounts for me to pay for it in full, in %esus' name. >!ather, I have a bill for car repairs that I must pay pay off. off. 3hank "ou "ou for for providing providing what what is needed needed to pay this bill in full, in %esus' name. I/ ,$& h!.e -%edit -!%d de*t)))
>!ather >!ather,, "ou know that I have credit card ca rd debt. ?ut I thank "ou that all all the debt will be paid off off 5uickly. 5uickly. 3hank 3han k "ou "ou for helping h elping me to supernaturally pay off my debt, as well as for helping me to change my habits so that I never fall into into debt again, again, in %esus' %esus' name. name.
I/ ,$& :$% s$e$e ,$& +$#= desi%e t$ *e (%e!t))))
>!ather, I want to be pregnant@I have a friend or family member who is having having trouble trouble getting pregnant. pregnant. I command command any hindering hindering forces forces to be gone, in in %esus' %esus' name. I command command the fallopian fallopian tubes and uterus to be open and receptive to conception and for for an increase in sperm, in %esus' %esus' name. -I prayed this prayer for my daughter, daughter, and she got pregnant four days later2 I/ ,$& desi%e ! $dl, s($&se)))
>!ather, I thank "ou that the spouse "ou have selected for me is coming to me. 3hank "ou that "ou have been preparing prep aring me for him@her. I want to be a blessing to my future spouse, who is already on the way into my life. 3hank 3han k "ou, "ou, !ather !ather,, in %esus' %esus' name.
I/ ,$& !%e !%%ied t$ ! &s!.ed s($&se)))
>!ather >!ather,, I thank "ou for removing any hindering forces that are preventi preventing ng my spouse from from coming to salvation. I thank "ou for the salvation of my spouse, in %esus' name.
I/ ,$& h!.e &s!.ed -hild%e)))
>!ather, I command the hindering forces that are keeping my children from coming to "ou to be gone. I claim Isaiah Isaiah A06B, in which "ou "ou have have promised promised to save save my my children. children. 3hank "ou "ou for I/ ,$& !d ,$&% s($&se st%&le t$ i.e e!-h $the% ,$&% *est)))
>!ather >!ather,, I pray pray that I would become b ecome the th e man@woman man@woman of God that my spouse deserves, deserves, that I will be the husband@wife husband@wife "ou want want me to to be for for him@her, in %esus' name.
)ell done# )hat you have just prayed has released the power of God to change your life and the lives of others. &ow, &ow, repeat the following sentence a number of times? >I am blessed to be a blessing> =ou =ou are breaking the spirit of poverty poverty as you repeat
that phrase over and over. $ay it louder and louder? >I am blessed to be a blessing I am blessed to be a blessing I am blessed to be a blessing>
CHAPTER ? A
and smile as the $unday ritual ran its predictable course. 6ffering time and the passing pas sing of the plates were part of the ritual. The curious young boy glanced at the plate as it passed by, by, and, on occasion, occ asion, he deposited a contribution of his own. e did this sparingly, sparingly, though, because from what he saw as the plate passed, he assumed that God did not need much money to keep the big, beautiful church operating. "n fact, it confirmed to him that God did not need anyone to give any money, because the church was open, clean, and beautiful every $unday morning. The offering plate and the money that collected there did not seem to have have any connection to the needs of the church, in the young boy%s mind. s he grew into a young man, he became Iuite industrious and kept an eye out for e/tra opportunities to make money and acIuire worldly possessions. s he earned more money and took advantage advantage of profitable investment opportunities, the acIuisition of material goods became the main focus of his life. 6pportunities seemed to appear everywhere he looked. )ith a knack for purchasing items to sell for more than they cost him, he was alway alwayss looking for easy ways to make a profit. e subscribed to the worldly ma/im 4The bigger, bigger, the better,4 better,4 and he found great success and satisfaction in acIuiring and accumulating more and more, which, to him, eIuated to a job well done.
*eeding the need to get more and do more, he started a new business venture and moved for the first time from out-of-pocket spending to reliance on the world%s system system of credit through a loan. Aittle had he anticipated how Iuickly the cycle of debt would become the master and director of his business. *or *or the first time, he reali@ed that the ability to acIuire and keep came at a price pr ice called interest. uniIue positioning and a broad scope of merchandise offered him the lu/ury of market domination in his area. e became the go-to guy and reaped the financial rewards of a successful business. The success caused a snowball effect. The more product he sold, the more capital he needed to buy additional product while still paying paying off his debt. The only way to keep up was by using the world%s system? going into greater debt to purchase more items to sell. )ould-be )ould-be business partners would approach him on a regular basis, trying to get in on the action, asking for a piece of the pie. The enormous success of his startup business in its first year, along with his si/-figure income, fueled his belief that his own abilities and talents ta lents alone had made it happen.
!or !or the first time, he realiFed realiFed that church attendance does not constitute a personal relationship relationship with God.
"t was no secret to this self-made man that God had taken a backseat on his journey to the top. top. )hen a close friend invited him to a service at a local church, he accepted. "n fact, he found himself returning to church every $unday for the ne/t few weeks, as his need for a divine encounter became more and more evident. =es, he was highly successful in the marketplace and had credit to purchase above and beyond his heart%s desires, but something was missing. The people at church had something he didn%t+something his money could not buy. buy. They had a personal relationship with God, and it was evident in their attitudes, their words, and their actions. e had attended church for many years, but now, now, for the first time, he reali@ed that church attendance does not constitute a personal relationship with God. ll this time, "%ve known about God, he thought, but " don%t really know im. earing a sermon that spoke to his heart, he made an awkward awkward journey down the aisle to the front of the church and committed his life to the Aord. "n his earlier years, he%d thought he was saved, but now, having confessed 'esus as his Aord and $avior, he knew he was heaven heaven bound. e%d finally crossed over from knowing about God to knowing im, and this transition began a season of reflection and change. e became more involved in the church and, as he
did so, was given the opportunity to tithe and give money toward toward charitable works. The Iuestion from his youth came up again? 41oes God really need my moneyJ4 Tithing did not add up in a natural way way as his view of the world and the marketplace did. is impression of tithing, up until this point in his life, had led him to see it as an unfruitful practice, a waste of money. To him, it still made more sense to use his money to invest, i nvest, buy, buy, and sell for the purpose of personal gain. e fell back to relying on his own abilities and desires# $everal years passed, and his business continued to grow and prosper. owever, increasing debt demanded more and more of his attention. e still st ill attended church, where the people appeared to be content, even though they had nowhere near the riches that he had. The reali@ation was difficult for him to understand, for, for, to him, less money meant less happiness. "t seemed to him that God did not want is children to have both happiness and abundant finances. e knew that church projects and missions trips reIuire funding. e could acknowledge that spreading the gospel and raising a !hristian family demanded finances, just as owning and operating his business did. Then, why did he find it so hard to give money to the churchJ aybe aybe it was God%s plan for is people to just get by, because where were the blessings and abundanceJ )here was God%s supernatural provisionJ )as it entirely bad to have
wealth and costly possessionsJ aving a personal relationship with the Aord satisfied him in a new, e/citing way, however. is journey had taken God God from the backseat to to the front seat of his life, or so he thought. )ith a burning desire to know more about God, he came to view church as a way of life, not just a place to go for something to do. The businessman continued his Iuest to amass wealth, though, and he did so by dividing his material pursuits and his spiritual practices into two different worlds. To him, faith and finances were incompatible. e believed that the two had no connection whatsoever in the natural, and certainly not in the spirit realm. "n his dichotomous mind-set, it was perfectly acceptable to pray for the church+its members, its missions, and even its finances. =et =et he never would have have considered praying for his personal finances or business. This system of separating his spiritual life from his professionalKbusiness professionalKbusiness life seemed to work just fine. $till, in the back of his mind, he wondered if he was e/periencing 4life to the fullest,4 as God intended him to. C$ee 'ohn 30?30.D The businessman journeyed over many peaks and a nd through many valleys that might have caused a weaker person to give up. =et God fanned a small ember within this man that ignited the desire for a
new journey with im as the t he pilot of his life. *inally, *inally, the businessman was ready to step down and assume the position of copilot. This change c hange entailed a geographic move, which he obediently undertook keeping in mind the words of 'esus in Auke 37?55? 4)hoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be y disciple.Q The man found a new church where the $pirit-filled pastor taught a biblical view of abundance. nd he received the teaching like a dried-out sponge in a rainstorm. )here had this pastor discovered that it was acceptable acc eptable for !hristians to have have abundant financesJ The businessman soon developed an insatiable appetite for the ible%s teachings on finances. fter more instruction, more teaching, more divine relationships, and more prayer prayer,, he changed his attitude from 4" can do it4 to 4God will do it.4 e finally came to reali@e that God knew his every need and desire before he became aware of it or prayed about it. $oon, the blessings of God began to overtake him every day. day. e caught a glimpse of things to come and now seeks God for additional revelation and knowledge in every area of his life.
He finally came to to realiFe that God knew his every need and desire before he became aware of it or prayed about it.
)hen he started listening to the $pirit-filled pastor at his new church, he received a revelation of 1euteronomy 1euteronomy 3?33+4ay the Aord God of your fathers make you a thousand times more numerous than you are, and bless you as e has promised you#4+-that confirmed he was hearing God%s voice and following is direction. )ith the knowledge that God wanted wanted to make him a thousand times greater in every area of his life, the businessman submitted to is vision. ecause of his obedience, God led him to a place where he could grow and flourish in a ministry chosen for such a time as this. SET FREE BY THE TRUTH The man in this story was highly successful, in the world%s eyes, yet he could not enjoy the priceless blessing of a relationship with God until he had cleared up several major misconceptions that were keeping him stuck in 4potholes4 along the road to spiritual maturity. maturity. Aet%s apply what we%ve discussed as we identify each one of these misconceptions and then look at a $cripture that tells the truth about the situation. This will enable us to recogni@e misconceptions in our own lives, which we can then correct with the truth, tr uth, in fulfillment of 'ohn
Mis-$-e(ti$ 1 "The -h&%-h d$es $t eed , $e, " "Will ! ! %$* G$d Yet Yet ,$& h!.e %$**ed Me@ B&t ,$& s!,' I #h!t #!, h!.e #e %$**ed Y$&I tithes !d $//e%is) Y$& Y$& !%e -&%sed #ith ! -&%se' /$% ,$& h!.e %$**ed Me' e.e this #h$le !ti$) B%i !ll the tithes it$ the st$%eh$&se' th!t the%e !, *e /$$d i M, h$&se' !d t%, Me $# i this'" s!,s the L$%d $/ h$sts' "i/ I #ill $t $(e /$% ,$& the #id$#s $/ he!.e !d ($&% $&t /$% ,$& s&-h *lessi th!t the%e #ill $t *e %$$ e$&h t$ %e-ei.e it) Ad I #ill %e*&+e the de.$&%e% /$% ,$&% s!+es' s$ th!t he #ill $t dest%$, the /%&it $/ ,$&% %$&d' $% sh!ll the .ie /!il t$ *e!% /%&it /$% ,$& i the /ield'" s!,s the L$%d $/ h$sts) :M!l!-hi >68711= Mis-$-e(ti$ ;6 "S&--eedi i *&siess !d !--&&l!ti #e!lth *%is the <i!te /&l/illet i li/e "
%esus said, >3he ground of a certain rich man yield ed plentifull plentifully y. merry.'> ?ut God said to him, '!ool 3his night your soul will be re5uired of you4 then whose will will those things be which you you have provided=' $o is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God....$ell what you have have and giv give e alms4 provide provide yourselv yourselves es money bags which do not grow old, a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches nor moth destroys. !or where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.> -uke C6C8/6C, /A2 C$!d th$se #h$ !%e %i-h i this (%eset !e $t t$ *e h!&ht,' $% t$ t%&st i &-e%t!i %i-hes *&t i the li.i G$d' #h$ i.es &s %i-hl, !ll this t$ e$,) e$,) Let the th e d$ $$d' th!t the, *e %i-h i $$d #$%+s' %e!d, t$ i.e' i.e' #illi t$ sh!%e' st$%i &( /$% thesel.es ! $$d /$&d!ti$ /$% the tie t$ -$e' th!t the, !, l!, h$ld $ ete%!l li/e) l i/e) :1 Ti$th, 61571?= Mis-$-e(ti$ >6 "M! ets the -%edit /$% the #e!lth he e!%s " Ad ,$& sh!ll %ee*e% the L$%d ,$&% G$d' /$% it is He #h$ i.es ,$& ($#e% t$ et #e!lth) :De&te%$$, 8618=
Wh!t !%e ,$& s$ (&//ed &( !*$&t Wh!t d$ ,$& h!.e th!t G$d h!st i.e ,$& Ad i/ !ll ,$& h!.e is /%$ G$d' #h, !-t !s th$&h ,$& !%e s$ %e!t' !d !s th$&h ,$& h!.e !--$(lished s$ethi $ ,$&% $# :1 C$%ithi!s 65 TLB= Mis-$-e(ti$ 6 "G$d (%$.ides &st e$&h /$% His -hild%e' $thi $%e Let the L$%d *e !i/ied' #h$ h!s (le!s&%e i the (%$s(e%it, $/ His se%.!t) se% .!t) :Ps!l >6;5= Y$& #ill *e !de %i-h i e.e%, #!, #!, s$ th!t ,$& -! *e ee%$&s $ e.e%, $--!si$' !d th%$&h &s ,$&% ee%$sit, #ill %es< i th!+si.i t$ G$d) :; C$%ithi!s ?611 NI<= POSSESS YOUR PROMISED LAND $tarting today, you will be held to a higher level of accountability with your finances because of what you have learned of God%s ways in this book. )hen you apply God%s wisdom and instructions to your finances, is miracle blessings will break into your
life. =our body will be healed. =our finances will improve. improve. lessings of all kinds will rain down upon you. God will resurrect some of the money that you lost over time. 9eople who have owed you money for years will start paying you what they owe, which will also allow there to be reconciliation and restoration in your relationships. The blessings of God will follow you and overtake you wherever you go. God knows e/actly where you are at all times, and e will send blessings to you, no matter where you are in the world. e also has a sense of humor and may bless you in the most surprising ways. ways. gain, you are blessed to be a blessing, not to hoard. )hen you give, it will be returned to you, and to a greater degree. )hen you have been praying for a specific need and you receive an answer, always thank God for is gracious provision. (emember, (emember, e is the lover of your soul, your bba *ather, 'ehovah 'ireh+the God who provides. =ou =ou are is child, and 4every good gift and every perfect gift is from...the *ather4 *ather4 C'ames 3?3;D. 1o not give up on your dreams and visions. *ulfill the destiny God has for you. "f you take this revelation and live by by it, you will e/perience all of the miracles God has in store. e is taking you from recession to possession#
CHAPTER 1 PERSONAL TESTIMONIES Oh' i.e th!+s t$ the L$%d' /$% He is $$d@ F$% His e%-, ed&%es /$%e.e%))) /$%e.e%))) )Oh' th!t e #$&ld i.e th!+s t$ the L$%d /$% His $$dess' !d /$% His #$de%/&l #$%+s #$%+s t$ the -hild%e $/ e@ F$% F$% He s!tis/ies the l$i s$&l' !d /ills the h&%, s$&l #ith $$dess) 3Ps!l 1561' 87? God delights in the prosperity of is servants. s proof, we receive testimonies about financial miracles at our ministry on a daily basis# iracle babies are being born, miracle healings are happening, and miracle finances are being showered upon the people of God. $ome days, it is hard to keep up with them all# " have chosen to include a few testimonies here, so that your faith and belief may be strengthened. (emember, (emember, these blessings are coming to everyday people from all walks of life around the world. s you read about the miracles of provision in others% lives, " encourage you to feel the e/citement coming through their words, let your faith grow, grow, and believe for your own miracles. 1on%t forget to write me about the supernatural provision God brings to your home and family.
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young woman listened to my teachings on supernatural provision. )ithin a short time, she learned that a M3,800 debt that she had owed had been totally forgiven. Aater, she was summoned to her boss%s office. The company had been laying off employees employees for the past few months, and she thought she was ne/t. "nstead of being fired, she received a promotion and a raise in pay# ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═
fter sitting in one of my services and praying that someone who owed her money for a job she had done would pay her, a woman received a phone call on her way home from church. er husband called to tell her a M35,000 check had arrived to pay pay off a fifteen-year-old debt# ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═
couple came from esa, ri@ona, to a conference on finances " was holding in lbuIuerIue, &ew e/ico. )hen they got home, the babysitter they had hired to watch watch their five children refused r efused to accept the M200 they wanted to pay her. 6ther miracles followed. They were closing on a house in the near future, and they had money in
their safe in preparation pr eparation for that day. day. s they got ready for the closing, they went to the safe to doublecheck the amount they had so carefully saved. saved. There was M2,;00 more than what their records showed# They were so e/cited because of what God had done. few days later, they counted their money again to be sure they had totaled it accurately. accurately. This time, the amount was was vj7 M5,200 M5, 200 more. They called me immediately, and we rejoiced together at God%s kindness toward them. ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═
$ome people have had money show up une/pectedly in their bank accounts. They were surprised and Iuestioned the bank. "nstead of trying to logically figure out what happened and why, they learned to say 4Thank =ou, 'esus#4 and gratefully accepted the une/pected blessings. ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═
41uring one of your services in 6hio, you mentioned that we would be hearing about full-ride college scholarships. bout a month and a half ago, my married son received a call from a university university asking if he was interested interested in getting his master%s degree. year before, he had applied for a scholarship but had been denied. This caller asked if he was still interested. They wanted wanted to give him a second chance. c hance. e received a full-ride scholarship# " know beyond a
shadow of doubt that it was God# This scholarship will be worth M80,000 to M:0,000. 9raise God#4 ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═
church " was ministering in gave a small amount in the offering. t the time, it was all they could afford. complete stranger walked in and seeded M3,000 into the church. ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═
woman was praying for her own home. $he backed up her faith by seeding specifically for a home. The city of Aincoln, &ebraska, gives away away a new home every year. They pass out fifteen keys, and the person holding the right key gets a home free of charge. $he received the winning key and now lives in a beautiful home, totally debt-free. ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═
$everal years ago, a coworker of my daughter elody%s was going through a divorce. This woman had a teenage daughter, as well as two young children. "n a panic, she called elody and said, 4" don%t know what to do. They are going to shut off my power on *riday. " don%t have M280 to pay the bill or the reconnect fee after they turn it off. "%m just so upset.4
elody prayed prayed with her and said, 4God knows what you need and when you need it. )e just need im to get someone to move on your behalf.4 *riday was was fast approaching, and on Thursday night, she called to check on her friend. er friend had e-mailed e -mailed several people, letting them know of the problem at hand. 6nly one had responded+and said that helping her would not be possible. elody told her, her, 4God put it on my heart to help you.4 $he gave her the M280 to keep the electricity turned on. er friend was very hesitant to accept the money, money, but, knowing it was coming down to the last minute, she swallowed swallowed her pride pr ide and receive r eceived. d. "n the natural, this seems like elody just happened to be a good person concerned for her friend%s children. =ou =ou could say that she just chose to do it because she was was being nice or doing 4the !hristian thing.4 ctually, ctually, more was going on than elody%s friend reali@ed. y daughter was planting a seed in obedience to God, and e would honor her faithfulness. *our days after elody helped her friend with the electric bill, one of her clients tipped her M280 for the work she had done for his family. family. The couple had no idea why they were tipping so generously. "t was truly God moving on their heart to bless her. her. "t was awesome to hear about elody%s e/planation
to this couple as to why God had told them to give so much. $he could have said, 4This is too much. " can%t receive this.4 "nstead, she was able to e/plain to them that their gift was how God had honored is word to her. ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═
As we discussed in chapter chapter 5, it's a blessing to to partner with ministries that are doing od's wor!. he #ollowing are the testimonies o# o# some o# our partners. partners. ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═
4$ince becoming a partner with 'oan unter inistries, " have seen my finances blessed beyond measure. " recently received a promotion. " was given more territory Cthe only woman ever to get any territory in this companyD and a substantial raise plus bonuses.4 ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═
4" became a partner a few years ago and have traveled traveled with 'oan unter inistries as often as " can. " love ministering with 'oan and being a part of the team. This year, " received a promotion Cwith a pay raiseD and a bonus plan C<7 bonuses a yearD, in addition to permission to travel travel with the ministry ministr y
whenever " need to.4 ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═
4" believed to get out of debt this year. " seeded in 'oan unter unter inistries, and within two weeks, weeks, " was was out of debt.4 ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═
4" was in debt and didn%t know how to get out. " came to a conference, where " repented and planted my seed. 1id God ever bless that seed# " am completely out of debt. Thank =ou, 'esus#4 ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═
4y husband gave me M70 to give in the offering as " left for church. 6ffering time came, c ame, and " gave the M70, plus M32 " had in my pocket. "t was all " had. efore the service was over, over, " receive r eceived d a call c all from my husband, stating that " had received a bonus of over 300 times what " just seeded in the offering that night.4 ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═
4" gave money toward an offering on onday night. Then, on Tuesday, " was going to the car to head to a
service when my neighbor came running outside and gave me an envelope. 6n my way to the service, " opened the envelope. "t was full of M20 bills.4 ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═
4" believed God for money for some new clothes " needed for my new job. " seeded for all my needs to be met. The ne/t week, " received a check and a note specifically saying " was was to use the money for clothes. God cares about everything that concerns us.4 ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═
4" prayed prayed the hindering forces off of my son and his schoolwork. e was later chosen as best in the class to go before the whole school.4 ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═
4y son wanted to get into a particular preparatory school that had turned him down several times. )e listened to your teaching !1 and applied what it said, and, two hours later on a $aturday $aturday, the school sc hool called to tell him he had been accepted.4 ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═
4)e are in the real estate business and hadn%t closed 4)e on anything in four months. )e got your teaching !1
and prayed the prayers. prayers. The ne/t week, we had five closings and more the following week. )e are scheduling a showing every two hours because God%s windows of heaven have opened up over our business.4 ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═
4" am working around my house, confessing, %" am blessed to be a blessing#% nd God%s blessings are pouring in.4 ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═
4" just started a new job at a bank. y responsibility is to bring in new clients. cl ients. fter " had listened to the teaching, si/ new clients brought in over a million dollars to the bank in a time when no new accounts were being opened.4 ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═
4" had put a deposit down for a trip that " had to cancel. fter numerous attempts to get a refund, " applied what was was on your !1. They called me the ne/t week and have have returned some som e of the money. money. The rest is coming ne/t month# 9raise God#4 ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═
4)e are in the commercial real estate business and 4)e have had many deals fall through. )e spoke over each of them with the revelation of your teachings on supernatural financial provision. These %dead% deals have been resurrected and are coming through. Thank you for sharing your revelation.4 ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═
4$omeone owed me money for over si/ years. fter " listened to your teaching on finances, " received a phone call a week later, later, and that person paid me some of the money.4 ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═
4" needed a new truck, truck , and " was believing for a new job that reIuires special training. " listened listened to your your !1 and wrote down my goals and all that " am trusting God to provide. The ne/t day, day, a miracle mirac le truck came across my path. "t is now mine# 9aid for in full# lso, the ne/t day day, the school sc hool opened up for me to get certified for my new job.4 ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═
4" got back more from the "($ this year than " made in 2000. " gav g ave e into the kingdom more than two times what " made in 2000. The more " give, the more "
receive. God can trust me with is increase. This is not bragging on meE it is bragging on im#4 ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═
)e gave a sacrificial gift of M8 in your service last week. efore we left the meeting, God told someone to give give us a check c heck for M800+the e/act amount we were believing for# Thank =ou, 'esus.4 ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═
4" needed to have my truck repaired. The estimate from the shop was M;00. " walked around my house, saying, %" am blessed to be a blessing#% )hen " went to pick up my vehicle, the total read M580. )hen " Iuestioned the repairman about the difference, he said, %a%am, someone just came in and paid half the bill#% Thank =ou, 'esus#4 ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═
4" had a lawsuit lawsuit pending regarding a large settlement. This situation was holding up payment payment of my money. " listened to your !1 on $upernatural 9rovision and prayed the prayers. The lawsuit was dropped the ne/t morning. Thank =ou, 'esus#4 ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═
4" needed my car repaired while " was on vacation. "t was going to cost cos t M780, which was was not in my budget. )hen " went to pick up the car, the bill had already been paid. Thank =ou, 'esus#4 ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═
4y daughter was ha having ving a hard time getting pregnant after two and a half years of trying. " got your !1 on finances financ es and prayed the prayer regarding hindrances that were keeping her from getting pregnant. $he got pregnant that week# Thank =ou, =ou, 'esus.4 'esus.4 ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═
4fter hearing you speak on finances, " feel like " can hope again. =our teachings have been such a blessing. " feel so good to have my hope renewed and believe that prosperity is on its way#4 ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═
couple was believing to get out of debt Iuickly. man walked up to them at church and gave them a check fol a thousand dollars as he said, 4God told me to give you this#4 ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═
4$omeone sent me M3,000 for the *ourth of 'uly# 'uly# blessing for freedom#4 ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═
4" am buying my first house. The price is 55 percent off the appraised value# Thank =ou, 'esus#4 ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═
4" am seeding, and even my children are getting blessed financially#4 ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═
4" applied for a job, along with 80 other applicants. " was the only one called back for a second interview. interview. " got the job#4 ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═
4)e are continuing our study of $upernatural 4)e 9rovision and trying to get in sync with the practice of scriptural giving. This month, we sowed M333.33 into your ministry. This week, the Aord removed a debt of M33,800.00 that we had been carrying. Totally God# )e are in awe# Glory to God and to im only#4 ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═
4)e are currently 4)e curr ently shopping for a new home to move into+one that is ours. " now tell everyone " talk to about $upernatural 9rovision+the message is life altering# 1on%t just listen to it. =ou have to do what it says# says# "f you do, " guarantee that it will change your life#4 ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═
4" was a single mom for over five years. )e had a time of financial difficulty, as you might e/pect. y e/-husband abandoned us and paid no child support. y son and " had all of our basic needs met, according to the )ord of the Aord, but " was praying for more. 4" heard 'oan talking about $upernatural 9rovision in 'anuary 200<. " listened to to her teaching !1 at at least five times driving back and forth to work. " kept hearing about all the financial breakthroughs and miracles that were happening to other people, and, to be honest, " was Iuite frustrated. " went to the Aord in prayer one day and cried out, saying, %Aord# " keep hearing about all these miracles happening for other people. )hy aren%t they happening for meJ% The Aord told me, %That%s because you%ve only been listening to the !1. =ou haven%t done what it says.% 4fter hearing that, " listened to the !1 once more,
but, this time, " sat down at my dining room table, and " did what 'oan said. " made the lists, said the prayers, prayers, and called in those things 'oan declared that God says we can have. 4$ure enough, right after that, " got engaged and married a short time later to a wonderful man who is also a great father. e owns a two-story house in a very nice area of ouston and treats me really well.4 ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═
4"n 200>, after hearing the teaching on $upernatural 9rovision, " prayed the prayer prayer of repentance r epentance for all of my past sins in the area a rea of finances+for any foolish spending, for any time " hadn%t tithed, t ithed, and for any time " hadn%t given an offering when God had spoken to my heart to do so. 4y daughter graduated from college in 1ecember 200> as a teacher and started looking for a job+ slowly at first but full steam ahead beginning in arch 2030. $he went to job fairs, looked online regularly, regularly, and sent s ent her resume to almost every school district within a 80-mile radius around the ouston area. &o results# 4er heart%s desire was to work at the school where she had completed her internship, internship, but there were no openings. *inally, *inally, in the t he month when school would begin for the 2030-2033 school year, year, a position opened at that school. $he immediately applied in
person. )hen she submitted her application and resume, she was told told that the position had been filled. *eeling *eeling disappointed and discouraged, she told me about ten days days before school was to start that she was just going to start looking for a job she was was Iualified for outside of the teaching profession. 4$he had heard about a position at an orphanage and said she planned to apply the ne/t day. The job sounded good. 4efore she went to bed that night, " said, %Aet%s pray before you go.% )e prayed the prayer from 'oan%s financial teaching concerning hindering spirits, and we commanded all hindering spirits, voices, or forces that were hindering her from getting the job God had ordained for her to go, in 'esus% name# 4)e called forth the job God had chosen for her, in 4)e 'esus% name. name. ma@ingly+thank =ou, =ou, 'esus+the 'esus+the ne/t day around around lunchtime, she got a call to come in to interview for the teaching job at the school where she had done her internship+the job she had previously been told was already filled. 4$he was hired and started working the very ne/t day, day, attending meetings and setting up her thirdgrade classroom just the way she wanted it# God truly gave her the desires of her heart, appro/imately twelve hours after we had prayed against hindering spirits# )hat a mighty God we serve#4
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woman was depending on child support from her e/-husband. )hen he was arrested and imprisoned, all support stopped. "n order to feed her children, she used credit cards to purchase food. 6ne day, someone contacted her and told her he wanted to pay off her credit cards. $he was prepared to receive God%s blessings. God supplied over and abundantly to meet her needs. ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═ ═
WHAT IS YOUR TESTIMONY God wants wants to pour out the blessings of heaven in every area of your life, as well. re you readyJ re you prepared to sowJ re you prepared to receiveJ re your barns built and ready r eady to receive receive is overwhelming harvest of blessingsJ 9erhaps you don%t want a barn. 1o you have a savings account ready and waitingJ (ight now, God wants you to get into alignment with the )ord )ord so that e can open the windows of heaven and pour out is blessings on you. re you going to open your umbrella to protect yourself from those blessingsJ " doubt it. =ou will turn that umbrella upside down and catch everything God wants to send
your way. way. 1o not look to the natural for your income. God is your 9rovider, 9rovider, and e will supernaturally provide all you need. ere is something fun you can do? dd up everything you owe. )hyJ To make you feel badJ &o# =ou never knowE someone might walk up to you and say, 4ow much do you oweJ " want to write a check right now to pay pay off all your debts#4 !ould you answer himJ e prepared. 9lan on it happening to you# "nclude your mortgage, your car loan, and your credit card c ard liabilities. /pect it# )hen you go to the mailbo/, say, 4*ather, " am e/cited about what =ou are going to send.4 "f there is something in your mailbo/, say, say, 49raise God#4
:ight now now, God wants wants you you to get get into alignment with the &ord so that He can open the windows of heaven and pour out His blessings on you. "f there isn%t anything, say, 4&ot today,4 or 4&ot yet, but it is coming.4 1on%t be negative. $peak positive words in faith, and trust God to provide. e will get it to you if e can get it through you#
This is my prayer on your behalf?
!ather !ather,, thank "ou "ou for for "our "our &ord. &ord. 3hank 3hank "ou for freely giving us "our keys to success in this life. 3hank "ou for opening our eyes and hearts to understand "our instruction. !ather !ather,, in response response to their their obedience to to "our &ord, bless those who read this book by giving them creativity and diligence to make money to seed into "our "our kingdom. !ather !ather,, give give them wisdom on on how to to increase what they already have and wisdom on how to spend the finances with which "ou "ou have blessed them. &e will all re9oice and praise "ou for "our faithfulness to always keep "our promises. 3hank "ou, !ather !ather,, in %esus' %esus' name. name.
CONCLUSION GODS GREATEST PRO
Ad the%e/$%e the L$%d e!%estl, #!its e2(e-ti' l$$+i' !d l$i t$ *e %!-i$&s t$ ,$&0 !d the%e/$%e He li/ts Hisel/ &(' th!t He !, h!.e h!.e e%-, $ ,$& !d sh$# l$.i7+idess t$ ,$&) F$% F$% the L$%d is ! G$d $/ &sti-e) &sti- e) Blessed :h!((,' :h!((,' /$%t&!te' t$ *e e.ied= !%e !ll th$se #h$ e!%estl, #!it #!it /$% Hi' #h$ e2(e-t !d l$$+ l$$ + !d l$ /$% Hi /$% His .i-t$%,' His /!.$%' /!.$%' His l$.e' His (e!-e' His $,' $,' !d His !t-hless' &*%$+e -$(!i$shi(@ 3Is!i!h >618 :!(= " cannot teach on God%s wondrous blessings without discussing is most precious gift to mankind. )ithout this gift, most of what you have have been studying throughout this book would not be possible. =ou =ou could not receive is blessings. =ou =ou would not understand them. =ou =ou could not be part of the body of !hrist. "nstead, you would be on your way way to destruction. God sent is $on 'esus to die in your place so that you could be reconciled to im. &o amount of wealth, finances, or riches can eIual the value of the precious gift of 'esus !hrist. ecause of is substitutionary death, you received your ultimate
inheritance+eternal, abundant life in im. =ou =ou are not waiting to receive it at some future dateE you have it# owever, you have to accept it, and you have to claim it. The most precious gift God freely shares with you is the most valuable blessing ever bestowed. &othing can surpass or eIual the treasure that has been given to you. ach person has to simply accept, believe, and receive.
prospering.> *verything depends on putting %esus %esus 7hrist on the throne of of your life life and living living to serve serve Him first. Through 'esus, you have everything. =ou have the right to ask God the *ather *ather for what you need, the right to pray in 'esus% name, and the right to eternal life. The sacrificial blood of 'esus gives you the freedom to live in and enjoy all of God%s creation. c reation. =ou =ou win the big pri@e, you can have it all# 'esus lives lives within you. e saved you. e teaches you. e is everything to you. &othing can surpass the value of 'esus+God%s 'esus+God%s gift to the world, world, to you. " love 5 'ohn 2? 4eloved, " pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul
prospers.4 ll the financial prosperity in the world will not satisfy you unless your soul is 4prospering.4 verything depends on putting 'esus !hrist on the throne of your life and living to serve im first. F$% G$d s$ l$.ed the #$%ld th!t He !.e His $l, *e$tte S$' th!t #h$e.e% *elie.es i Hi sh$&ld $t (e%ish *&t h!.e e.e%l!sti li/e) :4$h >61= "n order to be on the winning side, you must believe in 'esus and be saved. This is the greatest blessing of all. &ow is a great opportunity to rededicate your life to God or even come to the Aord for the first time. $ay this aloud?
!ather !ather,, I have have sinned. sinned. I repent repent of my my sin. 3ake this sin from me and place it on the cross of %esus 7hrist, never to be held against me again. %esus, I ask "ou to come into my life and be the ord of my life. Eot 9ust my my $avior $avior,, but also the ord of of my life. !ather !ather,, through through "our "our Holy Holy $pirit, lead me and guide me into all "ou have for me to do. I thank "ou "ou that, from from this day day forward, forward, my steps are ordered by "ou.
!ather !ather,, I thank "ou "ou for not only saving saving me, in %esus' name, but also for supernaturally prospering prospering me in every every area of of my life( body, mind, soul, spirit, and finances.
=ou =ou now have have the treasure of of the world within within your heart. =ou have the mind of !hrist. =ou have all the wealth of your *ather at your disposal. =ou are a joint heir with 'esus 'esus of everything everything the *ather *ather can give give you. is $pirit is within you, and you have have eternal life. C$ee (omans
!hristian believers who will stand with you in agreement for more miracles. !hoose to live by God%s economy and enjoy is bountiful blessings# elieve. Give. Give. $hare. (eceive. (eceive. 9lant. arvest. ar vest. e blessed# 9raise im# =ou =ou can now add to to your 4lessing Aist.4 =ou =ou have have received? R God%s oly $pirit within you R ternal life R &ew earthly life R new heart R The mind of !hrist R 1ivine protection R *reedom R 9eace R Aove R 'oy =ou =ou are heaven heaven bound. $ee you you there#
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
t the tender age of twelve, 'oan unter committed her life to !hrist and began faithfully serving serv ing in ministry alongside her parents, !harles and *rances unter. Together, they traveled around the globe conducting ealing /plosions and ealing $chools. 'oan is an anointed anointed healing evangelist, evangelist, a dynamic teacher, and a best-selling author. $he is the founder and president of 'oan unter inistries, earts 7 im, and 7 !orners *oundation, and she is also the president of unter inistries. 'oan%s television appearances have been broadcast around the world on )orld )orld arvest &etwork, "nspiration &etwork, 1aystar, *aith TF, !ornerstone TF, The !hurch !hannel, Total !hristian Television, !hristian Television &etwork, )atchmen roadcasting, and God TF. TF. 'oan has also been the featured guest on many national television and radio shows, including $id (oth%s "t%s $upernatural#, "t%s a &ew 1ay, The iracle !hannel, The 9atricia ing $how, $how, and many others. Together, 'oan and her powerful international healing ministry have ministered in miracle services and conducted healing schools throughout numerous countries in a world characteri@ed by brokenness and pain. aving emerged victorious through tragic circumstances, impossible obstacles, and
immeasurable devastation, devastation, 'oan shares her personal message of hope and restoration to the brokenhearted, deliverance deliverance and freedom to the bound, and healing and wholeness to the diseased. er vision is to see the body of !hrist live in freedom, happiness, wholeness, and financial wellness. 'oan lives lives with her husband, elley elley urrell, in 9inehurst, Te/as. Together, they have eight children +four daughters daughters and four sons+and four grandchildren.
