DATE: – SUNDAY 20TH SEPTEMER, 2020
TOPIC: – GOD’S DOCTRINE OF PROSPERITY
BIBLE PASSAGE: –
MEMORY VERSE: – “Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in good health, even as thy soul prospereth” (3John 1:2)
INTRODUCTION: – It is God’s provision and plan that His people be healthy and that their lives reflect His care and goodness and be accompanied by His blessings. God wants all to go well with us, meaning that He desires for our lives, families, work, plans and service for Him to go according to His purposes and directions. For this reason God’s blessings and provisions made available through the life and personal sacrifice of His dear son, Jesus Christ are provided to meet both physical and spiritual needs.
LESSON OUTLINES
1) God’s Plans To Bless And Prosper His Children
The Bible teaches that God our Father has plans to both physically and spiritually bless and prosper us.
* The word translated “prosper” (ak. Euodoo) literally means “to have a good journey, to be led along a good road”. According to that meaning, we are to walk the road of relationship with Christ (1Jh.1:7; 2:6; 2Jhn.1:6), we may continue to follow His truth and to experience life “more abundantly” (Jh.10:10) the overall purpose, blessing and fulfillment that He desires for us.
* God desires that we earn enough to provide the necessities of shelter, food and clothing for ourselves and our families and that we have enough to help others as needed and to contribute to Christ’s cause (Phil.4:15-19). According to His purposes, God will provide the means to do so. But whatever our means or circumstances, God is able to give us enough for our needs (2Corint.9:8-12), and He promises to supply our needs “according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Phil.4:19).
* Although we should trust God to supply all our material needs, we must recognize the Bible’s teaching that He may allow us to experience a times of need.
(a) We may sometimes experience need with the purpose of challenging and encouraging us to trust God more. Such time can build, develop and strengthen our faith and spiritual endurance. They also help us to effectively relate and minister to others who are in need, particularly those with whom we have shared common experiences (Rm.8:35-39; 2Corin.4:7-12; 6:4-10; 12:7-10; 1Pt.1:6-7).
(b) We may at times, endure difficulty and distress when our faith and service to Christ bring opposition and persecution from te world (Lk.6:20-23; Heb.10;32-34; 1Pt.2:19-21; Rev.2:9-10).
(c) We may experience lack or even poverty die to national disasters or natural circumstances, such as war, famine, drought or poor economic or social conditions (Acts 11:28-30; 2Corint.82, 12-14).
(d) God’s presence, help and blessing in our physical lives are related to the health and prosperity of our spiritual lives.
This does not mean that everyone who experiences exceptional health is spiritually healthy or that those who experience ill health are necessarily lacking spiritually. It simply means that we are faithful to Christ, He will bless us in all ways and provide everything He desires for us so that our lives honour Him and fulfill His purposes.
Consequently, we must:
* Seek God’s desires (Ps.37:4), pursue its plans and purposes (Mt.6:10; 26:39; Heb.10:7-9) and obey the Holy Spirit (Rm. 8:10). We must also remain separated from corruption of the world (Rm.12:1-2; 2Corint.6”16-18), love God’s Word (Jos.1:8; 1Pt.
2:2), ask for His help in prayer (Mt.6:9-13; Heb.4:16), work hard (2Th.3:6-12), trust Him to supply our needs (Mt.6:25-34; 1Pt.5:7) and give priority to His Kingdom and standards above all else (Mt.6:33).
SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION
Although our souls maybe getting along well in a spiritual sense, this does not remove all difficulties from other areas of our lives. When adversity, troubles and needs come our way, we must rely on God and commit our needs and situations to Him in prayer and we are sure that He will answer us (Jh.14:13-14).
QUESTIONS
- What are the plans of God for His Children prosperity?
- Does the well-being of our souls in spiritual sense preclude us from difficulties and trials?