Foundations of Faith

Prosperity (Lesson Eight)

3 John 2

“Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul
prospereth.”

What does God own?

1. God owns the world and the earth with all its fullness. (Psalm 24:1)

2. God owns all the silver and all the gold. (Haggai 2:8)

3. God owns all the animals and all the beasts of the field. (Psalm 50:10)

4. God made all these things, and he put them in the earth for His man (mankind). Man fell
and the earth was cursed. Satan became the god of this world (2 Corinthians 4:4)
controlling the wealth and resources of this earth through wicked selfish men; using the
material wealth of this earth to help build his kingdom.

God made us stewards over the earth.

1. A steward is a caretaker; you are hired and responsible for taking care of others’
property or possessions.

2. God owns everything, but He has given it into the hands of His people (stewards) to use
it and be responsible for managing it until the return of Jesus Christ. (Matthew 25:14)

3. God is moving the wealth of the unjust (wicked) into the hands of those who are called
by His name, the just or righteous. (Proverbs 13:22) Why? So He can establish His
covenant throughout the earth or build His kingdom.

4. God is empowering His people with the ability to gain wealth, and finance the spread of
the gospel. (Deuteronomy 8:18)

5. God instructed a rich young ruler, who was already prosperous in this natural world, on
how to prosper in the kingdom of God. Jesus was teaching His disciples the law of
sowing and reaping. (Mark 10: 17-31)

6. God instructs you as good steward to not put your trust in riches and to not allow riches
to be your god. You should always be willing to share or “communicate” with others.
 Your trust should always be in the living God and not in the abundance of things. (1
Timothy 6:17-18)

What should be your attitude?

1. God wants to prosper you so that you can be blessed and be a blessing to others.
One of your main purposes in life is to be a constant channel of blessing to others for
the glory of God; living to give and giving to live. (2 Corinthians 9:8)

2. God does not want you to be greedy or to allow the love of money to change your
attitude toward giving. “For the love of money is the root of all evil.” (1 Timothy
6:10)

What are some principles of prosperity?

1. Poverty is a curse, not a blessing. You as a believer have been set free from the curse by
the sacrifice of Jesus. (Galatians 3: 13-14)

2. Jesus was sent to destroy the works of the devil, which include poverty and lack. (1 John
3:8; Deuteronomy 28: 38-48)

3. Sowing and reaping is God’s plan to meet the needs of His people.

4. Tithing is a basic principle in receiving the prosperity of God.

a. Tithing is returning back ten percent of your increase to God.

b. Tithing allows God to open the windows of heaven (revelation, anointing, ideas
and blessings) on your behalf, and to protect you from the works of the devil.
(Malachi 3: 10-12)

c. Tithing was instituted by God over 400 years before the Law of Moses came into
effect. (Genesis 14:20)

d. The tithe belongs to God and used mainly for temple maintenance. It is to be
brought into the storehouse, the local church where you are being fed and
nurtured. (Leviticus 27:30)

e. By not paying tithes, you can “rob God” from blessing you. He says “You are
cursed with a curse.” (Malachi 3:8-9) You can close up heaven over your life.
 5. Giving of offerings and giving of alms (to the poor) are also powerful prosperity
principles. God promises to measure back to you I abundance all that you give for the
kingdom of God. (Luke 6:38; 2 Corinthians 9:6; Proverbs 19:17)

6. As a Believer, God is your source. You need to rely on God and His kingdom provisions to
provide all of your need in the earth. (Philippians 4:19) “Seek ye first the kingdom of
God and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” (Matthew
6:33)

CONCLUSION

Prosperity is the will of God for your life. It is important for you as a believer to know that as
God brings the blessings of prosperity to you through faith, you must make sure you are good
steward. You must make sure that you keep an attitude of giving and do all you can to spread
the Gospel of Jesus Christ to a lost and dying world.

Memory Verse

1. 2 Corinthians 9:8
2. 3 John 2
3. Psalm 35:27