EMBRACING NEW THINKING FOR ALL ROUND PROSPERITY
TEXT: PROVERBS 23:7, ROMANS 12:1-2, PHILIPPIANS 4:8, PSALM 35:27, 3 JOHN 2.
Proverbs: 23. 7. For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee.
Romans: 12. 1. I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Philippians: 4. 8. Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
Psalm: 35. 27. Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favour my righteous cause: yea, let them say continually, Let the LORD be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant.
3 John: 1. 2. Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.
INTRODUCTION
There is one rule or principle we should always follow in our lives, marriage, ministries, jobs, businesses, careers, and in everything else we do. It is the principle that new growth comes from new thinking. It is impossible to ascend to new level in life if your old way of thinking is not challenged and discarded.
New thinking leads to new understanding, and new understanding leads to new approaches. When we change our approach to things, our results change as well.
If you want to grow, progress and prosper in any area of your life, you must improve your understanding of that area and change your approach. When these two forces are in place, your life will be positively impacted, and things will begin to move in the direction and fashion you desire.
WHAT IS NEW THINKING?
New means: 1. Not old, Novel, fresh, of recent origin.
- Recent, modern, of the present day.
- Just discovered, recently made known, strange.
- Unaccustomed, unused (Tear rubber)
- Repaired, renovated, reinvigorated.
- Starting , commencing, renovated.
Thinking means: 1. Reflection, meditation, cogitation, musing, contemplation.
- Judgment, opinion, thought, belief, mind. Prosperity is: The state of being prosperous; advance or gain in anything good or desirable; successful progress in any business or enterprise; attainment of the object desired; good fortune; success.
Prosperity is beyond acquisition of money or wealth and riches. It is an all inclusive blessings of God. It involves spiritual, mental and physical prosperity. Prov. 10:22; 3 John 2.
Proverbs: 10. 22. The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.
3 John: 1. 2. Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.
WHY PROSPERITY?
- Prosperity is part of the original plan of God for man right from the creation of the world in the garden of Eden. The garden was a garden of affluence, peace and prosperity until Adam and Eve lost their inheritance to the devil through disobedience. Gen. 1:1-3, 31, 2:8-16.
Genesis: 1. 1. In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. 2. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. 3. And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. 31. And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.
Genesis: 2. 8. And the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed. 9. And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil. 10. And a river went out of Eden to water the garden; and from thence it was parted, and became into four heads. 11. The name of the first is Pison: that is it which compasseth the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold; 12. And the gold of that land is good: there is bdellium and the onyx stone. 13. And the name of the second river is Gihon: the same is it that compasseth the whole land of Ethiopia. 14. And the name of the third river is Hiddekel: that is it which goeth toward the east of Assyria. And the fourth river is Euphrates. 15. And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it. 16. And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: - God is a wealthy and prosperous God. He is Prosperity personified. This God is your Father if you are redeemed and saved by the blood of Jesus on the cross of Calvary. God is the owner of everything both in heaven and on earth. He owns silver and gold in His possession. Even the streets of heaven are paved with gold and other costly gems. Psalm 50:9-12; Hag. 2:6-8; Rev. 21:1, 18-21.
Psalm: 50. 9. I will take no bullock out of thy house, nor he goats out of thy folds. 10. For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills. 11. I know all the fowls of the mountains: and the wild beasts of the field are mine. 12. If I were hungry, I would not tell thee: for the world is mine, and the fulness thereof.
Haggai: 2. 6. For thus saith the LORD of hosts; Yet once, it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land; 7. And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith the LORD of hosts. 8. The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the LORD of hosts.
Revelation: 21. 1. And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. 18. And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass. 19. And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald; 20. The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst. 21. And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass. - The Patriarchs of old experienced and enjoyed untold prosperity. Gen. 13:1-2, 24:34-35, 26:12-14, 33:9.
Genesis: 13. 1. And Abram went up out of Egypt, he, and his wife, and all that he had, and Lot with him, into the south. 2. And Abram was very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold.
Genesis: 24. 34. And he said, I am Abraham’s servant. 35. And the LORD hath blessed my master greatly; and he is become great: and he hath given him flocks, and herds, and silver, and gold, and menservants, and maidservants, and camels, and asses.
Genesis: 26. 12. Then Isaac sowed in that land, and received in the same year an hundredfold: and the LORD blessed him. 13. And the man waxed great, and went forward, and grew until he became very great: 14. For he had possession of flocks, and possessions of herds, and great store of servants: and the Philistines envied him.
Genesis: 33. 9. And Esau said, I have enough, my brother; keep that thou hast unto thyself. - When God was to take the Israelites out of Egypt, the land bondage and poverty, He painted prosperity image in their minds. He eventually took them to a land of prosperity, a land flowing with milk and honey. He also caused them to be possessors of silver and gold. They didn’t lack. Exo. 11:1-3, 12:35-36; Psa. 105:36-37.
Exodus: 11. 1. And the LORD said unto Moses, Yet will I bring one plague more upon Pharaoh, and upon Egypt; afterwards he will let you go hence: when he shall let you go, he shall surely thrust you out hence altogether. 2. Speak now in the ears of the people, and let every man borrow of his neighbour, and every woman of her neighbour, jewels of silver, and jewels of gold. 3. And the LORD gave the people favour in the sight of the Egyptians. Moreover the man Moses was very great in the land of Egypt, in the sight of Pharaoh’s servants, and in the sight of the people.
Exodus: 12. 35. And the children of Israel did according to the word of Moses; and they borrowed of the Egyptians jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment: 36. And the LORD gave the people favour in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they lent unto them such things as they required. And they spoiled the Egyptians.
Psalm: 105. 36. He smote also all the firstborn in their land, the chief of all their strength. 37. He brought them forth also with silver and gold: and there was not one feeble person among their tribes. - The various Kings of Israel and Judah whose lives were pleasing to God enjoyed all round prosperity. 1 Chro. 29:1-5; 2 Chron. 1:6-12, 15; 32:27.
1 Chronicles: 29. 1. Furthermore David the king said unto all the congregation, Solomon my son, whom alone God hath chosen, is yet young and tender, and the work is great: for the palace is not for man, but for the LORD God. 2. Now I have prepared with all my might for the house of my God the gold for things to be made of gold, and the silver for things of silver, and the brass for things of brass, the iron for things of iron, and wood for things of wood; onyx stones, and stones to be set, glistering stones, and of divers colours, and all manner of precious stones, and marble stones in abundance. 3. Moreover, because I have set my affection to the house of my God, I have of mine own proper good, of gold and silver, which I have given to the house of my God, over and above all that I have prepared for the holy house, 4. Even three thousand talents of gold, of the gold of Ophir, and seven thousand talents of refined silver, to overlay the walls of the houses withal: 5. The gold for things of gold, and the silver for things of silver, and for all manner of work to be made by the hands of artificers. And who then is willing to consecrate his service this day unto the LORD?
2 Chronicles: 1. 6. And Solomon went up thither to the brasen altar before the LORD, which was at the tabernacle of the congregation, and offered a thousand burnt offerings upon it. 7. In that night did God appear unto Solomon, and said unto him, Ask what I shall give thee. 8. And Solomon said unto God, Thou hast shewed great mercy unto David my father, and hast made me to reign in his stead. 9. Now , O LORD God, let thy promise unto David my father be established: for thou hast made me king over a people like the dust of the earth in multitude. 10. Give me now wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people: for who can judge this thy people, that is so great? 11. And God said to Solomon, Because this was in thine heart, and thou hast not asked riches, wealth, or honour, nor the life of thine enemies, neither yet hast asked long life; but hast asked wisdom and knowledge for thyself, that thou mayest judge my people, over whom I have made thee king: 12. Wisdom and knowledge is granted unto thee; and I will give thee riches, and wealth, and honour, such as none of the kings have had that have been before thee, neither shall there any after thee have the like. 15. And the king made silver and gold at Jerusalem as plenteous as stones, and cedar trees made he as the sycomore trees that are in the vale for abundance.
2 Chronicles: 32. 27. And Hezekiah had exceeding much riches and honour: and he made himself treasuries for silver, and for gold, and for precious stones, and for spices, and for shields, and for all manner of pleasant jewels; - God takes delight in the prosperity of His people. Psa. 35:27.
Psalm: 35. 27. Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favour my righteous cause: yea, let them say continually, Let the LORD be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant. - Our Lord Jesus came to give us a prosperous life of abundance and peace. He exemplified a life of prosperity in His earthly ministry. He never lacked, neither was He stranded at anytime. John 10:10; 2 Cor. 8:9.
John: 10. 10. The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
2 Corinthians: 8. 9. For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich. - The early Church and the Apostles also enjoyed prosperity untold. No lack or poverty was ever mentioned in their midst. Acts 2:44-47, 4:32-35.
Acts: 2. 44. And all that believed were together, and had all things common; 45. And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. 46. And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, 47. Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.
Acts: 4. 32. And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common. 33. And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all. 34. Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, 35. And laid them down at the apostles’ feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need. - Apostle John-the Beloved was also given a great revelation on the Island of Patmos about God’s ultimate wish and prayer for His children, which is all round or total prosperity. 3 John 2.
3 John: 1. 2. Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth. - God’s end time plan and agenda for His church is to spread the gospel of His Kingdom to the whole world through Prosperity. Zech. 1:17.
Zechariah: 1. 17. Cry yet, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; My cities through prosperity shall yet be spread abroad; and the LORD shall yet comfort Zion, and shall yet choose Jerusalem.