1 24 10 HT AM First Series Part 3 – Kingdom Discovery – Prosperity
First Series Part 3 – Kingdom Discovery – Prosperity
1/24/10 HT AM
Matthew 6:31-33 NKJV
Matthew 6:31 NKJV
“Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’
Matthew 6:32
For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.
Matthew 6:33
But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
One of the consistent practices in the life and ministry of Jesus was talking about the kingdom of God.
Matthew 4:17 NKJV
From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
The word repent means “ a complete change of mind and thinking – a whole new mentality – a complete change of direction”.
How we think determines what direction we will go and what transformation will or will not take place
Romans 12:2 NKJV
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
In our FIRST series we are seeking to discover as much as we can about the kingdom of God through life application, and tangible examples of being in the kingdom, today we are going to talk about Kingdom Prosperity – Discovering Gods plan for your provision and prosperity
3 John 1:2 NKJV
Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.
Question: What do you think is the key to prospering?
Matthew 22:15 NKJV
Then the Pharisees went and plotted how they might entangle Him in His talk.
Matthew 22:16
And they sent to Him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that You are true, and teach the way of God in truth; nor do You care about anyone, for You do not regard the person of men.
Matthew 22:17
Tell us, therefore, what do You think? Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?”
Matthew 22:18
But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, “Why do you test Me, you hypocrites?
Matthew 22:19
Show Me the tax money.”
So they brought Him a denarius.
Matthew 22:20
And He said to them, “Whose image and inscription is this?”
Matthew 22:21
They said to Him, “Caesar’s.”
And He said to them, “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”
The Pharisees were trying to get Jesus to disengage from His kingdom values. All kingdoms have some form of taxation/economic system which allow its citizens to participate in that kingdoms infrastructure – the Pharisees never asked about giving anything to God, however Jesus knowing there hearts was able to address the greater question and need even when it was not asked.
The reply of Christ to this attempt to confuse reflects his strong support of participation in a kingdom – whether man made or God made kingdom.
I earlier asked the question what is the key to kingdom prosperity – here is the answer.
The key to kingdom prosperity is GENEROSITY
Gods Generosity:
1. God exampled generosity–
Genesis 1:28 NKJV
Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”
Genesis 1:29
And God said, “See, I have given you every herb that yields seed which is on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit yields seed; to you it shall be for food.
Genesis 1:30
Also, to every beast of the earth, to every bird of the air, and to everything that creeps on the earth, in which there is life, I have given every green herb for food”; and it was so.
God creates man and expresses His generosity with words like; dominion, given and every. God held nothing back, His generosity is revealed in creation.
2. God’s expression of generosity is daily -
Psalm 24:1 NKJV
The earth is the Lord’S, and all its fullness,
The world and those who dwell therein.
Psalm 24:2
For He has founded it upon the seas,
And established it upon the waters.
Your entire life experience is an extension of His generosity. EVERYTHING IS HIS! A big part of the Kingdom concept is the discovery that you only have what the King allows.
A word we have uncovered in our FIRST series is righteousness. We have learned that this word simple means to be standing in the right alignment with God. Lets talk about going generous in life.
Going Generous:
1. Righteousness produces generosity
Psalm 37:21-22 MSG 21-22
Wicked borrows and never returns; Righteous gives and gives.
Generous gets it all in the end; Stingy is cut off at the pass.
2. Generosity provides for generations
Psalm 37:25 ESV
I have been young, and now am old,
yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken
or his children begging for bread.
Psalm 37:26
He is ever lending generously,
and his children become a blessing.
3. Generosity preserves an inheritance
Psalm 37:28 ESV
For the Lord loves justice;
he will not forsake his saints.
They are preserved forever,
but the children of the wicked shall be cut off.
Psalm 37:29
The righteous shall inherit the land
and dwell upon it forever.
All of us want production, provision and preservation; we miss it in that we try to obtain all these through the power of the property we own. This brings us to the great challenge in life – releasing!
Matthew 19:21 NKJV
Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”
Matthew 19:22
But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.
Matthew 19:23
Then Jesus said to His disciples, “Assuredly, I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 19:24
And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”
God cannot give you dominion where you will not accept deliverance.
Become generous toward God, He will cover the other needs/ wants and desires in life.
Ministry Time – each person -offering envelope (read)
2 Corinthians 9:8 NKJV
And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.
2 Corinthians 9:9
As it is written:
“He has dispersed abroad,
He has given to the poor;
His righteousness endures forever.” ◙
2 Corinthians 9:10
Now ◙ may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness,
2 Corinthians 9:11
while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God.
Offering envelope – write down your weekly/ bi/ monthly/ annual tithe and your desired offering. Going to pray over these for God to put the seed in your hand!
Additional Reading –
- Parable of the Rich Fool Luke 12
- Treasure in Heaven Matthew 6:19-21
Tithe Malachi 3