II Corinthians 8:9NKJV. For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.
We begin with a question, why Prosperity? Why is the Church teaching on Prosperity? Is God interested in our financial well – being? These questions are asked with the bias of the reality of many people in Church who have continuously remained in abject poverty all through the year without no change in their financial status…so they conclude its not pastors business to teach on prosperity. Rather church is meant only to help our character formation and to help us make heaven. (I have been at that level of such thoughts, before).
So let’s look at some examples from the Old Testament of people who prospered. You will agree with me from their stories that their prosperity were attributed to God – based on their relationship with God. (Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, David, Solomon)
- Abraham – Genesis 12:1 – 3, Genesis 15, Genesis 24:1 (Blessed in all ways – becoming)
- Isaac – Genesis 26
- Jacob – Genesis 27:26 – 27, Genesis 32.
- Joseph – Genesis 39 – 42. Genesis 39:1 – 6 (especially 2). God Prospered a Slave
- David – I Samuel 16:13, I Kings 1:47
- Solomon – twice God appeared to Him.
Maybe you are in doubts; saying Yes! Pastor, all those examples were in the Old Testament we are now living the New Testament. Great!
We may not be able to say that Jesus Christ while on Earth (during His Earthly Ministry) made anyone stupendously Wealth. But you will agree with me that, He didn’t allow anyone to lack the basic necessities of life (food, health); to the extent that He performed miracles to ensure multiplication of food and healings.
So let’s wrap off our answer to the question as we relate it to our today. So let’s read from the Scriptures again, since the Scripture is the Script of Our Future.
II Corinthians 9:8 NLT And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others.
So from the Scripture have just read, we should have an answer to our question now. The Scriptures didn’t promise us that we will all be rich like “Aliko Dangote” or “Jack Ma” or “Bill Gates” “Mark Zuckerberg”. But, he promised your needs will be meet; that some of us will have excess to the extent of sharing to others.
Listen, if God decides to make you one of the World’s wealthy person it has a purpose (Why Prosperity?)
II Corinthians 9:8 NLT And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others.
The argument is resolved! God is very much interested in our Prosperity.
“Our Supernatural Provision (Prosperity – High Success) has been provided on the platform of GRACE.”
All Christ provided for our well-being in this dispensation was provided in GRACE.
Grace birthed the provision for our FREEDOM from SIN. Freedom from the consequences of SIN (POVERTY, SICKNESSES – DISEASES, OPPRESSION, OBSESSIONS).
Ephesians 2:8 – 9. NIV For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.
We can never attain righteousness before God or be free from the nature and consequences of Sin, except through Jesus Christ. (That is, the main definition of Prosperity – Get prepared our next study will be on the true definition of Prosperity).
Our freedom from SIN only comes from Christ John 14:6 NKJV
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
This is the goodness to our discussion this morning, on this same platform of GRACE our PROSPERITY was birthed.
Ephesians 2:8 – 9. NIV For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.
II Corinthians 8:9NKJV. For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.
What does this mean? What GOD has provided (Supernatural Provision) can never be attained by LABOUR rather its by FAVOUR, (it’s a Gift from God).
Let’s read II Corinthians 8:9 from the difference versions.
For you are becoming progressively acquainted with and recognizing more strongly and clearly the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ (His kindness, His gracious generosity, His undeserved favor and spiritual blessing), [in] that though He was [so very] rich, yet for your sakes He became [so very] poor, in order that by His poverty you might become enriched (abundantly supplied). AMPLIFIED
You know the generous grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty he could make you rich. NLT
You know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. You know that he gave up his heavenly riches for you. He gave up everything so that you could be richly blessed. EASY-TO-READ
So for us in Christ, Jesus Christ had already made the provision. Making an exchange upon the cross. He took the consequences of our SIN upon Him and gave us His Heavenly riches (authority, abundance, financial surplus, Supernatural provision).
II Corinthians 5:21 NKJV. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
So for our Prosperity
II Corinthians 8:9NKJV. For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.
So for our Health and Healing
Isaiah 53:5AMP But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our guilt and iniquities; the chastisement [needful to obtain] peace and well-being for us was upon Him, and with the stripes [that wounded] Him we are healed and made whole.
Prayer Nuggets:
- I receive the gift of Prosperity in Christ Jesus, in the name of Jesus.
The above prayer nugget will not make meaning or be fruitful in your life expect you, re-align your relationship with God. If you are willing to do this; (Just say this prayer with sincerity of Heart)
“Lord Jesus, I acknowledge that I am sinner. I come to you today, purge me clean with your precious blood. I promise never to go back to sin, make me your child; as from Today, be my Lord and Personal Saviour in Jesus name, Amen!”
Now repeat the prayer nugget above to get the much awaited result in Christ Jesus.