Parable of the Growing Seed

A study on Jesus' parable of the growing seed  and a look at it's application in: 1) the growth of the Kingdom, 2) evangelism, and 3) spiritual growth.

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Parable of the Growing Seed

God controls the growth

Scriptures:

Mark 4:26-29

John 4:34-38

1 Corinthians 3:5-8

Philippians 1:3-6

Outline:

• Introduction
• Kingdom of God
• About Parables
• Parables of Matthew 13
• Parable of the Growing Seed
• Growth of the Kingdom
• Evangelism
• Spiritual Growth
• Conclusion

Story: kid playing piano

• God is often working behind the scenes to make our outcome exceed our ability

Introduction

About Unchained Disciples

Examine and challenge different doctrines

• Address views that differ from our own

Examine the scripture in the context of:

• The situation in which the scripture occurs
• The time period and culture
• The rest of the bible

Teach the whole counsel of the gospel

• Grace and Love / righteous and judgment
• Good works / relationship with God
• Heaven / Hell
• God and Angels / Satan and demons
• Faith / Prosperity / Favor
• Giants / New World Order

Ask questions and make comments

• You can bring up contrary views
• Your goal shouldn't be to win everyone over to your belief

Review

The Kingdom of God

Different than What the Jews Were Expecting

Jesus taught a different kingdom than the Jews expected

1. The Jews expected the Messiah to be a human who would take dominion
2. Not a takeover of the Roman government by force
3. The king and the kingdom are united by faith and not by politics or culture
4. The kingdom is spiritual and not geopolitical

What does it mean to enter the Kingdom?

• “Kingdom” means “reign”
• God’s reign over the hearts of men
• Allowing Jesus to be Lord over every part of your life
• When you abide in Jesus and He abides in you

What We Know About the Kingdom of God

• “Kingdom of God” is the same as “Kingdom of Heaven”
• “Kingdom of God” means reign or rule of God
• It doesn’t mean a future Heaven
• The Kingdom became partially accessible when Jesus died and sent the Holy Spirit
• Already, but not yet…
• The Kingdom of God is here but not yet fully accessible by us
• It will be fully accessible after the end of the age
• The plan for God’s future Kingdom is the same as what He intended with Adam and Eve
• To have His will implemented upon the earth through mankind

About Parables

A parable is a succinct, story that illustrates one or more lessons or principles.

• A parable is a type of analogy
• A parable has a surface story and a deeper meaning
• A simple story helps to explain a more complex or hidden story  

How We’re Analyzing the Parables

The parables weren’t written down, so it wasn’t something Jesus expected you to study

• The emphasis was on the one or two main points that the parable illustrates
• Although those points may have many applications to our lives

We are reading the parables to first and foremost understand what Jesus was teaching.  

• See what was said and what was left out
• Once we understand what Jesus was teaching we can compare it with other biblical writings

We won’t dismiss a clear teaching of Jesus because it contradicts our doctrinal views.

Parables of Matthew 13

We have looked at 8 parables about the Kingdom of God in Matthew 13

1. Sower/Soils
2. Wheat and Weeds
3. Leaven
4. Mustard Seed
5. Hidden Treasure
6. Pearl
7. Dragnet
8. Householder

Parable of the Sower/Soils

In the Parable of the Sower, Jesus tells us about 4 types of soil:

1. The Path
2. Rocky Soil
3. The Thorns
4. Good Soil

Jesus said that this parable is the key to understanding all of the parables.

Main Points:

1. Whether or not someone accepts the message of the Kingdom is determined by the condition of their heart
2. Things that impact whether someone enters the Kingdom include:

• The enemy
• Chasing worldly success
• Cares of the world

Parable of the Wheat and the Weeds

• Some people will appear to be in the Kingdom but they are not
• These people are actually supporting the enemy
• We don’t need to identify the wicked people now because the angels will remove them at the end of the age

Parable of the Leaven

• There will be opposition from within the Kingdom
• Wrong teaching, and false doctrine will get mixed throughout the Kingdom

Parable of the Mustard Seed

• The Kingdom started small and grew rapidly
• There will be external opposition to the Kingdom

Parable of the Hidden Treasure

• Some will find the Kingdom unexpectedly
• They will discover that the value of the Kingdom surpasses the sum total of their worldly possessions and take possession of the Kingdom

Parable of the Pearl

• Some are searching for the Kingdom and will give up everything else when they find it

Parable of the Dragnet

• The message of the Kingdom will be appealing to many people
• The wicked will be separated from the righteous at the end of the age  

Parable of the Householder

• If you are a student of both the Old Testament and the Kingdom teaching then you understand truths not understood by others

Parable of the Growing Seed

• Only found in The book of Mark

Mark 4:26-29

26 And He was saying, "The kingdom of God is like a man who casts seed upon the soil;
27 and he goes to bed at night and gets up by day, and the seed sprouts and grows--how, he himself does not know.
28 "The soil produces crops by itself; first the blade, then the head, then the mature grain in the head.
29 "But when the crop permits, he immediately puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come."

Observations about the Parable

Example: Some seeds grow better when...

• Planted in a pot and replant
• Planted in rows
• Scattered (Sepp Holzer)

Similar to the Parable of the Soils

Similar to the Parable of the Sower in Mark 4:2-9.

• The main point of that one was that whether the Kingdom grows in you or not  is based on the condition of your heart

This one is different because

• The sower is not Jesus
• The sower wasn’t aware of what was going on
• We are the sowers
• In the parable of the wheat and weeds, the angels were the reapers
• The sower is the reaper here
• We are the reapers

This is a different analogy

growth is at the center of the kingdom

The focus was that:

• There is a process to the growth; it’s not immediate
• The soil produces crops even though the sower didn’t understand how

Main Point: God causes the growth of the Kingdom - not us

We’ll examine its application in 3 areas:

• Growth of the Kingdom
• Evangelism
• Spiritual growth

The Growth of the Kingdom

In this parable Jesus is not so much explaining the conditions of growth in a person but the conditions of growth of the kingdom in earth.

• The seed is the Kingdom

The emphasis of the story is how the Kingdom of God spreads on earth

• We can plant seeds of the Kingdom but we don’t control the actual growth
• We don’t understand how the growth happens
• It’s God’s job to make the seeds grow

The Harvest

John 4:34-38

34Jesus explained, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to finish His work. 35Do you not say, ‘There are still four months until the harvest’? I tell you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are ripe for harvest.

36Already the reaper draws his wages and gathers a crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may rejoice together. 37For in this case the saying ‘One sows and another reaps’ is true. 38I sent you to reap what you have not worked for; others have done the hard work, and now you have taken up their labor.”

We Are the Reapers

• Jesus told the disciples that they were not the sowers but the reapers
• Jesus talks about Himself being a reaper
• “I will do the will of Him that sent me and finish His work”
• God had already started the work

We Are Gathering a Crop for Eternal Life

• Reaping is gathering the crop for eternal life
• The seeds had been planted

Evangelism

Story: Street preacher and dreadlocks guy

1. The street preacher didn’t plant the seed
2. Backslider or someone else planted the seed

God Causes the Growth

• It’s not a result of our effort

1 Corinthians 3:5-8

5 What then is Apollos? And what is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, even as the Lord gave opportunity to each one. 6I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth. 7So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth. 8Now he who plants and he who waters are one; but each will receive his own reward according to his own labor.

• The Sower is just a servant
• The teacher is just a servant  
• The pastor is just a servant  
• They are just servants used to plant and water
• God causes the growth

Don’t Focus on the Servant

We should not make celebrities of pastors or hold them in higher esteem than an every day Christian. Whatever growth their ministry has is not attributed to them. It is God who gave the increase if it is of God. We are all just servants of Christ who scatter the seeds.  But God is the one who gives the growth.

A hard thing to realize in ministry is that we are not in control of the growth. God is.

• A church is reaping the harvest of someone else's seed
• When we bring someone to church the church is reaping the seed you planted

The servants will be rewarded based their labor

Not everyone has the same assignment

• One plants another waters

God doesn’t have the same assignment for everyone.

• There is a gift of evangelism
• There is a gift of teaching
• There is a gift of service
• Gifts of: prophecy, tongues
• Work in your gifting

Don’t Focus on the Numbers

The numbers don’t matter

• He did what God commanded him to do.

It’s hard not to focus on numbers

• We have our own idea of what success looks like
• We have our own idea of what to good harvest should be

We need to do what God tells us regardless of the result

Example. God told me not to publicize this Bible study

• Some weeks there’s just one person
• Get In Sunday was the first time it was publicly announced

Spiritual Growth

The parable leaves out any effort from the farmer

Sometimes a farmer has to:

• Dig the ground
• Water
• Fertilize it
• Make sure it gets sun

But the parable leaves that out and it happens automatically.

In order to grow spiritually we make an effort to

• pray and  fast
• build a relationship with Christ
• go to church
• tithe

And we should do all of that

But Jesus is reminding us that God is also at work independent of our effort.

The parable is talking about God being at work without us even noticing it or having any understanding about it.

You Can’t Save Yourself

You can’t do enough to save yourself

Only God can save us

He saves us by grace

Sanctification is a Process

• It’s not instantaneous

Philippians 1:3-6

3 I thank my God every time I remember you. 4 In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

• The work has begun but it is not complete
• It’s not something that immediately happens then it’s done
• You’re not totally sanctified over night

Example: Paul (Unchained Disciples)

• God may take some things away immediately
• It’s still a process to become holy

The caution is that we not be impatient.

Quit Beating Yourself Up

Some of you need to quit beating yourself up

• I’m not what I should be
• I’m not what I want to be
• I’m not what I could be
• But I’m not what I used to be

When the enemy tells you you’re a sinner remember that that’s why Christ died for you

• The enemy wants you to focus on what you’re doing wrong

Turn it Over to Jesus

Why am I not further along than where I am?

• Why do I keep doing this same thing over and over again?
• How did I let Satan trick me again?

It’s not all up to you

• God is working on your heart.
• Just keep showing up

Some have been taught that growth only happens when you make it happen

• That’s not true
• There needs to be a point when you say that only God can do it.
• But you have to want Him to do it

You Can’t Judge the Growth in Others

The word of God is

• Seed
• Mirror
• Sword

Mirror - many people read the bible and see someone else

• You should see yourself

That is why we cannot judge someone else by their behavior  

• We can’t judge whether someone is saved or not.
• We don’t know about the work that God is doing that is unknown to us
• We don’t know about the work that God is doing that is unknown to them.

We can’t make a determination whether someone is growing or not.

• We can’t see what is going on in their heart we can only see their outward actions

God is At Work in the Dirt

The seed gets planted in the dirt

• No matter what you’ve been doing no matter how dark and dirty your life has been in if the seed is planted then God is at work.
• People want to think that a clean and pristine exterior is the evidence of God.
• But this parable tells you different.

Conclusion

The gospel of the Kingdom of God tells us that God had an original plan to rule the earth through Adam and Eve.  He gave them dominion over all the other beings on the planet.  They were supposed to implement God’s will on earth.  Our future destiny is that we will rule the earth  with Jesus.  

God wants to use us as the agents who implement His will.  God could have implanted the message of the kingdom in many ways, but He chose to use us.  But God alone is responsible for the growth.

God uses us to spread His message and plant seeds.  He then grows those seeds at His chosen time.  Knowing that it is up to God takes the pressure off of us.  We can help by creating conditions to help seeds grow.

Similarly we can create conditions in our own lives and our own hearts that help us to mature spiritually.  But we must also remember that God is also at work even when we ourselves don’t notice it.  

We need to remember that Jesus doesn’t come to you saying – stop it or you’ll go to hell.  He said because you can’t stop it I’m going to come and die for you.   Jesus came to help you change.

“Look at where you came from

And now look at where you are

I ain’t saying that we made it

But we made it this far”

  --Came From by Caleb McCoy

Instructor: Michael Leadon

References

THE GROWING SEED - JESUS' PARABLES: Mark 4:26-29

https://youtu.be/jYbkiVPA1-k

Extra Content

Mark 4

  21 And He was saying to them, “A lamp is not brought to be put under a basket, is it, or under a bed? Is it not brought to be put on the lampstand? 22“For nothing is hidden, except to be revealed; nor has anything been secret, but that it would come to light. 23 “If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.” 24And He was saying to them, “Take care what you listen to. By your standard of measure it will be measured to you; and more will be given you besides. 25“For whoever has, to him more shall be given; and whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him.”

Judgment

Yes God is the God of grace, but Grace is only relevant where there is judgment. If God did not judge that you were a sinner if God did not judge that what you did was the sea and then there would be no need for Grace. Grace only shows up when there is a judgment.

Judgment is determining what is good and what is evil. Judgment is not just deciding on the consequences that happen because of the evil acts. Or deciding the rewards that come from the good ask. Most people talk about judgment as a bad thing and that goes to show that they are only focusing on their sin. Got also judges when you follow him and do his will.

You get judged for your good deeds and your bad deeds. Christ only wiped away your bad days. So you should be looking forward to judgment.

Harvest

Rev 14

14 Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and sitting on the cloud was one like a son of man, having a golden crown on His head and a sharp sickle in His hand.
15 And another angel came out of the temple, crying out with a loud voice to Him who sat on the cloud, " Put in your sickle and reap, for the hour to reap has come, because the harvest of the earth is ripe."
16 Then He who sat on the cloud swung His sickle over the earth, and the earth was reaped.

---

How we grow spiritually

1. Spiritual People
2. Spiritual practises
3. Spiritual experiences

Evangelism

John 6:44

44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

• It’s not up to us to save other people
• We plant the seed and God will take it from there.

Noah

Remember, Noah? He preached for many years, and yet, when the flood finally came, there were only eight people who were spared from the great flood.

Noah is considered a great man of faith because he did what God told him regardless of the results

Advancing the Kingdom

It’s Not Our Job to Usher in the Kingdom

• It’s not our job to bring Heaven to earth
• It’s our job to plant seeds
• It’s our job to water those seeds
• Evangelizing and discipling

This shows us that it is not the responsibility of Christians to usher in the kingdom

• Jesus or the apostles never use language like “building the Kingdom”
• They talk about “entering the Kingdom”
• The growth is in the hands of God

7 Purposes of Prosperity

We discuss the reason that God makes people wealthy and prosperous for 7 reasons:

1. The Covenant
2. Evangelism
3. Helping Others
4. Protection
5. The Promised Land
6. Enabling Your Gift
7. Eating Your Fruits
   
   
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Scriptures:

• Deuteronomy 8:16-18
• Joshua 1:7-8
• Deuteronomy 28:9-13
• Psalms 67:1-4
• Proverbs 25:21-22
• Deuteronomy 15:7-11
• Matthew 5:42
• Ecclesiastes 7:11 - 14
• Joshua 5:12
• Romans 12:6-8
• Ecclesiastes 5:19
• Galatians 3:18;23-29
• Luke 6:20-21
• Matthew 6:33

Deuteronomy 8:16-18

16“In the wilderness He fed you manna which your fathers did not know, that He might humble you and that He might test you, to do good for you in the end.

17“Otherwise, you may say in your heart, ‘My power and the strength of my hand made me this wealth.’

18“But you shall remember the LORD your God, for it is He who is giving you power to make wealth, that He may confirm His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day.

• God sent the Israelites through the wilderness for their own good
• God gave them the ability to make wealth
• He didn't give them wealth
• But He gave them the ability to make wealth

Review of Preparing for Prosperity

• Being prosperous doesn't necessarily mean obtaining wealth.

• Being prosperous means that whatever you try to do will result in success.
• For example, a prosperous missionary will have many converts
• We approach this subject of prosperity cautiously because many teachers have abused and mistaught this topic
• The gospel doesn't promise you your carnal desires
• There are indeed biblical principles and promises that will lead to material blessings
• We shouldn’t focus on the gifts instead of the giver
• Prosperity isn't proof that you're in alignment with God

• But neither is poverty

• We referred to seasons in which we go through trials as “going through the wilderness”
• We learn to trust God in the wilderness because we know that we are in a situation that only God get get us out of
• It is for our good
• Living on daily manna builds faith
• Not every problem we go through is a test from God
• If we haven’t developed a dependence on God we will misuse blessings that we receive
• We will turn wealth into a golden calf and worship it like the Israelites did
• God tells us that if we aren’t responsible with a small amount then He can’t trust us with a large amount
• We saw that coveting is one of the sins listed in the 10 commandments
• Coveting is to have an ungodly desire for something that's not ours  

• Coveting is to be fixated on that which you lack
• You don't have to obtain the object in order to covet it

• Coveting is caused by discontentment
• We need to have a concept of how much of something is enough
• We need to learn to be content and not focus on what we don’t have
• How much is too much?
• Whatever replaces your trust in Christ
• The amount that will make you lose your thankfulness and turn into entitlement
• The amount that makes you prideful
• The more of Heaven that's in us the less the world will satisfy us
• If you view your blessing as a gift from God it will draw you closer to Him

• It can draw those who see Him blessing you to Him as well

The Covenant

Joshua 1:7-8
7 “Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go.
8 Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.

• If you follow the law you will be prosperous and successful

How is a covenant different than an a law?

• A law is a rule given by someone with the authority to make it
• A covenant is an agreement between two parties

A covenant is a type of contract in which the covenantor makes a promise to a covenantee to do or not do some action.

 --Wikipedia

Covenants are enforced with laws

A covenant doesn't just say “don't do this don't do that”

• A covenant is an agreement that says “if you do this, I will do that”
• Abraham established a covenant relationship with God
• They made an agreement
• 430 years later God gave Moses the laws that enforced the covenant

God’s laws aren’t just: “do this, and do that”.   They are “if you do this, then I will do that”.

• If you don’t plant your crop on the 7th year then I will give you a bigger overall harvest then if you had planted every year.
• If you tithe I will bless you.
• Honor you mother and father and you days will be long

The Jewish law wasn't just moral commands.  The law included: Circumcision, the Sabbath day rest, worship of an invisible God, abstinence from certain foods, agricultural practises, and financial stewardship.

Prosperity was promised to Jews who followed the law

Prosperity was God holding up His end of the covenant

1. Prosperity was a reward for following the law

Later on we'll see how this applies to Christians who have been made "righteous" through Christ.

Proselytizing

Deuteronomy 28:9-13

9The Lord will establish you as his holy people, as he promised you on oath, if you keep the commands of the Lord your God and walk in obedience to him. 10Then all the peoples on earth will see that you are called by the name of the Lord, and they will fear you. 11The Lord will grant you abundant prosperity—in the fruit of your womb, the young of your livestock and the crops of your ground—in the land he swore to your ancestors to give you.
12The Lord will open the heavens, the storehouse of his bounty, to send rain on your land in season and to bless all the work of your hands. You will lend to many nations but will borrow from none. 13The Lord will make you the head, not the tail. If you pay attention to the commands of the Lord your God that I give you this day and carefully follow them, you will always be at the top, never at the bottom.

• Following the law was supposed to result in:
• Respect from the other nations
• Many offspring
• Abundant livestock and crops in the promised land
• Rain in the proper season
• Being debt free
• Always being “at the top”
• The law was supposed to give Israel an advantage over the nations

Psalms 67:1-4

1God be gracious to us and bless us,

           And cause His face to shine upon us—

Selah.

     2That Your way may be known on the earth,

           Your salvation among all nations.

     3Let the peoples praise You, O God;

           Let all the peoples praise You.

     4Let the nations be glad and sing for joy;

           For You will judge the peoples with uprightness

           And guide the nations on the earth.

Selah.

• Bless me -> they will know your ways -> salvation will come to the nations

The goal of you following the law was that the benefits  you gained in all areas of life would convince others to do things God’s way.   Living by the wisdom of God would show others that your God was superior to theirs.  

The law was supposed to (among other things) win others over to God!

Proverbs 25:21-22

    21If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat;
           And if he is thirsty, give him water to drink;
     22For you will heap burning coals on his head,
           And the LORD will reward you.

• Does this suggest harming them?

Hebrew etiquette: share your fire

• Put your coal on your neighbor’s fire
• You are helping them
• “Fire on their head” = light a fire in them to behave in love

Providing for their physical / monetary needs can change their heart

• They will want to follow God
• It's activated through generosity

2. Prosperity can be used to influence others to follow your God

We saw that God can use our generosity to awaken the faith in non-believers

• In the same way, God can awaken things in us through his generosity that can't be activate it any other way.
• Many people come to faith when they realize the sacrifice Jesus made for them
• God's blessings can impact your heart

Helping Others

Deuteronomy 15:7-11

7If anyone is poor among your fellow Israelites in any of the towns of the land the Lord your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward them. 8Rather, be openhanded and freely lend them whatever they need. 9Be careful not to harbor this wicked thought: “The seventh year, the year for canceling debts, is near,” so that you do not show ill will toward the needy among your fellow Israelites and give them nothing. They may then appeal to the Lord against you, and you will be found guilty of sin. 10Give generously to them and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to. 11There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your fellow Israelites who are poor and needy in your land.

• Give generously
• The Lord will bless you

Story: helped people - then needed car jumped

Have a heart for the poor without knowing their story.

Give to “The Poor”

The old and new testaments talk about giving to “the poor”

Example: “the blacks”

• Trump
• My boss
• Means he's not one of them

Notice God tells them to give to the poor

• The hidden implication in that command is that you are not “the poor”
• This implies that Israel is not  “the poor”

Your Heart Matters

God says to give with a generous heart

• It's not just the action of giving
• It's how you feel about it
• He says He'll bless you if you give generously without a grudging heart

Why Do People Give?

Many times people are looking for a certain feeling when they’re giving someone else money. They might be looking for reciprocity, gratitude, or some sort of satisfaction.

The 7th year

“Be careful not to harbor this wicked thought: “The seventh year, the year for canceling debts, is near,”

• Slaves set free
• Debts cancelled

Don't consider this when lending

• It does say it's ok to loan
• You don't have to “give” without the expectation of getting it back

Jesus often commanded His followers to give and to serve

Prosperity is having more than enough

• It allows us to give

3. Prosperity can be used to help others in need

Example: Joseph when He ruled Egypt

• Israel and all of Egypt came to Him for food

Protection

Ecclesiastes 7:11 - 14

 11Wisdom along with an inheritance is good

           And an advantage to those who see the sun.

     12For wisdom is protection just as money is protection,

           But the advantage of knowledge is that wisdom preserves the lives of its possessors.

     13Consider the work of God,

           For who is able to straighten what He has bent?

     14In the day of prosperity be happy,

           But in the day of adversity consider—

           God has made the one as well as the other

           So that man will not discover anything that will be after him.

• Wisdom along with an inheritance is good
• Money is protection
• Wisdom is better
• Protection against what?
• Whatever the future holds

It is better to teach a man to fish and to give him a fish

• That is why God said He gave them the knowledge to make wealth

But It's better to have a fish than it is to be hungry

4. Prosperity is protection against the future

You’re In the Promised Land

Joshua 5:12

The manna ceased on the day after they had eaten some of the produce of the land, so that the sons of Israel no longer had manna, but they ate some of the yield of the land of Canaan during that year.

• The manna ceased once the Israelites entered the promised Land
• They ate from the fruits of the  land
• It meant they were home
• The miracles stopped

God stopped providing for them once they were where they were supposed to be.

• The location provided for them
• Once you are walking in your destiny, you destination will provide for you

Some of you are praying for more  miracles when you need to be praying that the miracles stop

• You should pray that you’re in a situation that you no longer need miracles
• You should pray to find your God ordained destiny

If you're not prosperous it doesn’t mean that you aren’t on the right track for your destiny

• But It does mean that you haven’t arrived
• Moses was fulfilling his destiny, but he saw the Promised Land

Prosperity doesn’t necessarily mean wealth

• You can have a prosperous ministry that helps thousands and not receive any personal gain
• You can reach your destiny and nit be wealthy
• But you will be fruitful

Prosperity is used to sustain you once you have reached your destiny

5. Prosperity can be confirmation that you are where you are supposed to be

Your Gift and Your Assignment

Romans 12:6-8

6Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith; 7if service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching; 8or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.

• Paul talks about the gifts of:
• Prophecy
• Service
• Teaching
• Exhortation
• Giving
• Leadership
• Mercy
• Giving is a spiritual gift

The gift of giving has been described as:

“the capacity to give beyond the normal expectation, supported by a willingness to do so and a high level of humility and grace without the expectation of something in return.”

If you have the gift of giving would God want you to have something to give?

• It might not be personal wealth but it could be the ability to raise money from others

People have different assignments and different positions

• The different assignments require different tools
• Some assignments require money

6. Prosperity can be used to enable you for your gift or purpose

Eating Your Fruits

Ecclesiastes 5:19

19Furthermore, as for every man to whom God has given riches and wealth, He has also empowered him to eat from them and to receive his reward and rejoice in his labor; this is the gift of God.

• The gift of God is receiving riches that you can eat from

Example: dirty money

Example: Parent giving a gift on Christmas

• Their reaction makes you happy
• You want to see them enjoying the gift

Some think God only wants us to suffer

7. Prosperity is to enjoy

No Longer Under the Law

Now let’s revisit the idea that prosperity is a reward for following the law.  Since, as Christians, we are free from the law, what does that mean to us?

Galations 3:18;23-29

18For if the inheritance is based on law, it is no longer based on a promise; but God has granted it to Abraham by means of a promise.      

• God promised Abraham that his heirs would be blessed
• The promise didn't have conditions
• The conditions came 433 years later

...

23Before the coming of this faith,j we were held in custody under the law, locked up until the faith that was to come would be revealed. 24So the law was our guardian until Christ came that we might be justified by faith. 25Now that this faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian.

• When a child receives an inheritance they are often given a guardian to steward the money until they come of age
• The law was our guardian for our blessings

26So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, 27for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

• God made a promise to Abraham before the law existed
• The law can’t come and invalidate the promise
• Not following the law can’t disqualify you from the promise
• Jesus’s death eliminated the need for us to satisfy the law in order to receive the blessings of God
• It also allowed us to be heirs of Abraham which qualifies us for the promise
• As Christians, we are qualified to receive the blessings of Abraham

We can indeed qualify for the blessings of Abraham since we are now made righteous through Jesus.  

Conclusion

We have seen 7 purposes for prosperity:

1. Prosperity was a reward to the Israelites for following the law
2. Prosperity can be used to influence others to follow God
3. Prosperity can be used to help others in need
4. Prosperity is protection for the future
5. Prosperity can be confirmation that you have reached your God given destiny
6. Prosperity can enable you to walk in your gift or purpose
7. Prosperity is a gift to enjoy

We also saw that Jesus allowed us to be descendants of Abraham and eligible for the blessings promised to Abraham.

But Jesus was focused in a different type of blessing...

Luke 6:20-21

20And turning His gaze toward His disciples, He began to say, “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. 21“Blessed are you who hunger now, for you shall be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh.

The Old Testament blessings centered around prosperity on earth and inheriting the Promised Land, but New Testament blessings center around inheriting the Kingdom of God , living in eternity with Jesus, and blessings that are stored up in Heaven.

Instead of describing wealth and possessions as God’s blessing, the New Testament warns us that we should not be too attached to the things of this world.  Although we should gratefully receive and joyfully celebrate God’s good gifts of abundant food, warm clothes, and comfortable homes. But we should not mistake these gifts for God’s blessing in our lives. According to the New Testament, God’s blessing is a deeply spiritual reality that comes to those who receive it in humble faith. Our poverty or prosperity is not an indication of whether we are experiencing God’s blessing.

It’s not wrong to have prosperity.  Matthew 6:33 says

33“But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

But when we link God’s blessing to our prosperity, we’re in danger of concluding that God is pleased with us as individuals based on our bank accounts or material possessions.  Prosperity may be a gift from God, but it is not a sign of God’s blessing.

Presenter: Michael Leadon

References

Is Prosperity a Blessing?

https://thebanner.org/features/2011/01/is-prosperity-a-blessing

God’s Gifts for Prosperity

http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/news/20140929/gods-gifts-prosperity-0

Prosperity With a Purpose - Bill Johnson

Extra Scriptures

The Covenant

Psalm 1:1-3
Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.

• This promises prosperity to the righteous
• Notice that this isn't just talking about wealth

Reward for Obedience

Proverbs 16:20

20Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers,

and blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord.

Psalm 84:11
1For the LORD God is a sun and shield;

           The LORD gives grace and glory;

           No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly.

• Not withholding is not giving to you
• This implies that He could withhold good things from those who don’t walk uprightly

The Law - Proselytizing

Deuteronomy 4:5-8
5See, I have taught you decrees and laws as the Lord my God commanded me, so that you may follow them in the land you are entering to take possession of it. 6Observe them carefully, for this will show your wisdom and understanding to the nations, who will hear about all these decrees and say, “Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.” 7What other nation is so great as to have their gods near them the way the Lord our God is near us whenever we pray to him? 8And what other nation is so great as to have such righteous decrees and laws as this body of laws I am setting before you today?

• What was going to be the people’s reaction to the Jews following the laws?

• They are a great and wise people
• They have a righteous  God
• The fact that God gave them righteous laws was supposed to entice the nations to following God

Helping Others

Luke 6:30
Give to everyone who asks of you, and whoever takes away what is yours, do not demand it back.

Matthew 5:42

42“Give to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you.

Give to Your Family

1 Timothy 5:8
8But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

The New Covenant

Jeremiah 31:31-34

31“Behold, days are coming,” declares the LORD, “when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah, 32not like the covenant which I made with their fathers in the day I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, although I was a husband to them,” declares the LORD. 33“But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days,” declares the LORD, “I will put My law within them and on their heart I will write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. 34“They will not teach again, each man his neighbor and each man his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ for they will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them,” declares the LORD, “for I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.”

Purpose of Giving

• We become solidified in identity and purpose through the affirmation we receive from giving.

• There's a unique blessing when your left hand doesn't know what your right hand is doing

 --B Johnson