What Does “Prosper” Mean?

While meditating on the word prosper from “His delight is in the law and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted on streams of water, which bears fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.” from Psalm 1:2-3 I began to wonder, exactly what does prosper mean?

Definitions from Dictionary.com that didn’t refer directly to money include: to be successful, fortunate; thrive, flourish. The origins of the word date back to the 15^th Century with an original meaning of “to make happy; agreeable to one’s wishes, according to expectations.” The World English Dictionary defines prosper as; “to cause to thrive or succeed in a healthy way.”

I looked at synonyms and compiled the following: advance, bear fruit, benefit, blossom, increase, produce, progress.

Finally I looked at antonyms: to fail, lose.

So I asked myself and I ask you:

·         Do I want to be successful?

·         What do you think about thriving?

·         Am I interested in being happy?

·         Would you like your life to line up to your expectations?

·         Can I cause my life to thrive or succeed in a healthy way?

·         Do you desire to bear good fruit?

·         Do I like to fail?

My answers to all, but the last question is YES!!!

But certainly not just over money, but in every aspect of my life.

Over what aspects of my life do I want to prosper? Where in my life do I want to be made happy? Do I want my life to be agreeable with my wishes? Do I want whatever I do to go according to my expectations?

Let’s find out how!

Join me as I continue my journey. Share your thoughts and click subscribe.

Previous

Whatever He Does Prospers

Next
Over What Aspects Of You Life Would You Like To Prosper
Does Your Leaf Stay Green?
Yielding Fruit In Season
Is Your Water Fresh Or Salty?
What Are You Meditating On?

Whatever He Does Prospers

Psalm 1:2-3 His delight is in the law and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted on streams of water, which bears fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers. (NIV)

The prosperity message is controversial in some circles of the church. Perhaps that is because when we Americans think of the word we think of it from a 21^st century mindset. This mindset immediately triggers the thought of financial prosperity. Therefore, the Christian messenger must be talking about money.  What does he want me to give? And/or this is just another serve the Lord and we will all be rich message.

But does prosperity only refer to finances? Exactly what does prosper mean?

I’m not sure I know, but I am going to find out.

Next
What do you thing prosper means?
Over What Aspects Of Your Life Would You Like To Prosper
Does Your Leaf Stay Green
Yielding Fruit In Season
Is Your Water Fresh Or Salty
What Are You Meditating On?

Brought you to God's attention

Have you ever thought of being brought to God's attention? I'm afraid I've been brought to God's attention for actions I have done. God may have zeroed in on me for words I've spoken. He may have shaken his head over motives I've harbored in my heart.

Do we too often think of God paying attention to us for what we have done wrong? Do we too seldom, if at all, consider God's attention being brought to us because He is pleased?

This week I was reading Acts chapter 10. This chapter tells us the story of Cornelius and Peter. When I hear of this chapter I am drawn to the portion of the story of Peter being on the rooftop and seeing the vision of the unclean animals coming down.

This week as I read this from the message I noticed how Cornelius was characterized. Three times, in this version, it is referenced that Cornelius had a habit of praying and performing neighborly acts. Cornelius' prayers and neighborly acts had brought him to God's attention.

Our responsibility is to have a right relationship with God and to maintain fruitful relationships with others. And here it is, be like Cornelius and have a habit of prayer. This is the easier of the two. This you can do alone. No one else need be involved. But it is the starting point if we are going to be brought to God's attention.

Conducting neighborly acts, by their nature, require us to engage with others. But does being neighborly and kind without prayer bring us to God's attention?

Let us be brought to God's attention because we have a habit of prayer and neighborly acts. I like the thought of God's attention being brought for doing the right thing.

Pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. Ephesians 6:18

 "What do you think? Which of the three became a neighbor to the man? Luke 10:36 (MSG)

 You comments are welcome!!!

Bitterness; a Powerful Stronghold

I just completed the third part of a four part series called “Master Life; the Disciple’s Victory”. Each Master Life book is designed as a six week study. One of the teachings in this section is each week a stronghold is addressed that may be established in us; as well as guidelines for breaking down a stronghold.

Bitterness was the first stronghold addressed. Bitterness is indeed a powerful stronghold. It blocks our relationships with others. More importantly it obstructs our relationship with God.

Galatians 5:22-23 gives us a list of the fruits of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. These are emotions and attributes God wants us to live by. How does bitterness stack up against these attributes?

What is bitterness? Bitterness is characterized by intense antagonism or hostility. It is resentful or cynical. Bitterness is often the result of severe grief, anguish, or disappointment.

Do you harbor bitterness towards someone? Is bitterness being directed at you by someone?

If we consider this as a spiritual battle it is important to remind ourselves that “our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of the evil in the heavenly realms.” Ephesians 6:12 (TNIV)

Should we agree that the battle is spiritual, then it is not personal. If bitterness is the result of severe disappointment aren't we making that circumstance personal? If antagonism or hostility is being hurled at us isn’t the true danger in making this personal?

The Belt of Truth

Avery T. Willis, Jr. gives three reminders for utilizing the Spiritual Armor of the Belt of Truth.

1. Be true to yourself and to God when you pray or fight a spiritual battle
2. Hold onto the truth. Satan, the father of lies, would like to deceive you.
3. Master your emotions. Your emotions should be guided by the truth rather than the flesh or by Satan. The Belt of Truth covers the bowels or inward parts, referring to the place where feelings reside or to feelings themselves. The Belt of Truth helps you to control your emotions and not compromise because of your feelings. If the Belt of Truth is not in place, you cannot expect your prayers to be answered.

Whether the battle to overcome the spiritual stronghold of bitterness is offensive or defensive, as the case may be, are we true to ourselves and to God? Are we honest, in our own heart, as to what the circumstances really are and the part we play?

Are our actions and thoughts guided by what the Word tells us? Be careful that we are not conforming to the pattern of this world!

Pray that the Holy Spirit will help you master your emotions. Pray for “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.  Against such things there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23 In other words, if we demonstrate these emotions we can’t go wrong.

I welcome your comments on dealing with the stronghold of bitterness.

Look for additional articles on breaking down this stronghold.

Blessings and curses

I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you." Genesis 12:3 (TNIV)

This is a covenant between God and Abram. I have always thought of this verse as pertaining to the people of Israel. But this week, additional aspects of this scripture have been revealed to me.

First, as a born again Christian this covenant also applies to you and me. Those that bless us will be blessed and those that curse us will be cursed. I can accept that easily enough. What about you?

The true and tough revelation came when the minister pointed out that when I bless someone I bring blessings to myself. But also when I curse someone I bring curses to myself. This thought is one to ponder.

Curses are most often given through words. When we speak negatively about someone, when we question their motives without foundation, when we cast doubt over their intentions we are in fact cursing them. Then we are probably bringing a curse into our own life.

Lord forgive me!

I came to this word from a teaching series by Creflo Dollar called "Covenant of Favor" I'm including the link to his broadcast series, This is a five part series, so it will take some time to listen, but it is worth you time. This series begins on April 26, 2010. I hope it will be a blessing to you.


If you take the opportunity to listen to this teaching series bless me by sharing your thoughts.

God Bless You!!

Visions and Dreams

Yesterday was Pentecost Sunday 2010 and during my quiet time I read Acts Chapter 2. My attention was brought to verses 16-17:

No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: “In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.” (TNIV)

Visions and dreams, visions and dreams, this kept running through my mind. What is the difference between a vision and a dream?

I brought up dictionary.com and searched for both vision and dream.

·         Vision

o    imagination or unusually keen perception

o    a mental image of something imaginary

·         Dream

o    Goal

o    Imagine as possible

Well, since the words imagination, imaginary and imagine were intertwined in the definitions of vision and dreams, the next step was to view the definitions of those 3 words:

·         Imagine—to think, to suppose or guess

·         Imagination—creativity

·         Imaginary—existing only in the imagination

Given these definitions may I share my takeaway, my hypothesis?

1.     We are in fact living in the last days

2.     We need to be looking to our younger adults for creativity

3.     Our older ministry leaders need to take these imaginations and define what is possible and set goals

While our younger adults are full of energy and have the creativity to imagine they need to yield to the experience of their older counterparts in determining goals and what is possible. At the same time older leaders can’t afford to squelch the creativity of youth.

The two working together will accomplish more for the kingdom.

I hope you will share your thoughts as you read this.

Come, Deny, Take, Follow

Luke 9:23 If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.

While meditating on this verse four words stood out, come, deny, take up and follow. In searching these four words on dictionary.com I noted these comments.

Come—to move toward someone, to present oneself, to begin to produce or yield

Deny—refrain from satisfying one’s desires or needs

Take up—to occupy oneself with the study or practice of

Follow—to conform to or obey, to pursue closely or tenaciously

Therefore in re-writing this verse based on these four words it may read something like this:

If anyone would move toward me, he must refrain from satisfying his own desires and occupy himself with the study or practice of the cross daily and pursue me tenaciously.

God does not require that we move toward him. We do so only by our free will. If we do move toward Him we are assured that he will accept us. Our gift is eternal life. This is the easy part in that all we have to do is believe.http://www.freefoto.com/preview/?ffid=05-08-5

Once we do come to Him we then must begin and continually seek His will and not our own. This means that we re-prioritize our life. We begin to replace our desires, motivated by the flesh, and seek what God’s purpose is for our lives. Harder than the first and is part of a daily, moment by moment awareness.

How do we know God’s will? By occupying ourselves with the study of His word. Everything we need is there for us in the word of God. Sounds simple, but it requires discipline. We must set aside http://www.freefoto.com/preview/?ffid=05-08-5priority time in spending time with God. For most this is harder still. The pressures of life are often a distraction. However, if we are truly refraining from satisfying our own desires we can make this a daily practice.

Once we begin to understand God’s laws, commands and precepts then we are to conform, obey, pursue closely and tenaciously observe. Dedication is required.

The good news is we can do this. We must choose to, want to, discipline ourselves to, and dedicate ourselves. Do most Christians observe coming, denying, taking up and following?

Please make comments of your experiences and thoughts.

The Sword of the Spirit

For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Hebrews 4:12

Avery Willis, Jr., in Master Life; The Disciples Victory, describes three reminders in utilizing the Sword of the Spirit as part of the full Armour of God.

1. Grasp the word. When you are fighting with a sword you must have a firm grasp in the instrument. More on this later
2. The sword is the property of the Holy Spirit, let him direct you to the word necessary for a particular battle
3. Pray on the basis of the word. As God's word is revealed, use the word to help you to know what to pray for. 

This is the confidence we have in approaching God; that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know if he hears us--whatever we ask--we know we have what we asked of him I John 5:14-15

Grasp in the word:
In order to have a firm hand on the Sword of the Spirit you must grasp the word. In order to grasp the word you must have the word in your heart. Mr. Willis uses an illustration of a hand in describing how to get the word in your heart. Turn your hand over and imagine a H on your pinkie finger and then a T on your thumb. Then on the thee middle fingers envision an E, A, R.

H--hear the word

E--examine the word

A--analyze the word

R--remember the word

T--think on the word  

We can place the word in our hearts by hearing, thinking, examining, analyzing and remembering the word. By this we can have a firm grasp on the Sword of the Spirit and are able to use it in battle against the enemy.

All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good word.          2 Timothy 3:16-17

What love is and what it is not

A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you so you must love one another. By this all men will know you are my disciples, if you love one another. John 13:34-35

I was reading, this morning I Corinthians 12:31-13:13. The particular passage my attention was drawn to were in chapter 13 verses 4-7, in the New Century version. This provides a list of what love is...and what it isn't.

What Love is

• Patient
• Kind
• Rejoices over truth
• Patiently accepts all things
• Always trusts
• Always hopes
• Always endures
• Never ends

What Love isn't

• Jealous
• Does not brag
• Proud
• Rude
• Selfish
• Does not get upset with others
• Does not count up wrongs that have been done
• Takes no pleasure in evil

We talk about the full Armour of God. Sounds exciting and majestic. However, you have to put on the Breastplate of Righteousness.

• Search my heart for my sinfulness. My improper thoughts and actions.
• Confess my sins.

I don't know about you, but I don't always enjoy having to confront my sinfulness. But thank God, the Breastplate of Righteousness assures me that if I confess my sin he will forgive me of my sin and cleanse me from my unrighteousness.

Lord, help me to live a life that demonstrates what love is. Help me to flee from what love is not.

It is God who works in you to will and act according to His good purpose. Phil 2:13

Put on the Breastplate of Righteousness

" Therefore put on the full Armour of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.Stand frim the, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints." Ephesians 5:13-18 NIV

The Master Life Series, book 3 "The Disciples Victory" discusses the Full Armour of God. The breast plate of righteousness covers our heart and vital organs. Without this protection in place any blow or penetration could mortally wound us.

If we view that we are in a daily spiritual battle, then we have to dress in full Armour. And we must do this each and every day.

Symbolically, as we put on the breastplate of righteousness we are to:

• As we plan for the day ask God to search our heart to reveal any evil thought, motives or actions
• If God reveals to us that our heart is not right, confess our sins
• Ask for forgiveness of our sins and to be cleansed from all unrighteousness

Search me, o god, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way of the everlasting. Psalm 139:23-24

If we admit our sins--make a clean breast of them--he won't let us down; he'll be true to himself. He'll forgive our sins and purge us of all wrong doing I John 1:9 The Message

 Christ had no sin, but God made him become sin so that in Christ we could become right with God. 2 Corinthians 5:21 New Century Version

 At the end of the day, as we come back to camp, and remove our Armour, we need to review the day just past.

• Did we have any offensive actions? Were our motives always pure? Were our thoughts of the mind of Christ?
• Confess our sins for the the day past
• Know that through confession God forgives us and his blood covers our unrighteousness. 

What do you think about planning your day in light of putting on the breastplate of righteousness and then reviewing your day as you take the breastplate off?

Federal judge rules “National Day of Prayer” unconstitutional

The secular progressive assault on our freedom of religion continues its march. On April 15, 2010 U.S. District Judge Barbara Crabb ruled the National Day of Prayer is unconstitutional.

Quoting from her ruling; "It goes beyond mere 'acknowledgement' of religion because its sole purpose is to encourage all citizens to engage in prayer, an inherently religious exercise that serves no secular function in this context,"

The First Amendment to the Constitution reads as follows:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Go to the links of the proclamation for the National Day of Prayer in 1952 and 1988 and review proclamations. Then ask yourself do these proclamations:

• Establish a religion?
• Prohibit the free exercise of religion?
• Abridge the freedom of speech?
• Abridge the freedom of the press?
• Abridge the right of the people to peaceably assemble?
• Abridge the right of the people to petition the Government for a redress of grievances?

It defies my sense of reason how anyone can answer the questions above with any answer other than, No. If the answer is no, then pray tell me how it is unconstitutional?

The explanation can only be that the secular progressive’s will prohibit the free exercise of religion. They will abridge the freedom of speech. They will abridge the right of the people to peacefully assemble. They will act unconstitutionally.

Make no mistake about it, we are engaged in a spiritual war.

And our primary weapon is…..Prayer.

Take Up His Cross Daily

Until recently the verse of scripture found in Luke 9:23 did not make a lot of sense to me.

"If anyone would come after me he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me."





The concept of denying yourself was complicated enough, but the real visual for me was in thinking of taking up a cross daily.


As I write this it is Easter Sunday 2010. The visualization of taking up a cross is particularly poignant at this time of year. Am I ready to suffer and die an agonizing death for the benefit of mankind? I confess, I am not. Would I be willing to bear the cross, to assist a severely beaten Christ as he struggled to carry it to Golgotha, as Simon the Cyrene was forced to do? Key word there, forced; but I suppose I would have done that. But every day? Do I want to think of struggling under the burden of carrying a heavy cross? Not particularly.


However, this verse took on a new meaning when I began a course of study offered at my church. Master Life, a course of study for discipleship, written by Avery T. Willis, Jr and Kay Moore and published by Lifeway Press; Nashville, TN.


This course presented the cross based upon relationships. The vertical portion of the cross represented our relationship with God, while the horizontal portion represents our relationships with others. Where the cross joins together defines our center. Are we self-centered or are we Christ centered.


In thinking about "taking up your cross daily" in this context I concluded that even I could do this. What about you?


If anyone reads this I invite you to join me in discussion of how can we best take up our cross daily and follow Him. Join me!