The Secret of Prosperity

1. Introduction
English Prosper = To be successful, to thrive, to be rich. This is the commonly
accepted meaning of the term. But the Hebrew words translated prosper, prosperity,
prosperous in the Bible mean far more than financial riches. They mean, success, well
being, joy, health and progress in all that you undertake.

Hebrew Halak = To go on, to progress. Tsaleach = (To cause) to go on prosperously. 

Ezra 5:8 Be it known unto the king, that we went into the province of Judea, to the house of the
great God, which is builded with great stones, and timber is laid in the walls, and this
work goeth fast on, and prospereth in their hands.

Sakal = To cause to 'act wisely' as in: 

Deut. 29:9 Keep therefore the words of this covenant, and do them, 
that ye may prosper in all that ye do.

Shalom = To be complete, finished, at peace, as in: 

Job 9:4 ... Who hath hardened himself against him, and hath
prospered?

The implied answer to this question is: No one. No one who resists the Spirit of God
has ever prospered. Yet everyone wants to be prosperous. It is a perfectly normal and
respectable yearning. But how few people achieve true prosperity?How very few are
really successful, safe and are at peace in their souls? To be sure millions have a lot of
money and there is seemingly no end to the possessions some folk have. But wealth
and possessions in themselves do not spell prosperity.Prosperity is a state of the
soul. It is a spiritual condition which is reflected in happiness and inner peace. All the
world unconsciously seeks prosperity; but comparatively few find it. Why? Why are
so many rich, famous and knowledgeable people so miserable, restless and unhappy?
Why? What is the secret of true success, true happiness, true prosperity? Are you truly
happy, prosperous and at peace?
2. False Prosperity
The obedient believer may often wonder at the apparent prosperity of the wicked. Our
circumstances may often appear to be a contradiction of what Yahweh has promised
in His Word. It is at times like this that we must examine the whole picture. We must,
with the Psalmist, go into the sanctuary of God and examine the end of the story. 
Psalm 73:3 For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
4: For there are no bands in their death: but their strength is firm.
5: They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men.
6: Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them as a
garment.
7: Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish.
8: They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression: they speak loftily.
9: They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the
earth.
10: Therefore his people return hither: and waters of a full cup are wrung out to
them. 
11: And they say, How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the most High?
12: Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches.
13: Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency. 
14: For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning.
15: If I say, I will speak thus; behold, I should offend against the generation of thy
children.
16: When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me;
17: Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end.
18: Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into
destruction.
19: How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed
with terrors.
20: As a dream when one awaketh; so, O Lord, when thou awakest, thou shalt
despise their image.
21: Thus my heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my reins.
22: So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee.
3. True Prosperity
Yahweh wants His people to be prosperous in every possible way. But the prosperity
He wants for us is based on spiritual foundations: not money, education, fame or
fading physical beauty. Instead He wants us to build prosperity on faith in Him and
His Son. I call this the prosperity of the soul. It all depends on the foundation. If the
foundation is faulty, then the 'prosperity' built upon it will not last.

Yahweh's people may or may not be rich; they may or may not be clever, they may or
may not have great possessions. But they should all be prosperous. They should all be
happy, fulfilled and at rest on the Spirit of God. Until we have foundprosperity of
Spirit, we could find ourselves chasing bubbles like so many millions are doing
today. 

3 John 1:2 Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as
thy soul prospereth.
3: For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in
thee, even as thou walkest in the truth.
4: I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.
4. The Secret of Prosperity
The Bible provides the formula for true prosperity. It is an extremely simple one. Here
it is.

 Have Faith in Yahweh 

2 Chronicles 20:20 And they rose early in the morning, and went forth into the wilderness
of Tekoa: and as they went forth, Jehoshaphat stood and said, Hear
me, O Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem;Believe in the LORD
your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye
prosper.

 Obey His Law 

Joshua 1:7 Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do
according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not
from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever
thou goest.
8: This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt
meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to
all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and
then thou shalt have good success.
NOTE: These two things (Faith and Obedience) attract the Spirit and blessing of
God. The more you apply them the more prosperous you will become. SBS writes a
great deal about the sin of Sabbath-breaking, not because it is the worst of sins, but
because it is the most widespread. Billions commit this sin every weekend without
realising it. They must be informed.
5. Examples of Prosperity
The Bible is full of examples of true prosperity. They demonstrate very dramatically
the results of faith and obedience. Sad to say the modern Christian world look upon
obedience as a form of doubt: as though the obedient believer is trying to earn his/her
salvation and entry to the Kingdom of Heaven. This is not the case. So let me - yet
again - put the record straight.Faith in Jesus Christ is the very first and last
requirement for entry into the Kingdom of God. But that faith must beliving faith:
and living faith to be recognised as real must exhibit itself in obedience. The repentant
sinner, in other words, must "go and sin no more." (John 5:14, 8:11) He/she must give
up and forsake sin.

Joseph

Genesis 39:3 And his master saw that the LORD was with him, and that the LORD made all
that he did to prosper in his hand. 
verse 23 The keeper of the prison looked not to any thing that was under his hand; because
the LORD was with him, and that which he did, the LORD made it to prosper.

Hezekiah

2 Kings 18:7 And the LORD was with him; and he prospered whithersoever he went
forth... 
2 Chronicles 31:20-21 And thus did Hezekiah throughout all Judah, and wrought that which was
good and right and truth before the LORD his God.
21: And in every work that he began in the service of the house of God,
and in the law, and in the commandments, to seek his God, he did it with
all his heart, and prospered.

Uzziah

2 Chronicles 26:5 And he sought God in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding in the
visions of God: and as long as he sought the LORD, God made him to
prosper.
6. Hindrances to Prosperity
There are several hindrances to true prosperity. The worst is fighting God and
resisting His Holy Spirit. Here are a few goals to aim for if you want to be prosperous.

Do Not Fight Against God

2 Chronicles 13:12 And, behold, God himself is with us for our captain, and his priests with
sounding trumpets to cry alarm against you. O children of Israel, fight ye
not against the LORD God of your fathers; for ye shall not prosper

Forsake sin

Proverbs 28:13 He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh
them shall have mercy.
Note: If you have wronged another person, go to him (not someone else) and clear the
matter. If you were in the wrong, confess your fault to the person concerned (not to
any other), and put it right. Then you will be blessed of God and prosperity will
follow.

7. A Promise of Prosperity

Yahweh wants all His people to prosper and He has given us the formula
for true prosperity. You will have noticed that the Bible gives good
examples of how believers have prospered. But what about us? Can we
also prosper like Hezekiah or Joseph did? Yes we can. The formula
works in any age and for all believers who put their faith in and obey the
Most High. There are no exceptions. 
Psalm 1:3And he (the obedient believer) shall be like a tree planted by
the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season;
his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall
prosper.