The focus of this blog post is not going to be about achieving material gain, although material gain can be a byproduct of having a prosperous soul. Scripture says, what good is it to obtain the world at the cost of losing your soul; Matt. 8:36? Moreover, what good is it to gain a lot of material possessions if you don’t have peace or good health to enjoy them? The focus of this teaching is going to be more geared towards the inner man, which will cause you to prosper in every aspect of life. Let’s first look at John 10:10.
The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. John 10:10 NKJV
Jesus said I have come that you may have life, and that you may have it more abundantly. The word abundance means excess, as well as to excel or superabound. So, we can clearly see that it is the will of God for us to have an abundance in all things that pertain to life and godliness. 3 John 2:2 says:
Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers. 3 John 2:2
Along my spiritual journey, I thought accumulating money was the main goal in life before I understood the true biblical meaning of prosperity. Moreover, I thought money was the key to my success and long-term happiness. When I wasn’t experiencing the abundant life, according to my level of understanding at that time, I became frustrated. I felt like my life was insignificant to God because I was measuring my success based on the world’s standards.
I believe this is a common misunderstanding amongst the body of Christ. Many of us measure God’s love based on how well things are going financially in our lives. However, God’s love for you is not determined by how many material possessions you obtain in this life (Luke 12:15). God’s love is measured by everything that Jesus Christ sacrificed on the Cross for all of humanity!
In All Your Getting, Get Understanding
Wisdom is the principal thing; Therefore, get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding. Proverbs 4:7
It says here in this Scripture that in all your getting, get an understanding. You see, if we lean to our own understanding, then our interpretation can be totally off from what God said. Jesus said the Words that He speak are Spirit; John 6:63. So, when Jesus said He came that we may have life more abundantly, the Lord is speaking Spirit.
If you recall the Samaritan woman who met Jesus at the well, the Samaritan woman thought Jesus was talking about giving her natural water to drink. She didn’t perceive until later in the conversation that Jesus was speaking of living water that pertains to life in the spirit. Let’s look at John 4:7-10
A woman of Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give Me a drink.” 8 For His disciples had gone away into the city to buy food. 9 Then the woman of Samaria said to Him, “How is it that You, being a Jew, ask a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?” For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.
Verse 10) Jesus answered and said to her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.”
Jesus said, if you knew the gift of God! What is the gift of God? The gift of God is His divine grace that provides salvation for every person born into this world. But God’s grace didn’t just stop there, God also imparts His Spirit into earthen vessels (man created from the dust of the earth).
The prophet Joel prophesied in the days of old that God would pour out His Spirit on all mankind, and their sons and daughters would prophesy, old men would dream dreams, and young men would see visions; Joel 2:28-32.
Let me remind you that we’re living in those times today. Understand that God gave you life more abundantly when He put His Spirit in you! Let’s drop down to John 4:11-14.
11 The woman said to Him, “Sir, You have nothing to draw with, and the well is deep. Where then do You get that living water? 12 Are You greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well, and drank from it himself, as well as his sons and his livestock?”
13 Jesus answered and said to her, “Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, 14 but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.” John 4:11-14
As we see here in Scripture, eternal life starts from the moment one receives salvation; John 4:14. However, on your spiritual journey, as you navigate through life circumstances, how much are you drawing from the Spirit? Understand that you must put a draw on the anointing of God! The Holy Spirit is a gentleman, which means that He’s not going to force you to embrace the relationship. Therefore, you can decide either to ignore or acknowledge the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit.
When you acknowledge His presence, He will begin to show you things. The Holy Spirit will continue to illuminate your mind by guiding you into all truth! In addition, He will comfort you in this life through difficult times. There may be some things you’re trying to figure out in this season of your life. Be encouraged knowing that the Holy Spirit can help navigate you through it. You may be in a valley of decisions. He can give you the wisdom you need to make a critical decision. Therefore, I exhort you to start putting a draw on the Spirit! Let’s look at Isaiah 12:3-5.
Therefore, with joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. Isaiah 12:3-5
The word salvation comes from the Greek word sozo, which means to save, heal, deliver, and to make whole. So, how do you draw from the wells of salvation in order to experience abundant life? In John 6:63 the Lord gives us a clue, He said:
It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life. John 6:63
For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. Romans 8:2
You must work in cooperation with the Spirit. Now, let’s go over 5 points on how to activate the law of the Spirit.
- You must acknowledge His presence; Proverbs 3:6.
- Walk in Faith. You activate the law of the Spirit of life every time you embrace God’s Word and step out on faith; Hebrews 11:6.
- Righteous living. Proverbs 11:19 says, Righteousness leads to life. Sin causes death, and will keep you wandering in the wilderness; Romans 6:23.
- Praying in the Spirit; Jude 1:20. This is how you build yourself up spiritually.
- You must be attentive. Your heart becomes sensitive to whatever you give attention to the most. Therefore, you must become sensitive to the Spirit and obey His promptings in order to follow the will of God.
Essentially, it is the Spirit that gives life! The word life pertains to eternal life. Additionally, it consists of anything that causes you to prosper or overcome, as it pertains to righteous living. God can prosper you in many ways!
The Lord your God will make you abound in all the work of your hand, in the fruit of your body, in the increase of your livestock, and in the produce of your land for good. For the Lord will again rejoice over you for good as He rejoiced over your fathers. Deut. 30:9
Although it is God’s will for us to be blessed, understand that we also have an enemy of our souls whose strategy is deception. The Bible informs us that Satan came to kill, steal, and destroy. However, the Lord came to give life; John 10:10! Satan will try to put thoughts of doubt into your mind; causing you to feel defeated! But how can you lose when you are plugged into the Source from where all power and blessings come from?
If you’ve ever questioned whether you have the Holy Spirit, then ask yourself whether you’re submitted to Christ Lordship? Secondly, do you feel a conviction when you know you’ve done something contrary to God’s Word? If the answer is yes to these questions, then that’s a clear indication that you have the Spirit, and therefore, you are a child of Almighty God!
The Anointing
It shall come to pass in that day that his burden will be taken away from your shoulder,
And his yoke from your neck, And the yoke will be destroyed because of the anointing oil. Isaiah 10:27
Isaiah 10:27 defines the anointing as the yoke-destroying (burden-removing) power of God. The anointing is what sets the captives free. The anointing is God putting His super on your natural; enabling you to do what the flesh cannot do. As you remain committed to doing the will of God, the anointing will increase on your life. I encourage you to stay the course!
Know Your Worth
Do you know who easily gets taken advantage of the most? People who don’t know their worth! Let’s look at Matthew 13:44
“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.” Matthew 13:44
It says the kingdom of heaven is like treasure. Know that anything valuable is hidden. In Col. 3:3, it says that our old man died, and now we are hidden with Christ. Secondly, anything valuable is guarded. Proverbs 4:23 says to guard your heart with all diligence, from out of it flows the issues of life.
In Matt 13:44, this parable of hidden treasure explains how valuable we are in the eyes of God. In this parable, Christ represents the Man who sold all that He had to buy the entire field. When Christ left heaven, he became temporarily bankrupt to buy the entire field. In 1 Cor. 6:20, it says that we were bought with a price!
For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s. 1 Cor. 6:20
In 2 Cor. 8:9, it says that Jesus Christ became poor, that we may be rich! Therefore, understand that we are the hidden treasures that Christ bought with His precious blood. Glory be to God! Let’s look at 2 Cor. 4:7
But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. 2 Cor. 4:7
First, we must know all glory belongs to God! Right now you may be a diamond in the rough, but I encourage you to keep allowing the Spirit of God to buff out your imperfections. We know that diamonds are made from pressure. You may be a person who has dealt with some immense pressure in life, and you thought that you were going to crack. But by God’s grace, the Spirit of God kept you, and is continuing to keep you. Once God completes His work in you, God is going to use you to tell your testimony, as He showcase you before the world.
The Heart of Man
Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water, but a man of understanding will draw it out. Proverbs 20:5
Another role of the Holy Spirit is Counselor. If you know anything about treasure, most treasure has to be mined out. There are many treasures in the heart of mankind that doesn’t get discovered until a person submits to the Lordship of Christ. Know that the Holy Spirit gives us counsel, wisdom, and insight!
What Are You Putting Your Hands To?
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 Cor. 9:8
What are you pursuing in this season of your life? There are things that God is not going to show you yet until you get moving in the right direction. God understands we have many responsibilities in life (work, family, ministry, bills). However, the Holy Spirit gives us wisdom on how to bring it all together and succeed.
Prayer Life
Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them. Mark 11:24
Understand that your prayer life must become just as normal as breathing. God has a million different ways to answer one prayer! Avoid putting limitations on your thinking concerning the unlimited ways in which God can bless you! After you’ve prayed about it, be in expectation. Being in expectation will raise your awareness to what’s available around you. A blessing can be right next to you, but if you’re not in expectation, then you can miss it. Stay tuned in to the Spirit, and He will open up your eyes to new possibilities.
Conclusion
In summary, an abundant life comes from following God’s ways. Once God puts His Spirit within you, know that He has given you everything you need that pertains to life and godliness in seed form. Ultimately, God empowers you with His Spirit so that you may accomplish His purposes and plans!
We should put less focus on money and place more focus on getting wisdom and spiritual understanding. Proverbs 16:16 says, how much better to get wisdom than gold. Having life more abundantly is to experience a supernatural anointing which comes from the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, true riches reside within you!
Faith Declarations
- I declare that I’ve been set free, healed, saved, and delivered, in the name of Jesus!
- I declare that I am anointed because of the Holy Spirit living on the inside of me, in the name of Jesus!
- I declare that every yoke of bondage is destroyed off of my life because of the anointing, in the name of Jesus!
- I declare that I have been created for increase, in the name of Jesus!
- I declare that I am blessed and highly favored, in the name of Jesus, Amen!