Faith For Prosperity
- Pastor Corey Erman
As born-again believers, we are redeemed from the curse of the law and are heirs to Abraham’s blessing and God’s promises of prosperity.
Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree"), that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith… And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise. — Galatians 3:13-14, 29
The above Scriptures tell us that Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law. What, then, is the curse of the law? For this answer, we turn to the Old Testament and look at the first five books of Moses, or the books of the Law. There we learn that the curse, or punishment, for breaking God’s law is threefold: poverty, sickness, and the second death (judgment in hell). Read Deuteronomy 28:15-68 for the detailed description of the three-fold curse of breaking God’s Law.
Christ has redeemed us from the curse of poverty and replaced it with the blessing of Abraham. Just as the curse is three-fold in nature, so was Abraham’s blessing. First, it was material, financial blessing. Second, it was physical blessing. Third, it was spiritual blessing. The New Testament Scripture in 3. John 2 agrees that God wants us to have material, physical, and spiritual prosperity.
Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.—3 John 2
God wants His children to prosper and be in health. God’s blessing covers every area of our lives. However, the condition for this promise is that our souls must prosper first. Prosperity in material things and health is an end result of prosperity in the soul. Soul is the mind, will and emotions. Believers must understand that the Bible teaches, “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness” (1 Timothy 6:10-11). Therefore, a heart that is full of selfish-ambition, covetousness, greed and lust for money is a heart that God will never bless. Whatever is in the heart will affect the mind, will and emotions of a person, because out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks (Matthew 12:24).
In order to prosper financially, we must first prosper in our minds. Our minds must be renewed by the Word of God, meaning we must learn, understand and apply the Word of God that deals with the area of finances. Then, we must keep our hearts free from all selfishness, covetousness, greed, unforgiveness, lust of all kinds. We must seek after God’s kingdom and righteousness and live a life that is holy and pure before the Lord.
In Galatians 3:7, we also read, “Therefore know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham.” This blessing belongs to all those who walk by faith and not by sight. Prosperity belongs to every child of God who has been redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ and who puts faith in the promises of God and applies the Word of God. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only… — James 1:22