05/01/12

Prosperity kills nations

Habakkuk 1:14-17 - 14 And makest men as the fishes of the sea, as the creeping things, that have no ruler over them?
15 They [Chaldeans] take up all of them with the angle, they catch them in their net, and gather them in their drag: therefore they rejoice and are glad.
16 Therefore they sacrifice unto their net, and burn incense unto their drag; because by them their portion is fat, and their meat plenteous.
17 Shall they therefore empty their net, and not spare continually to slay the nations?


When New Year comes we see every one wishing the other a prosperous new year. In today's message the Lord wants us to open our eyes to the fact about prosperity. The word Chaldean means increase and it is shown as the killer of nations.

Prosperity is one of the biggest killers. Prosperity is not bad for it is the reason God creates, to allow His creation to prosper but yet it has become the greatest enemy of His work.

The problem lies in understanding prosperity, according to God and the way the world or Satan understands it. The easiest way for me to put it, is by making a bar of 3 words:

Lacking - Prosperity - Greed

God is called Father also for the reason because He is our provider and our God is not impotent that He cannot provide our needs. In the Bible He always assures us that we will never lack; it is always our unbelief that causes us to lack.

Coming to the other extreme, when we desire to have more than what is necessary, then it becomes a bigger enemy than lacking. There are 3 reasons why people desire more: -

1) They do not trust God to supply their needs tomorrow
2) They cannot control their lust for pleasure
3) They desire their own glory.

Wants do not need to be for bad things but even good things desired beyond purpose causes harm.

Understand that Satan was a very anointed being in Heaven and Heaven has only good things. The things Satan desired to decorate himself were not real jewellery or precious stones as we know here on earth but were spiritual things that were good yet then caused him to fall because he wanted more than the purpose. This greed was the first factor that made against the plan of God and anything that goes against the plan of God means darkness. We may say we are not doing anything against God's plan but any that is not done according to the plan of God means going against the plan. Jesus said anyone not with Him is against Him.

We may want riches of this world, we may want name, position, food, knowledge, even if it is gifts of the Holy Spirit, if they have no purpose for the plan God has for us in His Kingdom these things can become the cause of disaster for our life.

Jesus said not those who have riches will not enter the Kingdom of God but said those who are rich will find it impossible to enter the Kingdom of God. Everything that we have or desire should have purpose and that purpose should be for the glory of God.


[ Prayer Starter ]
Lord, everything about You has purpose and reason and they are always for the good. You have never done anything just for the sake of it or to show your power or ability. Lord, You are capable to do far more exceeding than what You have but You for the good of man, out of love and using your wisdom You created this world as it is. You are called Righteous for You know Good and all your ways are for the good. Lord, teach us your ways and keep us far from greed not only of bad things but also things that are good but not for your glory. Help us live our lives like the grape vine...

This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.


[ Reference Scriptures ]
Matthew 19:23-25
23 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.
24 And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
25 When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved?

Ezekiel 28:12-19
12 Son of man, take up a lamentation upon the king of Tyrus, and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty.
13 Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created.
14 Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire.
15 Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.
16 By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire.
17 Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee.
18 Thou hast defiled thy sanctuaries by the multitude of thine iniquities, by the iniquity of thy traffick; therefore will I bring forth a fire from the midst of thee, it shall devour thee, and I will bring thee to ashes upon the earth in the sight of all them that behold thee.
19 All they that know thee among the people shall be astonished at thee: thou shalt be a terror, and never shalt thou be any more.

1 Timothy 6:10 - For the love of money [love for silver - silver symbolizes earthly riches] is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

The Word of God was given free to us, therefore we should also share it freely with others. (All rights are with God)