TUESDAY APRIL 27 - PROSPERITY GOSPEL - PART II

 TUESDAY APRIL 27 - PROSPERITY GOSPEL - PART II

I started this yesterday.  In the Judeo-Christian tradition, prayer and asking God for His favor are common.

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Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well.  3 John 1:2

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11

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Let’s start with the Ask, Seek, and Receive verses.

Each of the four Gospels has the Ask and it will be given to you verse:

"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. Matthew 7:7-8

And you ask in prayer, you will receive if you have faith.” Matthew 21:22

Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. Mark 11:24

Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. John 14:13

So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

“Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!  Luke 11: 9-13

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I want to comment on the Luke version.  Like the others, he writes ask, seek, knock, and receive, but then he adds more.

God wants to give you good gifts (like the Holy Spirit). What is a “good gift” from God?  I’d love a new car, but that might not be a ‘good gift’ for me.  (Some of the prosperity gospel believe that a new car can really be part of God’s plan).

If you are a Godly person (and I assume you are), do you ask for good gifts?  Do you seek God, do you knock?  

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The basic is:

.- ASK - ask for wisdom, ask for guidance, ask for passion.  The scripture promise is “And, it shall be given until you”.

.- SEEK - for God’s will in your life.  The scripture says, “Seek and you shall find”.  Keep searching, (Google doesn’t always know the answer, but God does!!!)

.- KNOCK - and the door will be opened to you.  Have you walked (mentally) past a “door” that looks interesting to you?  Have you said “That might be my goal, my calling, but I don’t know”

KNOCK -and the door will be opened.  Don’t give up.  I remember the Olympic Marathon many years ago.  The leaders had passed the finish line - and maybe an hour later, limping and struggling with every step came one last finisher.  That person was LAST in the Olympic Marathon race.  LAST.  But, I can imagine the story that person will tell to his grandchildren. “I was last in the 1968 Olympic Marathon race.  But, I made it to the Olympics.  And, I finished.  I was tempted to drop out, to say “enough”, but I didn’t I pushed on.”  

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So, what are you asking God for today?  

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Last week in a substitute class I talked about the difference between “want” and “need”.  

Philippians 4:19 says “And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.”  God will meet your needs.  Unable to make the house payment this month?  Have you asked God?  Do you need guidance and direction?  Have you asked God?

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.  Philippians 4:6

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Okay, in context, these verses seem to indicate an “open door” to God.  There must be a catch!!  Let’s see what I find for Tomorrow and Thursday!!!

By the way, to me, God is NOT a great piggy bank in the sky.  I don’t snap my fingers and say “Hey God, I need XYZ”.  This is NOT a formula that works every time.  

I have used Isaiah 55:8-9 in the past. ““For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

Two verses before this (55:6) we have, “Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near.”

Tomorrow, I share my experiences. (Warning - watch out!!!)

LOVE WINS

HUGS

KAREN