Biblical Prosperity in Perspective 10

Developing the Capacity to Prosper, Part Three

by Pastor John Hamel

In our last study we saw the importance of being tested and proven today in order for God to give us tremendous wealth tomorrow.  To be unwilling to be tested and proven is an indication of impatience, immaturity and rebellion.  Certainly an impatient, immature and rebellious individual cannot expect much from the Lord.

“For the Lord God is a sun and shield: the Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.” (Psalm 84:11)

God holds out on no one.  He is not cheap and He is not greedy, but He is the All-Wise God.  He knows an impatient, immature rebel when He sees one.  He knows when someone does not understand the difference between covetous and Covenant.  He simply will not share His tremendous wealth with anyone who does not understand the difference between the two.  

Anyone who wants tremendous wealth for the sake of having tremendous wealth is not going to receive it.  Not from Almighty God, anyway.  However, the ones who desire it for the sake of establishing His Covenant in the Earth are going to see it, but not until they are first tested and proven with smaller amounts. (Deuteronomy 8:18)

It is vitally important to be faithful in all the little things that God deliberately places before you.  Refusing to do so will result in famine not harvest.  Once you make up your mind to keep Kingdom business, Covenant business, your priority, the King of Covenant will make you His priority.  That is when money and things begin pouring in.

There is someone in the Bible who was too immature to recognize the difference between covetous and Covenant.  We will study his mistake in this lesson.  This will require a little reading on your part.  However, that is good because faith for tremendous wealth comes by reading and hearing. (Romans 10:17)  

Let’s go to the narrative in Luke, chapter 15.

The Prodigal Son Who Didn't Have a Clue

“And he said, A certain man had two sons: And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me.  And he divided unto them his living.” (Verses 11-12)

The word “younger” in this verse means “Youthful of things. Less experienced.  Immature.”  This young man needed to be tested and proven in the realm of finances.  He had not been and it led to serious heartache and problems.

“And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.” (Verse 13)

In the Bible a “far country” is representative of sin.  This young man took the wealth his father shared with him, turned on his heel and deliberately walked away from everything he knew to be right.  He headed right for the pigpen of sin.  It cost him everything, too.  That is what the youthful, less experienced and immature do when wealth comes into their hands.

“And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.  And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.  And he would feign have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.” (Verses 14-16)

This inexperienced, reckless prodigal became so destitute after squandering such great wealth that he set his mind on eating the pig food.  It started looking pretty good to him, too.  He was in a bad way.  This never would have happened had he allowed his father to first test him and prove him in the realm of great wealth.

“And when he came to himself he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!  I will arise and go to my father and will say to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee.” (Verses 17-18)

The word “sinned” in the above verse actually means, “I have wasted my only inheritance.”  Again, this narrative is in the Bible for a reason.  Our Heavenly Father wants us to see the danger of wasting our only inheritance on riotous, wasteful living if we are not first tested and proven before He gives it to us.

“And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.  And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.  And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.  But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:  And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:  For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.

“Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing.  And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant.  And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound.  And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him.  

"And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends:  But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.  And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine.  It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.” (Verses 19-32)

There are three things we are going to see quickly from this narrative.  They will help us to develop the capacity to prosper more quickly.

First, this Prodigal Didn't Understand the Simplicity of Sonship

Sonship is a generic term referring to male and female.  Sonship is simply doing everything you put your hand to in a way that will please our Heavenly Father.  The Prodigal was not interested in using his inheritance to please the Father.  He wasted it on himself. 

Many people will never see financial breakthrough because God knows if He gave it to them, it would take them into the pigpen of destruction. (Galatians 6:7)  

Why don’t you say, “Not me, Father.  I’m learning my lesson right now from the Prodigal.  You want to test me?  Then please do.  When You test me, tell me what the right answers are and I’ll write them down exactly as You want them.  I’ll do exactly as You say.”  Then do it.

Second, the Prodigal Mistook Covetous for Covenant

To be covetous is to be “self” minded.  To be Covenant minded is to be “others” minded.  This immature one did not have a clue that there is a difference.  He wasted his entire fortune on himself only.  Our Father wants you to know that He gives you the power to get wealth that He may “establish His Covenant” through you with the people of the world. (Deuteronomy 8:18)  

There are over 6 billion people in this Earth presently.  More than half of them never even heard the Name of Jesus.  When you prove to God in little ways that your life is all about seeking them out and delivering them from Hell, He will personally bless you with abundance.  

Once you prove to Him that you understand the difference between covetous and Covenant, you are well on your way to becoming one of the biggest tithe-payers and offering-givers in the world.

Third, this Prodigal Discovered His Father's Tremendous Mercy

Possibly you were a consistent tithe and offering payer.  Prosperity began to flow towards you and you got the “big head.”  You began to believe that the power of your own hand brought that wealth to you.  Possibly you believed that God did give it to you, but it was because you were so “special.”  

The next thing you knew, you lost it all because of your immaturity and pride.  Now there is a voice that keeps telling you that the Father is disgusted with you.  Jesus does not want you to listen to that voice.  Jesus wants you to see that the Father has tremendous mercy for you, even as the Prodigal’s Father had tremendous mercy for him.

The Father will welcome you back in a New York minute.  He will have compassion on you.  He will run towards you and kiss you on the neck.  He will cover you with the robe of righteousness.  He will put the ring of authority back on your finger.  He will put the shoes of a free man or woman back on your feet.  He will brush your backside off and let you start all over again.  

After all, what is a little pig food on your shirt when the Father’s been waiting for you to come back and help Him to reach those more than 3 billion lost souls?  God does not bite off His own nose to spite His face.  He will not only restore you, He will throw a party, rejoicing that you finally woke up and came home.

If you will make up your mind that it will never happen again, He will personally see to it that you spend your days in prosperity and your years in pleasure. (Job 36:11)  

After all, He is the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort. (2Corinthians 1:3)

Be blessed … John and Barbara Hamel

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