Psalm 35:27 *Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favour my righteous cause: yea, let them say continually, Let the LORD be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant*
the prosperity of his servant* *DOES GOD PROSPER HIS PEOPLE MATERIALLY*?
In America, one of the controversial brand of gospel that emanated from there and spread to other parts of the world especially Africa is known as "prosperity gospel". This is different from prosperity message/teaching but it is a gospel with its own theological framework.
This message came primarily from the word of faith stream though not all word of faith preachers preached it but it is common in that circle. Almost every preacher I know who claimed God called him to raise wealthy people are from that stream. I am yet to see any holiness movement preacher or those in New Apostolic Reformation( NAR) make such claims.
When Kenneth E Hagin (a pioneer of the word of faith movement) of blessed memory saw the several abuses and extremes in how some of his sons in ministry were going about the so called prosperity teachings, he called for a close door meeting to address the several extremes.
He spent hours opening scriptures to them showing how they veered off the track on the subject. Some of them took the correction while some rejected it and continued business as usual. That meeting produced one of his most impactful books: "The Midas Touch". Please, get the book.
Ever since, there has been a raging debate on the subject of prosperity. Some have veered to the extreme on this subject, in a bid to correct this extreme, some veered into another extreme. So we have many confused believers with many questions unanswered. I will answer some of those questions in this teaching.
Now, let's answer questions on the subject and find biblical answers. *Does God prosper people*?
Genesis 24:1 says, *"And Abraham was old, and well stricken in age: and THE LORD had BLESSED ABRAHAM IN ALL THINGS*" ( KJV).
Genesis 24:35 *"And THE LORD hath BLESSED MY MASTER greatly; and he is become great: and he hath given him flocks, and herds, and silver, and gold, and menservants, and maidservants, and camels, and asses*" (KJV)
Genesis 25:11 *"And it came to pass after the death of Abraham, that GOD BLESSED his son ISAAC; and Isaac dwelt by the well Lahai-roi*".
2 Samuel 6:11 *"And the ark of the LORD continued in the house of Obed-edom the Gittite three months: and THE LORD BLESSED OBED-EDOM, and all his household*"(KJV)
Job 1:10 *"Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land*".
Without any iota of doubt, God blesses his people materiallly and he is still blessing his children. Some preachers believe God has no business blessing his people materially only spiritually. The scriptures posted above proves them wrong.
*God blesses through the work of our hands and through favours from people. Do not let anyone deceive, God is still in the business of blessing his children*.
When God's blessings come your way either through increase in your work or by causing people to be favourably disposed towards you, please do not feel guilty.