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Prosperity of Spirit
Prosperity of Spirit
Prosperity of Spirit
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The following lesson on prosperity of spirit is actually taken from two different prophetic words dealing with the same topic. As you have probably noticed, a lot of attention is given in some religious "circles" to personal prosperity (in terms of material things). Now, whereas I know personally that God supplies my needs and that He gets no particular glory from poverty—I do believe that the message of personal (material) prosperity has been pressed to the detriment of the topic of spiritual prosperity. The results have been that many people have become discouraged because they have not become rich (over night!) and many who have attained wealth, seem to honor it more than the presence of God in their lives. I do not believe that spiritual prosperity has to have an inverse relationship to material prosperity—but when all the emphasis is on the material—the spirit will never mature.
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Prosperity of spirit far outweighs prosperity of any other kind. Prosperity of those things which are not Spirit often stunts the spirit so that the walk becomes one entirely of senses and sensibilities. [Christ has made us—our spirits—alive to God. But this is only the beginning of what must be a spiritual growth process—ignited, guided, and powered by the Holy Spirit—a process through which the full nature of Christ is created in our spirit. Galatians 5:16 I say then: Walk in the Spirit and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. 24 And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. NKJV It is the Spirit of God that has given us life—why then would we try to walk (live, move, and have our being) outside of the Spirit's control? Being controlled by the Holy Spirit is not limitation, but rather, liberation. Only the Holy Spirit can lead us where we could not go in our own power (power limited by the sin nature). Only He can help us to do the will of the Father and to walk in power and in strength! Romans 8:5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. NKJV The untransformed mind is not sensitive to God's voice, lacks discernment, and leads to a life lived according to flesh circumstances (experiences, situations, hurts, etc.) and generally tends to direct the individual into the same negative situations over, and over again.]
You can learn how to be a prosperous caterpillar or you can die to self and become the created being of God. {The Butterfly is loosed from the earth. It eats different things—goes different places—and has a totally different point of view than the caterpillar. Just as the butterfly has wings that truly liberate it from its former drudgery, so also the Spirit of God gives our human spirit "wings," so that we are able to transcend the former life in which the spirit was a prisoner of the desires of the "flesh" (the unrenewed mind).} [Isaiah 40:29 He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength. 30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall, 31 But those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint. NKJV] This release comes only by way of the Holy Spirit who has been given us because of the victory that is in Christ Jesus. [Romans 7:24 O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25 I thank God — through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin. NKJV This scripture does not indicate that we are doomed to live a duplicitous lifestyle—loving God and being obedient in our "hearts," but lascivious in terms of our behaviors. To use this scripture—or any other—to condone deliberate sin, is a blatant misuse of the scriptures and indicates spiritual immaturity at best, or rebellion, at worst. It does mean that a life lived according to the desires of the flesh, without the overcoming power of Jesus Christ in operation, will invariable be a "slave" to sinful desires.]
You struggle because you want to perform through the flesh what only can be realized in the Spirit. [Galatians 5:4 You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace. NKJV Concerning overcoming things that "torment" or "challenge" me, I make this confession: "Father, I can't, but you can. Help me to allow you to do this in me through Jesus Christ." Galatians 6:8 For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. NKJV] You miss the light of God while trying to light your candle. {No good deeds, no ministry, no pompous plans, no lofty goal, no personal "vision," take the place of obedience to the Spirit of God.}
You do not want to be fettered to the earth with its moral decay and hardness of spirit. Do not seek what others seek—they have lost touch with My Spirit. {They have "turned aside," but not to me.} Now they are fully persuaded of themselves. {These have become "closed systems."} [2 Corinthians 10:12 For we dare not class ourselves or compare ourselves with those who commend themselves. But they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise. NKJV Some people actually get to the point where they put their own discretion in the place of the Holy Spirit. In other words, if there is something that they want to do, they "feel" that it would have to be allowable. Many times people with a "seared" conscience use their lack of conviction concerning a particular thing as proving that it is alright with the Father! Some even teach that spiritual maturity makes you able to "handle" a sinful lifestyle—in what universe does that make sense?]
Great tumult approaches—but I have given you a sword and a spear {the spear indicating a new "level of authority in the Spirit such that we stop the enemy while he is still at a distance}! My Words will proceed from your mouth and you will see what you never thought was possible.
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