Romans 12:2 (NKJV): “And do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” 

“The World in Crisis:” Medical Crisis, Economical Crisis, Political Crisis, Racial Crisis, Gender Crisis, Global Warming Crisis, Border Crisis. The World Crisis in all of the above can be summed up in one truth, that is that there is a Spiritual Crisis in which all the others flow.

Romans 12:21 (NKJV): “Do not be overcome by evil but overcome evil with good.”

Matthew 25:14-30 (NKJV): The Parable of the Talents: “For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them. And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey. Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents. (17) And likewise he who had received two gained two more also. But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord’s money. After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them. (20) “So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, ‘Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.’ His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ He also who had received two talents came and said, ‘Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.’ His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ (24) Then he who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.’ “But his lord answered and said to him, ‘You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. (27) So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest. So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents.

(29) ‘For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’” 

Mark 4:13-25 (NKJV): The Parable of the Sower Explained 

“And He said to them, ‘Do you not understand this parable? How then will you understand all the parables? The sower sows the word. (15) And these are the ones by the wayside where the word is sown. When they hear, Satan comes immediately and takes away the word that was sown in their hearts. These likewise are the ones sown on stony ground who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with gladness; (17) and they have no root in themselves, and so endure only for a time. Afterward, when tribulation or persecution arises for the word’s sake, immediately they stumble. Now these are the ones sown among thorns; they are the ones who hear the word, (19) and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. But these are the ones sown on good ground, those who hear the word, accept it, and bear fruit: some thirty fold, some sixty, and some a hundred.’”

Light Under a Basket

(21) “Also He said to them, ‘Is a lamp brought to be put under a basket or under a bed? Is it not to be set on a lampstand? For there is nothing hidden which will not be revealed, nor has anything been kept secret but that it should come to light. (23) If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.’

“Then He said to them, ‘Take heed what you hear. With the same measure you use, it will be measured to you; and to you who hear, more will be given. (25) For whoever has, to him more will be given; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.’”

John 15:7-8 (NKJV): “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.” True Vine.

Isaiah 55:11 (KJV): “So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.” “Prosper”–means to push forward, to advance, to succeed.

Joshua 1:7-8 (NKJV): “Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses my servant commanded you: do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper (act intelligently) wherever you go. This book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth. But you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous (break out, push forward, advance, success) and then you will have good success.” 

Four Fundamental Reasons for Biblical Prosperity: It will provide for the gospel to be reached. It will provide for your purpose to be fulfilled. It will provide resources for you to be a blessing. It will provide for you and your family.

Profit—To advance; advantage; gain, benefit; helpful or serviceable. 

Prosper—Have good success; to advance, Promote, push, go over

Total Prosperity Needs to Be Manifested in 5 Areas: Spiritual: Salvation opens the door; Mental: Soul prospers; Physical: Soundness of your body; Social: Witness to all the world; Financial: Blessed to be a blessing.

There are 7 Keys to Man’s Survival That Prosperity Is Required In:

LOVE (God is Love), 1 John 4:7-8 (NKJV): “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.” The world’s idea is found in flesh-carnal.

ACCEPTANCE (Just As You Are), John 3:17 (NKJV): “For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” In the world we find our acceptance in pleasing others. Romans 5:8 (NKJV): “But God demonstrates his own love towards us that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

PROVISION (Purpose), 2 Corinthians 9:10 (NKJV): “Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the see you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteous-ness.”  In the world there is Greed, lust, credit, debt, self-indulgence. 

KNOWLEDGE (God’s Word), Proverbs 24:3-4 (NKJV): “Through wisdom a house is built, And by understanding it is established; By knowledge the rooms are filled With all precious and pleasant riches.” 1 Corinthians 1:4-7 (NKJV): “I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given to you by Christ Jesus, that you were enriched in everything by Him in all utterance and all knowledge, even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you, so that you come short in no gift, eagerly waiting for the revelation of your Lord Jesus Christ.” In the world intellectual, science, experience. 

POWER (All Knowing All Powerful God), Acts 1:8 (NKJV): “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Ephesians 1:15-23 (NKJV): “Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: (17) that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, (19) and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, (21) far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, (23) which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.” In the world politics, position, weapons, etc.

WORSHIP, John 4:23-24 (NKJV): “But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” Revelation 11:15-17 (NKJV): “Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, ‘The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!’ And the twenty-four elders who sat before God on their thrones fell on their faces and worshiped God, saying: ‘We give You thanks, O Lord God Almighty, The One who is and who was and who is to come,
Because You have taken Your great power and reigned.’” In the world men worships people, music, sports, drugs, money. 

SPIRIT (God is a Spirit; there can be no other gods before Him), John 3:3-8 (NKJV): “Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.’ Nicodemus said to Him, ‘How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?’ (5) Jesus answered, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. (7) Do not marvel that I said to you, “You must be born again.” The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.’” 

Romans 8:9-17 (NKJV): “But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. (11) But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.

Sonship Through the Spirit

“Therefore, brethren, we are debtors—not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. (13) For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. (15) For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, (17) and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.” In the world men seek for the spiritual in drugs, metaphysical, philosophy, the cults, etc.

Is Prosperity a Fundamental Truth for God’s Children?  

Psalm 1:1-3 (NKJV): “Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper.” 

What we do will prosper: advance, progress, succeed, be profitable. 

3 John 1:2 (NKJV): “Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.” You may prosper in all things and be in health: be successful—succeed.

2 Corinthians 8:9 (NKJV): “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.” The Greek word for “Rich” is “Plouteo” and means “to be or become wealthy; to be made rich, to have abundance.”

Proverbs 29:2 (NKJV): “When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan.” When the righteous are in authority (are increasing–bringing in abun-dance) they have the power to influence, they become a convincing force.

Psalm 35:27 (NKJV): “Let them shout for joy and be glad, Who favor my righteous cause; And let them say continually, ‘Let the LORD be magnified, Who has pleasure in the prosperity of His servants.” 

PROSPERITY: starts when you establish PRINCIPLES (principle—a basic truth, law, or assumption; a rule or a standard, a moral or ethical standard). PRINCIPLES will work when you have STRUCTURE (structure—something made up of a number of parts that are held together in a particular way. The way in which parts are held together to form a whole). STRUCTURE operates on PRIORITY (priority—a precedence established by order of importance or urgency. Established right or procedure).

Your Life Will Go In the Way of Your PRIORITIES.

3 KEYS TO PROSPERITY: It’s not an end result, but a lifestyle! It’s Not an accident but a planned pursuit! It’s doing the difficult with great expectation!

Kings Do Not Think Like Peasants

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Bishop Rick Thomas

Abundant Life Church | Margate, FL