Sermon Cloud

WPM, 3-5-08, CLC

Say what you will about the prosperity message, but in the Bible, the way they knew that people were blessed is because they had success, because they had possessions. There was something that people could see in the lives of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob that they knew that the Lord had blessed them. Prosperity is evidence of the blessing, just like tongues is evidence of being filled with the Holy Spirit. The blessing includes increase, everywhere in scripture.

The blessing includes increase, everywhere in scripture.
Ge 1:22 God blessed them, saying, "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth."
Ge 1:28 God blessed them; and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth."
Ge 9:1 And God blessed Noah and his sons and said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth.
Ge 24:1 Now Abraham was old, advanced in age; and the LORD had blessed Abraham in every way.
Ge 24:31 And he said, "Come in, blessed of the LORD! Why do you stand outside since I have prepared the house, and a place for the camels?"
Ge 24:35 "The LORD has greatly blessed my master, so that he has become rich; and He has given him flocks and herds, and silver and gold, and servants and maids, and camels and donkeys.
Ge 24:60 They blessed Rebekah and said to her, "May you, our sister, Become thousands of ten thousands, And may your descendants possess The gate of those who hate them."
Ge 26:12 Now Isaac sowed in that land and reaped in the same year a hundredfold. And the LORD blessed him,
Ge 26:29 that you will do us no harm, just as we have not touched you and have done to you nothing but good and have sent you away in peace. You are now the blessed of the LORD.'"
Ge 30:27 But Laban said to him, "If now it pleases you, [stay with me;] I have divined that the LORD has blessed me on your account." Ge 30:30 "For you had little before I came and it has increased to a multitude, and the LORD has blessed you wherever I turned. But now, when shall I provide for my own household also?"
Ge 39:5 It came about that from the time he made him overseer in his house and over all that he owned, the LORD blessed the Egyptian's house on account of Joseph; thus the LORD'S blessing was upon all that he owned, in the house and in the field.
2Sa 6:12 Now it was told King David, saying, "The LORD has blessed the house of Obed-edom and all that belongs to him, on account of the ark of God." David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-edom into the city of David with gladness. 2Sa 6:18 When David had finished offering the burnt offering and the peace offering, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD of hosts.
Paul had learned that God was his source. He knew that in every situation, that God would provide for him. He would have no problem giving you his last dollar, because he knew that God was going to provide.
Php 4:11-12
11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, [therewith] to be content.
12 I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.
Mt 14:19 Ordering the people to sit down on the grass, He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up toward heaven, He blessed [the food,] and breaking the loaves He gave them to the disciples, and the disciples [gave them] to the crowds,
Mr 6:41 And He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up toward heaven, He blessed [the food] and broke the loaves and He kept giving [them] to the disciples to set before them; and He divided up the two fish among them all.

Ga 3:9 So then those who are of faith are blessed with Abraham, the believer.

Genesis 27 - Isaac blessed Jacob, he pronounced that blessing of Abraham on him. He said that now that the pronouncing of the blessing had come forth, that he would definitely be blessed. There was no way to change it. Jacob got it deceitfully, but it still worked for him. He wasn't perfect, but it still worked for him. It will work for us too. God Himself has pronounced that blessing on us, if we will obey His voice.