SPIRITUAL PROSPERITYSESSION # 8

PROPHETIC PRAYER SEMINAR

SEPTEMBER – DECEMBER 2016FALL SEMESTER

CONNECT GROUP:LEARNING TO PROPHESYCTF AIRPORT CAMPUSMARCO LAFEBRE

MEANING OF PROSPERITY

• BASIC WORD IS “PROSPER” FROM WHICH THE WORD “PROSPERITY” COMES FROM

• IT’S MEANING IS TO “SUCCEED,” • FROM THE LATIN “PROSPERARE.”

• ERRONEOUSLY MOST PEOPLE MEASURE SUCCESS IN TERMS OF FINANCIAL ATTAINMENTS

• THEY PUT THIS LEVEL AS THE MOST IMPORTANT ONE.• SO NOW THE WORD “TO PROSPER” IS UNDERSTOOD AS “TO

SUCCEED IN BUSINESS OR IN FINANCIAL ENDEAVORS.”

DICTIONARY DEFINITION

• PROSPER• SUCCEED IN MATERIAL TERMS; BE FINANCIALLY SUCCESSFUL.• "HIS BUSINESS PROSPERED"• FLOURISH PHYSICALLY; GROW STRONG AND HEALTHY.

• REALMS OF PROSPERITY.

MATERIAL PROSPERITY

• CERTAINLY PROSPERITY CAN BE APPLIED TO SUCCESS IN THE ACQUISITION OF WEALTH OR MATERIAL GOODS.

• BUT THIS IS ONLY ONE LEVEL,• AND FOR MOST PEOPLE THE MOST IMPORTANT LEVEL.• AS CHRISTIAN OUR HEARTS SHOULDN’T BE CENTERED ON

THIS KIND OF PROSPERITY

• MATERIALLY SPEAKING, PROSPERITY IS MEASURED IN THE SALARY YOU HAVE,

• THE BENEFITS YOU ENJOY,• THE TYPE OF CAR YOU HAVE,• YOUR CONDO, YOUR HOUSE, YOUR COTTAGE,• HOW MUCH MORE YOU HAVE IN THE BANK,• THE ECONOMIC ASSETS YOU HAVE ATTAINED.

INTELLECTUAL PROSPERITY

• PROSPERITY CAN ALSO BE MEASURED IN THE ACQUISITION OF EDUCATION OR PSYCHOLOGICAL GOALS.

• A PERSON CANS ATTAINED SUCCESS AS A TEACHER, AS A PROFESSIONAL, OR AS A PERSON HONORED IN HIS COMMUNITY.

• HE HAS PROSPERED IN HIS CAREER.

• INTELLECTUAL PROSPERITY CAN BE MEASURED BY• THE TITLES OR DIPLOMAS YOU HAVE,• THE BOOKS THAT YOU HAVE WRITTEN.• THE NETWORK THAT YOU HAVE CREATED,• THE RESPECT AND CONSIDERATION THAT OTHERS HAVE FOR

YOU.

• MATERIAL AND INTELLECTUAL PROSPERITY, • CAN BE MEASURED BY SOMETHING THAT PHYSICALLY CAN BE

SEEN, (GOODS)• CAN BE MEASURED WITH AN UNIVERSAL STANDARD,

(MONEY)• OR COMPARED BY LEVELS OF SUCCESS, (CATEGORIES)

SPIRITUAL PROSPERITY

• PROSPERITY CAN BE APPLIED TO SUCCESS IN THE SPIRITUAL LIFE AS WELL.

• IT COULD BE MEASURED IN MANY DIFFERENT WAYS.• SPIRITUAL PROSPERITY IS NOT EASY TO MEASURE AS THE

THINGS OF THE SPIRITUAL REALM ARE INVISIBLE.• CONSEQUENTLY THE WAY OF MEASURING IS BY THE EFFECTS

PRODUCED IN OUR LIFE.

• TONIGHT WE’LL DISCUSS HOW WE CAN BECOME PROSPEROUS IN OUR SPIRITUAL LIVES. 

PROSPERITY IN THE SPIRITUAL LIFE

• WHAT IS IT?• IS THE LEVEL OF INTIMACY WITH GOD,• THE PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP THAT YOU HAVE WITH HIM,• THE QUALITY TIME THAT YOU APART TO SPEND WITH HIM,• THE REVELATION THAT YOU RECEIVE AS YOU PONDER IN THE

WORD OF GOD. • THE HEALING TOUCH THAT YOU RECEIVE COMING FROM A

LOVING GOD.

• ALL THOSE ASPECTS WILL CAUSE:• GREAT FREEDOM OF OUR HUMAN SPIRIT.• OUR SOUL WILL BE SET FREE HEALED AND RESTORED,

• OUR PAINFUL MEMORIES WILL BE HEALED,• OUR NEGATIVES EMOTIONS ASSOCIATED WITH THE PAINFUL MEMORIES

WILL FIND GOD’S PEACE,• OUR WILL, DESIRE, WISHES, WILL SUFFER A TREMENDOUS

TRANSFORMATION, PEOPLE WILL NOTICE THAT YOUR ACTION AND REACTION ARE WAY DIFFERENT THAN WHAT THEY USED TO BE.

• CONSEQUENTLY OUR HUMAN BODY WILL EXPERIENCE AS WELL SOME TRANSFORMATION: FEAR, STRESS, ANXIETY WILL LOSE THE GRIP ON OUR INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL ORGANS AND HEALING WILL TAKE PLACE AND WE WILL LEAVE IN AN HARMONIOUS LIFE OF SPIRIT-SOUL-BODY. GOOD HEALTH WILL BE OUR PORTION.

•HOW OUR SPIRITUAL PROSPERITY IS SHOWN IN OUR LIFE?

• IT IS BY LOVE.• GOD’S LOVE IS POURED INTO OUR LIVES IN UNENDING WAVES.• HIS LOVE IN US CAUSES TO LOVE HIM BACK, LOVE OURSELVES

AND LOVE OTHERS, EVEN THE UNLOVABLE ONES.• HIS OVERFLOWING LOVE IN US CAUSES TO EXTEND THAT LOVE

TO OTHERS.

1 JOHN 3:16 (NKJV)

• THE OUTWORKING OF LOVE• 16 BY THIS WE KNOW LOVE, BECAUSE HE

LAID DOWN HIS LIFE FOR US. AND WE ALSO OUGHT TO LAY DOWN OUR LIVES FOR THE BRETHREN.

MATTHEW 22:36-40 (NKJV)

• 36 “TEACHER, WHICH IS THE GREAT COMMANDMENT IN THE LAW?”• 37 JESUS SAID TO HIM, “‘YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.’ 38 THIS IS THE FIRST AND GREAT COMMANDMENT. 39 AND THE SECOND IS LIKE IT: ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’ 40 ON THESE TWO COMMANDMENTS HANG ALL THE LAW AND THE PROPHETS.”

• WHEN WE LEARN TO RECEIVE THE LOVE OF FATHER GOD FOR OURSELVES, WE START A WALK OF TRANSFORMATION INTO OUR LIVES,

• THAT INSIDE TRANSFORMATION CAUSED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT IN OUR LIVES WILL CAUSE THAT THE SEEDS OF HIS LOVE IN US PRODUCE SOME FRUITS THAT CAN BE PERCEIVED EVEN IF WE DON’T WANT TO REVEAL THEM,

• THOSE ARE THE FRUITS DESCRIBED ON THE BOOK OF GALATIANS.

GALATIANS 5:22-23 (NKJV)

• 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.

• WHEN FATHER GOD SPECIFIES NINE QUALITIES THAT WILL BE COMING DIRECTLY FROM HIS HOLY SPIRIT LIVING IN US,

• HE IS REALLY EXPRESSING THE EXTREME IMPORTANCE OF THESE NINE SPECIFIC FRUITS.

• THESE FRUITS AND QUALITIES ARE COMING DIRECTLY FROM GOD HIMSELF,

• EVERY CHRISTIAN SHOULD DO THE BEST THEY CAN TO WORK WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT IN GETTING ALL NINE OF THESE FRUITS WORKING IN THEIR PERSONALITIES.

• THIS IS WHY THE ABOVE VERSE FROM GALATIANS IS SO POWERFUL AND SO NEEDED BY EVERY SINGLE CHRISTIAN TODAY.

• IN THIS VERSE, GOD IS TELLING US THAT HE CAN TRANSMIT SOME OF HIS GODLY AND DIVINE QUALITIES RIGHT UP INTO THE MIDDLE OF EACH ONE OF OUR LIVES

• MANY OF US NEED A FRESH INFUSION OF HIS DIVINE QUALITIES DUE TO THE LEAKS THAT HAVE OCCURRED AS A RESULT OF SOME OF THE BEATINGS WE HAVE TAKEN DURING THE COURSE OF OUR LIVES.

• LET’S DISCUSS THESE NINE QUALITIES,• I HAVE TAKEN THEM FROM A BIBLE DICTIONARY.

LOVE,WHAT IS LOVE?

• UNSELFISH, BROTHERLY CONCERN, AFFECTION,THE SELF-DENYING, SELF-SACRIFICING, CHRIST-LIKE LOVE WHICH IS THE FOUNDATION OF ALL OTHER GRACES,UNSELFISH, LOYAL AND BENEVOLENT CONCERN FOR THE WELL BEING OF ANOTHER,THE HIGH ESTEEM WHICH GOD HAS FOR HIS HUMAN CHILDREN AND THE HIGH REGARD WHICH THEY, IN TURN, SHOULD HAVE FOR HIM AND OTHER PEOPLETO LOVE, TO HAVE AFFECTION FOR SOMEONE; TO LIKE; TO BE A FRIEND; THE LOVE OF BROTHERS FOR EACH OTHER

JOY,WHAT IS JOY?

• GREAT DELIGHT; GLADNESS OF HEART,• THE HAPPY STATE THAT RESULTS FROM KNOWING AND

SERVING GOD,• THAT DEEP, ABIDING, INNER REJOICING IN THE LORD,• TO REJOICE, TO BE GLAD,• HAPPY, JOYFUL, CHEERFUL, REJOICING, FESTIVE.

PEACE,WHAT IS PEACE?

• THE PRESENCE AND EXPERIENCE OF RIGHT RELATIONSHIPSTHE TRANQUILITY OF SOULSENSE OF WELL-BEING AND FULFILLMENT THAT COMES FROM GOD AND IS DEPENDENT ON HIS PRESENCETHE INNER TRANQUILITY AND POISE OF THE CHRISTIAN WHOSE TRUST IS IN GOD THROUGH CHRISTTRANQUILITY, REST, HARMONY, THE ABSENCE OF AGITATION OR DISCORD

PEACE,

• WE NEED TO REALIZE THAT THE HOLY SPIRIT HAS HIS PEACE READY TO GIVE IT TO US, AND THAT HE CAN GIVE IT IN GREAT ABUNDANCE.

LONGSUFFERING,WHAT IS LONGSUFFERING?

• FORBEARANCE, PATIENCE,PATIENT ENDURANCE AND STEADFASTNESS UNDER PROVOCATION,FORBEARANCE UNDER ILL-WILL, WITH NO THOUGHT OF RETALIATION,PATIENCE, ENDURANCE, STEADFASTNESS AND FORBEARANCE,FORBEARANCE UNDER SUFFERING AND ENDURANCE IN THE FACE OF ADVERSITY,ABILITY TO ENDURE PERSECUTION AND ILL-TREATMENT.

LONGSUFFERING

• LEARN HOW TO RIDE AND FLOW WITH THE PATIENCE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN OUR DAILY LIFE AND WALK WITH THE LORD,

• THEN WE WILL BE ABLE TO ENTER INTO A MUCH MORE RESTFUL, PEACEFUL STATE WITHIN YOUR MIND AND EMOTIONS.

KINDNESS,WHAT IS KINDNESS?• QUALITY OR STATE OF BEING KIND,

THE STEADFAST LOVE THAT MAINTAINS RELATIONSHIPS THROUGH GRACIOUS AID IN TIMES OF NEED,GOODNESS OF HEART, SERVICEABLE, GOOD, GRACIOUS, PLEASANT,LOVE FOR MANKIND, HOSPITALITY, ACTS OF KINDNESS, READINESS TO HELP, HUMAN FRIENDSHIP, BENEVOLENCE, TAKING THOUGHT OF OTHERS,GOODNESS IN ACTION, SWEETNESS OF DISPOSITION, GENTLENESS IN DEALING WITH OTHERS, AFFABILITYTHE ABILITY TO ACT FOR THE WELFARE OF THOSE TAXING YOUR PATIENCE

GOODNESS,WHAT IS GOODNESS?• BENEFICENCE, READY TO DO GOOD, LOVE IN ACTION,

 • KINDNESS IN ACTUAL MANIFESTATION, VIRTUE EQUIPPED

FOR ACTION, A BOUNTIFUL PROPENSITY BOTH TO WILL AND TO DO WHAT IS GOOD, INTRINSIC GOODNESS PRODUCING A GENEROSITY AND A GODLIKE STATE OR BEING, 

• THE WORD BENEFICENCE MEANS THE FACT OR QUALITY OF BEING KIND OR DOING GOOD.

FAITHFULNESS,WHAT IS FAITHFULNESS?

• FIDELITY WHICH MAKES ONE TRUE TO HIS PROMISE AND FAITHFUL TO HIS TASK,STEADFAST, DEDICATED, DEPENDABLE AND WORTHY OF TRUST,STEADFAST, UNCHANGING AND THOROUGHLY GROUNDED IN RELATION TO THE OTHER,DEPENDABILITY, LOYALTY AND STABILITY.

GENTLENESS,WHAT IS GENTLENESS?• MILDNESS COMBINED WITH TENDERNESS,

GRACIOUS, KINDLY DISPOSITION, CONTROLLED STRENGTH,DISPOSITION THAT IS EVEN-TEMPERED, TRANQUIL, BALANCED IN SPIRIT, UNPRETENTIOUS AND THAT HAS PASSIONS UNDER CONTROL,A CHARACTER THAT IS EQUITABLE, REASONABLE, FORBEARING, MODERATE, FAIR AND CONSIDERATE,POWER AND STRENGTH UNDER CONTROL,WILLING TO PARDON INJURIES, CORRECT FAULTS. ONE WHO RULES HIS SPIRIT WELL.

SELF CONTROL,WHAT IS SELF CONTROL?

• TEMPERANCE, RATIONAL RESTRAINT OF NATURAL IMPULSES,SOBER, TEMPERATE, CALM AND DISPASSIONATE APPROACH TO LIFE, HAVING MASTERED PERSONAL DESIRES AND PASSIONS,CALLS FOR A SELF-DISCIPLINED LIFE FOLLOWING CHRIST’S EXAMPLE, BEING IN THE WORLD BUT NOT OF THE WORLD,RESTRAINT OR DISCIPLINE EXERCISED OVER ONE’S BEHAVIOR.

1 CORINTHIANS 13 (NKJV)• THE GREATEST GIFT• 13 THOUGH I SPEAK WITH THE TONGUES OF MEN AND

OF ANGELS, BUT HAVE NOT LOVE, I HAVE BECOME SOUNDING BRASS OR A CLANGING CYMBAL. 2 AND THOUGH I HAVE THE GIFT OF PROPHECY, AND UNDERSTAND ALL MYSTERIES AND ALL KNOWLEDGE, AND THOUGH I HAVE ALL FAITH, SO THAT I COULD REMOVE MOUNTAINS, BUT HAVE NOT LOVE, I AM NOTHING. 3 AND THOUGH I BESTOW ALL MY GOODS TO FEED THE POOR, AND THOUGH I GIVE MY BODY TO BE BURNED,[A]BUT HAVE NOT LOVE, IT PROFITS ME NOTHING.

• 4 LOVE SUFFERS LONG AND IS KIND; LOVE DOES NOT ENVY; LOVE DOES NOT PARADE ITSELF, IS NOT PUFFED UP; 5 DOES NOT BEHAVE RUDELY, DOES NOT SEEK ITS OWN, IS NOT PROVOKED, THINKS NO EVIL; 6 DOES NOT REJOICE IN INIQUITY, BUT REJOICES IN THE TRUTH; 7 BEARS ALL THINGS, BELIEVES ALL THINGS, HOPES ALL THINGS, ENDURES ALL THINGS.

• 8 LOVE NEVER FAILS. BUT WHETHER THERE ARE PROPHECIES, THEY WILL FAIL; WHETHER THERE ARE TONGUES, THEY WILL CEASE; WHETHER THERE IS KNOWLEDGE, IT WILL VANISH AWAY. 9 FOR WE KNOW IN PART AND WE PROPHESY IN PART. 10 BUT WHEN THAT WHICH IS PERFECT HAS COME, THEN THAT WHICH IS IN PART WILL BE DONE AWAY.

• PLEASE UNDERSTAND THIS:• THE GIFTING AND ANOINTING OF A PERSON DOES NOT

NECESSARILY MEAN THAT THE PERSON HAS PROSPERED SPIRITUALLY.

• NEXT WEEK WE WILL DISCUSS THIS TOPIC.

•AND NOW• WE WILL HEAR YOUR PROPHETIC DECLARATION.