Spiritual Prosperity through Discipleship
Psalm 1:1-3
The matter of prosperity is important to all of us.
The word prosper is to do well, however, the world’s view of prospering is to be rich financially.
But the Bible teaches on this important matter in III John:2, “Beloved I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health even as thy soul prospereth.”
Prosper is the Greek word euodoo (yoo-od-o-o) succeed in reaching.
Well, what is God’s plan for the Christian to succeed in reaching? Spiritual maturity!
Well, how does one become spiritually mature?
This Psalm one contains the answer in verses 1-3, focusing heavy on verse 2, “But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditates day and night.”
To delight in the word of God is discipleship.
Disciple is the Gr. word mathetes it is an adherent who accepts the teaching of another and makes it his rule of living.
I am totally persuaded that the Bibles teaches that every believer is to prosper spiritually through discipleship.
But I also believe that through discipleship every child of God can prosper materialistic and physically as our soul prospers.
Matthew 6:33, “But seek you first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you.”
There is godly help in this first Psalm for the child of God to prosper in this life.
I. Stay away from the ways of this world - vs. 1.
II. Stay in the word of God - vs. 2
III. Stay in the right place to grow spiritually - vs. 3
I see in this text for the believer to prosper spiritually there is a decision to be made on his or her part.
We must decide that we are not just satisfied with going to heaven when we die but want some heaven here on earth.
With that being said, we must reject the nonsense of those who are propagating the false teaching of:
Spiritually blessed is to succeed in reaching our goal of spiritual maturity set by God, who made us, saved us, and owns us!
Spiritual maturity requires us to do some things and stop doing some things.
You can’t keep living like you always lived and expect to prosper spiritually.
a. Spiritual prosperity comes when we don’t do certain things.
II. Stay in the word of God - vs. 2
Disciples stay in the word of God because it brings them pleasure!
d. Disciples meditates on the word of God.
III. Stay in the right place to grow - vs. 3.
To prosper spiritually is to say, I’ve got Jesus and that’s enough!
Jesus is all I need and everything I need God provides!
The word prosper is to do well, however, the world’s view of prospering is to be rich financially.
But the Bible teaches on this important matter in III John:2, “Beloved I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health even as thy soul prospereth.”
Prosper is the Greek word euodoo (yoo-od-o-o) succeed in reaching.
Well, what is God’s plan for the Christian to succeed in reaching? Spiritual maturity!
Well, how does one become spiritually mature?
This Psalm one contains the answer in verses 1-3, focusing heavy on verse 2, “But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditates day and night.”
To delight in the word of God is discipleship.
Disciple is the Gr. word mathetes it is an adherent who accepts the teaching of another and makes it his rule of living.
I am totally persuaded that the Bibles teaches that every believer is to prosper spiritually through discipleship.
But I also believe that through discipleship every child of God can prosper materialistic and physically as our soul prospers.
Matthew 6:33, “But seek you first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you.”
There is godly help in this first Psalm for the child of God to prosper in this life.
I. Stay away from the ways of this world - vs. 1.
II. Stay in the word of God - vs. 2
III. Stay in the right place to grow spiritually - vs. 3
I see in this text for the believer to prosper spiritually there is a decision to be made on his or her part.
We must decide that we are not just satisfied with going to heaven when we die but want some heaven here on earth.
With that being said, we must reject the nonsense of those who are propagating the false teaching of:
- Name it and claim it.
- Call it and haul it.
- The lie that the check is in the mail.
Spiritual Prosperity through discipleship
I. Stay away from the ways of this world - vs. 1.
“Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, not standed in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.”
Blessed is the word esher it means spiritually blessed.
Spiritually blessed is to succeed in reaching our goal of spiritual maturity set by God, who made us, saved us, and owns us!
Spiritual maturity requires us to do some things and stop doing some things.
You can’t keep living like you always lived and expect to prosper spiritually.
a. Spiritual prosperity comes when we don’t do certain things.
b. Spiritual prosperity happens when we sanctify ourselves.
- Separated from the world and separated unto God.
- I John 15: “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If a man loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.”
- Birds of a feather flock together! Eagles don’t hang out with chickens.
c. Discipleship dictates where we walk, stand, and sit.
1. Walk not in the counsel of the ungodly, means not to take the advice of the ungodly or morally corrupt people.
2. Nor standeth in the way of sinners. means he does not follow the course of life of the wicked.
3. Nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. meaning not to make yourself at home with the unbelievers of Christ.
II. Stay in the word of God - vs. 2
“But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditates day and night.”
a. Staying in the word of God is to stay in the will of God.
b. To stay in the word of God we must delight in the word of God.
- To delight in the word of God is proof of loving God.
c. The word of God is the source of spiritual prosperity.
- Many Christians are dirt poor mentally.
- Many Christians are dirt poor emotionally.
- Because they are not in the word of God and the word of God is not in them!
Delight is the Heb. word hepes means to find pleasure in.
- Pleasure that won’t be quiet.
- Pleasure that won’t be absent for Sunday school, Bible class and for the preaching of God’s word.
You know as well as I know that whatever brings you pleasure you are going to do it over and over again.
- Alcoholics drink liquor because it brings them pleasure.
- Gamblers gamble because it brings them pleasure.
- Sinners sin because it brings them pleasure.
Disciples stay in the word of God because it brings them pleasure!
d. Disciples meditates on the word of God.
Meditate is the Heb. word haga means to think about.
Because the disciple loves the word of God, he meditates on the word of God, day and night.
Illustration: chewing the cud.
- He goes to bed with his mind on the word!
- He wakes in the morning with his mind of the word!
- All through the day his mind is on the word and the word is on his mind.
III. Stay in the right place to grow - vs. 3.
“And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.”
This text declares because he delights in the word of God what soever he does shall prosper!
a. We have to stay in the right place to prosper spiritually.
b. To prosper spiritually opens the door to prosper:
a. We have to stay in the right place to prosper spiritually.
b. To prosper spiritually opens the door to prosper:
1. Physical prosperity is suggested being planted by the rivers of water, and leaf not withering.
- The tree gets from the soil and water everything needed to be physically healthy.
- Notice rivers are plural- blessing coming from everywhere.
- His leaf shall not wither is physical health.
2. Financial prosperity is suggested in bringing forth his fruit in his season.
- Crops suggest income for living the best life.
c. Textually it is talking about spiritual prosperity.
- God is saying is you stay away from sin and sinful people.
- God is saying if stay in my word day and night.
- Whatsoever you do for the glory of God shall prosper.
To prosper spiritually is to say, I’ve got Jesus and that’s enough!
Jesus is all I need and everything I need God provides!
