MAN WITH A PURPOSE 5

GREAT THINGS ARE DONE BY MEN WITH GOD'S PURPOSE IN THEIR HEART

Daniel 1:8 But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.

Daniel did not just do right out of habit, though it is good to form the habit of doing right. He made a decision to do the right thing and followed it through.
Daniel did not just decide to do right because it was convenient. He did it many times in spite of dire circumstances.
When you study your Bible you find that great things were done for God by men who had a purpose given to them by God. Surely the apostle Paul was a man of purpose as were the Old Testament Saints.
History and even current events show us how men with a purpose further the cause of God. The pilgrims had a purpose to establish a place where they could worship freely. The founding fathers of our nation had a purpose to guarantee that freedom to generations to come. Missionaries and Pastors that are preaching the truth from pulpits around the world are men with a purpose.
Purpose in your heart to serve God with all your strength and abilities.

HOW TO HAVE SPIRITUAL PROSPERITY 6

TO HAVE SPIRITUAL PROSPERITY PRAY PROPERLY

James 4:2-3 Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. (3) Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume upon your lusts.

We fail to prosper because we fail to pray. If we really examine our prayer life we will see how little time we really spend in "effectual fervent prayer". One of the things I have noticed when I have read biographies of men who have been greatly blessed and used of God is that they have a very strong and active prayer life.
Sometimes when we do pray we ask amiss. We ask for what we want and what we think we would like instead of seeking what would Glorify God. Even when we pray for someone to be saved or move closer to the Lord sometimes we pray selfishly because we love them or it would make life easier on us. We should pray for these things because God is glorified in these actions. If we seek things for God's Glory instead of our desires we will begin to spiritually prosper.
If we are to have power we must pray for God's direction, God's leadership, and seek God's will in all things.
May you prosper in your spiritual life. If you don't know Jesus as your Savior please invite Him into your heart. If you are saved and not growing ask God to give you a desire to become spiritually strong for His Glory.

HOW TO HAVE SPIRITUAL PROSPERITY 5

TO HAVE SPIRITUAL PROSPERITY BE ZEALOUS

Titus 2:13-14 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ; (14) Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

We should have a zeal to know God and a Zeal to serve Him. He created us and He created us for a purpose. When we are fulfilling that purpose He is fulfilling us. He is prospering us so that we may be better able to do His will.
We should have a zeal to encourage and help our brothers and sisters in Christ and not only in our own church but other Christians we know as well. I sometimes have sweet fellowship and become more zealous just from talking to strangers that love the same Jesus I do.
We should have a zeal to lead the lost to Christ. Our lives here on this Earth are temporary and as James says, "Our life is but a vapour that appeareth for a little while and then vanisheth away." We will be dead a whole lot longer than we will be alive. That is something to think about when you are sharing the plan of salvation with someone.
If you have a spiritual zeal to please God you will prosper spiritually.

HOW TO HAVE SPIRITUAL PROSPERITY 4

TO PROSPER WE MUST BE GROWING AND LEARNING

1 Peter 2:2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:

We should crave spiritual nourishment. Instead of worrying how long the preacher is going to preach you should have a sense of anticipation about what God is going to say especially to you in the message. You should always listen to sermons with a pen and paper to take notes. A hungry heart will always be fed. When you study your Bible jot things down. Write down questions to discuss in Bible Study and Sunday School. Be an active student who really wants to learn God's word.
If a baby never grows physically we rush them to the doctor to find out what is wrong. We certainly know that if they do not develop at all that something is wrong. Why then do we accept that people who are born again remain spiritual babes until the Lord calls them home.Instead of really getting into the meat of God's word and growing strong in the Lord too many people want to be spoon fed by the preacher and Sunday School teacher, and then they only want to eat the fruit and sweet stuff, not the vegetables and meat they need to mature.
Develop a hunger for the Word of God. Ask God to give you a hungry heart that you might desire to know Him better.

HOW TO PROSPER AS A CHRISTIAN II

BUILD ON THE RIGHT FOUNDATION

Mt 16:16-18 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. (17) And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. (18) And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

Whatever else we might do in our Christian lives as individuals or as churches we must build on the right foundation. In these verses He is not saying He will build his church upon Peter but upon the fact that Peter just proclaimed, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God."

Psalms 118:21-22 I will praise thee: for thou hast heard me, and art become my salvation. {22} The stone the builders refused is become the head of the corner.

One can not possibly prosper spiritually without accepting Jesus as his Lord and Savior. A church can not prosper if it is trying to build upon any other foundation. Jesus did not say He would build His church upon programs, fellowships, special meetings or anything that man might put together. He said He would build it upon the gospel. The "Good News" that Jesus is the Christ. He is the way of Salvation and there is no other.

Focus your life on Jesus and build on that relationship with Him and you will experience spiritual prosperity.

HOW TO PROSPER AS A CHRISTIAN

INTRODUCTION TO PROSPERITY

Ps 118:20-25 This gate of the LORD, into which the righteous shall enter. (21) I will praise thee: for thou hast heard me, and art become my salvation. (22) The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner.(23) This is the LORD'S doing; it is marvellous in our eyes.(24) This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. (25) Save now, I beseech thee, O LORD: O LORD, I beseech thee, send now prosperity.

As the psalmist calls out to God here, so should we as Christians individually and collectively in our churches. Salvation is a wonderful thing but we should seek spiritual prosperity.
There are many was we can spiritually prosper and the next few devotionals will be devoted to that subject.
NOTE: Feel free to use these devotionals in any way to further our Lord's kingdom. You may forward them in emails, put them in your Newsletters or whatever. We feel that God has directed us to write these devotionals, they are His and for His Glory. Feel free to use or share them in any way that might bring Him Glory.