02/19/23 - Jason Norvell - Why Are We Not Preaching Prosperity?

Deuteronomy 30:15-20 “Now listen! Today I am giving you a choice between life & death, between prosperity & disaster. 16 For I command you this day to love the Lord your God and to keep his commands, decrees, and regulations by walking in his ways. If you do this, you will live and multiply, and the Lord your God will bless you and the land you are about to enter and occupy. 17 “But if your heart turns away and you refuse to listen, and if you are drawn away to serve and worship other gods, 18 then I warn you now that you will certainly be destroyed. You will not live a long, good life in the land you are crossing the Jordan to occupy. 19 “Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live! 20 You can make this choice by loving the Lord your God, obeying him, and committing yourself firmly to him. This is the key to your life. And if you love and obey the Lord, you will live long in the land the Lord swore to give your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.”

1. We Have Been Taught Wrong
a. Didn’t it say you would suffer for Christ?
b. Isn’t money evil?
c. Don’t just the wicked prosper?

2. We May Have Skipped That in Our Bible Reading “Plan”
- Psalm 25:12-13 Who are those who fear the Lord? He will show them the path they should choose. 13 They will live in prosperity, and their children will inherit the land.
- Psalm 34:12-14 Does anyone want to live a life that is long and prosperous? 13 Then keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies! 14 Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace, and work to maintain it.
- Proverbs 11:24-25 Give freely and become more wealthy; be stingy and lose everything. 25 The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.
- Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.

3. How Can We Change This Concept
a. Define It
b. Make God the Priority
c. Stand on the promises of God!
Romans 9:7-9 Being descendants of Abraham does not make them truly Abraham’s children. For the Scriptures say, “Isaac is the son through whom your descendants will be counted,” though Abraham had other children, too. 8 This means that Abraham’s physical descendants are not necessarily children of God. Only the children of the promise are considered to be Abraham’s children. 9 For God had promised, “I will return about this time next year, and Sarah will have a son.”
d. Claim the promises of God!
Genesis 12:1-3 (NLT) [The Call of Abram] The Lord had said to Abram, “Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land that I will show you. 2 I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others. 3 I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you.”

• God, I leave my comfort zone and follow Your design.
• You make us a great nation.
• You make me blessed.
• You bless me to bless others.