A Biblical Prosperity Doctrine pt. 1
In Psalm One as we read:
Psa 1:1 Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
Psa 1:2 but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.
Psa 1:3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.
Psa 1:4 The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away.
Psa 1:5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;
Psa 1:6 for the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.
Tune in to any of the major so-called Christian cable networks today and you are likely to find almost anything... Almost anything but the truth from God's Word. Clear and true understanding from scripture is as rare as the oasis in the desert. In fact, one is as likely to find Biblical truth accidentally, on the regular cable channels. What spills forth from these Christian cable networks is so diluted and contaminated and so much discernment is required to filter through it all, it is not worth the effort!
This really ought not to surprise us as Paul warned us in his second letter to Timothy that in the last days people will seek out the ear ticklers. The Joel Osteens and Word Of Faith preachers have learned they can fill their coffers by telling folks what they want to hear about themselves and that they too can have health, wealth and prosperity if they would but name it and claim it! They will prove it by ripping Bible verses as far out of context as Richard Simmons at a Navy Seal Convention.
Today we will look, in context, by the way, at how God views Prosperity. I remember when as a new Christian I was confounded by the phenomenon of the prosperity of the wicked. I mean, as a new babe in Christ, it seemed odd to me that children of the King should not prosper resoundingly! Wickedness should fail! I did not consider that, just as some of those following Jesus around while he walked the earth, some of those “followers” might be following for personal gain.
Even Judas was among those, right? He delighted in being the treasurer. He saw this upstart would-be King Jesus as his opportunity to become a man of importance once Jesus rallied an army to defeat the Romans. Not only had Judas (and he was not alone, by the way) made some incorrect assumptions, but he was not following Jesus. He was there to ride Jesus' coat tails and ascend to a greater level of importance. Judas wanted to prosper in this world. Psalm 73 tells us of the Prosperity of the Wicked.
This again is a grace of God as this wicked world is the only prosperity the wicked will ever enjoy, for in the next life comes the penalty for self-serving folly. Likely many false preachers will be joining them.
So what is God's perspective on Prosperity?
Look again beginning at verse one: “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers."
Spurgeon says, “His delight is in the law of the Lord.” He is not under the law as a curse and condemnation, but he is in it, and he delights to be in it as his rule of life; he delights, moreover, to meditate in it, to read it by day, and think upon it by night. He takes a text and carries it with him all day long; and in the night-watches, when sleep forsakes his eyelids, he museth upon the Word of God.”
Note too that Jesus clarified that God could frankly not care a whit about this world. Jesus tells us in Matthew 6:19-21:
19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
So God wants us to prosper in eternal things, and we will not go off on another rabbit trail of what that looks like for the next life, but next time a Word of Faith pastor tries to ply his (or her, these days) trade before you, ask about how that Name It and Claim It worked out for any of the Apostles. Ask them about the wealth and prosperity enjoyed by any of the martyrs like those in Foxes Book of Martyrs, or the brethren in any of the communist or Islamic states. They are laying up for Christ, Treasures in Heaven.
Note another thing: Before one may meditate upon the Word day and night, one must have the Word in his heart. One must memorize the scriptures.
“Meditate” = hâgâh
haw-gaw'
A primitive root (compare H1901); to murmur (in pleasure or anger); by implication to ponder: - imagine, meditate, mourn, mutter, roar, X sore, speak, study, talk, utter.
Total KJV occurrences: 25
As well, meditation. Rather than the substantive meat of God's Word, the transcendental version would have you EMPTY your mind and repeat a nonsensical sound or a word over and over. Experience has shown us that when the mind is emptied in such a manner, principalities often enter.
Then rather than putting on the Helmet of Salvation to protect your mind as Paul instructs us in the Book of Ephesians, you have false teachers like Beth Moore and now others, encouraging what they call "Contemplative Prayer."
Contemplative prayer begins with “centering prayer,” a meditative practice where the practitioner focuses on a word and repeats that word over and over for the duration of the exercise. The purpose is to clear one’s mind of outside concerns so that God’s voice may be more easily heard. After the centering prayer, the practitioner is to sit still, listen for direct guidance from God, and feel His presence. This is exactly Transcendentalism.
Sadly many, particularly within today's churches are now sliding down this slope with Beth Moore, including once commendable John Piper and faculty at Dallas Theological Seminary. Let me be perfectly clear: "Centering Prayers" and "Contemplative Prayers" are heresy and nothing less. It is Transcendentalism.
So we have this and other passages of scripture we will visit that mention meditation and from the context of the text it is not rocket science to discern God's notion of meditation is wildly different from Satan's counterfeit. After all, this is what he does, right? Right down to working up a False Trinity with a False – Pseudo Christ, or Antichrist, in the end times. He has corrupted the use of the rainbow, meditation, worship music, false gospels, a coming false Messiah... so we ought not be surprised.
Flip back a book to the first chapter of Joshua. We'll begin with verse one. This is somewhat a harmony or sister passage, to what we read in Psalm 1.
Jos 1:1, 2 After the death of Moses the servant of the LORD, the LORD said to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses' assistant, "Moses my servant is dead. Now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, into the land that I am giving to them, to the people of Israel."
So you recall Moses passed away in the hills and although he got to set his eyes upon the promised land, he was not permitted to set foot upon it. Now Moses has passed away and the reigns are now handed to Joshua. That is what we see here.
Jos 1:3-6 Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given to you, just as I promised to Moses. From the wilderness and this Lebanon as far as the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites to the Great Sea toward the going down of the sun shall be your territory. No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you. Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them.
Now, I want you to do something. Here and in the Psalms, although it may use words like "Law" or "statutes" I want you to think of how we receive the word of God today and that is in the Bible. Just, in your mind, think "word" for the written word of God, inspired and to us. Let's continue.
Jos 1:7 Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go.
Jos 1:8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.
Jos 1:9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go."