This week I am providing you excerpts from my book, “Level Up Your Life.” In the book, I provide you with Biblical principles designed to help you level up in five areas. Yesterday I shared a few things from the book on leveling up spiritually. Today I will do the same around leveling financially.
So what does this mean to you today? Let’s get into it.
1. God is not opposed to health and wealth.
(Ecclesiastes 5:18-20 NLT)
“Even so, I have noticed one thing, at least, that is good. It is good for people to eat, drink, and enjoy their work under the sun during the short life God has given them, and to accept their lot in life. And it is a good thing to receive wealth from God and the good health to enjoy it. To enjoy your work and accept your lot in life—this is indeed a gift from God. God keeps such people so busy enjoying life that they take no time to brood over the past.”
In this text, Solomon said, “it is a good thing to receive wealth from God and the good health to enjoy it.” It’s hard to misconstrue that. God made Solomon the richest man to ever live, he used the wealth to advance God’s Kingdom on this planet, and he did not see anything wrong with it. He also did not see anything wrong with enjoying God’s blessing. And then, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, he wrote what he wrote in this text. I also have to tell you that the sentiment expressed by the Holy Spirit in this passage is congruent with a wealth of scripture. You can fight against it if you want, and you can say that health and wealth are part of some “prosperity gospel,” and therefore not God’s will, but doing so will require you to ignore or reject a good portion of the Bible. In the end, God is not opposed to blessing you financially and then also blessing you with the health to enjoy your divine assignment while you are on this planet.
I used the phrase “health and wealth” on purpose. I know some Christians will immediately push against that statement in their minds as if having either is bad. But I believe this confusion comes from satan. If you think God is opposed to health and wealth, then do you think God’s will is being broke and sick?
I know some preachers have manipulated people where money and healing are concerned, but that does not change God or His will. To use the terms of a tailor, let’s agree that the pattern is right, even though the material may be flawed. Meaning that God’s Word is true, even though a few unscrupulous preachers have taken advantage of people by using it the wrong way. In the end, bad preachers don’t change the fact that we have a good God who is not opposed to blessing us richly.
It takes church people to confuse things that should be very clear.
If you ask any person on the street if it is better to have or not have money, anyone with any sense will tell you that having money is better than not having it. Likewise, if you ask anyone on the street if it is better to be sick or healthy, any person with any sense will tell you that being healthy is better. But for some reason, in the church, some preachers have confused people. Some have vilified money to the point where they think it is somehow “holy” to be poor, and others have told people that God put certain illnesses and diseases on them in order to teach them something. Solomon said this very clearly, “It is a good thing to receive wealth from God and the good health to enjoy it” (Ecc 5:19).
— Anyone who thinks poverty is a blessing is someone who has never actually been poor. My wife and I both grew up in poor conditions, and I can tell you, from first-hand experience, that poverty is far from a blessing.
— Anyone who thinks sickness is a blessing is obviously someone who has never been sick. It only takes a few moments at the bedside of a sick person to know that sickness and disease are not a blessing.
— God does not need to make you sick to teach you a lesson. God has given you His Word, His Spirit, and His leaders to teach you.
— If you believe God put sickness or disease on you, then you shouldn’t go to the doctor because you should want everything God gives you. If you really believe it came from God, then keep it; but I can tell you that your belief is not based in scripture.
2. The Bible is clear on what is part of God’s blessing and what is part of the curse brought into the earth through Adam.
As part of The Blessing, God has promised to:
— Satisfy us with long life (Ps 91:16).
— Forgive our sins and heal our diseases (Ps 103:3).
— Renew our youth (Ps 103:5).
— Keep us from deadly diseases (Deut 7:15).
— Heal our sick through the prayer of faith (James 5:15).
— Use us to lay hands on the sick in order for them to get well (Mark 16:18).
So while I know bad things do happen to good people, let’s not confuse the issue by attempting to claim that something bad is actually good. Sickness is bad, period. Poverty is bad, period. Don’t let any Christian confuse you. This was clear in your mind before you came to Christ.
3. Jesus helps us see what comes from God and what comes from satan.
The Bible tells us that Jesus came to “Destroy the works of the devil” (1 Jn 3:8). The Bible also teaches us that Jesus “went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him” (Acts 10:38).
I recently had a conversation about this with someone close to me. This person said, “Such and such is in the ICU, struggling with COVID. But God knows what He is doing.” I responded, “Wait a minute, do you think God put COVID on this person?” She responded, “Well, God does everything.” I proceeded to explain to her how that is most certainly NOT the case. It is this type of thinking that turns people away from God and His church.
— If sickness came from God, then why would this same God heal people through His Son Jesus?
— If sickness came from God and Jesus went around healing the sick, then wouldn’t He be working against the Father?
— The clear answer is that sickness is part of the curse, not The Blessing, and it IS NOT a good thing to be sick.
4. God desires for us to live a long and satisfying life.
(Psalm 91:14-16 KJV)
Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name. He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him. With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.
— The 91st Psalm is a Psalm of protection and deliverance.
— Why would God promise to protect and deliver us if he wanted us dead?
— He gets glory out of our life and living.
Satisfy: This word means “To gratify the need, desire, or expectation of; “to fulfill to complete.”
— God promised to satisfy us – to fulfill us, to complete, to gratify our desire and He said it would do it with LONG LIFE!
— Part of our salvation is LONG LIFE!
— But you must receive it, believe it, and stand on it – by faith!
5. Long life is part of the benefits package.
(Psalm 103:2-5 KJV)
Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
— Have you ever seen an old eagle?
— Eagle’s youth is renewed because they lock their wings, soar above the storms, and spend time in the sun. The sun rejuvenates the eagles.
— We can also lock our wings, soar above the storms, and spend time with the SON! Our time in the SON rejuvenates us!
God likened us to eagles for a reason.
— Stress-free living. Eagles don’t flap – they just ride the wind.
— They don’t manufacture the wind; they just ride it when it comes.
— If you want to live a long and prosperous life, you need to discern when the wind of God is blowing, ride it above your circumstances, and enjoy life!
— God doesn’t need to renew youth in someone who is a youth. But God can take someone who is well past those days and RENEW us back to the vigor of our youth!
— Why would he renew your youth if he wanted you to die? He renews your youth because He wants you to live long and strong.
6. Your lifespan is tied to your purpose!
Your assignment on this planet is task-based, not time-based.
When I was a young Soldier in the Army, I remember being assigned to manual tasks, either as an individual or as a team. When we received the tasks, sometimes our leader would say, “Hey, you guys are going to be here all day. I need you to work on this until 4:30pm… until it’s time to go to the formation.” This type of work was time-based. Other times our leader would say, “Hey, I need you guys to work on this until you are done. Once you are done, you can head back to the barracks and chill until it’s time for the 4:30pm formation.” When we received this type of guidance, the work was task-based and not time-based. It had everything to do with the assignment and not a specific amount of time. This is how it is with your time on this planet.
God did not send you to this planet for a certain amount of time. He sent you to this planet ON PURPOSE, on an ASSIGNMENT. When you complete your assignment, you are free to go, and it has nothing to do with a certain amount of time or years on this planet.
In the book, I provide details around the fact that many people who walked with God lived to around 120 years old. But Jesus died at 33 years old. Does that mean His life was cut short? Or does that simply mean that He completed His assignment?
— Can anyone say Jesus was not successful?
— Can anyone say Jesus did not live a full life?
— When His purpose was fulfilled… when His assignment was complete… Jesus died!
— Jesus did not die because He was sick. Jesus did not die because He was old. Jesus died because He was DONE!
— This is the mindset we are supposed to live with!
When you are done, you are free to go!
(Gen 25:8 CEV)
Then Abraham gave up the ghost, and died in a good old age, an old man, and full of years; and was gathered to his people.
— Jesus is not the only person who “gave up the ghost.”
— Abraham did not die because he was old.
— He did not die because he was sick.
— Abraham realized when He was DONE and he simply released himself into death, so he could transition into glory!
(Gen 35:29 CEV)
And Isaac gave up the ghost, and died, and was gathered unto his people, being old and full of days: and his sons Esau and Jacob buried him.
— Isaac was old (if the Bible calls you old, you are OLD!).
— He was full of days.
— He completed his assignment.
— He did what God sent him to the planet to do.
— So when he was done, he was done… he gave himself over to God!
(Duet 34:7 CEV)
Moses was a hundred twenty years old when he died, yet his eyesight was still good, and his body was strong.
— Moses’ body was strong at 120 years old.
— His eyesight was still good. He did not need glasses.
— The Bible says his body was strong.
— Another translation says he had all his teeth.
— Moses did not die because he was sick. He died because his assignment was over.
— It was time to lead the people into the Promised Land, and that was NOT his assignment. That assignment belonged to Joshua.
— When Moses’ mission was complete (MC), he died. It’s that simple.
(Acts 13:36 NIV)
Now when David had served God’s purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep; he was buried with his ancestors, and his body decayed.
— David served God’s purpose in his own generation.
— Once he did, once his assignment was complete, he was free to go because he was DONE!
— Your life is not tied to a set number of years.
— Your lifespan is tied to your purpose!
I cover a lot more in the book, but that is enough for today. Once you serve God’s purpose for your own generation, you can fall asleep and go on to heaven. Not because you are sick, but simply because you are done!
Declaration of Faith to Live Until You Complete Your Divine Assignment:
- Father, You sent me to this planet for a reason.
- That reason is my divine purpose.
- I am here on assignment, and I am laser-focused on getting it done BEFORE I DIE!
- My lifespan is tied to my purpose.
- I will walk this planet until I get OUT OF ME, everything You placed IN ME before the world began.
- I will not die because I am old. You renew my youth like the eagles.
- I will not die because I am sick. You are the Lord God who heals me.
- I will keep running my race, at my pace, with Your grace, until I am finished!
- I will only die when I am DONE! That’s it!
- I LEVEL UP my life in this season in every area.
- I live long and strong!
- GREATER IS COMING FOR ME!
- I declare this by faith, in Jesus’ name. Amen!
I trust this message was a blessing to you. This is just a small excerpt from my book, “Level Up Your Life.” If you don’t have a copy of the book, here is a link to get yours. It also makes for a good Christmas gift.
Level Up Your Life: https://bit.ly/levelupyourlifebook
#TheGraceLife
