Note: I will not share a TW message tomorrow due to the holiday in the USA. Also, I am headed to the Dominican Republic for a few weeks and am looking forward to taking a break. I will not share Today’s Word in written (email) form on the days I take a break. I am not sure which days those will be. But I will still post a video for those who watch online daily, even if it is not LIVE. I ask you to pray for our family as we seek to take some much-needed downtime. Thank you!
This morning, we continue our series on “The Parables of Jesus.” We will seek to glean “Pearls from the Parables.”
Before we get to the parable, let’s look at a scripture we have been looking at all year. This is something I believe the Lord wants us to meditate on.
(Psalm 126:4 TPT)
Now, Lord, do it again! Restore us to our former glory! May streams of your refreshing flow over us until our dry hearts are drenched again.
This is a season of refreshing and restoring for us.
We have been looking at “The Mother of All Parables.” Let’s get back to it today. Jesus said:
(Mark 4:13-20 ERV)
The farmer is like someone who plants God’s teaching in people. Sometimes the teaching falls on the path. That is like some people who hear the teaching of God. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the teaching that was planted in them.
Other people are like the seed planted on rocky ground. They hear the teaching, and they quickly and gladly accept it. But they don’t allow it to go deep into their lives. They keep it only a short time. As soon as trouble or persecution comes because of the teaching they accepted, they give up.
Others are like the seed planted among the thorny weeds. They hear the teaching, but their lives become full of other things: the worries of this life, the love of money, and everything else they want. This keeps the teaching from growing, and it does not produce a crop in their lives.
And others are like the seed planted on the good ground. They hear the teaching and accept it. Then they grow and produce a good crop—sometimes 30 times more, sometimes 60 times more, and sometimes 100 times more.
We have been focusing on the phrase “the love of money.” Earlier in the series, we looked at something the Apostle Paul wrote in his letter to his spiritual son, Pastor Timothy. The Apostle said, “Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves…” (1 Tim 6:17-19 NIV).
So what does this mean for you today? A few things.
1. Paul commanded the rich in this world to “do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.” He did not tell them to get rid of their money. He did not tell them it was terrible to have it. He did not tell them money was evil. No, Paul was teaching them to use their money to be a blessing to others. That counsel still stands today.
2. The Bible does not say you cannot have money. There is plenty of Biblical evidence that God made many people rich in Biblical times. He is still doing so today. So God is not against money. God simply instructs those He has blessed with money to use the resources TO BE a blessing.
3. In Deuteronomy 8:10–20, the Lord told Moses to be very clear with the nation of Israel. God wanted His people never to forget who it was that made them rich. It was the Lord who saw to it that the Egyptians gave the Israelites all their gold, silver, and precious stones before they left Egypt. It was the Lord who had made them rich. So the Lord had Moses to say, “Remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your ancestors, as it is today.” If the Lord were against wealth, why would He give you the power to produce it? The Lord is not against money; He is against people falling in love with money. Don’t let that be you!
4. Accept the grace and the responsibility to walk in earthly prosperity. Some say, “Oh, I only want enough for me and my family,” or “All I need is enough to get by.” While statements like these seem ‘holy’ or ‘spiritual’ on the surface, they are actually selfish. You should want everything God wants to give you to do what He birthed you. You cannot feed the poor if you don’t have enough food for yourself. You can’t help pay someone else’s bills if you can’t pay your own. You can’t help put a roof over someone’s head if you don’t have a place to stay. Our God is a God of overflow because He wants us to bless others out of our overflow. But overflow comes with a responsibility. The more you have, the more you have to manage, and the more demands there will be from others. However, the same God who gave you the grace to increase will give you the grace to manage the overflow.
5. I believe that one of the major purposes of prosperity is evangelism. God can give you money with a mission and prosperity with a purpose. God wants you to use what He places in your hands to bring glory to His name and to reach the world for Jesus.
6. To walk in the fullness of your assignment where money is concerned, you must embrace a mindset of abundance and reject scarcity thinking. Understand that God desires to bless you with more than enough so that you can fulfill your purpose AND be a blessing to others.
7. Prosperity is not solely about accumulating wealth for personal gain but about stewarding resources to advance God’s kingdom. Develop a generous heart and actively seek opportunities to bless others with your finances and resources. It’s also good to avoid comparing your financial status with others or striving to achieve societal standards of wealth. Instead, focus on faithfully stewarding what God has entrusted to you and maximizing its impact for His kingdom.
8. Recognize that earthly prosperity is not a sign of holiness, righteousness, or an indicator of one’s spirituality. It is simply about stewardship (or management). When someone demonstrates faithfulness and integrity in managing their resources, and God uses them to fund Kingdom projects, God will give them more. Not because they are super-spiritual but simply because they are good managers of resources and are OPEN to the Holy Spirit to do whatever the Lord wants done. So if you don’t like where you are financially, don’t take it as an indication that you are not walking with God, not praying enough, or not worshipping enough. It may simply come down to the fact that you have not managed the resources God has placed in your hands well. The better steward you become, the more God can give you to manage.
9. Use your prosperity as a platform to share the love of Christ and impact lives. Seek ways to support your local church, international missions, charitable organizations, and initiatives that bring hope and transformation to communities in need.
10. Cultivate a grateful heart for the blessings you receive and regularly express gratitude to God for His provision. Avoid falling into the trap of materialism or becoming consumed by the pursuit of “things.”
11. Continuously renew your mind with God’s Word regarding prosperity and wealth. Allow the scriptures to shape your beliefs and attitudes towards money, shifting your focus from self-centered accumulation to kingdom-minded generosity.
12. Finally, remember that prosperity extends beyond financial wealth, and regularly assess your motives and intentions regarding wealth and prosperity. Keep your heart aligned with God’s purposes, ensuring that your desire for prosperity remains rooted in glorifying Him and advancing His kingdom. When you live this way, you will walk in a prosperity that encompasses every area of life. God wants you to have thriving relationships, physical/spiritual/emotional health, divine wisdom, and spiritual growth. It’s okay to enjoy total-life prosperity, especially when you know your heart is pure towards God. When your heart is pure, you won’t have weeds growing in it that choke out the Word. You will be good ground, and your life will produce Godly fruit.
Declaration of Faith:
Father, this is a season of refreshing and restoring for me! I boldly declare:
God favors me in everything I do. My God causes me to prosper. I then use my prosperity to BE a blessing to others.
Money is not evil; it is a tool for advancing Your kingdom.
I embrace the grace and responsibility of earthly prosperity. I am OPEN to being a conduit of Kingdom Finance.
I reject scarcity thinking, I am delivered from a poverty spirit, and I embrace Your abundance mindset.
I steward my resources with integrity and generosity.
I am grateful for the provision You release for me, and I express my gratitude continually.
Your Word shapes my beliefs and attitudes toward money.
My heart is aligned with Your purposes for prosperity.
I use my prosperity to share Your love, impact lives, and advance Your Kingdom!
I support missions and initiatives that bring hope.
I assess my motives, ensuring they align with Your wisdom.
I walk in total-life prosperity and bear Godly fruit.
My household honors You with our finances and every aspect of our lives.
You are my Lord, and I am here to do Your bidding!
Living this way, I know GREATER IS COMING FOR ME! I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name, Amen!
This is Today’s Word. Apply it and prosper!
