The Key to Living in Abundance
I honestly believe that if you were born and/or live now in the United States you have been blessed by God. This is one of the few countries where everyone can make multiple streams of income for themselves as well as live a long and healthy life. (Yes there are disasters in all our lives and only God knows His ultimate purpose)
I have read and studied Scripture in English, Hebrew and Greek and I honestly believe that the Lord wants His children to live in abundance. It is written throughout the Bible. Now before a lot of you start emailing me about “The camel through the eye of a needle” bare with me and I will discuss in a little bit.
Let’s start in the Old Testament Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph were men who lived in abundance. They were all millionaires. Did they have trials and tribulations? You bet they did. Did they stay focused for the most part. Sure did. Did they use their abundance to be greedy for themselves? You can answer that one.
The Bible plainly shows that as long as these men and the Hebrews recognized God as the Source for everything and looked to Him for guidance, they prospered. It was when they turned their backs on God and began to look to other things and different people for guidance and for their needs especially during the time of Solomon, that the people were divided and everything basically fell apart.
Now as far as the Scripture about the eye of needle, lets just look at Luke 18:25- 27 25 “For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” 26 They who heard it said, “Then who can be saved?” 27 But He said, ” The things that are impossible with people are possible with God.” NASU
Now there are many different Interpretations of this saying that the Camel meant rope, or the Eye of a needle meant a small whole in the wall. Well in Mathew the original Greek was “trupeematos or trupema” which means the base of an aperture such as a wall or a needles eye. But in Luke, the word is “belonees or belone” which means a sewing needle. So to me that clears things up and I believe Jesus was talking about a sewing needle. But look carefully at the end of verse 26 and look how Luke wrote. “The things that are impossible with people are possible with God.” What does that mean? Well a rich man who is right with God, can very easily go into heaven.
I even believe Jesus lived in abundance. Think about after he died on the cross. What did the guards do with his clothes? They gambled for them. If He was a poor man in poor man’s clothes, why would the guards gamble for them?
Lets look at some other quotes from Jesus. Mark 10:29-31 29 Jesus said, “Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or farms, for My sake and for the gospel’s sake, 30 but that he will receive a hundred times as much now in the present age, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and farms, along with persecutions; and in the age to come, eternal life. NASU
Noticed He said “Present Age?” and in the age to come we will have eternal life. So what does all this mean to us? Lets look at another verse in Luke 16:13 where he writes “you cannot serve God and mammon” or wealth. But let me ask you who do we serve now? Do you serve God based on His will? Or is it based on your Job. How much money you have? When we really think about it, we do tend to be worried about our jobs and our finances. Have you ever left work with no pay to go do some missionary work?. Some of you might say yes but I am sure that if you are like me, we said no. We need a paycheck to take care of our family and needs.,right?
Let’s look at what the Bible describes as “Godly People”
Women out there go read Proverbs 31:10 - 31 You men out there go read Psalms 112 Do you fit into that category?
I believe that most people cannot handle money and God blesses us with what we can handle. I have done a lot of research on Lottery winners I have yet to find one case where the winner took what he won and made into 100 times more or even 10 times more. I find many lottery winners who end up broke though because they could not handle the money.
Luke 19:12-24
12 So He said, ” A nobleman went to a distant country to receive a kingdom for himself, and then return. 13 “And he called ten of his slaves, and gave them ten minas and said to them, ‘Do business with this until I come back.’ 14 “But his citizens hated him and sent a delegation after him, saying, ‘We do not want this man to reign over us.’ 15 “When he returned, after receiving the kingdom, he ordered that these slaves, to whom he had given the money, be called to him so that he might know what business they had done. 16 “The first appeared, saying, ‘ Master, your mina has made ten minas more.’ 17 “And he said to him, ‘Well done, good slave, because you have been faithful in a very little thing, you are to be in authority over ten cities.’ 18 “The second came, saying, ‘Your mina, master, has made five minas.’ 19 “And he said to him also, ‘And you are to be over five cities.’ 20 “Another came, saying, ‘Master, here is your mina, which I kept put away in a handkerchief; 21 for I was afraid of you, because you are an exacting man; you take up what you did not lay down and reap what you did not sow.’ 22 “He said to him, ‘ By your own words I will judge you, you worthless slave. Did you know that I am an exacting man, taking up what I did not lay down and reaping what I did not sow? 23′Then why did you not put my money in the bank, and having come, I would have collected it with interest?’ NASU
What are we doing now with God’s money? Are we making it grow for Him? So how do we do this?
Proverbs 3:5 “Trust in the Lord with all you heart and lean not to your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths.”
Now if you have not read my sermons on faith and believe please go read them now because then it will make much more sense. But how do we pray for abundance?
Mark 11:23-24
23 ” Truly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says is going to happen, it will be granted him. 24 “Therefore I say to you, all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they will be granted you.” ASU
The words “shall believe” come from the Greek “pisteuee or pistteuo” which means “have faith, Commit to, genuine and conviction.” In the dictionary you can find that Commit means “to give trust, to pledge oneself, To do or perform.” Conviction means firm belief.
So when you pray for something, you have to commit to it, pledge yourself and perform. So does that mean that if you pray for abundance and wealth you should just sit around and wait for it? Of course not. Start acting like you are going to be getting it soon. You need to understand finances. Every wealthy person has a grasp of basic accounting, and understands how investments work. You need to have an understanding that the market is emotionally driven and a basic understanding of US tax laws. Is it a lot of work? Yep, but remember, there is no such thing as gaining wealth without some effort. And start being a steward of the things you have.
Proverbs 3:5 “Trust in the Lord with all you heart and lean not to you own understanding. In all you ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths.”
On Monday January 28th, 2008 we had a free web seminar on how to make additional money on the Internet. It showed the basics and gave step by step instructions and gave people an understanding that they could have multiple streams of income. We invited every single member to attend and it did not cost anything. Do you know how many people attended? Less than 1 percent. Is this believing in prayer? Why did you not take any action?
I had numerous emails and letters thanking me for this presentation and those who attended and took action, will have more income this year. The others will sit and complain and ask God for more money and then think and complain about all the debt they have. Everyone of us who lives here in the United States are truly blessed. We all have an opportunity to live in abundance. We must be willing servants of God, who study and live His Word and He will open up the heavens to us.
Living in abundance is not all about money either. Think about our Temples of God, our bodies. The only thing that God has given us 100 percent control over. How do you treat your temple? Do you eat junk food? Fast Food? Too Much? Do you take care of your temple and exercise it? Let look at the scripture again in Luke 19:12 - 24, God gave us our bodies and what are we doing with them?
If we can’t take care of this one thing, why would our Master give us more? Do you want to live in abundance? Start by getting into His Word and taking care of the things God has blessed you with.
Please leave your comments below. I know I will get some good and bad remarks but this is what this is all about. Lets all learn about God together.
Pastor Bob
January 31st, 2008 at 9:15 pm
Thank you so much for this sermon. I feel that God is blessing me everyday. Having said that, I find it hard to ask for more. And when I need more how often do I pray about it? Right now, I have prayed for a certain event to happen (some back pay is owed to me from the government). I know it’s coming, I just don’t know when and so many things are waiting for the money to come. I’m trying not to obssess about it. I have prayed to God that it come soon but it’s been weeks and I’m starting to get antsy. I’m afraid to ask again because I feel that I’ve asked and I know it’s coming. This is a new way for me. I usually obssess and make plans for when I get it and then I obssess some more. This time, I’ve made a list of what needs to be done with the money when I get it. I’m trying not to add more to the list and I’m not asking about it every time I pray. I’m I doing this right? Yours in faith, Margie
February 8th, 2008 at 1:26 pm
Thought provoking sermon! God has me studing the same subject so I thought I would add some more food for thought.
God wants us to live the abundant life! WE are the one who get in the way of Gods Blessing; His will is for all of us is to be blessed and all of our need to be met! Thus the need to stay in the word and to listen to His voice. The word states that God originally gave Adam “The Blessing” in Gen 1:28 and again to Abraham and his descendants in Gen 12, and to Isaac in Gen 24. He has always passed on The Blessing from generation to generation from the beginning of time to today. We should, and are to be the most Bless people in the entire world! But why aren’t the people of God the most blessed today? To me it’s because of our unbelief and not understanding the word and getting the Truth of Gods word. We have become a people of complacency and thinking that we have all the answers and not giving our God his due and place in our lives. We have become a people that have been sitting around and allowing Satan to have his way and not standing with our authority that Daddy has given us.
Our Lord has given us a way to get back on the path that leads to the Blessing by repenting and doing the word and obeying His commanded. The ones who believe and walk out the promises of God and does as He has said will receive the “THE Blessing” because it is for all of us “That His promises” the word says!
I do agree with you, that we have to put forth an effort and He will follow suit. He made us like Him and He has given us smarts and the authority to go and call thing that are not as if they where. So we have to go forth and walk (Doing, going forward) and watch Him bring thing to pass in our lives. I know that The Blessing is hear (today) and if we can’t see it yet then we need to keep having faith and watch Him bring it to pass, but it will not happen unless we do as He commands. Thanks for the word and I look forward reading more and studying and analyzing to become more like our Father! Michael
February 13th, 2008 at 11:54 am
This was a very good sermon. I also believe that the Lord want his children to live in abundance. I have children of my own and want nothing but the best for them, so why would God not want the same for his children? In the same thought my kids ask me for stuff all the time that does not mean they get everything they ask for. I also ask the Lord for stuff all the time and you know what he tells me NO just like I tell the kids. Funny how that works. I believe if you can afford a flat screen TV or a nice car or house or any other thing you think you cant live without then, by all means go and buy it. But if you are buying theses items on Credit can you really afford them? I am guilty of this myself, thinking it is only 50 dollars a month. What is an extra 50 dollars a month? I suggest before you commit to that extra payment take a few months and put 50 dollars aside. See if you can do it and keep it in the savings account. I think if you can save the money for a few months then yea you can afford the payments but if at one time you dip into the savings and take any amount of it or find the missing money to be a financial burden from your budget ,then you cant afford it. Credit cards are real nice and easy just sign here and you have the merchandise. This was really nice when my wife and I were starting off wow we can get credit cards and worry about paying them later. Well later comes pretty fast and the next thing you know you are making payments on the cards and using the cards to buy food.. Credit cards are plastic people eaters. If you are not real careful with them they will eat your life. You will find yourself losing sleep and thinking about how to pay them off all the time. I was warned about the credit cards and did not listen . It was to easy just to get what I wanted. Well I payed the price later down the line. So yes I believe the Lord wants us to live our lives in abundance but stop and look before you decide what abundance the lord has given you. The Lord will decide what you should get and not get by the amount of income you have. If the lord wants you to have more you will get more, but be happy with what God has given you and count your blessing daily.
February 16th, 2008 at 10:14 am
Rodjiej@yahoo.com
Thank you Pastor Bob for your sermon on abundant Living God’s Way. It is fantastic and a confirmation from God of the things he wants me to do. I did tune into the webinar on computer, but could not hear anything. I have been waiting for you to get better so I could receive the webinar again. But, the things you said about what I should learn, I wholeheartly agree with you. Do you have any suggestions of books or classes for me to start on? You talked about the body of the only thing God has given us control over. Last year the doctor’s said that this body has End Stage Renal Deficiency (In a word kidney failure). I went on dialysis 3 days a week, 12 hours total per week. But, I have committed to, and I am trusting in God’s word: by his stipes I am healed, he sent his word and healed, I am the God that healeth thee and so on. I believe that no matter what I hear or the doctor’s say, “I AM HEALED” You know that I thank God for his healing and Jesus for his suffering.
I had the opportunity to pursue wealth training through a well known person, but did not want to be guided by an unsaved person and then your email arrived today 2/17 in my mailbox. It is an awesome sermon and thank you. I am glad that your health has been restored!
February 18th, 2008 at 12:47 am
Abundant living is about many things, few of which have anything to do with money. I had a nightmare recently that I would like to share with you.
I stood next to the throne of God on judgment day. I could see people lined up as far as the eye could see, and the area was flat, there was no horizon, only people dwindling in the distance until they became too small to see. This had been already going on for some time.
The man at the head of the line stepped up, and God asked him, “Did you accept my Son’s sacrifice for your sins?”
The man indicated, with tears in his eyes, that he had not done so.
God asked, “Why did you not accept my Son’s sacrifice for your sins?”
The man replied, “I never heard about it.”
God then turned and looked directly into my eyes and asked, “Did you think I left you on Earth so long after you were saved so you could make lots of money, or see Disneyland or the Grand Canyon?”
I don’t think I need to tell you how I felt at that moment.
The abundant life God has called me to, along with the rest of His people, is a life of abundant involvement. Everything we have: money, time, intelligence, strength, etc., is His. He loans it to us in trust. Our task is to use it to glorify His Name in the world.
February 21st, 2008 at 11:48 am
missjoan1970@aol.com—-I believe in God with my whole body, heart, and soul, but I can not honestly say that I have not received what I have prayed for, which is just a decent home ( the one my 12 yr old and my self live in is falling in and leaks when it rains in most every room), a decent car to be able to go to work, so I can pay for whatever we need and not have to ask anyone for any help ( borrowed a car that has broken down with us several times with it cold or raining and we had to have it pulled in, but still trying to use until we can afford one of our own that we can depend on), and a decent living that we will not have to count every penny from pay day to pay day——–I KNOW MOST PEOPLE PRAY FOR THE SAME THINGS—–I am a hard worker and am not afraid of working, but it has come to the point that it seens that the more I try, the more we get behind and the harder it becomes—-I am doing all I can to keep Tristan (a my 12 yr old granddaughter that I am raising by myself) in chruch , school, out of trouble, and a good and decent life—-NO! I do not want anyone to feel sorry for me or us——we have made it since I took custory of her at the age of 5 months and we will keep on trying to make it untill we can not –I keep telling her that God will come thru when he sees fit and just do not give up on praying and beleiving in God, he is real and really loves us, he just has others that need him more for now—I am not asking for anything from anyone except for their prayers, after they finish their prayers for theirselves–thanks for been here doing online Christian work—–God bless and keep you, Joan
February 29th, 2008 at 7:03 pm
This is a phenominal piece of reading. I just had a huge discussion with my good friends about this last night over dinner at my place. I got so passionate about it, that I was commanding their attention. Yet they still reluctantly doubted me and my faith. You see, I just left a high-paying job in San Diego to follow God’s will for me. I had absolutely no money in the bank. Maybe enough to get me through one month, but that’s all. I have a mortgage and many financial obligations, but I knew it was time to let God take over. Engineering was no longer serving my life’s purpose. I have complete faith that God will take care of me. Many believe I have lost my mind, but I feel that I am right on track and that I made the right decision. I have been out one week now, but have complete faith that God abundance is already here. With that abundance, I into to start a few businesses, become a songwriter and give back to my community. I also believe I will be doing some type of holistic healing. I’m not sure what else God has in store for me, but I will learn soon enough. Thanks for listening. All my best to everyone who takes this piece of reading to heart. It is really true. God wants us to be happy, joyfull and prosperous. Law of Attraction will bring our goals and dreams to us if we just believe and start taking action. GREED cannot be in the picture though. Give more to get more is my philosophy. I don’t believe in coincidences anymore either. Everything comes into our experience because we put our fous on it, good or bad, positive or negative…it’s doesn’t matter. Law of Attraction does not know the difference between the two. So know in you mind what you don’t want and focus on what you do want. Train your subconscious mind to think positive always and say affirmations about abundance. The next thing you’ll know is you’ll see a lot more abundant lifestyle things such as limos, private jets, etc. It will amaze you and then you’ll get it. Quite your mind as well my meditation and you’ll become a lot more aware of the changes in your life. This takes practice, but persistence really pays off.
March 8th, 2008 at 11:18 am
Dear Pastor Bob,
Good morning, may the peace of the Lord be with you.
Our Lord said, I AM come that you may have life and live that life abundantly. Seek first the kingdom of God and its righteousness and all these shall be given unto you. I have read these verses and now come into rememberance though I cannot cite the chapter and the verse.
It is true that those who came to USA are blessed and I would say all are blessed by our Lord whether in USA or in other part of the world because the moment we opened our eyes waking up in the morning is a blessing.
I came from a poor country and my parents were not degree holders and yet by the grace of God I became a Doctor and my sister a Nurse.
I have experienced the life of abundance and living like a millionaire though I don’t have million dollars in my account. Our Lord is so gracious that whatsoever we asked in prayers believing it shall be given unto us. Almost all my prayers were granted and the things that I did not asked He also give.
I am now a retired MD and currently a professor at City University of New York.
And the life of Solomon as you said is a good example of life of great abundance he belongs to the rich and the famous and yet he never find happiness and
his QUEST FOR HAPPINESS WERE ALL VANITY.
Yours in Christ,
Oswaldo
March 17th, 2008 at 10:02 am
Dear Pastor Bob,
Thank you for sending me this reading. I love the lord and believe in his words.
In life we all seem to get caught up with the (new, extravagant and expensive).We want others to see us, and what we have. Does that make you better than they are?
No. We all know material possessions are not going to follow us into heaven. So why do we act this way? “Seek you first the kingdom of God, and all else will be added unto you” I know that I am guilty of wanting and wanting and wanting. It took me years to figure out, What I need is not the same as what I want. I pray faithfully daily, not for material things. Because the Lord already knows what I desire. But I pray for strength and understanding. I need his strength to get me through the barriers in life. And understanding to see why they are there. Yes, we need money to survive, but I dont think buying a new tv. is the prayer needed. We need vehicles, but can you not get by on a used one. Sometimes people pray outside the box. Meaning beyond their limits. A new car, what about all the maintenance that goes along with that new car. It is almost as much as the car. So are you then going to pray for the lord to up keep the car? When we should be asking the Lord to help up keep us for our families. If God gives you a stream of over flowing money supply, do you spend it on yourself ? Or find a way to help sow a seed of kindness. Give some to a charity that is predestined by the Lord. Give to your church. But , do not fall into the behavior the devil wants. If you spend all that has been given, then what? You want more. I found myself thinking this way a few years ago. I had to have the new, the best stuff. But when ther is no income, no money coming in, I had to pawn the new stuff. So what was the purpose of having it. We all tend to live beyond our means. And it eventually hurts us. We can not take these things with us. But we can enjoy the fact knowing that we can pass on to our families, that not everything you want is necessarily good for you. Living by your means is where we have to draw the line. As a United States, we want what others have, and look where that has gotten us. WAR. Why do you want what your brothers or sisters have. If it not meant to be yours, then you should not try to take it. I believe God has already put into play, what he wants us to have. And what he has allowed us to obtain. He wants you to ask him for it, YES. But he does not say take it by any means necessarily. But, Seek you first the kingdom of God. Get right with God, know the Lord and his desires for you. And then watch the wonderful things he will give you. The lord already knows your desires, before you do. He already has a plan for you. But if you do not know him, how can you know his plan. Take your prayers to the Lord, and make sure they are of need. Not of being the better than your neighbor. Greed is as cruel as the grave. And once in the grave, there is no greed.
Prayer has positive actions, and the holy spirit intercepts for you . But if you pray for things that are not of God, who then intercepts your prayer. Watch out here. Because the Devil will intercept this prayer, to gain control over your life. Make sure you go to the lord in positive, passive and as a child of God, asking for it to be his will, not yours. The lord is Just and gracious to supply the needs we are in need of. To many times have I seen people pray for things that are not for the good of themselves or their family. And these people end up dissapointed . Then they blame God for their prayer not answered. Do not become one of these people. Pray for what you need, not what you desire. Because our desires, are not the same as Gods desire for us.
In the name of our Lord and Savior.
Zanetta
March 19th, 2008 at 6:42 pm
denelane2@aol.com
Thank You Pastor Bob, for this message on abundance is so timely for the times in which we as believer’s are living today! Our Heavenly Father truly does want us to live the Abundant life. As many others have also shared it is much more than just money!! For Paul said, Beloved I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health even as thy soul prospereth. ( 3 John 2) I’ve learned that my soul (mind, will & emotions) needs to prosper right along with my finances. In this way I’m also learning how to help further the Gospel message and give into the Kingdom of God. As you said, our bodies are the Temple of the Holy Spirit. It is so important that we take care of these containers that we live in. For without these containers we call bodies we cannot exist here. Jesus said, I hve come that they might have life more abundantly, to the full , till it overflows!! God Bless.