Prosperity of the Soul: Aligning with God's Will
Summary
The sermon series focuses on the theme of prosperity of the soul, emphasizing that true joy and fulfillment come from aligning one's life with God's will and word. The speaker begins by inviting the congregation to worship and seek a God encounter, highlighting the joy that Jesus brings and the provision of God for all needs. The congregation is encouraged to look to God for wisdom, healing, and to receive His grace through Jesus' sacrifice.
The speaker then discusses the difference between God's perspective and human perspective, urging the congregation to align their thoughts with God's and to allow His word to transform them from the inside out. This transformation is likened to the growth of cypress and myrtle trees, symbolizing a life dedicated to the Lord. The concept of increase and prosperity is also explored, with the speaker expressing gratitude for the transformative power of God's work in the lives of the congregation. The pressures of life are seen as opportunities for growth and preparation for the prosperity that God wants to bring.
The importance of thinking bigger and supporting missionaries is highlighted, along with the significance of the prosperity of the soul. The speaker explains that when a person accepts Jesus, their spirit becomes born again, and they gain a new spiritual connection to God. However, the soul, which includes the mind, will, and emotions, may still struggle, necessitating the renewal of the mind to think like God.
The relationship between the listener and God is described as deep and sweet, with an emphasis on turning to Jesus for the restoration of the soul. The speaker also discusses the joy that Jesus brings to believers, which is based on a prosperity of the soul rather than external circumstances. The blessed person is likened to a tree planted by rivers of water, fruitful in its season.
The speaker references Proverbs to support the idea of a prosperity of soul, stating that it is a personal choice and that by delighting in their relationship with God, individuals will experience internal prosperity that leads to external success. Trusting in the Lord is highlighted as the starting point for success.
The sermon also addresses the need for a strong defense against the enemy and the removal of negative emotions from the soul. The speaker believes that 2023 will be a year of pressure and discomfort, leading to the birth of something new. The importance of working and learning to grow spiritually is emphasized, with the speaker asking the congregation to reflect on what is growing in their hearts.
The speaker expresses gratitude for personal happiness and emphasizes the importance of trusting God's provision when stepping out in faith. They conclude by stressing the importance of trusting God and acknowledging Him in all aspects of life, with the power of words steering one's life course. A focused life on God is compared to a fruitful tree.
Key Takeaways:
- True prosperity is found in the soul's alignment with God's will, where internal transformation leads to external manifestations of joy and peace. This prosperity is not dependent on external circumstances but is rooted in a deep relationship with God. [01:36:50] [01:38:48] [01:40:33]
- The prosperity of the soul is a choice that requires active delight in one's relationship with God. This internal state of abundance allows for external success and fruitfulness in various aspects of life. [01:47:46]
- Trusting in God with all one's heart and not relying solely on personal understanding is the foundation for a prosperous life. Acknowledging God in all ways leads to His guidance and success in one's path. [01:53:59]
- Speaking God's word into situations can bring about transformation and change. Just as Jesus knew what to do in the face of limited resources, believers can have confidence in God's provision for their needs. [01:42:33] [01:44:19] [01:45:59]
- A strong spiritual defense involves removing negative emotions and influences from the soul. Trusting in God's process, even through pressure and discomfort, can lead to the birth of new blessings and growth. [02:06:51] [02:08:39] [02:10:12]
Study Guide
### Bible Reading
1. Psalm 1:1-3 (NIV)
> Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—whatever they do prospers.
2. Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV)
> Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.
3. 3 John 1:2 (NIV)
> Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well.
### Observation Questions
1. According to Psalm 1:1-3, what are the characteristics of a blessed person?
2. In Proverbs 3:5-6, what are we instructed to do with all our heart, and what is the promised result?
3. How does 3 John 1:2 connect physical health and overall well-being with the prosperity of the soul?
4. What analogy does the sermon use to describe the internal transformation that leads to external prosperity? [01:42:08]
### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the concept of delighting in the law of the Lord (Psalm 1:2) relate to the idea of internal prosperity leading to external success? [01:40:12]
2. What does it mean to trust in the Lord with all your heart and not lean on your own understanding (Proverbs 3:5-6)? How might this look in practical terms in daily life?
3. The sermon mentions that 2023 will be a year of pressure and discomfort leading to new blessings and growth. How can this perspective change the way we view challenges and difficulties? [02:09:51]
4. How does the relationship between internal transformation and external manifestations of joy and peace, as described in the sermon, align with the teachings in 3 John 1:2? [02:13:03]
### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a recent challenge you faced. How might viewing it as an opportunity for growth and preparation for prosperity change your perspective? [02:09:51]
2. Psalm 1:2 talks about delighting in the law of the Lord. What specific steps can you take this week to meditate on God's word day and night?
3. Proverbs 3:5-6 encourages us to trust in the Lord with all our heart. Identify an area in your life where you have been relying on your own understanding. How can you submit this area to God?
4. The sermon emphasizes the importance of removing negative emotions and influences from the soul. What are some practical ways you can guard your heart and mind against negativity? [02:06:39]
5. The speaker mentioned the joy that Jesus brings, which is based on the prosperity of the soul rather than external circumstances. How can you cultivate this internal joy in your daily life? [01:36:46]
6. Think about a time when you felt God's provision in your life. How can remembering this experience help you trust Him more in your current situation? [01:42:33]
7. The sermon highlights the importance of supporting missionaries and thinking bigger. How can you contribute to this mission, either through prayer, financial support, or other means? [01:20:20]
Devotional
Day 1: Aligning with Divine Will
True prosperity emerges from a soul in harmony with God's intentions. This alignment fosters an internal transformation that manifests as joy and peace in one's life, independent of external circumstances. It is a state of being that reflects a deep and abiding connection with the Creator. [01:36:50]
Jeremiah 17:7-8 - "Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit."
Reflection: How can you align your daily decisions more closely with God's will to experience true prosperity of the soul?
Day 2: Delighting in Divine Relationship
Choosing to delight in God paves the way for a prosperous soul, which in turn influences external success. This choice involves a daily commitment to find joy and satisfaction in one's relationship with the Creator, leading to a life that is fruitful and abundant. [01:47:46]
Psalm 37:4 - "Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart."
Reflection: What are practical ways you can actively delight in your relationship with God throughout your day?
Day 3: Trusting Beyond Understanding
A prosperous life is built on the foundation of trusting God wholeheartedly, without leaning on one's own understanding. Acknowledging Him in every aspect of life ensures that one's path is directed and blessed by His wisdom and guidance. [01:53:59]
Proverbs 3:5-6 - "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths."
Reflection: Can you identify an area of your life where you need to trust God more and rely less on your own understanding?
Day 4: Transformation Through the Word
Speaking God's word into life's situations can lead to profound transformation and change. Just as Jesus demonstrated confidence in God's provision, believers are called to trust in God's ability to meet their needs through the power of His word. [01:42:33]
Isaiah 55:10-11 - "For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it."
Reflection: What situation in your life needs the transformative power of God's word? How can you begin to speak His promises over it today?
Day 5: Embracing Growth Through Pressure
Pressure and discomfort can be the precursors to new blessings and spiritual growth. By removing negative influences and trusting in God's process, one's soul is fortified, paving the way for the birth of new opportunities and prosperity. [02:06:51]
James 1:2-4 - "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."
Reflection: What pressures are you currently facing, and how can you view them as opportunities for growth and deeper trust in God?
Quotes
"It's worth a little bit of work, it's worth a little bit of learning, to have a wall that can't be penetrated by the enemy around my soul, to have the thorns and nettles and the weeds that grow up just because I'm in this world, to be uprooted and removed from the garden of my soul." [02:06:51] (Download)
"When the Spirit of God...felt like Him say to me that 2023 is like a birth canal, He meant it. That there is a squeezing, there is pressure, there is discomfort, there is an effort exerted to produce brand new life." [02:10:12] (Download)
"This is the picture of a garden that is meant to be protected by walls. The scripture talks about your life and my life being like this, like an area with walls all around." [02:05:14] (Download)
"When you step out and you believe God, here's how it works. There's always this, this unction, this desire, this leading to go, right? And then the provision comes after." [01:19:44] (Download)
"Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it flow the issues of your life." This encapsulates the profound truth that our inner life shapes our external experiences. [01:56:21] (Download)
"As a man thinks in his heart, so is he." This highlights the transformative power of our thoughts and the importance of aligning them with God's truth about who we are. [01:58:20] (Download)
"When a person chooses that, they choose to build within themselves. There's a structure built that's a life-giving source on the inside, like a tree of life on the inside." [01:42:33] (Download)
"There's a fruitfulness to my life that is being produced when I turn my heart to God and say God, you are everything to me. It's like this, it feeds something on the inside that's like a tree and it says whose leaf shall not wither and whatever that person does prospers." [01:42:33] (Download)
"Prosperity of soul is every need in your soul met, and you find that in Jesus." [02:28:54] (Download)
"God has done something in here, in the soul of our church, that will produce incredible fruit if we will see it out. There is a new life that is about to come forth." [02:11:38] (Download)
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