Posted By Amazing Moments Staff on February 18, 2011

By Michael Young

Have you ever wanted to know how to truly prosper through Christ? Simply being saved and tithing will not bring us to the levels Jesus offers. Jentezen Franklin on TV said if you are like most people these days you have a limited amount of money. He also said God has levels of prosperity.

Bag Mentality

The first level is the “bag mentality,” simply trying to obtain stuff (money, possessions, etc.) and then hoarding it with little intention of sharing any of it. This way of thinking only allows you to achieve dreams and financial freedom to a point, which is not very far. For example, most people that work and pay bills have little or no money left for themselves. No matter how much they try to obtain, they never seem to have enough. Of course, some do not rely on God to achieve financial freedom, but they are just very fortunate recipients of God’s grace when it comes to financial success. Prosperity for the people of God, however, reaches far deeper than just mere financial security.

We can achieve true prosperity when we choose not to be selfish, by taking a portion of that extra money, after tithing, of course, and giving it to someone in need. I promise you God will show you, if you ask him, where He wants you to put it. Sometimes you will decide within yourself to help someone of your own choice; God loves that even more. He promised, Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.

Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. As it is written: “He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.”

Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. 2 Corinthians 9:6-12 (NIV)

You see, tithing only helps sustain us; it does not prosper us. What prospers us is doing the three things Jesus instructed us to do when he gave His sermon on the mount in Matthew 6. These three things are praying, fasting and giving. They are very important, and are the three keys of success Jesus gives to help us. The number one thing first and foremost to have is faith, because without faith in God nothing will come.

Basket Mentality

The second level is the “basket mentality.” This level will enable you to do more to expand God’s kingdom and help people in need around you. On this level God will enable you to achieve the desires and dreams of your own life by laying a foundation rooted in the love of Christ. I reached this level by giving through Christian charities and helping struggling people around me instead of always doing for myself. This requires us to go without some things we want and it is not easy to do. When we deny our own fleshly desires and open ourselves to God’s ways, the blessings just come. He is always trying to bless us, but we allow sin or selfishness to block them. When we step outside our own needs and try to look at others we automatically raise ourselves to the next level.

Cart Mentality

The third level is the “cart mentality.” On this level God begins to expand our territory and now we are seeking him in such a way that we always have more than enough to bless others. On this level your ministry or business might grow to reach a certain region of the country or even the entire country.

Barn Mentality

The fourth level is the “barn mentality.” On this level God has expanded your territory in such a way that he uses you to help other people start businesses and ministries. On this level your own business or ministry might go to other parts of the world, or even spread across the entire planet. You are now helping other people pursue the desires of their heart for God.

Many people become believers, but they never get out of the wilderness and enter the Promised Land. They continue living in spiritual and sometimes physical poverty, never realizing that God’s principles work. God said His people perish for lack of knowledge. Once they dig in and study His Word, their lives begin to improve as they follow His ways, which are not like our natural ways at all, but much better.

When God prospered me he gave me a job that I really wanted, but it did not come without a test. Not only did I have to show him that I chose not to be selfish, but I realized I would be challenged greatly at this new job because he wanted me to continue moving ahead. About a week after I got the job I got a chance to meet with Pastor Jentezen Franklin at Free Chapel Church. I did not know God would do this for me until right before it happened. I found myself before the service talking with him about how I put into action what Christ was instructing me to do by just giving, and that I had hoped I would one day be able to reach people the way he does. I will never forget that day, because God opened many doors through my obedience, and even allowed me to shake the hand of the man He spoke through that preached about how to be prospered.

Isn’t God awesome?

The next lesson will be March 4th, 2011

Categories: Anointed Teachings
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