In the Christian church of today, there is an established leprous teaching about the blessings of God. It is a teaching that has corrupted the heart of God’s people, turning them away from God and His word, and leading them into trusting in lies and prophecies that are meaningless.
When there is a way which God has chosen to prosper His people, what is the benefit of prophesying blessings to them? Especially unto those who do not follow the sure ways of God?
In one of our Pastor’s meetings, a leader spoke and said, “These things we prophesy to them are just to make them happy. The only way they can become millionaires is if they work for it.” And then another pastor jestingly said, “it is to avoid heart panic.” Some of the available pastors laughed; but I was stunned that some knew this half-truth, but it is hidden from my people. It is half-truth because indeed, God can scale up the productivity of our labour.
The people of God are largely being manipulated and deceived by many preachers. The holistic truth concerning the way to prosperity is hidden from God’s people. What we have instead of truth is blessings, riches, and prosperity, dished through prophetic utterances; then money is collected, yet we do not ever get blessed.
There is a way that leads to the sure blessings of God. God can enlarge the coast of a man, and give him customers and connections that can scale up his divine provisions. But it is only when we follow His own way, and not the way of preachers, nor our own self-taught ideas.
Deuteronomy 8:18 “But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth.”
The teaching that money, seeding and giving is the way to obtain the blessings of Abraham is greatly over-exaggerated. This is where the major problem is.
There are matters that outweigh seeding and giving when it comes to divine blessings. And just as knowing the contents of the last pages of a book is not enough to pass an exam on the book, so is how pursuing after one truth of God’s blessings, and ignoring the main matters will lead to failed efforts to walk into divine blessings. This is principally why we sow and do not reap the blessings of God. We have not been told the wholesome truth, and so we don’t know the high ways of God.
And because we lack knowledge, we have acted in folly, and have imagined that God is what He is actually not. Many have backslidden because of the thoughts that God is unfaithful. But it is because we lack knowledge of the workings of God.
“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge…” -Hosea 4:6
“The folly of a man spoils his ways: and he blames God in his heart.” – Proverbs 19:3
I therefore beg, that my readers will follow this series until the end. Because their knowledge of the truth will make or mar their blessings in the God of Abraham, King David, and Jesus Christ.
1. RIGHTEOUSNESS OUR REGISTRATION
Righteousness is the bush clearer; it fertilizes the ground; it breaks the fallow ground for God to begin the act of blessing a man. This is an untold truth. Righteousness is the FIRST requirement by God from anyone who would be prosperous, and be blessed by Him.
Before we get into proving the truth above, let me state clearly why you may not hear this truth from the pulpit.
Number one reason is ignorance. The ignorance of teachers and preachers of God’s word who do not eat the Holy Book before they teach, has cost the Lord Jesus much sorrow. They have taught God’s people from their own great ideas, and have ignored sound doctrine built on God’s word and principles. This is why I maintain that anyone who has not read the entire bible at least twice, is not qualified to teach in a Sunday school class.
The second reason is that very many church people live in wickedness and sin, both clergy and laity. Many of the rich in church are truly unrighteous and wicked.
If one maintains the massage, and teaches that righteousness is the number one requirement to be prospered by God, there is the fear that many who should have given money will draw back. Because men may not delight to sow where they will not reap. So, to keep the income and money flowing in the Church of Jesus Christ, the truth is shielded, and diminished by men who preach to us.
Meanwhile, if the truth were spoken to the people, the unrighteous would suffer momentary hurt, but they would have known the truth that could save them forever. Then, in the long run, they will increase in the fear of God. And in the fear of God, they will pursue after righteousness; turning their hearts to God. In righteousness, men will delight in knowing that God prospers the righteous; and they will no more shrink from giving to God when the truth is preached.
And if the Holy Spirit settles in the heart of the righteous, He will put the love and fear of God in their hearts. And this love of God will overshadow all acts of self, causing them to be willing and obedient in the service of God. By this godly transformation, a believer can give all he has to God whom he now loves, by the Spirit of righteousness.
“… the righteous give without restraint.” – Proverbs 21-26b
Giving to God out of pure love and fear was the mindset of the early church. This mindset made them sell their belongings, and brought it to God. It was this same spirit that drove the spread of the gospel of Christ by many preachers. Righteous men and women who loved God, gave and sacrificed much for His work, including their own lives.
When someone loves, he naturally wants to give, to prove his love. No one, no sermon, can teach us to love God; but by His Spirit of covenant this is made possible. And the only way the presence of His Spirit is established in a man is when we pursue after righteousness (plus holiness and obedience).
And when the Spirit sows the seed of the Love of God in a man’s heart, he becomes a natural investor into God’s affairs.
I give because of the strong relationship I have with God. I love the Lord Jesus, and I want to see His work succeed; I delight in His praise; this is why I give much.
If men of God had known the secret to having members who support God’s kingdom with their resource, they would seek first the kingdom of God, and work to establish His righteousness in the lives of God’s people. This would be his number one task, not prosperity, riches, seeding, or money-compelling sermons. It is God who will bless His people; it is He that gives us the power to get wealth. And the Lord would add every other godly spice into the congregation, including the heart to give to God. Then God’s blessings will multiply much unto any people. For when they sow, they will reap in joy; and one who sows sparingly will reap sparingly. “For God accepts the sacrifice of the righteous, but hates the sacrifice of the wicked.” Proverbs 15:8
And when God begins to prosper His church which has returned to Him in righteousness and sacrificial spirit, the income of the church which shrank before, will once again blossom in increasing value.
Again, if they who were appointed by God to oversee the flock knew the powerful effect of having a Church that fears the Lord, they would invest all their strength in channeling the hearts of their membership towards the God who demands righteousness FIRST, from His people.
But today many men of God only think of the present, and the urgent need to increase the monetary value of the Church and their pockets. When a man of God has this mindset, his God is nothing but mammon. He has become a slave to the lust for riches. But a true man of God is dead to money.
Many pastors and church leaders are not willing to suffer a little loss for the people of God to be saved, and repositioned by the hand of God. They do not want a little downturn in finances, that better days will be put in place for the congregation, which will in-turn prosper them also.
Because we have deserted God’s truth; because we have not preached that God hates the sacrifices of the wicked, and that blessings is on the head of the righteous (Proverbs 10:6); because we have fronted giving money and seed as the principal need of the generous God of Abraham, the people of God has waxed strong in their wickedness, and have not turned from it. Rebellion and unrighteousness has filled the church of God, and many have lost absolute fear for God. And how shall they prosper in wickedness and grave sin against God?
He who covers his sins will not prosper, But whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy. Proverbs 28:13
Today we have members who do what is unlawful to make unrighteous gains. And because they are not told the whole truth, they think that the gains of their increased unrighteousness which will take them to everlasting burnings are the blessings of God; they call it grace when sin yields riches.
And when some have made vile money by deceit and evil ways, they return tithes and seeds to the Church. And although many pulpit merchants may know that wickedness is involved, they gladly accept it, and pray for it to be well with the unrighteous. But it shall be ill with the wicked, says the Lord.
God has prepared a day of recompense for the wicked; a day of sorrow, and and day of mourning. Here and hereafter, he shall reap the gains of his wickedness. The eyes of God is set to do them evil; “For God is a righteous God, and He is angry with the wicked everyday.” – Psalm 7:11
Whether he is sleeping, or eating, or driving, or singing, or dancing in church, or lifting up unrighteous hands, or preaching, or giving seeds and tithes, whatever, wherever, whenever, the anger of God burns against the wicked and the unrighteous.
The fewer faithful men must warn the Church of Christ concerning this.
For if all unrighteousness will lead to damnation, then it is not grace, or the hand of God that enriches the wicked at heart and deed.
The blessings of Jehovah, it makes rich; and He adds no sorrow to it. It will not lead you to destruction, nor will it separate you from God. That riches and open doors that will separate you from God is not a blessing; it is not grace. It is meant to cement your eternal destruction.
There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death(even the second death). Proverbs 10:6
A. Abrahamic blessings
I have seen those who teach that God called us out of the world to bless us like Abraham. This is untrue! Abraham was not called out to be blessed. God has the power to bless him right in his fathers house. Just as Job was blessed right there in his own town of Uz.
With Abraham, God wanted a nation, a people, a generation that would fear His name, and to show forth His praises among the nations who knew other gods, that all men many see and know the one true God and His judgments. And Abraham was called out to be the father of that generation that would serve this purpose of God.
God was also going to give Abraham the Holy Spirit by which he shall know his God. So Abraham became a prophet. And Abraham was commanded to teach his offspring the knowledge of God. By this knowledge, the sons, if they will abide in it, will also attain to the blessings and covenants of Abraham. For it is written;
For I have known him, in order that he may command his children and his household after him, that they keep the way of the LORD, to do righteousness and justice, that the LORD may bring to Abraham what He has spoken to him.” – Genesis 18:19
When God spoke the above to His angel, Abraham was already blessed. What remained was the promise of a great nation that would come from Him. But the number one rule was that Abraham will instruct his posterity according to the way of the Lord, to do righteousness and justice.
It is my belief, according to the spirit of teaching, that God delayed His promise to Abraham in order to teach His ways to Him first; for Abraham was a pagan before He was found by God.
So, because God was direly looking for a righteous generation, He made their greatness and blessings depend on righteousness and justice. And without righteousness there would be no Abraham’s blessings or any greatness for His offsprings.
All covenants have stipulations, and rules. Abraham’s covenant relied on righteousness.
The Lord’s anger with Israel, for which He allowed them to be plundered and destroyed by the enemies, famine, plagues, and wars, was based on this fact and truth.
And whenever the sons of Abraham failed in righteousness and justice, Abraham’s blessings were held back. Then they were plundered until they lost all they gathered.
At one instance, they imagined that God would accept the sacrifice of goats and sheep, and relieve them of their troubles. But the Lord rebuffed them, saying:
“I desire mercy and not sacrifice, And the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.” Hosea 6:6
“He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?” Micah 6:8
“For Righteousness shall exalt a nation; But sin is a reproach to any people.” Proverbs 14:34
These, my people, are the true words of our God. This truth is very consistent all over the Old testament. God cannot change from loving righteousness to mongering sacrifice and seed.
Therefore, if anyone wants to connect into the sure blessings of the Abrahamic covenant, tell him that he must register his interest with righteousness. It is God’s first demand.
B. Davidic Blessings
Now the days of David drew near that he should die, and he charged Solomon his son, saying: “I go the way of all the earth; be strong, therefore, and prove yourself a man. And keep the charge of the Lord your God: to walk in His ways, to keep His statutes, His commandments, His judgments, and His testimonies, as it is written in the Law of Moses, that you may prosper in all that you do and wherever you turn; that the Lord may fulfill His word which He spoke concerning me, saying, ‘If your sons take heed to their way, to walk before Me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul,’ He said, ‘you shall not lack a man on the throne of Israel.’ – 1 Kings 2
Again, here was a man whom the Lord promised to make his generations great and established. But the terms were that his posterity must walk before the Lord God, in truth, and with all their hearts, keeping the judgments of God and obeying His laws. According to King David, by following these instructions, Solomon will be established into the Davidic covenant. David was also a son of Abraham, who prospered because He followed His God in righteousness.
“For a throne is established on righteousness.” – Proverbs 16:12
In his early years, King Solomon followed the God of His father David, and served Him in obedience and righteousness according to the ways of David, and God greatly blessed Him. In the later part of his life, he abandoned God. This evil was instrumental to the division of the Kingdom of Israel. For whenever a covenant is broken, the opposite of the agreement becomes the case.
Throughout the Lineage of David, righteous rulers like Jehoshaphat, Hezekiah, Josiah, who led the nation into righteousness prospered in their reign. Even if they became kings at a hard and cruel time, the hand of God would eventually turn the fortune of the nation around, and their kingdoms were greatly established.
But the kings who did evil in the eyes of God received plundering, famines, wars, and plagues until hard times befell the nation. So it was said in Proverbs 14:34.
“Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people(even people of God).”
The inability of the descendants of David to keep to the Davidic covenant in righteousness and justice brought about the destruction and exile of Israel. The human dynasty of David ended with Zerubbabel. Right now Israel has no King, and no Davidic dynasty to rule. But God had already raised for Himself an everlasting arm in Christ Jesus, the righteous King whom He shall cause to inherit the throne of His father- David; and to His Kingdom shall be no end; for He shall reign in righteousness, equity, and Justice.
C. The Blessings in Christ
When God saw that the sons of Abraham had failed in righteousness and justice, God raised up another Father of Covenant, through whom a new generation of God seekers and God pleasers would be blessed and established. Again, that is, if they will follow the way of Him Who is the Father of the new covenant.
Jesus Christ was this father – the Father of those who worship God through Him. We know that Christ Himself is also a seed of Abraham, and that all Abrahams seeds are to be blessed by following the way of righteousness, justice, and mercy. Therefore, though we are in Christ, nothing has changed concerning our divine blessings from God. It must be tethered by righteousness.
And because the Lord Jesus who was before Abraham, who also established a covenant with him, knows what the Lord needs from all who want to be prospered by the hand of God, He said to His followers;
“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” Matthew 6:33
By doing this simple instruction, the promises of father Abraham remains for all the people of God. This is why I said that nothing has changed in how God blesses His people, both Jews and Christians; righteousness is our registration.
Let us cease all these motivational prophecies; for prophecy is overrated! When God has an oracle and instructions concerning His blessings, when He has told us what to do in order to attract riches, prophesying instead of declaring the oracle becomes deceit, and shouting amen to these prophesies instead of doing the word of God is foolishness. “For God is no respecter of persons.” -Acts 10:34. “He has exalted His word above all His name.”- Psalm 138:2.
There was no one prophesying to Abraham when God was blessing Him. There was no one prophesying to David, Solomon, Job, or Joshua when God was blessing them. But by doing what was right in the eyes of God, and by inclining to the judgments of God, the Lord prospered them in whatever they did, and blessed them wherever they turned.
It is the Church of today that has turned blind eyes on the scriptural issues of God’s blessings, and have pursued after prophetic declarations that do not work. Yes! We would all have been millionaires judging from the many prophetic declarations we receive at almost every Church gathering.
Corrupted by the lie that blessings are obtained by giving money, we have neglected the full oracle of divine blessings and prosperity.
True, it is more blessed to give that to receive. But the sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to God; we must first preach to them. We must teach the wholesome truth of God. By this, the flock of Christ will attain their true blessings and remain sanctified.
“For the Lord God is a sun and shield; The Lord will give grace and glory; No good thing will He withhold From those who walk uprightly.” Psalm 84:11
“The righteous will flourish like the date palm; They will grow like a cedar in Lebanon.” –
“The Lord knows the days of the upright, And their inheritance shall be forever. They shall not be ashamed in the evil time, And in the days of famine they shall be satisfied.” -Psalm 92:12
“Say to the righteous that it shall be well with them, For they shall eat the fruit of their righteous labour.” Isaiah 3:10
Proverbs 10:6 “Blessings are on the head of the righteous.”
I hope to have convinced us beyond doubt that the FIRST, and most powerful instrument of our blessings as Christians is our righteousness before God. Therefore, let us seek FIRST the kingdom of God and its righteousness; that all other things shall be added unto us.
