Just before the children of Israel entered the promised land led by Joshua, Moses instructed them about the dangers hidden in prosperity. “Beware that thou forget not the Lord thy God, in not keeping his commandments, and his judgments, and his statutes, which I command thee this day”. One of the greatest dangers in Prosperity, is that a person can easily forget the days of small beginnings after they have prospered. The true character of a man is revealed when they no have money or substance.
Pride is an inwardly directed emotion that carries two common meanings. With a negative connotation, pride refers to an inflated sense of one’s personal status or accomplishments,
With a positive connotation, pride refers to a satisfied sense of attachment toward one’s own or another’s choices and actions, or toward a whole group of people, and is a product of praise, independent self-reflection, or a fulfilled feeling of belonging.
Prosperity is defined “as the state of flourishing, thriving, good fortune and or successful social status. Prosperity often encompasses wealth but also includes other factors which can be independent of wealth to varying degrees, such as happiness and health”
The LORD God spoke to Moses about the children of Israel disobeying His commandments after they would have come into the wealth of the land. We can see His concerns in Deuteronomy 8:10-14 “When thou hast eaten and art full, then thou shalt bless the Lord thy God for the good land which he hath given thee. Beware that thou forget not the Lord thy God, in not keeping his commandments, and his judgments, and his statutes, which I command thee this day: Lest when thou hast eaten and art full, and hast built goodly houses, and dwelt therein; And when thy herds and thy flocks multiply, and thy silver and thy gold is multiplied, and all that thou hast is multiplied; Then thine heart be lifted up, and thou forget the Lord thy God, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage”
My focus in treating this topic is to address general behaviours when God’s people enter into the season of abundance that He opens unto us. Since January 2014 – The Word of prophecy and revelation that has come forth in my local Church is Marching Forward. We sought the Lord in fasting and prayers according to His instructions. The Lord confirmed clearly that we have entered into a season of Manifestation. In marching forward, you have to see God and step out in Faith, trusting Him. It brings alive the Scripture in psalm 119:89 – “Forever Oh Lord, Your Word is settled in Heaven”- true to God’s nature, all that has been settled in the spirit as a matter of protocol, He establishes in the surface at the appointed time.
Dearly beloved, when God speaks about manifestation of prosperity, you had better be ready, pay attention to details and be careful not to make the same mistakes made by the Israelites of old. As children of the New Covenant and thus the “New “Israel”, we are under the benefit of the Grace embedded in the Blood of Jesus. We have been inputted with the Righteousness of Christ, making us priests and rulers and joint heirs with Christ Jesus our LORD and Saviour. Furthermore, there is the precedent of the well chronicled response by God to the folly of the children of Israel in their disobedience of His instructions. Therefore no Christian ought to make same foolish mistakes today.
I am very mindful of the dangers that line the path of prosperity. Like “land mines” they are usually not obvious to the ordinary eyes. Unless you have a prior knowledge an area or site is littered with land mines, one can easily become a casualty of their wicked purposes. I would like to refresh your memory with regards to the objectives of this deadly weapon of war – land mines are designed to cause maximum damage to the victim. So also is the little/big issue of the hidden enemy – PRIDE. There is an old adage that says “pride goes before a fall”. The Bible puts God’s perspective clearly on the issue of pride – ” For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased ; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted” – Luke 14:11
God is very concerned about His people falling prey for this old enemy – which was the downfall of Lucifer, which resulted in him being cast down from heaven and manifesting into his present status – Satan. He attempted to exalt himself above his Maker – The Creator and Almighty God. The GREAT
I AM.
Isaiah 14:13-14 – reminds us of the magnitude of Satan’s pride –
“For thou hast said in thine heart,
I will ascend into heaven,
I will exalt my throne above the stars of God:
I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:
I will ascend above the heights of the clouds;
I will be like the most High”.
This is a classic example of what success can do to people. The pride issue is by the way not peculiar to unbelievers.
Success breeds
– Pride
– Confidence – may I say over confidence
– Insatiable Appetite
– Self glory
– Arrogance
– Feeling of Untouchable
It is a sad fact that, pride or prosperity without Christ gives a false sense of security, believing that “I can be whatever I want to be” – in other words you are a god unto yourself. This by the way is the whole message of the New Age Movement. The deception that you can attain godliness without God. After all, God said to Moses, “I have made you a god over Pharaoh”. In a twisted way, you start quoting Scriptures to justify your actions.
It grieves the heart of God when His people fail to acknowledge Him, to ascribe glory unto Him alone, for He is the One that created our hands to get wealth. Remember, He already created the wealth, so our business is to “get” that which is already settled in heaven and give Him Glory. In Deuteronomy 31:20, the LORD forewarned the Israelites saying, “For when I shall have brought them into the land which I sware unto their fathers, that floweth with milk and honey; and they shall have eaten and filled themselves, and waxen fat; then will they turn unto other gods, and serve them, and provoke me, and break my covenant”. There is nothing you have, that has not be given, so give thanks to the one that supplies all our needs in Christ Jesus.
Pride is the mother of arrogance
Humility is the antidote to the virus that is called Pride.
Prosperity without Christ is vanity and provokes God.
God is glorified when His people prosper. His covenant is everlasting when we keep His commandments.
Blessings