GOD'S PROSPERITY
GOD’S PROSPERIETY
Sunday, January 13, 2013, the Year of Our Lord
Pastor Carolyn Sissom
Several times over the years, I have heard from the Lord: “Carolyn I am bringing you into a greater level of my prosperity”.
Each time, the Lord spoke that good news to me, I certainly did not know what that prosperity was going to look like as I walked into that “greater level”, but I absolutely knew it was going to be a good thing.
Last Tuesday Morning at the Bible Study I was teaching in the Book of Revelation, I suddenly began to prophesy that the Lord was bringing His remnant into a greater level of prosperity.
Zech. 8:12: “For the seed shall be prosperous (6743-tsalach); the vine shall give her fruit, and the ground shall give her increase, and the heavens shall give their dew; and I will cause the remnant of this people to possess all these things.”
This is a two-part sermon in Zechariah.
The seed will be sown in safety with abundant vineyards and fruitful land. The second part of the sermon re-emphasizes the necessity for the co-operation of the people with God in bringing about a new era of blessing. The calamities of past years were part of God’s overall design. But to no lesser extent the better days to come have purpose also.
Zechariah spells out the purpose of God in the time of crisis; it re-affirms a fundamental faith in God as All-Sovereign Lord who will one day take a firm and immediate hand in world affairs, bringing his people back to their true center and restoring them to their proper heritage. God holds the reins of governments and nations; and even in the midst of distraction, unemployment, high taxes, wars; and discouragement the prophet announces that there is nothing that God cannot re-fashion according to his purpose.
The Lord’s covenant blessing of prosperity, well being, security, peace, joy, happiness, and plenty will be restored to a remnant by His great mercy and through a covenant of peace.
For their part, the people must maintain honest dealings with one another. Civil law administered in the courts must be characterized by equity and thus establish a harmonious society. Offensive things such as hatred and perjury must be removed.
I did a word study in the Holy Bible of “prosperity”. It is not just good; it is very, very good!!!!
I found seven different Hebrew words which are translated as “prosperity” or “prosperous”. A deeper study reveals different levels or realms of God’s prosperity. Seven is the number of perfection. I have not yet discovered the ascent of the seven.
1. Shalam #7999-
(a) To be in a covenant of peace, be at peace
(b) To cause to be in peace
(c) To live in peace
(d) To be complete, be sound
(e) To make safe
(f) To make whole or good, restore, make compensation
(g) To make good, pay
(h) To requite, recompense, reward
My Praise report is that I live in peace in every area of my life. This means the Lord has blessed me with this level (or realm) of His prosperity. As a corporate church body, I then conclude from the prophecy that came forth on Tuesday that every member of this church as well as the remnant universal will be brought into this covenant of peace and be at peace in every area of life.
With our peace with God, one another and His universe, comes a recompense and reward. This recompense and reward is one level (or realm) of prosperity in God.
Proverbs 13:21: “Evil pursues sinners but to the righteous good shall be repaid (7999-shalam).
Proverbs 13:13: “Whoso despises the word shall be destroyed; but he that fears the commandment shall be rewarded (7999-shalam).
Proverbs 16:7: “When a man’s ways please the Lord he makes even his enemies to be at peace (7999-shalam) with him.”
Proverbs 19:17: “He that has pity upon the poor tends unto the Lord; and that which he has given will he pay him again (7999-shalam)”.
Proverbs 20:22: “Say not, I will recompense (7999-shalam) evil; but wait on the Lord and he shall save thee.”
Psa. 56:12: “Your vows are upon me, O God; I will render (7999-shalam) praises unto you.”
Psa. 37:21: “The wicked borrows and does not pay again (7999-shalam); but the righteous shows mercy and gives.”
2. Tsalach #6743
(a) To advance, prosper, make progress, succeed, be profitable
(b) Bring to a successful issue, cause to prosper
(c) To show or experience prosperity.
This is the blessing of prosperity of the Lord that we need at this time “going forward” with the restoration and progress of our church to be able to succeed to secure the property for the Kingdom of God.
Gen. 24:40: He said unto me, the Lord, before whom I walk will send his angel with you, and prosper (6743 – Tsalach) your way; and you shall take a wife for my son of my kindred, and of my father’s house.”
Gen. 39:2: “The Lord was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous (6743-Tsalach) man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian.”
Judg. 18:5: “They said unto him, Ask counsel, we pray thee of God that we may know whether our way which we go shall be prospered (6743 –Tsalach).
The empowerment of the Holy Spirit is described as another level of God’s prosperity.
1 Sam. 10:6: “The Spirit of the Lord will come (6743- Tsalach) upon you, and you shall prophecy with them and shall be turned into another man.”
1 Sam. 16:13: “Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren; and the Spirit of the Lord came (6743 – Tsalach) upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah.”
Isaiah 48:15 is the Lord’s spoken blessing and prosperity of the Kingly anointing of Cyrus. Isa. 48:15: “I, even I have spoken; yea I have called him; I have brought him, and he shall make his way prosperous (6743 – Tsalach).
The Lord spoke.
The Lord called him.
The Lord brought him
The Lord made his way prosperous
1 Chr. 22:13: “Then shall you prosper (6743-Tsalach), if you take heed to fulfill the statutes and judgments which the Lord charged Moses with concerning Israel. Be strong, and of good courage; dread not, nor be dismayed.”
3. Shalev #7961
(a) At ease
(b) Quiet (of land)
(c) Living tranquilly, securely, security
1 Ch. 4:40: “They found fat pasture and good, and the land was wide and quiet, and peaceable (Shalev #7961) for they of Ham had dwelt there of old.”
Zech. 7:7: “Should you not hear the words which the Lord has cried by the former prophets when Jerusalem was inhabited and in prosperity (Shalev #7961) and the cities thereof round about her when men inhabited the south and the plain.”
This is Zechariah’s response to the question of the Assyrian delegation sent to the House of God to pray before the Lord and to speak to the priests and prophets saying, “Should I mourn and fast?”
Zech 7: 5-7: “…When you fasted and mourned In the fifth and seventh month, even those seventy years, did you at all fast to Me, even to Me?
They had paid greater attention to the sufferings of the people than to the Lord himself. Fasting was enjoyed in self interest. Fasting could similarly be undertaken for motives other than those for which self-denial was originally designed which was to seek the Lord. True delight in God is not a mere emotional attitude toward God, but a practical dedication to God in our daily mode of living.
Thus speaks the Lord of Hosts:
- Execute true judgment; show mercy and compassion every man to his brother.
- Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the stranger, or the poor.
- Let none of you imagine evil against his brother in your heart.
They refused to listen, and covered their ears, that they should not hear. They made their hearts as an adamant stone, less they should hear the law, and the words which the Lord of Hosts has sent in His Spirit by the former prophets; therefore came a great wrath from the Lord of Hosts.
Zechariah’s message was not designed to dwell on the past, but to prepare his hearers for renewal in the future. So the terse words concerning failure and accompanying judgment now give place to blessings and fulfillment of God’s promises and the glorious future awaiting Zion and her people.
Zech 8:12: “For the seed shall be prosperous (Shalev #7961); the vine shall give her fruit, and the ground shall give her increase, and the heavens shall give their dew; and I will cause the remnant of this people to possess all these things.”
#4 – Shalvah – (7962) – quietness, ease prosperity; in the midst of security.
This is similar to Shalev #7961, but is the word used in Psalm 122:6-7 for the promise of prosperity to all who will pray for the peace of Jerusalem; they shall prosper (Shalah – 7951)) that love you. Peace be inside your walls, and prosperity (Shalvah – 7962) inside your palaces.
#5 – Shelah #7951 –be happy, prosper-be in safety – Shelev #7959 “In my prosperity, I said, I shall never be moved.”
#6 – Shalom – (7965) –
I recently taught on Shalom, but I think it will be well for us to review Shalom as it is used of God’s prosperity.
(a) Completeness, soundness, welfare, peace, safety, quiet, tranquility, contentment, friendship, peace with God especially in covenant relationship.
Gen. 15:15: “You shall go to your fathers in peace (Shalom -7965); you shall be buried in a good old age.
Gen. 26:29: “That you will do us no hurt, as we have not touched you, and as we have done unto you nothing but good, and have sent you away in peace; (Shalom #7965) you are now the blessed of the Lord.”
Gen. 28:21: “So that I come again to my father’s house in peace; (Shalom #7965) then shall the Lord be my God.”
Lev. 26:6: “I will give peace (Shalom #7965) in the land, and you shall lie down and none shall make you afraid; and I will rid evil beasts out of the land, neither shall the sword go through your land.”
The United States of America had enjoyed this great blessing of a covenant of peace over our land since the Civil War with the exception of the attack on Pearl Harbor until 2001 when we were attacked by the Al Qaeda Muslim terrorists.
However, this is a conditional blessing of prosperity:
26: 1: You shall make no idols nor graven image, neither rear you up a standing image, neither shall you set up any image of stone in your land, to bow down to it; for I am the Lord your God.”
26:2: “You shall keep My Sabbaths, and reverence My sanctuary; I am the Lord.”
26:3: “If you walk in my statures, and keep My commandments and do them.”
26:4-6: Then I will give you rain in due season, and the land shall yield her increase, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit. Your threshing shall reach to the vintage, and the vintage shall reach to the sowing time; and you shall eat your bread to the full, and dwell in your land safe. I will give peace (Shalom #7965) in the land…”
Deut. 20:10: “When you come near unto a city to fight against it, then proclaim peace (Shalom #7965) unto it.”
This great realm of prosperity was prophesied of Jesus Christ who in Him is the completeness of our happiness, prosperity, well being, safety and peace.
Zech. 6:12b-13: “…Behold the man whose name is The Branch; and He shall grow up out of His place, and He shall build the temple of the Lord: Even He shall build the temple of the Lord; and He shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon His throne; and He shall be a priest upon His throne; and the counsel of peace (Shalom #7965) shall be between them both.”
Jesus is the vine, we are the branches. The Branch here could only be a prophetic oracle in reference to the Priest/King, the Lord Jesus Christ. John 15:5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He that abides in me and I in him, the same brings forth much fruit; for without me you can do nothing.” Rom 11:16: “For if the firstfruit be holy; and if the root be holy; so are the branches.”
That the counsel of peace (Shalom) shall be between them both would be the blessing of Shalom (the covenant of God’s prosperity) to his covenant people to both the Branch and branches.
#7 – Towb #2896
(a) Good, pleasant, agreeable, pleasant to the higher nature;
(b) Excellent (of its kind)
(c) Rich, valuable in estimation
(d) Appropriate, becoming
(e) Better – comparative
(f) Glad, happy, prosperous (of man’s sensuous nature)
(g) Glad, happy, prosperous
(h) Good understanding of man’s intellectual nature.
(i) Good, kind, benign
(j) Good, right ethical
(k) Welfare, prosperity, happiness
(l) Moral good
(m) Bounty
(n) Good things collective
(o) Merry
(p) Fair
(q) Precious
(r) Beautiful
(s) favor
When God created, the light, earth, waters, grass, trees, sun, moon, winged birds, and beasts, God saw that it was good (Towb #2896).
Gen. 2:12: “”And the gold of that land is good (Towb #2896); there is bdellium and the onyx stone.”
Mic. 6:8: “”He has shown you, O man, what is good (Towb #2896); and what does the Lord require of you, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbling with your God.”
Nah 1:7: “The Lord is good (Towb #2896), a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knows them that trust in him.”
Zech. 1:17: “Cry yet saying, Thus says the Lord of hosts; My cities through prosperity(Towb #2896) shall yet be spread abroad and the Lord shall yet comfort Zion, and shall yet choose Jerusalem.”
The prophet proclaims further that cities shall again overflow with prosperity that is with all that is good and derived from a spiritual harmony, with the purpose of God. Judah will once more become and influence for good among her neighbors. Comfort will again surround Zion and God’s choice of Jerusalem as dedicated to his glorious intention will again be seen.
The prophet was urged to proclaim God’s compassion and wrath side by side, coupled with an assertion that the divine purpose would nevertheless succeed to such an extent that the moral and spiritual prosperity of God’s people would overflow among the nations.
God’s intention for good is extended beyond the national frontiers of Israel.
The Lord is bringing His remnant into a greater realm of His prosperity.
Carolyn Sissom, Pastor
Eastgate Ministries, Inc.
Scripture from K.J.V. I entered into the labors of F. F. Bruce International Bible Commentary, Zachariah by: David J. Ellis. Comments and conclusions are my own and not meant to reflect the views of those from whom I have gleaned.