Today, I want to look at 6 Steps to Standing on the Word.
This month we started looking at the topic of prosperity. We are looking at the parable of the sower. The Bible says that the sower sows the Word. Last week we started looking at what the Word of God is. If you missed that post, check it out Prosperity: The Word is the Seed.
We will continue with the same text we had last week.
This week I want to give you some very practical advice on how to plant the Word of God in your own heart and see faith be produced in your life. This is something that I have done over the years which has helped me tremendously.
Our Text
14 The sower soweth the word.
23 If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.
24 And he said unto them, Take heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you: and unto you that hear shall more be given.
25 For he that hath, to him shall be given: and he that hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he hath.
26 And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground;
27 And should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how.
28 For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear.
29 But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come.
Mark 4:14;23-29 KJV
Step 1: Know what you’re believing for
Something my pastor always says is, “Faith is a rifle not a shotgun.” What does that mean? If you want talk by faith you have to have a firm picture or hope of what you want.
1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Hebrews 11:1 KJV
If you want your faith to put substance to something hoped for, you have to have a clear picture of what that hope looks like.
Don’t say, “I’m believing God for a car.” and then not know what color you want, what model you want, etc. Faith is a rifle not some broad stroke. Your hope has to be specific. I don’t just want a Ford. I want a Ford 2019 . . . Insert your hope there.
Step 2: Make sure it lines up with what GOD wants
Faith as we saw last week comes from hearing God’s Word. God will not provide you with something that goes against what His Word says.
But even more than that, listen to your spirit. If you begin to walk down a path, asking for something maybe that isn’t wrong according to God’s Word, but you don’t have peace with it. It is wrong for you.
What do I mean? Because this can be confusing.
There are three scriptures which will clear this up if we look at them in order here.
2 Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.
3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.
James 4:2-3 KJV
What are these verses saying? James 4 is telling us that wars and fighting comes from lusts inside of us. We want things to spend them on ourselves. He is saying here. You keep asking for things just so you can spend them on yourself.
God isn’t interested in giving you the nicest car or fanciest house so you can rub it in your neighbors face. He isn’t interested in fueling your pride. In fact, the Bible says He RESISTS the proud just a little further down that same chapter ( James 4:6-7 ).
2 All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the Lord weigheth the spirits.
Proverbs 16:2 KJV
Then in Proverbs we see that a man (that’s you or me) we think our motives are clean. Have you ever done something from a selfish motive convincing yourself you are doing it for the right reasons? I have.
God is saying here that EVERY man does that to some extent. The Lord weighs the spirits ( or the heart ). In other words God knows why you really want that thing.
Is the motive to bless others? Is the motive to be a blessing to those around you? Or do you want it out of pride or arrogance. Are you asking for a bigger house because you love money?
21 Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.
22 And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.
1 John 3:21-22 KJV
And finally, this verse in 1 John brings it all together. John here is telling us to listen to our own spirits. If your heart doesn’t condemn you (if you have peace with what you are asking for) you have confidence before God.
If you have peace asking for that car or house or whatever you need, then you know that when you asked you received it.
4 More Steps To Go…
There is a lot to talk about when it comes to prosperity. God wants you to prosper and He has a lot to say about it. This post is just the first step in a 3 part series. The next two will be released in the coming weeks.
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