Introduction
Success is approved by God! But some spiritual teaching on this topic, though it may sound Biblical, can be misleading. The good news is, by continually growing in God’s Word, we can know the truth (2 Timothy 2:15).
For example, you may have heard that poverty is godly or that prosperity is sinful. However, Deuteronomy 8:18 explains that God is not against wealth, but instead empowers us to succeed and prosper. In fact, the topic of finances is addressed frequently in the Bible, because God knows that money is a necessary part of our lives.
And you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day. Deuteronomy 8:18 (NKJV)
His Word reminds us that prospering is not only allowed, but is also considered advantageous because there’s a God-given purpose attached. You see, the reality is that finances can help us to gain influence and to “get the Word out” to reach more people for the Kingdom.
After all, we don’t serve an impoverished God; we serve a loving, generous God! If God’s plan for us was scarcity, He would want everything we work toward to fail, but Jeremiah 29:11 says His plans are to prosper us and give us hope.
He doesn’t want us to start businesses hoping for bankruptcy or marry expecting to divorce! Everything in our lives, whether it’s marriage, relationships, health, career or finances, is intended to grow and succeed.
Keep reading God’s Word, knowing that regardless of where you live, who you are, your skin colour or mother tongue, the call of God is on your life. He’s given you the power and permission to dream and succeed!
Stay on Track
Often, we hear that God opposes prosperity because wealth can derail us from serving Him. The truth is, we have Holy Spirit within us to help us stay on track!
But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. Acts 1:8 (NKJV)
Sometimes we think Holy Spirit’s power works in our lives just to help us teach or preach, or lay hands on the sick for healing. While it’s true that His power works through us in these ways, there’s so much more!
The NAS New Testament Greek Lexicon gives us a multi-layered definition of what this power includes. The first two points are commonly known. The first is "inherent power," referring to the fact that when we give our lives to Christ, we are instantly filled with Holy Spirit who resides on the inside of us. The second point is "power for performing miracles," which refers to Holy Spirit’s power in us that we can release for health and protection.
What we often forget is the third point: "moral power and excellence of soul." Holy Spirit’s power within us helps us live with moral excellence, meaning He empowers us with the ability to stand strong against the temptation to use wealth selfishly. Empowered by Holy Spirit, we can rise up in prosperity, position and influence—and represent Christ effectively in the areas to which we’re called.
Holy Spirit helps and guides us so that our prosperity becomes a tool useable by God to make a difference in this world now and for generations to come!
Use the Power You Have
We’ve covered how having Holy Spirit within us can empower us to keep standing strong for God as we gain success.
According to the NAS New Testament Greek Lexicon, another thing Holy Spirit’s power in us includes is the power and influence that belong to riches and wealth. This idea challenges the "poverty mindset" that is all too prevalent in the church, but it’s true. This power He brings us isn’t limited to only "spiritual" things!
In the corporate world for example, Holy Spirit can empower you to find creative ways to build your business, handle people and situations and build influence—not just where you live but around the world!
Why would Holy Spirit be interested in helping you to gain influence and success? Some of the people you network with in your office or area of expertise may never hear a pastor speak. But they’ll see your actions and hear your words and be influenced by your example because of the reputation you’ve gained. God works through us in creative ways!
The reward of humility and the fear of the Lord are riches, honor and life. Proverbs 22:4 (NASB)
Holy Spirit’s power within you will guide you to soar into realms of influence. He wants to help you grow and prosper in every area of life, and at the same time help you wield the power and influence that comes with every increase in position. He wants you to enjoy your success, and at the same time help you use your position to further God’s Kingdom and reach the lost.
Think Big
Whatever we put our hands to, God wants it to grow. He needs us to think bigger!
In the NAS New Testament Greek Lexicon, one of the definitions of Holy Spirit’s power in our lives is described as "power and resources arising from numbers." That means Holy Spirit’s power in us affects anything related to growth in quantity.
For example, you might have only one or two staff members in your business, but could you grow to handle ten? Fifty? A hundred? If you’re at hundreds, what about thousands?
Maybe you’ve heard the legalistic religious belief that God curbs our success at a certain point to keep us small or humble. In order to grow and surge ahead, though, we can’t hold onto this flawed thinking.
"He did all this so you would never say to yourself, 'I have achieved this wealth with my own strength and energy.'" Deuteronomy 8:17 (NLT)
There’s incredible power and influence that arises from numbers, whether it’s related to customers, buildings or finances. We actuallyhold power through the indwelling of Holy Spirit to increase numbers, and doing so can gain us influence for the Kingdom.
If the secular business world has no problem handling growth even across multiple countries, then as believers we should be all the more encouraged, realizing we have an internal source of power to help us to do the same and beyond!
Getting rid of small thinking frees us to hear from Holy Spirit as He leads us to new heights. God’s will is to do great things through us for the Kingdom. It’s part of our purpose to lead with continual increase in every area, and Holy Spirit is there to help us every step of the way.
Walk in Your Anointing
Let’s talk about the word "anointed." Maybe you’ve heard comments like, "Wow, that preacher is so anointed!" This can make us think that the word “anoint” only refers to a special gift for ministry. But the word itself simply means "to rub or smear on."
In the Old Testament, when people or items were anointed by oil, it showed that they were set apart for divine purpose. But what does it mean to be anointed for a divine purpose?
I have filled him with the Spirit of God, giving him great wisdom, ability and expertise in all kinds of crafts. He is a master craftsman, expert in working with gold, silver, and bronze. He is skilled in engraving and mounting gemstones and in carving wood. He is a master at every craft! Exodus 31:3-5 (NLT)
Exodus 31:3-5 proves this is not just talking about being called into ministry, because the person who was filled with God’s Spirit wasn’t a prophet—he was a businessman! In fact, we are all anointed under the covenant of the New Testament, because Jesus is the Anointed One and He’s in us.
This means that pastors and missionaries don’t have more anointing than any other believer. With Holy Spirit, the anointing—including the power to minister healing and to increase our finances—is equally given to all believers.
The truth is we all have various and unique gifts and abilities that Holy Spirit can use to further the Kingdom. How awesome and encouraging to know that the power given to us through Holy Spirit is for every believer, without limit, for every area of life!
Break Out of the Poverty Mindset
Do you ever struggle to enjoy the success you’ve gained?
Sometimes we can struggle with the idea of prosperity, especially if we’ve been raised on law-based religion that believes poverty is God’s plan to keep us closer to Him. It might sound godly, but these doctrines are not Biblical.
Actually, a poverty mindset can ultimately work to sabotage your God-given purpose and God’s full plan for your life.
"For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord, "They are plans for good and not disaster, to give you a future and a hope." Jeremiah 29:11 (NLT)
Think about it: what if God was calling you to raise up a brand or a business that would become so successful it would cause millions around the globe to look into your life and discover Jesus? What if He’s calling you to such financial success that you’re enabled to give millions to the ministry?
We set limits on what God wants to do with us when we sit on the chair of small thinking that comes from a poverty outlook.
The trouble with this mindset is when we experience success and the enemy shoots fiery thoughts of guilt to fuel this misbelief about prosperity, we buy into it. "God doesn’t approve. You shouldn’t make that much money." The Bible teaches us to put those darts out with the shield of faith—a shield hammered strong with a new, correct set of beliefs based on what God’s Word truly says about prosperity.
Search out the truth about prosperity in God’s Word and you’ll find that we all hold a God-given power and purpose to succeed. God has empowered you to flourish and is excited for growth and triumph in every area of your life. He is for you all the way!
Gain Knowledge
As believers, we have everything we need to build a successful life because of Jesus in us. He qualified us for every promise in the Bible, which means those promises are ours.
For example, when we're sick and we confess God’s Word over our bodies, we declare, "Body, you are healthy and whole in Jesus’ name." We aren’t lying; we’re simply speaking the truth of what we are in Him.
The trouble is, we often play the blame game when things go wrong in life, telling ourselves things like, "University is too hard for someone like me" or "The devil’s attacks are too strong for me." Thoughts like these place false limits on who we are in Christ. After all, how could the devil be too strong for us if Jesus is in us—the same Jesus who defeated the devil and now holds all authority? (See Matthew 28:18.)
My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Hosea 4:6 (KJV)
Excuses and devil-blaming stops us from taking responsibility and places us in a zone where we’re unable to change. Notice the Bible doesn’t say, "My people are destroyed because of the enemy’s attack." It actually points out the problem is a lack of knowledge.
When issues crop up with the organizations I help run, I accept responsibility because then I can begin to look for the root cause. If knowledge is what’s lacking, an achievable solution would be gaining more skills or understanding in that area.
If we pair this approach with studying God’s Word daily, nothing will stand in the way of our success. We’re able to rise up and move forward with the correct belief systems in place. It’s time we lose that old voice inside that says, "I can’t," because in Christ, we can!
Be a Giver
A few years after Sally and I were married, I was working as a paramedic while Sally stayed home with our first two kids. There wasn't much money coming in, but inside of us was a desire to give. We made a decision that even to our own disadvantage, we would continue to be generous with what we had.
Generosity can be hard. Sometimes giving hurts so much it puts a tear in your eye. But Psalm 126:5-6 promises that "those who sow in tears shall reap in joy." Of course, we are called to be wise with our resources and to look after ourselves and our families. At the same time, if we are serving Jesus, we are also called to be generous, and we can find ways (within our means) to fulfill this calling.
Those who sow in tears shall reap in joy. He who continually goes forth weeping, bearing seed for sowing, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him. Psalm 126:5–6 (NKJV)
When it's hard to give, we need to remember that we're planting seeds and looking forward to a harvest that's coming. Our generosity is equipping the saints and raising the next generation of believers to be on fire for God. There is a purpose behind what God has given us. We're blessed in order to be a blessing!
In 2 Corinthians 9:6, it says that those who plant only a few seeds will get a small crop, but those who plant generously will also reap generously. A farmer plants seed and expects a harvest. In the same way, we can give our time and resources expecting a harvest of God's goodness in our lives.
Make the decision to live generously and further God’s Kingdom! Watch and see what He will do through you.
Conclusion
You are called to the work of ministry. But what is ministry? We might think it means full-time pastors, but ministry has a broader definition. Each of us is a minister of the Gospel, and this ministry must go forth into every area of our world.
If we as believers want to influence this world, we must have amazing believers who excel in politics, business, education and the arts. But some believers get uncomfortable when we start talking about success. When there's a need, they'll say, "Just pray and God will do a miracle." Yes, God does miracles. But often, the miracle He does is to raise up people who give, serve and finance the Kingdom!
God has energized you to do something that influences the people around you to look to Jesus. Whatever field you're in, He wants you to rise up with excellence and increase in every way.
For the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ... Ephesians 4:12 (NKJV)
And there is a purpose behind your success that is bigger than you. In Luke 19:13 (KJV), Jesus tells us to occupy until He comes back. He doesn't mean for us to live mediocre lives or hide in church, scared of a big, bad world. There is a harvest to bring in—precious people who do not know how much God loves them.
The bottom line is that one hundred years from today when we're gone, someone else is going to be leading our churches and reaching the lost. Our methods of getting God's Word out may change, but the church of Jesus Christ will not be stopped. We have a responsibility to increase, succeed and pass on our faith to the next generation!
