What is The Prosperity Gospel?

What is the prosperity gospel? Why do people cringe when they hear those words? Is it because they believe that certain ministers are promoting themselves when they talk about giving offerings to their health and wealth ministry?

We are aware of many ministries that seem to do this and it is our responsibility to discern what is of God and what is not of God and give accordingly. 

More importantly, let us look at what the Word teaches us about prosperity and healing.

“If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him” Matthew 7:11.

The Prosperity Gospel

God gives us a choice of whether or not to believe His Word. He does not force it on us. If I had not believed that God would heal me against all odds, I may still be sick, or worse. I decided to study His Word regarding healing, to believe it, and to stand firm on it, despite how I was feeling.

Because of God’s finished work on the cross, you can be assured of salvation and healing. Sickness and disease are NOT from God. Jesus bore our sins, sicknesses, diseases, and infirmities and by HIS stripes we are healed. (Isaiah 53:5)

On that cross, Jesus bore the curse of poverty, guilt, and shame. This is what the Word of God claims and you can believe it or disregard it. God’s Word is yes and amen. He does not force it on us.

“For you know the grace (unmerited favor) of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes, He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich” 2 Corinthians 8:9.

This entire chapter deals with money and how to be blessed and to be a blessing to others who are in need.

The Grace Of God

As a parent, how would you teach your child character, humility, and patience? Would you make them sick? Of course not. That sounds absurd and yet some people believe that the only way to righteousness is to be poor, needy, and sick. What gospel are they reading?

When you look at yourself as a child of God and relate from that point of view, you realize how much God wants to bless you – as you want to bless your children.

God is your Father and through His undeserved and unmerited favor in our lives, we learn character, patience, and humility as stop our self-efforts and depend on Him.

The more we know Him, we more we become like Him. This is how God causes us to grow from glory to glory in every area of our lives. It is simply by recognizing who He is in our lives. (2 Corinthians 3:13)

As an earthly parent, you desire to give the best you can to your children. Your Heavenly Father wants that for you as well. As you want your children to be healthy, your Heavenly Father wants you to live in divine health.

We want our children to enjoy more than enough – just as God wants you to enjoy His supernatural provision. When you believe His Word and what He wants for you, get ready for twelve baskets full of leftovers. (John 6:13)

What Is The Secret?

God abhors sickness and He loathes poverty. He gave everything He had to annihilate sickness and poverty when He gave His Son to die for us. He placed all of humanity’s sin, including the curse of sickness and poverty on the body of His Son, Jesus Christ. All you have to do is believe it and accept it as part of your inheritance as a child of God.

Some people may say, “How I wish I could believe that but I do not feel worthy.” 

There is a secret to receiving everything from God that He desires for you and it is found in Matthew 8:10, 13.

“When Jesus heard it, He marveled, and said to those who followed, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel.’ Then Jesus said to the centurion, ‘Go your way; and as you have believed, so let it be done for you.’ And his servant was healed that same hour.”

So, what is the secret? There were two people in the Bible who Jesus said had great faith. One is the Roman Centurion who came to Jesus and said, “Lord, my servant is paralyzed and tormented.” 

Jesus responded to the centurion and said, “I will come and heal him.”

BUT – look how he responded to Jesus.

“Lord, only speak a word and my servant will be healed.” When Jesus heard that He said “I have not found such great faith – not even in Israel. Go your way and as you have believed, so let it be done for you.” And his servant was healed the same hour.

Common Denominator

The other instance in the Bible is the Syro Phoenician woman whose demon-possessed daughter was healed by Jesus in Matthew 15:21-28. Jesus said "Oh woman, great is your faith. Let it be to you as you desire." And her daughter was healed the same hour.

What is the COMMON DENOMINATOR between these two accounts? The only two places in the Bible where Jesus tells someone they have great faith?

The centurion understood authority so he understood the authority of Jesus. However, that does not apply to the woman.

BOTH OF THESE people were Gentiles. They were not Jews. Neither of them was UNDER THE LAW of Moses.

Consequently, they did not disqualify themselves because they were not under the condemnation of the law – which is the opposite of faith. 

“The law is not of faith” Galatians 3:12.

“For if those who are of the law are heirs, faith is made void and the promise made of no effect” Romans 4:14.

The law will disqualify you from receiving any blessing from the Lord. It is only by faith in His grace that qualifies you and stirs up great faith unconsciously to receive what you need from the Lord.

The secret is that the more you see Jesus in you and understand who you are because of Jesus and His finished work on the cross, the more faith arises in your heart.

God makes it simple. We tend to complicate it. We think that we have to do more to deserve God’s blessing. When, in fact, He makes it clear that He only wants to bless you, heal you, and prosper you when you believe His Word is for you.

There are PDFs on this website that give you many scriptures to meditate on that will confirm your position in Christ and what He wants to give you.

Please contact me with your testimony – I would love to read it.