Sr. Pastor-Teacher: Rev. Mark A. Cain 

Series:      SPIRITUAL CROSSTRAINING   

LESSON 2 of 4:                                                                CROSSTRAINING IS REQUIRED FOR PROSPERITY TESTING

TEXT: Psalm 119:1-8

Principles to Consider In Prosperity Testing

 1. Prosperity testing is more dangerous than disaster testing because it is much more subtle. Very few Christians pass this test, i.e. prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32).

2. Whether it is national or personal, prosperity tends to blind the believer to the source of his blessings and the importance of Bible doctrine, i.e. Laodicea (Rev. 3:14-22).

3. God's objective is to bless the believer on earth with spiritual, temporal, social, historical and even dying blessings "exceedingly abundantly beyond all that we ask or think" (Eph. 3:20). These blessings are in store, but require capacity in your soul.

4. This capacity is acquired by the daily intake of Bible doctrine in your soul as you relate your purpose in life to the Cross of Christ. As you mature in the Word you develop the capacity for life, for love, for happiness and do not let temporal blessings distract you (Prov. 8:32-36; Heb. 5:14).

5. Beware that no matter what your particular blessings may be, that prosperity becomes a test of your capacity (Psalm 37:4-5; Matt. 6:33; 1 Cor. 10:13).

6. If you neglect Bible doctrine, that is all that is necessary for your capacity to evaporate and what was meant to be a blessing becomes a cursing to you (Jer. 2:13; 7:5-6).

7. When your daily worship and fellowship with God through study and application of the Word is neglected or forgotten, then whatever overt prosperity you may still possess becomes ritual without reality (Malachi 1:6-9).

8. Your genuine happiness and prosperity will flow from the maintenance of your social life with God through habitual fellowship. This can only be achieved by moving from the page to the Person of Christ, from the written to the Living Word (Js. 4:8, 10).

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