Can you see that?

I hear many critical comments about “those” preachers who talk about prosperity, and health, and the good life. Fortunately, I don’t just hear about the preachers of prosperity and health and the good life. I sit under one of them in my spiritual walk. Twice a week I hear about the good life from my pastor.

I have sat under other good ministers and still listen to other ministers. However, God Himself said that He put the “five fold ministry” in the church to equip the congregations to do the work of the ministry, so my pastor is the one who is consistently opening the Word of God and teaching me, instructing me, equipping me. I am where I am supposed to be, to hear what I need to hear, to be who He made me to be, so I can do what He planned for me to do.

If we were at a cozy booth in a restaurant where conversation flows freely, I would welcome you to question me about the “prosperity gospel”. Ask me why I believe that God wants the best for me and how I can refuse to blame God for a circumstance in my life. (Because God is not a control freak, and we live in a fallen world) Ask me if I really believe all that I hear about God and I would ask you some questions, if I may.

When you read the Bible, do you picture the words as truth? When you read where Jesus said, “…But I have come that they may have life, and that more abundantly”, can you envision that as truth in your life? What would that change if it is Truth? Let yourself be in awe as you consider what would happen if that promise of abundance is true. If you are looking at an unpaid bill or a sick child, do you still believe that Jesus was telling the truth?

When you hear a preacher reading out of the Bible that you will ‘have what you say’, do you take that scripture and roll it around in your mind and say, “Wow, I need to believe that and change what I say” and begin to expect what will happen when you change what you say, or do you roll your eyes and say, “That makes me mad when preachers tell people stuff like that”?

Really consider this: The preachers aren’t just saying that. They are reading from the Word of God. The prosperity gospel isn’t a “religious movement”. The prosperity gospel is the Word of God, including His promises. The life of Jesus on the earth demonstrated the heart and intentions of the Father. Jesus healed, He loved, He fed, He taught. Because God wants us to have relationship with Him, He sent His Son to show us who the Father is. Then He gave His Son, through a violent beating and crucifixion, as a ransom, a redemption for us. Our creator became our Deliverer.

The real question that determines the answer to all the rest of the questions is…Do we believe the Bible is what God said, and still says, (since He cannot lie and does not change His mind), or will we believe our experiences or those things we’ve seen that aren’t lining up with what God has promised and planned for us?

Can you see the Word is still Truth even when you don’t “see” it in front of you? Ask God to open your understanding to the absoluteness of His word, even when you don’t see how it can happen. The One who said, “Light, be” in a chaotic dark hemisphere is the One who worked in that light until He created the sun a few days later. God accomplishes His word even when logic says, “How could He do that?”

He is God. Never created, always existent, answerable to Himself, and committed to you and me. Power wrapped in love. Jesus is our creator and our Redeemer. He is Deliverer from whatever has us bound. He is the One who defeated the curse of disobedience to the Law. He is the One who shatters barriers and breathes life into dreams. Dream bigger. Dream again. Dream even when the rest of dreams have died. There is no obstacle too big for God.

God’s Word can change a circumstance if you can see it…and say it. Remind Him. “God, Your word said …” and begin to believe what He said. He will do it. He hasn’t forgotten what He said, but only you and I can activate it when we ask. God doesn’t force Himself or His Word on us. It’s our choice to move forward in His promises. Ask. Seek. Speak.

He preserved the Bible (His words, His intentions, His accomplishments) for generations. For your generation and mine., so we can read it and speak it. So we can live it. When it comes to seeing that possibility go from the pages of His Word into your situation, may understanding be our light.

“Light, be”.