I'm starting another thread because I don't want this to get lost on page 3 or 4 somewhere but it is a continuation of the ongoing conversation.
The word prosper appears 49 times in 48 verses in the KJV Bible. All but one time the word is in the Scriptures. The other in in 3rd John. I have listed definitions and a sample verse in which the word appears from the 1611 KJV.
Strongs H6743 Is the most common usage in the OT
ts�lach ts�l�ach
tsaw-lakh', tsaw-lay'-akh
A primitive root; to push forward, in various senses (literally or figuratively, transitively or intransitively): - break out, come (mightily), go over, be good, be meet, be profitable, (cause to, effect, make to, send) prosper (-ity, -ous, -ously).
Gen 39:3 And his master sawe that the LORD was with him, and that the LORD made all that he did, to prosper in his hand.
Strongs H7919
ś�kal
saw-kal'
A primitive root; to be (causeatively make or act) circumspect and hence intelligent: - consider, expert, instruct, prosper, (deal) prudent (-ly), (give) skill (-ful), have good success, teach, (have, make to) understand (-ing), wisdom, (be, behave self, consider, make) wise (-ly), guide wittingly.
Deu 29:9 Keepe therefore the wordes of this Couenant and doe them, that yee may prosper in all that ye doe
Strongs H7951
sh�l�h sh�lav
shaw-law', shaw-lav'
The second form being used in Job_3:26; a primitive root; to be tranquil, that is, secure or successful: - be happy, prosper, be in safety.
Job 3:26 I was not in safetie, neither had I rest, neither was I quiet: yet trouble came.
Job 12:6 The tabernacles of robbers prosper, and they that prouoke God are secure, into whose hand God bringeth abundantly.
Strongs H7961
sh�l�v sh�l�yv shel�v�h
shaw-lave', shaw-lave', shel-ay-vaw'
From H7951; tranquil; (in a bad sense) careless; abstractly security: - (being) at ease, peaceable, (in) prosper (-ity), quiet (-ness), wealthy.
Psa 73:12 Behold, these are the vngodly: who prosper in the world, they increase in riches.
Strongs H3787
k�sh�r
kaw-share'
A primitive root properly to be straight or right; by implication to be acceptable; also to succeed or proser: - direct, be right, prosper.
Ecc 11:6 In the morning sowe thy seede, and in the euening withhold not thine hand: for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good.
Strongs G2137
euodoō
yoo-od-o'-o
From a compound of G2095 and G3598; to help on the road, that is, (passively) succeed in reaching; figuratively to succeed in business affairs: - (have a) prosper (-ous journey).
3Jn 1:2 Beloued, I wish aboue all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, euen as thy soule prospereth.
Of all that is evident here it is evident that the Scriptures do talk about prosperity as having wealth, however there are more uses of the word than just wealth and when taken in the entirety of the usage of these words it is clear that true prosperity is not just about wealth but about safety, living without fear of reprisal, safety and success on journeys tasks and jobs.
The problem with prosperity preaching is not that they are teaching the wrong things about prosperity but that they use prosperity teaching to make themselves rich while draining the pockets of those who believe the ways they twist the truth about prosperity. Prosperity comes from God and is a promise that He will fulfill to those who are faithful to Him and not to those who give to Him. Faithfulness and obedience is what brings prosperity not filing the coffers of false teachers.
We are not told anywhere in Scripture or the NT that we are to become rich by supporting a preacher or by giving to the church or the temple. Rather we are to live quietly, be humble and obedient to the commands of God and we will then be prosperous. Any preacher/teacher that asks for donations in exchange for "gifts" is a scoundrel and thief and his days are numbered. The Lord will have His vengeance on those who prey upon the poor and ignorant and the price will be more than all the money they have horded for their own gain and glory. These men build themselves up as examples of how what they preach is true and their followers go broke trying to be as "prosperous" as their teachers, prophets and healers. All of them are fake. All of them are thieves and all of them are going to face judgement for what they do.
Mr 12:42 And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing.
Mr 12:43 And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury:
10 So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, behold, the widow woman was there gathering of sticks: and he called to her, and said, Fetch me, I pray thee, a little water in a vessel, that I may drink.
11 And as she was going to fetch it, he called to her, and said, Bring me, I pray thee, a morsel of bread in thine hand.
12 And she said, As the LORD thy God liveth, I have not a cake, but an handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse: and, behold, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die.
13 And Elijah said unto her, Fear not; go and do as thou hast said: but make me thereof a little cake first, and bring it unto me, and after make for thee and for thy son.
14 For thus saith the LORD God of Israel, The barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day that the LORD sendeth rain upon the earth.
15 And she went and did according to the saying of Elijah: and she, and he, and her house, did eat many days.
16 And the barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse of oil fail, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake by Elijah.
17 � And it came to pass after these things, that the son of the woman, the mistress of the house, fell sick; and his sickness was so sore, that there was no breath left in him.
18 And she said unto Elijah, What have I to do with thee, O thou man of God? art thou come unto me to call my sin to remembrance, and to slay my son?
19 And he said unto her, Give me thy son. And he took him out of her bosom, and carried him up into a loft, where he abode, and laid him upon his own bed.
20 And he cried unto the LORD, and said, O LORD my God, hast thou also brought evil upon the widow with whom I sojourn, by slaying her son?
21 And he stretched himself upon the child three times, and cried unto the LORD, and said, O LORD my God, I pray thee, let this child�s soul come into him again.
22 And the LORD heard the voice of Elijah; and the soul of the child came into him again, and he revived.
23 And Elijah took the child, and brought him down out of the chamber into the house, and delivered him unto his mother: and Elijah said,
Thank you for an intelligent response to the word "prosperity."
The hyper-faith beggars build a doctrine around it for their own gain and that is theft. God will deal with each and every one of them. It's already begun.
Along with preaching it for their own gain, they define it within their perimeters. Can you imagine them preaching to a barn full of joyful third world Christians about wealth? The same people that risk their lives to read a bible or walk miles to worship could preach circles around these wanna-bees.
One African evangelist said it like this, "American pastors preach that you will gain wealth and health if you come to Christ and we preach that you may lose it all if you come to Christ."
I feel quite "wealthy" when I have a roof over my head, healthy food on my table, good running car, nice clothes, bills paid and enough to give to others. What would I do with 6 digit paychecks? Hopefully, put it to a million good works for the sake of Christ, over getting another vacation house or gold toilets and Benzs for my spouse and me.
"Give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me: Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the Lord! or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain." Proverbs 30:8
GREAT POST, Thunder!! Aren't you guys glad I asked who TD Jakes is? Look at all these awesome threads!! It's also interesting watching people on this forum defending those jerks. Lol
How does the soul prosper? I believe our soul is who we are. The Bible says that life, (literally, the soul, is in the blood). I think of our souls as what makes us who we are, in a way it could be our DNA, what makes us and keeps us alive, or the life that is in us. It is the heart according to some.
When we think about all the things we do from the heart it is very likely that it is the Spirit of God that gives us inspiration and life. From a spiritual perspective our soul is free of fear and able to live an abundant life therefore it is prosperous.
