2 Simple Keys to Prosperity

• GIVE ATTENTION TO GOD’S WORD

Proverbs 4:20-22 My son, ATTEND to my words; INCLINE thine ear unto my sayings.21 Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart.22 For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.

This is a sure advice from a loving Father to His son. God is instructing you to pay diligent attention to His word for they are life to you and health to all your flesh. It is disheartening to know that the word of God is not a top priority to a lot of God’s people around the world. Paying diligent attention to God’s word is a great key to a life of prosperity. It is high time you start giving attention to God’s word. The value you place on God’s word will determine the impact He will make on your life.

There are believers who don’t mind missing a church service for a Man Utd versus Chelsea match – watching those who are being paid highly and not receiving anything. Also, there are those who spent countless hours on television watching things that don’t edify. You cannot spend a great deal of time watching these things and expect to live a life of prosperity – prosperity is for the diligent. These things are not bad; but the moment they start taking the place of God’s word in your life then something is definitely wrong and has to be checked. The devil has succeeded in side tracking a lot of folks from God’s word by engaging them in unnecessary ventures with no profit.

Jesus commended Mary for sitting at His feet listening to His gracious words. Martha was busy preparing food for the Master; but Jesus delighted in Mary receiving from His fullness than the meal Martha was preparing. Martha is a vivid picture of a lot of believers in the church today who are so engaged in the service of God and have no time for the word. They go to church and participate in all manner of activities but the word.

I believe Pastors of large churches should have special times ministering the word to their workers especially ushers, security workers, and traffic and crowd control. These are people who seldom receive anything when they go to church – they are always outside the church building or busy helping someone. Alternatively, they can rotate in shifts and turns where they are made to participate in church services to enjoy the richness of God’s word and the anointing present to bless and rejuvenate God’s people – they are first God’s children before anything – they need to hear their Father’s voice. All service for God with no quality time spent with Him in His word and prayer is in vain.

God desires fellowship more than service. Those who have great relationship with God through fellowship end up serving the most and also position them at the right place at the right time. I am not against service for God; I encourage saints to find something to do in God’s house – but no service, not even preaching the gospel can substitute spending time with God. Even if you are a Pastor and you don’t spend adequate time with the Holy Spirit in prayer and the word, very soon you will run out of messages, fuel, power and the end result is crashing and preaching out-dated and uninspiring messages. Pay diligent attention to God’s word today!

• HEARING THE WORD

Romans 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Throughout the gospels, all the people that came to Jesus to be ministered to were required to express their faith in the Master. We were told they came to HEAR and to be HEALED of their infirmities (Luke k 5:15). In order to receive from God we need to come on the basis of faith; and faith comes only by hearing the word of God. Although God is not moved by faith but by grace, you can only receive from Him by faith.

God is moved by grace while we are moved by faith for God so loved the world and He gave His Son (John 3:16). Since we can only receive by faith and faith comes by hearing the word, then we need to give diligent attention to the hearing of the word – hearing in this context involves a continuous hearing for faith to be built up for the miraculous.

In the book of Acts 14:6-10, the story was told of an impotent man in the city of Lystra who heard Paul preached. I understand that this man did not hear Paul one time but continuous. On one of this occasion of hearing, his faith came alive so strong that Paul could even perceive it and said to him in a loud voice, Stand upright on your feet; and he leaped and walked. The man disobeyed Paul – instead of walking he leaped.

This is the power of hearing the word – cultivate the habit of hearing the word daily. In this fast paced technological world, take advantage of the moment and get the word on every format so that any where you are you can access the word on the go. Electronic bibles, iPods, laptops, books are all instruments for carrying the word with you. I cannot overemphasize the importance of hearing the word.

Deuteronomy 28:1 And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt HEARKEN DILIGENTLY unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the LORD thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth:

In this scripture the Hebrew word (Shama) for “diligently” is the same for “hearken” and it means hearing intelligently (Strong’s Concordance). Hence, it is rendered “hearken hearken”. The word appearing twice connotes the importance of hearing God’s word. Isaiah 34:1 says” Come near, ye nations, to hear; and hearken, ye people: let the earth hear, and all that is therein; the world, and all things that come forth of it”. The Hebrew words for hear and hearken in this scripture are shama and qashab. Both of them imply hearing; the two of them appearing in the same verse of scripture also stresses the importance of hearing. God is calling men to draw closer to hear what He has to say. I believe God deserves our hearing because He has something important to say to us for our benefit. Pastor Chris Oyakhilome use to say humorously, listen, listen, pay close attention for God has something to say.

Isaiah 48:18 O that thou hadst hearkened to my commandments! then had thy peace been as a river, and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea:

This is God lamenting for His children. Notice the word beginning the sentence. It is an exclamation expressing a feeling that deserves attention and hearing. The word “peace” is from the Hebrew word “Shalom” which means prosperity, wholeness, completeness and peace. God is saying only if you had hearkened to me your prosperity would have been like a river. A river flows – here it speaks of endless flow of prosperity as you give heed to God’s word. Isaiah

Psalms 81:13-16 says ”Oh that my people had hearkened unto me, and Israel had walked in my ways! 14 I should soon have subdued their enemies, and turned my hand against their adversaries. 15 The haters of the LORD should have submitted themselves unto him: but their time should have endured forever. 16 He should have fed them also with the finest of the wheat: and with honey out of the rock should I have satisfied thee”

You have gone your own way for too long; it is time to turn back and hear the word of His grace like never before. Any opportunity you get to hear the word is an opportunity to be improved. Hearing in this context of discourse is not a one time affair but every day. So don’t tell me I heard the word and nothing happened. Go back and hear until something happens – until that keep on hearing. We live in a world full of distractions – so many things calling for your attention. You have to discipline yourself to hearing God’s word. The things that belong to your peace are hidden in the word. Embark on a diligent search and you will definitely hit the gold. Hearing the word continuously is your key to a life of prosperity.

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