VICTORY IN THE FINANCIAL ARENA
Recently the local news media has brought attention to the difficulty of being self-sufficient on the average wages paid in this area. This is a real dilemma for many working-class people in our area and some things can and should be done naturally. But I submit that this battle must first be fought and won in the spirit realm. This goes hand in hand with our prayers for God to bring in the finances needed at this hour to accomplish the end-time harvest.
Let’s look at Haggai 1:5-13.
“Now therefore thus says the Lord of hosts: Consider your ways and set your mind on what has come to you. You have sown much, but you have reaped little; you eat, but you do not have enough; you drink, but you do not have your fill; you clothe yourselves, but no one is warm; and he who earns wages has earned them to put them in a bag with holes in it. Thus says the Lord of hosts: Consider your ways (your previous and present conduct) and how you have fared. Go up to the hill country and bring lumber and rebuild (My) house, and I will take pleasure in it and I will be glorified, says the Lord (by accepting it as done for My glory and by displaying My glory in it). You looked for (harvest), and behold, it came to little; and even when you brought that home, I blew it away. Why? Says the Lord of hosts. Because of My house, which lies waste while you yourselves run each man to his own house (eager to build and adorn it). Therefore the heavens above you (for your sake) withhold the dew, and the earth withholds its produce. And I have called for a drought upon the land and the hill country, upon the grain, the fresh wine, the oil, upon what the ground brings forth, upon men and cattle, and upon all the (wearisome) toil of (men’s) hands. Then Zerubbabbel son of Shealtiel and Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, with all the remnant of the people (who had returned from captivity), listened to and obeyed the voice of the Lord their God (not vaguely or partly, but completely, according to) the words of Haggai the prophet, since the Lord their God had sent him, and the people (reverently) feared and (worshipfully) turned to the Lord. Then Haggai, the Lord’s messenger, spoke the Lord’s message to the people saying, I am with you, says the Lord.”
Now this passage does not say that we are not to have a home to shelter our families, but it does show that our priorities must be lined up correctly. In other words, we must put God first just as the Word instructs us. “Seek first the kingdom of God and all these things will be added to you.” Matt.6:33 How often have you felt that you were working so hard just to pay bills, yet getting farther and farther behind?
In Haggai 2:8-9 we find that,
“The silver is Mine and the gold is Mine, says the Lord of hosts. The latter glory of this house (with its successor, to which Jesus came) shall be greater than the former, says the Lord of hosts; and in this place will I give peace and prosperity, says the Lord of hosts.”
The “this place” in verse 9 is a place we need to understand. Then we will have Haggai 2:19b, “…From this day on I will bless you.” The rest of this chapter goes on to explain that we have covenant through Jesus to allow God to take us and make us God’s signet ring. This is symbolic of the authority bestowed upon us in the earth to prosper and be blessed.
“For I will restore their fortunes, and will have mercy upon them.” Jeremiah 33:26b
THIS IS WHAT THE LORD DID FOR ME!!!
God has literally dropped in my spirit a “gift” of faith for finances that has been fueled by the study of the Word concerning who we are in Christ Jesus. It is HE that teaches us to profit!
“Thus saith the Lord, thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: I am the Lord thy God, who teacheth thee to profit, who leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest go.” (Isaiah 48:17)
Twenty years ago, I experienced a devastating divorce that left me ill-prepared in the natural to support and rear three children ranging from six years of age to thirteen years of age. But the Lord God Almighty was going before me, preparing the way and bringing up my rear guard with His Glory! There were times when I actually did not have enough money to put gas in my car to attend church on Wednesday nights, if I wanted to go on Sunday. But one Sunday, as I sat playing the organ for service, a Word of the Lord came forth supernaturally that forever changed my life. The proclamation was that God was going to double the income of some sitting in that congregation, and that Word dropped into my spirit like you would open up a stocking and drop an apple in it at Christmas time. I could not explain it away; it was just there! Praise God! I did not know how God was going to do it, but HE said it so I knew He would do it because He is NOT a man that He should lie.
Not only has God performed His Word, but He has done it again, and yet again! Glory to God! Not once, not twice, but THREE times, so far!!! 1. 2. 3!
“And being fully persuaded that what He had promised, He was able also to perform.”(Romans 4:21)
And the good news is that He is not finished yet!
“Being confident of this very thing, that He who hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.” (Philippians 1:6)
“…From this day on I will bless you.” (Haggai 2:19b)
The better news is that He is not a respecter of persons; what He does for one He will do for another if we can only believe.
“…God shows no partiality and is no respecter of persons, but in every nation, he who venerates and has a reverential fear for God, treating Him with worshipful obedience and living uprightly, is acceptable to Him and sure of being received and welcomed (by Him).” (Acts 10:34-35)
“But I would ye should understand brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto (SERVED TO ADVANCE) the furtherance of the gospel.” (Philippians 1:12)
It is not about me or my prosperity, although that is what God’s plan includes for my life.
“For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11
“Beloved I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospers.” 3 John 2
The important thing is that faith be multiplied and divided (Supernatural Math 101) among believers so that we may be established in order to accomplish His Will in the earth today.
“Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may prove what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” Romans 12: 2
We all are familiar with Malachi 3:10, which instructs us to bring all the tithes into the storehouse and put the Lord to the test concerning His promise to open the windows of heaven and pour out an abundant blessing. Not only that, but HE will rebuke the devourer for our sakes when we do this. Verse 12 says that the result will be noticeable to all nations and they will call us blessed. The key to opening the door of blessing is obedience to the Word of God, and the door hinges on our attitude as we obey the Word.
“Then those who feared the Lord talked often one to another; and the Lord listened and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him of those who reverenced and worshipfully feared the Lord and who thought on His name.” Malachi 3:16
“The reward of humility and the reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord is riches and honor and life.” Proverbs 22:4
Humility Riches
Reverence Honor
Worshipful fear Life
“Do you see a man diligent and skillful in his business? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before obscure men.” Proverbs 22:29
In closing, our prayer is that,
“God will liberally supply (fill to the full) your every need according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19
This article was written in 2008 for the encouragement of believers, and is still applicable in the years to come!
By Joan Vaughn, Pearl, Mississippi
