The Dead Know Nothing Where They Are - Message 3 - The God of the Living and True Prosperity
The primary focus of this episode is the profound understanding that true prosperity emanates from a life rooted in resurrection, rather than the remnants of death. We have previously ceased our consultations with the graveyard and relinquished our attachments to that which is dead. It is imperative to recognize that God has not summoned us from death to live in a state of half-life; rather, we are called to embody resurrection living and to embrace genuine prosperity devoid of hidden costs. Throughout this discourse, we shall explore the necessity of removing the barriers that impede our spiritual growth, shedding the grave clothes that signify our past, and stepping into a life characterized by peace, wisdom, and divine favor. Ultimately, we are encouraged to choose life, as we endeavor to walk in the fullness of God’s promises without compromise. In the poignant exploration of resurrection living and genuine prosperity, the message elucidates the necessity of moving beyond the confines of death and embracing the fullness of life that God offers. The discourse draws heavily from the narrative of Lazarus, illustrating that while resurrection is a divine gift, the responsibility to embrace the ensuing freedom lies with the individual. The speaker emphasizes the imperative of removing obstacles—symbolized by the stone at Lazarus's tomb—that hinder spiritual progress. Additionally, the act of shedding grave clothes is portrayed as crucial for believers who often remain ensnared by past identities and emotional burdens. The episode ultimately delineates true prosperity as a holistic expansion of peace, wisdom, and generosity, contrasting it starkly with a superficial semblance of wealth that lacks life and vitality. The exhortation to choose life, holiness, and obedience resonates as a clarion call for listeners to abandon any lingering attachments to death and to fully step into the abundant life promised by God, thus redefining prosperity in a manner that is both spiritually enriching and practically transformative.
Takeaways:
- True prosperity is contingent upon the health of one's soul, reflecting a holistic well-being.
- Resurrection living necessitates the removal of stones, symbolizing compromise and dead attachments.
- To experience genuine freedom, one must actively discard grave clothes that signify past bondage.
- God's blessings do not bring sorrow, and true prosperity fosters peace and stability, not anxiety.
Transcript
Welcome back, brothers and sisters, to the series.
Speaker A:The dead know nothing where they are.
Speaker A:Let the dead bury their dead.
Speaker A:In our third message, the God of the living and true prosperity.
Speaker A:We've done two things already in the series.
Speaker A:We stopped consulting the graveyard.
Speaker A:We stopped delaying obedience with dead attachments.
Speaker A:And now, today, we end this properly.
Speaker A:Because God didn't call you out of death so you can live half alive.
Speaker A:We're talking about resurrection, living and true prosperity, the kind that doesn't come with a hidden invoice.
Speaker A: Mark: Speaker A:You are therefore greatly mistaken.
Speaker A:Jesus said, you are mistaken.
Speaker A:Meaning if you relate God to God like he's a manager of the dead, you don't understand Him.
Speaker A:God is not the caretaker of graves.
Speaker A:He is the Father of life.
Speaker A:Say this with me.
Speaker A:My God is the God of the living.
Speaker A:My God is the God of the living.
Speaker A:Let's go to John, chapter 11.
Speaker A:Lazarus is dead four days.
Speaker A:Not sleeping, not recovering dead.
Speaker A:Jesus shows up late on purpose.
Speaker A:And when he arrives, Martha starts preaching to Jesus.
Speaker A:Lord, if you had been here, you know that if you had sermon.
Speaker A:Jesus doesn't argue with her pain.
Speaker A:He redirects her faith.
Speaker A:Then Jesus goes to the tomb and he asks and he gives two commands that will change your life.
Speaker A:Take away the stone, Lazarus, come out.
Speaker A:And when Lazarus comes out, Jesus says, loose him and let him go.
Speaker A:Now listen, this is the whole message.
Speaker A:Some people want resurrection, but they don't remove the stone.
Speaker A:Some people come out, but they're still wrapped in grave clothes.
Speaker A:Resurrection is a gift.
Speaker A:Freedom is a responsibility.
Speaker A:Prosperity flows from life, not death.
Speaker A:3 John 1:2 says, Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as long as your soul prospers.
Speaker A:Notice the order.
Speaker A:Prosperity follows soul health.
Speaker A:If your soul is stuck in death, dead mindsets, dead attachments, dead fears.
Speaker A:Your money can increase, but your life will still shrink.
Speaker A:Because there's a difference between having funds and having favor.
Speaker A:True prosperity is life expanding.
Speaker A:Peace expands, wisdom expands, stability expands, authority expands, fruitfulness expands and generosity expands.
Speaker A:If the money grows but the peace dies, that's not prosperity.
Speaker A:That's pressure.
Speaker A:And some of us are calling pressure a blessing.
Speaker A:No, God adds no sorrow to his blessing.
Speaker A: As we know about in Proverbs: Speaker A:Remove the stone and close the door completely.
Speaker A:Jesus said, take away the stone.
Speaker A:The stone represents access.
Speaker A:The stone represents the doorway.
Speaker A:Some of you keep a stone in place because you want options.
Speaker A:You want God, but.
Speaker A:But you also Want a backup plan?
Speaker A:You want Christ, but you also want to keep a small cultural altar, just in case.
Speaker A:You want deliverance, but you keep the number saved.
Speaker A:You keep the charm, you keep the object.
Speaker A:You keep the habit.
Speaker A:You keep the secret.
Speaker A:Take away the stone.
Speaker A:Say no more.
Speaker A:Open doors.
Speaker A:Again, no more open doors.
Speaker A:Second Corinthians 7:11 says, we cleanse ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit.
Speaker A:Meaning if it contaminates your spirit, it cannot stay in your house.
Speaker A:Deliverance with souvenirs becomes bondage again.
Speaker A:Take off the grave clothes, you are alive.
Speaker A:Act like it.
Speaker A:Lazarus came out alive, but he still looked like death.
Speaker A:That's many believers.
Speaker A:Saved but still bound, blessed but still bitter.
Speaker A:Anointed but still addicted to the past.
Speaker A:Grave clothes include shame, nostalgia, fear, condemnation, unhealthy soul ties, obsessive replay dead identities.
Speaker A:And this is just how our family is told.
Speaker A:Jesus said, loose him, meaning resurrection life must be maintained with daily choices.
Speaker A:Ephesians 4:22 24 says, Put off the old self, be made new, put on the new self.
Speaker A:You can't wear grave clothes and expect kingdom fruit.
Speaker A:Let's look at true prosperity versus false prosperity.
Speaker A:Let's draw the line.
Speaker A:False prosperity is fast but anxious, shiny but secretive.
Speaker A:It increases money but decreases peace.
Speaker A:Demands compromise and creates bondage.
Speaker A:Has a collection date and that is no good.
Speaker A:True biblical prosperity is steady and covenant based.
Speaker A:It produces peace, it increases wisdom, it increases generosity.
Speaker A:Doesn't require hiding, doesn't require fear, doesn't require mixture.
Speaker A:God can prosper you so cleanly that even your enemies can't explain it.
Speaker A:That's Deuteronomy 28 type blessing.
Speaker A:That's overtake you blessing not.
Speaker A:I hope nobody finds out how I got it Blessing.
Speaker A:If you have to hide it, God didn't write it.
Speaker A:Assignment creates legacy, not shrines.
Speaker A:Now listen, this series is called Let the dead bury their dead.
Speaker A:Why?
Speaker A:Because the kingdom honors assignments, not shrines.
Speaker A:Moses died and God buried him in Deuteronomy 34.
Speaker A:6, God didn't allow Israel to turn Moses into a monument.
Speaker A:Why?
Speaker A:Because God wanted them to follow his presence, not worship a pastor leader.
Speaker A:And when Jesus was transfigured, Peter wanted to build three shelters.
Speaker A:One for Jesus, Moses and Elijah.
Speaker A:And God interrupted him.
Speaker A:Matthew 17, 5 says, this is my beloved Son.
Speaker A:Hear him Stop building tents for what God used in the past.
Speaker A:Hear Jesus say this, I will obey my assignment.
Speaker A:Again, I will obey my assignment.
Speaker A:Because assignments fulfilled in humility produce Heaven's remembrance.
Speaker A:Let's go to a practical close for five steps to walk in resurrection prosperity Step one.
Speaker A:Remove the stone.
Speaker A:Cut access to compromise completely.
Speaker A:Two, burn the bridges.
Speaker A:Stop leaving roots back to the graveyard.
Speaker A:Step three, Replace the habit.
Speaker A:Word.
Speaker A:Prayer, fellowship and accountability.
Speaker A:Step four, bless your house.
Speaker A:Pray over your home, your marriage and your children.
Speaker A:Children.
Speaker A:Step 5.
Speaker A:Build through obedience, stewardship, diligence, generosity and integrity.
Speaker A:God finds purity with power.
Speaker A:Now somebody listening.
Speaker A:Is half out of the tomb.
Speaker A:You're alive, but you still smell like death.
Speaker A:God is not condemning you.
Speaker A:He is calling you.
Speaker A:But don't mistake patience for permission.
Speaker A:Choose life.
Speaker A:Choose holiness.
Speaker A:Choose obedience.
Speaker A: Deuteronomy: Speaker A:I have set before you life and death.
Speaker A:Now choose life.
Speaker A:Choose life.
Speaker A:Here are some questions for reflection.
Speaker A:Ask yourself, what stone have I refused to move?
Speaker A:What grave clothes am I still wearing?
Speaker A:Is my prosperity producing peace or producing fear?
Speaker A:And what assignment am I delaying?
Speaker A:Because I'm still attached to the past.
Speaker A:Let us pray.
Speaker A:Father, in the name of Jesus, you are the God of the living.
Speaker A:I renounce every dead attachment.
Speaker A:I renounce every hidden altar.
Speaker A:I renounce every compromise and every open door.
Speaker A:I ask you, remove every stone I've kept in place.
Speaker A:Call me fully out and help me to take off every grave cloth.
Speaker A:Shame, fear, nostalgia and condemnation.
Speaker A:Prosper my soul.
Speaker A:Prosper my house, Prosper my work.
Speaker A:Prosper my marriage, Prosper my legacy cleanly, covenantly and completely.
Speaker A:Let my prosperity be a witness, not a warning.
Speaker A:Let my life be proof that Jesus saves, delivers and establishes.
Speaker A:I choose life.
Speaker A:I choose obedience.
Speaker A:I choose Christ alone.
Speaker A:In Jesus mighty name, Amen.
Speaker A:You are not alone.
Speaker A:And you are not the God of the dead.
Speaker A:God.
Speaker A:You are the God of the living.
Speaker A:So today we leave the tomb, we leave the graveyard.
Speaker A:We remove the stone, we take off the grave clothes and we walk in true prosperity without compromise.
