Mike Wilkins Ministries

2 CORINTHIANS 8:9 NKJ 9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.

Most people know that Jesus became poor. They just don’t know why.

Some people may tell you this verse refers only to being made “spiritually rich.” Don’t fall for that. Look at the context and you will see it is discussing money.

“Then why aren’t Christians rich?”

The main reason is because of a lack of teaching on this subject. Everything we receive from God must be received by faith. If we don’t believe it, we won’t receive it.

(Jesus died so that everyone could be saved. However, until people hear the message and believe it, they continue lost in their sins. Yet the price has already been paid by Jesus for their freedom.)

Instead of teaching that prosperity is a blessing available to believers, most churches have taught the opposite — that it was the will of God for us to be poor.

What we need is to hear preaching and teaching about it being God’s will for us to prosper. We need to continue in the Word on that subject, to be set free in that area of life.

I am NOT saying being prosperous makes you a better person, or that it is a sign of great faith. I AM saying that poverty and lack is part of the curse — which Jesus redeemed us from.

God’s prosperity is a growing thing that will not destroy you, unlike winning the lottery, or other get-rich-quick schemes. Time and continued obedience to God are required.

But the fact remains, according to Scripture, Jesus became poor to set you free from poverty — to make you rich.

MATTHEW 9:29 NKJ 29 Then He touched their eyes, saying, “According to your faith let it be to you.”

Have you ever wondered why God blessed someone — when it was obvious they did not deserve it?

Do you wonder why you are not more blessed — even though you are doing your best to be a good Christian?

The answer is faith.

We do not receive from God based on what we deserve, but on what we believe.

GALATIANS 3:9 ICB 9 Abraham believed this, and because he believed, he was blessed. It is the same today. All who believe today are blessed just as Abraham was blessed.

Our receiving from God is not based on our works, but on God’s grace. We have access to God’s grace by our faith — not through our merit.

ROMANS 5:2 NKJ 2 through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand . . . .

Many try to earn something from God when He has already given us all things through Christ. Now by faith we must appropriate what God has provided.

Don’t despair if your faith is not too strong. The cure for weak faith is to feed on the Word of God, the Bible.

ROMANS 10:17 NKJ 17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

If you feed your heart and mind the Word of God, your faith will grow strong. You feed it in by reading it, hearing it, speaking it, and meditating on it.

JAMES 1:2-4 NIV 2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4 Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

Why are prayers not all answered instantly? Why don’t we always experience the blessings promised in the Bible immediately?

If all results were instant, we could never walk in faith. Without faith, we could never please God. (Hebrews 11:6)

If you always reaped the harvest of your deeds immediately, the incentive to do right and refrain from wrongdoing would only be selfish. No faith, or love for God, would be required.

During delays we have opportunity to demonstrate whether we really love God, and trust Him, or not.

A delay is a test. Without testing, there could be no reward. God does not test us so that we can fail, but so that we can overcome. He believes we will make it with His help.

We desire an instant manifestation of victory. God’s desire is for us to press into Him and His Word and walk in faith until we see victory.

To overcome there must be opposition and struggle. God cannot always shield us from problems without taking away from us the privilege of overcoming.

Victory is sweet. What makes it sweet is that it is not easy.

If we really trust God, time is not a problem. Leave that with God. His timing is perfect and He is dependable! We know He promised, and can never fail — and that is enough.

JAMES 1:19 NIV 19 My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry,

How many times have you said something and later regretted it?

Too often we practice: Speak now and think later.

What would happen if you silently consulted with God before speaking? If you thought about, and prayed about, everything you said — before you said it — your life would be different.

1 PETER 3:10 LB 10 If you want a happy, good life, keep control of your tongue, and guard your lips from telling lies.

Words are powerful and should be used to accomplish a purpose. Don’t just talk for no reason.

PROVERBS 17:28 NIV 28 Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent, and discerning if he holds his tongue.

Remember, you can always learn more by listening than you can by talking.

Be slow to speak!

JOHN 14:26 NASB 26 “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.

What a wonderful, patient teacher the Holy Spirit is!

This teacher has no limits. He never has to call on anyone else for an answer. He knows everything.

Whatever you are doing, He can help you — and teach you how to do it better. Just ask.

Jesus said it, “He will teach you all things.”

I love the story of George Washington Carver, who asked God to teach him about the peanut — then changed our world with the knowledge he gained of the peanut.

Do not hesitate to ask God to teach you about even the smallest things. He understands every detail and is never too busy for you.

From child raising to atomic science — He is the most knowledgable and capable teacher.

And the Holy Spirit is always available! No need to wait for office hours to call on this professor. Call on Him anytime.

ROMANS 6:23 ICB 23 When someone sins, he earns what sin pays–death. But God gives us a free gift–life forever in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Sin is a teacher whose lessons are hard and painful.

You can’t keep your hand in fire without being burned. And you can’t sin without hurting people.

Sin harms humans. That’s why God classifies it as sin. All sin hurts someone. The reason God is against sin is because He is for people.

Because sin has consequences, it eventually will convince you of the error of sinning — if you live long enough. But why ruin your life finding out what you can know now just by reading the Bible?

God is not a killjoy. His purpose is not to keep the human race from enjoying life.

All that God has written in the Bible is for our benefit. God already knows everything. He gave us the Bible so we could know the truth.

The truth is: sin is bad. Sin hurts.

PHILIPPIANS 4:4 NIV 4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!

No matter how bad things are around you, you can always rejoice in the Lord.

God is good — even when circumstances are bad.

You can look beyond the temporary problems of life and focus on the Eternal God and His goodness. You can rejoice that God loves you and that you have a home in Heaven.

If you only rejoice when you feel like it — and circumstances warrant it — you may never rejoice much. But you will miss a lot of joy. For when you rejoice in the Lord and focus on Him, joy begins to flow out of your inner being and strengthens you.

This is God’s answer for depression. Focus on God. Rejoice in Him, and receive the spiritual strength you need to carry on in victory.

HABAKKUK 3:18 NIV 18 yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior.

“Yet I WILL.” Whenever you decide to, you can rejoice. In spite of feelings and circumstances, you can choose to rejoice.

Rejoicing is subject to your will — not your circumstances.

When can you rejoice? When should you rejoice?

1 THESSALONIANS 5:16 NASB 16 Rejoice always;

LUKE 12:7 ICB 7 Yes, God even knows how many hairs you have on your head. Don’t be afraid. You are worth much more than many sparrows.

Jesus gave us some insight on how much God is interested in us as humans. God provides for sparrows, and you are MUCH more valuable to God than any sparrow. Valuable enough to monitor every detail about you — even your current hair-count.

However God obtains your current hair-count — He does know it. “Why would God waste His time with such useless information?” you may wonder. The point, which so many miss, is simply that God is interested in every detail of your life. Everything.

Nothing concerning you is too small to bother God. You are the “apple of His eye” just as any young child is the delight of a good parent.

So don’t try to hide from God. Don’t shut Him out of your life. Involve Him in every detail of your day. Talk things over with Him. Ask His advice. Tell Him what you think, and ask for His opinion.

And do not fear. The God Who loves you enough to monitor your current hair count will never forsake you or fail you. When you are face-to-face with Him you will see that fully and clearly. So walk in faith today. Trust God. He loves you.

Also, be thankful for whatever hair you do or do not have! God made you unique. If He wanted you different — He would have made you different!

2 TIMOTHY 1:9 NKJ 9 who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began,

You have a purpose in life, a job to do, a mission to fulfill.

You are here for a reason.

What is it?

Ask God. He knows.

EPHESIANS 1:11 NIV 11 In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will,

Of course, I can only answer that question in general terms.

If you are a parent, raising your child is important. Helping a friend is important. You never know how your actions may affect the world — even through helping just one person.

Don’t just wait around for some “big purpose” — for with God all the details are important — even the “small” ones.

If you don’t know your purpose, just do whatever you can to help the people around you. Through that, and walking with God, you will accomplish your purpose.

PHILIPPIANS 3:14 KJV 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

What will really matter at the end of your life on earth?

Will what you are giving attention to now still be important then?

Or, will you be filled with regret for what you did — or didn’t do?

Distractions abound. TV, phone calls, web sites, books, movies.

It might be a good idea to stop and evaluate how you are investing your time.

1 CORINTHIANS 9:24 NIV 24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.

Run to win. Win what?

The true prize is to know God intimately and be His friend.

2 CORINTHIANS 4:18 NIV 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

One day, possibly soon, you will stand before God. Why not order your life now based on that “final reckoning?”

A wise person would not invest everything in something temporary. A wise person invests in something that will last.

Invest your life wisely!