"an uncommon seed for an uncommon harvest" What is the un-common seed?

[tv1a]

There has been scriptural evidence provided. I've provided a few scritpures for thought. Thanks for ignoring that fact.

It is not suprising a person doesn't get the Biblical principle of prosperity right when they misapply the Biblical principle of holiness.

Originally Posted by SISTER Murphy

Yer right, Elder, how silly I am to ask for scripture when somebody somewhere says it works! Where is my faith, anyway? Thank you, thank you so much for saving me from going down that old path of checking the Word of God.

[tv1a]

You bring up a point that most christians miss with the prosperity doctrine. Paul says to be content no matter what state we are in. That doesn't mean we accept our lot in lives as to be in that situation forever. That means we are content at that level and are working to get the next level where God wants us. I am content at the level I'm current at but there is no way I'm staying at this level. God has promised too much for me to be at this level much longer.

Originally Posted by Pressing-On

I guess I'm a little hard on the prosperity doctrine for obvious reasons.

The Lord woke me up in the middle of the night, some years ago, and told me to quit my job. I had an excellent sales job. $1,200 per month, $500 car allowance and 50% commission. I cut Him off in prayer a few times before that. Stone cold, cut it off!

Well, the whole bottom fell out for us for a number of years after I finally obeyed. We went through more church trials - Lord - and it isn't fun when you are having financial trouble too!

We gave in offerings, tithed and struggled. Sometimes it just seemed so unfair. But on my knees I was righted again!

We are not in that financial situation anymore, but it was very hard. I felt very stupid and poor having had such a nice job and home. I suppose it was a pride issue to boot.

Anyway, when I hear "prosperity doctrine" it just doesn't seem to reach out and balance the whole out. It seems to speak of financial blessing as a certainty, when I know good and well it doesn't always go that way. You can give and give and suffer and suffer and none of it makes any sense, at times.

I believe every child of God, like Joseph, will prosper in areas, but the prosperity doctrine, IMO, only embraces the guaranteed financial blessing and that is what I am against.

I was paying bills yesterday and thinking of the times when I couldn't pay them all with one check. God has been good. I learned BOTH how to be abased and how to abound.....

[tv1a]

I agree with your assessment.

Originally Posted by SISTER Murphy

Could be. I can just hear it now:

Pastor So And So, me and my husband need a little help from the church to pay our rent this month. We just felt so strong that we needed to buy one hundred MegaBucks tickets today, 'cause its 07-07-07, and somebody said 7 is God's perfect number, so that makes it really lucky, and we just were sure that we would win 'cause we prayed over those tickets (and my husband called his charismatic cousin and she said she felt a witness in the spirit, too), so we was sure we would win, and then we could bless the church with a big offering!! Well, somebody must have had doubt somewheres, 'cause we didn't win a single dollar, and we used our rent money to buy them tickets. Can you help us out?

[Pressing-On]

Originally Posted by SISTER Murphy

Could be. I can just hear it now:

Pastor So And So, me and my husband need a little help from the church to pay our rent this month. We just felt so strong that we needed to buy one hundred MegaBucks tickets today, 'cause its 07-07-07, and somebody said 7 is God's perfect number, so that makes it really lucky, and we just were sure that we would win 'cause we prayed over those tickets (and my husband called his charismatic cousin and she said she felt a witness in the spirit, too), so we was sure we would win, and then we could bless the church with a big offering!! Well, somebody must have had doubt somewheres, 'cause we didn't win a single dollar, and we used our rent money to buy them tickets. Can you help us out?

I'm sure that happens.

[Pressing-On]

Originally Posted by SISTER Murphy

Joseph had to 'let go' of his father's house? He didn't get to make the choice! Joseph had to 'let go' of success at Potiphar's house? Puleeze! That 'choice' was made for him by a wicked lying woman! Joseph had to 'let go' of the prison keys to get Pharoah's ring? Come now, what bible story book have you been reading lately? All of these things were situations in which Joseph had no control, none, zero, zip, nada.

I think tv1a's point was that Joseph was being blessed every step of the way - even in his suffering and testing. The "no weapon formed against thee shall prosper...."

My point was that I agree Joseph was being blessed, even in prison, but I don't think the typical Prosperity Doctrine teaches that. It seems to only reflect on monetary gain.

[Pressing-On]

Originally Posted by tv1a

You bring up a point that most christians miss with the prosperity doctrine. Paul says to be content no matter what state we are in. That doesn't mean we accept our lot in lives as to be in that situation forever. That means we are content at that level and are working to get the next level where God wants us. I am content at the level I'm current at but there is no way I'm staying at this level. God has promised too much for me to be at this level much longer.

Now that's bringing the discussion to the base point -

You bring up a point that most christians miss with the prosperity doctrine. Paul says to be content no matter what state we are in.

That would be my pet peeve with the whole prosperity deal.

I'm not sure I agree with the working to get to the next level because I know just being faithful brought me to that level. That's all the work I did. lol

In the middle of our financial struggle I tried to pick up some sales work along the way. Nothing would gel for me. I remember kneeling at the bed, briefcase in front of me. I said, "God, you need to open some doors for me. I'm not making this work."

He said, "You trust the world more to take care of you than you do me."

I said, "Okay. I quit."

I shut and locked the briefcase and slid it under the bed. More struggle and more trust. I didn't work on that. I had no choice, but to trust Him and be faithful.

I believe He has a divine appointment for every life and we can't look around comparing ourselves with others. We need to allow Him to work, trust Him and let Him bring us to each level. Being faithful allows it to happen.

I don't think it affects your personal financial situation whether you give money or not (at the heart of this is superstition) ... your financial success in life is because of two factors...

1. The decisions you make.

2. A bit of luck (or being in the right place at the right time). Number 1 is always important.... number 2 can positively or negatively affect a decision that was already good/bad in the first place.

[tbpew]

If authored by God, any category we prosper in pertaining to this world will be AS OUR SOUL prospers. Joseph's soul prospered and THEN his life circumstances were prospered.

Our fellowship with the giver of every good gift will establish our ability to have the wisdom and understanding to move in the ways that will prosper us.

IMO, an "uncommon seed" is all about getting the hearer to buy into the idea that if I give money to whatever the specific speaker is telling me, I will reap a harvest of the same stuff I have sown....MONEY!

We MUST KNOW the "wise builder" whose voice we are following; a man's or God's.

[Sandra]

Any financial blessings that I have received in my life has nothing to do with luck, I give all glory to God.

I'm on my way, I'm making it
I've got to make it show, yeah
so much larger than life
I'M going to watch it growing

the place where I come from is a small town
they think so small
they use small words
-but not me
I'm smarter than that
I worked it out
I've been stretching my mouth
to let those big words come right out

I've had enough, I'm getting out
to the city, the big big city
I'll be a big noise with all the big boys
there's so much stuff I will own
and I will pray to a big god
as I kneel in the big church

big time
I'm on my way-I'm making it
big time big time
I've got to make it show yeah
big time big time
so much larger than life
big time
I'm going to watch it growing
big time

my parties all have big names
and I greet them with the widest smile
tell them how my life is one big adventure
and always they're amazed
when I show them round my house, to my bed
I had it made like a mountain range
with a snow-white pillow for my big fat head
and my heaven will be a big heaven
and I will walk through the front door

big time
I'm on my way-I'm making it
big time big time
I've got to make it show-yeah
big time big time
so much larger than life
I'm going to watch it growing
big time big time
my car is getting bigger
big time
my house is getting bigger
big time
my eyes are getting bigger
big time
and my mouth
big time
my belly is getting bigger
big time
and my bank account
big time
look at my circumstance
big time
and the bulge in my big big big big big big big