 Hello, everyone. Welcome to today's session. Thank you for joining in. Today we'll continue from where we left off, but before that we will pray. Yeah, let's pray and continue. Father, we thank you for the session. Father, we pray for your plans and purposes to be made possible in our lives. Lord, thank you that you're the God who leads us from impossibilities into possibilities. Yes, Master, we thank you that with you all things are possible. Lord, every hindrance, every stronghold. Yes, Lord, we thank you that they come down in your matchless name. We thank you for leading us, Lord, into freedom progressively, Lord, even as you pursue you whose truth itself, Lord. And so we commit ourselves, we submit ourselves into your mighty hands. We commit the session into your mighty hands. We pray, Lord, even as we look into the truth of your word, I pray that your truth will set us free to be who we need to be, God, to be who you've called us to be. Yes, Father, God, we thank you. We give you all the praise and all the glory in Jesus' matchless name. We pray. Amen. Amen. Yeah, let me just share the notes and then we'll continue with where we left off. Excuse me. So, yeah, so last session, yeah, I think the notes are just coming up. So last session, we've been looking at prosperity within studying the whole topic of prosperity and just to reiterate causes to remember, we've been seeing that prosperity is something which includes God. Prosperity is something that comes from Him. So when we looked at the definition of the word prosperity itself, we looked at it this way. We saw that it is divinely enabled, divinely enabled success or growth or increase by divinely appointed means for divinely appointed purposes. So which means that it's divinely appointed, divinely inspired right from the beginning till the end, right through initiated by God as we willingly submit to Him. So we see that God is in this, God is part and parcel of this aspect of this whole thing of prosperity. God is part of it. It's not something which is apart from God that we're talking about. God is very much, God is very much part of it. It's initiated by Him. It is inspired by Him. He brings it to fruitfulness by His means and method. So from God's side, we've been seeing that He is for this. Like He's not against this. He is for this. He does not want to withhold anything, any good from us. And we've been studying the nature of God, the character of God, and we've seen that it is God's heart to prosper His people. And it gives Him great pleasure to see the prosperity of the sermons and so on. So, and in fact, one of the covenant names of God is this, that He is Jehovah Jaira, is Yahweh Irei, which means He's a provider, like the God who provides, the one who provides. So this is God's heart. So we need to be strong in this. We need to be rooted in this. And we've seen that God is who He said He is. So God is for this. So if God is for prosperity in a person's life, and again, just want to say that prosperity is not just finances, but it includes everything else. It means you're thriving. It means you're flourishing. It means you're growing. It means that you are successful. So if God is for prosperity in a person's life, and if His heart is to bring that into a person's life, then what is stopping me? What is stopping us? So last class, we looked at some of the hindrances, some of the things that come as barriers between us and God when it comes to prosperity. So one of the first things that we looked at was wrong motivation. If there's wrong motivation, if my motive, if my reason for prosperity, for me desiring prosperity, it is wrong motive, then that becomes a hindrance. We looked at James chapter four, which talks about, if there is lusting, if there is greed, if there is covetousness, and all that you do not have, if all this is there in your life, and despite all this, if you go ahead and ask further, you don't receive it because you're asking a miss, which means that there is a wrong motive. Why? What is this asking a miss that you might spend it on your pleasures? That it's only for your selfish use. Now, we know that God is not against us enjoying wealth. We see 1st Timothy 6 is going back to the verse again, 1st Timothy 6 and verse 17 talks about how God is the one who richly gives us all things to enjoy, which means that God is not against that. But if it is only going to be on my selfish desires, it's going to be I, me, myself. Then God has a bigger plan, God has a bigger purpose for finances to come into our lives, that we might be a blessing. So it becomes again, because of this wrong motive, it becomes a hindrance. So wrong motive becomes a hindrance and stops the flow of provision or whatever God wants to bring into our lives. And we looked at the Gospel also, where the Lord Jesus teaches and says, you know, of the rich man. Well, the rich man has a good plan. He says, you know, he's actually providing for better places for storage when there's, you know, when there's more harvest. And so there's nothing wrong in that. But this is what he says, when he comes to a conclusion that, you know, you have, he says in verse 19, right, look 12 verse 19, he says, you have laid up goods for many, steak, ease, eat, drink and be merry. So God is again, not in the picture at all. So here, so there's nothing wrong with the strategy. There's nothing wrong. But the fact is that God is not in the picture. And God says, you know, this night you will be required that your soul will be required, then whatever you've laid up, whose treasures will it be, whatever you've provided for yourself. And then verse 21, so is he who lays up treasures for himself, and it's not rich towards God. Okay, so that's one of the things that we saw, the first thing that we saw that wrong motivation. The second thing we saw was wrong method. God is a God who's holy. He's a righteous one. He leads us in parts of righteousness. Psalm 23 talks about that. And we looked at Psalm five, just he does not take pleasure. He's not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness. And he's a God who will bless the righteous. So which means that this unrighteousness is not part of him. It's not part of his nature. It is his nature to bless, but righteousness is not part of him. So the end does not justify the means that I take up. So if I'm, if the end is, yeah, I need increase, I need success, and I need growth, but it also matters what is the method. So a divinely inspired or divinely appointed method will not be an unrighteousness, unrighteous method. Will not be one that is contrary to the nature of God. It is contrary to the character of God that innate ability or innate value of God. It is contrary to that. It's opposite of that. Therefore, it is not from God. It's not something that God will put his seal of approval on. It's not something that God approves. It's not of him. So he cannot bless. Something is not of him. It's contrary to who he is. Then he will not bless that. So that also, if it's a wrong method, if it's a method which has its source and wickedness, which has its source and unrighteousness, then there is something that God cannot approve of. He cannot bless. So today let's look at what are some of the other hindrances that we could be knowingly or unknowingly harboring in our lives. And that we get rid of these so that there's nothing standing in between us and God, and we need to be mindful of this. So today we're going to look at a few other things, a few other hindrances that we'll do well to remove out of our lives. So today we see that the first one or the third one really is being disobedient in finances or being unfaithful in finances. God's instructions, God's commands always lead to life. However difficult they might be, however uncomfortable they might be, God's intent in instructing us or his intent in commanding us is to lead us to a place of freedom because he is truth itself and truth that liberates, that unlocks and releases us to freedom. So his intent in instructing us is always for our good and not for our destruction. We read about how the thoughts of God, the plans of God are to prosper us and never for calamity or never to harm us, his very thoughts, his plans. So when we are disobedient to his instructions, so he gives an instruction and says, okay, this is my instruction and the end result of the instruction is life. The end result of this instruction is success. The end result, the objective of the instruction is to give you fruitfulness. So if we are disobedient to that through those steps that he's guiding us, then we cannot expect fruitfulness. We cannot expect success. And even if we do employ such methods and we are disobedient to his leading, then maybe something is short-lived, whatever we receive is short-lived. Luke chapter 16 and verse 10, the Lord Jesus says, he who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much. So this whole thing of being faithful is irrespective of whether that what he asks us to do is big in terms of our rating, our scale, if it's big, significant or if it's something which is small. So in God's eyes, it's the same thing. So if we are faithful in the small things and we will be faithful in the bigger things, but if we are faithful, unfaithful in the small things, then we cannot hope to be faithful in the bigger things. So God requires us to be faithful. God requires us to be obedient and that leads to increase. So if we are disobedient, then we can expect the opposite of increase, which is decrease or which is unfruitfulness. So disobedience when it comes to finances is something that hinders the prosperity that God has for us. And also we see in Malachi chapter 3, if we go to Malachi and chapter 3 and verse 9, it talks about God has some pretty strong words for those who have not followed his instruction with regard to tithing, with regard to the first fruit of the increase. So this is what he says, you know, you are cursed with a curse. This is Malachi 3 and verse 9. You are cursed with a curse for you have robbed me even this whole nation. Bring all the tithes into the storehouse that they may be food in my house. And try me now on this, says the Lord of hosts. If I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it. Okay, that's verse 10. So you see the intent of God's instruction. It is not to destroy the person. It is not to bring, you know, place the person in a disadvantageous position. It is to bring that person increase. So God is saying, you know, try me now on this. Now this is a principle that I laid down that, you know, this tithes, you know, we're going to look at it in detail in one of our other sessions about tithes and giving and alms and so on. So we see that this is God's principle. This is God's instruction, right? So unfaithfulness in that results in the opposite of that. Okay, the other thing that we see here is that the Bible talks about in the same scripture, in the same verse, God talks about an adversary, right? He talks about an enemy. So here he says, you know, I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes so that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground nor shall the wine fail to bear fruit for you in the fields, says the Lord of hosts. Now this is a reality. Now there is a devourer. We're talking about Satan, the powers of darkness, the fallen angels. There is a devourer, there is an adversary and, you know, the entire powers of darkness. Now what do they do? They bring about, they steal, they kill, destroy, they bring about destruction in the lives of, you know, God's people and others. Now that's the reality, right? The enemy is real. The adversary is real. But God says that he will rebuke the devourer. But I just want us to focus on what the devourer does. You know, the devourer destroys the fruit of your ground. The devourer, you know, ensures that the wine fails to bear fruit, right? So it's talking about agriculture. It's talking about agriculture produced. The devourer is interfering in. The devourer is stepping in and making sure that all the efforts that you have put in does not yield. And the Lord says that he will rebuke the devourer. That's the best part. But the fact is that there is opposition. There is the enemy who is waiting to bring in destruction. Okay. So we know that at the cross, the Lord Jesus won the victory over the enemy. He's disarmed the enemy. And, you know, on the cross, what he did on the cross, he made a public spectacle of all the powers of darkness. They've been disarmed. And he has taken us from the clutches of the enemy into the kingdom of life, now into the kingdom of light. Now that's the reality. Now Satan does not have any jurisdiction, but we can always open the doors, you know, maybe out of ignorance, maybe knowingly, right? We tend to open the doors, maybe living in rebellion, living in intentional sin, having a sinful lifestyle. We open the doors for the enemy to walk in. And when the enemy walks in, the enemy walks in with an intent to steal, kill and destroy it. Right? So that is a hindrance. The enemy's works becomes a hindrance. It's not God who's holding back, but it's the enemy. And we have unwittingly allowed the enemy to step in and do the work of destroying and so on in our lives. So what is the thing? We need to step up, we need to rise up, rise up in faith and resist the enemy. The promise that God gives in, we see this in the book of James chapter four, is that when we submit to him, when we submit to God, which means in the act of submission, obedience is there. Right? When we follow, when we submit to God, then when we resist the enemy, then he will flee from us. So he will flee from you. James chapter four, and verse seven, therefore submit to God, resist the devil and he will flee from you. So this is what we are called to do, to rise up and to submit to God and to resist the enemy. So this is our responsibility, right, to overcome this hindrance, to make sure that this hindrance is not there in our lives. Right? The other thing that we see is wisdom or the lack of wisdom. Okay? If you look at Proverbs 24 verses three to six, you know, that's there on the screen, let's look at verses three and four first, right? So as though, sorry, through wisdom, a house is built and by understanding, it is established. By knowledge, the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant, which is, so it's talking about the role of wisdom. You know, we know, wisdom comes from God, wisdom comes through experience, you know, there's wisdom in the council of people, right? All these are sources of wisdom, which is good, right? So here, Bible talks about the writer of Proverbs is mentioning that wisdom through wisdom houses built, which means that something that is not there earlier comes into existence through wisdom, right? And when that something comes into existence, it's made firm, it is established. It says the second part of that verse three, it says by understanding, it is established. So everything connected to it, you know, wisdom, understanding knowledge, you know, I'm just using it interchangeably, but this is how it is. Through wisdom, something comes into existence, which is not there earlier. Here in this case, it's a house, house is built. By understanding, it is established, it is made firm, it is made strong. And by knowledge, the rooms are filled with all pressures and pleasant riches. So it talks, talks about, you know, God bringing into existence, you know, we know that wisdom comes from him, you know, the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and knowledge of the most Holy One is understanding and so on. So we know it comes from and we also see that the Holy Spirit is called the Spirit of Revelation and wisdom, right? So he's a source, he brings wisdom. And so wisdom comes from him. So this wisdom enables us to bring something, this is what the end result of it is. It brings something which is not there, you know, provides something which is not there, makes firm what has been provided and there is increase, you know, the knowledge, the rooms are filled, there is increase as well because of this. So we see that if there is a lack of wisdom, if we are, you know, intentionally not seeking wisdom, then there is no, the possibility of this happening is not there. Let's look at verse five. A wise man is strong, a man of knowledge increases strength. For by wise counsel, you will wage your own war in a multitude of counselors, there is safety. So everywhere, you know, it talks about wisdom, a person who's wise, a man who's wise, a man of knowledge, you know, bringing in increase of strength, again the wisdom and by wise advice or wise counsel, you know, the war is waged and in the multitude of counselors or people with wise counsel, then it is a place of safety, it's a place of refuge. So we see the importance of wisdom and we see that if there is a lack in wisdom, then the possibility of this not happening. You know, it's interesting, James chapter one and verse five, we have, you know, very interesting and encouraging. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. Okay, let him ask. If any of, if there is a lack of wisdom, we can ask God and he gives to all liberally and wisdom enables us to live in this manner. Wisdom brings these things into our lives. Okay, so lack of wisdom affects or is a hindrance for finances, God appointed finances, right? Okay. Then the other thing is, lastly, the hindrance that we're going to look at is also effort or insufficient effort, which means that, you know, God provides for us in many ways, right? One of the ways by which he provides is when we ask him for provision, God is a God who provides, yes, we ask him in faith and God might provide to us the stream through which he provides is maybe our employment, the work that we do, the business that he has given, right? And whatever work that he has appointed for us, it could be the work of ministry as well, right? So we are working with our hands, we are maybe doing business, maybe we are employed. Now God is providing for us through that. It is like a vehicle through which God brings increase into our lives. God brings provision into our lives. We've been praying to God, we've been asking, Lord, you're the provider, provide for me. And here's God giving this, you know, employment, giving this, you know, this means by which he can are setting it up so that he can bring in that provision into our lives. Okay. Now what happens when I do not put in effort? See, because this work requires effort for me to do well, to be successful. This, you know, business or whatever is given to me requires that I work in a certain way, requires that I put in effort. So when that effort is not put in, then it becomes again a hindrance. Okay, let's look at Proverbs 10 and verse four, he who has a slack hand becomes poor, but the hand of the diligent makes rich. And that word diligent there means, you know, being decisive, putting in effort. And it also means, let me just pull that word out. Okay, it also means, you know, incisive, determined, eager, and so on. Right. And that word rich, it means it brings, it means to grow, it means to accumulate something. Right. So what brings in that growth and accumulation? Right. It's a hand of the diligent, which means that when there is determination, when there's eagerness, when there's, and when there's hard work, when there's effort that's put in, then it brings in the growth and accumulation, which is, you know, which is, which we know happens, right. So scripture just retraiting that. But the opposite of that happens, you know, he who has a slack hand, one who is slack, one who is the opposite of being diligent, then it becomes, it affects us, right, which means slack would also mean being lazy. It also means being false, being idle. Right. So if that is the quality of work, if that is the quality of effort, then, then there is no quest, there's no chance of growth, and there's no chance of accumulation. Right. Proverbs 10 and verse four, Ecclesiastes nine and verse 10, whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might. For there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going, whatever your hand finds to do it with all your might. And again, we are, you know, reminded in Colossians three, Colossians three and verse 17. Okay. What is the, what should be the mindset? What should be the kind of effort? Verse 17 says, whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to, I'm sorry, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. Right. So whatever you do, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. If you go down to verse 23, and whatever you do, do it heartily as to the Lord and not to men. So whatever you're doing, do it heartily as to the Lord. So first verse 17 says, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, which means that by the authority that is that you, that He's given you as someone who is doing things in His place. Right. With that perspective, whatever you do, you do it. As someone who's representing God, as someone is standing in the place of Christ, you know, do, do that. Verse 23, and whatever you do, do it heartily. I do it wholeheartedly, as to the Lord and not to men. Now that's the instruction, as to the Lord. Now the verse before that talks about bond servants, and it says, you know, obey your master in all things according to the flesh, not with who are masters according to the flesh, you know, in the natural, who are your masters, whom you're employed with, not with eye service as men please us. Meaning, you know, don't do things because they are looking at you. Don't do things because there's an audience around you. Don't do it because your boss is watching you. Right. But even if there's no one around, do it. It says, insincerity of heart, fearing God. Because when you're doing stuff just because people are watching, then you're becoming a man pleaser. You're just, you're a people pleasing person. Right. But irrespective of who's watching or who's not watching, when you do it as unto God, who's always watching, that is what is required. So whatever you do, whatever you do, do it heartily as unto God and not to men. So if that is our quality of output of work, diligence, doing it wholeheartedly, doing it as unto God, then it's a diligent work. Right. So the opposite of that would result in being a hindrance. But if we would actually do this, then we will overcome that hindrance. Right. So we read about, so we've seen all these hindrances which are there and we'll do well to overcome. So next session, next class, we will look at some of the principles for divine prosperity. So here we looked at hindrances, what are those things which are stopping me? And the next session is about what are those things that I can intentionally walk into? Right. What are the things that I can step into intentionally? Here are these principles. So I step into it, I walk into it and I do it so that whatever God has for my life flows into my life. So those are some principles. Right. So in closing, let's look into our own lives and let's spend some time just looking into our own lives, maybe introspect a bit and ask the Holy Spirit to give us light, to give us illumination into some of these things. Some of these things that we need to change. Right. Maybe some of us have been praying for breakthrough in the area of finances and we've been waiting for breakthrough in the area of finances and maybe we are negligent of some of these things. Right. We have been ignorant of some of these things. But and so as we have heard from God, we will let's actively tell the Lord, Lord, you know, if it's a question of motivation, tell the Lord, Lord, I know, you know, this has to change. So I will change. Right. My motive has been wrong. So I will change. Right. So let's let's pray and even as we pray, I'll just, you know, maybe go through some of these things to just help us pray it out to help us bring it before God and lay it open before God so that the Holy Spirit can, you know, can step in and bring about that change. Right. So let's pray. Let's pray. You pray in your language, in your own words to God and say, Lord, you know, I don't want to be a hindrance or I don't want to entertain any hindrances. I don't want to actively entertain any hindrances, knowing what your heart is knowing who you are, my heavenly Father, knowing that you are a provider, knowing God that, you know, you're the one who takes pleasure in the prosperity of his servants and knowing that you're the one who richly gives us all things to enjoy. Lord, I'm knowing that I don't want to, you know, put any hindrance from my life, from my side, oh God. And so maybe, you know, if you prayed that you could just continue to pray for the motives of the heart to be pure, right? What is it that's motivating you? Maybe because of, you know, maybe because of the way we lived our life, upbringing, maybe there was lack in our life and we hold on to money a little tighter than we ought to, you know, or maybe there was distrust and so on. And so we, you know, there is, we want a lot more or maybe there is fear and we're saying, oh, what if I lose it? So I better hold on to this tightly. So instead of us having like a light grip on these things, you know, money has got a strong grip on us. So let's just pray and let's ask the Lord to remove all those fears, remove all those insecurities and say, Lord, purify my heart, let my motives be clear, the motives of my heart, why I want this, let it be clear. Yes, Lord, I pray that, that you will just release us from all wrong motivations and wrong attitudes. Maybe be free to receive from you, maybe be free to, Lord, as instruments of righteousness, maybe be free to serve and be a blessing, Lord. Yes, Father God, thank you. You know, next we'll just pray for methods, you know, some of the methods that we've been using, you know, are these the methods of righteousness, maybe in your business, maybe at work, you know, are you ethical, are you, have you been just or has the method come in sharp contrast to the word of God, sharp contrast to God's heart, God's nature, right? So let's pray and ask the Lord if there's anything that God is showing us that, you know, we will just discard those methods and say, Lord, I want to take on the ways of righteousness, God, you lead me in ways of righteousness. It might seem opposite to the way the world works, it might seem not very comfortable, contrary to popular culture, but Lord, I want to follow you, I want to follow you in parts of righteousness, for you are righteous, you are holy. Let my methods, let my ways be pure and holy, Lord, before you. Thank you, Lord, thank you. Maybe the, you know, this disobedience, maybe the Lord wants us to be, you know, obedient, have an obedient heart, he wants us to obey, just ask the Lord, tell the Lord, yes, Lord, I repent of earlier disobedience, yes, you asked me to do this, I did not. So I come in repentance, with a repentant heart, being renewed now in strength, being renewed with a fervor to obey you, to be faithful in the small things, right? So let's make a decision to obey him in the small things when it comes to money, obey him in the small things, being faithful in the small things, you know, not holding on to things that are others, that belong to others, but, you know, in the, if it belongs to someone else, then let's give it away, right? Let's not hold on to it unjustly. So, yeah, obedience and finances. And let's ask God for, to alert us, to give us the discernment when it comes to the works of the enemy, whatever the enemy is, maybe they're trying to do, let's not be passive, let's not be passive, and let's not wrongly attribute that to God and say, you know, God is taking away these things from me. Now God wants to bring it into our lives, yes, God will prune it, prune certain areas of our lives so that we will become even more fruitful, right? But God's intention is not to steal, kill and destroy, it's the enemy's intention. So let's not wrongly attribute that to God or, you know, let's not be passive and not resist the work of the enemy. God has anointed us, God has given us the authority to stand up, to rise up, and resist the work of the enemy. So the scriptures very clear, resist the devil, submit to God, resist the devil, and he will flee from you. So let's submit ourselves to God and resist the enemy. And if there's wisdom, let's ask God, let's ask God for wisdom in all areas of our lives with regard to finances, let's ask God for wisdom so that it can be brought into our lives. Let's ask God for wisdom so that they can be conservation of it, it can be established in our lives. Let's ask God for wisdom so that they can be increased, the rooms will be filled with treasures and all pleasant things. So let's ask God for increase, let's ask God for wisdom. And if you lack wisdom, he is faithful and he gives without ridicule, he gives without reproach. So let's ask God for wisdom. Hallelujah. Thank you Lord. And also if there's effort that is lacking from our side, let's ask for diligence. Let's repent and come back to him and say, God, I will give my best. I've been slacking in this area, I've been working only when people have been watching or my boss has been watching and I've been slacking in this area, but I'm going to be diligent. I'm going to do it as unto you and not unto man, God. It doesn't depend on man's response, it doesn't depend on man's approval, it doesn't depend on man's reactions to the work or nothing of that sort. If it's our responsibility that we will do it as unto God with diligence and scripture is very clear that the hand of the diligent makes it. So we remove that hindrance out of our lives, that hindrance of slackness, hindrance of slothfulness, we remove it out of our lives. Father, we thank you that you give us an opportunity to look into our lives, Lord. And I pray God that you are the God who loves us, who cares for us and who wants the best for us, Lord. And Father, we thank you with regard to Lord Prosperity, Lord, you want to bring in that so that we can be a blessing, Lord. Yes, Father, God, we don't want money to be an idol in our hearts, God, but Lord, let our hearts be gripped by you, Lord. And I just pray, oh God, that you would pour out your wisdom upon us, you would pour out your spirit upon us, oh God, that in all these areas, God, that there will be alignment to your word, that all these hindrances and barriers will be removed even as we step in intentionally by faith, God, and do what needs to be done. Yes, Lord, all that aligning, all those small choices, small decisions, and the big ones, Lord, I pray that you lead us into doing them and so that we will be, Lord, experienced the freedom, the breakthrough that we've been praying for. We thank you. We give you all the praise, we give you all the glory. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen, amen. Okay, so yeah, that's the complete end of the session. So next session, next class, we will look at the principles of divine prosperity. What are those principles that God has laid down very clearly in His Word and which when we carried out and when we are also aware of the presence of God, like the principle and the presence, right, both go hand in hand. So we will experience what God wants done, experience what God has for us in our lives, right? So we'll stop here, God bless. Have a great week ahead. We'll meet again next week. God bless. Bye-bye.