Isaac Prospered in a Famine: 6 Keys to Kingdom Prosperity

Sermon outline

You are wired for success: like Joseph and Isaac, whatever you put your hand to will prosper and increase even in famine, so expect envy, invest in yourself, reject the status quo and walk your prosperous journey.

1. Before the keys: the gnat and the bull

   A gnat sat on a bull's horn and politely offered to fly away if it was too heavy; the bull replied that he had not even known it was there. Aesop's fables are not just entertainment but insights into business, relationships and communication.

   Illustration: Aesop's fable of the gnat and the bull, one of the fables he has been sharing in the church's Zoom chats.

   “Sometimes the smaller the mind, the bigger the ego.”

   • Proverbs 6:16-19

2. Key one: you are wired for success

   John prayed that you would prosper and be in health as your soul prospers; to prosper means a prosperous journey, succeeding at everything you do. Prosperity is more than money, and money is not the highest power on earth: prayer is, and when you seek the kingdom first, money and things are added to you.

   Illustration: He once heard a man of God say that if your people are still in Egypt, don't leave them there: preach them into the promised land. That, he says, is what he is doing.

   “I'm preaching you into your promised land.”

   • 3 John 1:2
   • Matthew 6:33

3. Key two: whatever you do and touch will prosper

   Keep the words of the covenant and you will prosper in all you do. The Lord was with Joseph, made him a prosperous man and made everything prosper in his hand. If God did it for Joseph, Jesus our high priest and elder brother will do it for you.

   “Everything I do will prosper and prosper.”

   • Deuteronomy 29:9
   • Genesis 39:2-3

4. Key three: increase is your portion

   Isaac prospered in a time of famine and drought, which encourages us in today's challenging times. Be steadfast and do not follow teachers who praise prosperity one day and criticise it the next: whatever you criticise moves away from you, and whatever you meditate on and confess you attract. Isaac waxed great because of the blessing, not his education or job; the Message Bible says he got richer and richer and had many enterprises.

   Illustration: He did not go straight from Bible college into ministry: he spent almost 20 years in the secular field and about five in business, so he understands what people go through.

   “It's the favour of God that's swinging doors for you.”

   • Genesis 26:12-14

5. Key four: not all will celebrate your success

   The Philistines envied Isaac, whose estate outgrew Abimelech's palace in the middle of a famine. Family and old acquaintances may still see you as the barefoot child you were, so be careful whom you tell your testimonies; when men revile you, God keeps lifting you. You are above circumstances: you have worked hard, so invest in yourself without becoming glamour-obsessed, and do not feel guilty.

   Illustration: A grandparent used to tell him 'Do you think money grows on trees?' He jokes that if she were alive he would prove that paper money is made from trees.

   “Invest in yourself. You're worth it.”

   • Genesis 26:14-16
   • Matthew 5:11

6. Key five: you have a prosperous journey ahead of you

   Paul prayed for a prosperous journey, and Joshua was told that meditating on the Word would make his way prosperous. In Hebrew 'way' means a journey, road and path, so your road will be one of prosperity. Do not accept the status quo; reject it.

   Illustration: A roadworks sign showing a man on his knees begging 'please don't kill us' made him wish someone would put up signs saying 'We have a prosperous nation, a prosperous people'.

   “Make a decision in your life to reject the status quo.”

   • Romans 1:8-10
   • Joshua 1:8

7. Last key: the kingdom of God is increase and prosperity

   Whatever a child of God does will prosper. Repeating last week's word, he says you will sparkle, a banner and a flag lifted high and shouting success, jewels in a crown with a surplus of prosperity, and even in drought there is plenty.

   “Even in drought, there is plenty and more than enough.”

   • Deuteronomy 29:9