Success Is Harder to Handle Than Failure: 10 Money Keys
Dr RJ Sing, 54 min
Originally preached as “Sunday Message, 17 September 2014”
Sermon outline
Jesus became poor so that believers could become rich, and grace for financial increase is coming, so get ready to handle money God's way when it hits your hands.
Main text
- 2 Corinthians 8:9
Opening
After worship, he says it is good to be home after a week away in Johannesburg, and the church extends condolences to a bereaved family. He describes a Sunday service in Johannesburg where the power of God fell in waves as he preached on grace, and says he will continue along the same lines with financial grace, preaching a message until people catch it. He announces his title, 10 Financial Keys to Use When Money Hits Your Hands, and has people tell their neighbour that money is coming their way.
Jesus endured our poverty that we may share in his abundance
Grace is God's unmerited favour, a gift and a virtue from God that we cannot earn, and if there is grace for healing there is grace for financial increase and paying off debt. Increase will not come by smartness or background but by the anointing, so guard your heart and keep your eyes on Jesus. Meditate on abundance in spite of pressures, and do not bring your confession down to what your natural eyes see; answer every challenge with 'but my God'.
“Do not bring your confession down to what your natural eyes are seeing.”
- 2 Corinthians 8:9
- Proverbs 4:23
- Hebrews 12:2
- Deuteronomy 28:3-6
- Philippians 4:19
- Psalm 68:19
- Psalm 121:1-2
- Genesis 24:1
Three basic principles that govern the operation of God's grace
First, grace cannot be earned. Second, there is only one channel of grace, and that is Jesus. Third, there is only one means of appropriating grace, and that is faith. Judas took honour from Jesus, but Jesus gives honour to those who serve him, giving them weight, value and doors that swing open by the Spirit, not by might or power.
Illustration: In a meeting in Johannesburg he was told that other names had been considered but his name kept coming up, and he told them, 'it's only God'.
“Anything that can be earned is not God's grace.”
- John 1:17
- Ephesians 2:8-9
- John 12:6
- John 12:26
- Zechariah 4:6
Key 1: Be sure to take care of the Lord's business and he will take care of yours
Remember that it is the Lord who gives the power to get wealth. Wealth will come like a flood, and the devil's attempts to disillusion you have failed because you are still serving God.
“Nobody can stop you from increasing.”
- Deuteronomy 8:18
Key 2: Stay at the beginning of financial wisdom
Never credit your success to your own smartness, education or experience. Give God the honour for the job, the house, the car and every blessing.
“Always give honor to God.”
Key 3: You are held in high standard by God and by man
The leadership has been praying for the church, and God will elevate them. Do not let people or circumstances cap your potential; when financial pressure hits, remind yourself that you are a tither, a giver and a sower. Turbulent times come but do not last.
“Just meeting one person will change your course in history.”
Key 4: Seek godly wisdom in handling money
When money comes, pause and ask God what he wants you to do with it: how to give, how to save and how to invest.
“Seek godly wisdom when handling money.”
Key 5: Seek God and his spiritual prosperity, and you'll be in a position of no lack
Coming to church is not optional; it honours God with your time, and God is no man's debtor. Mistakes and losses can be learned from, and what the enemy has stolen must be paid back seven times, so never give up.
Illustration: He says he too has made mistakes and lost money, but God has given it back to him again and again.
“Here's the key, guys. Never give up.”
- Proverbs 6:31
Key 6: Take care of your family's financial needs
A good man and a good woman take care of their home first.
“Your family comes first.”
Key 7: Beware of debt
Before taking on large debt, ask whether it is necessary and whether you can do without it, and enjoy the freedom God is bringing into your house.
“Once you tie yourself up, you can't get yourself out.”
Key 8: Avoid schemes and dreams
When someone offers a scheme promising a thousand times your money, take time to pray and wait on the Lord, who will lead and guide you and never leave you.
“Tell them, I'll come back to you. Let me pray about it.”
- Hebrews 13:5
Key 9: Find someone to whom you will be accountable
Ask for godly advice, and where needed get a financial adviser or legal expert, so that your future is secure.
Key 10: Surprise, your success will be harder to handle than failure
Need keeps people humble and on their knees, but success is when you must make sure you stay in God's house, in the Word and in worship. God tests people with small doses of success before trusting them with large ones.
Illustration: He says that when he lacked, it kept him humble and praying.
“If you can pass the little success test, you will pass the big success test again and again and again.”
Putting it into practice
- Speak what God says about your finances, not what your eyes see.
- Give God the honour and seek his wisdom before spending, saving or investing.
- Put your family's needs first and think twice before taking on debt.
- Pray before joining any get-rich scheme, and find someone to be accountable to.
- Stay in church, in the Word and in worship when success comes.
Closing
He prophesies financial success from every side, rereads 2 Corinthians 8:9, and speaks of a 'Joseph generation' whom God lifts higher even when others put them in the pit, adding that God will make enemies be at peace with his people. He leads the church in a written confession over their finances, declares increase and grace over them, promises 'double for your trouble' to those who have made mistakes, and closes with announcements and the grace.
Declarations he led
- Money is coming my way.
- God is a God of abundance.
- I refuse to give up.
- Father, in the name of Jesus, I confess your word over my finances. As I do this, I say it with my mouth and believe that your word will not return to you void, but will accomplish what it says it will do. Therefore, I believe, in the name of Jesus, that every need is met, according to Philippians 4:19.
- I believe that because I've given my tithes and offerings to further your cause, Father, gifts will be given to me. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will men pour into my bosom. For with the measure I deal out, it will be measured back to me.
- Father, you have delivered me out of the authority of darkness into the kingdom of your dear Son. Father, I've taken my place as your child. I thank you that you've assumed your place as my Father and made your home in me.
- Satan, I bind you for my finances. According to Matthew 18:18, I loose you from my assignment against me in the name of Jesus.
- Father, I thank you that your ministering spirits, angels, are free to minister to me and bring me the necessary finances. Father, I confess your very present help in trouble. You are more than enough.
- I confess, God, that you are able to make all grace, every favor, and earthly blessing come to me in abundance, so I'm always, and in all circumstances, furnished in abundance for every good work and charitable donation.
- Increase is on my way.
In his words
- “If there's a grace for healing, then there's a grace for everything else.”
- “Anything that can be earned is not God's grace.”
- “Your success will be harder to handle than failure.”
- “In your pain, God is able to give you gain.”
- “The favor is great too.”
Every scripture in this message
- 2 Corinthians 8:9
- Proverbs 4:23
- Hebrews 12:2
- Deuteronomy 28:3-6
- Philippians 4:19
- Psalm 68:19
- Psalm 121:1-2
- Genesis 24:1
- John 1:17
- Ephesians 2:8-9
- John 12:6
- John 12:26
- Zechariah 4:6
- Deuteronomy 8:18
- Proverbs 6:31
- Hebrews 13:5
- Genesis 37:24
- Proverbs 16:7
- Isaiah 55:11
- Luke 6:38
- Colossians 1:13
- Matthew 18:18
- Psalm 46:1
- 2 Corinthians 9:8
- 2 Corinthians 13:14
- Psalm 23:6