Prosperity Blog #6: Prosperity in the Workplace

Prosperity Blog #6: Prosperity in the Workplace

by Pastor Peter Samuels

Based on Chapter 21 of my Discipleship Training Course (http://tinyurl.com/disc-train-course)

Welcome to my sixth blog on prosperity. In my fifth blog we looked at preparation and investment. We saw how talents, abilities and opportunities are individual, and that they often require preparation or an investment in order to be fully realised. 

In this blog we shall look at prosperity in the workplace. Let us begin by addressing some assumptions. 

Firstly, not everyone is called to work under others. Secondly, like the prodigal son in the foreign land, when a nation’s economy is down it affects what workplace opportunities are available. Thirdly, some vocations make it difficult to serve the Lord outside of them, either due to the time or effort required, but this does not mean that you cannot be called to that role.

Joseph prospered in the workplace. The LORD was with him and he had a spirit of excellence about everything he did. He spent many years serving faithfully and was entrusted with greater responsibility. When he refused to compromise he was moved to a lower role. However, ultimately his promotion came from God and was far beyond his expectations.

Serving under others often brings us into contact with people who do not love or serve God. We should not allow the world to squeeze us into its mould. This requires wisdom and a strong sense of identity and trust in God. We should never fear man in our workplace. God is providing for us through our service.

We should also look for opportunities to express our faith in the workplace. One way is through prayer. Just as the stone smashed the statue in Daniel 2, God wants to use us to destroy every ungodly foundation and structure in our workplaces and to replace them with His Kingdom.

Thanks for reading and I look forward to sharing again with you soon.

Pastor Peter Samuels

Prosperity Blog #5: Preparation and Investment

Prosperity Blog #5: Preparation and Investment

by Pastor Peter Samuels

Based on Chapter 21 of my Discipleship Training Course (http://tinyurl.com/disc-train-course)

Welcome to my fifth blog on prosperity. In my fourth blog we looked at the relationship between salvation and prosperity. We saw how salvation is a gift of grace but that same grace causes us to work which can then lead us to prosper. In this blog we shall look at preparation and investment.

Whilst God gives out His grace and His blessings equally to all who ask Him in faith, talents, abilities and opportunities are diverse and individual. Thus we should not compare our inheritance against that of others but accept and take responsibility for what we have been given in life. However, if our inheritance is painfully small we can still cry out to God in an honourable way like Jabez, “Oh, that You would bless me and expand my territory!” (1 Chronicles 4:10, NLT).

Whilst our talents and abilities provide us with opportunities to prosper we also need to make wise investments. We cannot reap unless we first sow. Although reaping depends upon the quality of seed, the quality of soil and the conditions the crop experiences (Matthew 13:1-9), increase ultimately comes from God (1 Corinthians 3:6).

Isaac sowed and reaped a hundredfold (Genesis 26:12). God prospered him in a barren land through his covenant relationship. However, the Israelites later sowed much but harvested little because they had ignored the needs of God’s house (Haggai 1:1-11). In Luke 5:1-11 Jesus showed His first disciples that He was Lord of their natural talents.

An education or training is also an investment which can sharpen our talents and open doors for us. We should be prepared to submit to a season of discipline like a farmer patiently waiting for his crops to ripen.

It is good to study but not to wear yourself out in the process (Ecclesiastes 12:12). God will grant us success and increase when we love His Word (Psalm 119:99) and trust Him enough to rest (Exodus 31:13).

Thanks for reading and I look forward to sharing again with you soon.


Pastor Peter Samuels

Prosperity Blog #4: Salvation and Prosperity

Prosperity Blog #4: Salvation and Prosperity

by Pastor Peter Samuels

Based on Chapter 21 of my Discipleship Training Course (http://tinyurl.com/disc-train-course)

Welcome to my fourth blog on prosperity. In my third blog we looked at some principles for overcoming poverty, concluding that we need a change of heart towards God before all else. In this blog I want to explore the connection between salvation and prosperity.

The Old Testament image behind the word for salvation is being brought out of trouble into a spacious, well-watered plain (Psalm 66:10), indicating the potential of salvation for prosperity and blessing. In the New Testament the emphasis is on Jesus living His abundant new life through us (John 10:10, Galatians 2:20), indicating how this potential should be fulfilled.

Whilst salvation, along with righteousness, healing and deliverance, are gifts we receive by faith they should lead us to action. Paul said that God’s grace had the effect of making him work hard, but only through the very grace he had received as a gift (1 Corinthians 15:10). We have a responsibility to work out that which Christ has worked in us by God’s abundant and all-sufficient grace (Philippians 2:12-13, 2 Peter 1:3-11).

Our outworking should change the way we operate. Ephesians 4:28 states, “The thief must no longer steal. Instead, he must do honest work with his own hands, so that he has something to share with anyone in need” (HCSB). Diligent hands bring wealth (Proverbs 10:4) and they will rule (Proverbs 12:24).

Our outworking should also be directed to God in worship, not towards man out of fear or seeking favour, or to ourselves out of greed and selfish ambition. As slaves of Christ we should do the will of God from our hearts (Ephesians 4:5-6). Our prosperity and promotion will then come from the LORD (Psalm 75:6-7, KJV).

Thanks for reading and I look forward to sharing again with you soon.

Pastor Peter Samuels 

Prosperity Blog #3: Overcoming Poverty

Prosperity Blog #3: Overcoming Poverty

by Pastor Peter Samuels
Based on Chapter 21 of my Discipleship Training Course (http://tinyurl.com/disc-train-course)

Welcome to my third blog on Prosperity. In my second blog we looked at Avoiding Extremes and how to become a blessing to others. In this blog I am going to look at the problem of poverty and how it relates to prosperity theology.

Firstly, I would like to say that the true Gospel is good news to the poor (Isaiah 61:1). Salvation is initially spiritual in the free gift of eternal life but it is also of the soul (the mind, emotions and will) and the body (through healing).

Prosperity should be part of this same salvation experience. In 3 John 2, John the Evangelist said, “Brothers, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers” (NKJV). Thus prosperity starts in the spirit then moves to the soul, the body and the outer life.

Secondly, there is a vulnerability in many poor believers to a prosperity gospel. Poverty is often a curse from which people need to be delivered, but this is rarely broken by giving a ‘seed’ offering to a rich prosperity preacher.

Thirdly, poverty often acts at a wider level than an individual or their family. The coming of the Kingdom of God should bring joy to a village, a town, a city and a nation. This is brought about through the righteous being in authority, traders in the marketplace operating with fairness and compassion for the poor being in the hearts of all the people.

Finally, in Proverbs 12:12, Solomon said, “The root of the righteous produces fruit” (HCSB). We need to focus on the righteousness of God bringing a complete change to our hearts before we seek to experience other forms of prosperity. A good root will always produce good fruit.

Thanks for reading and I look forward to sharing again with you soon.

Pastor Peter Samuels 

Prosperity Blog #2: Avoiding Extremes

Prosperity Blog #2: Avoiding Extremes

By Pastor Peter Samuels

Based on Chapter 21 of my Discipleship Training Course (http://tinyurl.com/disc-train-course)

Welcome to my second blog on Prosperity. In my first blog we looked at True Prosperity and the need for unity in the Body of Christ on this subject. I want to develop this theme further here by considering how to avoid extremes.

Agur asked God that he might not be too wealthy so that he would not forget Him nor too poor so that he might not be tempted to steal (Proverbs 30:8-9). The same principle applies to our doctrines about prosperity as prosperity is a means to gaining wealth.

Whilst godliness is not a means to financial gain (1 Timothy 6:5) it does not necessarily follow that gaining financially makes us ungodly. We are supposed to be channels of blessing towards others (2 Corinthians 9:11). These channels need to flow!

We are limited in how much we can bless others if we have not been blessed ourselves, although it is the attitude of heart that God looks at, not the amount of substance itself. God is able to multiply the smallest of seeds that is given to Him with a pure heart. Sometimes it is a small step of faith to give or to invest that releases people from financial bondage.

God is looking for people He can trust with His blessings who are generous and considerate towards others in need. If we are faithful stewards of material blessings God will also entrust us with true riches (Luke 16:11).

All that we have and the ability to produce wealth comes from God. We should neither despise ourselves and bury our talents nor think that we have gained wealth by our own ability. Let us honour the Lord with our wealth and our abilities to create wealth.

Thanks for reading and I look forward to sharing with you again soon.

Pastor Peter Samuels

Blog #1: 'True Prosperity'

Prosperity Blog #1: 'True Prosperity' 

by Pastor Peter Samuels

 This is based on Chapter 21 of my Discipleship Training Course. Welcome to my first blog on prosperity. I found this chapter the hardest to write in my discipleship training course. I had already written a chapter on Giving but I still felt that I needed to add something. I am really looking forward to sharing with you and also hearing your feedback. Jesus said, “Where your treasure is there your heart shall be also” (Matthew 6:21).

What do you value most in life?

 To prosper means, “to cause to succeed or thrive” (Merriam-Webster). People want to be successful and to thrive for different reasons, some of them a good and upright but others might be questionable. We need to guard our hearts because they are the wellspring of life (Proverbs 4:23).

Whilst thriving and being successful appears to be a good thing it can also become a snare if we place too much emphasis upon it. This has caused some Christians to overcompensate and to criticise and judge others who teach and practice the principles of prosperity. This division between pro-prosperity and anti-prosperity Christians needs to be healed! There is only one body. We should make every effort to keep the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace (Ephesians 4:3).

No one has a monopoly on the truth. Jesus is The Way, The Truth and The Life (John 14:6). We need more of Him and His Word in our lives even though it might pierce us like a two-edged sword, judging the thoughts and attitudes of our hearts (Hebrews 4:12).

Thanks for reading and I look forward to sharing with you again soon! Would you do me a quick favour? Drop your comments below on your best tip today. Also Like and Share this message with your friends.

I appreciate you!

Pastor Peter Samuels

Check out the complete Discipleship Training Course at 
http://tinyurl.com/disc-train-course