God be merciful unto us, and bless us; and cause his face to shine upon us; That thy way may be known upon earth, thy saving health among all nations. (Ps 67:1-2)

Prosperity isn't an indication that someone is more intelligent or hard-working than others, but whom the Lord of the universe bestows his mercy and favor in a given season for a purpose. The Psalmist prayed: "God be merciful unto us:"the next words are: "And bless us; and cause his face to shine upon us." There is a connection between God's mercy and his blessings/favor; when the Lord of the universe shows mercy on anyone, he blesses and showers his favor on the individual.

So many people all over the world seek God's mercy, favor and blessings daily. The unfortunate situation is that, in most cases, when the blessings come, they forget where God took them from and some of the pledges they made in their hearts during the process of entreating God for mercy. In fact, few bother about God's intention for blessing them, despite their faults.

The above situation is the reason the prosperity of millions around the world hasn't translated into any meaningful transformation and impact on earth beyond themselves. The individual who made several promises to God; “God if you bless me, I'll advance your cause,” becomes the most insensitive person to God's cause when the blessings come.

Listen! Prosperity should go along with a burden (responsibility, vision, compassion). The Psalmist said it all: After entreating God for mercy, blessings and favor, the last line of our Biblical text reveals the true burden of prosperity. “That thy way may be known upon earth, thy saving health among all nations.”

That is it! That is the purpose of prosperity: (To contribute to the cause of making known God’s way upon the earth and his saving health among all nations). This can be done directly or indirectly; directly, through one’s outreaches to the nations or indirectly, by partnering with a vision for the nations. The purpose of prosperity is two fold

i) Contributing to the cause of ensuring that the Earth and everything in it align to God’s principles
ii) Participating and contributing to the cause of bringing God's saving health to all nations in all areas

These are the last things that come to most minds after God bestows his blessings on them. In fact, in most cases, people indulge in unnecessary competition and a wasteful lifestyle; forgetting where they came from. Some in strategic Government positions, instead of thinking of the difference they can make, they focus more on how to embezzle funds for self aggrandizement.

What of the clergy, who spent years asking the Lord for mercy, blessings and favor to reach nations. When the blessings come; the state of the earth and of the nations takes an insignificant place. The focus shifts to living a highly expensive lifestyle; fleets of cars; huge bank accounts, highly expensive holidays costing several thousands of dollars, replaces the passion to impact lives, etc.

Some say; “don’t criticize me until you know what I've gone through.” It’s not all about what you went through MOG/WOG; it’s all about God’s mercy and favor intended for the nations through you; not for self aggrandizement. Modesty is good in all things; we can change the world, if we become modest in all we do.

I watched a video of African girls prostituting in the streets of Italy, Greece, Spain, etc. That's a slap on the faces of all our so-called billionaire politicians, businessmen and preachers in Africa. I know some may say; " they are doing their best." Listen! The fact that these negative vices are on a rise it's a sign that our good isn't good enough.

All over the world, the cries of humanity is great. What justification is it for someone to live extravagantly, with the state of things globally? We can say what we want and justify ourselves the best way we can, but one of these days, we all, will face the one who sent us here and gave us all we have for reckoning. I think, we all need to do some soul searching! DrBenard Etta

“Then the word of the lord (came unto me), saying, Before I formed you in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.” Jere (1: 4-5)

Everything you'll ever need to know about the subject purpose from a biblical perspective is found in the above scripture. I'm currently writing a book from the above text titled: Demystifying purpose. Watch-out for it!

Listen! Your purpose is not your job, neither the personal goals you've set for yourself. A good job and set out goals are all very important to our success; in fact, they are supposed to complement purpose, but they shouldn't be confused for purpose. 

To demystify purpose, it's imperative for us to decode the phrase: "Before I formed you in the belly I knew thee." as written in our scriptural text.

Before I formed you! 
Purpose is older than people. Purpose is the preexisted state of every human being, which preceded our actual physical existence. We preexisted in God's mind as purpose, before we were conceived in our mother's womb. Thus, the details of our physical and spiritual composition tell the story of our purpose; our purpose directed our formation in our mother's womb. 

The purpose of our lives defined our physical, mental and spiritual constituent. That's why; once an individual discovers his purpose and outline his life towards fulfilling it; everything about the individual comes together and works in agreement- unleashing incredible ingenuity and divinity. When we live in ignorance of our purpose, we die gradually. 

PURPOSE & LIFE
('Before I formed you in the belly I knew thee.)" Jere 1:4a

Your life didn't begin in your mother's womb. That's why; certain critical insight regarding your purpose is only obtainable when you are given illumination about your existence beyond your mother's womb. 

Your mother carried you in her womb for nine months, but you existed in God's mind since from the foundation of the world. Thus, the longest “pregnancy” of you didn't take place in your mother's womb, but in God's womb (God's mind). Wow! You're not a coincidence on earth, neither are you a biological accident. You're a project, carefully crafted and designed for a unique purpose. What is that purpose? Watch-out for the book: Demystifying Purpose. DrBenard Etta

I taught this yesterday to hungry people, and I'm led to share a portion with you. Are you expecting a harvest in your life? Remember, if you ever had a sowing season, it isn't out of place to expect a harvest. Seed time and harvest time are directly linked. My goal in this note is to help you recognize your harvest season. This is very important in order for you to be properly positioned for it. Let me take you to the universal lab manual and the Divine constitution. (Bible)

And as they that bare the ark were come unto Jordan, and the feet of the priests that bare the ark were dipped in the brim of the water, (for Jordan overfloweth all his banks all the time of harvest,) (Joshua 3:15)

Mark the phrase ((For Jordan overfloweth all his banks all the time of harvest,). It carries an important indication of your harvest time. The banks of a river keep a river within its defined parameters. When a river overflows its banks, it implies, it has moved beyond its expected limit and in most cases, people and properties along an overflowed river bank are likely to be evacuated. 

Here is the million-dollar question: Why did Jordan overflow all its banks all the time of harvest? What message does it carry along? It carries along a profound message. Harvest season doesn't usually appear as harvest season; at times, it's ushered by challenges, which have actually overstepped their boundaries. Thus, it's practically impossible to recognize your harvest season without a change of mentality and perspective. Ordinary mindset and perspective say; when situations out-step their boundaries, it's a sign of a difficult period ahead, but an extra-ordinary mindset says: Wow! My harvest is here! 

You know the sons of God not by their dance in church, but by their perspective of life's challenges. God didn't lead Israel across the Jordan River in a season when the river receded, but when it overflowed its banks. Hear me and hear me well. If you have been encountering "out of bound" challenges from every front since the year began. Listen! Your harvest is here! This year will be the greatest year of your life. I speak as I hear! The seven month begins your transformation. It's time to change your perspective about the challenges, difficulties and troubles coming against you on every side They are indications of the imminence of your harvest season.

Don't sit back and mourn; step out and do the impossible. When the priest stepped into the River Jordan according to God's command; in the time when the Jordan River overflowed all its banks, the river parted. Listen! It's time to act a bit crazy; stepping into areas contrary to the situations around you. “The just shall live by faith and not by sight.” It's your season of harvest! WOW! 

Someone needs to preach this message to his congregants; it will change their outlook and lift-up their spirit. I hear the sound of abundance of rain! It's my season!! It's your season!! Go and spread the word!! Cheers! DrBenard Etta

My mentor of blessed memory, Arch Bishop Benson Idahosa said: "If light can't replace darkness, you don't need light." If life can't replace death, you don't need life." I add; what's the essence of claiming to have light and still be overcome by darkness? What is the meaning of professing life, while living under the captivity of death? 

It's really an irony, when we talk of the death and resurrection of Christ and even preach it on our pulpits with so much emotion and end up committing suicide; living a life of addiction and lacking the power over sin, disease and demonic forces. 

It seems most preaching and teaching today is, but mere theater; the way we live shows we don't believe most of what we say. Most news headlines about the happenings in the church, especially among the clergies say it all. 

How can we experience the victory the dead and resurrection of Christ brings, when we are busy looking for excuses for every known moral failure? If it were possible, we would rewrite the Bible to accommodate our addictions. Phrases like these would be added to our new Bible versions.

i) It's normal to profess Christ and still die by taking one's own life

ii) You can profess Christ and still live a life of sin

iii) Its normal to be an addict for life even as a professing Child of God, etc.

In fact, our new Bible version would be more about excitement in Church, busyness in religious activities, rhetoric s of faith without the life of faith.

Thank God, the works were finished since from the foundation of the world, so we can't add to the finished work of Christ or take from it. If we fail to live up to expectation, we shouldn't blame it on God, but on our lust.

Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. (James 1:13-15)

If the dead and resurrection of Christ can't give us victory in this life, then most of our talk about the gospel is vain. DrBenard Etta 

Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: (MATT 4:5-6)

The anointing, God's grace and favor aren't just a privilege, but a huge responsibility. This responsibility isn't just limited to touching lives, but being able to combine the anointing and God's grace on our lives with the character that goes with it. Charisma-minus-Character is equal to Disaster.

The greatest crisis plaguing Christendom isn't the absence of the anointing, but the presence of anointing without character. This makes some in the ministry today to look more like rascals; reckless and unruly in the eyes of God and man.

For us to walk in the fullness of the grace of God like Christ, we need to overcome the temptation of using the anointing on our lives to show off. Christ did it; we can do it!

It's very easy for one to use the gifts of God to promote oneself and not God's kingdom. Our Church building programs, congregations, television outreaches, philanthropic activities, healing and miracle meetings, etc, might actually be serving us than Christ. God is so generous, he can allow us use his grace to build for ourselves empires until the day of reckoning.

In our foundation text, the devil was simply tempting Jesus to use the anointing at his disposal to show off. Jumping from the pinnacle of the temple to the ground could have attracted onlookers since the masses are drawn to such manifestations. But Christ resisted the temptation. 

The power of God is not for entertainment or for showing off, but for Godly influence and impact, which counts in time and eternity. When God's ministers look more like magicians in their manner of demonstrating God's power, it's a call for alarm. Jesus didn't go about trying to satisfy the curiosity of people by performing miracles and signs. Each time he performed a supernatural act, the motivation was to meet a need, show compassion and above all, to glorify the father. In some cases, he asked those he healed to tell no one, but to glorify God.

There is nothing wrong with publishing testimonies of God's miracles in a meeting if our motives are right, but we need to watch against the carnal competition among ministers of God today for who is the greatest in anointing, and the most accurate in words of knowledge, etc. This carnal competition has reached a point where some drunk with the wine of self promotion have gone to the extent of using mystical powers and charms to perform miraculous signs so as to boost their recognition among the “greatest” in Christendom.

It's very common today to find someone faking prophecies and words of knowledge and forcing people to accept them. Others use information provided during private consultation and counseling to form the base for their so-called prophecy extravaganza. Millions of ignorant Christians are right now under tremendous delusion and some are giving just everything they have to these self style con men masquerading as prophets.

It's time for the truly anointed of God to stand up strong for the truth and for righteousness. It's time to speak out! It's time to put away the altitude of using the anointing to show off. Let Christ be our example! DrBenard Etta

If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. (Matt 4:3)

Those who blessed the world in all times, lived for something much more than what the average man lives for. They were truly in the world, but not of the world in their values and perspective. 

Before Jesus actually began his earthly ministry, he was tested by the devil to turn the grace of God in his life, meant to save mankind into something for achieving his physical and material wants. He had to overcome that basic test to receive the mandate for his divine assignment. 
I think, the devil meant this in other words. 

If you are the son of God, why should you go hungry when you can use the anointing to get anything you want? His goal was to deviate Jesus from what really matters to the pursuit of trivialities, by using the authority and power given to him to fulfill his divine assignment to solely acquire physical breakthroughs.

There is nothing wrong with being blessed with bread as one carries out the work of the kingdom. What is wrong is when that becomes the motivation and hidden motive for ministry work. And, when one’s definition of ministerial success becomes something measured by one’s physical and material breakthrough, it becomes difficult to really see and think right.

Each of us should strive to overcome the temptation of using the grace of God on our lives for physical and material attainment. Jesus did it, we can do it!

When it comes to real ministry, something greater than just the craving for mere bread and butter have to stir one from the inside. If the goal is simply to makes ends meet, then everything will definitely go wrong with the quality of delivery of such an individual. It's time to live for something much more than bread and material possession. DrBenard Etta