1) OUR HEAVENLY FATHER WANTS US TO PROSPER. 

Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV) 11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Even a half-decent father wants his children to prosper.

Matthew 7:11 (NLT)  So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him.

God is a good Father and He loves to give good gifts to His children.

A) OUR PROSPERITY IS DEPENDENT ON OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH OUR FATHER IN HEAVEN.

QUESTION – What does prosperity mean to you?

The word “prosper” comes from the Hebrew word “shalom,” which means peace and happiness.

Wealth means nothing if you don’t have “shalom.”

The opposite of “prosper” is depression or dissatisfaction.

QUESTION – Why is it important to know the opposite of the word “prosper?”

Prosperity is a mindset.  Poverty is a mindset.

When our thinking is off, it can feel like there is a pressure to remain in poverty.  It can feel like we aren’t able to prosper.

When you are thinking right, you start living right.

QUESTION – If you’re not prospering in an area, what could be the problem?  

QUESTION – In what area of your life have you prospered?

QUESTION – Who are you helping to prosper?

If you want to master having a prosperous life, then help others to prosper spiritually.  The highest level of prosperity that we can teach people to achieve is spiritual prosperity.

We should always be using our position and influence to build people.  You can only take others as far as you yourself have gone.

Your spiritual life is the core of who you are.  Without it, you won’t prosper.

2) OUR PROSPERITY DEPENDS ON RELATIONSHIP WITH THE FATHER. 

Luke 15:11-12 (NLT) 11 To illustrate the point further, Jesus told them this story: “A man had two sons. 12 The younger son told his father, ‘I want my share of your estate now before you die.’ So his father agreed to divide his wealth between his sons.

QUESTION – What do these two verses tell you about the Father?

A) THE FATHER WAS THE SOURCE OF WEALTH AND PROSPERITY. 

Another word for “father” is “source.”

The son wanted a PORTION of the blessing instead of receiving ALL that he already had.  It’s like he was swimming in an ocean of prosperity, but asked for just a bucket to go!

3) WALKING AWAY FROM OUR HEAVENLY FATHER IS WALKING AWAY FROM PROSPERITY.

Luke 15:13-16 (NLT) “A few days later this younger son packed all his belongings and moved to a distant land, and there he wasted all his money in wild living. 14 About the time his money ran out, a great famine swept over the land, and he began to starve. 15 He persuaded a local farmer to hire him, and the man sent him into his fields to feed the pigs. 16 The young man became so hungry that even the pods he was feeding the pigs looked good to him. But no one gave him anything.

A) THE SON CHOSE TEMPORARY PLEASURE OVER HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH HIS FATHER.

QUESTION – What was probably running through the son’s mind when he received the money?

B) THE SON MOVED FAR AWAY SO THAT HE COULD DO WHAT HE WANTED WITHOUT ANY ACCOUNTABILITY TO HIS FATHER. 

QUESTION – Do you think the son make his decision overnight or had he been thinking about it for awhile?

The Father never moved.  The only reason the son was far from the Father was because he left his home.

QUESTION – What were the results of the son walking away?

4) COMING BACK TO OUR HEAVENLY FATHER IS COMING BACK TO PROSPERITY. 

Luke 15:17-19 (NLT) 17 “When he finally came to his senses, he said to himself, ‘At home even the hired servants have food enough to spare, and here I am dying of hunger! 18 I will go home to my father and say, “Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, 19 and I am no longer worthy of being called your son. Please take me on as a hired servant.”’

QUESTION – What was the turning point for the son?

1. HE FINALLY HAD THE RIGHT SELF-TALK 
2. HE FINALLY DECIDED TO GO BACK HOME.
3. HE FINALLY TOOK RESPONSIBILITY FOR HIS BAD CHOICES AND RESULTS

Luke 15:20-24 (NLT) 20 “So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him. 21 His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son.’

22 “But his father said to the servants, ‘Quick! Bring the finest robe in the house and put it on him. Get a ring for his finger and sandals for his feet. 23 And kill the calf we have been fattening. We must celebrate with a feast, 24 for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found.’ So the party began.

The Father was believing and waiting in anticipation for his son to return.