BVOV Magazine 2013 - present

Causing Your Nation to Prosper by Keith A. Butler “God wants you to prosper.” I know, you’re probably thinking, "OK, we hear that all the time. So what else is new?" Well, I can’t say what I’m about to share is exactly new, because it’s been around at least since God first pronounced His blessings on Abraham. But I can for sure tell you that it’s true. God wants you to prosper. The Bible says so in 3 John 2: “Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.” The truth is God does want you to prosper. But there’s something else He desires. He wants you to go beyond seeking your own prosperity and start causing your nation to prosper. That’s right. It’s God’s ultimate desire that the entire world prosper, and He expects you to be right there in the middle of helping to make it happen. You see, God may use His Word to deal with us as individuals, but there are times when He makes decisions or judgments that affect entire families or nations. Let me show you what I’m talking about. In Proverbs 14:34, the Bible says, “Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.” Take a look at those first two words: "righteousness" and "exalteth." The word "righteousness," which literally means “justice,” comes from the word righteous, a word that is defined as “characterized by uprightness or morality.” As born-again believers, that describes who each of us has been made in Christ. Like Jesus, we are people of honesty, integrity and morality. We believe in justice. To "exalt" means to “lift up.” In other words, in order for our nation to be lifted up, it’s going to have to happen through the hands of the righteous. Why? Because, as we just read, righteousness exalts or lifts up a nation. Who’s in Charge? Notice what happens when the righteous are in authority or, as we would consider it in today’s society, in charge or control. In Proverbs 29:2, the Bible says: “When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.” Why do you suppose the Bible says, “the people rejoice”? It’s because when righteous people are in charge, justice prevails. And when justice prevails, you get honesty. You get fairness, compassion, peace and prosperity. In other words, things are done for the good of all. Sadly, that’s not the case when it comes to unrighteous, ungodly leaders ruling. The last part of that scripture proves it: “but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.” I don’t have to tell you that wickedness is the same as sin. And the Bible clearly states in Romans 6:23 that “the wages of sin is death.” *****NOTES***** Whether it’s in your home or on the job, in the church or over your city, state or country, the person in charge—the one you have to follow—matters. 24 : BVOV : OCT '13

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