The Apostle Paul said, "...I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God" (Acts 20:27). All the counsel of God means the many teachings in the Word of God. Prayer is not everything we teach from the Bible. Evangelism is just one counsel of God. Working in love, healing and health, the coming of Jesus Christ, the return of Christ, judgment day, the end of the world, Heaven, and Hell — all of these are different counsels of God. Prosperity is also a counsel of God.

But lot of God's people know very little about the Word of God regarding giving and prosperity. In fact, this is often the last message they want to hear in church. All week long, they are out looking for money, even on Sunday. Yet nobody teaches them how to get money any more than God.

First of all, keep this in mind: God wants you to have wealth. Also remember that the Devil doesn't want you to prosper. If you are born again, the last thing the Devil wants is for you to have money. He wants to keep you poor because, as long as you are poor, you cannot do much damage to the kingdom of darkness. The Bible says, "...our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against... the spiritual forces of evil..." (Ephesians 6:12 NIV). We are at war with the forces of darkness.

If you don't know Jesus, Satan doesn't mind giving you money. In fact, he wants you to have it so you will never see the need for God. That is why many wealthy people don't care about God — because money itself becomes a god. Jesus said, "No one can serve two masters... You cannot serve both God and money" (Matthew 6:24 NIV). There are two powers in this world. After God in Heaven, the next power is money. After the power of God is the power of money.

Because many Christians have not been taught, some speak against those who teach about prosperity. But if you understand what money is and what God has called you to do, you will see that money is more than eating, drinking, buying cars, or caring for children.

Money in the hands of God's children is to influence the world. Paul reminded the Philippians that they were the only church that partnered with him financially: "...you Philippians yourselves know that in the beginning of the gospel... no church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving, except you only" (Philippians 4:15 ESV). We cannot spread the message of Jesus without money. Money is not just for upkeep or material things—you cannot take them with you when you leave this world. The primary use of money in the hands of God's people is as a weapon for advancing His kingdom.

So today, decide to see money the way God sees it. Refuse to let the Devil keep you poor. Receive God's Word on prosperity, act on it, and use your resources to influence your world for Christ.