Joseph Prince - The Power to Prosper During Famine
I was reading a book and I came across this verse. I think probably one of the first times I came across that verse. I was a very young man then. And it says, «And Joseph was sold into Egypt and Potiphar bought him». He was a slave. And it says, «Joseph was a prosperous man and all that he did, God made him to prosper». Maybe I like that verse when I read it because it’s the same name, all right. So I said that, wow, it began to occur to me, wait a minute, whatever that means for this Joseph in the Bible, I want it. You can say whatever you want, God is not for prosperity, health-wealth gospel, all that.
You can say whatever you want, but when the Bible talks about that, I want that. Do you want that? He was a prosperous man and whatever he did, God made it to prosper. Oh, pastor, that means everything Joseph did, it prospered spiritually in the spiritual world. Or if it is, I take that. Can I? But you know, it doesn’t stand to reason that it is spiritual prosperity because the Bible says, «Potiphar saw». Potiphar is a heathen, as heathen as heathen can be. And he saw that the Lord was with Joseph. He saw. I said, saw the Lord was with Joseph. And what he did, God made it to prosper.
So maybe as he plants the crops, his crops are all bumper crops. As he takes care of the servants, whatever new assignment he takes care of the servants, the servants are now highly motivated. Whatever he did, he prospered. And his boss then, Potiphar, noticed that. Finally he put him in charge of everything. I want that, I want that. Is it okay? That I can be a blessing. Now, was that a curse to Joseph? No, it was preparing him for the ministry that God has that he will save many people alive. Friend, your relationship with God is number one, prosperity. Your relationship with God is number one, prosperity. To be right with God, would you say that’s prosperous? A true prosperous man? And that’s what we receive, amen. We are now the righteousness of God in Christ.
«For God made Jesus to be sin for us at the cross He who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him». It’s a gift. I didn’t do anything to be righteous. Jesus didn’t do anything to become sin. He took my sin. Now I take his righteousness. It’s a divine exchange, amen. We receive it by grace, amen. Praise the Lord. So the more we believe it, now it’s not enough to know it. You got to confess it because the Bible says in 2 Corinthians 4, «We having the same spirit of faith,» now the quotation there is from Psalms. It’s saying that we having the same spirit of faith, that faith of David, right. «We having the same spirit of faith, I believe, therefore have I spoken». We also believe and therefore speak. It’s not enough just to believe. You got to speak.
The Bible says in Romans 4, «Abraham was like God because God quickens the dead and calls those things that are not as though they are». The Bible says that’s what we are to be. Call those things that are not as though they are. That are not what? Not visible, not sensible to touch, right. Nothing that you can hear or whatever, yet, yet, it will always come out in the flesh, in the realm like this building, amen. Now we can see it, now we can feel it, now we can look at it, we can take pictures of it, right. But it came out of faith when there was nothing, amen. But faith, like God is a Spirit, God brought forth the visible world, amen. Everything visible came from the invisible, amen.
So think about it, people. God calls those things that are not in the physical realm yet as though they are there. Isn’t it? It’s prosperity with a purpose that God wants us to see. That we can be a blessing to many. So the first thing we need to establish, you gotta believe. Why? Why must we believe? Is it important? I said just now. Is it important for us to believe or not believe? Does it matter, pastor, if I believe? It matters because your spirit, you don’t even realize it. Your spirit is open when you believe that God wants you to have it. God wants to prosper you. Your spirit is open. That’s the faith realm. And you begin to see breakthroughs after breakthroughs, miracle after miracle, blessings after blessings, when in the natural, there’s none. Are you listening people?
Now we are heading in tough days, all right. Genesis 26, Abraham’s son, Isaac. «There was a famine in the land, besides the first famine that was in the days of Abraham. And Isaac went to Abimelek, king of the Philistines in Gerar». Say «Famine,» say, «Famine». So, famine is a time of lack. Okay. Now this famine is bad, okay. That means there’s not enough to eat. Your crops cannot grow. And the Bible goes on to say it was a famine that was severe. Just like the time of, if you keep on reading, it’s the time of Abraham, which was severe. And the time of Joseph, it was also severe. Whenever famine comes into the world, so first of all, we see that famine does come periodically to the world, okay.
So what makes this famine something we can learn from for today? And when you read the Bible like I told you in the lesson on how to study the Bible, is that a lot of things written in the past, in the stories in the Old Testament and all that are two parts types for us to learn today. In other words, God put them there because it’s so relevant. It speaks to us today. Are you with me so far? So first, we established already that we are Abraham’s seed, right. It says, «If you are Christ’s,» are you Christ’s? Turn to your neighbor and ask, «Are you Christ’s»? Christ’s belongs to Christ. That is, are you someone belonging to Christ? Are you Christ’s? Right, if you are Christ’s, then what? «You are Abraham’s seed, and heirs is according to the promise. Heirs according to the promise,» amen.
So you are the heir according to the promise. So, the clearest picture of a direct seed of Abraham, we know the seed above all the seed that God is referring to is Christ. And if you are Christ’s you are in him. As he is, so are we, you see? Right? So, you are Abraham’s seed. But a direct illustration of that is Isaac. Isaac was the son of Abraham, the promised seed, all right, that came finally. So this story of how Abraham’s son, Isaac, dealt with the famine, okay. Now, many of you know the story but, you know, the Holy Spirit is bringing it into a new light.
Okay, so back to Genesis 26. Drop down. «Then the Lord appeared to him and said, 'Do not go down to Egypt; live in the land of which I shall tell you. Dwell in this land, and I’ll be with you and bless you; for to you and your descendants I give all these lands, and I will perform the oath which I swore to Abraham your father.'» So the first thing God said to Abraham’s seed, all of you, don’t go down to Egypt. What does that mean? When famine happens, don’t give up on God’s ways and use the world’s ways. And remember this, every time they say it’s about Egypt, it is always go down.
Now the world will offer you a lot of things. Immediate gratification. And we got a whole generation of people who want quick money. They want quick returns. They’re not interested in, he that gathers by labor shall increase. They’re not interested in honoring the boss and the company which is the spirit of what Colossians writes about knowing that of the Lord you shall receive the reward. Okay, so God told Isaac, «I bless you,» right? Bless you. Okay, look at the blessing. «Dwell in this land, I’ll be with you and I’ll bless you». The word there is «Barak,» «Barak». Now what is «Barak»? The noun is like God told Abraham, «I’ll bless you and you shall be a blessing». I will «Barak» you and you will be a «Baraka». The value of «Baraka». You shall be a blessing.
So blessing is the noun, right? «Barak» is the verb, okay? So this is «Barak». What is «Barak»? So I say, God will bless you in every area of your life. Where really matters number one, relationship with God. You are the righteousness of God in Christ. The blessing of Abraham has come on us, hello, amen. Real quick, «Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law,» that the blessing, okay, Christ has redeemed us. Who is us? You and I. You and I, all right? We are now, we have been ransomed from what? The curse of the law. We are not under the curse of the law, amen. Even though we are not perfect, we are not under the curse of the law. Okay, why? Because, by the way, it cannot mean anything but that we are not perfect. Why? Because if you say, «Pastor Prince, it’s only for people who are keeping the law».
That makes no reason why is there a curse for him. Why should there be a curse for someone who is keeping the law? It only means something when people are not perfect, right? But he says, «Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law». Being made a curse for us. And notice the purpose, «That the blessing of Abraham». The blessing of what? «Abraham might come on the Gentiles». That’s you and I, non-Jews, «Through Jesus Christ». How? Through faith. «That we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith». Do you see that? So the blessing of Abraham, the blessing that brings every blessing is righteousness of faith. God has made you righteous with him. You’re so close, your position before God right now is so near him. Say, «So near». You are so near. Nearer you cannot be. «For in the person of his son, you are as near as he».
Now «Barak» includes blessing in the area of prosperity, in terms of material things as well. Is that in the Bible? Okay, you say, «Pastor Prince, that’s your opinion. That’s your opinion». Okay, he says it’s my opinion. Let’s go to a scholar, a Hebrew scholar. This time, not my own, I find somebody else. The New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology. Sounds fancy? These are scholars who are reputed to write this kind of books. See what he says. «Basically, Barak,» or «Eulogia,» by the way, «Eulogia» is the Greek for blessing, bless, all right? So, left is Old Testament, Barak. New Testament is «Eulogia». Same meaning, okay? Like you say, you say eulogy, right? It’s from the Greek word, «Eulogia». You, good, logia, word, okay? It’s together becomes blessing. «Basically, BARAK, the Hebrew word barak means endued with beneficial power».
When God blesses you, listen, in this time of famine, when God blesses you, you are endued with beneficial power. To effect all these things in your life, «The nature of the blessing is that of the conferring and transference of beneficial power». Beneficial, say, «Beneficial power,» all right? «Which produces fertility in men and in livestock and lands». Would you say that back in those days, «Barak,» because it’s translating for the Old Testament blessing of the Israelites and all that. In what way does it manifest? Because they are all people involved in husbandry, in farming, right? They grow grapes, vine, vine grapes and figs and olive trees and all that. The more they have, the more they prosper. And they have flocks as well.
So the more fruitful their flock is, what happens? They prosper. So here it says, all right, «This blessing works vertically in the continued growth of succeeding generations. Horizontally, it affects peace, security from enemies». Think of that, think of that. «Good fortune and well-being». What does that mean? Well-being. Does that mean that you are always sick, always tired, no energy, depressed? Is that well-being? No. «Well-being for a tribe or group (expressed most comprehensively in the concept of 'Shalom, ' 'Well-being') again». So «Barak» and «Shalom» is very close. Can you see that?
All right, if this book is not enough, let me show you another book. This is a theological workbook of the Old Testament. Your Grace Academy has started, all right? This is your theological workbook of the Old Testament. Now watch this. «To bless in the Old Testament means to endue with power for success, prosperity, fecundity, and longevity». You know what’s fecundity? It means you are very fruitful. Plenty of children. How many want blessing? Fecundity. How many want fecundity? Okay, lah, at least you know you are fecund. You want to have a lot of effect or not, never mind, all right, you are fecund. All right, fecundity means having a lot of children. That means you are very fruitful, fecundity. For the animals, like the sheep that they raise, the goats and the cows and all that.
When they have fecundity, they have plenty of offspring which increases the wealth of those people in those days. But in our context, what does it mean? Our business, our ministry flourishes, increases. See, God doesn’t think that when these things increase, they are a curse. I have to close with this. I need you to see this. This is very important, okay? It’s that Jesus takes the curse of poverty on himself on our behalf at the cross. So that verse you all know and some people here are well established in it. But look at 2 Corinthians chapter 8 verse 9. «You know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich». Right?
So here, stand alone, you can say, oh spiritually rich, spiritually poor. You can say it that way. And who is there to argue? But everything must be translated in context. Remember what we said about how to study the Bible? Must be translated in context. This is talking about physically, even physically, he was destitute. They gambled for his clothes at the foot of the cross. One of the things he carried for us, of course, first and foremost, he carried our sins. Praise the Lord. But the Bible also says he carried our diseases, amen. He himself took our infirmities and bore our sicknesses. With his stripes, we are healed. But he also carried out poverty. Because there is no lack in heaven. We walk on streets of gold.
Something is very wrong with heaven. You won’t feel comfortable going there. You will tell God, «God, I think this is a big grandiose. Tone it down. We don’t want people to say of you, God, that you believe in the health and wealth gospel, okay»? Something is wrong. When Jesus says, «Pray this way, thy kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven». No lack, no lack. Supply, supply. Okay, I gotta put this through. The context is important. This is verse 9, right? Look at the verses before. He’s talking, Paul is saying, «I bear them witness according to their ability. Beyond their ability, they were freely willing». Talking about the people in Macedonia, the Christians in Macedonia, «Imploring us with much urgency that we receive the gift and the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. And not only as we had hoped, but they first gave themselves to the Lord, and then to us by the will of God».
See, talking about giving. «So we urge Titus that as he had begun, so he would complete this grace in you as well». Giving is a grace, he says, all right? These people in Macedonia, they encourage us to take a gift to the poor saints in Jerusalem, the poor Christians in Jerusalem. They are asking us, they are imploring us to take the gift. So we are going to send Titus to prepare you all in Corinthian. You all are gonna have a part to play in this. That Titus can finish this grace in you. Giving is a grace gift, amen. And then, look at this. «As you are bound in everything: in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all diligence, in your love for us. See that you are bound in this grace also». What? Giving grace, amen.
Drop down. «I speak not by commandment, I’m testing the sincerity of your love». Whether you give or not, it’s not by commandment. But I test the sincerity of your love, amen. «By the diligence of others you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ». Okay, this is before this verse. After this verse, it’s still on money. «And this I give advice: it is to your advantage not only to be doing what you began and were desiring to do a year ago, but now you must also complete the doing of it». Give the money. You promised to give the money to the poor saints, Corinthian church. Now fulfill it. It’s all about giving. And then smack dab in the middle is that Jesus became poor that you might be rich. I said Jesus became poor that you might be rich. Translate in the context.
By the way, this is chapter what… 8. You want chapter 9? Chapter 9 goes on. Talk about the context here. And this is the one we use always. Verse 6, «This I say, he who sow sparingly will rip sparingly, he who sow bountifully will rip bountifully. Let each one give as he purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity, for God loves the cheerful giver». It’s all one thought. From Jesus becoming poor at the cross, now you are rich. Act like it. Never say you don’t have anything to give. Gifts, «He who sow sparingly shall rip sparingly. He who sow bountifully shall rip bountifully,» amen.
Oh man, time is up man. Oh, real fast. God is able to make all grace, shout, «All grace». Abound. Say, «Abound». Towards who, towards who? Yeah, I can say me. Towards you. «That you always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work,» amen. All right, Isaac. So you’ve got to stay in this land, I’ll bless you. All right, drop down. «Then Isaac sowed in that land, and reaped in the same year a hundredfold, and the Lord blessed him». Don’t you just love that? How much did he reap? And what year was it? Famine. You know what is in front of him when he sowed? Would you like to see the land? It’s severe famine. You know what the land looks like?
Now, like this. All right, just imagine. Just imagine. Here’s seed, all right? You’re asked to sow in this land, would you? You got to do it by faith. I said you got to do it by faith. Your mind is saying there’s no way this seed will sprout. No way. Famine. Not enough water. The ground has lost its nutrients that’s necessary. It’s just like dust. It takes faith. Sowing takes faith. It’s easier to go to the stock market and say, «A lot of my money can go there». Because it looks green. Potential, natural, logical. Everything is good. Oh, this investment, everything. You know, today we decide where our money goes based on the greenery and the logic. But when you look at this, no way you will invest. And God says, «Look at gospel ground».
You say, «What does it do for me»? For you, gospel ground is just like dry. Stock market, ah. Crypto, ah. And whatever, okay? Now, I’m not saying these things are wrong. I’m not saying that, all right? The Lord may lead you into this, whatever it is, go ahead. I’m just saying this is not the main system of God. And if you’re involved in it and you are really stressed out and you’re always in strife, it’s not God. If you’re in it, you’re in rest but your main stay is always tithing, trusting the Lord. That’s cool, all right? But when you look at the gospel ground, it looks like this. And God says, «Sow». This is what Isaac sowed. It’s the year of famine. Don’t forget, that’s how the ground looks. Go back to the verse again. «But Isaac’s sowed». Is that faith? Do you think he did it by faith or by logic? «And reaped in the same year a hundredfold and the Lord blessed him,» the man began to prosper. Okay, it’s not enough.
«And continued prospering until he became very prosperous». And call this thirty-fold, sixty-fold, hundred-fold. All in the same year, now. He reaped in the same year a hundred-fold. And it tells you who is behind it. The Lord blessed him. The Bible says, «The cattle on a thousand hills belongs to Him». He put the diamonds, the amethyst, the rubies, the sapphires, the gold in this earth. When he came, he divested himself of all that and on that cross, he died. He died like a poor man with nothing. Why? Was he poor? In and of himself, no. He did it for you. It’s part of the redeeming work, the atoning work that he bears our sins and you receive his righteousness. He bears your disease, you receive his healing and health. At the cross, he was rejected that you might be accepted. He said, «My God, My God» at the cross that you might say, «My Father, my Father». And he also bore your poverty. Are you receiving his riches?