The Father's Menu

The Father's Menu

Apostle Dr. Richard Udoh

Friday, February 2, 2024

THE GOSPEL TO THE POOR

Prosperity is a blessing. However, is it a blessing God intends for all of us to have? Is it truly His will for everyone of His children to prosper? A large number of people will tell you the answer to that question is "NO". They believe prosperity is reserved for a special few. They forget that Apostle Peter said God shows no favoritism (Acts 10:34). God's prosperity plan is attainable, however, for those who have the faith to believe, call it into existence and work it out. Romans 10:10 "For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved." (NLT). James 2:26 "For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also." (NKJV)

Our Lord Jesus repeated the words of Prophet Isaiah in Luke 4:18-19 "The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” (NIV) .

Let's look at each point Jesus mentioned he was anointed to preach about;

To the captives - Deliverance

To the Brokenhearted - Healing

To the blind - Recovery of sight

To the poor - The Gospel of glad tidings

Jesus told the blind people they didn't have to be blind anymore. He was bringing healing to the brokenhearted. He was telling the captives they could finally be free. So what do you think He was telling the poor? I believe He was telling the poor they didn't have to be poor anymore! Jesus preached this over and over again to the poor, and when some of John's disciples challenged him in Luke 7, He said "Go tell John what you have seen and heard, the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and to the poor the gospel is preached." Luke 7:20-22). You might wonder, "my goodness! I've never heard that before". If so, you're not alone, a vast number in the world haven't either. We've preached the new birth to the poor. We've preached the Baptism of the Holy Spirit to the poor. We've preached healing to the poor. However, we haven't preached the good news to the poor that they specifically need to hear. We haven't told them they don't have to be poor anymore. Please understand me, I am not saying that the poor need to hear "God is able to prosper them". Most of them already know that! What they need to hear is "God will prosper them". That's a whole different message and it takes faith to believe that one. And the only place to get that kind of faith is from the Word of God.

Confession:

Thank you, Lord Jesus, for dying for me. I believe I don't have to be poor anymore, therefore I declare and decree I walk in supernatural prosperity.

Further Reading:

Luke 4:18&19 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

2 Corinthians 8:9 “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.”

Read through the bible in 1 year: Exodus 15:19-17:7 Matthew 22:1-33 Psalm 27:1-6 Proverbs 6:20-26

Read through the bible in 2 years: Jer 36 & Ps 26