Prayers That Activate Blessings

Many churches today say that they have modeled themselves after the New Testament church, but the early church received and responded to the message of giving in a way that many of us today would be reluctant to practice. In 2 Corinthians 8:14-15, Paul encouraged the Corinthians to continue what they had always done, and that was for those with abundance to give to those who did not have so that no one would go without and that all would be blessed. He called this equality. In Acts 2:44-45 and Acts 4:32-33, it is also called having "all things in common." There was a living flow of blessings between the members of this church. Those who were blessed gave to those who were in need of a blessing. They did this willingly and cheerfully. (See 2 Corinthians 9:7-15.) In each of these instances you will see that the supernatural grace of God surrounded and blessed the givers and receivers, so that the giving wasn't a burden and the receivers were blessed enough to become givers as well. In order to receive the blessing of giving, you must first be blessed with abundance. The Old Testament names certain physical places that represented abundance, fertility, fruitfulness, excellence, and beauty. When the people of God dwelled in these places, their lives prospered like never before. They were at peace and protected from their enemies, they had all the food and produce they could eat, their land was well watered, and their cattle were fed. This was true as long as they stayed in this place. THE SEVEN SPIRITUAL PLACES OF ABUNDANCE