God said, Let Us [Father, Son, and Holy Spirit] make mankind in Our image, after Our likeness, and let them have complete authority over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, the [tame] beasts, and over all of the earth, and over everything that creeps upon the earth. 27 So God created man in His own image, in the image and likeness of God He created him; male and female He created them. 28 And God blessed them and said to them, Be fruitful, multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it [using all its vast resources in the service of God and man]; and have dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, and over every living creature that moves upon the earth. Genesis 1:26-28 AMP

Almighty God – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – Creator of heaven and earth, created man in His image and likeness. He created them male and female. Both the male and the female, together, are created in the likeness of God. There is not one who is inferior to the other, but rather, they are complementary to one another.

Now the Lord God said, It is not good (sufficient, satisfactory) that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper meet (suitable, adapted, complementary) for him. 19 And out of the ground the Lord God formed every [wild] beast and living creature of the field and every bird of the air and brought them to Adam to see what he would call them; and whatever Adam called every living creature, that was its name. 20 And Adam gave names to all the livestock and to the birds of the air and to every [wild] beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found a helper meet (suitable, adapted, complementary) for him. 21 And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam; and while he slept, He took one of his ribs or a part of his side and closed up the [place with] flesh. 22 And the rib or part of his side which the Lord God had taken from the man He built up and made into a woman, and He brought her to the man. 23 Then Adam said, This [creature] is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of a man. 24 Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and shall become united and cleave to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. 25 And the man and his wife were both naked and were not embarrassed or ashamed in each other’s presence.
Genesis 2:18-25 AMP

God first created one being, called Adam. But He said, “It is not good, satisfactory, or acceptable that the man should be alone. I will make him a helper – a mate – who is suitable, adapted and complementary for him.” He made Adam fall into a deep sleep and out of his rib – his side – he formed Eve. The Hebrew word, used to describe how God created Eve is different from the word used to describe how He created Adam. It literally means “built” or “skillfully formed”. God skillfully formed a mate for Adam, who would be specially adapted to him and complementary to him in every way. Eve was especially and specifically designed to be Adam’s complementary opposite – his counterpart. She would be suitable for him, intellectually, morally, and physically. He needed her; he could not do without her. Indeed, without her, he did not only lack companionship, but it would be impossible for him to be fruitful, or multiply, or replenish the earth!

Adam said, “This woman is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh.” God took some things out of Adam and put them in Eve; He left some things in Adam that He didn’t put in Eve. They need each other. God created them to desire each other – to desire the oneness of their unity. Woman is said not to have been taken out of man’s head to be lorded over by him, nor from his feet to be trampled on by him, but from his side to be equal with him, from under his arm to be protected by him, and from near his heart to be loved by him. This is God’s plan for a husband and wife!

He replied, Have you never read that He Who made them from the beginning made them male and female, 5 And said, For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and shall be united firmly (joined inseparably) to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh? 6 So they are no longer two, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man put asunder (separate).  Matthew 19:4-6 AMP

But from the beginning of creation God made them male and female. 7 For this reason a man shall leave [behind] his father and his mother and be joined to his wife and cleave closely to her permanently, 8 And the two shall become one flesh, so that they are no longer two, but one flesh. 9 What therefore God has united (joined together), let not man separate or divide.
Mark 10:6-9 AMP

For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother and shall be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.  Ephesians 5:31 AMP

God gave marriage as a special gift to Adam and Eve – they were created perfectly and complementary for each other. God ordained marriage – marriage is not a man-made thing – it was not brought about by culture, neither is it just for convenience. Marriage was instituted by God and involves three basic aspects: (1) the man leaves his parents and, publicly promises himself to his wife; (2) husband and wife are joined together by their commitment to each other – by taking responsibility for each other’s welfare and loving their mate above all others; (3) the two become one flesh in the intimacy and commitment of the sexual union that is reserved for marriage. Strong, healthy marriages include all three of these aspects.

Throughout the Bible, God treats this special partnership very seriously and if we are married, or plan to marry, then we should as well. Marriage requires commitment – are you willing to make that commitment that makes the two of you one? The goal in marriage should be much more than friendship; the goal of marriage should be oneness.

Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma. 3 But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; 4 neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. 5 For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. 7 Therefore do not be partakers with them. 8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), 10 finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. 11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.  Ephesians 5:1-11 NKJV

Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, 10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.  1 Corinthians 6:9-11 NKJV

We – the believers – are to be imitators of our Father God. Jesus saved us from the world – from sin and from death. He justified us. We are not saved to continue in sin – we are saved FROM sin, to sin no more. Jesus Christ loved us and gave Himself for us – an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma. We belong to Him and we owe it to Him and ourselves to follow Him and stay true to Him. Those who have clean hands and a pure heart will see God – they will know Him here on earth and go to heaven when they die – but those who are unrighteous and who practice the works of the flesh and the works of darkness will not see God. The unrighteous and the sinner – the children of disobedience – will NOT inherit the kingdom of God. We were once darkness, but now we are light in the Lord. Now we must walk as children of light and we must expose the works of darkness for what they are.

These classes of people will not inherit the Kingdom of God:

1. Whoremongers or Fornicators (the immoral)
Greek: pornois – Fornicator; whoremonger; male prostitutes; libertines – persons who are morally or sexually unrestrained

He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son. 8 But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”  Revelation 21:7-8 NKJV

Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city. 15 But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie.  Revelation 22:14-15 NKJV

2. Unclean persons
Greek: akathartos – homosexual; pervert; impure; foul; unclean; immoral; lewd; or demonic. This word is used 23 times of demon spirits and only twice in reference to people.

Now in the synagogue there was a man who had a spirit of an unclean demon. Luke 4:33a NKJV

3. Effeminate (catamites)
Greek: ?malakos: of uncertain affinity; soft to the touch; effeminate; figuratively, a catamite. A catamite is a young man who submits his body to unnatural lewdness; a boy or youth who is in a sexual relationship with a man. “Soft to the touch” refers to men who have feminine traits to an inappropriate degree; lacking in manly strength or aggressiveness; especially marked with weakness, softness, and love of ease; excessively affected in his emotions.

4. Abusers of themselves with mankind
Greek: ?arsenokoites – sodomites; homosexuals; pederasts (lover of boys); lesbians; one guilty of unnatural offenses; sexual pervert

5. Adulterers (the unfaithful)
Greek: ?moichos – a (male) paramour; illicit lover; figuratively, apostate (a person who forsakes his religion or his cause)

6. Covetous men
Greek: pleonektes – holding or desiring more; eager for gain; avaricious, hence a defrauder.

But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
1 Timothy 6:9-10 NKJV

7. Thieves (robbers)
Greek: kleptes – a thief; a stealer (literally or figuratively).

8. Idolaters (false worshippers)
Greek: eidololatres – servant or worshipper (literally or figuratively) of an image or an idol.

9. Drunkards (drinkers of intoxicants)
Greek: methusos – a person who is habitually or frequently drunk.

10. Revilers (abusers of others)
Greek: loidoros – mischief; abusive, railer: reviler; verbally abusive; to assail with contemptuous or opprobrious (outrageously disgraceful or shameful) language; address or speak of abusively.

11. Extortioners (those who obtain by violence or threats)
Greek: harpax – rapacious; extortion: ravening.

12. Deceivers
Greek: apatao – to cheat; delude; deceive.

But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.  2 Timothy 3:13 NKJV

For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another.  Titus 3:3 NKJV

13. Children (sons) of disobedience
Greek: apeitheia – disbelief; obstinate and rebellious; disobedience; unbelief.

Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience.  Colossians 3:5-6 NKJV

But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.  John 10:2 AMP

5. The good Pastor/Minister cares about his flock. He/she is well acquainted with his flock. He gives them godly private and public instruction and counsel. He/she is there to help and to serve.
6. The good Pastor/Minister leads his flock and always points them toward Jesus.

John 10:3 AMP – The watchman opens the door for this man, and the sheep listen to his voice and heed it; and he calls his own sheep by name and brings (leads) them out.

John 10:9 AMP – I am the Door; anyone who enters in through Me will be saved (will live). He will come in and he will go out [freely], and will find pasture.

1. The good Pastor/Minister prays for and intercedes for his flock to grow in the Lord, to know Him better, and to know who they are in Christ.

Ephesians 1:15-16 AMP – For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints (the people of God), 16 I do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers.

1. The good Pastor/Minister is a giver in every way. He sincerely preaches the truth. He is not manipulative. He puts his flock before himself and makes their spiritual well-being a priority. He gives his time and attention. He is not greedy and he does not covet any of the flocks’ possessions; neither is he a burden to them. He only loves, serves, encourages, warns, exhorts, encourages, protects and watches over the flock.

Acts 20:26-35 NIV – Therefore, I declare to you today that I am innocent of the blood of all men.   27 For I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of God. 28 Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood. 29 I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. 30 Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. 31 So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears. 32 “Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. 33 I have not coveted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing. 34 You yourselves know that these hands of mine have supplied my own needs and the needs of my companions. 35 In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.'”

1 Thessalonians 2:4-13 NIV – On the contrary, we speak as men approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please men but God, who tests our hearts. 5 You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed — God is our witness. 6 We were not looking for praise from men, not from you or anyone else. As apostles of Christ we could have been a burden to you, 7 but we were gentle among you, like a mother caring for her little children. 8 We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us. 9 Surely you remember, brothers, our toil and hardship; we worked night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone while we preached the gospel of God to you. 10 You are witnesses, and so is God, of how holy, righteous and blameless we were among you who believed. 11 For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, 12 encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory. 13 And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is at work in you who believe.

1. The good Pastor/Minister sets a godly example for the flock and watches over their souls.

Hebrews 13:7 AMP – Remember your leaders and superiors in authority [for it was they] who brought to you the Word of God. Observe attentively and consider their manner of living (the outcome of their well-spent lives) and imitate their faith (their conviction that God exists and is the Creator and Ruler of all things, the Provider and Bestower of eternal salvation through Christ, and their leaning of the entire human personality on God in absolute trust and confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness).

Hebrews 13:17 AMP – Obey your spiritual leaders and submit to them [continually recognizing their authority over you], for they are constantly keeping watch over your souls and guarding your spiritual welfare, as men who will have to render an account [of their trust]. [Do your part to] let them do this with gladness and not with sighing and groaning, for that would not be profitable to you [either].

Abraham brought the tithe to Melchizedek, priest of the Most High God:

Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was the priest of God Most High. 19 And he blessed him and said: “Blessed be Abram of God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; 20 And blessed be God Most High, Who has delivered your enemies into your hand.” And he gave him a tithe of all. Genesis 14:18-20 NKJV

The word “tithe” literally means “a tenth”. Abraham brought his tithe to God through Melchizedek long before the Law was instituted. Through the ages, paying tithes is not a matter of Law, but a matter of FAITH and COVENANT!

For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, 2 to whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all, first being translated “king of righteousness,” and then also king of Salem, meaning “king of peace,” 3 without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, remains a priest continually. 4 Now consider how great this man was, to whom even the patriarch Abraham gave a tenth of the spoils. 5 And indeed those who are of the sons of Levi, who receive the priesthood, have a commandment to receive tithes from the people according to the law, that is, from their brethren, though they have come from the loins of Abraham; 6 but he whose genealogy is not derived from them received tithes from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises. 7 Now beyond all contradiction the lesser is blessed by the better. 8 Here mortal men receive tithes, but there he receives them, of whom it is witnessed that he lives. 9 Even Levi, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham, so to speak, 10 for he was still in the loins of his father when Melchizedek met him.  Hebrews 7:1-10 NKJV

Jesus is our High Priest after the order of Melchizedek:

Where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus, having become High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.  Hebrews 6:20 NKJV

Abraham brought tithes to God through Melchizedek – a type and shadow of Jesus, our High Priest. When we bring our tithe in faith and obedience, we are bringing it – not to man – but to Jesus, Himself.

Jacob considered the tithe a just return for all of God’s blessings:

Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me, and keep me in this way that I am going, and give me bread to eat and clothing to put on, 21 so that I come back to my father’s house in peace, then the Lord shall be my God. 22 And this stone which I have set as a pillar shall be God’s house, and of all that You give me I will surely give a tenth to You.”  Genesis 28:20-22 NKJV

Before the Law was given, Jacob promised God that he would give Him a tenth of all that with which God would bless him. The order is this: first we receive the blessing of God, and then we give back to Him the tenth that is due Him of ALL He has given to us.

The Tithe belongs (is holy) to the Lord:

And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the tree, is the Lord’s. It is holy to the Lord.  Leviticus 27:30 NKJV

And concerning the tithe of the herd or the flock, of whatever passes under the rod, the tenth one shall be holy to the Lord.  Leviticus 27:32 NKJV

If the tithe belongs to God, then we have no business keeping it one day longer than we ought. If you have any respect for God and His word, then the moment your harvest (income) comes in, you will set it aside to bring to the Lord the very next time you go to church. When the Israelites brought the tithe to the temple, they were to speak a confession over it – that it was truly the tithe of their income and that it had been handled, according to God’s word, like a holy thing.

Tithe on ALL that God has given you:

You shall surely tithe all the yield of your seed produced by your field each year.  Deuteronomy 14:22 AMP

Then there will be the place where the Lord your God chooses to make His name abide. There you shall bring all that I command you: your burnt offerings, your sacrifices, your tithes, the heave offerings of your hand, and all your choice offerings which you vow to the Lord.  Deuteronomy 12:11 NKJV

Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, That there may be food in My house, And try Me now in this,” Says the Lord of hosts, “If I will not open for you the windows of heaven And pour out for you such blessing That there will not be room enough to receive it.  Malachi 3:10 NKJV

Since tithe means tenth – we are to bring the whole tenth of our income to God. We don’t tithe off of our leftovers, but off of the top. God knows when we bring Him the tithe or if we bring Him less. He is the source of our blessing and the one to whom we are accountable. Why would we even want to cheat God, when we know that we will be the only ones cheated (of a blessing). We bring our whole tithe because we love and honor our Father God and because we are both grateful for all He has provided and expectant for all that He will do to provide for and bless us in the future.

For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome. 12 Then you will call upon Me, and you will come and pray to Me, and I will hear and heed you. 13 Then you will seek Me, inquire for, and require Me [as a vital necessity] and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.  Jeremiah 29:11-13 AMP

Verse 11 in the KJV says, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.”  Father God has thoughts and plans for us for peace. This word translated “peace” means: peace, welfare, well-being, happiness, favor, rest, safety, health, and prosperity.

God has NO plans for evil. It is the devil who plans evil against mankind. The commitment that God expects from us is that we come to seek Him with ALL our heart, to pray to Him, and to call upon Him. Then He promises that He will hear us and answer us. We are the ones who can settle for the devil’s plan for us, or we can choose God’s plan. God’s plan entails welfare and peace and hope and fulfillment of promises. No matter what we go through, we know that God will have the final say and His good plans for us WILL succeed!

Blessed (happy, fortunate, prosperous, and enviable) is the man who walks and lives not in the counsel of the ungodly [following their advice, their plans and purposes], nor stands [submissive and inactive] in the path where sinners walk, nor sits down [to relax and rest] where the scornful [and the mockers] gather.  Psalms 1:1 AMP

You can follow God’s plan for your life, or you can listen to ungodly people’s advice and ideas. God’s plan is for a hopeful future, but man’s plans will lead you down the road to nowhere. The decisions we make for our lives are not merely earthly decisions, but decisions whose impact is felt into eternity. God already has a path and plan laid out for you that will take you into life and blessing, if you will choose it.

Let all those that seek and require You rejoice and be glad in You; let such as love Your salvation say continually, The Lord be magnified! 17 [As for me] I am poor and needy, yet the Lord takes thought and plans for me. You are my Help and my Deliverer. O my God, do not tarry!  Psalms 41:16-17 AMP

It doesn’t matter what your circumstances are right now, the Lord is thinking about you and planning good plans for you.

Then [Israel] believed His words [trusting in, relying on them]; they sang His praise. 13 But they hastily forgot His works; they did not [earnestly] wait for His plans [to develop] regarding them.  Psalms 106:12-13 AMP

We must give God’s plans for us time to develop. Some people praise God one minute, and then the next, they forget what He has promised and they are off doing their own thing. We must believe God’s promises concerning us and not give up or get distracted. It is those who exercise faith and patience, who inherit the promises.

Many plans are in a man’s mind, but it is the Lord’s purpose for him that will stand.  Proverbs 19:21 AMP

You can make all the plans in the world, but there is no guarantee they will come to pass. If you follow God’s plans, He will make sure that they come to pass, no matter what.

The Lord of hosts has sworn, saying, Surely, as I have thought and planned, so shall it come to pass, and as I have purposed, so shall it stand.  Isaiah 14:24 AMP

God’s plans WILL come to pass. You can accept His plans for your life, and succeed; or you can go your own way and fail.

And the spirit of the Egyptians within them will become exhausted and emptied out and will fail, and I will destroy their counsel and confound their plans; and they will seek counsel from the idols and the sorcerers, and from those having familiar spirits (the mediums) and the wizards.  Isaiah 19:13 AMP

Anyone who fights against God, and tries to find direction instead from the devil, and his agents, will utterly fail. God will confound the plans of your enemy.

But they know not the thoughts of the Lord, neither do they understand His plan, for He shall gather them as the sheaves to the threshing floor.  Micah 4:12 AMP

Everyone will stand before God and will be at His mercy. He sent Jesus to take the entire wrath of God that sinners deserve, upon Himself; so that we could be shown mercy. Just as the sheaves were sorted after harvest, to keep the wheat and burn the tares, so all of mankind will stand before God and either be received into His Kingdom or be rejected and cast into hell, into the flame that never dies.

We are assured and know that [God being a partner in their labor] all things work together and are [fitting into a plan] for good to and for those who love God and are called according to [His] design and purpose.  Romans 8:28 AMP

When we, who are called according to His design and purpose, work obediently with God to fulfill that purpose, then He works with us and makes our plans good and our path straight. Even though the devil might try to attack and harass, he cannot stop you, or the plan of God, as you faithfully follow that plan. God’s purposes for you will come to pass. He will cause every circumstance to turn and line up with His plans for you. Find out what His plan is for you. Trust Him and follow Him and you will succeed.

But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.

Psalms 86:15 KJV

Our Father God is:

1. Full of compassion:
2. Psalms 111:4 KJV – “He hath made his wonderful works to be remembered: the Lord is gracious and full of compassion.”
3. Psalms 112:4 KJV – “Unto the upright there ariseth light in the darkness: he is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous.”
4. Psalms 145:8 KJV – “The Lord is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy.”
5. Compassion: “a feeling of deep sympathy and sorrow for another who is stricken by misfortune, accompanied by a strong desire to alleviate the suffering.” Compassion feels the suffering and moves to do something about it.
6. Compassion saves and redeems:
7. Matthew 9:36 KJV – “But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.”
8. Compassion heals and delivers:
9. Matthew 14:14 KJV – “And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick.”
10. Matthew 20:34 KJV – “So Jesus had compassion on them, and touched their eyes: and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed him.”
11. Compassion feeds and provides:
12. Matthew 15:32 KJV – “Then Jesus called his disciples unto him, and said, I have compassion on the multitude, because they continue with me now three days, and have nothing to eat: and I will not send them away fasting, lest they faint in the way.”

2. Gracious and Merciful:
3. Psalms 103:8 KJV – “The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.”
4. Psalms 116:5 KJV – “Gracious is the Lord, and righteous; yea, our God is merciful.”
5. Exodus 22:27b KJV – “…and it shall come to pass, when he crieth unto me, that I will hear; for I am gracious.”
6. Exodus 33:19 KJV – “…I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy.”
7. When you turn to God in repentance, you will be met with His compassion.
8. 2 Chronicles 30:9 KJV
9. It’s because of God’s compassion and graciousness that many are not destroyed in their sinful state. He did not abandon them, even though they abandoned Him. Because of His graciousness, He does not snub us or turn us away when we humble ourselves and turn to Him for help.
10. Nehemiah 9:17
11. Nehemiah 9:31
12. Jonah 3:1-10 and 4:1-2 – God forgives Nineveh.
13. Joel 2:12-13 KJV – Rend your heart, and not your garments – He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness.
14. 1 Peter 2:2-3 – You have tasted that the Lord is gracious – desire His Word.

3. Longsuffering:
4. Longsuffering: long and patient endurance of injury, trouble, or provocation.
5. Numbers 14:18 KJV – “The Lord is longsuffering, and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression, and by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation.”
6. The Lord is longsuffering, merciful and forgiving, but He cannot forgive those who will not repent.
7. Romans 2:4 KJV – “Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?”
8. God is patiently good to us as He waits for us to turn to Him in repentance.
9. 1 Timothy 1:15-16 KJV – Paul is an example of the longsuffering of Jesus.
10. 1 Peter 3:19-20 KJV – God waited patiently for one hundred years for Noah’s generation to repent.

4. Plenteous in mercy:
5. Mercy: kindness; beauty; favor; pity.
6. Psalms 103:8-11 KJV – “The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy. 9 He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever. 10 He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. 11 For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.”
7. Exodus 20:6 KJV – “And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.”
8. Exodus 34:6-7
9. Titus 3:5-7 – According to His mercy, He saved us.
10. Jude 21 KJV – “Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.”

5. Plenteous in truth:
6. Psalms 85:10 KJV – “Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.”
7. Here we have four attributes of God – mercy, truth, righteousness, and peace – working in harmony to bring salvation to those who fear God.
8. God’s Truth is sent forth to make known to all the will of God.
9. Righteousness expects and demands obedience to the Truth.
10. Mercy forgives man of all sin.
11. This forgiveness and righteousness produces peace.
12. Deuteronomy 32:4 KJV – “He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.”

6. If you’ve seen Jesus, you’ve seen the Father:
7. John 8:3-11
8. The scribes and Pharisees tried to catch Jesus breaking the Law with a woman caught in adultery.
9. He didn’t contradict the Law of Moses.
10. He didn’t validate her sin, nor did He excuse it
11. He acknowledged that, under the law, she was deserving of punishment.
12. He demonstrated that not one man there, other than Himself, was in a position to judge her, or to carry out her punishment.
13. He demonstrated forgiveness.
14. He sent her on her way, saying, “Go, and sin no more.”
15. The Father, through Jesus, forgives you when you repent – so go on and serve Him.
16. 1 Samuel 12:24 KJV – “Only fear the Lord, and serve him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great things he hath done for you.”

Keep therefore the words of this covenant, and do them, that ye may prosper in all that ye do.  Deuteronomy 29:9 KJV

Sow these scriptures on God’s prosperity in your heart.
Speak them out of your mouth until they become real to you.

Start to obey and act on the Word.

Thank You Lord that You desire that I prosper and be in health even as my soul prospers. (3 John 2)

Thank You that I am prospering in my mind, in my body, in my spirit, and in my finances.

Thank You Father, that it is Your will that I prosper. It says in Your Word that You delight Yourself in the prosperity of Your servant. (Psalm 35:27)

Lord, because I keep Your commandments, You delight in prospering me. Thank You that I am prospering in my marriage, in my business, and in every area of my life. My family is blessed. Whatever I put my hand to is prosperous and blessed. (Deuteronomy 30:8-9)

Thank You Father, that You commanded us to be fruitful, and to multiply. Thank You that as I honor You, in every area of my life, I am fruitful and increased. (Genesis 1:22)

I delight and meditate in the Word of God day and night and keep it in my mouth; therefore, my way is prosperous and I am having good success. (Joshua 1:8; Psalm 1:2)

Lord, I meditate upon Your Word. I delight in Your Word. I am like a tree planted by the rivers of water. My leaf does not wither. I bring forth fruit in season. Whatever I do, will prosper. (Psalm 1:1-3)

Thank You Father, that You have blessed me to be a blessing.
(Psalm 21:6)

Thank You, that because I am a tither, the devourer is rebuked for my sake. You have opened the windows of heaven and are pouring out for me such blessing that I cannot contain – there will not be room enough to receive it. (Malachi 3:10)

I have given and it is given unto me, good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over. I have an abundant supply.
(Luke 6:38)

My God supplies all of my needs, according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:19)

I confess that because I walk in righteousness, God’s favor and blessing rests upon me. (Psalm 5:12)

Because I love God’s Word, I increase in wisdom and favor with God and man. (Luke 2:52)

I walk in God’s favor today in all my business dealings.

I walk in God’s favor today with people.

He makes His face to shine upon me today. He is gracious to me today. I walk in His blessings and in His peace. I expect something good to happen to me today. (Numbers 6:25-26)

With God all things are possible. So today, I am expecting God’s favor and success to be upon me! (Mark 9:23)

I am blessed wherever I am – in the city or in the country.
My children are blessed. My business is blessed and increasing.
My produce and productivity is blessed.
I am blessed when I come in and blessed when I go out.
The Lord will thoroughly defeat my enemies.
The Lord will command the blessing on my storehouse (income; savings).
The Lord will command the blessing on everything I set my hand to.
The Lord will command the blessing on me in the land He gives me.
Thank You Lord that You are opening Your good treasure to me.
Thank You that You give the rain to my land in its season.
Thank You for blessing the work of my hands.
Thank You that I will be the lender, not the borrower.
The Lord will make me the head and not the tail.

I will be above only and not beneath.

I carefully heed and observe the commandments of the Lord my God.(Deuteronomy 28:3-8 and 12-13)

Jesus has redeemed me from the curse of lack and poverty and want.  Because of Him, I am blessed! (Galatians 3:13)

I am blessed, I am blessed, I am blessed, I AM BLESSED!

The Lord gives me grace and glory. No good thing does He withhold from me. (Psalm 84:11)

Wealth and riches are in my house. I reverence the Lord and delight greatly in His commandments. I will not be afraid of evil tidings. My heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord.  (Psalm 112:1; 3; 7)

My storehouses are filled with plenty. I honor the Lord with my possessions and with the first fruits of all my increase. (Proverbs 3:9-10)

I am willing and obedient and I do enjoy the good of the land. (Isaiah 1:19)

Because I trust in the living God and not in possessions, He gives me richly all things to enjoy. I am rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share. (1Timothy 6:17-18)

I have sought first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. Now all those things I need are being added to me. (Matthew 6:33)

I believe that Jesus Christ, Who was rich, was made poor for me that I, through His poverty, may be made rich – abundantly supplied.
(2 Corinthians 8:9)

God is able to make, and is making, all grace (every favor and earthly blessing) abound toward me, so that I have more than enough for myself and also to be able to be a great blessing to God’s work and to other people. (2 Corinthians 9:8)

I am a child of God and a joint heir with Christ. (Romans 8:17)

I have received abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness so I reign as a king in life through Christ Jesus. (Romans 5:17)

In due season, I shall reap, because I do not give up. I continue to give, to do good works, and to be a blessing. (Galatians 6:9)