These are notes on the sermon, Prosper Through Prophetic Preaching, preached by Pastor Joseph Prince on Sunday, 30 June 2019, at The Star Performing Arts Centre, Singapore. We hope these sermon notes will be an encouragement to you!
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The church is not just a building. It’s the people of God coming together that makes the house of God.
There is an assignment for your life. You were not born by accident. How you were formed may be an accident but the moment you were conceived, God put an assignment on your life.
You have a destiny and you are called for an assignment. The Lord has given you gifts and He has anointed you. Your gifts may be similar to others’ but the way it flows and operates out of you is unique, just like your fingerprints.
There’s only one of you. You are called for a unique assignment.
Pastor Prince encourages everyone that every time you come to the house of God, their assignment becomes clearer and clearer as the Word goes forth. You may be a homemaker, a businessman, or a student—whatever your role is, there is an assignment from God within that assignment.
The best way to find out what God has for you is to come together in God’s house and hear the Word preached. Within the preached Word, you will hear God’s personal word for you.
“How excellent is thy lovingkindness (hesed), O God! Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings.
They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house; and thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures.
For with thee is the fountain of life; in thy light shall we see light.”
— Psalm 36:7–9 KJV
“Lovingkindness” — It is the Hebrew word, “hesed,” which means God’s goodness and grace.
“Shadow of your wings” — refers to God’s protection.
What makes it easy for people to put their trust in the shadow of His wings? Hearing about the wonder of His lovingkindness.
“They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house” — In God’s house, there is abundance. There is plenty and enough to spare.
In the parable of the lost son, the prodigal son knew that in his father’s house, there was “bread enough and to spare” (Luke 15:17).
Bread is also a picture of healing (see Matt. 15:26–28).
Likewise, there is healing and health enough and to spare in the Father’s house!
Pastor Prince prays for people with these conditions:
Pastor Prince encourages those whose conditions weren’t called out that in the Father’s house, there is always an abundance of grace for them to receive their healing. There is God’s zoe life, and that life is readjusting, restoring, renewing, repairing and healing their bodies as the Word is preached.
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“and thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures” — Every time you come to God’s house, He will cause you to drink from the rivers of His pleasure. The word “pleasures” is the same Hebrew word for “Eden,” referring to the Garden of Eden in Genesis; it refers to the pleasures as God ordained them to be in the beginning.
“In thy light shall we see light” — In the house of God, as the Word goes forth, you will begin to find greater clarity about your assignment from God and even in the practical affairs of your life.
As you hear about the grace of God preached in the house of God, you will find the grace of God becoming increasingly precious and valuable in your life. And as you worship Him, you’re also drinking from the rivers of His pleasures.
When something is troubling you or when you’re looking for an answer or a solution, worship the Lord and listen to the Word of God in the house of God. You will find that in His light, you will see light in your situation.
Pastor Prince shares that even when he preaches on a particular topic that might not seem related to your specific situation (e.g. the Second Coming of Christ), you can still receive a revelation for your business or wisdom that you need to parent your child through the preaching of the Word.
You don’t need the preacher to preach specifically on the subject you’re struggling with, whether it’s a marital problem or a familial problem.
“The unfolding of your words gives light;
it gives understanding to the simple.”
— Psalm 119:130 NIV
Pastor Prince likens this to a person trying to find a lost key in a dark room. When you’re trying to find it, you don’t just switch on a torchlight, you flip the switch to light up the entire room. In that light, you see better and maybe even see what else you may have forgotten too.
Likewise, if there’s a very practical problem you’re facing, as you spend time in His Word, the light of God’s Word enters into your situation and opens your eyes to what you need to see.
All the books we read will not compare to having an Emmaus experience with the Lord (see Luke 24:13–35).
The two disciples on the Emmaus road were despondent and cast down from the news of Jesus’ death. They were upset because they saw Jesus as a means to an end (they thought that Jesus would redeem Israel), and they thought His death meant that they would not achieve that end. Israel was their central focus.
Similarly, we can sometimes also see Jesus as a means to an end:
“I want Jesus to heal my body.”
“I want Jesus to help me with my financial life and in my parenting.”
Yet despite the two disciples seeing Him as a means to an end, Jesus took time to be with them and revealed to them the things concerning Himself in the Word.
The things that Jesus can do for us are great, but who He is to us is even better than what He can do for us.
“And they said to one another, “Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?”
— Luke 24:32 NKJV
The primary reason for the Scriptures is to reveal Jesus. Even practical marriage advice given in the Bible goes back to Jesus, e.g. “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church” (Eph. 5:25).
What are you putting as the centerpiece of your heart? Your spouse? Your work?
Nothing short of our Lord Jesus Christ can satisfy our hearts.
Introduction to the menorah in the tabernacle:
“And let them make Me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them. According to all that I show you, that is, the pattern of the tabernacle and the pattern of all its furnishings, just so you shall make it.” — Exodus 25:8–9 NKJV
The tabernacle on earth is only a pattern of what it is in heaven. In the book of Revelation, John saw the seven golden lampstands (see Rev. 1:13) and Jesus Himself in the midst of them.
The Holy Spirit devotes only about two chapters in the Bible to talk about creation. While there are innumerable stars in the universe, the Bible only lists God’s act of creating the stars in a mere five words: “He made the stars also.” (Gen. 1:16).
But it took the Holy Spirit almost 50 chapters to talk about God’s redemption as seen through the tabernacle. The Holy Spirit deems the subject of the tabernacle of utmost importance.
Pastor Prince believes that as he shares about the tabernacle and especially on the menorah (also referred to as the lampstand), the light of God’s Word will bring light to our situations.
Within the Holy Place of the tabernacle, there are three pieces of furniture: the altar of incense, table of showbread, and the menorah (the lampstand).
“You shall also make a lampstand of pure gold”
— Exodus 25:31–40
The entire lampstand is made of pure gold, which speaks of the purity and beauty of our Lord Jesus Christ. There is nothing immoral, ugly, or unclean in Him. There’s no mixture, no sin.
In many teachings on the tabernacle, it has been said that the lampstand represents Jesus as the light of the world. But if that were true, the menorah would have been placed in the outer court of the tabernacle for all the world to see instead of within the Holy Place of the tabernacle.
The menorah exists within the Holy Place because Jesus is the light of the sanctuary (which represents the church). He is a light for His people.
2. The lampstand is perfectly balanced.
Beauty is all about symmetry and the menorah is perfectly balanced—a center shaft with 3 branches on each side.
Our Lord Jesus is not just beautiful, He is balanced.
When He is firm, He is strong but never hurtful.
When He is kind, He isn’t servile.
When He is humble, He is still princely.
3. The lampstand was made by hammering one talent of gold.
“You shall also make a lampstand of pure gold; the lampstand shall be hammered work. Its shaft, its branches, its bowls, its ornamental knobs, and flowers shall be of one piece.”
— Exodus 25:31 NKJV
The talent of pure gold is hammered to form the lampstand. The Lord was “hammered” at the cross in order for the church to come forth.
“Just as many were astonished at you, so His visage was marred more than any man, and His form more than the sons of men;”
— Isaiah 52:14 NKJV
The cross was the only time there was no beauty found in Jesus. How could God allow His beloved Son to go through all this? Unless there is a love that goes beyond all comprehension. That’s how much He loves you.
Jesus was hammered, so that you and I, His Church, can come forth.
“Then I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands, and in the midst of the seven lampstands One like the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band.”
— Revelation 1:12–13 NKJV
“seven golden lampstands” — The seven lampstands represent the seven churches John was addressing.
“in the midst of the seven lampstands One like the Son of Man,” — Jesus’ death brought forth the church.
The bride, the church, came from His side. On the cross, He was pierced on His side. That was the heavy price for redeeming His bride.
“You shall make seven lamps for it, and they shall arrange its lamps so that they give light in front of it.”
— Exodus 25:37 NKJV
“arrange its lamps so that they give light in front of it” — The three branches on either side of the center shaft were arranged such that they all pointed towards the center shaft.
This is a picture of the church, us, placing Jesus at the center of our lives.
When Jesus is centerplace in your life, you’ll find that you are led by the Spirit. You’ll find that you’re able to do things that are supernatural.
Whatever you do, whether it’s your work, studies, loving your spouse or raising your children, do it unto the Lord. Knowing that of the Lord, you will receive your reward.
When we place Jesus at the center of our lives, we are worshipping Him. Worship doesn’t just refer to singing. It refers to every area of our lives—loving our spouses, working for our employers, etc.
“But these are the ones sown on good ground, those who hear the word, accept it, and bear fruit: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred. Also He said to them, “Is a lamp brought to be under a basket or under a bed? It is not to be set on a lampstand?”
— Mark 4:20–21 NKJV
Light represents revelation. When God gives you a revelation, don’t hide it under a basket or under a bed, don’t misuse it or be passive about it. Share it.
“under a basket or under a bed” — In the King James Version, the basket refers to a bushel of wheat. It is a term for commercialism. The bed represents laziness or the temporal pleasures of the world.
Don’t let commercialism conceal the light in you. Don’t let laziness or temporal pleasures dim that light in you. God has a specific assignment for you. Don’t live life watching others live their lives.
After 70 years of captivity, the children of Israel returned from Babylon under Zerubbabel, the governor appointed over them. There was no pillar of cloud by day or fire by night but the presence of God was with them. This is the same for us today—there may not be any physical signs of God’s presence, but we know that He is still with us.
When they returned to their land, the children of Israel set out to rebuild the temple of God but their enemies complained to the king, and the children of Israel were commanded to stop the rebuilding. They stopped rebuilding the temple for at least 15 years.
Yet it wasn’t really because of the king’s command that they stopped rebuilding the temple for so many years. It was actually because their leaders, Zerubbabel the governor and Joshua the high priest, were both discouraged. They had lost faith and confidence in their assignment. So God raised two young prophets, Haggai and Zechariah, to encourage them.
Today, God is raising a new generation.
Pastor Prince gives another example in the Bible of God raising a younger generation:
“And it came to pass at that time, while Eli was lying down in his place, and when his eyes had begun to grow so dim that he could not see, and before the lamp of God went out in the tabernacle of the Lord where the ark of God was, and while Samuel was lying down, that the Lord called Samuel. And he answered, “Here I am!” ”
— 1 Samuel 3:2–4 NKJV
Eli is a picture of an older generation; a distant generation and an old priesthood.
“when his eyes had begun to grow so dim that he could not see” — Lack of revelation, spiritual blindness. One of the requirements of the high priests in the law is that he must not be blind because he needed to have insight into the state of the people.
In the New Testament, Peter says it as such: “For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins.” (2 Peter 1:9 NKJV)
This tells us that a priesthood that doesn’t preach to the people that their sins are forgiven is blind.
“and before the lamp of God went out in the tabernacle of the Lord where the ark of God was” — Eli was never supposed to allow the light to go out.
Eli is a picture of the old priesthood who does not preach on the forgiveness of sins, but Samuel is a picture of the new priesthood who knows their righteousness in Christ. This is a generation who knows the grace of God. A generation who isn’t afraid to ask of God because they know His grace.
Samuel’s name in Hebrew means “to ask of God.” He is born of Hannah, whose name in Hebrew means “grace.”
Samuel represents a new leadership, a new generation that is rising up to take their place. You are part of this new generation, the Samuel generation!
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Back to the young prophets Zechariah and Haggai and their role in the rebuilding of the temple:
God sent the young prophets, Zechariah and Haggai, to prophesy to the leaders of Israel (Joshua the high priest and Zerubbabel the governor) who were discouraged.
Regarding Joshua the high priest:
Zechariah had a vision of Joshua decked in filthy garments, with Satan on his right hand accusing and opposing him (see Zech. 3:1–5). Zechariah revealed that Joshua’s discouragement was a result of spiritual warfare that the high priest was going through—Joshua felt condemned because of Satan's accusations. Through Zechariah’s prophecy, the Lord removed Joshua’s condemnation and placed on him a robe of righteousness.
We are also in spiritual warfare, and we overcome through God’s Spirit.
When you feel condemned or unrighteous, listen to preaching that tells you that you have been made righteous in Christ!
Regarding Zerubbabel the governor:
Zechariah delivered this message from God to Zerubbabel: “‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ Says the Lord of hosts. ‘Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain! And he shall bring forth the capstone with shouts of “Grace, grace to it!” ’ ”
— Zechariah 4:6–7 NKJV
When there is opposition as you go about in your assignment and calling that God has given you, God will be the One who gives you the grace for it. Not by might, not by power, but by His Spirit.
When you do that, you’re declaring that it’s not by your own might or your own power, but by God’s Spirit.
Trust in God’s grace, His unearned and unmerited favor.
“The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this temple; his hands shall also finish it.”
— Zechariah 4:9 NKJV
When God looks at you, He calls forth the end result just like He did for Gideon while he was still hiding in the winepress. God called Gideon a mighty and valiant man even while he was hiding from his assignment to defeat Israel’s enemies (see Judg. 6:12).
Listen to the preached Word and align yourself with the Lord’s opinion of you. You will prosper.
“So the elders of the Jews built, and they prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. And they built and finished it, according to the commandment of the God of Israel, and according to the command of Cyrus, Darius, and Artaxerxes king of Persia.”
— Ezra 6:14 NKJV
As you hear the anointed word preached, you will prosper through the prophesying.
The devil doesn’t play fair. He doesn’t give you a break from his attacks.
If you feel like the devil is attacking you 24/7, listen to the Word 24/7. If you’re going through a difficult season, listen to the Word and you’ll begin to prosper in your intimacy with the Lord and prosper in your mental health and emotions.
“Then He said to them, “Take heed what you hear. With the same measure you use, it will be measured to you; and to you who hear, more will be given.” ”
— Mark 4:24 NKJV
“There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots. [1] The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him, the Spirit of [2] wisdom and [3] understanding, the Spirit of [4] counsel and [5] might, the Spirit of [6] knowledge and of the [7] fear of the Lord.”
— Isaiah 11:1–2 NKJV
In Isaiah 11, we see how the sevenfold spirit is upon Jesus (see Rev. 1:4).
The Spirit of the Lord is the center shaft and the other six branches represent other gifts of the Spirit.
Within the Spirit of knowledge, counsel, wisdom, understanding, might, and fear of the Lord, we can see the nine gifts of the Holy Spirit in 1 Corinthians 12:7–11:
The Spirit of wisdom and understanding includes [1] the word of knowledge, [2] word of wisdom and [3] the discerning of Spirits.
These gifts are your inheritance. They are not given to you just for use in the church but also for every other area of your life—your business, your parenting, your marriage, etc.
The Spirit of counsel and might includes [4] the gifts of healing, [5] the working of miracles, and [6] the gift of faith.
This is what Paul prayed over the churches: that they would have the Spirit of wisdom and be strengthened with all might in their inner man, and Pastor Prince prays for the congregation to have this Spirit as well.
“...strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy”
— Colossians 1:11 NKJV
How do you know if you’re strong spiritually? You’re patient with people and with circumstances. God has strengthened you to the point where you find joy in being patient.
The Spirit of knowledge and fear of the Lord includes [7] the gift of different tongues, [8] the interpretation of tongues and [9] the gift of prophecy.
“His delight is in the fear of the Lord,
And He shall not judge by the sight of His eyes,
Nor decide by the hearing of His ears;”
— Isaiah 11:3 NKJV
That’s how Jesus lived. He was never flattered into having a good opinion of people and He was never slighted into having bad thoughts about people.
Leaders, when you follow the Spirit, you’ll be like Jesus and lead others well. When you counsel someone, listen to the person but more importantly, listen to the Spirit in you.
For the problems that you have today, don’t go into the world to try to find the solution or answers.
The menorah (God’s light) is in the Holy Place (the church). You’ll find your answers in the church. Natural light has no answers for supernatural problems. It is in the house of God where you’ll hear the Word of God preached and where the light of His Word can bring supernatural light into your situation.
“Three bowls shall be made like almond blossoms on one branch, with an ornamental knob and a flower, and three bowls made like almond blossoms on the other branch, with an ornamental knob and a flower—and so for the six branches that come out of the lampstand.”
— Exodus 25:33 NKJV
The lampstand is akin to an almond tree. In Israel, the almond tree is the first tree to bring forth fruit after the winter. The almond tree is a picture of the resurrection of Jesus.
If you calculate the number of decorations, you’ll find that each branch has 9 decorations while the center shaft has 12 decorations. In total, there are 66 decorations on the menorah, which corresponds to the 66 books in the Bible—39 books of the Old Testament, and 27 books in the New Testament.
The menorah is therefore also a picture of God’s Word.
In God’s Word, you will find all the light that you need.
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”
— Psalm 119:105 NKJV
Whatever your situation or challenge is, you can read His Word and receive His extraordinary wisdom and supernatural help for it.
“This coming week, in the name of the Lord Jesus, the Lord bless you and the Lord preserve and protect you from all harm, danger and evil. The Lord makes His face shine on you, be favorable to you. The Lord lifts up His countenance on you and your families, and grant to you and your loved ones His shalom health, wholeness and peace.
In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and all the people said, Amen.”
We hope these sermon notes blessed you! If they did, we encourage you to get the sermon and allow the Lord to speak to you personally as you watch or listen to it.
© Copyright JosephPrince.com 2019
These sermon notes were taken by volunteers during the service. They are not a verbatim representation of the sermon.
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