Fred and Sherry White's Blog

More than a Prophet

Fred White — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 14:05:00 +0000

Jesus said that John the Baptist was more than a prophet (Matthew 11:7-10). What did Jesus mean by this statement? He went on to explain that John prepared the way of the Lord (verse 10). John was already a prophet, but as he prepared the way of the Lord, John became more than whom he had been. In other words, John was advanced in the spiritual realm. John brought forth Jesus in righteousness by baptizing him in the Jordan River (Matthew 3:13-17) and proclaiming that he was the Lamb of God (John 1:35-36). Then Jesus was able to perform many miracles, including raising the dead (Matthew 11:4-6).

As you prepare the way for Jesus Christ to be manifested in your life, you become more than whom you have been. You are advanced in the spiritual realm. Jesus Christ is manifested through you by doing the works of God. It is no longer you who are doing the works, but it becomes Jesus Christ doing the works. As you lay hands on the sick, Jesus Christ heals them. As you speak his words, he performs miracles through you.

Activating Kingdom Principles of Prosperity

Fred White — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 20:49:38 +0000

Believers have a treasure chest inside, but the treasure chest has to be opened. “The good man brings out of his good treasure what is good” (Matthew 12:35). When the spirit of man is made alive by the Holy Spirit, King Jesus moves inside. He brings with Him the kingdom and all its power and riches. However, all these riches within a believer lie dormant until being activated. In particular, the principles of kingdom prosperity lie dormant inside every believer until activated.
     The principles of kingdom prosperity have to be activated in order to benefit the believer, as well as others. Paul instructed Timothy to stir up and set on fire the gift inside him: “For this reason I remind you to kindle afresh the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands” (2 Timothy 1:6-7). The reasons given for stirring up the gift included power, love and discipline or a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7). You are to be powerful, loving and disciplined with a sound mind. You have the power to produce wealth (Deuteronomy 8:18), the power to give (love) and the discipline and sound mind to know when to produce wealth and when to give.
     Only a few of the people around Jesus had love, power and a sound mind. Contrast the woman with the alabaster box of precious ointment and Simon the Pharisee (Luke 7:36-50). The woman loved much and was extravagant in her giving, anointing Jesus with the costly ointment. Jesus had touched the life of this woman, activating the treasure chest within her. The great love inside empowered her to give extravagantly. Simon resented the woman’s actions and considered them to be wasteful. Even though he had the means to give, his treasure chest inside had never been activated. He did not love much, so he did not give much. He did not give water or a kiss to Jesus, nor did he anoint Jesus (Luke 7:44-46). Activating the treasure chest inside makes the difference between hoarding up and giving out.
     Kingdom principles will be activated through strong relationships with the godhead – the Father, His Son and His Spirit. The Father is love (1 John 4:8). His Son, Jesus, is the word of God (John 1:1-14). The Holy Spirit is the power of God (Acts 1:8; 10:38). Loving unconditionally, acting on the word of God and following the Holy Spirit will cause you to be prosperous.

Excerpt from Walking in the Father’s Riches: The Prosperity of Sonship by Fred and Sherry White. ISBN: 978-0-615-34349-5

Overcoming Temporary Financial Problems

Fred White — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 23:35:22 +0000

How do good stewards overcome challenges related to finances? A biblical principle showing how Jesus meets financial needs is evident in the miracles He used to feed the multitudes. When there was a need to feed the multitudes but little money to buy food, Jesus asked the disciples how many loaves of bread they had (Mark 6:38, 8:5). The disciples had only a few loaves. Jesus took and blessed these few loaves so that the disciples could feed thousands of men and their families (Mark 6:39-44, 8:6-9). Feeding thousands of people with just a few loaves of bread is a miracle. Jesus miraculously met these great needs using the disciples’ limited resources. The pattern Jesus uses to meet financial needs is set and described with this miracle. Jesus takes and blesses a few things that believers have in order to meet their needs. Giving into the work of the kingdom of God is like sowing financial seed for a harvest. As you give under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, you can expect a harvest in financial blessings. “For whatever a man sows that and that only is what he will reap” (Galatians 6:7b, AMP). Job understood the principle of sowing and reaping, because he helped the poor, fatherless, orphans, lame and blind (Job 29:12-16). He was blessed for these actions. Those who give generously will reap abundantly (2 Corinthians 9:6). God blesses what you give to Him and multiples it back to you.
Good stewards inquire of the Lord for guidance, operate in His grace by faith and obey His commands. How do you deal with challenges when your natural abilities are inadequate? If you rely on the blood of Jesus, the word on God and center your life on Jesus, you will be the good steward that Jesus wants you to be.

Excerpt from Walking in the Father’s Riches: The Prosperity of Sonship by Fred and Sherry White. ISBN: 978-0-615-34349-5

Entering into Stewardship

Fred White — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 23:06:43 +0000

Believers enter into stewardship by supernaturally overcoming. They must overcome natural circumstances in this life through supernatural means. “And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death” (Revelation 12:11). Overcoming natural circumstances with natural abilities and resources is not the same thing as this biblical concept. Overcoming in a biblical sense involves the work of the cross, speaking the truth and centering on Jesus Christ. First, the blood of Jesus can be appropriated by believing the finished work of the cross upon which Jesus was crucified. His blood is precious and powerful enough to heal diseases and cast out demons. Second, the only effective testimonies involve speaking the truth as expressed in the word of God. Carnal people speak about things done in darkness, because they do not have the word of God to bring light and life. As the anointed word of God is proclaimed by believers, it will change circumstances. Third, loving their life involves selfishness. When people love their life they are self-centered and selfish. Focusing on Jesus Christ as the center of their life causes them to take on His desires. Then they are motivated by His love, which is totally unselfish.
The caliber of each believer’s stewardship is frequently being tested. Each challenge that a person faces can be considered a test. How well stewards meet the challenges determine whether they are good stewards. Good is the measure of a passing grade on a test, so stewards are rated as good whenever they pass their tests. The tests may relate to the daily affairs of life or difficult situations. The natural abilities of stewards are not adequate for the real tests. God’s grace is needed to live an overcoming life. His grace is always sufficient (2 Corinthians 12:9). Even when you are weak, His grace is powerful. As long as you function where you have grace, you will be able to stand against any attack of the enemy and walk in victory.

Excerpt from Walking in the Father’s Riches: The Prosperity of Sonship by Fred And Sherry White. ISBN: 978-0-615-34349-5

Why is the Poor Man Poor?

Fred White — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 18:39:01 +0000

One type of challenge to overcome is conflict. Many people try to avoid conflict in all situations. This approach is like keeping your head down on a battlefield to avoid being shot. Keeping your head down in battle is not always an effective defensive strategy, because you may not see what the enemy is doing. This strategy is also ineffective as an offensive strategy. It is better to face conflicts and resolve them than to ignore them. Without facinprprosperityg conflicts, many issues may remain unresolved so that a person is tormented inside. This approach does not allow them to bring issues to closure or to learn from conflicts. There are often important lessons to be learned from conflicts. A wise person will learn from conflict, even while being rebuked for mistakes (Proverbs 9:8, 13:1). Scoffers, arrogant people and the poor do not heed rebuke (Proverbs 13:1, 8). The poor man is poor, because he will not be corrected. The truth that poor people do not heed rebuke is particularly relevant for understanding hindrances to prosperity. People who refuse to learn from rebukes and other conflicts remain poor. They often choose to keep doing the same things and remain poor rather than listen to correction. Correction is not pleasant when it happens, but later it yields fruit and peace (Hebrews 12:11). However, correction yields fruit only if the person embraces it. Believers who want the true riches will listen to and heed correction and thereby produce much fruit. In other words, correction brings believers to a position in which they can prosper.

Excerpt from Walking in the Father’s Riches: The Prosperity of Sonship by Fred and Sherry White. ISBN: 978-0-615-34349-5