Faith is required to lay hold of and receive whatever it is we're trying to receive; but if our love is not working, then our faith isn't working. We'll still be in the same situation and circumstance, even though we've declared the answer from the Word with our mouths.
Look at a couple of biblical examples about the correlation between love and prosperity.
Let's look first at Matthew 14. After the death of His first cousin John broke Jesus' heart, He saw that the multitude who followed Him were hungry. So He said to His disciples, "Bring Me the two-piece fish dinner." Why? Because He loved them.
Jesus basically said, "As an act of My love, I'm going to show you My power. Because I love this multitude, watch what I do with this two-piece fish dinner. My love is so strong for them that the power has to show up. Something has to happen because I love them." And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass, and took the five loaves, and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, and broke, and gave the loaves to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude" (Matt. 14:19).
To bless means to empower to prosper. Jesus empowered the two-piece fish dinner to prosper. He anointed that dinner to feed over 20,000 people, and 20,000 hungry people is a burden and a yoke. But the anointing removes burdens and destroys yokes.
Lack is a burden. Shortage is a burden. But when the anointing gets on that lack and shortage, it does something about them, and we receive a harvest!
Thank God we get a harvest when we sow; but remember, God's acts are not due to our obedience as much as they are simply an expression of love from a Father who cares for us! That's why the system works. God supports the system He set into motion with His love.
Excerpt permission granted by Harrison House Publishers
Creflo Dollar is a founder and senior pastor of World Changers Church International (WCCI). He's a world-renowned Bible teacher, sought-after conference speaker, and bestselling author with hundreds of books, CDs, and DVDs in distribution worldwide. Recognized for his cutting-edge revelation and humorous, pragmatic approach, he enables thousands to experience grace, restoration, healing, and financial breakthrough by applying simple, biblical principles to their lives. He is the author of such game-changing books as "The Radical Life of Grace" and "Why I Hate Religion", and his award-winning Changing Your World television broadcast reaches nearly 1 billion homes. His ministry includes an app available on mobile devices and smart TV's, a dedicated YouTube channel, and the Changing Your World Network, a 24-hour online channel. A thriving social media presence has allowed him to connect with World Changers worldwide.
