Articles by Kevin Baird
Important Update on Kevin and Tracie Baird
“[Urged on] by faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed and went forth to a place which he was destined to receive as an inheritance; and he went, although he did not know or trouble his mind about where he was to go.”
– Hebrews 11:8 (AMPC)
Sometimes you just know that the Lord is changing your season and He solicits you to step forward into the next chapter of His good plan. As rational people, most of us like logical and easily identifiable transition. Sometimes the Lord works that way; sometimes He simply says, “Follow Me and I’ll provide the daily details”. It is with that in mind that I can announce publicly that our time as Pastoral Ministries Directors at Florida Family Voice is concluding. This was my decision, based on the unmistakable voice of the Lord. There are no conflicts, problems, or offense. For us, it is simply an act of obedience. We enjoyed almost 6 fruitful years of engaging the civic mission field in Florida and have so many incredible stories, relationships, and memories we take with us. We are grateful to God and FFV for providing a platform to have those experiences and we wish CEO, Erik Dellenback and the team continued success in the mission.
God Is My Source (Principle 2)
“And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 4:19 NKJV
“Yet for us there is [only] one God, the Father, Who is the SOURCE of all things and for Whom we [have life], and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through and by Whom are all things and through and by Whom we [ourselves exist].”
I Corinthians 8:6 AMPC
As we walk through the 12 principles which have impacted my views of prosperity, it is important to note that each point became a point of “revelation”. It was more than knowledge or simply a statement of theology, but a living, breathing reality which became and still is a foundational conviction. Principle #2 is one many people agree with, but the challenge is when it is put to the test in the believer’s circumstances. We will say things like, “God is my source”, “God owns everything I have”, and “God will provide” (all true), but the accompanying expectations and obedient actions God will ask will never make sense until this central one is etched deep into our heart and mind.
If God is your source, then your job isn’t.
If God is your source, then your business isn’t.
If God is your source, then your investment isn’t.
And this is the tricky part.
God Wants to Prosper You (Principle 1)
“And you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day.” Deuteronomy 8:18 (NKJV)
“Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.” 3 John 2 (NKJV)
Deuteronomy 28 is a chapter that every believer needs to apprehend in their spirit. The blessing of being in the covenant with the Lord provides numerous promises. The chapter also unveils numerous problems when one is not in that covenant relationship. It’s important because it defines God’s heart and intentions towards the obedient and the repercussions of waywardness. The Lord Himself outlines the pros of being in a relationship with Him and the cons of walking away. He also expands the concept of prosperity to not only include, but also eclipse, the singular definition of “lots of money”. We will get to money and earthly riches soon enough, but prosperity is defined beyond your bank account.
THE FOUNDATIONS OF PROSPERITY (INTRODUCTION)
A couple years ago I posted a series of articles (now found on the blog site) about, “No Longer Being Ashamed of Prosperity”. It was received warmly and basically reviewed the reasons why God’s people ought not shy away from the biblical concept of prosperity. It is remarkable to me how much disdain is released from believers to those who have increased in their financial standing. I had even suggested that the root of some of the criticism is tied to jealousy and covetousness. That, of course, is ultimately revealed by self-evaluation, but the general observation remains. Why the irritation over someone’s blessing?