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Prosper with a Purpose · Men's Morning Devotional

• 0:01
  SPEAKER_00: Gentlemen, every day is a battle.
• 0:04
  SPEAKER_00: A battle for your faith, your family, and your purpose.
• 0:08
  SPEAKER_00: The men who stand strong don't prepare when the battle arrives.
• 0:12
  SPEAKER_00: They prepare before it begins.
• 0:14
  SPEAKER_00: Welcome to a men's morning devotional.
• 0:17
  SPEAKER_00: Let's get into God's word.
• 0:19
  SPEAKER_00: It's time to man up.
• 0:26
  Steve Alessi: Good morning, gentlemen.
• 0:28
  Steve Alessi: It's Steve Alesi and it's time for another man up moment.
• 0:31
  Steve Alessi: And I want to talk about something every man should desire.
• 0:34
  Steve Alessi: You ready?
• 0:35
  Steve Alessi: We should all desire to prosper.
• 0:38
  Steve Alessi: But here's the question: if God prospers you, who besides you is going to be better because of it?
• 0:46
  Steve Alessi: Proverbs 11, verse 10 says, When the righteous prosper, the city rejoices.
• 0:51
  Steve Alessi: When the wicked perish, there are shouts of joy.
• 0:55
  Steve Alessi: Now I love that first part.
• 0:57
  Steve Alessi: When the righteous prosper, the city rejoices.
• 1:01
  Steve Alessi: Notice it doesn't say when the righteous prosper, only he rejoices.
• 1:06
  Steve Alessi: It says the city rejoices.
• 1:08
  Steve Alessi: In other words, when a good man succeeds, everybody around him should benefit.
• 1:14
  Steve Alessi: Sometimes Christians get uncomfortable talking about prosperity, but think about this.
• 1:20
  Steve Alessi: Would you rather have the righteous prosper or the wicked prosper?
• 1:26
  Steve Alessi: I personally would rather see a God-fearing businessman prosper who treats his employees well.
• 1:32
  Steve Alessi: I'd rather see a father prosper who then provides for his family.
• 1:35
  Steve Alessi: And I'd surely rather see a generous man prosper who supports his church and helps people in need.
• 1:42
  Steve Alessi: Because when the right man prospers, his prosperity doesn't stop with him.
• 1:47
  Steve Alessi: It flows through him.
• 1:49
  Steve Alessi: A selfish man asks, How much can I accumulate?
• 1:53
  Steve Alessi: But a righteous man asks, How much good can I do with what God puts in my hands?
• 2:00
  Steve Alessi: Now think about Joseph.
• 2:02
  Steve Alessi: He went from the pit to slavery, to prison, and eventually into Pharaoh's palace.
• 2:08
  Steve Alessi: God prospered him until he became the second most powerful man in Egypt.
• 2:13
  Steve Alessi: But Joseph's prosperity wasn't just about Joseph getting a better life.
• 2:18
  Steve Alessi: God elevated one righteous man and an entire nation benefited.
• 2:24
  Steve Alessi: When famine came, Joseph had prepared Egypt.
• 2:28
  Steve Alessi: Food had been stored, people were fed, his own family was even preserved.
• 2:33
  Steve Alessi: God blessed a man, and the blessing reached beyond the man.
• 2:38
  Steve Alessi: That is righteous prosperity.
• 2:41
  Steve Alessi: Men, we should all want to succeed.
• 2:45
  Steve Alessi: We should want our businesses to grow.
• 2:47
  Steve Alessi: We should want promotions and financial increase and influence and opportunities, but not simply so we can say, look what I have done.
• 2:56
  Steve Alessi: Our prosperity should say, look at what I can now do for others.
• 3:02
  Steve Alessi: See, if God gives you more influence, open a door for somebody.
• 3:06
  Steve Alessi: If God gives you more money, become more generous.
• 3:10
  Steve Alessi: If God gives you leadership, develop somebody else alongside of you.
• 3:14
  Steve Alessi: And if God gives you wisdom through experience, mentor a younger man.
• 3:20
  Steve Alessi: God's blessings were never intended to terminate with us.
• 3:24
  Steve Alessi: They should travel through us.
• 3:27
  Steve Alessi: Then Proverbs gives us the other side.
• 3:30
  Steve Alessi: It says, when the wicked perish, there are shouts of joy.
• 3:34
  Steve Alessi: Now that's pretty strong right there.
• 3:37
  Steve Alessi: It means some people live in such a way that when they're finally gone, everybody breathes a sigh of relief.
• 3:45
  Steve Alessi: Don't be that guy.
• 3:47
  Steve Alessi: Don't be the boss everybody celebrates when he leaves, or the husband whose family feels more peaceful when he's not at home.
• 3:54
  Steve Alessi: Live so that your presence makes things better.
• 3:57
  Steve Alessi: For instance, when you walk into your home, things should feel better.
• 4:02
  Steve Alessi: When you walk into the workplace or walk into the church, or when God prospers you, people around you should have a reason to rejoice.
• 4:12
  Steve Alessi: So, gentlemen, here's your man up challenge.
• 4:16
  Steve Alessi: Ask yourself, who is better because God has blessed me?
• 4:21
  Steve Alessi: Then take one thing God has put in your hands, whether it's your money, your influence, your experience, the connections that you have, your time or your wisdom, use it then to benefit somebody else.
• 4:35
  Steve Alessi: Buy somebody lunch, encourage an employee, make an introduction, help somebody financially, mentor a young man, open a door for somebody else, and whatever you do, don't apologize for wanting to prosper.
• 4:49
  Steve Alessi: Just make sure you prosper with a purpose and then become the kind of man whose success gives other people a reason to rejoice.
• 5:00
  Steve Alessi: Let's pray.
• 5:01
  Steve Alessi: Father, thank you for every blessing you've placed in our hands.
• 5:05
  Steve Alessi: Help us to be righteous men who can be trusted with more, not simply so we can have more, but so that we can do more for others.
• 5:14
  Steve Alessi: Lord, prosper our families, our work, our businesses, and the work of our hands.
• 5:20
  Steve Alessi: And as you do bless us, keep us generous and humble.
• 5:25
  Steve Alessi: Let your blessing on our lives become a blessing to others.
• 5:29
  Steve Alessi: In Jesus' name, amen.
• 5:34
  SPEAKER_00: All right, gentlemen, you've heard God's word.
• 5:37
  SPEAKER_00: Now go live it.
• 5:39
  SPEAKER_00: Lead well, stand strong, honor God in everything you do.
• 5:44
  SPEAKER_00: Share this devotional with another brother.
• 5:46
  SPEAKER_00: Remember, every day is another opportunity to man up.