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 Understanding financial prosperity by David Oyedepo is a 382-page book which explores scriptural and universal principles for an outstanding dimension of wealth.
Dr. David Oyedepo is a Nigerian Christian author, founder and presiding Bishop of Living Faith Church World Wide - also known as Winners Chapel - and its affiliated International churches known as Winners Chapel International. He is also the senior pastor of the acclaimed Faith Tabernacle, a 50,000 seat church auditorium reputed to be the largest church auditorium in the world by the Guinness Book of Records.
In this 27-chapter book which is divided into 6 parts, Oyedepo says that the church has been harassed long enough by poverty and only a deep understanding of the nitty-gritty of prosperity can turn the tide.
With characteristic clarity, the well-seasoned minister communicates the mind of God concerning financial prosperity. He states emphatically that any Christian can prosper anywhere - irrespective of his profession and nation’s economy.
He elucidates the contention that God is the source of riches and it is His desire for His people to be wealthy; however, this level of prosperity cannot be attained until the tenets of God are adhered to. He opines that these tenets are embedded in a covenant walk with God
I want you to know that the prosperity God has planned for you is nothing to do with your profession or family background. P11
The power for wealth is released on the platform of the covenant. It is a covenant you practice. p.24
This covenant, he says, involves what the Bible refers to as seed-time and harvest-time. He explains that nothing multiplies until it is sown.
In the first part of his book, the author explores the foundation for prosperity - which he says depends on the covenant, consecration, dedication, affection and addiction.
In Part II he gives an insight into why God grants prosperity to people. He states categorically that God’s prosperity is to be a blessing for men and the sake of the kingdom; a blessing to the poor and for scriptural proof.
Oyedepo goes further in Part III to explain that there is a platform for God’s prosperity. He calls it the covenant platform. He describes the word of God, Faith, finding answers to issues, and financial integrity as the platform for God’s prosperity.
He also makes it clear in Part IV that prosperity is not automatic or magical as he gives an explicit explanation of how God grants prosperity to His people. The seven chapters in this section explain that giving, working, thinking, trusting, waiting, talking and thanking are the channels through which God’s prosperity can be experienced.
In part V, the author explains that there are hidden covenants that must be observed for this dimension of wealth to become a reality. As he dedicates four chapters to explaining responsibility to parents, family, keeping eyes on the plough, and keeping little things in mind.
The concluding part of the book gives an insight into the tangible evidence of prosperity as three chapters explore the due season for financial prosperity, the blessings that accompany the giving covenant, and the need to make a choice for change.
Dr. Oyedepo’s best-seller gives a wholistic and pragmatic view of creating wealth for oneself. This is a shift from the conventional picture of prosperity painted by some clergy who feel poverty is the lot of devout Christians.
However, he successfully dispels the notion of God’s blessings being magical and automatic. In this masterpiece he gives a clear picture that financial prosperity has principles which must be adhered to in order to become manifest.
He criticises the piety of most Christians who believe that God’s blessings can be gotten through fasting and prayer - without even working and observing the universal principles of wealth-creation. This is perhaps the reason why Part IV of the book, which explains how God grants prosperity to his people, has more chapters than other the parts of the book.
Book Review: Understanding financial prosperity
Author: Dr. David Oyedepo
Publishers: Dominion Publishing House, Nigeria. (2005)
Reviewer: Carolyn Opata
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