Through a constant process of the revealing or unfolding of the knowledge of the scriptures over the last two thousand years, a concept in recent years has been unveiled concerning God's will for our lives. Prior to this unfolding of the knowledge to prosper and be in health, a strong religious spirit of suffering has prevailed in the church world. Based on the thought that it was a punitive measure from God or a sign that He has specially selected someone, people have been taught to accept evil in their lives such as sickness, premature death, emotional stress, financial poverty, accidents, etc. These things happen and are now thought by many to be a product of God's planning in their lives. These concepts have been derived from Old Testament under the law thinking, which is based on works. Ephesians 2:8-9, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast."

It is hard to achieve success through a concept of religious works, as it will produce guilt and condemnation, ergo resulting in the acceptance of evil things in one's life as punishment from God. This leaves the door open for the enemy to come in to steal, kill and destroy. John 10:10, "The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly."

Outside of the sufferings of Christ, which is the suffering of self-denial and persecution, we are not to accept evil as from God. James 1:13, "Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man."

Believers are now living in the New Testament covenant of Christ under which, by faith, we are heirs of the Father and joint heirs with Christ, Romans 8:17, "And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with Him, that we may be also glorified together," and the blessings of Abraham are ours. Galatians 3:14, "That the blessing of Abraham might come on the gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith." Any blessings or promises in the Old or New Testament are ours simply by faith in Christ. All curses and negatives of the Old Testament have been nailed to the cross as Christ was made a curse for us. Colossians 2:14, "Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross," Galatians 3:13, "Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree," and 2 Corinthians 8:9, "For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that ye through His poverty might be rich."

It is a covenant simply based on the shed blood of Christ and the sacrifice of His body in our place and not by our good works or religious endeavors.

If you accept the concept that Jesus Christ paid the death penalty for you through His shed blood and that you are a joint heir with Him from the Father, you have made the first step in entering into kingdom living or abundant life.