The New Man (6)

Memory Verse: “Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.” 3 John 2

Bible Passages: Genesis 39:1-3, 1 Kings 10:14-29

Introduction
LAST week, we looked at the difficult and sometimes controversial teaching on restitution. It is so much more convenient to argue that if old things have really passed away and all things are now new, why are we trying to bring up past atrocities? The law of harvest is not neutralised by salvation. Salvation deals with eternal damnation. We need to heed the prompting of the Holy Spirit and other spiritual principles to prosper here on earthProsperity

Our Lord and Saviour owns heaven and earth and wants us to use the resources for the benefit of mankind, Ps 24:1-2, 50:1-15, 2 Cor. 9:11-12. He dwells in glory, Rev. 21:18, I Tim. 6:16, Phil.4: 19. Our Lord Jesus Christ even had a treasurer, who stole as much as he wanted. Examples of covenant prosperity abound in the Bible- Joseph, Gen. 39:1-3; Solomon – 2 Chr. 1:10-12, 2 Chr. 9:13-30; Abraham, Gen. 24:1; Isaac – Gen. 26:12-14. Prosperity is God’s desire for us, 3 Jn. 2. Real children of God worship Him with their substance rather than worship the substance, 1 Kgs. 8:62-66; Lk.6: 38; 2.Cor.9: 5-8. – Ps. 9:18. They never neglect the needy.

Breakthroughs
Devourers will always stand in the way of faithful diligent children of God, Lk.5: 1-10, 2 Kgs.4: 1-6, 1 Kgs.17: 8-16. God has a thousand and one way of rebuking devourers and ensuring we prosper, 2 Kings 7:3-13, 17-20. This will usher in breakthroughs. These breakthroughs will last, if the new man maintains godly principles of generosity and learns to invest in God’s Kingdom in a wise manner, Pro.11: 24-26, 2 Kgs.7: 8-9, Mt.25: 14-31, Lk.19: 12-26. Additionally, he must never give room to complacency, laziness or godlessness, Lk.12: 16-21, Pro.18: 9, Pro.24: 30-31, Eccl.10: 18, Pro.6: 6-11.

Conclusion
We often quote 3 Jn.2 as if it is an unconditional universal automatic blessing to every churchgoer without exceptions. Are you prospering? 3 John 2-4 says to Gaius, “I wish you prosper and be in good health even as your soul prospers, for you have been faithful in whatever you do both to brethren and to strangers. They all testify about you in Church. Go and do likewise and you will have a good testimony before God and man. And enjoy a Gaius type of all-round prosperity in the mighty name of Jesus.