Tag: prosper and be in health
Fellow workers for the Truth
Scripture reading for November 30th: Ezra 5-6, Psalm 95, 3rd John
3rd John: 2-8 “Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul. For I rejoiced greatly when the brothers came and testified to your truth, as indeed you are walking in the truth. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth. Beloved, it is a faithful thing you do in all your efforts for these brothers, strangers as they are, who testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on their journey in a manner worthy of God. For they have gone out for the sake of the Name, accepting nothing from the Gentiles. Therefore we ought to support people like these that we may be fellow workers for the truth.”
John loved the people that God had assigned oversight to him for their souls. His prayer for them was for health and prosperity as their soul prospered. Soul prosperity comes when we follow Jesus in obedient faith and support Jesus’ workers in order that the Gospel is preached to all the world. John commended this church family because they were walking in the truth and supporting those who were preaching the Gospel message. He told them that as they gave support, they became fellow-workers with them for the spreading of the Gospel. Some can go and others can send, but all share in the work and the rewards.
Psalm 95:1-3 “Oh come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the Rock of our salvation! Let us come into His presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to Him with songs of praise! For the Lord is a great God, and great King above all gods.”
Prayer: Father God, we praise You with great joy, singing, and giving to Your sacred work! Thank You for encouraging me to give generously to support Your workers who share the Gospel and quarry ‘living stones’ from the lost of this world. I can’t always go, but I can joyfully give that Your work proceed. I say ‘amen’ to this prayer for prosperity and health as my soul prospers through Your amazing grace!
Ezra 6:22 “And they kept the Feast of Unleavened Bread seven days with joy, for the Lord had made them joyful, and had turned the heart of the king of Assyria to them, so that he aided them in the work of the house of God, the God of Israel.”
Imitate what is good!
Scripture reading for November 27th: 3rd John
It has been said that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. Our lives as Christians are always examples to those close to us and in our sphere of influence. We are teaching others by our example what following God looks like. If you were to be prosecuted for following Jesus, would there be enough evidence to convict you?
“To my dear friend, Gaius, whom I love in the truth. Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well. It gave me great joy to have some brothers come and tell me of your faithfulness to the truth and how you continue to walk in the truth.” (3 John 2-3) John wrote to an elder and personal friend to encourage him. John had been encouraged and filled with joy to hear a good report of hospitality shown to preachers of the gospel by this elder. He was setting a good example and was commended.
“I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first, would have nothing to do with us. So, if I come, I will call attention to what he is doing, gossiping maliciously about us. Not satisfied with that, he refuses to welcome the brothers. He also stops those who want to do so and puts them out of the church. Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good.” (3 John 8-11) In contrast to Gaius, Diotrephes was a bad example. He was not showing hospitality and was tearing down the brotherhood and church unity through gossip. He was an abusive church leader who needed to be exposed and corrected! Bad examples often spread their evil! Imitate what is good!