3 John 2
Beloved, I wish above all things
that thou mayest prosper
and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.
The Word of God is the Will of God. God's Will is that believers be in good health and that they prosper. The word prosper means "to do well on the road" or "to have a successful journey."
Psalm 1:1-3
Blessed is the
man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the
way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
But his delight is in
the law of the LORD: and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
And he shall be like a tree planted
by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season: his
leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
A prosperous journey begins and ends with the Word of God. To prosper in God's way, a man or woman must keep God's Word as his or her delight.
Isaiah 55:8-11
For my thoughts are not
your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.
For as the heavens are
higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts
higher than your thoughts.
For as the rain cometh down,
and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth,
and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower and
bread to the eater:
So shall my word be that goeth
forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish
that which I please, and it shall prosperin
the thing whereto I sent it.
God's Word works! When God sends His Word, it accomplishes that which He sends it to do. When we believe and act upon His Word we prosper in God's Way. Following are some examples of men who prospered in God's Way because they delighted in His Word and acted upon it:
Joseph prospered even though he was a servant
in Potiphar's house:
Genesis 39:2-3
And the LORD was with Joseph,
and he was a properous
man: and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian.
And his master saw that the LORD
was
with him, and that the LORD made all that he did to prosper
in his hand.
Joseph prospered even as a prisoner in Egypt:
Genesis 39:23
The keeper of the prison looked
not to any thing that was under his hand; because the LORD was with
him, and that which he did, the LORD made it to prosper.
Joshua prospered as he took the children of
Israel into the promised land:
Joshua 1:7-8
Only be thou strong and very
courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which
Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand
or to the left, that thou mayest prosper
withersoever thou goest.
This book of the law shall not
depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night,
that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein:
for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous,
and then thou shalt have good success.
Hezekiah prospered as he trusted God:
2 Kings 18:3-7
And he did that which was
right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that David his father
did.
He removed the high places, and
brake the images, and cut down the groves, and brake in peices the brasen
serpent that Moses had made: for unto those days the children of Israel
did burn incense to it: and he called it Nehushtan. [a
piece of brass!]
He trusted in the LORD God of
Israel; so that after him was none like him among all the kings of Judah,
nor any that were before him.
For he clave to the LORD, and
departed
not from following him, but kept his commandments, which the LORD commanded
Moses.
And the LORD was with him; and
he prospered withersoever
he went forth . . .
Solomon prospered when he walked with God and
built the temple:
1 Chronicles 22:11-13
Now, my son, the LORD be with
thee; and prosper thou,
and build the house of the LORD thy God.
Only the LORD give thee wisdom
and understanding, and give thee charge concerning Israel, that thou mayest
keep the law of the LORD thy God.
Then shalt thou prosper,
if thou takest heed to fulfil the statutes and judgments which the LORD
charged Moses with concerning Israel: be strong, and of good courage; dread
not , nor be dismayed.
The man or woman who believes God and acts upon His Word will absolutely prosper.