You May Prosper In All Things?

2010-03-23 17:38

The thoughts of God are different from the thoughts of a man, as it is written in the Book of Truth, "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD. 'As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.'" (Isaiah 55:8-9).

The children of God who have received the Holy Spirit know the thoughts of God, but the children of the devil cannot know that. The Holy Spirit has in mind only the things of God, but the devil has in mind only the things of men.

Therefore, the word of truth said, "Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace." (Romans 8:5-6).

The things of the flesh are the darkness, and the things of the Spirit are the light. And so, the things of the flesh are the things of Satan, and the things of the Spirit are the things of God. As it is written, "Jesus turned and said to Peter, 'Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.'" (Matthew 16:23), Jesus thwarted Satan who had in mind the things of the flesh.

All Scripture is the word of truth; God let those who were moved by the Holy Spirit write it so that He may take away sin and death with the flesh and make His children perfect in Christ Jesus. And therefore, the Bible is for the children of the Spirit, not for the children of the flesh.

However, by the word of truth that is written, the devil tries to deceive, if possible, even the children of God who live according to the Spirit. It even tried to tempt Christ Jesus, who came in the same flesh as ours in order to save us, by these words: "For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone." (Psalms 91:11-12).

It is written, "'If you are the Son of God,' he said, 'throw yourself down. For it is written: 'He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.'" (Matthew 4:6).

Likewise, today, the devil brings down many people by the word that is written. It does so by these words too: "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." (3 John 1:2).

Taught by the Holy Spirit, all the children of God, whose souls are getting along well and who prosper, know that their outward man's perishing, dying and failing means prospering in all things and being in health. However, because mere infants in Christ are still in the flesh and cannot eat solid food, they can happen to be deceived as to whether or not "prospering in all things and being in health" means good fortune in this world which satisfies the flesh lusts.

The Lord Jesus defeated the temptation of the devil only by the word that was written. The Bible said, "Jesus answered him, 'It is also written: Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'" (Matthew 4:7).

If God had let Joseph prosper in all things, he should not have been hated by his brothers, and also he should not have been sold as a slave because of their hatred for him, and also he should not have been put into the prison of Potiphar, being falsely accused. But the Bible says about Joseph who was held in prison, "The warden paid no attention to anything under Joseph's care, because the LORD was with Joseph and gave him success in whatever he did." (Genesis 39:23). Such things are the blessings which the world does not know and in which the beloved children of God prosper in all things and are in health.

The Lord Jesus said, "If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you." (John 15:19).

And also, "Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope." (Romans 5:3-4). And also, "For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him." (Philippians 1:29).

It was first fulfilled in our Lord Jesus Christ, who prospers in all things and is in health. It is written, "But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering." (Hebrews 2:9-10). And again, "Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him and was designated by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek." (Hebrews 5:8-10).

Therefore, John the Apostle, who said, "I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health," also said, "Do not be surprised, my brothers, if the world hates you. We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. Anyone who does not love remains in death." (1 John 3:13-14).

"We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body." (2 Corinthians 4:10). Amen. That is "prospering in all things." Thank you, Lord.