3 John 1:2 “Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health…”
I believe God’s desire to prosper his children is part of the full gospel. “Oh, you must be one of those prosperity preachers and I just don’t believe in that.” My guess is that you do. You want every dime you can get your hand on. Did you give your paycheck back this week because you didn’t feel you deserved it? I doubt it, because everybody is after prosperity. Everybody wants to pay their bills, make their mortgage payment on time, live in dignity, put shoes and clothing on their children and send them back to school. The ability to do those things is called prosperity.
“Beloved I would that you prosper and be in health…” This verse goes on to say, “…even as your soul prospers.” Bob Nichols has never, preached material prosperity over spiritual prosperity, we have preached this thing in balance. But I hate poverty, I hate sickness and the works of the devil. We are here declaring that if you are poor, hang around, you are going to pull out of that. If you are sick, hang around, you are going to get well. If your home is in trouble, stay around a little while and God is going to restore harmony in your home. That’s what the gospel of Jesus Christ is all about, the assurance that God is going to turn it around.
A man came to me one day and said, “I served time in jail and when I got out I came to this church and asked Jesus into my heart.” He was coming to tell me that for the first time in his life he paid a $300.00 tithe. He said he had never been able to do anything like that before he came to Jesus. And he said the blessings just continued to flow. He had a church family that loved him, a place that welcomed him and make him feel like he had worth. Not only that, God had given him a beautiful home for half the price. This may not have happened to you yet but it will. Just hold steady and keep on believing, keep on giving, keep on praying, keep the switch of faith turned on and God will turn it around for you.