"DILIGENTLY SEEKING HIM"
Here is a scripture that we all know: 3 John, verse 2.."Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth."
Every teaching I've heard majors on prospering and being in health. This is something we all want, "to prosper and be in health". We take this as truth and it is but we neglect the words, "even as your soul prospers". For several months now every time I read or think about this verse, the words "even as thy soul prospereth" would stick with me. God has shown me, how our soul (mind, intellect) prospers, is very important. We can fill our minds with, what the world calls truth, or we can fill them with THE TRUTH....THE WORD OF GOD.
We have two kingdoms at work in this world: the kingdom of Satan(darkness,death) and the kingdom of God (light,life).
We are told in Deut. 30:19 "I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live"
This led me to other scriptures:
Romans 12:2 "And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."
Hosea 4:6-7 "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children."
7) "As they were increased, so they sinned against Me: therefore will I change their glory into shame."
Romans 10:17 "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."
Hebrews 11:6 "But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him."
Luke 12:29-32 "And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind." 30)"For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things." 31)"But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you." 32)"Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom."
Luke 17:21 "Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you."
My conclusion is "prosperity and health" depend on how our soul is prospering. We must be filling our minds (souls) with the Word of God. By staying in the Word, we will be led into all truth by the Spirit of truth. (John 16:13)
We will never find the blessings of God.."the kingdom of God"..outside of His Word.
Our soul can only prosper in His Word.
John 1:1-5 "In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." 2)"The same was in the beginning with God." 3)"All things were made by Him; and without Him was not anything made that was made." 4)"In Him was life; and the life was the light of men." 5)"And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not"
Heb. 11:1 "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."
Living in a world that is sooo visible makes it even more urgent to stay in the Word of God. We will not be able to stand against the darkness of this world outside of the Word of God.
Matthew 7:13-14 "Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
14) "Because strait is the gate and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it."
Diligently seeking Him!!
Connie
Every teaching I've heard majors on prospering and being in health. This is something we all want, "to prosper and be in health". We take this as truth and it is but we neglect the words, "even as your soul prospers". For several months now every time I read or think about this verse, the words "even as thy soul prospereth" would stick with me. God has shown me, how our soul (mind, intellect) prospers, is very important. We can fill our minds with, what the world calls truth, or we can fill them with THE TRUTH....THE WORD OF GOD.
We have two kingdoms at work in this world: the kingdom of Satan(darkness,death) and the kingdom of God (light,life).
We are told in Deut. 30:19 "I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live"
This led me to other scriptures:
Romans 12:2 "And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."
Hosea 4:6-7 "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children."
7) "As they were increased, so they sinned against Me: therefore will I change their glory into shame."
Romans 10:17 "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."
Hebrews 11:6 "But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him."
Luke 12:29-32 "And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind." 30)"For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things." 31)"But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you." 32)"Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom."
Luke 17:21 "Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you."
My conclusion is "prosperity and health" depend on how our soul is prospering. We must be filling our minds (souls) with the Word of God. By staying in the Word, we will be led into all truth by the Spirit of truth. (John 16:13)
We will never find the blessings of God.."the kingdom of God"..outside of His Word.
Our soul can only prosper in His Word.
John 1:1-5 "In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." 2)"The same was in the beginning with God." 3)"All things were made by Him; and without Him was not anything made that was made." 4)"In Him was life; and the life was the light of men." 5)"And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not"
Heb. 11:1 "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."
Living in a world that is sooo visible makes it even more urgent to stay in the Word of God. We will not be able to stand against the darkness of this world outside of the Word of God.
Matthew 7:13-14 "Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
14) "Because strait is the gate and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it."
Diligently seeking Him!!
Connie
Hi Connie, I do not think I have ever read this topic so eloquently put. You have found a treasure in reading every word of our Father's book. So many times the treasures are in the parts that are just "skimmed over".
ReplyDeleteGive us this day our daily BREAD.
Thank you,
Lora
Connie, thank you so much for the reminder to be in His word...always.....always....the scriptures you wrote here confirm His work never fails.....thank you for posting His word. It speaks for itself. Brenda
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