PROSPER AND BE IN HEALTH
3 Jn 1:2 (KJV)
2 Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.
3 Jn 1:2 (NAS)
2 Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers.
3 Jn 1:2 (NKJ)
2 Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.
3 Jn 1:2 (RSV)
2 Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in health; I know that it is well with your soul.
3 Jn 1:2 (ASV)
2 Beloved, I pray that in all things thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.
3 Jn 1:2 (NIV)
2 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.
MY translation - “Agape(d), over all things I pray to God you and your house succeed in business affairs, be prosperous and successful and also be sound in body (be in good health) in proportion to (in the degree that) your
spirit is prosperous and successful.”
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Job - lets first read from the beginning:
Job 1:1-12 (NKJ)
1 There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was blameless and upright, and one who feared God and shunned evil.
2 And seven sons and three daughters were born to him.
3 Also, his possessions were seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, five hundred female donkeys, and a very large household, so that this man was the greatest of all the people of the East.
4 Now his sons would go and feast in their houses, each on his appointed day, and would send and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them.
5 So it was, when the days of feasting had run their course, that Job would send and sanctify them, and he would rise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all. For Job said, "It may be that my sons have sinned and cursed God in their hearts." Thus Job did regularly.
6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came among them.
7 And the LORD said to Satan, "From where do you come?" So Satan answered the LORD and said, "From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking back and forth on it."
8 Then the LORD said to Satan, "Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?"
9 So Satan answered the LORD and said, "Does Job fear God for nothing?
10 "Have You not made a hedge around him, around his household, and around all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land.
11 "But now, stretch out Your hand and touch all that he has, and he will surely curse You to Your face!"
12 So the LORD said to Satan, "Behold, all that he has is in your power; only do not lay a hand on his person." So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD.
Now, some would say God put Job into Satan’s hands .. other teachers conclude that God was simply INFORMING Satan that Job was in his hands. IN EITHER CASE .. WHAT IS THE BOTTOM LINE .. JOB ENDED UP WITH TWICE WHAT HE HAD ! ! ! NO ONE can argue THAT :)
Job 42:10 (NIV)
10 After Job had prayed for his friends, the LORD made him prosperous again and gave him TWICE AS MUCH AS HE HAD BEFORE.
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Does God GIVE MATERIAL WEALTH??
Prov 8:17-21 (NIV)
17 I (God speaking as Wisdom - Author’s Note) love those who love me, and those who seek me find me.
18 With me are riches and honor, enduring wealth and prosperity.
19 My fruit is better than fine gold; what I yield surpasses choice silver.
20 I walk in the way of righteousness, along the paths of justice,
21 bestowing wealth on those who love me and making their treasuries full.
SOLOMON -
IKing 3:5-14 (ASV)
5 In Gibeon Jehovah appeared to Solomon in a dream by night; and God said, Ask what I shall give thee.
6 And Solomon said, Thou hast showed unto thy servant David my father great lovingkindness, according as he walked before thee in truth, and in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with thee; and thou hast kept for him this great lovingkindness, that thou hast given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day.
7 And now, O Jehovah my God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my father: and I am but a little child; I know not how to go out or come in.
8 And thy servant is in the midst of thy people which thou hast chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude.
9 Give thy servant therefore AN UNDERSTANDING HEART to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and evil; for who is able to judge this thy great people?
10 And the speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing.
11 And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life, neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies, but hast asked for thyself UNDERSTANDING TO DISCERN JUSTICE;
12 behold, I have done according to thy word: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there hath been none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee.
13 And I have ALSO given thee that which thou hast not asked, both RICHES AND HONOR, so that there shall not be any among the kings like unto thee, all thy days.
14 And if thou wilt walk in my ways, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as thy father David did walk, then I will lengthen thy days.
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Jesus as an example of prosperity - there is not a LOT of evidence, but there are a few things to consider:
Jesus began His life with gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
The group of 12 had to have a treasurer.
Jesus supported those 12 men, food, shelter, etc.
Nobody questions the day of His crucifixion when the soldiers gambled for His robe because it was very fine, having no seam, so they would not tear it.
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The United States of America as an example of prosperity - "For the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our Sacred Honor."
You recognize those impressive words?
Fifty-six men signed the Declaration of Independence, knowing when they signed that they were risking everything, but - they signed.
The United States of American were founded upon the Bible. Laws were passed in order to reflect the laws of God. IN ALL THE YEARS OF HISTORY - NO COUNTRY HAS EVER BECOME AS PROSPEROUS ! !
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3 Jn 1:2 (KJV)
2 Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.
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People, BELIEVE these words .. SPEAK these words .. STRETCH yourselves to greater hights ! !
My family and I recently decided that God wants us to have a better house. We have WORKED and STRETCHED and SOUGHT OUT the right financial strategy, and the BOTTOM LINE is that we are moving at the end of this month into a 2 story 3 bedroom colonial in Rochester Hills worth several thousands more than our current starter home is worth and it isn’t going to cost us that much more ! ! ! God is FAITHFUL - believe 3 Jn 1:2 :)