“Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers” 3 John 2
When two things are mutually exclusive, they cannot both exist at the same time, i.e. one exists at the expense of the other. In other words, when one is true, the other is false, and vice versa.
As a believer, consider the following:
- Success on earth and making heaven
- Being prosperous and being righteous
- Being successful and being humble
- Being wealthy and being holy
- Secular success and spiritual success.
Are each of these options mutually exclusive? No! Our text reveals the mind of God for every believer, including you-that you prosper, progress, and that it is well with you, even as you prosper spiritually. Mathew chapter 1 verse 21 also talks about the total salvation package that Jesus purchased for us: salvation from sin, healing, peace, prosperity etc.
These scripture verses show that from God’s point of view, secular success and spiritual success are not mutually exclusive. They go hand in hand, and is hinged on your spiritual success. Therefore, with God, you will succeed here on earth, and also make heaven, for eternal life does not start in heaven, but on earth, when you get born-again.
- SPIRIITUAL PROSPERITY
BE SAVED: This is the starting point of spiritual prosperity (Mark 16:15-16, John 3:18). Accepting Jesus as your personal savior and Lord is the beginning of the journey, when you confess your sins and receive forgiveness from the Father.
REMAIN RAPTURABLE: You must continue to walk in Christ, remain saved or rapturable, for it is only those who remain in Christ that will go with Him. (1 Thes 4:15, Rom 2:7, Phil 2:12).
Spiritual success starts with you being saved, and then you “proceed” to remaining rapturable i.e. maintaining your salvation.
The third ingredient is:
MATURING IN THE LORD: As a believer, you can either grow or retard spiritually, you cannot be static. However, when you choose to remain a spiritual babe, you are not better than a slave (Gal 4:1-2) because it means you have not come of age. It is therefore in your own interest that you grow up spiritually, so that you can have access to all that God has apportioned to/for you.
BENEFITS OF SPIRITUAL MATURITY
- SPIRITUAL SUCCESS: A spiritual babe is vulnerable to backsliding because he is tossed to and fro by the devil (Eph 4:14). The ability to resist backsliding comes with spiritual maturity, as a matured believer will take his stand amidst thousands of unbelievers. When you remain on the fringe or border line after salvation, it becomes easy for you to fall back to the other side.
- SECULAR SUCCCESS: God wants you to prosper, dominate and subdue every opposing force wherever you find yourself, as His child. (Gen 1:28). To subdue is to have success despite contention (Ps 110:2, Joshua 1:5). When you grow spiritually, you are able to take charge, take over or subdue. Spiritual success and secular success are not mutually exclusive, but you must grow spiritually in order to possess both at the same time.
Are you saved? Are you rapturable?
-Revd. Olufemi Oyelade (D.G.O New Covenant Church)
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