THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD - PART 295

When John wrote to believers, he said, "My hearts desire and my prayer to God is this - that you may prosper and be in good health." This prosperity that John referred to is contingent with your soul prospering. Rather than limit one's growth only to health and prosperity, which admittedly are in this life desirable, John emphasized that these desires ought to work in conjunction with and not independent from the spiritual growth of the born again inner man.

The reason that John makes this statement is simple. If a man should seek to gain the whole world at the expense of his born again soul then he or she at the end of the day has not gained anything. In reality, they suffer loss. Granted, silver and gold may not be the outcome. However, it is important to recognize that God will always supply the believer's needs -- for God knows what things we have need of even before we ask. Why? Because it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the Kingdom. Like the scriptures repeatedly state, "If you ask for bread, God will not give a stone. If you ask for fish, God will not give a serpent"

Indeed, it is your Father’s good pleasure to give born again believers the Kingdom! Do you remember the promises of God? In blessing, I will bless you and in multiplying, I will multiply you and in so doing, you shall be great. Again, the offspring of the SEED of JESUS the Christ are the inheritors of all. So who are the offspring of Christ? We are!

We are the offspring of Christ! We are the people which have put on Christ. As it is written - as many of us as have been baptised into the name of JESUS the Christ have put on Christ. It is we who have become members of God’s body whose body was manifest in the flesh - JESUS! We are members of His bone and of His flesh. His redeemed people. The good news is that even though at one time we were not a people, we are now the people of God as a consequence of God's plan of salvation. In fact, we are the ISRAEL of God. Peace to one and all!