Bible-Prayer-Europe Equipping Center

Becoming a Man of God

by Jay Powers © 2009

CHAPTER 3-THE CHARACTER OF GOD (PART 2)

In the previous chapter, we began talking about the character of God. Here are four final points to remember.

6.     God wants us to prosper physically. All throughout Scripture, one of the benefits of righteousness is being healthy. Look at 3 John 2 again. Note the phrase “be in health.” The Greek word here, hugiaino, has a double meaning. Part of its meaning here refers to emotional health and the ability to think clearly. But at its core, the word means “healthy” in the medical sense of the word. John’s greatest wish was that the saints would be healthy. In Isaiah 53:4, we learn that “by His stripes, we are healed.” Jesus’ atonement bought for us not only spiritual health, but also physical health.

7.     God wants us to prosper financially.  The idea that the poor are “more spiritual” than the rich is unbiblical. Jesus was not poor. He did not work for three years while he traveled around preaching and healing the sick. His disciples did not work. But they always had enough. Why? Jesus knew as long as He did the Father’s will, God would bless Him with resources enough to do what God called him to do. This is not to say we won’t have to work, but the point is God is our supply, and it is his character to want to bless us (more on this in a later chapter). In Matthew 5:3, Jesus refers to “the poor in spirit”, which refers to humility, not poverty. If we were meant to be poor, why would God in Matthew 6:33 promise to add “all these things” to us, meaning clothes, food, and other finances? God does not contradict himself.

8.     God wants us to prosper financially.  The idea that the poor are “more spiritual” than the rich is unbiblical. Jesus was not poor. He did not work for three years while he traveled around preaching and healing the sick. His disciples did not work. But they always had enough. Why? Jesus knew as long as He did the Father’s will, God would bless Him with resources enough to do what God called him to do. This is not to say we won’t have to work, but the point is God is our supply, and it is his character to want to bless us (more on this in a later chapter). In Matthew 5:3, Jesus refers to “the poor in spirit”, which refers to humility, not poverty. If we were meant to be poor, why would God in Matthew 6:33 promise to add “all these things” to us, meaning clothes, food, and other finances? God does not contradict himself.

9.     God wants to prosper us spiritually. It is not God’s will for our lives that we continually struggle with the same sins and miss out on His best. God wants us to overcome. He provides us with the tools to do so. In Revelation 12:11, we learn what those tools are. “And they overcame him (the devil) by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.” These are the three ways to overcome: the blood of Jesus, the Word made alive in us through the giving of our personal testimony, and the courage to die for what we believe. God has given us all three tools, so therefore, we can overcome!

KEY VERSES:  3 John 2,  Psalm 34:14,  Isaiah 53:4,  Matthew5:3,  Matthew 6:33,  Revelation 12:11