Prosperity of Souls
3 John 1:2 Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.
3 John 1:2(NLT) Dear friend, I hope all is well with you and that you are as healthy in body as you are strong in spirit.
3 JOHN 1:2(MSG) We’re the best of friends, and I pray for good fortune in everything you do, and for your good health–that your everyday affairs prosper, as well as your soul!
Introduction: Welcome to another week of Speaking Scriptures. Truly, it can only be Holy Spirit that can feed us undiluted words weekly making it . Glory be to God who has not allowed famine of His words among us to grow spiritually.
I pray that all of us will finish strong and not be a castaway after ministering to others in Jesus name.
Soul comprises of the mind, the will and emotions, which is the real you that still exists after this current life.
Man is a tripartite being consists of Body, Soul and Spirit.
1 Thessalonians 5:23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Remember all human beings emanate from Adam. Adam before the fall consisted of Body Soul and Spirit. When Adam sinned, the spirit in him was dead just as God warned.
Genesis 2:16-17 And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.
Adam and Eve became dead spiritually when both were naked and existed without God making their bodies and souls susceptible to Satan the deceiver.
Genesis 3:6-7 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.
This explains why anyone born of a woman needs to bring back to life the dead spirit in Adamic or Human nature.
1 Corinthians 15:22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
1 Corinthians 15:22(NLT) Just as everyone dies because we all belong to Adam, everyone who belongs to Christ will be given new life.
All have sinned and any soul without Christ is dead in the spirit.
1 Corinthians 15:45(NLT) The Scriptures tell us, “The first man, Adam, became a living person.” But the last Adam—that is, Christ—is a life-giving Spirit.
Now, that we know that a genuinely born again Christian consists of living Spirit, soul and body, prosperity of the Body or everyday affairs prosperity (physical prosperity) must be directly proportional to prosperity of the Soul.
Our focal point today is the prosperity of the Soul.
Soul is the real you inside the body. The body is earthly, and only exists while soul is still alive on earth but turns to dust after departure of the Soul.
Genesis 3:19 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.
All Souls will return back to God for judgment at the end to determine where to live eternally.
Revelation 20:12,15 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
Note that the body has no relevance after departure of the soul. It does not matter what is done to it.
I told my wife that she should not allow money to be wasted on my body after departure of my soul. She should not be moved by sentimental nonsense of human ideas by thinking that befitting burial with extravagance determines where the soul will go.
What is done to the body has nothing to do with where the soul goes. Body can be cremated, eaten, buried at refuse-dump or most expensive burial ground; it will end up in dust while the Soul goes to heaven or hell.
I want you to know that prosperity of the Body while on earth is important and it is God’s will for Christians.
3 John 1:2 Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.
Christians are not to live in poverty and Poverty is not an indication for the poor to be heaven-bound.
Proverbs 10:15 The rich man’s wealth is his strong city: the destruction of the poor is their poverty.
Looking at our text, it is obvious that our physical prosperity should be directly proportional to prosperity of the Soul.
❓Why is there need for prosperity of the Soul?
The soul, which also is referred to as the old nature, Flesh, human nature, Adamic nature, Old man and sinful nature is found in everyone born of a woman and soul brings forth characteristics of fallen Adamic nature.
Romans 7:5(NLT) When we were controlled by our old nature, sinful desires were at work within us, and the law aroused these evil desires that produced a harvest of sinful deeds, resulting in death.
❓What are these characteristics from the Soul?
Galatians 5:19-21(NLT) When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.
This soulish desires or characteristics are inside every Soul including Christians who have quickened spirit.
We have established that genuinely born again Christian consists of Spirit, soul and body. Therefore, soul with its characteristics is present in the body along side with the spirit inside a Christian body combating each other.
Galatians 5:17(NLT) The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions.
Hear what apostle Paul said concerning himself
Romans 7:18(NLT) And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. I want to do what is right, but I can’t.
Prosperity of the Soul is ability to subject desires of the soul to the dictates of the Spirit whereby fruit of the spirit manifests instead of the fruits from the Soul or Sinful nature.
🛑 Any impoverished soul manifests characteristics of sinful nature such as sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, unforgiveness, wild parties, and other sins like these.
A prospered soul minds or is controlled by the things of the Spirit unlike impoverished Soul.
Romans 8:5(NLT) Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit.
🛑 Therefore, there is need for our souls to prosper as Christians. The soul must be under the control of the Spirit in order to please God.
Romans 8:7-9(NLT) For the sinful nature is always hostile to God. It never did obey God’s laws, and it never will. That’s why those who are still under the control of their sinful nature can never please God. But you are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you. (And remember that those who do not have the Spirit of Christ living in them do not belong to him at all.)
❓How can we make the soul to prosper?
We must make the soul or Sinful nature to obey the Spirit and put to death or inactive the urges of the Soul or Sinful nature.
Romans 8:12-13(NLT) Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, you have no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do. For if you live by its dictates, you will die. But if through the power of the Spirit you put to death the deeds of your sinful nature, you will live.
❓What happens to anyone with physical prosperity without direct proportional prosperity of the Soul?
🛑 Anyone with physical prosperity without corresponding prosperity of the Soul minds earthly things, and put confidence in possessions and eventually becomes a fool doomed to die without God.
Hear warning from the Master
Luke 12:15-21(NLT) Then he said, “Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own.” Then he told them a story: “A rich man had a fertile farm that produced fine crops. He said to himself, ‘What should I do? I don’t have room for all my crops.’ Then he said, ‘I know! I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then I’ll have room enough to store all my wheat and other goods. And I’ll sit back and say to myself, “My friend, you have enough stored away for years to come. Now take it easy! Eat, drink, and be merry!”’ “But God said to him, ‘You fool! You will die this very night. Then who will get everything you worked for?’ “Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God.”
❓Do you have good relationship with God? Can you experience restful soul amidst worldly desires by yoking yourself with the Saviour?
The Master said in Matthew 11:29
Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
Finally brethren, earthly possessions, are not measures for the prosperity of the Soul. Prosperity of the Soul is known by manifestations of fruit produced from the Holy Spirit through the life we live until departure from this sinful world.
Galatians 5:22-24(NLT) But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there.
Maranatha
The soul is influenced always by what is fed to it. The only nourishment is from the Word of God. Other things apart from the Word of God leads to malnourishment which is why we are encouraged to study and meditate on God’s word for the prosperity of our soul.
Very apt. Thanks for your contribution