“Beloved, I wish above all things that you may prosper (refers to financial prosperity, and should be the case for every Believer) and be in health (speaks of physical prosperity), even as your soul prospers (speaks of Spiritual Prosperity; so we have here the whole Gospel for the whole man)” (III Jn., Vs. 2).

BLESSING AS A DOCTRINE

Some might blanch at my declaration of Blessing as a Doctrine, however, that’s exactly what it is, a Biblical Doctrine that can be traced through the pages of God’s Word from Genesis to Revelation.

The word “Doctrine” simply means “the body of principles in a branch of knowledge or system of belief.” When one begins to look through the Bible at the words bless, blessed, blessedness, blessest, blesseth, blessing, and blessings, we find that these words in their meanings, both Hebrew and Greek, are associated with God’s intention regarding His Children, of the thought of “Prosperity,” “Liberty,” and “Happiness.” From the first time the word “blessed” is used in Genesis 1:22, to the last time it is used in Revelation 22:14, it is unmistakably clear that the Lord of Glory desires to bless and prosper His Children.
TRUTH TURNED TO ERROR

Though it is an unmistakable fact that the Lord blesses and prospers His Children, there has been much error that has come about by those who have taken this Biblical Truth farther than what the Bible states. I’m, of course, referring to those in the “Word of Faith” or “Prosperity Gospel” camp. These teachers have reduced the idea of blessing and prosperity to something purely financial, thus creating a spirit of greed and covetousness. God’s True Blessing and prosperity is far more than money. The simple fact is that there is no Scripture in the Bible that promises the Believer that they will be a millionaire, but there is the Promise of Philippians 4:19, “But my God shall supply all your need according to His Riches in Glory by Christ Jesus.” The Holy Spirit through the Apostle does not say that God will supply every want, but He definitely states that God will supply every need.

One might say that Verse 19 of Philippians, Chapter 4 is a Note upon the Bank of Faith.
• “My God” – The name of the Banker;
• “Shall supply” – The promised pay;
• “All your need” – The value of the Note;
• “According to His Riches” – The capital of the Bank;
• “In Glory” – The address of the Bank; and,
• “By Christ Jesus” – The Signature without which the Note is worthless.

So, while some have taken the Message of God’s Blessings too far, thus going into error, it is just as much error to stop short of what the Word of God teaches about blessing. We must find the balance. While I am not a “greed preacher,” I definitely am a “prosperity” preacher, God’s Prosperity. This is something totally different from what is being taught today in too many churches.

GOD’S PROMISE OF BLESSING IS CONDITIONAL

Every Promise of the Lord is based upon the meeting of His Conditions as set forth in God’s Word. Although the Lord died on Calvary’s Cross to save humanity, still, Salvation is conditional upon man accepting God’s Sacrifice, admitting that he’s a sinner, and that Christ is the only way of Salvation.

For those of us who have accepted Christ, we must then come into obedience according to God’s Word which is summed up in Matthew 6:33, “But seek you first the Kingdom of God, and His Righteousness. . . .” When we put the Lord first, and His Work first, then we have the right to expect the Lord to begin working in our lives as it regards our needs.

THE SOURCE AND THE MEANS OF BLESSING

The source of all blessing is Jesus Christ, and the means by which blessing flows to us is the Cross. The price Jesus paid at the Cross and the Resurrection made it possible for us to have all of these great and wonderful Promises.In other words, God could not give us anything other than by or in Christ Jesus, which refers to His Sacrificial, Atoning, Vicarious, offering of Himself on the Cross. Everything comes through the Cross and all blessing streams from the Cross.

Let me shout it out, there’s a new house in the Cross, there’s a raise in pay in the Cross, there’s a car in the Cross, there’s new clothes in the Cross, whatever we need is in the Cross!

GOD’S ECONOMY

When a person gets Saved, they then enter into the Economy of God. The Economy of God is a “way of life,” which covers every area of our life and living. II Peter 1:3 says, “According as His Divine Power has given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness. . .” Matthew 7:11 says, “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father Who is in Heaven give good things to them who ask Him?” Jeremiah 29:11 says, “For I know the plans I have for you declares the LORD, plans to prosper, not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future” (NIV). That’s the Economy of God, and what a way of life it is.

“BELOVED, I WISH ABOVE ALL THINGS THAT YOU MAY PROSPER”

I hope I’ve laid enough ground work in establishing that our Saviour desires to bless and prosper His Children just as stated in III John, Verse 2.

The word “prosper” means to “succeed” and in Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance Of The Bible it gives the example as “to succeed in business,” to prosper financially. Kenneth Wuest in his Word Studies In The Greek New Testament says the word “prosper” means a “good road,” a “good journey,” or a “prosperous journey.” Our Christian life is a journey of Faith, and if we put the things of God first, we have a right to expect the journey will be prosperous. That doesn’t mean that the journey will not at times be hazardous. There will be trials and tests, but if the Great Shepherd is leading the way, the end will be prosperous.

AND BE IN HEALTH

Just as the Lord blesses His Children, so too is He our Healer (Ex. 15:26; Ps. 103:3; Isa. 53:4-5; Mat. 8:16-17; James 5:14; I Pet. 2:24).

When Christ died at Calvary, he addressed everything that Adam and Eve lost in the Fall, and sickness is a result of the Fall. During the Lord’s earthly Ministry, he never turned anyone away that needed healing.

IS HEALING IN THE ATONEMENT?

Absolutely healing is in the Atonement. Some argue that if this is so, then every sick Christian would be healed. That’s incorrect, for I know we can all agree that cleansing for sin is in the Atonement, yet, it doesn’t mean that we will never sin again.

Today we have the first fruits of all Christ intended, but one day corruption will put on incorruption, mortality will put on immortality. There are many and varied reasons why at times a Believer is not healed, but whether someone is healed or not has no bearing on what we should believe and preach. We believe in Divine Healing and preach Divine Healing, because that is what the Word of God teaches.

EVEN AS YOUR SOUL PROSPERS

This speaks of Spiritual Prosperity, the most important thing of the three. This is what the Church should put first. While it is important that we preach financial prosperity, and Divine Healing, the emphasis must always be on Spiritual Prosperity. You can’t get to Heaven without being Spiritually Prosperous, which is the greatest Blessing of all.

Spiritual Prosperity is the twin benefits of Justification and Sanctification, Salvation and Holiness. Salvation and our life lived free from the dominion of sin.

The only way to have these great benefits is to properly have the Cross as the Foundation of one’s Faith. The Believer doesn’t have to live a life of sin having dominion, but he can have a life of Spiritual Prosperity, free from sin’s dominion.

That’s real Blessing and Prosperity.

Your Evangelist,Donnie Swaggart