The plan and purpose of God in everyone’s life is to have a blessed spiritual and earthly life. God never plans or predestines anyone for sin or poverty. In this regard, every Christian must be blessed spiritually as well as earthly. As mentioned in Genesis 1:28, “God blessed them and said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it.”
My God in the Bible is Omnipotence and Omniscient, who can bless anyone in all the ways of life according to his ways. The whole concept of the Bible can be described into two parts. The first one is GOSPEL, and the second one is PRINCIPLE. Gospel leads to heaven and spiritual maturity, and principle leads to earthly growth and prosperity.
Some people believe that God and the Bible are only about spirituality but not about earthly things. We can’t limit God, saying he can only give us heaven but not anything on this earth. He is all capable of doing anything to mankind.
Apostle John says this: 3 John 2 “Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.” Here, it clearly mentioned that God’s perspective towards mankind is to prosper spiritually as well as earthly.
The soul (mind, emotions, will) prospers when it is fed by the Spirit, which contains the truth of the gospel. Man’s spirit can only be redeemed by the finished work of the cross, which is Jesus. This leads man to heaven. While you’re growing in spirit, you can also grow in all things pertaining to this human life.
The prosperity in these two aspects will be given when we know the truth, knowledge, and understanding from the Bible. For this, God has appointed a fivefold ministry. Ephesians 4:11-12: “So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up.”.
God called them shepherds and teachers. Matthew 28:19-20: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” God designated individuals to impart knowledge to the upcoming generation or those yet to come.
We must understand this pattern from God. Never think that I can learn and understand the Bible on my own. God himself designed this pattern of spiritual leadership. Every believer (even the senior servants of God) must have a shepherd or teacher from whom you learn.
Know Christ (GOD) in the Body of Christ (CHURCH/FELLOWSHIP) through the Servant of Christ (SHEPHERD/TEACHER).
Jeremiah 3:15 “And I will give you shepherds according to My heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding.” This means God will appoint a shepherd for you, so you no longer need to select on your own. Some people choose shepherds according to their requirements. 2 Timothy 4:3 “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers.” If you want a shepherd, seek God and pray for his guidance, and then he will provide as per your need.
Those God appointed shepherds will feed you with knowledge and understanding. This means the right doctrine (KNOWLEDGE), the right insight (UNDERSTANDING), and the right application (WISDOM) into life.
Let us understand this through Psalm 23:2.
“He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters.”.
Here, green pastures and still waters refer to the Word of God, which is Jesus. God-appointed shepherds for your life will connect you to Jesus and the Bible.
Isaiah 30:20 “Yet your teachers will not be moved into a corner anymore, but your eyes shall see your teachers.”.
Here, your teacher means a shepherd who was appointed to you by God. Your eyes shall see means you will learn from them.
When you start learning Right doctrine (KNOWLEDGE), Right insight (UNDERSTANDING) from a God-appointed shepherd, then you will start listening to God’s voice, recognizing God’s voice.
Isaiah 30:21 “Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it, whenever you turn to the right hand or whenever you turn to the left.” That word means Jesus.
When you have Right doctrine (KNOWLEDGE), Right insight (UNDERSTANDING) from God given shepherd then only you will get Right application (WISDOM) as well as you will recognize and listen to God’s voice.
Ensample…
1 Samuel 3:3-10
Eli was a God-appointed shepherd to Samuel.
Samuel did not know God’s voice, but he is learning from Eli about God. One day when God called Samuel, he recognized and responded to God after Eli taught him how to recognize and respond to God.
Acts 22:3 Gamaliel was a God-appointed shepherd to Paul.
“I am indeed a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, taught according to the strictness of our fathers’ law, and was zealous toward God as you all are today.” Paul learned the law of Moses from his God-appointed teacher, then he recognized God’s encounter.
Just attending church services will not benefit you unless and until you’re growing in the word of God and gaining spiritual enlightenment. Judas Iscariot was closely moved by Jesus but did not understand the call of Jesus, so he failed. Gehazi was closely moved with Elisha but did not understand God through his teacher, Elisha, so failed.
My dear friends, be zealous towards God’s word and have Right doctrine (KNOWLEDGE), Right insight (UNDERSTANDING), Right application (WISDOM) then you will get all the blessings mentioned in the scriptures.
When you grow in GOSPEL, your spirit and soul prosper.
When you grow in PRINCIPLE, you will prosper in earthly needs.


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