No Greater Joy

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Pastor James May

NO GREATER JOY!

3 John 1:1-14, "The elder unto the well beloved Gaius, whom I love in the truth. Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth. For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth. Beloved, thou doest faithfully whatsoever thou doest to the brethren, and to strangers; Which have borne witness of thy charity before the church: whom if thou bring forward on their journey after a godly sort, thou shalt do well: Because that for his name’s sake they went forth, taking nothing of the Gentiles. We therefore ought to receive such, that we might be fellow helpers to the truth. I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not. Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, prating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth them out of the church. Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God. Demetrius hath good report of all men, and of the truth itself: yea, and we also bear record; and ye know that our record is true. I had many things to write, but I will not with ink and pen write unto thee: But I trust I shall shortly see thee, and we shall speak face to face. Peace be to thee. Our friends salute thee. Greet the friends by name."

The greatest joy that we have as parents is to see our children prosper, live a healthy and happy life, and to give their lives in service to the Lord. I often think of what our Father in Heaven thinks of us when he looks upon our lives. Does Abba Father find his children in prosperity? Does God think that we are in good health? Does our Father see our soul prospering?

The disciple John, being the last surviving member of the original 12 disciples, most likely wrote this epistle after being released from the Isle of Patmos. It has been determined through various studies that John lived in and around the city of Ephesus after his release and did some limited traveling as an evangelist. During these years of ministry he had seen the conversion of Gaius (Caius in Roman).

Gaius was a faithful follower of Christ and John looked upon him as one of his own children and ,with great joy, John spoke of the prosperity of Gaius in the spiritual condition of his soul. Gaius had learned and heeded the words of the Lord when he said, “Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and all these things shall be added unto you.”

John’s prayer was that Gaius’ life would be blessed and that his every need would be met as much as his spiritual needs were met.

I believe that our Father in Heaven looks upon his children with the same thought in his mind, “My children, I want you to be blessed.”

God wants you to prosper in this life. He does not want his children to be bankrupt, lacking the finances to pay their bills and to meet the needs of their families. God wants you to be healthy for a sickly body is not strong and is not as much a testimony to God’s keeping power and healing power. A sickly body is also limited in its ability to do the work of the Lord. Yes God wants you to live in prosperity. There is nothing wrong with prosperity as long as it does not become our focus in life.