Newsletter #300 - October 2003 - By Shepherds Chapel - http://www.shepherdschapel.com/

Do you want to be prosperous? God's Word tell us the way. Of course, the right way is Jesus Christ. God blesses the righteous. That doesn't mean He blesses self-righteous hypocrites. Father blesses His children that take time to learn the right way in His Word and do the best they can to live that way. If you take the wrong way, you can't expect to prosper. God will not bless those that take the wrong path. The right path leads to prosperity. You reap what you have sown. Let's bebin our study in IsiahHow do we chose the right road?

Isaiah 54:1 "Sing, O barren, thou that didst not bear; break forth into singing, and cry aloud, thou that didst not travail with child: for more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married wife," saith the LORD.

I wanted to pick this verse up so that we are able to identify who this Scripture Addresses. There is only one time that being with a child isn't a blessing. Those who aren't spiritually with child when Christ return and haven't taken the mark of the beast will have reason to sing. The barre are the elect spiritual virgins waiting for the true Messiah to return. Skip with me to verse 5.

Isaiah 54:5 For thy Maker is thine husband; the LORD of hosts is His name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall He be called.

God created you the way you are, because He wanted someone just like you. You belong to Him. See that you don't dissapoint Him by taking the wrong road. We all fall short at times, but He has given us the promise of redemption and blessings, if we take the right way. Now that we have set the stage, let's go to verse 11.

Isaiah 54:11 O thou afflicted, tossed with tempest, and not comforted, behold, I will lay thy stones with fair colours, and lay thy foundations with sapphires.

If you are on the right path as a Christian, you will find no comfort in the world today. The stones are looking all the way forward to new Jerusalem of Rev. 21:18-27. Those who overcome have fantastic rewards awaiting them, but we have work to do too. Our work is to show others the right way and how to prosper.

Isaiah 54:12 And I will make thy windows of agates, and thy gates of carbuncles, and all thy borders of pleasant stones. 13 And all thy children shall be taught of the LORD; and great shall be the peace of thy children.

Teaching your children about the Lord will put them on the right path. The word will show them how to be righteous and prosperous. This even looks on into the millennium. God is telling us to take the right road, and it will definitely be worthwhile. You will be doing great!

Isaiah 54:14 In righteousness shalt thou be established: thou shalt be far from oppression; for thou shalt not fear: and from terror; for it shall not come near thee.

God takes care of those that love and serve Him.

Isaiah 54:15 Behold, they shall surely gather together, but not by Me: whosoever shall gather together against thee shall fall for thy sake.

If you are on the right road, your enemies haven't a chance. Why? God is on your side.

Isaiah 54:16 Behold, I have created the smith that bloweth the coals in the fire, and that bringeth forth an instrument for his work; and I have created the waster to destroy.

God created our enemies and the elements from which their weapons are made. Our Father even created the waster, that is to say Satan. Satan wants to take as many of God's children as he can into the lake of fire with him. Allow yourself to get off the right track just a little, and watch Satan nip at your heals to drive you further off the right road. Order him out of you life in the name of Jesus Christ. Stay on the righteous path and prosper.

Isaiah 54:17 No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of Me, saith the LORD.

The weapons of the enemy won't prosper, because they aren't on the right road. Their evil plans are not the will of God. Those who falsely accuse you will be condemned. Not even satan can touch you, if you are on the right path. God isn't promising you a rose garden. He is promising us the victory. He is promising we will prosper.

Isaiah 55:1 Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.

God's Word is free to everyone. He wants you to sit down at His table and partake of His Word. Truth is free.

Isaiah 55:2 Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.

Partake of God's Word on a regular basis, and your soul will become so healthy that you will want to rejoice. You will delight in the fact that you are on the right road, and you are able to help others find that way, as well.

Isaiah 55:3 Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.

Open your spiritual eyes and listen. God has promised His only begotten son through the seed of Davidto bring eternal life to those who believe. This is the covenant.

Isaiah 55:4 Behold, I have given Him for a witness to the people, a leader and commander to the people. 5 Behold, thou shalt call a nation that thou knowest not, and nations that knew not thee shall run unto thee because of the LORD thy God, and for the Holy One of Israel; for He hath glorified thee.

Jesus Christ is our Leader and our Commander. We do things His way. That is the reason this nation is blessed.

Isaiah 55:6 Seek ye the LORD while He may be found, call ye upon Him while He is near: 7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and He will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.

Do it before it is too late! If you don't know what I mean by "too late", you need to read Matthew 25:1-12. God rejoices when one of His children return to Him.

Isaiah 55:8 For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways," saith the LORD.

This may come as a great disappointment to some, but we just don't know everything. God does. You should know Who to ask when you want knowledge. He gives knowledge and wisdom freely to those who seek Him.

Isaiah 55:9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.

Aren't you glad that He is the Judge? our ways fall short of Father's ways. But, we should do our best to learn His ways and follow His ways.

Isaiah 55:10 For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:

God's thoughts involve things we can't comprehend. He spiritually and physically takes care of His own.

Isaiah 55:11 So shall My word be that goeth forth out of My mouth: it shall not return unto Me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

God's Word accomplishes exactly what He intends it to do. It puts His children on the right road. His Word causes us to prosper. He wants to show you the good and prosperous way. Or, you can flounder through life with Satan nipping at your heals. The choice is yours. I hope you chose te right way, the prosperous way. Let's continue our study in the 3rd Epistle of John.

3 John 1:1 The elder unto the wellbeloved Gaius, whom I love in the truth. 2 Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.

Stop and think about that a moment. It is important for your flesh body to be on the right road, and it is important for your soul to be on the right, as well. Someone who has done both has got it together.

3 John 1:3 For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth.

Notice how many times John acknowledges truth. What is truth? God's Word is truth.

3 John 1:4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth. 5 Beloved, thou doest faithfully whatsoever thou doest to the brethren, and to strangers;

Don't show partiality. God's Word is for everyone.

3 John 1:6 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:

John is edifying and encouraging the brethren. Being on the right road means helping others on the way.

3 John 1:7 Because that for His name's sake they went forth, taking nothing of the Gentiles.

They were taking God's Word forth without being a burden on anyone.

3 John 1:8 We therefore ought to receive such, that we might be fellowhelpers to the truth.

They were helping people by freely teaching truth. How would they be received by the Church?

3 John 1:9 I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not.

Preeminence means holding a superior position or rank. Gaius, a citizen, is helping people understand the truth, but the preacher Diotrephes and the church aren't.

3 John 1:10 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.

This preacher has every right to sail his own ship. We aren't going to judge him, but when you attend a church ask yourself, "Was I taught God's Word?" If something else is being taught, I suggest you move on.

3 John 1:11 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.

There are 2 ways you can take. You can go the right way and receive God's blessing and prosper, or you can take the wrong way, the evil way, and do without.

3 John 1:12 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.

Again, notice how many time "truth" appears in this little Book. If you stick to truth from God's Word, and you allow that truth to be your guide through life, you will always take the right way and prosper.

In His service,
Arnold Murray