In John 6:3–7, Jesus tests Philip. He asks Philip how they could feed the great multitude that had come to Him. Although Jesus already knew what He was going to do, He tested Philip to see what kind of answer he would give. Philip replied that two hundred denarii would not be enough to feed them. The real test here is this: when we face a situation, do we try to solve it with human reasoning, or do we depend on God’s power that can do anything?
Similarly, in Genesis 22:1–3, 10–12, and 16–17, we see that God tests Abraham. God instructs Abraham to offer Isaac on the mountain of Moriah. As Abraham was about to offer his only son as a sacrifice, the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and stopped him. The angel declared that Abraham feared God because he did not withhold his only son.
If the Lord, who examines the hearts of all people, already knew that Abraham feared Him, why did God still test Abraham?
The answer is: God tests us to see whether we truly fear Him.
Romans 4:19–21, Hebrews 11:17–19, and James 2:21–22 also speak about the same event, but they present different aspects of it. Abraham knew—as far as human thinking goes—that he and Sarah were old. Yet he also believed that God has the power to do anything. Here we see that God expects us to rely on His divine power. Abraham believed that even if he offered his son as a sacrifice, God was able to raise him from the dead. The Bible says that through this act, Abraham’s faith became complete because it worked together with his actions.
In Exodus 16:3–5 and 26–28, when God gave manna from heaven to the Israelites, He tested them to see whether they would keep His law or His commandments. That is why manna was provided only for each day. But on Friday, God gave manna sufficient for two days—for Friday and for the Sabbath day. Manna would not appear on the Sabbath, and they were commanded not to go out on that day. Yet some people still went out to gather manna. So God expressed anger to Moses, saying that the people were not keeping His commandments.
God also tests us to see whether we obey His word.
In Deuteronomy 13:1–4, we see that God tests whether we love Him alone. If someone performs signs or wonders influenced by dark powers, will His people follow them? Or will they cling to Him alone and love Him with all their heart?
God tests this as well.
Our soul must prosper. The Bible teaches that when our soul prospers, we will prosper in many other areas of life as well (3 John 1:1–4). In the English Bible, the word “soul” is used, but in the Telugu Bible the word “atma” (spirit) is found there. So the question is: should the soul prosper or the spirit prosper?
According to Scripture, both the soul (prānamu) and the spirit (ātma) are parts of the inner man. Therefore, we can understand the verse this way:
our inner man must prosper.
How does the inner man prosper?
To understand this, we must look at the different components of the inner man.
- The mind must be purified
“Your souls have been purified…” (1 Peter 1:22)
The mind must continually be transformed (Romans 12:2). - The inner man must be strengthened
We must be strengthened with the power of the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 3:16). - We must be renewed daily
Our inner man must be renewed day by day (2 Corinthians 4:16). - The law of the Spirit must rule the flesh
By the law of the Spirit working within our inner being, we must gain victory over the outer man (Romans 7:21–25).
This is how a saved person grows and prospers in the inner man—in the spirit.
As the inner man prospers, we must prosper in other areas as well
In what areas should we grow?
Let us look at a few examples.
- Understanding the complete will of God
Colossians 1:9–12 speaks about fully understanding the will of God.
Growing in the knowledge of God’s will is a major part of spiritual prosperity.
But how do we understand God’s will completely?
Romans 12:2 teaches that our mind must be transformed in order to discern God’s will.
This brings us back again to the inner man, especially the mind.
So we understand that:
As the inner man prospers, we grow in understanding the complete will of God.
Then, as we understand God’s will:
We gain spiritual discernment
We grow in the knowledge of God
Thus, we prosper in spiritual wisdom and in understanding God’s perfect will.
- Strengthening of the inner man by the Holy Spirit
Ephesians 3:14–18 teaches that God strengthens our inner man through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Once the inner man is strengthened, several things begin to take place:
Christ begins to dwell in our hearts richly
The love of God begins to overflow within us
We are filled with the fullness of God
This is the kind of prosperity God desires to see in us.
When God’s love becomes complete in us, hatred cannot remain even in the smallest measure.
Jesus teaches the same in Matthew 5:44–45:
Love your enemies
Bless those who curse you
Show God’s nature even to those who do evil to you
When love reaches perfection in us, the perfection of God also begins to appear in us.
This is one of the great results of the inner man prospering.
Conclusion
The prosperity of the inner man is the foundation for every other kind of prosperity in the life of a believer. As our mind is purified and transformed, as the Holy Spirit strengthens us, as we are renewed daily, and as we gain victory through the law of the Spirit, our inner man grows strong. Through this growth we begin to understand God’s complete will, experience His overflowing love, and manifest His character.
This is the prosperity God desires for every one of His children—a prosperity that begins within and transforms every aspect of life.