From the archives of Oral Roberts – Fourth of five parts
I was pastoring a little church in Enid, Oklahoma, going to college at the same time, and trying to live on $55 a week with a wife and children. It was a tough situation because the people did not believe either in giving or receiving.
I began to see that God owns everything. The small amount of gold and silver He put in the earth to begin with is still here in the earth. I was not a good example for my people because we didn’t have anything. I would stand up to preach about how good God is, but it didn’t seem like that word “good” was genuine until one day when I discovered III John 2, Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.
I ran into the next room and had my wife read it. She said, “Oral, is that in the Bible?” I replied, “You just read it, Honey.” Then she asked, “Do you believe it?” I said, “I’ve got to believe it; it’s in the Bible.” God was revealing to me a Scripture that I had missed. God was saying, “I wish above all things that you may prosper and be in health!” Not only does God want you to get healed and be in health but also to prosper, even as your soul prospers!
At that time, we all believed that our souls could prosper. We believed in the full gospel, in full salvation ― getting saved, sanctified, and filled with the Holy Ghost. We believed in the whole thing. But we didn’t believe that God would prosper us. We didn’t believe God would heal us or keep us in health.
Now, connect that with Philippians 4:19, But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
God was opening my eyes, a young 29-year-old preacher, and I was seeing Him in a new light. I was serving God with all the faithfulness and holiness I had. But I didn’t understand that God meant what He said ― that He would supply all our need, that He calls us beloved and wishes above all things that we would prosper and be in health, even as our souls prosper.