Prosper, just as your soul prospers

Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers.

3 John 1:2 NASB

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I think I have found one of the main flaws in the church.  I've never been able to out my finger on it until recently it came to me in the middle of the night, in the way God likes to talk to me.  The church in and of itself is not the issue, it's the misguidance of the people within the church.  Dating back to the Pharisees and the Sadducee during Jesus' time with us on the earth.  They hated and crucified Him for living (and dying) for what I'm about to tell you.  

Being a follower of God's Word is NOT based on spirituality and Religion but rather the restoration of our soul - mind, emotions and will - that was stolen and corrupted (in the Garden of Eden) prior to our birth into the world.  Jesus taught grace and mercy and no condemnation because He knew that until one restores their soul IN the Spirit, they are predestined to lies, adultery, pride, fornication etc.  Where the church failed and continues to fail is their consistent need to beat religion, scripture and judgement down the throats of people who are in need of soul-healing.  People will not be able to digest the Word as they should with a diseased soul.  Anyone who comes into the church is consciously or subconsciously looking for healing, like a baby looking for a nurturer.  The mentality of the majority in church, unfortunately, is to read the Word and judge and/or condemn based on scripture or read the Word and expect results and compliance.  However, that method is equivalent to trying to feed a steak to a baby... you can just imagine how potentially fatal that could be.  The same holds true in the church in regards to people seeking soul-healing.

The members of the church are like the Pharisees in the story of the adulterous woman in John 8:2-11 - quick to judge, quick to condemn, quick to compare and quick to criticize.  When, in fact, ALL of us deserve to be stoned for our inner thoughts and outer actions from time to time. What makes matters worse is that only a few leaders will preach restoration PRIOR to or as part of a message/sermon encouraging their church/group to do better, just as Jesus did.  In this story with the adulterous woman, all Jesus left her with were these words... "Go now and leave your life of sin."(v. 11) He didn't ask her why, how come, how could you or tell her to get out of sight.  His mercy and grace was enough.  Funny enough, whether you realize it or not, He gave us (you and me) the same message before he died on the cross... "It is finished" = "Go now and leave your life of sin".  Leave it at the cross and leave your life of sin.   

Please understand that I am not convicting the church but rather hoping that those who are in a position of influence within the church can appreciate the cycle that we have sustained.  I'm also hoping that those who have experienced this type of reproach will understand that anyone who treated them as 'less then worthy' while they were seeking healing needs soul-healing themselves.  We, as Christians can ONLY prosper (in health, peace, joy, wealth etc.) as our soul prospers.  In other words, if our soul is still in need of restoration then we can teach as many purpose, destiny, prosperity and condemnation messages as we want BUT until we get to the root issues - the Garden of Eden, Generational curses, unresolved issues, addictions etc. - we will continue to have lack, fornication, divorce, crime, unforgiveness, merciless, bitterness and backsliding in the church... by the congregation and the Leaders.  We need to understand that our souls have been redeemed therefore the restoration of our souls is what WE are responsible for.  Sometimes we cause the damage, sometimes the damage is done to us.  My point is this... we can not expect ANYTHING we long for in it's complete capacity PLUS overflow if our soul needs restoration - YOU WILL NOT PROSPER.  You'll do alright with some favour and blessings.  But for God to truly bless you, prosper you and poor out abundance into your life... he needs a vessel without holes.  

Don't get me wrong.  We are human and we will continue to have our issues and flaws, it's natural.  The holes that i'm talking about is the disobedience, unforgiveness, bitterness, fornication, lies, greed, pride, selfishness, merciless, abusive, hurt, anger, self-pity, guilt etc. etc. etc that we are carrying around and allowing people to exploit.  WE WILL PROSPER ONLY AS OUR SOUL PROSPERS.  Therefore, whatever junk/baggage is holding you back in the physical GET RID OF IT.  Look at your health, your finances, your relationships, your assets, your character... whatever is operating in dysfunction... really take a look at it and figure out where and WHY your soul is damaged and/or lacking THEN LET IT GO.  Fill the holes with CHRIST so you WILL PROSPER as your soul prospers!

Be Blessed in PROSPERITY!

“Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” 

“Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”

 ¹¹ “No one, sir,” she said.

 “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.” (Excerpt from John 8:2-11)

P.S. Join us TONIGHT (March 9/12) from 7-8pm on FACEBOOK for GRIEF TALK - When Loss is a blessing in disguise... SEE YOU THERE!

God is Love. Love is Life. Life is in The Word.

Better NOT bitter

Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us.

Luke 11:4 NIV

Have you ever felt like living the ‘good life’ would feel too foreign to feel good? Too good to be true? I mean, does embracing a ‘new life’ feel like more work than its worth? Do you know EXACTLY what you should be doing to live the life that you have always dreamed of but you can’t seem to make the first step? What I’m saying might sound crazy but if you stop for a second and take an inventory of your life, how many of you are at the same place (or at a worse place) than you were last year? Two years ago? 5 years ago? 15 years ago? Are you ready for a change? So what’s holding you back?

This thought was inspired by Bishop T.D. Jakes message “What’s the Big Idea?” which is part of his Live on Purpose series. This message encompassed a few practical directives on how to fulfill your dreams, to Live on Purpose. As I listened to this message, I thought about my life and had to laugh at the truth that was staring me in my face. Bishop Jakes used Joseph as an example to support his message as Joseph had a rough life considering how his brothers threw him in a pit and subsequently sold him into slavery. Joseph’s brothers told their father that Joseph was dead and made no attempt to buy him back due to their jealousy as their father favoured Joseph. This example was used not to support the fact that every one experiences betrayal or pain but rather to show how Joseph responded to his brothers later on in life when he was in a position of power. As oppose to getting bitter and trying to take revenge on his brothers for their despicable treatment in the past he helped them and he forgave them. (Genesis 37-50)

So, what am I getting at… it took me a while to understand the significance of forgiveness in life because it was so uncommon to me. It took getting married for me to learn unconditional love, forgiveness and letting go. And though there were days that I wanted out because I told God that this wasn’t what I signed up for, I realize now that everything I learned (and I am still learning) was part of a bigger picture. I'm starting to understand that all the hurts, pains, disappointments, struggles, ups and downs were just snippets leading me to my purpose. Therefore, if I allowed the snippets to keep my stuck, I'd never get to enjoy EVERYTHING God has in store for me. By learning unconditional love, forgiveness and letting go, I’ve not only become a better person but I’ve also benefited in my marriage, my personal life and my spiritual life.

Contrary to what many of us are taught or observe in life, unconditional love isn’t ‘I love you BUT…’ because the BUT = a condition. For example, if your mother ever told you ‘I love you’ but the minute you did something she didn’t like or didn’t agree with you got the silent treatment or an attitude, that’s not unconditional love because God doesn’t love like that. Forgiveness is not, ‘I forgive you BUT I’m going to remind you about what you did every few months’ or every decision I make regarding you will be based on your past actions. What if God forgave like that? And letting go is not ‘I’ve let it go BUT’ I can’t even relate to you normally or the same way I used to because I’m holding onto the hurt. Wanting life to be better doesn‘t come from wishful thinking, it comes from letting go.

Unforgiveness will ALWAYS put you in a position of lack - lack in joy, lack in peace, lack in prosperity, lack in blessing and lack in relationships. Does this mean that people will never hurt you or disappoint you? Definitely not. What it does mean is that if you want to live the ‘good life’ you need to forgive and let go. Think of unforgiveness as ropes that are tied around your legs and keeping you from reaching your goal line. Your hands are free so all you have to do is untie yourself. But if you have become so complacent and comfortable in your hurt, unforgiveness, pain and mediocrity it is equivalent to you sitting down, legs still tied, and staring at where you want to be. You are ‘comfortable’ because you know nothing else - your unknown is beyond your goal line and that thought alone can be scary.

Well, I’m telling you life can get better. It might not feel good at first but it gets better. Loving unconditionally will hurt but its for you and God, not them. Just remember Jesus. Forgiving someone who hurt you can be REALLY hard because you want them to pay for what they did, but you do it for you and God, not them. Just remember Jesus. And the hardest part, letting go. That is the one element that stands between you and your great marriage, you loving relationships and your dreams. Just remember Jesus. Bishop Jakes concluded his messages by stating that Jesus never would have reached his Resurrection if He never loved unconditionally, forgave and let go. And I know He went through more than ANY of us could ever complain about. So I choose to be better not bitter. I choose to arise.

Be Blessed in YOUR RESURRECTION


²⁰ You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. - Genesis 50:20 NIV

³⁴ Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” - Luke 23:34a NIV