Our Sins Have Been Perfectly Paid For at the Cross

I hate AA.

This cult teaches people that they have to continue making amends for all the sins, the failures, the follies, and the fallouts in their lives. They have no rest.

In fact, one passage in the Big Book declares that in AA, it is a life of action and still more action. There is no resting on one's laurels.

There is never a sure sense of forgiveness for anything.

I would confess my deepest sins, perversions, crimes, bad thoughts in my head, and yet there was never a sense of liberty, a sense of "It Is Finished."

This lingering sense of shame would never go away from me. Ever.

And yet ...

The blood of Jesus cleanses us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9) when we confess our sins--that does not mean that we must keep on confessing.

For the Jewish mind throughout the Old Testament, the confession of sins was a basic acknowledgement that we have sin, that a sin nature has been imputed to us because of Adam.

Today, we are in Christ, friend from the sin and condemnation of Adam.

Check out what 1 John Chapter 2 reads, for those who still believe that 1 John 1: 9 means continual confession of sins to be forgiven:

"My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: 2And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world." (1 John 2:1-2)

Notice that John does not say to "my little children" to confess sins to be forgiven. Remember also that throughout Paul's writings, not once does Paul charge his readers, the fellow believers in the body of Christ, to confess their sins to be forgiven.

Our minds need to be able to rest in the grace of God, that through His Son Jesus all our sins have been purged, paid for, and put away.

We find this revelation in Isaiah:

"Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee." (Isaiah 26:3)

The word "stayed" is first mentioned in the verse below:

"And Isaac answered and said unto Esau, Behold, I have made him thy lord, and all his brethren have I given to him for servants; and with corn and wine have I sustained him: and what shall I do now unto thee, my son?" (Genesis 27:37)

God is our sustainer, our provider. We need never worry about how we will get through our days, what we will do in the face of lack, because our Lord Jesus is watching out for us.

The second mention of "stay" appears in this verse:

"And thou shalt cause a bullock to be brought before the tabernacle of the congregation: and Aaron and his sons shall put their hands upon the head of the bullock." (Exodus 29:10)

Here, the priests put their hands on the head of the animal sacrifice. The animal would take the sins of the man offering the sacrifice, so that the animal would be punished for the sins, and the man would leave the altar of sacrifice knowing that his sins were atoned.

Today, we have Jesus, who not only atoned, i.e. covered for our sins, but His sacrifice put away all our sins forever!

"11But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; 12Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. 13For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: 14How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?" (Hebrews 9:11-14)

The blood of animals atoned for sin, but the blood of Jesus purges our conscience, that we no longer feel the need to have to do something to make ourselves right with God!

And there's more:

"4For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins." (Hebrews 10:4)

and then

"But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; 13From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. 14For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified." (Hebrews 10:12-14)

We have forgiveness of sins in Christ Jesus. We need never feel that we must punish ourselves or worry that we need to still pay for the wrong things that we have done.

For a long time, I would still have lingering panics about how I felt. "What if? What if?" still clouded my mind, and I would remember how I had felt in years past, and how I could not get out of that sense of upset and alarm for the longest time.

That is the truth warfare which plagues all of us, including Christians.

Paul was not mincing the fact that we have warfare all around us.

But our weapons against the attacks of the enemy are powerful!

"(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 5Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;" (2 Corinthians 10: 4-5)

We find peace, we find full prosperity, because in our minds we have rest. We know that all our sins have been perfectly paid for at the cross, and we need never wake up and wonder every day if I still have to do something more to make sure that before God I am justified:

"For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." (2 Corinthians 5:21)

Don't Feel Bad About Where You Are

Condemnation kills.

This is what I have learned from reading God's Word and hearing His Word preached in a respectful, holy reverence.

Thank God for Pastor Joseph Prince, who received inspiration from the Holy Spirit to provide a fuller, richer, more welcome revelation on everything which God is doing in our lives.

Righteousness is what matters. His gifts of righteousness and the abundance of grace, both gifts which we receive because of Christ Jesus, make all the difference, and they make the difference every day in every way (Romans 5:17).

I have faced some interesting challenges this past week. Intriguing and interesting. Without going into great detail, I submit that the challenges I was facing, should be challenges that I would never have to face again. Then I felt bad, because I was thinking to myself "Here I am again. I thought I would never have to face these hardships again."

That line of thinking, that standard which I had drawn for myself, was a standard which God had not imposed on me. I brought myself under this strange condemnation once again.

I am not where I was three years ago, five years ago, ten years ago. What's different today is that I understand God's gift of righteousness in ways which I had not realized or received before. I "knew" that God was not condemning me for my sins or for anything else before.

Now it has come much more deeply into my heart. I was feeling bad about facing challenges which I had faced before. These issues come to everyone in many ways. The setbacks I have faced before, the situations where I have found myself today, cannot be resolved with a sense of shame.

Shame is dead. Jesus died on the Cross to take all of our sin, all of our shame, all of our failures. The answer is not to look backwards. There is no reason for us to wonder why we find ourselves where we are. The best thing for us to do is ... to keep looking at Jesus, the Author and Finisher of Faith (Hebrews 12: 1-2).

It's time to stop feeling bad about whatever situation you find yourself in. Ruth didn't look at her circumstances. She did not consider her heritage, her previous actions. She said to her mother-in-law: "Your God will be my God. Your people will be my people." It's as simple as that.

She then banked on God's favor: period.

Let me bring this to a brief discussion earlier today. I contacted a friend of mine for guidance on something. I explained the challenge I was facing at this time today. He explained to me what was going on with others, and he outlined the demands on his time, too. First, it woke me up. Whatever concerns I am dealing with, I am not the only one facing those concerns. Other people are in worse or more difficult situations than I may be facing.

Second, he said something very straightforward: "Don't feel bad. You are not alone."

These are circumstances which I find myself in, and they are not necessarily of my doing. Yes, I get to make wise, well-reasoned responses. There is a clear set of responsibilities that I must take into account. But unlike in years past, I do not feel guilty, I do not feel alone. I am not abandoned by God, for He has promised "I will never leave you nor forsake you." (Hebrews 13: 5)

Since this time going forward, I have learned to do the following:

1. Keep asking for God's grace. Do not stop. I need God's grace, His unmerited favor every day! I didn't ask for His favor in my life every day. It's still so strange to me, sometimes.

2. Second, we need to go wherever we can, because our stepping out demonstrates trust in God's favor in our lives.

"2And Ruth the Moabitess said unto Naomi, Let me now go to the field, and glean ears of corn after him in whose sight I shall find grace. And she said unto her, Go, my daughter." (Ruth 2:2)

I wasn't willing to go out looking for favor, looking for opportunity because I had felt like a failure. I felt that way, that's all. Feelings are not truth, and we need to learn to take God's Word as the full and final definition of who we are.

3. I didn't pray a lot from a position of need. I would simply say "God, show me something." I was asking for wisdom, but what does Hebrews 4:16 say?

"Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." (Hebrews 4:16)

I have greater need of His favor in my life every day. For the longest time, I have arrived at certain points in my career, my activism, my walk, whatever ... Since when do I stop asking Him for more favor? Never!

4. I started praying for other people's needs, too. I didn't do that in the past. I just wouldn't.

Yet in at least two instances (and I know that there are more), God shows how prayer for others helps to release God's favor in our lives. First, Abraham prayed for the household of Abimelech, and the ladies in his harem and house bore children. Job prayed for his friends, and then God turned his captivity (John 42:10).

I had written previously that God was shaping my mind and soul to believe more of the truth, to walk in the righteous gift of God's grace in a new, lighter, better way as I had not before.

That is starting to happen. This is really awesome!

Another Reason Why God Has Permitted Delay in My Life

I am an impatient person.

I want all my problems solved, and I want them solved right away.

I don't like facing deadlines and troubles in front of me. I don't want hardships overwhelming me. I don't like that there are clearcut problems in my way.

I also notice that I got angry about stuff a lot. I tended to recycle upsets, resentments, and hurts on a frequent basis.

There were lots of issues, lots of pains and problems which I had confronted.

Today, though, as I look more at Jesus, the Author and Finisher of faith, I see how much He wants us to prosper completely, inside and outside.

We need to rest in Him.

I wasn't totally prosperous inside. I wanted my life to have all the problems resolved and resolved right away.

I have learned to see Jesus much more, much larger in my path than I had before.

I don't look at yesterday. I don't fear for the morrow. 

Jesus has embraced everything, because He holds everything together.

For the longest time, I kept saying "Jesus, show me more of yourself."

I needed to read and heed God's Word on a greater level in order to do that.

The subject of Jesus as my High Priest forever has commanded a great deal of respect and honor for me.

It is great to know that He is watching out for me, that He is watching out for and cares for all of us, for all of what we are facing in this life.

This morning, I realized also that I didn't pray for other people. I have often been consumed in my own life, in my own troubles, in my own interests.

That is not God's best for us, either.

"And the LORD turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before." (John 42:10)

God restored so much more to Job than he had lost.

Also, Abraham received the promise after he prayed for Abimelech's household.

Here's the final section of Genesis 20:

"16And unto Sarah he said, Behold, I have given thy brother a thousand pieces of silver: behold, he is to thee a covering of the eyes, unto all that are with thee, and with all other: thus she was reproved. 17So Abraham prayed unto God: and God healed Abimelech, and his wife, and his maidservants; and they bare children. 18For the LORD had fast closed up all the wombs of the house of Abimelech, because of Sarah Abraham's wife." (Genesis 20:16-18)

Wow!

Then see what happened in the next chapter:

"1And the LORD visited Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did unto Sarah as he had spoken. 2For Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him." (Genesis 21:1-2)

Abraham prayed for Abimelech and his entire househeld, that the women could conceive and bear children. How strange is that? God had promised Abraham and Sarah child, and yet they had remained barren for years.

Their lack did not mean that they could not pray for others to receive a blessing.

Then God blessed Abraham and Sarah in turn.

I imagine that the same blessing is coming my way, too.

The Next Step, Going Forward to New Venues

I have been a political activist as well as writer and freelance journalist for a year and a half. People donated to help me keep doing what I am doing.

I visited a lot of wonderful places. I have been to Washington DC, Maryland, Delaware.

Fellow patriots in Arizona invited me to join them for a rally in Phoenix. Patriot Movement AZ is awesome. They have also offered us support here in California. I am sure that we will be seeing a lot more of them going forward.

Yet starting out in Phoenix, when I went in with other Trump supporters to protest the two Democratic Congressman from Southern Arizona, I was removed from the theater and trespasssed!

YIKES! In Arizona, private proprietors have a right to collect your information to prevent you from entering ever again. Indeed, the owners of the Orpheum Theater took it very seriously not to permit any disturbance or protest.

This is not fair, in that public officials should face their opponents and critics, not just run to their ardent supporters to push one lie after another.

At any rate, I was really displeased with what happened to me. I wanted to see "Weekend at" Bernie Sanders. For the rest of the day, I couldn't shake my outrage about having to leave. At that point, I began to wonder how effective all this disruptive activism had really become. Was it the best use of my time? At all?!

From there, other fights broke out in California. SB 54 had passed, but local jurisdictions were taking a stand, refusing to comply with the unjust and unconstitutional overreach of the state against federal law and constitutional rule. Even the federal courts in California are undermining their oaths of office.

Since mid-March, I have partnered with citizens in the various cities as well as attending county board meetings to stop SB 54, to get more elected officials on record opposing that terrible law. At the last tally, 46 jurisdictions have opted out in some fashion. Thirteen counties had gone on record opposing SB 54, too.

It's been quite a blast.

But just as Saul Alinksy warned his potential acolytes that "an effort that drags on becomes a drag", so too has the activism I have engaged in. It's becoming a real drag. The freelance work is not paying off as much as I would like it to.

Then something else happened. A friend of mine, an activist who taught me a lot about how to be effective, is moving out of the area, too. This person has been fighting the good fight for a long time. At this point, though, this person has quality of life issues to consider. There are the other increasing demands which need to be considered. Family life, personal choices, moving on--all of this comes into play.

So, there's the continued interest in seeking another career, a new walk of life for myself, too.

At first, I was so reticent, so unwilling to seek another career. I didn't want to miss out on other events. I was so concerned that I would have an unpleasant time balancing the work life and then having to return to the "humdrum" life.

The fact is, however, that activism has become humdrum. I want to get back into the regular work-a-day life.

The last job I had, I worked at a marketing firm. It was a great job because I wrote and edited articles, I researched topics and prepared speeches and talks for my employer. It was a real blast.

That's the kind of work I would like to keep doing. So far, though, nothing in that time frame has emerged. It's been going pretty easy for me up to now. I have gotten away with "working" as a freelancer. Today, I am done with it all.

A sense of relief swept over me when I decided that I no longer want to all this activism. The tension over finding work and finding my way in the world is gone. I don't feel forlorn or pessimistic about leaving behind everything that I have been doing up to now. From the Mother of All Rallies event to the Berkeley insanity, to my discussions and confrontations with college students at UCLA, UCI, and Cal State Fullerton, I have found so much to be hopeful for.

Another thing that had been holding me back all this time. I saw all of these problems in front of me. I had no car. I had no serious and consistent source of income. Then I was paralyzed about not being able to find meaningful work again. It seemed to me that with this cluster of problems, I didn't or couldn't fix one problem to correct another.

Little did I realize until now that I can start working on one issue, and then the answer to all the other problems will fall into place, too. Ruth the Moabitess was as down on her luck as one could get. She was widowed, orphaned, and estranged. In spite of these terrible setbacks, she pleaded with her mother-in-law Naomi to let her go with her to Israel, to Bethlehem particularly.

Ruth didn't sit around feeling sorry for herself. She got out there, she looked for any field where she could begin gleaning. Unlike some, she did not despise small beginnings. Unfortunately, I was one of these individuals. I wanted to have all my problems solved: good career, better car, a sense of the future. God has answered all these concerns. He has prepared the way: "He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake." (Psalm 23:3)

I reread Joshua Chapter 3, too. The Israelites had passed through the Red Sea a generation ago. They survived the wilderness in spite of the harsh weather and the marauding, hostile tribes around them. For forty years, the Israelites wandered in the wilderness, unable to get anywhere. Then they finally came to the border, at the Jordan River. A new generation of faithful Israelites were about to enter the Promised Land.

But they had to cross the River Jordan first. Unlike with the Red Sea, in which Moses took out his staff to split the sea in two, the priests with the Ark of the Covenant had to step into the river first. As soon as the placed their feet in the river, the waters stopped to allow the nation of Israel to cross over:

Here is God's command:

"13And it shall come to pass, as soon as the soles of the feet of the priests that bear the ark of the LORD, the Lord of all the earth, shall rest in the waters of Jordan, that the waters of Jordan shall be cut off from the waters that come down from above; and they shall stand upon an heap." (Joshua 3:13)

And here's specifically what happened:

"And it came to pass, when the people removed from their tents, to pass over Jordan, and the priests bearing the ark of the covenant before the people; 15And as they that bare the ark were come unto Jordan, and the feet of the priests that bare the ark were dipped in the brim of the water, (for Jordan overfloweth all his banks all the time of harvest,) 16That the waters which came down from above stood and rose up upon an heap very far from the city Adam, that is beside Zaretan: and those that came down toward the sea of the plain, even the salt sea, failed, and were cut off: and the people passed over right against Jericho." (Joshua 3:14-16)

Notice that the priests just barely touched the brim. That's the least amount of action, the least amount of faith, that God is seeking from us.

He merely asks that we respond to His Goodness. He has provided all things to me. It's up to me to believe on Him and receive from Him. I was so hesitant, in part because I had had the perfect job. I also wanted to have some idea about where I was going and what was going to happen. My father and I had talked about this issue a few times.

He reminded me about Abraham, as recorded in the Book of Hebrews:

"By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went." (Hebrews 11:8)

In biblical numerology, 11 stands for chaos, transgression, and judgment.

8 represents new beginnings.

So, Abram left his country, his kith and kin to a new land, to receive great promises from God.

The disorder of idolatry gave way to the new beginnings of God's grace and blessings. He didn't know where he was going, but he know the God who was leading him. I had gotten a little down in the dumps about where I was going. I had this strange sense that nothing was happening, and then I wondered if I would ever find something more suitable, more worthwhile to what I was doing and wanted to keep doing.

I don't have to have my whole life figured out today. I don't need to know what steps to take going forward into the next year or the next five years, even. I may not know what the future holds, but I do know who holds the future.

Besides getting back into the job circuit, a sense of relief has retaken me. I don't feel compelled to go these public demonstration events anymore. More people, more everyday citizens need to take a stand against the corrupt, overbearing governments in their cities and their states. There comes a point in which elected officials see the same faces, hear the same arguments, and therefore they have no interest or inclination to listen to their arguments. How many more cities can I visit?

People who usually do not go to city council meetings, but then start going to the same meetings--they now have the power to make a difference. What matters above all is that I can inspire others to get out there and make a difference. That's far more important than receive the attention and praise of others for having made a difference.

For a long time, I felt that if I didn't step up and out if I didn't go to the city council meetings and make noise, if I wasn't showing up to these events--then nothing would happen. What a crock! Life goes on, more people are waking up, more people are fighting back against the anti-life, anti-family, anti-American follies like never before. I have done my part, as have many other people. The world does not rest on my shoulders, nor on any one person for that matter.

"Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him." (1 Kings 19:18)

See you soon, everyone. The fight is on!

Be Honest With God: Tell Him If You Don't Trust Him

"9If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;

"10Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me." (Psalm 139: 9-10)

This verse is pretty compelling.

Essential, David declares that the more we try to run from God, the closer that we get to Him!

People who try to run from God, who don't want to believe in Him, but at the same time resist and fight against Him, are actually demonstrating faith in Him.

They recognize His existence.

But faith is about so much more, that we believe He is a rewarder:

"But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." (Hebrews 11:6)

Now, if we are facing hard times, it's OK to admit to God that we don't trust Him, or at least that we are not sure He can accomplish a great work in our lives and in our times.

Abram asked God how He was going to grant him a grand inheritance:

"2And Abram said, Lord GOD, what wilt thou give me, seeing I go childless, and the steward of my house is this Eliezer of Damascus?" (Genesis 15:2)

God didn't get angry with Abram, but showed him the stars in the heavens. Then God cut a covenant with Himself (through His Son Jesus) to affirm His promise.

"17And it came to pass, that, when the sun went down, and it was dark, behold a smoking furnace, and a burning lamp that passed between those pieces." (Genesis 15:17)

Let's fast-forward to the days of the prophets. Jeremiah was particularly skeptical about God's restoring the Israelites to their land, even while the Babylonians were surrounding Jerusalem.

Yet God instructed Jeremiah to redeem land from one of his relatives. Jeremiah praised God, and he acknowledged the great things that God has done for His people, and then he saw the terrible things that they had done to break their covenant with God.  After all of this, Jeremiah's concerns pierced through:

"24Behold the mounts, they are come unto the city to take it; and the city is given into the hand of the Chaldeans, that fight against it, because of the sword, and of the famine, and of the pestilence: and what thou hast spoken is come to pass; and, behold, thou seest it. 25And thou hast said unto me, O Lord GOD, Buy thee the field for money, and take witnesses; for the city is given into the hand of the Chaldeans." (Jeremiah 32: 24-25)

God did not shut down Jeremiah, but reminded him of who He is:

"26Then came the word of the LORD unto Jeremiah, saying, 27Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?" (Jeremiah 32:26-27)

Is anything too hard for God?

Be honest with God, that you are struggling to believe that He can accomplish what you need in your life.

Jesus brought His faith in to assist the faith of a father distraught over his son:

"22and many times also it cast him into fire, and into water, that it might destroy him; but if thou art able to do anything, help us, having compassion on us.’ 23And Jesus said to him, ‘If thou art able to believe! all things are possible to the one that is believing;’ 24and immediately the father of the child, having cried out, with tears said, ‘I believe, sir; be helping mine unbelief.’" (Mark 9:22-24, Youngs)

Jesus is always believing, even when we struggle to believe. God knows our frail state, and He understands our weaknesses.

But that does not mean we cannot run to Him:

"For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. 16Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." (Hebrews 4:15-16)

Look Unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of Faith

"1Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 2Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God." (Hebrews 12: 1-2)

It's about believing in Jesus, and seeing Him only as our source, our life, and everything else.

If we are looking at our troubles, then we are making them greater than Jesus.

And that is not faith:

"But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." (Hebrews 11:6)

It is nonsensical, unthinkable that we look at our troubles and our times, as though God is not greater, able to overcome all those setbacks we face in our lives:

"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." (Isaiah 54:17)

and then

"Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us." (Romans 8:37)

However, it's really hard to show God that we will really trust Him if everything is just fine, and then we can rest on our own resources get us through the harder times.

Pastor Brian Houston was sharing how these tough times are actually great times, because they "force" us in a way to trust Him completely.

We cannot look to our own resources if we do not have any.

We have to open our eyes and see that He who is with us is greater than the opposition that is against us:

"16And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them. 17And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha." (2 Kings 6:16-17)

and

"What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8:31)

Do we really believe that? Can you see His resources pulling through for you, when you see that you have nothing to help you?

Do you see Him who has been from the beginning, or are you still looking at what you have?

Will you trust in God's favor, or do you insist on trusting your own fervor?

For me, I want to see and receive more of God's favor!

"Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee." (Psalm 63:3)

His Chesed Grace is far more important than our lives, because we cannot have life without His grace!

"But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me." (1 Corinthians 15:10)

God Wants Us to Prosper In Every Way, So Therefore ...

"Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth. "(3 John 2)

The catch-all for God's physical and fiscal prosperity to manifest in ourselves is that we have soul prosperity.

We cannot claim to have soul prosperity, however, if we do not walk in the truth of the Gospel. If our flesh reigns in our lives, rather than allowing God's twin gifts of righteousness and grace to flow in our lives (Romans 5:17), then what is the point of financial and physical prosperity?

The next two verses in Third John outline the basis for soul prosperity:

"3For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth. 4I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth." ( 3 John 3-4).

When John writes about the truth, He is writing about the grace of God in our lives:

"For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ." (John 1:17)

"Grace and truth" are one manifestation before all of us. They are inseparable. In the original Greek, when John writes "came", it's in the singular not plural.

Truth is all about the grace of God, that our sins are forgiven fully because of Christ Jesus' death on the Cross, and that His resurrection declares our full justification from all sin in Him!

Now, what has played out for me in regards to soul prosperity?

For the last three weeks, I have learned how important it is to prosper through reading and hearing God's Word. There is so much that was upset and wrong within my mind. I would get angry really easily. There was a need to fight old battles, to revisit bad ideas and the hurtful things which people had said to me.

It is essential to grow our faith as we hear and keep hearing the word of Christ (Romans 10:17). Faith has been growing considerably for me.

There is a subtle temptation in so many of us to keep proving ourselves right. I had wanted to fight and revisit many past hurts. I found that my mind would drift and I would waste time on useless pursuits, playing games rather than focusing on worthy events and activities in my life.

For the first time in a long time, I feel much more focused. The tasks at hand are receiving the attention they need.

Another problem that I have faced on an off. I would not do fun things or engage in challenging yet worthwhile activities because I was so concerned about my health or my wealth. Now, I am starting to look at Jesus completely and not worry about the problems, fears, challenges, and concerns all around me:

"1Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 2Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God." (Hebrews 12:1-2)

Paul exhorts us to keep our eyes and hearts rested in Jesus rather than looking at ourselves:

"1If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 3For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 4When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory." (Colossians 3:1-4)

It's gotten easier to stop looking at how things may be going wrong, and now it's much easier to focus on Jesus and know that He is taking care of everything in my life.

Pastor Joseph Prince has a number of sermons which I enjoy hearing and rehearing because their messages are so important to me. One sermon "Why Does God Allow Delay?" has been a frequent sermon which I listen to. In that sermon, he draws out examples from the Bible which focus on how God permitted delays so that God's saints would receive a greater revelation of Jesus, of God's love for them. Abraham learned that God was his "shield and exceeding great reward" (Genesis 15: 1).

It's one thing to have our prayers answered: but it's so much more important to know Him who is answering our prayers. The woman with the 12-year blood flow received the miracle for her body. But Jesus wanted her to be whole!

"46And Jesus said, Somebody hath touched me: for I perceive that virtue is gone out of me. 47And when the woman saw that she was not hid, she came trembling, and falling down before him, she declared unto him before all the people for what cause she had touched him, and how she was healed immediately. 48And he said unto her, Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace." (Luke 8:46-48)

God doesn't want to solve our immediate issues, but He also wants us to be healed wholly, fully. The health problem which had afflicted this woman was a grave disorder. She had pursued every option available to staunch the blood flow, but nothing worked. She had relied so much on her own efforts. Then she heard about Jesus and sought His blessing.

Would the healing have lasted if she thought that she had taken it by stealth or had inadvertently rendered Him unclean? She needed to know that she was fully cared for. Jesus didn't see this woman as just anybody. He called her "daughter", bringing her into His family--as He has done for all of us!

"And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together." (Romans 8:17)

and

"And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." (1 Thessalonians 5:23)