Body and Soul: Prospering together

3 John 1:2


Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest propser and be in health, Even as thy soul prospers.

Prosper: To have a GOOD journey, to succeed

During these times, it was common to greet a brother or sister with the same phrase as John greeted his brother Gaius, in the Gospel. He heard of how well Gaius was doing spiritually and with the church. Gauis took care of the traveling ministers that would come into town and so on. He also was proud that Gaius was continuing to walk in the truth. That is the truth of Jesus Christ, because there were many false prophets and teachers during this time. It seems as though brother Gaius was prospering pretty well spiritually, which is of the utmost importance, but John also granted him much success in his physical journey. Christian leaders and laymen alike can sometimes be guilty of, trying to build superior spiritual maturity, all while allowing their physical state to go to the dogs. This could be financially and health wise. But it is evident in this passage that God is concerned about our spirit and our natural bodies.

Some, who are not given to much exercise would like to quote 1 Tim 4:8 Bodily Exercises profiteth little, but godliness profits all things.. While this is VERY true, the reaping of spiritual health will always go farther than natural health, it does not give us a license to neglect this body that God put so much detail into creating!! He made us in his image, and who are we to distort it through neglect and disease. Our bodies are the temple of God! 1 Cor 3:16-17. The Holy Spirit dwells on the inside of our bodies. So it would stand to reason that God doesn't want to live in filth. So how do we begin to get our bodies and our spirits equally fit? By seeking God's help, ask the Holy Spirit to help us practice diligence and discipline. When we are diligent to seek God for our spiritual and natural health, and then make actual steps in that direction, God will supply us with even more diligence. I am experiencing this my life right now!

I have decided that I will no longer beg and plead, and desire to be at a certain level and never see it? I have come to the conclusion that the reason why I don't see my body and soul prospering spiritually and naturally at the same time, is because I don't act like I want it! It's almost comparable to me sitting around saying that I'm hungry, I'm hungry, I'm hungry!? 15 or 20 times but refuse to go and get something to eat? Then guess what? If I don't make a move soon, an hour or two later, I will still be hungry and even starving! It is insane to want change in your life but don't put fort the effort and discipline to see change come.

God wants us to do well, but how much of this responsibility is ours? We desire to BE________ but we won't make or take the steps, we won't put forth the effort. Yes God is going to be there to power us through, but we have to act like we want it. We have to seek and we have to be diligent! Proverbs 13:4 says: The soul of the sluggard desires, and hath nothing, but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat! WOW! This scripture is a direct reflection of how we live our lives. It is about the choices we make, and not the cards we are dealt? Bottom line, if you are lazy you get nothing, if you work hard you will reap the benefits of your labor. (This isn't to say that we can earn our way into the kingdom of God, but we have to be diligent to seek after God so we can grow, this is what it means spiritually, to work)

In order to be prosperous we have to ask God for self-control(after all it is one of the fruits of the spirit!) With self control we can make the right choices and shut off all the noisy distractions in our life that tend to rob us from being prosperous!

As I was reading this, the spirit led me to the book of Proverbs, in 13:3 it says if a man can control is tongue, he can control his entire body. It goes on to say that the tongue is a small member, but full of deadly poison who can tame it? But, if you can tame it, control what you say, how you say, when and who you say it to. As well as speak in truth. You will have control over your entire body! WOW, I want to experience this discipline! You mean if I can start with my tongue, everything else will fall in line? So, Lord I say: Help me to guard my tongue! And I will not just say this but I am going to start practicing it today. I will resist the urge to say things that are not completely edifying or necessary. I will start there, and be diligent and I know God will water this seed that I'm planting. My goal is that it will permeate my Body and Soul that they may prosper together. May God continue to bless us all, as we continue on our spiritual journey.

The Long Distance Race Part 2





Hebrews 12:1b Let us run with patience the race that is before us..

In Part 1, we talked about putting off the weights that would hold us down, while running our race of becoming more like Christ, as well as the person and purpose he's called us to. Once we’ve decided to put off all the baggage and lay down everything to follow Christ whole heartedly, we must go on to run a steady race. Folks it's going to take patience.. We live in a microwave society, everyone wants what they want, and they want it yesterday. When we are seeking for spiritual blessings in God, developing a ministry, and spiritual maturity, it doesn’t come overnight. We’re going to have to be faithful to the Lord and endure many hardships, and indulge in spiritual disciplines on a consistent basis before we start to see some of this fruit. In other words, you have to be made; you must be proven by God. And this takes patience and endurance.

You and I both have seen how those races turn out. The winner isn’t always the strongest person, or the one who comes out of the blocks first. But, the person who properly prepared to endure “throughout” wins the race. Maybe they took the time to learn different running and breathing techniques, or maybe their endurance training was a very dedicated and rigorous one. They were also wise enough to know that in a long distance race, you can’t take off too fast or they’d used too much of their energy resulting in self destruction half way through. But as you watch the wise runner, it appears that every one is getting ahead of him and he appears to be weak or falling behind but he’s consistent he’s keeping a steady pace. And, as the race gets down to the last two laps you notice him kicking it into third gear, and then 4th and 5th gear. And before you know anything they began to pass those that started out too fast,(those that didn’t take time to learn, and be made) and before you know anything they’ve won! And the one that you thought for sure would make it is has fallen behind. They were not conditioned for a Long Distances Race, so they failed. And a lot of Christians today fall into this same situation spiritually. They are not prepared, they don't expect things to get so hard, so, they we give up.

In this Race we must expect ups and downs, but we have to keep going. We must anticipate not understanding God. We aren't going to understand why God would allow us to go through certain things but we must keep going. And, sometimes it will appear as though we are losing, and we just want to quit, but we MUST KEEP GOING!

Saints, too many of us want to be great, without going through great things, and going through the right way. We want to jump over all the grooming, chastising, the trials, and real endurance it takes to win this race. (And there are so many different legs, but that’s another post!)

Children of God- know this… there is no easy way through. We are going to have to suffer.. God’s word said if we suffer with Him, then we are going to also reign with Him. (2 Tim 2:12) If Christ suffered in the flesh, then we must arm ourselves as well, this is scriptural! So let’s not fret or become discouraged when it seems you are constantly going through struggle, because struggle is a part of the race! Peter said; think it not strange the fiery trials that are to “TRY” you as though some strange thing happened to you?(1 Peter 4:12) It’s all apart of the training! So just as you would pump your self up to get through a natural race, or a phyisical fitness workout, or whatever it is that you accomplish for yourselves naturally, do the same thing for God. And you WILL finish your race strong! Stay on track, obtain your prize, remember God is with you, and more of Him is at the finish line!

The Long Distance Race




THE LONG DISTANCE RACE: Part 1

I was interested in breaking down this Scripture and what God revealed to me proved very helpful for where I am in life right now. I pray that it bless you as well.

Hebrews 12:1 Wherefore 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.

(let's begin with the first part of the scripture)

We’re compassed about refers to our Heroes in Chapter 11 they’ve gone own before us and now they are implied to be looking in on us as we fight, and if you're like me, you don't want to let them down? After all they paved the way they fought the hardest of battles and they are our encouragement our strength. They are a testimony to all Christians that will follow after them, as we seek God and the external home that he has for us all..

let us Lay-aside every weight and the Sin that so easily beset refers to the snares, traps, and things leading to ungodliness. Some things we give up may not be a sin within in itself but Christians should not take them up because it hinders or weakens our witness, it slows us down. Just as an Athlete must deprive himself and stay away from certain foods to be at the top of their game, the same and much more is required of a child of God.

We must constantly check ourselves of dangers habits and slothful practices which could lead to no growth and sin, which separates us from God. Our lives are often to unchecked and before long we’re wondering what in the world happened. Sin separates us from God, and the weights keeps us from going any a higher. Don’t seem to be getting anywhere in God, study or pray like you could in the past? Check your baggage. What all are you carrying and ask your self. Could I stand to be little lighter here? And if your answer is yes, consider laying down those weights that are keeping you from achieving God's best for your life. Ask for God's spirit to deal with you, and trust me He will! If you're serious about running this Christian race and winning, these things must be addressed.

Next time Part 2 will address How to run your race with patience!