beloved, I pray concerning you all, prosperity and good health just as your soul prospers.*
There are some who have went out from us,no longer with us, as the Church of Galatia who went back to the Old Testament for justification by works, falling from grace, severing themselves from Christ. Some today in regards to prosperity go back to the Old. The Old said if you carefully obey the statues, and regulations God commanded Moses you will succeed.* The Old said if you tithed so that there will be food in His house he will open the flood gates of heaven and pour out blessings, rebuking the one who devours, so the land will bear fruit.* The New says prosperity is not of the things of this earth, not fleshly, worldly, and the devourer seeks to destroy that which is precious in the eyes of God. Jesus said prosperity comes in Him, "abide in me also I in you just as the branch not power to bear fruit unless abiding in the Vine in this way neither can you unless you abide in me."* Do we see the contrasting differences of prosperity, that of the Old and the New? The first was earthly, fleshly, of land and 1,000 cattle on a hill but the promised covenant is spiritual, focusing on that heavenly and the prosperity of the soul.
because you say, I am rich and prosperous and have no need of anything and do not realize you exist wretched, miserable and poor and blind, and naked.*
Hypocrisy, which is putting on a mask pretending to be something you are not is at the heart of false Christianity. It is about appearances, seeking the glory of men and not that of God, conforming instead of transforming. The lack of transparency is a detriment to change in any organization. What happens in the end when we build our house upon earthly prosperity? "And they threw dust on · their heads and cried out as they wept and mourned, saying, “Alas, alas, O great city by which all who had ships at sea grew rich from her prosperity! For in a single hour she has been brought to ruin."* I have exhausted the words for prosperity in the New Testament, as its central theme is not about earthly prosperity of a corrupted body, in which dwells sin, but prosperity of our souls.
for what profits a man to gain the whole world and loose his life? for what can a man give in exchange for his life?
If I gain the whole world what profit is it? what profit is prosperity here on earth? I can be a blessing to others, you say, but such a statement puts the focus on earthly blessings. The people saw the miracles and signs Jesus performed, healing and casting out demons and they came to him when he had left to get away from them, because he knew their hearts? What did he know? when he had compassion on them and fed them they wanted to make Him king, he escaped into the mountains. When they followed across the sea, Jesus said they followed him for the wrong reason, wanting earthly things, an earthly king and earthly food, earthly prosperity.* Jesus then began to speak to them in a way were they could not understand unless it were revealed to them through the Spirit, as Jesus said to them, "The Spirit gives life; the flesh not. The words I have spoken to you exist Spirit and life."*
This exist the bread the one coming down from heaven, not like that your fathers ate and died. The one who feeds on this bread lives for all time.*
This is the showbread, this is the sacrifice and offering that was acceptable to God, the Lamb of God, the Word of Life. Peter got it, believing that the words of Jesus exist Life. This is the Living bread that came down from heaven, unlike the manna from Moses that they ate and died, this bread gives Life. So what bread will you eat? that manna Moses gave which did not give eternal life or will you feed on the Word of Life? I will follow Jesus. I choose to believe that life will come through Him and that the fruit of abiding in Him is not of this flesh, of earthly blessings and prosperity. To make the kingdom of God about fleshly prosperity profits me nothing, it is the Spirit that gives life and prosperity. True prosperity is that I have a well mind.* That I am well with my soul, that the peace that passes all understanding dwells in my heart, that I may comprehend the love of God, that my mind is like the mind of Christ enduring opposition against himself, looking ahead to the joy set before him.
I enter the kingdom of God through being born of the Spirit. This is the promise of inheritance given to Abraham, who believed the gospel preached beforehand, the promise which comes through Jesus, the Seed, in which the Spirit is a pledge of such inheritance. Jesus said no one can enter the kingdom of God but this way, being born of the Spirit and as John writes Jesus came to give us the ability to become children of God. Therefore the Old was not a disciplinarian as it did not perfect men unto righteousness nor give life, it was a guardian until Christ would come. The promise was given to Abraham thus the Law does not nullify the promise. And things of the Law, like tithing, serving and sacrifice and offerings to God have no power to perfect and give life. Life is abiding in the Vine thus heresy would put the attaining of Life elsewhere, in things serving, tithing, and giving. Those building their own kingdom here on earth want 2 things from you, your hard earned money and your free labor. They can call it serving Jesus but judge them by their fruit.
now, having endurance having its intended purpose so that exists perfect and compete, lacking in nothing.*
Certainly in context lacking in nothing has nothing to do with earthly prosperity. It is not that we do not think about these things, I had a goal to be completed this year to be out of debt, I have paid off my home, student loans and will have my taxes paid soon. I worked hard with my hands, no one contributed. To be in debt is to not be free. Paul was a tent maker who did not live off that given, he believed it was a stumbling block to many. Truly, if I loved Jesus I would follow this example as more of the money given would go to spreading the gospel and helping orphans and widows. I have learned these core concepts; of bearing your own load, God will take care of my needs, and I give from my overabundance. I have also found it true that prosperity is related to that of my soul. If I have nothing in this world but lack nothing in regards to my soul, I am great in the kingdom of heaven. Also we see in this verse that prosperity is through growth, maturity, perfection in Christ. And we see that endurance produces maturity and the proving comes through trials, tribulations of this earth...
Blessed the ones persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.*
The weeds in the parable of sowing are to choke out the growth of the plants so they do not endure and bear fruit. This is the purpose of what Paul writes the doctrines of demons being introduced into the Church. Think about it, make it about everything else than growth and you have people doing mighty works in the name of Jesus who either do not know Him or have not grown up in knowledge of Him. And think about the one who has been taught that following Jesus is about earthly blessings and prosperity, will they endure when the trial comes? And what if that trial is persecution, will they endure? The word for persecution means properly, aggressively chase, like a hunter pursuing a catch. They look for reason to attack you, to revile you, so that you will flee. Your seeking Christ exposes their guilty hearts, and hypocrisy, so they seek fault in you which they will find as no one is perfect. Like Daniel they will make up rules to use against you. It is what it is, persecution and you can never understand nor justify it in your mind, such has to be given to God. There are many trials that we can go through, but the hardest to endure in my mind is persecution. This happened to Jesus, and part of having the mind of Christ is that we view how He endured such hostility against Himself.
for whoever wills to save his life will loose it but whoever loses his life will for my sake will find it, for what profits a person if he gains the whole world...*
The word loose is from apó, "away from," which intensifies ollymi, "to destroy" – properly, fully destroy, cutting off entirely. This principle exists that my life, this earthly life, must be given to find my life. If I am hanging on to this life then I will not endure the trial of persecution, and since prosperity comes through maturity and endurance is needed, the mind that hangs on to this life will not endure. The very nature of persecution is that there is terrible injustice being done for righteousness sake, you choose to follow Jesus and instead of earthly prosperity at work or your Church, people come against you. Persecution is not an easy thing to overcome but as James writes the mind that judges according to unbelief will struggle here. What good is it if I gain earthly prosperity and do not find what reality matters?
In this rejoice, if at the present necessary for little while grieved in various trials. so that the genuineness of your faith (more precious than gold) proven through fire, now found to your praise and glory and honor in revelation of Jesus Christ.*
What A Friend I've Found
There are some who have went out from us,no longer with us, as the Church of Galatia who went back to the Old Testament for justification by works, falling from grace, severing themselves from Christ. Some today in regards to prosperity go back to the Old. The Old said if you carefully obey the statues, and regulations God commanded Moses you will succeed.* The Old said if you tithed so that there will be food in His house he will open the flood gates of heaven and pour out blessings, rebuking the one who devours, so the land will bear fruit.* The New says prosperity is not of the things of this earth, not fleshly, worldly, and the devourer seeks to destroy that which is precious in the eyes of God. Jesus said prosperity comes in Him, "abide in me also I in you just as the branch not power to bear fruit unless abiding in the Vine in this way neither can you unless you abide in me."* Do we see the contrasting differences of prosperity, that of the Old and the New? The first was earthly, fleshly, of land and 1,000 cattle on a hill but the promised covenant is spiritual, focusing on that heavenly and the prosperity of the soul.because you say, I am rich and prosperous and have no need of anything and do not realize you exist wretched, miserable and poor and blind, and naked.*
Hypocrisy, which is putting on a mask pretending to be something you are not is at the heart of false Christianity. It is about appearances, seeking the glory of men and not that of God, conforming instead of transforming. The lack of transparency is a detriment to change in any organization. What happens in the end when we build our house upon earthly prosperity? "And they threw dust on · their heads and cried out as they wept and mourned, saying, “Alas, alas, O great city by which all who had ships at sea grew rich from her prosperity! For in a single hour she has been brought to ruin."* I have exhausted the words for prosperity in the New Testament, as its central theme is not about earthly prosperity of a corrupted body, in which dwells sin, but prosperity of our souls.
for what profits a man to gain the whole world and loose his life? for what can a man give in exchange for his life?
If I gain the whole world what profit is it? what profit is prosperity here on earth? I can be a blessing to others, you say, but such a statement puts the focus on earthly blessings. The people saw the miracles and signs Jesus performed, healing and casting out demons and they came to him when he had left to get away from them, because he knew their hearts? What did he know? when he had compassion on them and fed them they wanted to make Him king, he escaped into the mountains. When they followed across the sea, Jesus said they followed him for the wrong reason, wanting earthly things, an earthly king and earthly food, earthly prosperity.* Jesus then began to speak to them in a way were they could not understand unless it were revealed to them through the Spirit, as Jesus said to them, "The Spirit gives life; the flesh not. The words I have spoken to you exist Spirit and life."*
This exist the bread the one coming down from heaven, not like that your fathers ate and died. The one who feeds on this bread lives for all time.*
This is the showbread, this is the sacrifice and offering that was acceptable to God, the Lamb of God, the Word of Life. Peter got it, believing that the words of Jesus exist Life. This is the Living bread that came down from heaven, unlike the manna from Moses that they ate and died, this bread gives Life. So what bread will you eat? that manna Moses gave which did not give eternal life or will you feed on the Word of Life? I will follow Jesus. I choose to believe that life will come through Him and that the fruit of abiding in Him is not of this flesh, of earthly blessings and prosperity. To make the kingdom of God about fleshly prosperity profits me nothing, it is the Spirit that gives life and prosperity. True prosperity is that I have a well mind.* That I am well with my soul, that the peace that passes all understanding dwells in my heart, that I may comprehend the love of God, that my mind is like the mind of Christ enduring opposition against himself, looking ahead to the joy set before him.
I enter the kingdom of God through being born of the Spirit. This is the promise of inheritance given to Abraham, who believed the gospel preached beforehand, the promise which comes through Jesus, the Seed, in which the Spirit is a pledge of such inheritance. Jesus said no one can enter the kingdom of God but this way, being born of the Spirit and as John writes Jesus came to give us the ability to become children of God. Therefore the Old was not a disciplinarian as it did not perfect men unto righteousness nor give life, it was a guardian until Christ would come. The promise was given to Abraham thus the Law does not nullify the promise. And things of the Law, like tithing, serving and sacrifice and offerings to God have no power to perfect and give life. Life is abiding in the Vine thus heresy would put the attaining of Life elsewhere, in things serving, tithing, and giving. Those building their own kingdom here on earth want 2 things from you, your hard earned money and your free labor. They can call it serving Jesus but judge them by their fruit.
now, having endurance having its intended purpose so that exists perfect and compete, lacking in nothing.*
Certainly in context lacking in nothing has nothing to do with earthly prosperity. It is not that we do not think about these things, I had a goal to be completed this year to be out of debt, I have paid off my home, student loans and will have my taxes paid soon. I worked hard with my hands, no one contributed. To be in debt is to not be free. Paul was a tent maker who did not live off that given, he believed it was a stumbling block to many. Truly, if I loved Jesus I would follow this example as more of the money given would go to spreading the gospel and helping orphans and widows. I have learned these core concepts; of bearing your own load, God will take care of my needs, and I give from my overabundance. I have also found it true that prosperity is related to that of my soul. If I have nothing in this world but lack nothing in regards to my soul, I am great in the kingdom of heaven. Also we see in this verse that prosperity is through growth, maturity, perfection in Christ. And we see that endurance produces maturity and the proving comes through trials, tribulations of this earth...
Blessed the ones persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.*
The weeds in the parable of sowing are to choke out the growth of the plants so they do not endure and bear fruit. This is the purpose of what Paul writes the doctrines of demons being introduced into the Church. Think about it, make it about everything else than growth and you have people doing mighty works in the name of Jesus who either do not know Him or have not grown up in knowledge of Him. And think about the one who has been taught that following Jesus is about earthly blessings and prosperity, will they endure when the trial comes? And what if that trial is persecution, will they endure? The word for persecution means properly, aggressively chase, like a hunter pursuing a catch. They look for reason to attack you, to revile you, so that you will flee. Your seeking Christ exposes their guilty hearts, and hypocrisy, so they seek fault in you which they will find as no one is perfect. Like Daniel they will make up rules to use against you. It is what it is, persecution and you can never understand nor justify it in your mind, such has to be given to God. There are many trials that we can go through, but the hardest to endure in my mind is persecution. This happened to Jesus, and part of having the mind of Christ is that we view how He endured such hostility against Himself.
for whoever wills to save his life will loose it but whoever loses his life will for my sake will find it, for what profits a person if he gains the whole world...*
The word loose is from apó, "away from," which intensifies ollymi, "to destroy" – properly, fully destroy, cutting off entirely. This principle exists that my life, this earthly life, must be given to find my life. If I am hanging on to this life then I will not endure the trial of persecution, and since prosperity comes through maturity and endurance is needed, the mind that hangs on to this life will not endure. The very nature of persecution is that there is terrible injustice being done for righteousness sake, you choose to follow Jesus and instead of earthly prosperity at work or your Church, people come against you. Persecution is not an easy thing to overcome but as James writes the mind that judges according to unbelief will struggle here. What good is it if I gain earthly prosperity and do not find what reality matters?
therefore put off uncleanliness and superabundant bad, receiving with meekness the implanted word of God, power to save your life.*
How do I save my life? I put off the old man, the one corrupted and deceitful according to its desires and be renewed in the spirit of my mind, putting on the new man created in God's likeness in righteousness and holiness of faith.* If I am called to a blessed life here on earth in regards to earthly blessings and prosperity then how at the same time am I called to persecution? It is a contradiction unless we go back and build upon the Old testament scriptures were prosperity had an earthly blessing of a 1000 cattle on a hill. But in the New testament Jesus said I will be hated on account of his name.* In fact Jesus said we would be persecuted and Paul writes so, "now, all those willing to live lives in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.* There is a simple explanation for persecution, the world loves darkness. But if we live as the world we are not a light unto the world. Can I be blessed and persecuted at the same time? Only if blessings are not of this world. Jesus said I am blessed if persecuted for him so we see a blessed life is not in view of fleshly things, of this world and its material things but in the view of the heavenly and the spiritual and of prosperity of my soul
If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.*
If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.*
The mystery being revealed through Christ is profound. Jesus gave us the ability to become children of God, thus we are a new creation, spiritual and this is the way of God's grace that the carnal man could not submit to the laws of God because they were spiritual but now, we have become spiritual and have the power to overcome sin in the flesh. Of course God's holiness is not questioned in this as sin is judged and condemned in the flesh, but in Christ there is no condemnation thus grace reigns through righteousness and the Spirit is life through righteousness. The path to life is through having what is in inside, the Spirit, leading me into holiness, and about the seed of righteousness in me growing up and bearing fruit and the outcome of this is life.I abide in the Vine and bear fruit. I have to grow up and mature to have life. Of course we grow up in knowledge of the Son so in the proving is knowing Him, as Paul writes he counts all else loss to know Him, the power of His resurrection, having fellowship in His sufferings, being conformed to His death.*
His divine power freely given us all that for life and godliness through knowledge of the One calling us to his own glory and excellence.*
The way to prosperity is through godliness, and godliness is through the knowledge of the Son.* This is how I am able to know God and this is how I am able to attain to His standard of righteousness, and to bear of His righteousness, not falling short of His glory; through knowledge of the Son. In this we see the real issue of those who go back to the Old Testament building upon the words of Solomon or the words of Moses, and the laws of tithing and others, who establish authority like the authority of the kings, and who create a god thundering from a mountain... they do not know God through the Son. What is being restored in Christ is knowledge of who God is, and the ultimate goal of man in God's image is being restored and the issue of sin and darkness is being dwelt with. All through Christ the manifold wisdom of God is being made known. God's word and His promises are being fulfilled without any question to His holiness. All things for godliness and life are given to us through knowledge of the Son. It is about growth in knowledge of the Son. Our spirit sits in the heavenlies so we see that the goal of faith is prosperity of our soul, and it is evil warring against our soul, so that we do not prosper in the things of God. The purpose of the Church is that we attain unity of faith and knowledge of the Son, for what reason? to prosper in our soul, to mature, so that we grow up, into the full measure of the image of Christ, no longer children tossed to and fro blown about about every wind of doctrine in human cunning, in deceitful scheming...
the one loving his life looses it and the one hating his life in this world preserves it for eternal life.*
John gives us more insight into what it means to lose your life and to find it. He compares losing and finding your life to that of loving and hating, hating this world. The world is not fooled by a church that chooses to save its life, that loves earthly comforts and prosperity over the things of God. "Do not love the world neither that in the world. if anyone loves the world, the love of the Father exists not in him."* If your vision is poor, if it is focused on the things of this earth, your whole body will be full of darkness.* If you set your vision on Jesus, the things of this world will grow dim. "No one can serve two masters for either hating the one and loving the other, devoted to one, despising the other, you can not serve God and riches.* Now, the true test of the heart is not giving away all your money, so don't be led astray by those who say that to get your money, no, the sacrifice acceptable to God is to give your life, the life that belongs to the old man and its fleshly desires. This is your reasonable service. The body, the flesh, will obey what ever you submit it to, whether to sin or to righteousness and if you are a child of God you are of the Spirit not the flesh, indebted to righteousness.
knowing that you were ransomed from the empty mode of life handed down from your ancestors not by perishable gold and silver but the precious blood, like as a Lamb also spotless, Christ.*
God did not redeem mankind through buying us with gold and silver, nor is seeking first the kingdom and righteousness of God obtained through gold and silver. Part of loosing this life is that we value the things of God over this earthly life and gold and silver is not valued in heaven, the streets are paved of gold. Unless we have come to this point and make that decision to loose this life we will hang on to this life. Some will go to great lengths to justify their earthly focus.
I am to sacrifice my life, for the prosperity of my soul. Paul writes our reasonable service is related to this, I am to present my body, that which is regarded earthly and fleshly, the old man dead in trespasses and sin, I am to present him dead, for the purpose of holiness, this is the sacrifice acceptable to God. Without this sacrifice, without reckoning the old man dead, or if I hold onto to this man, this life, I will not find true life. Now, am I to sacrifice my soul, in regards to my growth for what some say is more important, like serving and giving and helping orphan? By no means, if I am helping others but lack in my soul then I am missing true prosperity and can not be a true blessing to others. And how many will live this way? Jesus warns us of those who will not know Him but will do many works in His name. Of course as the parable of sowing states it is the mature plant that bears fruit of God, thus the focus on growth will produce fruit.
In knowledge through revelation in Jesus Christ we grow up into Him. In the end days the scriptures say they will raise up ministers who tickle their ears, so they stay children. If maturity and lacking in nothing is related to prosperity of my soul and comes through trials then what does this say about a church that teaches earthly prosperity? That it is not mature? And what happens when persecution comes to such a Church, will many fall away? If I follow Jesus for earthly things and they take away all my earthly possessions will I continue to follow Jesus? If they falsely accuse me and throw me in jail, will I fall away? Will I be ashamed of Him and deny him when persecution comes? How will you know unless you are proven or tested? The proving is the rite of passage into maturity. Like the athlete who trains, disciplining the body to endure, the proving is in the fire, the proving is the game time. This will truly tell how prosperous we are in regards to our soul and heavenly things.