As Your Soul Book Final Art.Cdr

All rights reserved. In accordance with International, Australian, and US Copyright laws, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any means without the prior permission of the Copyright holder.

Cover Design: Frog Print (frogprint.com.au) Cover Photo: fotolia.com First Printing 2018 Printed in Australia.

ISBN: 978-0-9757168-5-4

Unless otherwise noted, all scriptures are from the King James 2000 Bible (KJ2K). Editor: Dr Robert A. Couric, ThD (1929-2011)

Copyright © 2011 Thelma Couric Keesling 140218 This book is dedicated to all whom God has given me to travel with and encounter on this pilgrimage: those who loved me when I was hardest to love; those who refreshed me when I was struggling the most; those who invited me into their home and family when I was alone in the world; those who have toiled in prayer for me; my children Joseph and Samantha by whom I am privileged to be called Dad; and of course Diane my wife who persevered with me through the hard times, who has never ceased encouraging me to seek the truths of God, and who is to me the embodiment of the grace of God which I am truly blessed to experience every day. You have all been angels to me – messengers of God.

Contents

1. Introduction 1 Pillars of Truth 3 Ultimate Truths 4 2. The Human “Trinity” 7 Body 10 Soul 15 Mind and Will 15 Conscience 16 Personality 19 Feelings and Emotions 19 Being Offended 21 Soul in the Old Testament 22 Soul in the New Testament 24 Spirit 24 The Prevailing Wind 25 The Inﬂuence of the Holy Spirit 27 Summary – Body, Soul & Spirit 33 3. Comparing the Two Natures 35 Love and the Spirit Nature 35 Self-Control and the Spirit Nature 38 The Word of God and the Spirit Nature 42 The Two Natures in Church 43 False Christians and the Grace of God 45 4. Helping New Christians through the Transition 47 Water Baptism 50 Baptism in the Holy Spirit 51 vi As Your Soul Prospers

Obstacles faced by new Christians 54 False Truths in the Church 57 Evolution 57 Do Not Judge 59 5. The First Three Essential Pillars of Truth for Overcoming Difficulties 63 God wants to help you overcome, and has equipped you to do so 64 God never promised you a trouble-free life 68 God gave us a community to help us 76 6. Replacing False Truth Labels 81 7. Eight Steps to Overcoming Personal Difficulties 87 Step One – Ensure you are born again 87 Step Two – Identify any ongoing sin, confess it, and turn back to God 94 Unforgiveness 94 Evil Speaking 99 Hypocrisy 101 Pride 104 Step Three – Take full responsibility for your actions and choices 107 Step Four – Identify the real problem 111 Step Five – Go back to when the problem began 112 Diet 117 Negativity 119 Step Six – Find out what God says about the problem 120 Step Seven – Get support from trustworthy leaders 124 Step Eight – Wait actively and expectantly 126 8. The Word of God Overcomes Difficulties 135 Contents vii

9. Relationship Problems 141 Sex and Marriage 141 Lying 147 Anger 148 10. Sexual Problems 151 Pornography 151 Homosexuality 152 Gender Confusion 156 11. Psychological Problems 161 Depression 163 Anxiety 166 12. Chemical Addiction Problems 171 13. Physical Problems 175 14. Financial Problems 181 15. Why Should You Believe Me? 185 Bibliography 199

viii As Your Soul Prospers ix

Preface

It is not the purpose of this book to entertain you but to help you understand the cause of a great many personal difﬁculties, and to provide you with tools to help you overcome them to live a victorious life in Christ. You will encounter in this book a number of unfa- miliar concepts supported by a great many scriptures. It is therefore highly recommended that you read it slowly and thoughtfully with your Bible alongside for reference and checking, and that you highlight passages that are signiﬁcant to you, and make your own notes where relevant. It is hoped that this book will become a cherished and dog-eared reference tool.

The chapters could be divided into four main sections: 1-4) Descrip- tion and Explanation of Body, Soul and Spirit, and how understanding this relates to overcoming personal difficulties; 5-6) Pillars of Truth and how they are constructed and replaced; 7) Eight Steps to Overcoming Personal Difficulties; and 8-14) God’s Truths about issues related to various personal difficulties.

To help you understand the true intent of the original scriptures, this book regularly makes reference to the Hebrew and Greek words used in the source manuscripts. The meaning of these words, in the context they appear, is based on the work of highly qualiﬁed and regarded scholars of classic Hebrew and New Testament Greek accessed through renowned resources including Strong’s Exhaus- tive Concordance, Vines Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words, NAS Exhaustive Concordance, HELPS Word- studies, Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew and English Lexicon, as well x As Your Soul Prospers

as exegetical commentaries of the original languages including Vincent’s Word Studies, Meyer’s NT Commentary, Bengel’s Gnomon of the New Testament, Pulpit Commentary, and Keil and Delitzsch OT Commentary. (A more extensive bibliography of the reference materials and resources used to research this book can be found at the end.) The last chapter of this book, Why Should You Believe Me?, is a brief description of some of my thirty plus years as a Christian and how I came to learn and apply the truths in this book. Reading it ﬁrst might help you better understand some of the content of the book and my motivation in writing it for you. 1

1. Introduction

If anyone ever told you, “The world does not revolve around you”, they were wrong. The truth is, every person is the centre of their own world. The world we each experience exists only to the degree that our senses encounter it. Therefore, whatever we believe to be true IS the truth, and if it is the truth, it must be right for us to take actions based on our own truth, regardless of anyone else’s view of what is true and right. The way people interpret what their senses encounter of the world is predominantly according to their own individual set of truths – their worldview. Whenever we don’t like what someone is saying or doing, the chances are high that it is something contrary to our worldview – our personal set of truths by which we determine what is right. In this sense, we are each our own god – the god of our own world which revolves around us. Drivers who speed do so because they deeply believe it is their right – regardless of what the law says is safe. It is also why when they are caught and ﬁned, they claim to be victims of an unjust law. Likewise, people who park illegally in disabled zones hold to a truth which says they are within their right to do so – especially if it is raining, or they don’t expect to be very long. People who have violent tempers believe it is right for them to be violent against someone who goes against their wishes. People who steal believe their truth which says it’s okay for them to take what they didn’t pay for. People who are cruel to animals believe it is right for them to do so. Vandals and arsonists cause damage to prop- erty in response to their personal truths. Liars lie according to their personally held truths, adulterers betray their spouses according to 2 As Your Soul Prospers

their personally held truths, rapists violate their victims according to their personally held truths, and paedophiles break the law in accordance with their personally held truths. It’s also because of personally held truths that people are offended, rude, lazy, fearful, cowardly, and so on. Everything done by people is because they hold to a truth which tells them it’s ultimately right for them to do so. Even if a person is unable to identify and articulate many of their truths, it doesn’t mean they do not hold them. In fact, as we shall see, many of our problems persist or repeat because we don’t identify or openly admit to our underlying beliefs about what is true and right for us. Even if being in a particular relationship causes a person hardship or pain, they may remain in it because their truth is that the benefits outweigh the costs. Their truth might be that some pain is worth the benefits they believe they get from the relationship, or that the suffering is not as bad as they believe it would be if they left the relationship. We are each the expression of everything we hold to be true for us. If what we hold as truth leads to our actions, and if our actions cause us hardships and difficulties, such sufferings must, therefore, be the result of the truths we hold. This applies to many relationship problems, physical health problems, mental health problems, and even financial problems. Often, in seeking relief from their problems, people spend thousands of dollars and years of their time in counselling and courses and on products and pharmaceuticals, yet they experience limited success in overcoming them. The most likely reason these people are not able to overcome their problems is that they are not addressing the foundational truths underpinning them. For people to change their lives, they must first be willing to accept that the Introduction 3

root of their problems might lie in themselves. Second, they must be willing to evaluate their personal truths in the light of more compelling truths. And third, they must actively replace their false truths with more beneﬁcial and reliable ones.

PILLARS OF TRUTH Personally held truths act like support pillars upon which we build who we are. The more strongly held a truth is, the more of who we are is connected to it, and the more difficult it is for us to change it. When a strongly held belief is confronted with reality or a stronger truth, the support pillar and all that is connected to it is shaken. The more strongly held the belief, the more damage is caused by the shaking, and the more desperate are the attempts of the person to shore up the crumbling truth. For example, a woman who had an abortion, when confronted with the truth that she murdered her baby may bring up the false arguments used by pro- abortionists such as it was not a human or that it was not alive yet. Then, when confronted with undeniable proof that the baby in the womb is fully human and fully an individual, may use more pro- abortionist propaganda such as it’s not fair to bring a child into this evil or overpopulated world, or that if born the baby would have suffered because it would have been in poverty or be unloved. As each excuse is refuted with facts and logic, she may use anger to stop the questioning. She may also break off relationships to avoid hearing what shakes her preferred truth. But she knows the real truth, and hates that it contradicts her own truth, so she suppresses the truth – maybe through drugs or activism in pro-abortion groups. The longer this conflict with reality goes unresolved, the more damage is done by the shaking. The source of many physical and mental illnesses might be traced to such ongoing conflict. Until a person is prepared to accept another truth, they cannot and will not 4 As Your Soul Prospers

let go of their false truth – even if it is doing them harm. Before anyone will accept a new truth, they need a sufficient amount of information to test and prove. Until then, they will keep to what they already live by – no matter how shaky it is, or how much difficulty it causes them. To find reliable truths to replace shaken ones, many people have looked to philosophy, psychiatry, or religion. And, indeed, there are many instances of people finding new truths in these areas that provide relief from suffering – at least for a time – until they too are found to be false. So what is the long-term solution? It is to find a source of ultimate truths that do not fail when shaken.

ULTIMATE TRUTHS For people to enjoy unshakable lives, they need to ﬁnd a source of ultimate truths that do not fail when shaken. It is the contention of this book that the only source of unshakable truths is the God of the Bible, and that He has primarily revealed Himself and His truths through it. Though God reveals His truths in many ways, the Bible is the most reliable source. In John 14:6, Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” When Jesus was praying for His followers, He asked the Father to “Sanctify them through your truth: your word is truth.” (John 17:17). Also, Jesus said to the Jews who believed on Him, “If you continue in my word, then are you my disciples indeed; and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (John 8:31-32). Unlike any other religious text, the Bible has proven itself to be reliable historically, scientiﬁcally, philosophically, logically, and prophetically. If you notice yourself reacting defensively to that claim, it reveals an aspect of your worldview which can be shaken. Always remember that it is God’s truth which will make us free – free from all the false truths that enslave us and cause problems in Introduction 5

our lives. It’s interesting that the very first chapter of the book of Prov- erbs says, The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge (including truth): but fools despise wisdom and instruction. (Proverbs 1:7). Until people fear (are awestruck by) the almighty God who is the creator and sustainer of heaven and earth and all that is in them (including humanity), they CANNOT know the truths that will set them free from personal difficulties. If you are going through any crisis, or struggling to overcome a habit which keeps ruining your life, or constantly being attacked by negative thinking, this book was written to help you gain the victory. The three-part goal of this book is to show you how to identify the true cause of your problems (false truth), how to confront the false truth as the lie it is, and how to replace it with unfailing truth upon which you can build a happier, healthier, and more fulfilling life. As more of our personal truths are replaced with the ultimate truths of God, the more victorious we will be in our lives, and the more peace we will enjoy no matter what is happening around us. To start the journey, we must first understand how the human person is designed, constructed and functions. 6 As Your Soul Prospers 7

2. The Human “Trinity”

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. Just as God is a Trinity – three yet one – so, somewhat, is the human person. None of the three aspects of the human is independent of the others, and all three are interconnected expressions of the one person. Your Body is you, your Soul is you, and your Spirit is you. By drawing from scripture, it is possible to explain and describe how these aspects interact to form the individual human person. And in understanding this, we can identify how the person can be helped to overcome struggles and to live successfully in community with other individual human persons. Traditional Hebrew and Greek understanding is that people are two part beings – body and soul – an outward aspect and an inward aspect. This is one of the main reasons it is difﬁcult to ﬁnd in scripture a precise description of Body, Soul, and Spirit. Also, in the Bible soul and spirit are often used synonymously, and often the Hebrew and Greek words translated soul and spirit are translated as other words including mind, heart, liver, bowels, or the inner man. What’s more, sometimes soul refers to the person as a whole, and sometimes it refers to the life of the person in general. Jesus said that He is the Good Shepherd who gives His life for the sheep (John 10:11). The Greek word psuche (psoo-khay) which is translated life in this verse obviously applies to life as it relates to the body, but in other passages, the same Greek word is translated soul (e.g., Matthew 12:18). In Matthew 10:28, soul and body are differenti- ated when we are warned: And fear not them who kill the body, but are 8 As Your Soul Prospers

not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

Also, because the meaning of the Hebrew and Greek words can change depending on the context, translators of the scriptures endeavoured to find words to best express the meaning to their targeted readers. We can see this by looking at various translations of even one verse, John 7:38. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (KJV); Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, “Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.” (NLT); Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them. (NIV); and He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, “From his inner- most being shall flow rivers of living water.” (NAS). The Greek word koilia (koy-lee-ah) translated belly etc. in John 7:38 can refer to belly, abdomen, heart, womb or any other major organ. Another example is in Matthew 9:36 and 14:14 where it says that Jesus was moved with compassion for the crowd. The Greek word translated moved with compassion is splagchnizomai (splangkh-nid- zom-ahee) which comes from splanxna meaning the inward parts, especially the more noble organs such as the heart, lungs, liver, and kidneys. In context, here the inward parts obviously means that Jesus was moved with strong, deep, emotion. In Matthew 15:19-20 Jesus said, “For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. These are the things which defile a man...” The Greek word translated here as heart is kardia (kar-dee-ah) which appears over 800 times in the Bible but never in reference to the physical organ. So, depending on the context and the view of the translators, heart can refer to the mind, character, inner self, will, desire, intention, core, or The Human Trinity 9

even the human spirit. [We shall see later, that evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications etc. do indeed originate in the heart because the nature of the heart ultimately determines how we think and behave.] Hebrews 4:12 says, For the word of God [the truth which God speaks to humanity through any means] is living, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. The key to understanding such passages is to look at it in context to see what point the author is making. This verse is not a teaching on what soul and spirit mean, or that the heart has thoughts and intents, it’s simply that when God speaks to us (in whatever way) there’s no point trying to hide anything from Him – He knows exactly what is at the core of everything we say, do, and think. Likewise, when we are commanded in the Bible to “love the Lord our God with all our heart and soul and mind and strength”, we are being told to love Him fully, with all of our being (see Luke 10:27 and Mark 12:30). In Matthew 22:37 the same command is made using just heart, soul and mind, and in Deuteronomy 6:5 where the reference comes from, the words used are heart, soul and might.

You might understand why the ﬁrst in-depth study I did many years ago to identify the roles of heart and soul and mind and strength as mentioned in Luke 10:27 ended in me being overwhelmed and looking for other passages to study. Thankfully, true to the biblical principle of precept upon precept, line upon line, here a little, there a little (see Isaiah 28:10), God gradually made it clearer to me. And hopefully, as you continue reading this book, He will use me to make it clearer to you. Generally speaking then, when scripture refers to the heart, 10 As Your Soul Prospers

the mind, the soul, the belly, or the spirit etc. of a person, it is simply referring to the aspect of the human which is unseen – the inner man. Nevertheless, amidst the shifting nature of the words, a careful study of all the scriptures related to this topic reveals reliable patterns and themes by which we can understand the characteris- tics, functions and interaction of the Body, Soul and Spirit – the Human Trinity. By understanding this, we can help ourselves and others overcome unwanted traits, habits and “illnesses” which harm our lives and relationships.

BODY When comparing the trinity of the person with the Trinity of God, the Body loosely corresponds to Jesus who is the means by which God interfaces with His creation in this world. Our Body is the means by which we interface with this world. The Body is the outward expression of the human person. Though the Body includes the physical machinery of the person, the Body is not only this. This book will refer to the physical aspect of the Body as the flesh. The flesh is a living mechanism which interfaces with the world using the five senses – seeing, hearing, touching, tasting and smelling. Without the flesh part of the Body, the person is unable to exist on this planet. When our flesh can no longer function, we lose our ability to experience this world. Part of the mechanism of the flesh is the brain. Our brain is pre-programmed by God with all it needs to sustain our living, and the ability to grow and develop. From the moment a person is born the brain sets about collecting information about the world in order to both survive and to express the core nature of the person. When The Human Trinity 11

information proves over time to be effective at consistently providing a need, it is incorporated into the programming of the brain for auto-response. This enables the person to respond to situations without having to reason through all the relevant information fresh every time. If you ask people being confronted for doing wrong, why they cry or become abusive, they will rarely be able to identify any reasoning behind it – they just do. It’s actually because that behaviour is an auto-response programmed into them as the result of it being found over time, in similar situations, to save them from unwanted consequences or to provide them with desired benefits. It is said that the brain of a person does not finish development until the early to middle twenties. That belief about brain development is based on the observation that in developed western countries most younger people seem to have a limited concept of consequences from actions, which is said by some to be the function of the frontal lobe of the brain. However, given that many young people do function responsibly and with a sound understanding of consequences from actions, another possibility is that the brain develops according to the development of the person, not the other way. In contemporary western society, it can take until the mid- twenties for a person to be exposed to enough quality information for them to develop consequence-related programmes which are stored in various areas of the brain – including the frontal lobe. When a person has a stroke, one outcome can be a change in personality. This is because the programming of the brain which the person had developed to help them interact with their world was damaged. For them to regain their former personality, they would need to access and test a sufficient amount of information which would lead them to the same conclusions and programming which formed part of their pre-stroke personality. 12 As Your Soul Prospers

Some drugs seem to have a similar, but usually short-term, effect on certain stored behavioural functions. Unfortunately, exces- sive or prolonged use of these drugs can result in permanent loss of the former programming. The flesh is the biological machinery, sensors and programming which ensures our existence in the world; but it is not all there is to the Body. Though the Body does include the flesh, the Body is not merely the flesh; it is also that which makes the person alive.

In the Hebrew language of the Old Testament, the word which best describes Body is chay (khah-ee). Though it is commonly translated as body it is also translated as life or living, e.g. And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life (chay); and man became a living (chay) soul. – Genesis 2:7. God used the elements of the earth to construct the human machinery, and then He made it alive. In Genesis 1:24 chay is also used in relation to animals – And God said, Let the earth bring forth living (chay) creatures after their kinds, cattle, and creeping things, and beasts of the earth after their kinds: and it was so. [It is important to note a distinction between the life of an animal and the life of a human. When God created Adam, He breathed into him to make him a living creature. But when God made the animals He commanded the earth to bring forth the living creatures already alive. This is signiﬁcant when we look at the Spirit of mankind.] The parts of a body, human or otherwise, don’t cause it to live. Life is the energising of the ﬂesh. When the body ceases to be energised, even though all the bits are there, it is dead. According to the Bible, all life originated from God, and unless God intervenes, life can only be transmitted to a body via an already The Human Trinity 13

living parent. Contrary to the claims of evolutionists, and in spite of extensive experimentation by highly funded evolutionary biolo- gists, life has never been observed to come from non-life – a fact which is known by scientists as the Law of Biogenesis. The Old Testament often refers to God as the living God, e.g. Joshua 3:10, Deuteronomy 5:26, and Job 19:25 – For I know that my redeemer lives, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth. God is referred to as living, ﬁrst, because He is not like the gods of the heathen nations made of inanimate stone, metal or wood, but also because He is the source of life and, according to many, the life force in every living thing.

In the Greek language of the New Testament, the word which best describes Body is zoe (dzo-ay) which is also often translated as life because it refers to the animated ﬂesh and blood person. A further understanding of the zoe living Body comes by considering the meaning of eternal life or everlasting life. Though eternal life carries the idea of a life without end, it also refers to a life perfected when the Christian receives a new and immortal Body (see 1 Corin- thians 15:35-58). Now this I say, brethren, that ﬂesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither does corruption inherit incorruption... In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. – 1 Corinthians 15:50, 52-54. At the resurrection of the dead when Jesus returns, the righteous are given a new Body which is designed to function in a spiri- 14 As Your Soul Prospers

tual dimension and in accordance with the Spirit of the person, not in accordance with the corrupted natural world. This new Body will be a perfect expression of the person’s Spirit and Soul, and be the same type of Body as Jesus now has.

The Body, being the outward expression of the person, does not act independently, but in response to the Soul. For example, a Body creates chemicals in response to BELIEFS that do not come from the Body. This can be seen in the placebo effect which causes physical and chemical changes in the Body based solely on what the person believes. Adrenaline is produced in response to a belief of a threat, and oxytocin (the “cuddle” hormone) is produced in response to a belief of social safety and acceptance. Supposedly, people who suffer from certain mental illnesses do so because they have a “chemical imbalance”. Because it is impossible to measure the chemicals in the brain without ﬁrst killing the patient, psychologists say they know it so because if the person being treated is prescribed certain drugs their thoughts change – at least for a time. The issue though is not the presence or absence of a chemical but whether the chemical imbalance produces the moods and feelings, or if the moods and feelings produce the chemicals. This means that in some cases, the mental illness may not be an illness at all, but the result of situations with which the person’s Soul is trying to deal. The Bible tells us that a merry heart does good like a medicine, but a broken spirit dries the bone (Proverbs 17:22). Oncologists are well aware that the patients most likely to survive the ravages of chemo- therapy and radiation therapy are those with the most positive attitude. Famously, Norman Cousins (1915-1990), who was known to be a kind-hearted optimist and lover of life, healed himself of a debilitating disease by, among other things, self-induced laughter The Human Trinity 15

brought on with the aid of funny TV shows like Candid Camera, and comedy movies like those of the Marx Brothers. In explaining how he beneﬁted from this therapy Cousins said, “I made the joyous discovery that ten minutes of genuine belly laughter had an anaes- thetic effect and would give me at least two hours of pain-free sleep.” Emotions could, therefore, be viewed as the Body’s response to certain beliefs, equipping the ﬂesh with the hormones and chemicals it needs to respond in a pre-programmed way. What we believe to be true is in the domain of the Soul.

SOUL The Soul aspect of the person loosely corresponds to the Father aspect of God. It is the Soul which directs the behaviour of the person in protecting and fulﬁlling the nature of the human Spirit. Just as Jesus was the expression of the Father’s will, so the Body is the expression of the will of the Soul. (“For I came down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of him that sent me.” – John 6:38. Then answered Jesus and said unto them, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, the Son can do nothing of himself, but what he sees the Father do: for whatsoever things he does, these also does the Son likewise.” – John 5:19. “For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father who sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.” – John 12:49.)

Mind and Will The reasoning aspect of the Soul we can call the Mind. This is where beliefs are formed, and plans and actions are initiated. The Will is the decision or intention of the Mind to proceed with a certain action. The Mind ﬁlters the abundance of information it is exposed to every day, looking for that which the Soul deems is most beneﬁ- 16 As Your Soul Prospers

cial in fulfilling its purpose. An epiphany, or a “Eureka” moment, is when the Soul identifies a useful pattern, or a solution to a problem, based on the information on a particular matter collected by the Mind over time. Some call this search engine function of the Mind the Reticular Activating System. A mother can hear the cry of her child in a sea of crying children because her Mind has been set to search for that sound amongst all the others. Regularly we hear people say they were protected from harm because they responded to a premonition or “gut feeling”. What we call “gut feeling” or “intuition” or “sixth sense” is most probably the result of information being assessed by the person without their conscious awareness, in which the Soul is building a case that there could be a risk to the person. Our dreams can be part of the operation of the Mind as it sorts and filters information, and tests it in various scenarios.

Conscience Another area of the Soul is the Conscience. What we call our Con- science seems to be the part of a person’s Soul which identifies the influence of the nature of God upon them to do what is morally right. A good Conscience is when the Soul of the person is predisposed to follow the voice of the Conscience which, when followed, produces a clear Conscience. A weak Conscience is one which knows to do right but does not always do it because it might be difficult. A bad or evil Conscience is when the Soul of the person is predisposed to reject the voice of the Conscience which, when ignored, lays upon the person a sense of guilt and pending judgement. The result of continuing to go against the Conscience is either an increased sense of guilt or an increased callousness which, like scarring, diminishes the senses so that the person is less likely to The Human Trinity 17

“hear” the voice of the Conscience. Now the [Holy] Spirit speaks expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to deceitful spirits, and doctrines of demons; speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron. – 1 Timothy 4:1-2. (Interestingly this passage appears to be talking about Christians – people of the faith – going against their Conscience.) It is not a strange thing that God provided mankind with awareness in their Soul of good and evil. In Genesis 1:26 God said, “Let us make man in Our image, after Our likeness.” Yet, it wasn’t until after the fall of mankind through the rebellion of Adam, that God said people were like Him – knowing good and evil: “Behold, the man is become as one of Us, to know good and evil.” – Genesis 3:22. This explains how a person who has never heard of Jesus can be righteous in the eyes of God – they obey the voice of their Conscience. For when the Gentiles, who have not the law, do by nature the things con- tained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves, who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excus- ing one another. – Romans 2:14-15. Unfortunately, the Conscience, being an aspect of the Soul, can be inﬂuenced by error causing the person to view something as right or wrong when it is not. That is why God holds people to their sense of right or wrong, even if it is not based solely on biblical truths. God is more interested in whether we do what we believe is right or wrong, rather than if it is or not. For example, Paul exhorts mature Christians to respect the Conscience of new Christians who believe that it is wrong in the eyes of God for them to eat meat even though God does not require that of them. Paul tells the mature Christians not to eat meat if it could cause another Christian to go against what that person believes is right or wrong – for if the person eats meat when they believe it is wrong to do so, they believe they 18 As Your Soul Prospers

have sinned (see Romans 14:14-23).

The Soul of each person is in constant ﬂux as it collects information from all available sources, tests it for reliability and suitability, and then incorporates the new proven information to help fulﬁl the purpose of the Spirit. The Soul makes the choices that best allow for the expression of the nature of their Spirit. Therefore, the decisions made by people rely largely on the quality of the information with which they have come into contact and continue to come into contact. Understanding this is essential when trying to help ourselves or others change what could be considered harmful behaviours or thought patterns. When people are exposed to an abundance of information in any particular area, they are more likely to believe it even if it is not true. Joseph Goebbels, Hitler’s propaganda minister, wrote, “If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it.” He went on to say, “The lie can be maintained only for such time as the State can shield the people from the political, economic and/or military consequences of the lie. It thus becomes vitally important for the State to use all of its powers to repress dissent, for the truth is the mortal enemy of the lie, and thus by extension, the truth is the greatest enemy of the State.” If our politicians, schools, media corporations, and celebrities keep repeating the same lies, the masses will believe them; at least until they are confronted with consequences of the truth. If people are told often enough that they are just animals, that they are not responsible for their actions, that it’s right to give expression to whatever feelings they have, and that the Bible is just a fairy story, it should surprise no one that we end up with a society of people behaving just like animals, i.e. mere wild beasts. That is why Christian parents need to be supervising and The Human Trinity 19

discussing with their children what they are being exposed to on television and online, and even what they are being taught at school.

Personality Every Soul is different because everyone has been exposed to different information and experiences, and has therefore developed different ways of protecting and expressing their core nature in various environments. The aspect of the person which is displayed to the world is what we call their Personality – regardless of how representative it is of their true nature.

Feelings and Emotions Emotion is a tool of the Soul to achieve its function. E.g., anger is an adapted response to circumstances and obstacles in order to achieve and express the core nature of the person. Angry people identiﬁed at some stage in their life that anger is a useful tool to achieve their desired outcomes. Therefore, for us to get over or through struggles, it is often useful to identify our emotions as well as when and why we use them. The same applies to physical manifestations such as panic attacks or migraines. These can also be tools used by the Soul to achieve a particular outcome even though the person may not consciously understand why it is happening. And as mentioned earlier, the Body responds to emotions by producing the hormones and chemicals to enable the desired action. WHATEVER a person does is the work of the Soul in providing for, and expressing the Spirit of the person in the most effective and efﬁcient ways it has learned. No one seeks to change their behaviours unless they believe it is in their best interest to do so. That’s why many smokers aren’t affected by cancer warnings on 20 As Your Soul Prospers

cigarette packets, why drink drivers continue to drive when drunk, why people caught speeding blame the police, and why rapists blame their victims. Feelings are different than emotions in that feelings are a response to something the person thinks or believes is happening. When a person “feels” something, it is the pressure on an emotional trigger. If left unchecked, the trigger initiates the action, i.e., the e- motion. Thoughts lead to feeling, and feelings if left unchecked trigger emotions which initiate actions. Depending on the person and the issue, emotional triggers are more or less sensitive, allowing the person more or less opportunity to review their thoughts about what is happening. The good news is that people can learn to identify their feelings and how to apply disarming tactics to prevent the full triggering of unwanted emotions. Our Creator intended for us to have feelings and emotions. Therefore they must have a purpose which is good. Unfortunately, humanity has become so corrupted, by and large, that feelings and emotions are based on the self-focussed fallen nature rather than the original godly nature. Good feelings and emotions are those which help us express the nature of God. For example, we see a report about innocent people suffering, and we feel sad, compassion, pity, anger, etc. This is the thumbprint of God in His creation moving us to action, even if that action is simply to cry because we feel powerless to bring comfort or stop the evil. To help alleviate this feeling of helplessness, God has given all humanity the instinct to pray. Even the most atheistic people have been known to admit that in the lowest points in their lives when they were beyond being able to help themselves, they called out to God. Evil feelings and emotions such as hate, covetousness and lust stem from an obsession with oneself. The Bible doesn’t often use the The Human Trinity 21

word “emotion”, but it does use other words to express the same thing, especially evil emotions. Romans 1:25-26 – [Those who suppress the truth of God] changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature. The word affections (Greek pathos) in this passage is also translated passions or lusts, and refers to strong feelings or emotions that are not directed by God. This type of emotion is vile, also translated disgraceful, dishonourable, shameful, and degrading. Note too the cause of their vile affections – they rejected God and set up their own beliefs, worshipping themselves rather than their Creator. You will often hear people make excuses for their vile feelings and emotions, saying that is just the way they are, or that God made them that way. But that’s a false truth; we are told that as Christians we are able to mortify (kill) them. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall you also appear with him in glory. Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry, for which things’ sake the wrath of God comes on the children of disobedience. – Colossians 3:4-6. Read that again slowly; we are not only told that we can overcome bad feelings and emotions, but that it is in our best interest to do so.

Being Offended Some feelings and emotions can be either good or bad. For example, sadness can be good to cause reﬂection and introspection. But it can also be a tool used to manipulate others to one’s own selﬁsh desires. Recently, one particular feeling and emotion has been lifted above many others in its level of importance – offence. Increasingly these days, when people don’t like what someone else is saying or doing, 22 As Your Soul Prospers

they feel like they are being attacked, so they take offence and retaliate against the perceived threat with anger, abuse, violence, etc. It is a phenomenon which most likely grew out of lives lived on social media where people create their own world surrounding themselves with people who agree with them, or at least, will not disagree with them on anything they say or do. In these “echo chambers” or “bubbles” they are the unchallenged rulers of their own kingdoms – expelling anyone who disagrees with them. The word offence literally means to strike at, but interestingly, when the word is used in the Bible, it is used to translate a Greek word skandalizo (skan-dal-id-zo) which means to set a trap or snare. It is sometimes translated caused to sin, or made to stumble into sins, or made to fall into the trap of sinning. Therefore, people who take offence are walking into a feelings trap which will make them sin, which is triggered when they emotionally retaliate. [If you are prone to taking offence, the obvious solution is to learn to stop seeing anything you don’t agree with as a personal attack on you. And even it were so, to not retaliate in kind but in meekness and love.]

Soul in the Old Testament In the Hebrew language of the Old Testament, the word used to refer to the Soul aspect of a person is nephesh (neh-fesh). In Genesis 2:7 where it says that man became a living soul (or being), the Hebrew word is nephesh. In Genesis 2:19 where God brought to Adam every living creature for him to name, the word translated creature is also nephesh. (Yes, even animals have souls, not just because they are alive, but also because they make decisions based on learned, adapted information, to best express and provide for their core “beast” nature. That’s why domestic animals are able to be trained.) In Genesis 9:4, where God told Noah, “But ﬂesh with its life, which is The Human Trinity 23

its blood, shall you not eat.” and in Genesis 9:5 where He refers to the life of people, the word translated life is nephesh. In Genesis 32:30 after Jacob had wrestled all night with God in human form, Jacob said, “I have seen God face to face, and my life (nephesh) is preserved.” In Genesis 37:21 when Reuben wanted to prevent the brothers killing Joseph, he said, “Let us not take his life (nephesh).” In Genesis 42:21 when the brothers were remembering what they had done to Joseph, they said, “We are truly guilty concerning our brother in that we saw the anguish of his soul (nephesh) when he besought us, and we would not hear.” And in Genesis 46:26 where it refers to the number of people who went to Egypt with Jacob, the word translated people (also souls), is nephesh. The Old Testament even uses nephesh for a body which is dead, e.g., He that touches the dead body (nephesh) of any man shall be unclean seven days. – Numbers 19:11. So, depending on the context in which it is being used, the word nephesh is versatile, with the exception that it nearly always refers to someone, or something, which lives or has lived. Generally though, in regard to people, nephesh refers to the person either as the whole being or as the aspect of the person which makes decisions in response to their experience in this world. All living creatures begin life with pre-programmed behaviours and responses we could call instincts, but they are also pre- programmed to adapt as new information is tested and found to be “true” and beneﬁcial. So, though nephesh (Soul) does refer to the living being or creature, it could more accurately refer to the decisions and responses of the living being. Therefore, the Soul reacts and makes decisions in response to the senses (as well as all other data) to ultimately express the core nature (Spirit) of the creature.

24 As Your Soul Prospers

Soul in the New Testament In the original Greek language of the New Testament, the word which best describes the Soul, and directly corresponds with nephesh, is psuche (psoo-khay). This is the root of the English words psyche and psychology. It comes from a word meaning to blow (like the wind) and refers to the individual person and their unique personality. The psyche, or Soul, is the force which moves (blows) the person in a particular direction – the direction determined by their Spirit. Psychology, therefore, is the study of this energy which moves a person; not just that which is on the surface, but what is hidden from the onlooker. Because the Soul often disguises its true intent in order to achieve exactly that; to overcome ongoing and reoccurring difﬁculties in our lives, we need ﬁrst to identify and expose our true intents and our modus operandi, that is, the nature of our Spirit, and how our Soul goes about expressing and protecting it. The difference between the content of this book and most traditional psychology is the addition of the need to understand a person’s Spirit from the biblical perspective. This additional aspect provides essential information allowing us to more appropriately deal with the whole person, not just the way the person functions in the world with their Body and Soul.

SPIRIT The Spirit is the core nature of the human person. Sometimes it is referred to as the heart. O generation of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. A good man out of the good treasure of the heart brings forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things. – Matthew 12:34-35. But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from The Human Trinity 25

the heart; and they defile the man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. – Matthew 15:18-19. The Spirit of a person is the core of all they imagine, desire and do. For a good tree brings not forth corrupt fruit; neither does a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. For every tree is known by its own fruit. For from thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes. – Luke 6:43-44. A person behaves as they do because their Soul is fulfilling the core nature of the person – their Spirit. The Spirit does not make decisions regarding behaviour – that is the role of the Soul. The Spirit refers to a person’s intent, which is to BE and to be fully expressed.

There are only two types of Spirit nature in humans – godly or ungodly – either people are driven to please themselves, or driven to please God. In the New Testament, these two natures are usually referred to as Natural (Carnal, Fleshly) and Spiritual.

The Prevailing Wind In the Hebrew of the Old Testament, the word translated Spirit is ruach (roo-akh) which also refers to wind and breath. But unlike the “blow” origin of the word Soul (psuche), ruach refers to the motivation, the driving force, and the source of the wind. The Soul moves in response to the nature (the motivating force) of the Spirit. In the Greek of the New Testament, the word most often translated Spirit is pneuma (pnyoo-mah) from which we derive the English word pneumatic as in air-powered machinery. Pneuma corresponds directly to the Hebrew word ruach, meaning wind or breath. The Spirit of God (the Holy Spirit) in the New Testament is also pneuma and is usually only identiﬁable as God because of context or 26 As Your Soul Prospers

because it is prefaced by Holy. (Though the King James Version uses Holy Ghost, the Greek word translated Ghost is still pneuma.) Demons in the Bible are also referred to as spirits, for example, evil spirits, unclean spirits, and the spirit of antichrist. Essentially, in whatever context, the word spirit refers to the motivation or motivating force behind behaviours, whether that force is the Spirit of the person or a supernatural entity influencing the person. In Christian circles one sometimes hears about a person, usually a woman, said to have a “Jezebel spirit”. This means that she behaves in the way Queen Jezebel did in the Old Testament, i.e., controlling others (especially men), undermining authority (especially godly authority), sowing discord among God’s people, and turning people from God. Note that if there is a demonic influence on a person, it often only supports the expression of the Spirit nature of the person. Because demon spirits desire to have a physical expression in the world, and prefer to do so through a person, they look for an open and like-minded person who will provide that opportunity. If you are a Christian not already familiar with such things, it’s important that you understand right here that evil spirits cannot have control over a Christ-natured person. When Hollywood, or followers of witchcraft and Satanism portray it otherwise, they are either lying or believing a lie. The Bible tells us that demons tremble before the one true God (James 2:19), so if the Father and Son make their home in the believer (John 14:23), and the Holy Spirit also dwells in the believer (1 Corinthians 6:19), and you are a believer, how can demons have any power over you? Not even Satan himself can withstand you if you are submitted to God. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. – James 4:7. The Human Trinity 27

The Influence of the Holy Spirit The Holy Spirit is like the prevailing wind of the nature of God which blows on all humanity. That’s why there are “good” people even though they do not personally know God. All humanity is influenced by the nature and character of God. This can be seen in the moral codes found in most cultures of the world – tell the truth, do not steal, do not murder, be true to your spouse and your friends, care for the weak and suffering, be courageous, etc. The Holy Spirit is often said to be the energy of God which causes miracles to happen. This is a false truth, first because the Holy Spirit is a person of the Trinity, no less God than the Father or the Son (Acts 5:3-4 – You have lied to the Holy Spirit...you have lied to God.), and second because the Holy Spirit is the nature of God, not the power of God. When God applies His nature upon His creation, creation must conform to it. Jesus, as a human, had the Holy Spirit without measure (John 3:34) and went about doing all kinds of miracles. The power which causes the miracles is the influence of God on the natural and spiritual realms. The “woman with the issue of blood” (Luke 8:43-48) was healed when power went out from Jesus as she touched the edge of His cloak. The word translated power in that passage is the Greek word dunamis (doo-nam-is) which means to be enabled. (Our word dynamite comes from the same Greek word.) Of course, for God all things are possible, but for the believer dunamis power happens when God enables us to do what He moves on us by His Spirit to do. Jesus was the image of God – the expression of the nature of God in a way the world can’t comprehend. The Greek word Christ, and the Hebrew word Messiah both mean anointed and usually refer to the One who would come and have poured out upon Him the Spirit of God without measure/limit (John 3:34) – which Jesus obvi- 28 As Your Soul Prospers

ously had. In the synagogue of Nazareth, His hometown, Jesus read to the assembly from the Old Testament book of Isaiah: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord.” – Luke 4:18-19. Then He told those listening that that scripture was fulfilled in Him. Of course, God can independently and directly apply His nature in situations and on lives to cause change in the spiritual and natural realms, but people are also able to access His nature by faith. Faith is the active response to the nature of God on our lives. When God “speaks” to us by the Holy Spirit, this is the influence of the nature of God upon us. Unfortunately, some Christians are quick to ascribe every thought or feeling they have as being God speaking to them. The Bible tells us, however, that we are to test all “spirits” as there are many counterfeit teachers and preachers claiming to speak by the voice of God (1 John 4:1). Likewise, we should test the voices we hear in our own minds. One of the best ways to test influencing spirits is to get to know the genuine Spirit of God. When we spend enough time with the real thing, it becomes much easier to identify counterfeits. That is why it is so important for a Christian to be reading the Bible daily and thinking about what it says by weighing it and testing it in context against all the Bible verses they know. The application of the nature of God on a situation causes the natural and spiritual worlds to conform to that nature – when this happens we call it a miracle. A perfect application of the nature of God is love – the God type of love. ...and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not love, I am nothing... (see 1 Corin- thians 13). The Human Trinity 29

Often in the New Testament the Holy Spirit is called the Spirit of Christ (e.g. Romans 8:9, 1 Peter 1:11, Philippians 1:19). This is because the Holy Spirit is the Spirit (nature) which was upon Christ. After Jesus returned to heaven, He and the Father sent the Holy Spirit to the earth so that the Holy Spirit could be with the disciples in the same way as He was with Jesus (and as Jesus was with them), so they too would be an expression of the nature of God in the world just as was Jesus (John 16:13-15). The Spirit of God, the nature of God, or the anointing of God, is most often revealed in the lives of people when their Spirit and Soul are fully submitted to His will. Jesus said that the Holy Spirit will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment (John 16:8). The word here translated convict includes the use of compelling evidence in rebuking and exposing. This is important to understand when trying to help non- Christians deal with struggles in their lives – before progress can be made they need to be shown the sinful nature of their heart/Spirit. Only if they confess their sin (say the same as God says about it) and turn from it to follow Christ, can they be empowered by God to overcome their problems. If we are not prepared to tell them this fundamental truth (the Gospel), we need to look into ourselves to identify why we are not eager to express His nature in the same way Jesus did and all the apostles after Him – even if it meant persecution, arrest and being tortured to death. People become followers of Christ in response to the inﬂuence of the Holy Spirit on their natural Spirit. Their Spirit is then miraculously transformed into the image of Christ which seeks to represent on earth the nature of God. They are then helped in doing this by the Holy Spirit who comes alongside them to provide new information to help them adapt their Soul to being more Christ-like. For if you live after the ﬂesh, you shall die: but if you through the Spirit do put to death the deeds of the body, you shall live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, 30 As Your Soul Prospers

they are the sons of God. – Romans 8:13-14. But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. – 2 Corinthians 3:18. Until this transformation of the human Spirit takes place, a person will resist the will of God in their life, even if that transformation could bring victory over difficulties. Paul explains this in his letter to the Christians in Rome: For those that are according to the flesh [submitted to their fleshly lusts] know the things that are of the flesh; but those that are according to the Spirit, the things that are of the Spirit. For to be carnally [fleshly] minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. But you are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. – Romans 8:5-9. The “carnally minded” person, i.e., the non-Christian, has a Spirit which is focussed first of all on being the god of their own world in which they manipulate others to serve them to meet their needs; and second on experiencing the world through the sensa- tions of the flesh. The carnal Soul, in seeking to provide personal godhood and fleshly pleasures, is prepared to sacrifice all lesser things and people to that cause. This does not mean that all non-Christians are amoral mon- sters. In fact, there are many non-Christians who seem to behave far more moral and caring than some Christians. Many “good” people have been raised in countries and communities strongly influenced by Judeo-Christian morals so that their Soul found it benefitted the expression of their core nature to take on those “truths”. But as more countries and communities overtly reject the truths of the God of the Bible in every possible area, we are seeing fewer “good” people The Human Trinity 31

in the new generation. Well known evangelist, Ray Comfort uses the “good person test” to help “good” people see that they are not so good after all. He starts by asking if they are good, to which most people answer, “Yes.” Then he asks if they think they will go to heaven or hell (if the God of the Bible really exists), most either say they will, or they hope they will. Then Ray asks them by what standard they determine that. He goes on to explain that because the God of the Bible decides who goes to heaven or hell, it makes sense to look at the standard God sets in the Ten Commandments. “How many lies have you told in your life?” The usual response is, “Countless.” “What would that make you?” “A liar,” they admit. “Have you ever stolen anything, including copying or downloading pirated music?” Most say they have. If they say they haven’t, he asks them if he can take their word for it given that they just admitted to being a liar. “What do you call someone who steals?” “A thief.” Depending on the person and the time available, Ray goes on to ask about blasphemy (saying anything that would disrespect God), adultery (lust in the heart), and murder (hate in the heart). He then confronts them with their crimes, “I’m not judging you, but according to your own admission, you are a liar, a thief, a blas- phemer, and a murderer and adulterer at heart. If you died today and God judged you by even those few standards, would He have to send you to heaven or hell?” Eventually, most people agree that, in spite of their claims to be a good person, they would end up in hell. “Does that bother you? It should. Do you know what God did so you wouldn’t have to go to hell?” Then Ray tells them the gospel. [For more information about Ray Comfort and resources available from his ministry go to LivingWaters.com] The point I am making is that there are many “good” people, but that does not mean they are truly good or have a godly Spirit.

32 As Your Soul Prospers

The essential difference between the two natures is that the Chris- tian (godly person) is motivated by a noble, self-sacrificing Spirit which seeks the greater good, especially that of God; and the carnal, fallen nature which is more akin to the beasts – animals – is driven primarily by the urges and desires of the flesh. In referring to false prophets, Peter said: But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption. – 2 Peter 2:12. “Hang on!” I hear you object, “There are many Christians who do bad things.” You are absolutely correct, not everything Christians do is noble or self-sacrificing. But the difference isn’t so much what they do, as it is the nature of their Spirit. When a person is “born again” their Spirit is miraculously changed to being godly, and immediately begins influencing their Soul to restructure their personality into the image a Christ – a task which probably will not be fully achieved in their lifetime. (Of course, another option is that the person is not really a Christian, but we’ll cover more on that later.)

When we understand which Spirit a person has, we can better help them overcome personal difficulties. That’s because personal difficulties tend to be the direct result of the nature of their Spirit and how their Soul seeks to express and protect that nature. It’s largely impossible to successfully and permanently overcome serious personal difficulties without first addressing the nature of the Spirit. The Human Trinity 33

SUMMARY – BODY, SOUL & SPIRIT This chapter has covered a lot of information which is probably new to you or is different to what you currently believe to be true, so it would be beneﬁcial to revise it in summary.

The Body is both the biological machinery and the energising force which makes it alive. The machine part is called the Flesh; this includes the ﬁve senses and the operating system of the brain which is preprogrammed by God to sustain our living and to add its own programmes to provide the person with auto-responses for commonly reoccurring situations. The auto-response programmes allow the person to not have to reason through every aspect of every situation before deciding on the appropriate response and producing the chemicals and hormones necessary for the machine to perform the response. The energising part of the Body, the part which makes us alive is passed on from the parent – life only comes from life – all of which originated from God.

The Soul directs the behaviour of the person in protecting and fulfilling the core nature of the human Spirit. The reasoning aspect of the Soul is the Mind where beliefs are formed and plans made for actions to be taken. The Will can be described as the decision or intention of the Mind to proceed in a certain direction. The Con- science is an aspect of the Soul which identifies the influence of the nature of God upon the person to do what is right in the eyes of God. The Soul is in constant flux as it collects and assesses information to find the best way to protect and express the core Spirit nature of the person. The way the Soul expresses the nature of the person to society is their Personality. The Personality, therefore, is the facade or mask the Soul presents to the world in order to fulfil as best as 34 As Your Soul Prospers

possible the desires of their Spirit nature. Emotions are behaviours programmed by the Soul to self- initiate when a threat or opposition is identified which could under- mine the intent of the Soul to protect or fulfil the expression of the Spirit nature. A Feeling is the point at which the emotion is made ready to fire – the finger is placed on the trigger.

The Spirit of the person is the core of all they imagine, desire and do. It provides the prevailing wind which directs the work of the Soul. There are only two types of Spirit nature in humans – ungodly or godly. Whether a person identiﬁes it or not, either they are driven to please themself or driven to please God. The next chapter looks more into these two natures. 35

3. Comparing the Two Natures

Paul, in his letter to the Galatians, helps us see the difference between the two natures. This I say then, Walk in the Spirit [according to the nature of the Spirit of God], and you shall not fulfil the lust [cravings, strong desires] of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit [of God], and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that you cannot do the things that you would. But if you be led of the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; adultery, fornication [sexual immorality], impurity, licentiousness [immorality, lawlessness, unrestraint], idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, strife, jealousy, wrath, selfishness, divisions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revelings, and such like; of which I tell you beforehand, as I have also told you in time past, that they who do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long- suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, self-control; against such there is no law. And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. – Galatians 5:16-24. A human Spirit which seeks expression through the sense “pleasures” of the flesh is in direct opposition to the human Spirit which seeks to express the will and nature of God. It is easy to see by the two lists above how the natures are different, but let’s look at a couple of areas in more detail to highlight the differences and how they are expressed.

LOVE AND THE SPIRIT NATURE Because love is something everyone claims to have a good understanding of, looking at how love is expressed provides us with a simple comparison of the two natures. 36 As Your Soul Prospers

Most people agree that true love is a pure, noble and self- sacrificing feeling or emotion. [Hence the love of chocolate is not true love.] Most people also believe and declare that the love they have for others is that type of love. But if you closely look at and listen to the way they show their love, it is easy to see that most carnal natured people do not “walk the talk”. That’s because most people are not aware how their Soul operates to provide for the nature of their Spirit. The Soul of the carnal natured person uses the profession and expression of “love” solely as a way to get what they want. If someone tells you they love you because of the way you make them feel and that they cannot live without you, it is obvious their focus is on what benefits them not you. The Soul of this person will manipulate and lie to win you as their servant to provide for their lusts. Of course, this does not mean the person is consciously aware of the selfish intent of their love. They are subconsciously running a programme their Soul developed over time – a programme they call “love”. Though their love might even look selfless, it is selfish at its core. It is the type of love which will do what pleases another... provided it gets what it wants in return. When you are aware of this selfish love, you will start to notice how such people “stalk their prey”. For example, they will find out what is important to the object of their desire and will set about building trust by claiming to have the same views. It is clearly apparent by even a brief study of popular music, TV dramas, sitcoms, movies, and social media that ungodly males (and increasingly females) will typically do and say just about anything in the hope of having sex. They will pretend to be whatever they believe they need to be in order to win the prize. “I will lay my life down for you; I will never fail you; I will do whatever you want if you will only be mine.” They will write poetry, buy flowers, wear Comparing the Two Natures 37

clean clothes and even turn up on time if their Soul has identified that such things will get them what they desire. However, once they have what they want, they may disregard their promises and set off looking for their next victory or conquest. Typically, a carnal natured female will bait the trap to “catch her man”. Unfortunately, such women, who often say they want a faithful, long-term partner, use the type of bait which only attracts the unfaithful, short-term males. Regularly those women are heard complaining, “How come I always end up with the same type of loser guys?” That’s because they do not have the right Spirit to properly identify or express true love. Or, they do not genuinely want a long-term relationship but are only saying that because they believe it will not benefit them to say otherwise. The person with the nature of God has an insight into genuine love, one which sincerely seeks the benefit of the other person. Such people love even if it costs them greatly – even if their attempts at finding “love” fail. Godly love doesn’t seek to hurt or punish someone for rejecting their “love”. Of course, this does not mean that most Christians brought up in a secular (non-Christian) system have not included many aspects of worldly “love” in their Soul’s programming. But at least they have a good chance of replacing that programming over time. A person with a carnal nature might talk about lying down their life, but it never takes long for the counterfeit love of the carnal nature to be exposed for what it really is – a programme developed by the Soul to manipulate others to serve their selfish desires. To gain a better understanding of what true love is, carefully read the “love chapter” – 1 Corinthians 13. Part of the chapter says, Love suffers long, and is kind; love envies not; love vaunts [boasts] not itself, is not puffed up, does not behave itself rudely, seeks not its own, is not easily provoked, keeps no record of evil; rejoices not in iniquity, but rejoices in the 38 As Your Soul Prospers

truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. – 1 Corinthians 13:4-8. People with godly love never fall out of love with someone because “love never fails”. If someone says they no longer love you, then what they had for you was not true, godly love. The only people who can genuinely give this type of love must first have it in their Spirit. No matter how much a natural person tries to look godly, their true nature is always revealed over time and under pressure because what is in the heart WILL eventually show itself. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks. – Luke 6:45. Because a carnal natured person is ultimately (though possibly unwittingly) self-focused, their love is prone to declare in words or actions, “You are mine. I will kill anyone who tries to take you from me. If I can’t have you, nobody will.” Another way of identifying selfish love is the “If you leave me I will kill myself” attempt at manipulation. True godly love does not see the other person as a possession or a servant; true love is bound to seek the benefit of those loved, not their own benefit. Remember, people generally do not stop and use reason or logic every time they behave in a certain way; instead they follow auto-responses programmed into them as the result of trialled and tested behaviours that, in the past, achieved the desired results.

SELF-CONTROL AND THE SPIRIT NATURE Another example of obvious differences between the two natures is the last on the list of the “Fruit of the Spirit” – self-control (Galatians 5:23). Of course a non-Christian can have great self-control, but the Comparing the Two Natures 39

motivation is ultimately selfish and not by nature. The “beast” nature of the non-Christian does not demonstrate self-control unless it is in their short-term interest. Given the right opportunity, the carnally Spirited person would throw off all controls imposed by laws and society. For example, a paedophile practices the necessary self-control in a country where laws and society actively punish such behaviour, but in a country or situation where they believe they are free from punishment, they no longer control themselves. Even while living in a country that condemns expression of their lusts so that they must do it in secret, they work to change public opinion and laws regarding it. On the other hand, the person with the nature of Christ, by their very nature desires to dominate their flesh so that the nature of Christ may shine. The nature of the natural beast is to control and dominate others, whereas the nature of the Christian is to control and dominate the lusts of their flesh and the ungodly habits previously programmed by their Soul. For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that you should abstain from fornication [all forms of sexual immorality]; that every one of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification [separated from the world for God’s use] and honor; not in the lust of passion, even as the Gentiles who know not God. – 1 Thessalonians 4:3-5. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. – 1 John 2:16. The Soul is designed by God not only to protect and provide for the nature of the human Spirit but also to protect and provide for the needs of the Body such as food, comfort, shelter, etc. In the unsaved person, this can mean doing whatever is necessary to obtain them. The born again person, the one with the God-focussed Spirit, has different goals, so their Soul does not as easily oblige the flesh. In fact, the Christian is encouraged to keep the flesh “down” – 40 As Your Soul Prospers

to not let it rule or influence their choices and behaviour. In 1 Corinthians 9:27 Paul reveals that he buffets his body to keep it in subjection. Other translations use the words subdue, discipline, chastise, or toughen. To the Christians in Rome, Paul wrote, For if you live after the flesh, you shall die: but if you through the Spirit [of God] do put to death the deeds of the body, you shall live. – Romans 8:13. To the Christians in Colossae he wrote, Mortify [put to death] therefore your members [the flesh-focussed influence of your old nature] which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil desire, and covetousness... – Colossians 3:5. To the Ephesians: Put off concerning the former way of life the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; and be renewed in the spirit of your mind [the influence of your thinking]; and that you put on the new man [the new you, based on your new Spirit nature], which after God [in His likeness] is created in righteousness and true holiness. – Ephesians 4:22-24. And to Timothy, Paul wrote, You therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. – 2 Timothy 2:3. The Christian learns to endure hardship in the cause of God, starting with controlling the flesh rather than being controlled by it. No matter how much of a battle it is, the Christian keeps fighting because those who share in the battle, share in the rewards of the victory. Studies into the way people behave under hardship have shown that, given the same situation, different people behave differently. In Nazi concentration camps of World War II, there were prisoners who were selfish and prisoners who were selfless, and there were guards who were ruthless and guards who were com- passionate. Hardship and difficult situations don’t determine the nature of the person; they don’t make good people bad, or bad people good; they simply uncover the real nature. Likewise, people who become rich and famous will respond Comparing the Two Natures 41

differently to the new situation depending on the content of their heart. Money and fame provide power and authority, which increases the opportunity for the Soul to provide for the expression of the Spirit, whether flesh-based or God-based. Laws requiring people to practice self-control over what the laws say is immoral behaviour are generally loathsome to an ungodly person when the laws limit the expression of the Spirit of the person. But laws cannot change the nature of people; they just force the Soul of the sinner to find safer ways of expressing it – until the law can be changed. Societies which reject the God of the Bible, and therefore His standards, often create laws to allow the expression of the flesh in regulated ways. Ungodly societies usually provide for laziness, gluttony, drug use, drunkenness, and sexual immorality. In some countries that pander to the beast nature of men, it is perfectly legal to have sex with animals and with pre-teen girls, to have more than one wife at a time, and to own sex slaves. In many ungodly societies it’s legal for men to have sex with other men, and women with women, and for men to dress like women. And in most of these ungodly societies, it’s illegal to even say such behaviours are wrong. Laws in ungodly nations exist and are maintained or changed because people with authority, or large portions of society, not only want to be free to express their ungodly nature, but to have it approved of and supported. For the Christian, the God-based laws are not arduous because the laws of God are written on their heart. The laws of God reflect His nature. Therefore the person with His nature delights to express it. Likewise, Christians should be grieved at ungodly laws that support human depravity, and the harm it does and will do to people. 42 As Your Soul Prospers

THE WORD OF GOD AND THE SPIRIT NATURE In response to the change of nature, the goal of every Christian is to be progressively transformed into the image of Christ. Therefore, the goal of every Christian leader and Christian parent should be to help those in their care on that journey. The most effective way for born again believers to grow into the image of Christ is to examine their motivations and behaviours in the light of scripture. That’s because scripture expresses the nature of God. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be perfect [completed], thoroughly furnished unto all good works. – 2 Timothy 3:16-17. Because the Bible is written to be understood, it should be taken to mean what it plainly says, except where it obviously does not, e.g., parables, apocalyptic visions, poetry, and hyperbole. This means that most of the Bible is not open to interpretation – it means what the author clearly says. A carnal Christian or false Christian will usually seek to interpret scriptures to suit the selfish constructs of their fallen nature. On the other hand, a person with a godly nature will seek to know and understand the intent of the author so they can live accordingly. Even when a born again believer learns something which, being contrary to their residual ungodly ways, is difficult for them to accept, they still desire to apply it if it proves to be a genuine biblical truth. For the non-Christian, the word of God is a thorn in their flesh because through it the Holy Spirit, in attempting to cause repentance, convicts them of sin and judgement. The carnal nature sees the word of God as something to be removed or avoided, which they often do through ridicule or distortion of the truth. It’s important to remember that the Bible, in and of itself, is not the word of God, it’s only truly the word of God when it is used by the Holy Spirit to speak to us personally. So shall my word be that goes Comparing the Two Natures 43

forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accom- plish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it. – Isaiah 55:11. [Note that, contrary to the false teaching of many western churches, that verse does not say it accomplishes what WE please, or prospers where WE send it, but as God pleases and where He sends it. Scripture is NOT a book of “magic spells” which if recited often enough will make God, the Supreme Lord of all creation and every created thing, do what a person wants.] For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not proﬁt them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it. – Hebrews 4:2. Faith is when we “hear” the voice of God, believe it, and act on it because it fulﬁls the nature of our heart. Remember that when a person does something we call sin, the action alone is not the sin, but merely the expression of the core nature which seeks to be its own god thereby rejecting the Lordship of the true God. This pride and arrogance of the person’s core nature is the sin. When their sin nature is revealed in their actions, we then also call those actions sin. Likewise, when a born again person does acts of righteousness, the acts do not make them righteous but are merely an expression of their core nature which seeks to express Christ.

THE TWO NATURES IN CHURCH One often hears atheists accuse Christians of hypocrisy because they are not living according to how the atheist believes Christians should. What they are really saying is that because Christians are not perfect, they reject the standards set by the God who created everything. “You’re a hypocrite. Therefore, your God isn’t real. Therefore I reject His standards.” Of course, that is merely a ruse because they know they are living contrary to the will of God. They hope that by 44 As Your Soul Prospers

setting up a “strawman” which they can knock down, it will silence opposition to the expression of their sin nature. Yet, there ARE hypocrites in churches. A hypocrite is someone who wears a mask to disguise their true self – a technique mastered by carnally Spirited people to allow them to express their core nature with minimal opposition. There are people who belong to local churches who are not even God Spirited but have learned how to manipulate the people in the church for their own gain – wolves in sheep’s clothing. There are also many false teachers and false prophets who manipulate the word of God for ﬁnancial gain. God warns us about them: But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who shall secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their shameful ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And through [your] covetousness shall they with false words exploit you... – 2 Peter 2:1-3. Jesus warned His disciples, “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.” – Matthew 7:15. But Jesus also told us how to recognise the wolves, You shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or ﬁgs of thistles? ... Therefore by their fruits you shall know them. Not every one that says unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven... – Matthew 7:16, 20-21. Keeping in mind that the church community should protect itself from wolves in sheep’s clothing, we should also be careful to not become so “legalistic” with our judgements that we hurt the very people we intend to help – throwing the baby out with the bath- water. It’s interesting that in the parable Jesus told of the poisonous tares being sown by the enemy among the wheat of the land owner, the land owner tells his servants to leave the tares until the time of Comparing the Two Natures 45

harvest so that the good crop wouldn’t be harmed by removing tares before then (Matthew 13:24-30). Just because we should be able to identify false Christians by their fruit, it doesn’t mean that everyone in the church who stumbles is a false Christian. In fact, most of us stumble, which is why we are assured of God’s grace and forgiveness. 1 John 1:7-9 – But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Even though Christians no longer have a sin nature, they do stumble, but because they don’t want to sin, they get back on track as soon as possible by telling God they know they have sinned, and asking for His forgiveness and His help to get it right from then on. [Note that we do not have to go through a person to confess our sin or to be forgiven. Christ is our mediator (1 Timothy 2:5), so we can confess directly to Him whenever and wherever we want to. This is important to understand in helping Christians overcome struggles they are having, particularly struggles relating to guilt.]

False Christians and the Grace of God Another way to help identify the difference between a true Chris- tian and a false Christian is the way they approach the grace of God. For we have not a high priest who cannot be touched with the feeling of our weaknesses; but was in all points tempted like we are, yet without sin. 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 4:15-16. Grace is essentially the expression of the loving kindness and tender mercies of God toward us even though we aren’t perfect and sometimes mess up. His grace is an aspect of His love. 46 As Your Soul Prospers

False Christians say that the grace of God allows them to sin, that their sin is covered by the grace of God, or that God made them with those desires so He accepts them the way they are, even if it is contrary to scripture. The true Christian, on the other hand, does not want to sin, but when they stumble in their battles to control their ﬂesh, they understand that the grace of God is an expression of His love and His encouragement for them to keep striving to overcome their ﬂesh so they can express their Christ-like Spirit. The danger of the “seeker friendly gospel” is that many people in churches THINK they are saved from God’s wrath and judgement on sinners, but in reality, they aren’t because they aren’t truly Christian. Simply repeating a “sinner’s prayer” and inviting Jesus to be part of your life, does not make you a Christian (a Christian sincerely invites Christ to take over ALL of their life). Also, going to church on Sundays, giving a tithe, or helping in some form of ministry does not make anyone a Christian or save anyone from hell.

The reason the true nature of Christianity is being strongly addressed at this point is that, for anyone to achieve lasting and decisive victory over their struggles and difﬁculties in life, they must be born again and have a Christ-like Spirit. Sinners do not have the spiritual strength, or the ability to understand the mind of Christ, or the help of the Holy Spirit, to overcome problems associated with deeply entrenched habits and false beliefs. 47

4. Helping New Christians Through the Transition

Being aware of the fact that not everyone in church is a genuine Christian, if someone professing to be a Christian behaves ungodly, does that mean they are not truly a born again Christian? The answer is yes, and no. Paul wrote to the church in Corinth with this command: But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner – not even to eat with such a person. – 1 Corinthians 5:11 (NKJV). If someone claiming to be a Christian behaves no differently than the world, neither wants to, clearly that person still has a natural Spirit. Jesus describes them this way: These people draw near unto me with their mouth, and honor me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. – Matthew 15:8. People become Christian when their heart, and therefore the nature which drives them, changes. Know you not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but you are washed, but you are sanctiﬁed, but you are justiﬁed in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. – 1 Corinthians 6:9-11. This does not mean that Christians never do anything ungodly. When a person becomes a follower of Jesus, their Spirit is born again and is changed instantly, and they become a “new creation” (2 Corinthians 5:17) however their Soul, with its mind, way of thinking and habits, is still programmed to provide for the old 48 As Your Soul Prospers

nature. But because the role of the Soul is to express and protect the nature of the Spirit, from the moment the Spirit changes, the Soul starts weighing new information against incongruous existing beliefs and programming. Decades of adaption and programming cannot change over- night, nor should they. To immediately remove all previously laid foundations and structures without replacing them or providing a supporting framework could be harmful to the psychological wellbeing of the person. Even though most Christians, especially new Christians, occasionally do ungodly things, it is usually still possible to identify when someone has newly become a Christian by the vast and star- tling change in their character, personality, and behaviour. The drastic change can, in spite of existing programming and beliefs, be ascribed to a supporting framework of faith (actively trusting God) as the Holy Spirit imparts essential spiritual truths. It’s like a honeymoon period in which the new Christian gets to experience the reality of the presence of God. Then, as the person is exposed to new quality information, the Holy Spirit gradually removes parts of the framework so the person can test the information for themselves and develop new support pillars and beams. That is why the Bible sometimes refers to new believers as “babes”. And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with solid food, for until now you were not able to bear it, neither yet now are you able. For you are yet carnal: for while there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are you not carnal, and walk as [mere] men? – 1 Corinthians 3:1-3. Just as a baby learns by testing and adapting to its environment, so does a babe in Christ. And just as a baby often stumbles and makes a mess, so too do new Christians. Nevertheless, a stumble or a Helping New Christians Through the Transition 49

mess does not mean they are not Christian. Remember, a “sinner” is a “sinner” because of the nature of their heart which desires to be their own god in rebellion against God. In 1 John 3:9 we are told: Whosoever is born of God does not commit sin; for his nature remains in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. Paul encouraged the Christians in Rome to stop behaving like the unsaved: ...that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in reveling and drunkenness, not in debauchery and wantonness, not in strife and envying. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof. – Romans 13:11-14. So, though Christians do not and cannot sin, we can still behave like sinners. In 1 Timothy 5:19-20 we read that even elders in the church can be guilty of sin: Against an elder receive not an accusation, unless before two or three witnesses. Them [elders] that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear. Paul even acknowledged that he does wrong: For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. – Romans 7:19. (In context, Paul is referring to the carnal nature of his flesh which he sees is in opposition to the godly nature of his Spirit.) Those verses aren’t contradictory as some would suppose, but rather point out that people who no longer have a sin nature can stumble by doing things that are wrong. The simple truth is that the born again person, by nature, does not WANT to sin because their Spirit wants to express the nature of Christ. However, when a Chris- tian sometimes stumbles and makes a mess, because it is not sin of the heart/Spirit, it is not the same type of sin which sends people to hell. When a genuine Christian stumbles by doing this type of sin which “does not lead to death” (see 1 John 5:16 and James 5:19-20), they WANT to make it right with God, so they admit it to God and 50 As Your Soul Prospers

usually get right back on the path. If we [Christians] confess our sins, he [Christ] is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. – 1 John 1:9. In 1 John 2:1-2 we are told: we have an Advocate [one who stands with and speaks on behalf of] with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And He Himself is the propitiation [the offering which appeased the wrath of God] for our [believers] sins. This is important to understand when dealing with a new Christian who is worried they might have lost their salvation because of a sin.

Water Baptism Something that will help establish new Christians is “going through the waters of baptism”. Jesus commanded His disciples, Go you therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen. – Matthew 28:19-20. And he [Jesus] said unto them, Go you into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believes and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believes not shall be condemned. – Mark 16:15-16. Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. – Acts 2:38. The word baptism is from the Greek baptizo (bap-tid-zo) which literally means dip under, in the sense one dyes cloth by pushing it fully under. Hence, Christian baptism is technically and literally by full emersion. And throughout the New Testament, you will see it appear many times as an act which accompanies becoming a follower of Christ (Acts 8:12-13; 8:36-38; 9:18; 18:8; 22:16). Though full immersion baptism is seen largely as an act of obedience, and symbolic of our death as a slave to sin and our resurrection as a new creation in Christ, there are many who see a spiri- Helping New Christians Through the Transition 51

tual significance in it. Baptism for the born again believer is said to be akin to the Israelites passing through the waters of the Red Sea. When they came out the other side, those who had kept them enslaved were all destroyed. The same could be said for any ungodly spiritual influences on your life that enslaved you before you were delivered by God. The danger with such teaching, as relevant and encouraging as it might be, is that the deliverance from any past demonic authority over our lives occurred when our hearts changed to follow Christ and became part of His body. Symbols have no power or authority of their own in our lives; they are just symbols. It’s what the symbol is joined to which has the power. Anyone can be baptised without being born again, but those who are born again will be drawn by the Holy Spirit to be baptised in water. To be obedient in baptism is a sure sign of a changed heart. Nevertheless, there are many sincere Christians who struggle with full immersion baptism, especially those who have been brought up in a denomination which practices infant baptism. They hold to a mistaken view that the ceremony of baptism as an infant (normally by sprinkling or pouring) is what saved them, so they do not need to do it as an adult. Of course, this reluctance to be properly baptised could just be an excuse which reveals an aspect of their flesh which does not want to be “killed”. This reluctance can be overcome by a proper study of the subject in the Bible. A significant passage on water baptism worth reading and studying is Romans 6:1-11.

Baptism in the Holy Spirit If you search out passages on water baptism, you will notice that it is clearly associated with baptism into Christ (Galatians 3:27, 1 Corinthians 12:13) and baptism into the Holy Spirit (Acts 10:44-48, 52 As Your Soul Prospers

Acts 19:1-6). Baptism in the Holy Spirit has caused much heated debate in the church. The views range from “no one can be born again unless they are baptised in the Holy Spirit and speaking in tongues”, to “baptism in the Holy Spirit (and the gifts of the Holy Spirit) ceased either when the original apostles died out, or the Bible was canon- ised”. An objective and independent study of the topic will show that both extremes are false. First, people can be followers of Christ without baptism in the Holy Spirit (in fact you have to be born again to receive the Holy Spirit – John 14:16-17). The passage most often used to support the view that baptism in the Holy Spirit and the gifts of the Holy Spirit ceased is 1 Corinthi- ans 13:8-10 – Love never fails: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. So, what is that which is perfect? Some claim it’s the Bible, but we know this is not true simply because we can’t even agree on this one passage. Some say it is love or faith, but we know neither of those is fully come because we are encouraged to grow in those areas. There remain only two co-joined options: perfection refers to the end of the age when this current “dispensation” is completed, which will happen when He who is perfect returns. Here is a summary of what the New Testament says about baptism in the Holy Spirit: Jesus promised to give all Christians the Holy Spirit; the baptism of the Holy Spirit often accompanies the born again experience (along with water baptism); the Holy Spirit can be received by the laying on of hands or as a sovereign move of God; the baptism in the Holy Spirt is often accompanied by speaking in tongues, boldness to proclaim the Gospel, and power to perform His will; speaking in tongues is for private use to Helping New Christians Through the Transition 53

strengthen the believer, and for use in the church where it must be interpreted; and tongues should not be forbidden. It is not within the scope of this book to examine all the issues surrounding baptism in the Holy Spirit but to point out that it is a blessing from God and of God for His people, so it should not be feared or rejected. Unfortunately, because many mainstream churches rejected this gift, it became the domain of groups who distorted it to please themselves which gave it a bad name – blas- pheming the Holy Spirit. New Christians can be greatly helped with balanced teaching on this subject based on all scripture, not on opinions and sensationalism, and not on a handful of scriptures taken out of context. Here are more verses about baptism in the Holy Spirit worth looking into: I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than you all: Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue. – 1 Corinthians 14:18-19. (Note that most of the times Paul speaks in tongues is when he is not in church. In church he would prophesy – speak a word of God – in everyday language.) For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful. What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also. – 1 Corinthians 14:14-15. If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him? – Luke 11:11-13. Therefore, brethren, be eager to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues. Let all things be done decently and in order. – 1 Corinthians 54 As Your Soul Prospers

14:39-40. One ﬁnal point on baptism in the Holy Spirit and the gifts of the Holy Spirit. 1 Corinthians 12 to 14 speaks a lot about the spiritual gifts God has given to the church through the Holy Spirit, yet right in the middle is the “love chapter” 1 Corinthians 13. The take away here is that genuine gifts of the Holy Spirit are motivated and accompanied by love for others, not selﬁshness and pride.

OBSTACLES FACED BY NEW CHRISTIANS After the honeymoon period which often accompanies the born again experience, it is not uncommon for new Christians to slip back into some former patterns of thought and behaviour. This is because their Soul does not yet have enough suitable and tested information to counter former programming or to answer the contrary claims from their acquaintances still in the world. To minimise the likeli- hood and degree of sliding back into old ways, a new Christian should be immediately provided with plenty of quality information which proves the reliability of the Bible as the word of God. Once the person accepts the Bible as a reliable source of truth, it is easier for them to conﬁrm and test the quality of new information and existing beliefs in the light of scripture. We can see this principle in the epistle which Paul wrote to the church in Ephesus: If so be that you have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: That you put off concerning the former way of life the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; and be renewed in the spirit of your mind; and that you put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. – Ephesians 4:21- 24. Spirit here is again the word pneuma (wind, breath), and mind is nous (nooce) which refers to the reasoning faculty of the mind. The way we change our way of living is to change the direction of our Helping New Christians Through the Transition 55

mind. This happens when Jesus, through the Holy Spirit and the word of God, teaches us new truths – His ultimate truths. Being fully persuaded that God and His word are true, and therefore living as He directs us, is called “faith”. It is by faith that a new Christian overcomes the influences of the world and its lies. Whosoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God [i.e., born again with a God-like nature] and everyone that loves him that begat loves him also that is begotten of him...For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments, and his commandments are not burdensome. [A person with a godly Spirit isn’t weighed down by the godly desire to love Him and love others.] For whoever is born of God overcomes the world: and this is the victory that overcomes the world, even our faith. – 1 John 5:1, 3-4. We overcome the world, that is, the negative influence of the fallen world upon our Soul, by trusting God’s word as truth. More importantly, for a solid foundation, the Christian needs to “hear” the voice of the Holy Spirit as He influences the Soul in reprogram- ming the character and personality to best meet the needs of the new nature. The word of God and the Holy Spirit of God will always confirm one another. (In the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. – Matthew 18:16.) If they don’t confirm one another, either the “voice” isn’t that of the Holy Spirit, or the scripture is out of context or wrongly understood. New Christians also need sincere discipleship and genuine shepherding (pastoring) to protect them from harm and to provide them with a reliable, observable, standard of Christian humanity which reflects scripture. In other words, it helps Christians grow when they see examples of Christ in the people who are shepherding them, showing them what they are moving toward. Without this influence and example, the new Christian will take longer to overcome struggles and achieve the benefits that come with Christian maturity. 56 As Your Soul Prospers

Paul encourages Christians to use his life as an example of someone who is following Christ: Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things, which you have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you. – Philippians 4:8-9. (See also 1 Corinthians 4:15-17, 11:1.) The Bible also warns us that bad company can have a negative influence on a person: Be not deceived: evil companions corrupt good morals. – 1 Corinthians 15:33; also, Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man you shall not go lest you learn his ways, and get a snare to your soul. – Proverbs 22:24-25. This is a particularly relevant warning for a person who becomes a Christian but still associ- ates mostly with the same people they knew before their change of nature. In seeking out and testing “truth”, our Soul is inclined to trust the information provided to us by those we have learned to trust, or with whom we have bonded due to shared Soul constructs such as personality traits and political views. To counter the influence of their trusted friends in the world, a new Christian needs to find new trusted friends in the body of Christ. If new Christians do not receive quality information, they are apt to continue in, or return to, their self-focused behaviours, even if it conflicts with their Spirit. The Soul will always desire to find expression for the Spirit nature, but it will only do so while still protecting the person as a whole from harm. Hence, it can take a long time for some new believers to escape what might be considered by others in church as unhealthy relationships and behaviours. If the Soul does not have access to enough relevant, reliable information and support to make change, change takes longer. Keep in mind also; it is in the best interest of the unsaved Helping New Christians Through the Transition 57

companions of a new Christian to limit the expression of their friend’s new godly nature. Sinners want to feel good about themselves and to have approval and support from those around them for their behaviour – no matter how ungodly their behaviour is. It is not uncommon for new Christians who are passionate about their new life to be rejected by many of their existing friends. That is another reason it is important for a new Christian to make solid connections in a church; and why churches need to draw new Christians into the “family” in spite of how they look and the other baggage they are carrying from their past life.

FALSE TRUTHS IN THE CHURCH Western society was largely founded on biblical standards of moral- ity and behaviour, however, in recent years, it has become overtly supportive of ungodly behaviour, even to the point of changing laws to provide that support, and to stifle any opposing views. One of the main reasons this happened is that atheists were able to hijack the name of science to deceive this generation into rejecting biblical truths in favour of scientific “truths”. Unfortu- nately, at that time, the shepherds of the flock were not equipped to show the errors of the scientific claims. Many ministers even embraced the “doctrines of demons”, and distorted and diluted scripture to align with them. A glaring example of this is the “science” of evolution and long ages of the earth and universe.

Evolution The word of God tells us He created everything in six literal days approximately six thousand years ago. On the other hand, evolu- tions insist that science “proves” the universe is 14 billion years old, the earth is 4.6 billion years old, and life has existed on this planet for 58 As Your Soul Prospers

about 3.5 billion years. Unable to disprove these claims at the time, many theologians foolishly incorporated them into their beliefs. Even though Christian scientists are now well equipped with evidence that exposes the fake science for what it is, the damage to society has been immense – even irreparable. When an entire generation has been indoctrinated into the lie that science proves the Bible is ﬁction, that God does not exist, and that people are no more than highly evolved animals with behaviours and choices directed entirely by their genes, they have an excuse to cast off restraint and let their beast nature express itself. [To ﬁnd more information on the topic of the fraudulent science of evolution and long ages, search the internet for Creation Science. Helpful sites include ICR.org, Creation.com, GenesisScienceNetwork.com, AnswersInGenesis.org, and CreationToday.org. You will be amazed at the proven failures of evolutionary science, and then be even more amazed it is still being taught in our schools as fact.]

Of course, many people, even those claiming to be Christian, are happy to embrace false truths that allow them to more easily express their core nature. Even if an issue does not apply to them personally, a person might support it because if they support someone’s aberrant lifestyle, that person might support theirs. But there is nothing new under the sun, from the time God drove Adam and Eve out of the Garden there have been murderers, adulterers, thieves, homosexuals, paedophiles, fornicators, etc. So why has it become more prevalent in western society in recent years? Mainly it is because relatively few Christians have had enough quality information, or maturity of Soul, to contend with the darkness that grips the Souls of the unsaved. Even in a great many churches carnal behaviours are left unchallenged, or worse, Helping New Christians Through the Transition 59

embraced and esteemed.

Do Not Judge The rejection of the nature of God, even in churches, is allowed to ﬂourish under the false doctrine of “Thou shall not judge”. What these people are saying is either, “I don’t want to be told that what I am doing is wrong (I want to keep doing it).” or “God says to not judge, so it must be okay for me to do whatever I want.” Obviously, if they or their pastors and elders read the Bible, they would know that God is not okay with their sin, nor is He okay with leaders in churches who do not confront sin. “Thou shall not judge” is a line out of a larger teaching by Jesus where He tells us that before we confront the sin of others, we should make sure we are doing it with the right motive – for the beneﬁt of the person, and the congregation, and the outsiders who are watching how Christians behave. First, remove the plank from your own eye, then you can see to remove the speck from your brother’s eye (Mat- thew 7:1-5, Luke 6:42). The issue is not that we should not judge, but that we should not judge unrighteously. There is a right way and a wrong way to confront sin. But, unless we do confront sin, when Jesus returns to judge the world, He will be asking those who had the truth why they did not warn others to turn from their sin just as He warned people when He was on earth. From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, “Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” – Matthew 4:17. When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die and thou dost not give him warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, that he might live, the same wicked man shall die for his iniquity; but his blood I will require at thine hand. – Ezekiel 3:18. Most likely you have heard this following quote from Edmund Burke: “All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that 60 As Your Soul Prospers

good men do nothing.” Edmund Burke (1729–1797) was an Irish political philosopher and statesman who said a great deal about the evils of society being directly related to the moral weakness of people, and that Christianity is the foundation of civil society. It is easy to see where he found such truths: The wicked prowl on every side, when vile men are exalted. – Psalm 12:8. Burke would also have known Psalm 15 in which we are told that the righteous (God-natured) should honour the godly not the ungodly, and that when we get that mixed up the foundations of society are destroyed. (If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do? – Psalm 11:3.) When Christians do not have the necessary information to confront sin, they hold onto the sinful pillars in their Soul and remain carnal and babies, unable to experience the joy of maturity (when the Soul of the Christian reliably expresses the nature of Christ and not the nature of the world).

Other false truths embraced in the church include: the Bible was written for a different time, so it needs to have parts taken out that no longer reflect the needs of society; Jesus paid the price for all sin so it is okay for Christians to keep sinning; the Gifts of the Holy Spirit died out with the first apostles; God’s will is for His people to be happy, healthy and wealthy, so if you aren’t it is because of lack of faith, secret sin, a curse, or not tithing; Christians can get whatever they want if they keep believing and confessing that they already have it; it’s okay for Christians to divorce if they are not happy; all religions lead to God; all religions worship the same God; all people will go to heaven; and there is no hell. Possibly you believe some of those false teachings. Neverthe- less, they are all contrary to the word and the spirit of scripture and highlight how much the “world” has infiltrated the church – how much disease there is in the body of Christ. Helping New Christians Through the Transition 61

But don’t worry, a Christian can’t lose their salvation because they believe something which is not true. Otherwise, none of us has a hope. But it doesn’t mean we have to stay ignorant or deceived. That’s why God gave us His truths as exempliﬁed and revealed in the Bible, and why He made it available for everyone to read and study for themselves with the help of the Holy Spirit. When we do that, God helps our Soul build “Pillars of Truth” which strengthen us and help us develop the nature of Christ for the world to see. The next chapter covers three essential pillars of truth every Christian needs to have established by their Soul if they want to overcome personal difﬁculties. 62 As Your Soul Prospers 63

5. The First Three Pillars of Truth for Overcoming Difﬁculties

Pillars of truth are biblical principles (or patterns) that are revealed throughout all scripture. They are so foundational that even if any scripture seems to contradict them, you can be almost certain that the scripture has been misinterpreted or taken out of context. For example, that Jesus is God and part of the triune Godhead is an irrefutable pillar of truth revealed through, and supported by, all scripture. Another pillar of truth is that Jesus will one day return to judge all mankind and cast the wicked into hell. If any church doctrine does not line up with those pillars, it should be viewed with scepticism. Likewise, if any doctrine, though based on many scriptures, can be fairly refuted by other scriptures, that doctrine should not be considered a primary or essential pillar. Though it might be a truth and helpful for Christians, it should never become a crucial pillar of truth. But as with all buildings, every support pillar needs a solid foundation. For the Christian, the Bible, as a reliable source of ultimate truth, provides a solid foundation out of which pillars of truth can be raised. If you don’t believe that the Bible is the reliable and revealed word of God, you should ask your pastor to show you how it is, or look into the resources recommended in chapter eight – The Word of God Overcomes Difficulties. When you accept the truth that the Bible is the Word of God, you are equipped to start building support pillars of truth upon which the rest of the structure can be joined. The first pillars of truth every Christian needs to understand to overcome personal difficul- 64 As Your Soul Prospers

ties are the following three.

Pillar One – God wants to help you overcome, and has equipped you to do so. The first truth to set up as a pillar is that God wants to help you overcome the things that pull you down, and has equipped YOU to be able to overcome them. Come unto me, all you that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and you shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. – Matthew 11:28-30. There are a few worthwhile points to note here. First, Jesus invites people who are exhausted and struggling under a load to come to Him for rest. In other words, to stop working on things the way they are. Then He tells them to take His yoke upon them and to learn of (or from) Him. The very process of learning of (or from) Him helps those who come to Him find rest. But the second word translated rest in that passage is slightly different from the first; here it refers to a break for refreshing, such as in the army when soldiers come off the line for R&R. Learning of (and from) Jesus is always refreshing to the Soul. Finally, Jesus says there is a burden associated with walking with Him, but it is easy and manageable, unlike the yoke of religion with its requirement of keeping impossible rules. That is why you will often hear Christians say, “Christianity is not a religion but a relationship.” With Christ, there is nothing too hard for you to overcome or to endure. Romans 5:6 says, For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. Before we are born again, we do not have the strength to overcome, but when our hearts are changed, we become strong. One reason we become strong is that we are no longer weighed down by sin and ruled by darkness. A The First Three Pillars of Truth 65

second reason is that the new nature which motivates us is energised by the Holy Spirit. Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that we should no longer serve sin. – Romans 6:6. The truth is that our old sin nature died when were born again. That means it no longer has control over you if you don’t want it to. The main issue we face when trying to live godly is that we have spent a lifetime building supports and creating programmes to allow for the expression of a fallen nature through the pleasure senses of our flesh. When a person is born again, most of these supports and programmes still exist. It takes time to replace them with biblical truths as the Soul seeks to fulfil and express the new nature. The process is fast-tracked when we learn, test, and apply the truth that our flesh is our servant, not our master. Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry... – Colossians 3:5. We would not be told to mortify (put to death) our desires to experience life through the pleasures of our flesh if we were not able to do so. That means YOU can do it – whatever the evil desire is. If so be that you have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: That you put off concerning the former way of life, the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; and be renewed in the spirit of your mind; and that you put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. – Ephesians 4:21-24. It is well worth reading that passage in context from verse 17 through to the end of the chapter at verse 32. Essentially, it is saying that when we understand that our nature changed when we were born again, we are quite capable of putting off our old ways and putting on new ways. Know you not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of 66 As Your Soul Prospers

God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but you are washed, but you are sancti- ﬁed, but you are justiﬁed in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. – 1 Corinthians 6:9-11. When we accepted the payment of Jesus for the eternal consequence of our rebellious, ungodly nature, we were set free from our sin nature, so sin no longer has control over us. Every Christian can choose to not live in any way which causes harm to them or the ones they claim to love.

So, you can see clearly that not only does God want us to overcome the things that destroy us, but that He also made us able to do so. In fact, He expects us to do so, to the point that He will “discipline” us if we don’t do it. To many Christians that sounds a bit harsh, but because God loves us and wants to help us overcome our weaknesses so we can then help others do the same, He impresses upon us through the Holy Spirit that He expects us to do better. God always accepts us into His family the way we are, but He loves us too much to leave us that way. Sometimes, if we continue to reject His prompting, He may put us in situations where we have to “man up” and move on. This is explained in Hebrews 12:10-14 – For they [natural fathers] verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our proﬁt, that we might be partakers of his holiness. Now no chastening for the present seems to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them who are trained by it. Therefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; and make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed. Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord. The word here translated chastening is also translated The First Three Pillars of Truth 67

disciplines, and speciﬁcally refers to the training of a child to bring it to maturity. Welcome to the family of God.

In the past, to overcome your problems, you might have followed the advice of a success guru who said that by simply behaving strongly, positively, boldly, and courageously you could be victorious; but then you failed to overcome the difficulty. That is because the world’s system has tried to duplicate the biblical system by promoting a positive attitude and perseverance. But because there is no change of Spirit, the core nature of the person does not genuinely want to change. Many people want it to look like they are trying to change so that those close to them stop nagging them about the need to change. Many drug users hate what drug use is doing to their lives, but they love more the effect of the drug in their lives. Even though a positive attitude can help those with a carnal nature make changes, it only happens when their Soul has determined that the change will benefit their core nature. But even then, sometimes their pre-existing supports and beams are so fundamental to their personality that trying to change without God’s truths ultimately fails. The benefit the born again believer has in conquering difficulties is not only that their new nature wants different things than the old, but that God the Holy Spirit is helping them achieve it. Jesus says in John 14:16-17, And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever; even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it sees him not, neither knows him: but you know him; for he dwells with you, and shall be in you. The word translated Comforter (also translated Advocate) is parakletos (par-ak-lay-tos) which refers to someone who comes near to support and speak on behalf of – an advisor-helper. Note too that this Com- forter is referred to as the Spirit of truth. Because we know that the 68 As Your Soul Prospers

ultimate truth is from God and is revealed in the Bible, we can also be sure that the truth from the Holy Spirit with which He will advise us, will always be in line with the Bible. If it’s not, it’s not the Holy Spirit speaking. 1 Corinthians 2:14 likewise emphasises that those not born again cannot beneﬁt from the help of the Holy Spirit – But the natural man receives not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

Pillar Two – God never promised you a trouble-free life. The second truth to establish as a main support pillar for overcoming difficulties is, God never promised you a trouble-free life. In fact, He teaches us that it is through troubles we develop. The parable of the two men who build their houses on the sand or the rock makes the point that what keeps us secure through the storms which will come, is paying attention to, and doing, the words of Jesus. Therefore whosoever hears these sayings of mine, and does them, I will liken him unto a wise man, who built his house upon a rock: and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. – Matthew 7:24-25. Jesus never promised He would keep storms out of our lives; He promised He would never leave us or abandon us during storms. “Jesus does not always still the storm; sometimes He stills us.” [Note that the storm in this passage can also refer to the Day of Judgement when Jesus returns.] John 16:33 – These things I have spoken unto you, that in me you might have peace. In the world you SHALL have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. Did you hear what Jesus just said? In the world you SHALL have tribulation. The word tribulation, which is translated from the Greek word thlipsis (thlip-sis), is also translated in the Bible as persecution, oppression, affliction, anguish, and distress. It The First Three Pillars of Truth 69

refers to pressure, particularly internal pressure, which makes people feel trapped or hemmed in with no way of escape – a narrow place. Acts 14:22 – ...strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying, “Through many tribulations (thlipsis) we must enter the kingdom of God.” Matthew 7:13-14 – Enter in at the narrow gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leads to destruction, and many there be who go in there. Because narrow is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leads unto life, and few there be that find it. The first and second word there translated narrow (also translated strait) is from the Greek word stenos (sten-os), which refers to there not being much room to move. The third word translated narrow is thlibo (thlee-bo), which is the base of thlipsis, and refers to being pressed together, rubbed, or constricted. Note the strong relationship between tribulation and the narrow way which leads to life. In Acts 20:23-24, Paul writes about the pressure he is under, ...the Holy Spirit witnesses in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions (thlipsis) await me. But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God. Here, afflictions (tribulations) is associated with death, which Paul considers as being part of his calling to ministry. 2 Corinthians 4:16-17 – For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish (is brought to decay, or an early death, by continued suffering and persecution), yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light (not burdensome) affliction (thlipsis), which is but for a moment, works for us a far more exceeding (beyond compare) and eternal weight of glory (heavy with honour, renown, splendour, divine quality). For a typical list of the LIGHT afflictions (tribulation) to which Paul is referring see 2 Corinthians 11:23-33. 70 As Your Soul Prospers

2 Corinthians 1:8-9 – For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble (thlipsis) which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life. But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead. They were so certain they would die that their trust was in God who raises the dead – either back to life, or at the Resurrection. 2 Corinthians 4:8-11 – We are troubled (thlibo) on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed (at wits’ end, in doubt), but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed... For we who live are always delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh. 2 Corinthians 6:4-10 – But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions (thlipsis), in necessities, in distresses (difficult circumstance, dire calamity, extreme affliction)... in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults (commotion, disorder, instability, rioting)... as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed... Apparently, the Christian life in the early church, especially that of leaders, was one of great danger and hardship, not just tribulation, but also persecution, distress, afflictions, and troubles. But didn’t God have only good planned for their lives? Or maybe our idea of a good plan is different to God’s idea of a good plan? Or maybe hardship has benefits which we don’t understand until we go through them? Romans 5:3-4 – And not only so, but we glory (boast) in tribulations (thlipsis) also: knowing that tribulation works (brings about) patience (to remain under, patient endurance, steadfastness), and patience, experience (proven character – tested and true); and experience, hope (confi- dently anticipating something good). Also read Romans 5:9 and you will see that though Christians DO suffer tribulation, they will NOT suffer the wrath of God. Therefore the wrath of God and tribulation The First Three Pillars of Truth 71

are NOT the same. Romans 8:16-17 – And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, so that we may be also glorified together. The Greek word translated suffer means to suffer or feel pain together or of the same type. If we suffer the same as Christ did, we can be confident that we will also know the same type of honour and glory as He did. We will be in the same “club” as Jesus because we had the same experience. Romans 8:35-36 – Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation (thlipsis), or distress (narrow, great distress), or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril (danger), or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.” Paul there is quoting Psalm 44:22 which says it is BECAUSE we are true to God that the wicked continually seek to kill us. Persecution is the lot of those who are true worshippers. If we were not His people, they would not persecute us. The Greek word translated persecution in the above verse literally means the hunt to bring someone down like an animal, which is engaged in as an attempt to suppress (punish) their convic- tions. It refers to those seeking to punish God’s messengers with a vengeance. The Who in Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? refers to those who would bring the tribulation etc. Even if we are hunted down, imprisoned, tortured, and killed, it does not mean Christ has stopped loving us. In fact, it is to fulfil His purpose, which is ultimately to bring as many people as possible to Himself – because He loves all the world, not just the righteous. And, because “love never fails” He’s not going to stop loving us even if we “deny” Him under duress. 2 Timothy 2:3 – You therefore endure [with me] hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. The Greek word translated hardness means 72 As Your Soul Prospers

painful hardship. The Greek word translated good refers to being attractively good in the sense that it is the type of good which inspires and motivates others to embrace what is praiseworthy. And of course, a soldier is one who is in the service of another whom he serves with unquestioning and instant loyalty, even unto death. Paul therefore is encouraging Timothy to endure the same type of suffering Paul has so that others will be attracted to Christ and inspired to join the army. 2 Timothy 2:12 – If we suffer (endure), we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us. Here, suffer literally means to remain under (the load) without quitting. For the believer, this uniquely happens by God’s power. If we endure suffering as He did, we will also receive the same/like rewards as He has. But those who deny Him (disown Him in their heart and with their words and actions) under persecution were never truly part of Him (Matthew 10:33, Mark 8:38, Luke 12:9). Now go and read 2 Timothy 2:12 with verses 11 and 13. [I emphasised in their heart above because I strongly doubt that merely saying you reject Jesus while under extreme torture would mean that you were never truly His.] 2 Timothy 3:10-12 – But you have fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, long-suffering, charity (true love), patience, persecutions (being hunted down), afflictions (undergo deep, strong hardship and pain), which came to me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me (rescued from danger or destruction). Yes, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution (will be aggressively hunted down – be put to flight, made to flee). 2 Thessalonians 1:4 – So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations (thlipsis) that you endure [still]. Paul and his companions gloried in the persecutions and tribulations of the church in The First Three Pillars of Truth 73

Thessalonika! Why would they do that? Read 1:3 and you will see the reason is that it caused growth in the faith of the Thessalonians and in their love for one another. 1 Peter 4:12-13 – Beloved, think it not strange concerning the ﬁery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you... But rejoice, inasmuch as you are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, you may be glad also with exceeding joy. Suffer- ing pain and hardship as Christ did has eternal rewards. 1 Peter 4:19 – Therefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator. If, in doing the will of God we suffer or die, we should do so trusting God with our souls (Luke 23:46) because He, above all others, can be trusted with it – Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him. – Job 13:15.

A theme running throughout the New Testament is: It’s going to be difﬁcult being a true follower of Christ, you’ll be chided, insulted, pressured, hunted, hurt, imprisoned, tortured, and even killed; but don’t think of it as a bad thing, it means that you are doing it right, shining the light of Christ. When Jesus said that to be His disciple we need to deny ourselves, take up the cross and follow Him (Matthew 16:24), He was making it clear that walking with Him in this world could lead to the same place He ended up in the world. In Luke 9:23 we are told this is something we should consider daily. And, in Luke 14:27-33 Jesus makes the point that His disciples should consider the cost before starting the journey. Obviously then, the claim that God saves Christians from tribulation is NOT Biblical. Tribulation has always been part of being Christian – as it is in many countries of the world today. 74 As Your Soul Prospers

But, this is not all the New Testament says about tribulation... 2 Corinthians 1:3-7 – Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforts us in all our tribulation (thlipsis – persecution, afﬂiction, distress) that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted of God... Comforts is translated from the Greek word parakaleo (par-ak- al-eh-o) which we have seen before in relation to Jesus and the Holy Spirit. It literally means to call close beside, as an advocate, consoler, comforter. Note WHO it is calling us close to Him during tribulation – God the Father Himself. 1:7 – ...And our hope of you is steadfast, knowing, that as you are partakers of the sufferings, so shall you be also of the consolation. The word consolation is from the Greek word paraklesis (par-ak-lay-sis) which refers to a call (urging), done by someone close beside, i.e. a personal exhortation which delivers the evidence that stands up in God’s court. Comfort and consolation both come from the parakletos – THE Comforter – the Holy Spirit (John 14:26), but also the Father and the Son. When we go through persecution, suffering, trouble, hardship, tribulation, etc. for being a disciple of Christ, God Himself comforts us and urges us on through the situation. As well as that, He sends people to comfort others in the same way – by drawing near to exhort, encourage and comfort. 2 Corinthians 7:6 – Neverthe- less God, who comforts those that are cast down, comforted us by the coming of Titus. In fact, we are exhorted to comfort those who are suffering, especially if we are not: Hebrews 13:3 – Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body. 1 Corinthians 12:26 challenges us to consider whether we are really in the body of Christ if we are not troubled when we learn of other Christians suffering tribulation and persecu- The First Three Pillars of Truth 75

tion. Even though God does send people to comfort us, ultimately, comfort comes from the Lord. And He comforts us to help us endure tribulation and persecution and all type of trouble – even unto death. Hebrews 13:6 – So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me. The Greek word translated helper is a masculine noun, and refers to a helper bringing the right aid in time to meet an urgent and real need. The Greek word translated fear is phobeo (fob-eh-o) which not only means to fear, but to withdraw (ﬂee) from, or avoid. The help God brings is not necessarily to avoid suffering but to enable us to face it and endure it. This is a theme in the letters Jesus told John to write to the churches while he was imprisoned on the island of Patmos (see Revelation 2:1-3:22) – to encourage and help them overcome their fear of persecution and tribulation. To each of the churches, Jesus says He personally understands what they are going through, or will soon go through, and that He will give the crown of life to those who overcome.

The reason we have laboured so long on this second pillar is that one of the main causes of suffering among Christians is that they wrongly believe God promised them a perfect life for allowing Jesus to come into their heart. The truth is we only get that perfect life when we overcome the hardships in this life. Many Christians are quick to rebuke the devil for hardship, when in fact it can be a means of correction from God to drive us back to Him and safety. God calls us to Him IN the trouble. Psalm 46:1-3 – God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though 76 As Your Soul Prospers

the mountains shake with the swelling thereof.

Pillar Three – God gave us a community to help us. The third essential support pillar of truth is that God gave us a community to help us overcome our difﬁculties. The church is supposed to be like an extended family with a family type of structure including brothers and sisters, elders and babes, the mature and the immature, all submitting to the heavenly Father. Throughout the New Testament, you will see references to the church using familial terms. Rebuke not an elder, but entreat him as a father; and the younger men as brothers; the elder women as mothers; the younger as sisters, with all purity. – 1 Timothy 5:1-2. Likewise, you younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resists the proud, and gives grace to the humble. – 1 Peter 5:5. Be tender loving one to another with brotherly love; in honor preferring one another. – Romans 12:10. Jesus warned those who would follow Him that they might lose their natural families. Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household. – Matthew 10:34-36. And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, that you who have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit on the throne of his glory, you also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone that has forsaken houses, or brothers, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life. – Matthew 19:28-29. It is said that historically the adage “blood is thicker than water” referred to the blood of the covenant in Christ which binds us into the family of God, being thicker than the water (of the womb The First Three Pillars of Truth 77

– natural birth) of natural families. With that in mind, you can see why there is so much emphasis in the Bible on maintaining the unity of the church, i.e. the family of God. Even the act of Communion is a remembrance not only that Jesus paid for our sin through His shed lifeblood, but that the blood of the New Covenant refers to the life of Christ flowing through the church. That is the miracle of Communion – the broken body is brought back together when we share in the “love feast”, and the once poured out lifeblood now provides life to those who are each in the same covenant with Christ – flowing again throughout the one body. To help us maintain the unity, we are individually exhorted to examine our relationships with others in the body before sharing in Communion. Therefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. For he that eats and drinks unworthily, eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. – 1 Corinthians 11:27-30. Even though unity in the family of God was a principle among the Jews, the standard set by Jesus for unity toward each other in the church is much higher: You have heard that it was said by them of old time, You shall not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: but I say unto you, that whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca (empty headed – a word of contempt implying the person is of no value), shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, You fool (idiot, i.e. not worth listening to), shall be in danger of hell fire. Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has anything against you; leave there your gift before the altar, and go your way; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. – 78 As Your Soul Prospers

Matthew 5:21-24. The only reason we are able to achieve this unity is because we love one another with the same type of love God has for us. In fact, when we love one another, it is proof we are born again. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. No man has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwells in us, and his love is perfected in us. By this we know that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. – 1 John 4:11-13. If a man says, I love God, and hates his brother, he is a liar: for he that loves not his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? – 1 John 4:20. And we beseech you, brethren, to recognize those who labour among you and preside over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. And be at peace among yourselves. Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are idle, encourage the faint- hearted, support the weak, be patient toward all men. See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men. – 1 Thessalonians 5:12-15. Paul exhorts Christians to make the effort to stay in community especially during tough times, because it is by being around the family of God that we are encouraged, built up, corrected and challenged. And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as you see the Day (return of Jesus and the Judgement) approaching. – Hebrews 10:24-25. The First Three Pillars of Truth 79

SUMMARY – The First Three Essential Pillars of Truth for Overcoming Difﬁculties

To overcome difﬁculties and sufferings in life, Christians need to start with these three essential pillars upon which many other truths will rely: 1. God wants to help you overcome the things that pull you down, and He has equipped you to be able to overcome. 2. God never promised you a trouble-free life. But He promised that He would be with you in the troubles. 3. God gave you a community to help you overcome your difﬁculties.

Once we have those three pillars ﬁrmly in place, we are prepared for some shaking. Those three pillars prevent our collapse or break- down during the restructuring by our Soul to protect and express our new nature and the overthrow of serious problems in our lives. 80 As Your Soul Prospers 81

6. Replacing False Truth Labels

The journey of transformation can be quick or slow, or quick in some areas and slow in others. Part of the reason for this is the inertia of the Soul. By its very design, once new information is programmed in as truth, it IS true for that person. Any contrary information is viewed with extreme scepticism so is quickly filtered away as being unreli- able. However, when a godly Spirit identifies a new truth from the Holy Spirit, the Soul sets about testing it and comparing it with all available information and beliefs. Only when there is enough trust in the new information does the Soul replace previous programming. The more strongly held a belief is, or the more foundational it is, the more information and or time is required to replace it. Some of the strongholds of false truths in our lives are the labels we accepted for ourselves, or the boxes we put ourselves in, thinking we cannot change these truths. Such strongholds include, but are in no way limited to, star signs, personality types, “love languages”, race, education level, profession, class background, and family history. However, when you become a Christian ALL things become new (2 Corinthians 5:17) and you have a chance to start again. Don’t let the labels you wear, or the old boxes you live in, continue to define you or confine you. Put off the old nature, and put on the new (Ephesians 4:22-24). The personality traits you have were constructed by your Soul using the information and understanding available to you over time to help you survive and thrive in the environment in which you were raised. If you are sceptical of the truth that you can change any current personality traits or behaviour patterns, the first scripture you need to learn and meditate on is 2 Corinthians 5:17 – Therefore if 82 As Your Soul Prospers

any man be in Christ, he is a new creation: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. Look up that verse in your Bible, highlight it, write it on your fridge or the bathroom mirror, and keep thinking about it until your Soul accepts that truth. When we are born again, we become a NEW creation. The word in this verse translated new is kainos (kahee-nos) and refers to something which is new in quality, innovative, or fresh in development or opportunity, having never before been found in the same way. Do not continue believing the false truth that you are not able to change who you are. When you were born again, Jesus gave you all you need to start anew.

When meditating on scripture, remember, there is nothing magical about the Bible in and of itself. But when we identify a truth in scripture revealed by God, and we memorise it and repeat it, it starts to change us. The first Psalm in the book of Psalms is the first Psalm because it is foundational to all the others. The first three verses of Psalm 1 are: Blessed is the man that walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful (mock- ers). But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law does he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he does shall prosper. This reinforces the biblical principle that to be blessed (happy – advancing from good to good, or from good to better) we need to stop living by the false truths of ungodly sinners who mock the things of God, but rather delight (have pleasure in) and desire to intently consider and apply the law (Hebrew torah – meaning directions and instructions) from God on our lives. The word in that passage translated meditate, which can also be translated imagine, mourn, roar, and study, comes from a base word meaning to moan, or Replacing False Truth Labels 83

mutter, and therefore implies pondering deeply to the point that it impacts on the Soul. As we covered earlier, the purpose of scripture is not to be a way to get you what you want, but a way God has of communicating His truths to you. Repeating over and over a scripture like, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Philippians 4:13), will not give you the ability to leap tall buildings at a single bound, or to pass an exam you haven’t studied for, not even if you wrote the verse on your forehead and quoted it ten thousand times, or had a thousand people “agree” with you in prayer or type “amen” to a meme of the verse you posted on social media. But if you read that verse in context and meditate on it over and over, you will begin to test it. Then, as it passes the testing, you accept it as another God truth, and you start to apply it in your life. [Note that when Paul wrote Philippians 4:13, he was making a statement of his conﬁdence that Christ (by the Holy Spirit) would enable him to endure all hardship.]

The labels used to describe personality or character types are merely ways of identifying which common set of techniques people developed to survive and thrive in their environment and to express their core nature – to be their own god and to have others serve them. Introverts are not introverts by nature, the traits that identify them as an introvert are just Soul programmed behaviours they use to protect and express their core nature. Likewise with extroverts. A closer look reveals that the Souls of introverts and extroverts are quite similar. For example, when extroverts feel pressure they tend to seek the company of people – the more, the merrier. When introverts feel pressure, they tend to withdraw from people. Yet, their goals could be the same: 1. Avoid having their Soul constructs and personal truths challenged; or 2. Afﬁrm their beliefs by expressing them in an environment they have learned will best allow that; 84 As Your Soul Prospers

or 3. Find assistance from additional information to help overcome the hardship. 1. The extrovert in a crowd may enjoy the small-talk so he can escape the hardship, at least for a time. The introvert isolates himself for the same reason. 2. The extrovert who wants to escape hardship will find an environment where he feels most empowered to be the god of all he surveys. The introvert isolates himself for the same reason – when he is alone he is the unchallenged god of his domain. 3. The extrovert seeking assistance will choose an environment where there are enough people to provide a high chance of him connecting with like-minded people. The introvert seeks help from those who have shown themselves in the past to be helpful. The extrovert has learned he has to sift through a lot of people to find help; the introvert has already tested and determined the most likely sources of help. When confronted with hardship and pressure, most people will initially choose one of the escape options (1 and 2) rather than the assistance option (3). This is because people learn early in life that avoidance requires significantly less effort than confrontation. And, most of us learned early to seek the easy option rather than the hard one. This is another reason people are slow to change. Then, even when we are repeatedly confronted with the necessity to make a change in our life, we usually try a middle option – pretending to change, or saying we want to change. For example, a drug addict or a person with a violent temper might join a rehabilita- tion programme because doing so will stop their spouse leaving them or a judge sending them to jail. Though this option can only ever be a short-lived reprieve, sometimes it is a transitional step we have to try rather than put ourselves through the pain of change. Overcoming personal problems by restructuring our belief Replacing False Truth Labels 85

supports always involves a cost versus benefit analysis – how much or how little do I have to change to best express my core nature while still protecting it? Because our personality is the expression of all the behaviours we found work best for us, it is easy to understand why much of our behaviour is deceptive by intent and consists of rituals and protocols proven to achieve for us what we want. Jesus did not have a personality type or a love language or star sign traits because Jesus was not expressing a selfish agenda. The truth He learned while growing as a human from birth was to live to fulfil the nature of God which was in Him – true love – benevolence which seeks the benefit of all even at a tremendous cost to oneself. The Christian is on a journey which changes them into the character of Christ. Therefore, as with Christ, it should be impossible to identify whether a mature Christian is a particular star sign, or personality type, or prefers a particular love language. By looking at Jesus in the Bible, we can travel forward in time to see how we all could one day be. Most Christians have learned that Jesus is loving, gracious, merciful, kind, gentle and long- suffering. But that’s not all Jesus is, He is also just, righteous and vengeful. Jesus was not always what we would consider “nice” to people. He boldly and publicly offended the religious leaders of His day by calling them names like hypocrites, fools, liars, poisonous serpents, and sons of the devil; twice He chased the traders out of the Temple, once using a whip He made out of cords knotted together (John 2:15); He made two blind men calling for His help follow Him to where He was staying before He healed them (Mat- thew 9:27-31); He ignored a Canaanite woman asking for help for her demon possessed daughter and then called her a dog (Matthew 15:21-28); and He destroyed the livelihood of pig herders when He 86 As Your Soul Prospers

allowed demons to go into a herd of about 2000 pigs which then ran into the sea and drowned (Matthew 8:28-34). Those references are made so that you will be careful to not put the character of Jesus (or God) in a box, and therefore miss properly understanding the potential of your new nature. It may be difficult to understand how a loving God can also appear mean, jealous (Exodus 20:5, 34:14; Deuteronomy 4:24), angry (John 3:36, Romans 1:18), and vengeful (Ezekiel 25:17). That’s why God provided the Bible for His people – ALL the Bible, not just the verses that are nice and easy to agree with, and why He gave us the Holy Spirit to help reveal it. It is not within the scope of this book to provide an investiga- tion into those apparent contradictions in the nature of God, suffice it to say that first and foremost God IS love (1 John 4:8). Therefore even negative sounding verses often used by sinners as an excuse to reject God, cannot be properly understood until they are viewed through the truth that whatever God does is motivated by His love for all humanity, whether we understand it or not. We can all fall into the trap of imposing our limited and corrupted human understanding upon the character traits of God, and thereby creating a god in our own image (according to our own beliefs and self-image). It’s important to note here that you do not become like Christ by behaving like you think He would or by keeping a certain number of rules or laws. If you are genuinely born again, you already have the nature of Christ in your Spirit, and you have the Holy Spirit with you and in you to help you grow and overcome difficulties. With that in mind, let’s look at the Eight Steps that need taking by anyone wanting to overcome personal difficulties. 87

7. Eight Steps to Overcoming Personal Difﬁculties

No matter what difﬁculties you want to overcome in your life, the victory can nearly always be achieved by following Eight Steps. 1. Ensure you are born again; 2. Identify any ongoing sin, confess it, and turn back to God; 3. Take full responsibility for your actions and choices; 4. Identify and name the real problem; 5. Go back to when the problem started; 6. Find out what God says about the problem; 7. Get support from trustworthy leaders; and 8. Wait actively and expectantly.

Step One – Ensure you are born again

Given that people live according to the nature of their Spirit within the limits set by the laws and the norms or standards of the society in which they live, there are people in and out of church who mistak- enly believe that God is pleased with them. They believe that God will deal with them favourably because they are good people. But are they good? The Bible answers this for us: Every way of a man is right in his own eyes; but the LORD weighs the hearts. – Proverbs 21:2. Also Prov- erbs 16:2 – All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the LORD weighs the spirits. And Proverbs 30:12 – There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet are not washed from their ﬁlthiness. Because 88 As Your Soul Prospers

the behaviours of a person are in response to their heart/Spirit, what they do is not, in and of itself, sin but symptoms of the real cause – their Spirit nature. This is why God judges (weighs) the Spirits of people, not the beliefs they have adopted to justify themselves in the expression of their nature. One often hears people who have been confronted on their sin as to what God thinks about it say, “God knows my heart.” In fact, this is frightfully true: The heart is deceitful above all things, and desper- ately wicked; who can know it? I the LORD search the heart, I test the mind, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings. – Jeremiah 17:9-10. It’s interesting that verse asks “Who can know the heart?” In protecting the nature of the heart, the Soul and mind will even reject the truth about the core nature of the person. The only way people can acknowledge the truth of God is by the Spirit of God who provides compelling evidence to the sinner. And when he [the Holy Spirit] is come, he will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment. – John 16:8. The main way God has established for people to initially hear His truth is through the proclamation of the Gospel, i.e. you are a sinner in the eyes of God because you seek your own will above His, the just consequence of your sin is hell, but because God loves all humanity He paid the price to set free anyone who accepts the payment and commits their life to Him (Romans 1:16, 10:13-15). Yet, even when the case against them is proven, many people still deny the truth because they choose to be their own god rather than submit to the only true God and Judge of all. Until they humble themselves before God, the following Steps will not help them. So even though you might be a “good person”, are you sure you are born again? In 2 Corinthians 13:5 Paul, in his letter to the CHURCH at Corinth says, Examine yourselves, whether you are in the faith; prove your own selves. Know you not your own selves, how that Jesus Step One – Ensure You Are Born Again 89

Christ is in you, unless you are counterfeits? Paul is speaking to people in the church who believe they are Christian, and he tells them to check if they really are. Contrary to the teaching of many churches, saying the sinner’s prayer does not make anyone a Christian, neither does being baptised in water nor does graduating from Bible College. And contrary to the teaching of many of the same churches, scripture reveals that people can fall away from the faith and forfeit the salvation God has promised to those who love Him and keep His commandments (Deuteronomy 7:9). In Jesus’ parable of the sower of the seed in which the seed falls on different types of ground with different results, some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and immediately they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth. And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. (Mat- thew 13:5-6, Mark 4:5-6). The seed germinated – produced life – then withered away – ceased to be alive. In Luke 8:13 Jesus explains this by saying, “These have no root, who for awhile believe, and in time of temptation fall away (depart, withdraw).” Likewise, Jesus told a parable about ten virgins. The five wise virgins, still with oil in their lamps, went in to the groom when He returned. But the five foolish virgins who ran out of oil were locked out of the marriage feast, and the bridegroom said He did not know them (Matthew 25:1-13). Jesus ended the parable by making the point that we should always stay watchful and vigilant because we do not know when He will return. In other words, if we stop walking the walk, we will not be taken when He returns. In Matthew 10:22 and 24:10-13, and Mark 13:13 Jesus warns us that only those who stand firm to the end will be saved. In Ephesians 5:6-7 Paul warns us that the wrath of God is coming on the sons of disobedience therefore those in the church should be careful not to be 90 As Your Soul Prospers

numbered with them who will be cast into hell. 1 Corinthians 11:30-32 tells us that God judges us now so that we are corrected now and will not, therefore, be judged with the world. In other words, God chastises and punishes Christians so they get back on track, so they do not turn away from God and lose the promise of their salvation. Colossians 1:21-23 makes it clear that we are saved if we CON- TINUE in our faith. In Romans 11:21-22 we are warned to CON- TINUE in His goodness, or we will be cut off as were the unbelieving Jews. In 1 Timothy 4:1-2 Paul tells Timothy that some will “depart from the faith” because they follow false doctrines even though they know in their conscience it is wrong. And in Revelation 2:11 and 3:5 Jesus is clear that only those in the churches who overcome will be saved, and that those who do not overcome can have their names blotted out of the Book of Life. There are approximately 60 passages in the Bible that implic- itly or explicitly say that believers who walk away from Christ can lose their place and inheritance in the kingdom of God. An unbiased study of the scriptures on the topic will reveal that when we are born again we get a new Spirit and a promise from Jesus that He will do all He can to keep us heading in the right direction on the straight and narrow, and to get us back on the path if we wander off. But if we intentionally and continually reject His efforts to help us, and we are not on the right path when He returns, we will miss the promise of salvation because we rejected it. It is important to remember that God does not want anyone to perish but for all to come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9). Yet, we also know that many go the broad, easy way which leads to hell (Mat- thew 7:13). Therefore, we can see that God does not MAKE people choose His way or MAKE them go to heaven against their will, or MAKE those who hate Him be in His presence for eternity. Step One – Ensure You Are Born Again 91

They who insist “once saved always saved” reject the obvious interpretation of passages that say otherwise. They instead hold to a few verses which seem to say that when God chooses you, He does not let you go. For example, Jesus will lose none the Father gives Him (John 6:39-40); Jesus said that His sheep follow Him and He gives them eternal life, and no one shall snatch them out of His hand (John 10:27-29); Paul tells us that He who began a good work in you will complete it (Philippians 1:6); and that we have been sealed (with His name and Spirit) as a guarantee that we will be saved (Ephesians 1:13-14). Those are compelling passages if presented apart from scriptures that say you can lose your salvation. If you point out the utter depravity of someone who was once a mature Christian, the “once saved always saved” supporters will insist that people who depart were never truly saved (1 John 2:19). What that implies is that even if at this moment you believe you are a Christian, you might not really be. How, then, can any of us know with conﬁdence that we are really Christian? Most of the scriptures used to support “once saved always saved”, when studied in context, or when seen in the light of all scripture, reveal that God’s will is that everyone is one day saved, that He destined from eternity that a time would come when there would be a place in which anyone who chooses to stay permanently will not be lost, and that place is in Christ. Those who do not want to be in this place or stay in this place are not forced to be there even though God desires that none would perish. There is a paradox in scripture that when we are born again, we are said to have things before we actually do. We are said to have been saved (For by grace you have been saved. – Ephesians 2:8), yet salvation does not occur until Jesus returns (And this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. – Romans 13:11). Likewise, the Bible says 92 As Your Soul Prospers

we are redeemed (Since you know that you were not redeemed with corruptible things,...But with the precious blood of Christ... – 1 Peter 1:18- 19), yet it also says our redemption is yet to appear (And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draws near. – Luke 21:28). If you were raised in a “once saved always saved” church this could be difficult to read. But if we do not address this issue many people, possibly even you, will continue to struggle because they will not consider the possibility that they are not saved or have walked away from the faith. But so we don’t get distracted here by the “once saved always saved” debate, note that it is a moot point to the Christian who is walking righteously – wanting to please God and to be transformed into His likeness. For the Christian who is being drawn back into the world, it is a warning and an exhortation to stay on course and to endure to the end no matter what temptations and dangers come their way. How- ever, if anyone claiming to be a Christian still wants to be their own god, and is trying to find ways to manipulate or disregard scripture so they can do what they want, that person should seriously examine the true nature of their Spirit. This brings us back to Step One in overcoming difficulties in our lives: ensure you are born again – that you are really a Christian, and not a false convert in church, or someone who has withered away or run out of oil. How do you do that? Look again at 2 Corinthi- ans 13:5, Examine yourselves, whether you are in the faith; prove your own selves. Know you not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, unless you are counterfeits? The main way we know if Christ is in us is that we are rooted and grounded in love (Ephesians 3:17-19). This is the point Paul is making to the Corinthians; he is saying “Instead of attacking me for Step One – Ensure You Are Born Again 93

correcting you, look at yourselves. Are you being Christ-like and loving toward me and one another?” No one can say they know God if they hate their brothers in Christ (1 John 4:20). Also, if you are genuinely born again, you have a confirmation and assurance of it from God. Romans 8:9-17 emphasises that we know we are children of God (born again) because we view God as a loving father – a daddy. The Holy Spirit convicts those in the world of sin and righteousness and judgement (John 16:8), but He does not do that to the children of God, rather He edifies, exhorts, and comforts us, often through prophecies in the church (read 1 Corinthians 14:3 in context). Are you drawn intimately to God as your loving Father – your Daddy? Or do you see Him more as an angry and judgmental spoiler of your fun with whom you don’t want to be open and honest? If you can’t see by your motives and actions that you are in Christ, you may be as Paul says, counterfeit. Some Bibles translate counterfeits as reprobates or worthless or you failed the test, but it simply means one who is not approved to be a child of God and to enter the kingdom of heaven because they either lost, or never had, the evidence to the contrary, i.e. their core nature is worldly (see Romans 1:21-28 and Titus 1:16). When Paul says in 1 Corinthians 9:27, “But I roughly treat (buf- fet) my body, and bring it into subjection (lead it about as a slave): lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be disqualified,” the Greek word translated disqualified (also castaway and rejected) is the same word translated counterfeits in 2 Corinthians 13:5. Paul here identifies for us what he sees as his main enemy in being godly and being acceptable to God – seeking expression of himself through the pleasure senses of the flesh. We know that Paul is on the righteous path because he wants to enslave the lusts of his flesh rather than be enslaved by them. Likewise, we know when we 94 As Your Soul Prospers

are on the righteous path, not BECAUSE we always do what is godly, but because that is our intent, and our actions generally reflect that intent. If you are not confident that you are born again, start revisiting the gospel and ask yourself if you want to give up walking your way, and accept Jesus’ payment for your sin so you can start walking His way. And if you do want that, open your heart to God and respond to His call. If you don’t want to do that, though the following Steps may help you overcome your problems, any success may be extremely difficult and short-lived.

Step Two – Identify any ongoing sin, confess it, and turn back to God

This Step follows closely on from Step One. If you are born again and therefore have the Holy Spirit with you, He will already be revealing to you the things you are doing that are ungodly. They will typically be things that are disrespectful to God, harmful to you, and unloving to others. Of all the sinful behaviours that could be described here, there are four which are commonly overlooked as sin, and commonly cause problems in the lives of Christians if left unchallenged. They are unforgiveness, evil speaking, pride, and hypocrisy.

Unforgiveness Unforgiveness is closely related to revenge in which we believe we have been wronged and therefore have the right to retaliate. Though we read in the Old Testament “an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth” (Exodus 21:24) it was overwritten by Jesus (Matthew Step Two – Identify Any Ongoing Sin 95

5:38) and throughout the books of the New Testament (Romans 12:19, Hebrews 10:30). In the New Testament we are told to forgive our brother, even “seventy times seven” (Matthew 18:22), and that vengeance is the right and domain of God alone, not of man (Romans 12:17-19). “An eye for an eye” was intended to prevent the tendency of the fallen human nature to overdo “justice” which would escalate the conﬂict and injury. The principle of justice is to “bring the scales back into balance” after an action by one person has caused another person to be disadvantaged or worse off. Unforgiveness says that you will not accept what is reasonable to bring balance, therefore, in your eyes, the other person is always in your debt, and by intent, always enslaved to you and controlled by you. But Jesus expected better than that from His followers: You have heard that it has been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth. But I say unto you, that you resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also. – Matthew 5:38-39. Why would God instruct us not to retaliate when wronged, and even to love our enemies and do good to those who do wrong to us? If you keep reading Matthew 5, you will see He sums it up in verse 45: That you may be the children of your Father who is in heaven. A similar explanation is found in Luke 6:35: But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward shall be great, and you shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil. There is a great reward in becoming like our heavenly Father. When we willingly turn the other cheek and walk the extra mile in response to being wronged by the unrighteous, we demonstrate the true nature of God and shine His light in a dark world. And when we repent and forgive one another in the church over wrongs, we also shine a light in the world which is watching us, and to the 96 As Your Soul Prospers

young in the Church who need godly examples. This doesn’t mean we should ignore wrongs done to us, especially if they are from professing Christians. Jesus expects us to point out to people when they have wronged us, and if they repent, to forgive them. Take heed to yourselves. If your brother trespasses against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. And if he trespasses against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turns again to you, saying, I repent; you shall forgive him. – Luke 17:3-4. Matthew 18:15-17 gives more instructions about how to do this: ﬁrst go to them pri- vately, then with witnesses, then if they still do not repent, take the matter to the elders of the church. In the Old Testament, harmony and balance in the family of God was achieved through the law of “an eye for an eye”, but in the New Testament it is achieved through the new nature which truly loves the brethren and wants to restore relations with the other person for their good and for the beneﬁt of the community of believers. In the Old Testament when an injury damaged the relationship between individuals or sections of the community, “an eye for an eye” restitution put a fair price on the harm done to bring the relationship back into balance. Jesus though, speaking with the authority of the author, abrogates “an eye for an eye” because no price can be placed on a broken relationship. The only way to genuinely make the relationship right again is by genuine repentance and genuine forgiveness. However, the only way this can happen is when people have truly loving hearts and the nature of the loving God, which is why it was that before Jesus came, the best option was “an eye for an eye”. To show how seriously God takes us holding onto unforgiveness, Jesus warned His disciples with a parable in which the master sends an ungrateful and unforgiving servant to the Step Two – Identify Any Ongoing Sin 97

torturers because he did not forgive another servant who owed him a much smaller debt, So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if you from your hearts forgive not everyone his brother their trespasses. – Matthew 18:35. If we harbour malice and unforgiveness, and in any sense feel empowered by it, it shows that we do not really understand the gift of God’s forgiveness of our own sin, and also possibly that we do not have the loving nature of God. Even if we believe, or are told, that we have a right to be unforgiving or to seek vengeance or justice for a perceived harm, that is not the truth. Romans 12:19 says, Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, says the Lord. The word avenge refers to carrying out justice (punishment and compensation). And though this sounds very reasonable, note that Paul equates the desire for vengeance with wrath (Greek orge pronounced or-gay) which means a swelling and determined opposition to perceived wrong. That is why vengeance belongs to God – only He is perfectly able to judge the wrong and to set and instigate the correct justice. He will bring justice to repay the person for their wrongdoing, and He will do it righteously. When we seek vengeance we do it unrighteously because we do it from our perspective, and usually out of ﬂeshly emotion based on self- love rather than righteous love. A study of the word forgive in the New Testament will reveal that it is not always from the same Greek word. Nevertheless, every passage referring to forgiveness can help us better understand the importance of it. In Colossians 3:13 (also Ephesians 4:32) – Forbearing (enduring, bearing with) one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do you. The word forgiving here means to extend grace willingly and to show favour freely out of loving kindness. In Matthew 18:21 – Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how 98 As Your Soul Prospers

often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Till seven times? The Greek word translated forgive here generally means to send away, so in this context, it refers to letting go of the right to retaliate or to seek recompense according to your personal view of justice. In the Lord’s Prayer where it says, And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors (Matthew 6:12), the word translated forgive also means send away. If you still haven’t grasped the importance of letting go of your personal sense of justice, consider what comes right after the Lord’s Prayer: For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. – Matthew 6:14-15 (also Mark 11:25). The purpose here is not to say that God’s forgiveness of our sins depends on us forgiving others, but rather that we need to keep our own trespasses in the correct perspective – our crimes against God are always much more serious than the crimes of others against us. When we gain this perspective, and better understand the love and grace of God toward us, we start to develop the same attitude as a pillar of truth. Another aspect in Matthew 6:14-15 about us forgiving others, is to question ourselves whether God is indeed our Father, and we are indeed His children with the same loving nature He has, even toward those who have wronged us. 1 John 4:20 says, If a man says, I love God, and hates his brother, he is a liar (or deceiver): for he that loves not his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? The word hates here means to love less than another or than something else. This doesn’t mean to say that if we love some Christians less than we love others, or even less than we love God, that we are liars. It just means that is the direction God wants to take us, and that is the direction we want to go. If you don’t want to go that way, return to Step One. Step Two – Identify Any Ongoing Sin 99

However, if you often ﬁnd yourself holding onto unforgiveness, and bearing grudges, and you want to overcome this sin, it’s a good idea to read through the New Testament and highlight or transcribe, every passage which refers to how we should treat each other and our enemies. If, after seeing all that God says about the subject, you still can’t let go of your own perceived right for vengeance, you should spend more time meditating on those scriptures, or go back to Step One.

Evil Speaking The sin of evil speaking is common among Christians who have personal difﬁculties. Aspects of evil speaking include slander, gossip, and backbiting. As with unforgiveness, evil speaking is the fruit of a wicked heart which seeks to control others. Even if a person has become a Christian evil speaking can remain a strong habit and cause problems, whether the person is aware of it or not. But as with all sinful behaviour, once the Spirit nature is changed, the Soul needs plenty of reliable truths to overcome it. Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaks evil of his brother, and judges his brother, speaks evil of the law, and judges the law: but if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law, but a judge. There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who are you that judge another? – James 4:11-12. This passage is sometimes used by Christians to tell other Christians to not judge sinners in or out of the Church. In fact, however, this passage addresses the problem of Christians judging one another in church according to one’s own standards about what is right or wrong. The standard we are supposed to use is the standard of the law as given by the Lawgiver God. All judgement, therefore, should be according to scripture (which includes doing it graciously and wisely with love and concern) not according to our own agenda or worldview. The evil speaking in this passage is some- 100 As Your Soul Prospers

times translated slander and can be described as detracting from someone’s reputation by malice of speech. So, if we judge others by our own standards, we are maliciously detracting from God’s reputation as the Lawgiver. Let all bitterness (bitter hatred), and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all (every kind of) malice (ill will, depravity, wickedness) – Ephesians 4:31. Evil speaking here is translated from the Greek word blasphemia (blas-fay-me-ah) which refers to calling as evil someone or something that is good. In context with verse 30, we are here warned that behaving this way grieves (sorrows, vexes) the Holy Spirit. And in verse 32 we see that this type of behaviour is closely associated with unforgiveness. When Paul describes the unregenerated sinner, he says, Their throat is an open sepulcher; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips, whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness. – Romans 3:13-14. (See also Colossians 3:8-10.) Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. – Ephesians 4:29. Corrupt communication in this verse is also translated unwholesome talk (NIV), foul or abusive language (NLT), and hateful words (Aramaic Bible), but comes from the Greek sapros (sapros) which means to be completely rotten or putrid, and hence unfit for use. Speaking words that harm people rather than benefit them is contrary to both the character of God and our new nature; they are therefore unfit for us to use. We know that out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks (Luke 6:44-45), so if you find you are not annoyed with yourself every time you speak evil of or to someone, your heart might not be renewed. When we have been brought up in the world system, it can be difficult to control our tongues, yet it is possible with maturity in Christ and with the help of the Holy Spirit (see James 3 on control- Step Two – Identify Any Ongoing Sin 101

ling the tongue). Most of us know what we are going to say a split second before we say it. Therefore, the more we think about the words we use, the better we become at changing words in that split second, and over time, less and less unﬁt words come to our mind.

Hypocrisy The third sin which is common in Christians with personal problems is hypocrisy. Jesus often used this word to criticise the religious leaders of His time who were religious on the surface but wicked in their intent. You hypocrites, well did Isaiah prophesy of you, saying, These people draw near unto me with their mouth, and honor me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. – Matthew 15:7-8. The word translated here as hypocrites is the Greek word hypokrites (hoop-ok-ree-tace) which is made of two words hypo, meaning under, and krino which means to judge by separating. Hence hypokrites means to judge under. It was commonly used in the Greek theatre to refer to the actors who wore masks – who they really were underneath the mask was separate from who they appeared to be. The reason hypocrisy is sinful for Christians, and how it causes them problems, is that they are pretending to be what they are not. They say they are doing ﬁne when they aren’t, they say they have no problems when they do, they say they are at peace when there is a storm inside of them. People who practice hypocrisy never come to the place where they will ask for help from mature believers who can help with wisdom, prayer, and the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Hypocrisy in Christians often comes from fear of judgement, which at its root is fear of loss of pride. Hypocrites are scared of being found out as being imperfect or weak. This fear could stem from a survival technique learned in the world, however, in the church it can hinder growth and genuine intimacy with one another and with 102 As Your Soul Prospers

Christ. This doesn’t mean to say you should tell everyone all your business or what’s going on inside of you, which would be extremely foolish. It can be dangerous to share one’s heart with Christians who might be immature and use what they are told for gossip and slander. The secret to overcoming hypocrisy when you do not want to tell your problems to someone who asks, is to not lie about what you really are going through, but simply and honestly say something like, “Thank you for your concern, but I’m not comfortable sharing that with you at this time. But if you want to pray for me what God lays on your heart to pray, that would be appreciated.” That’s honest and humble. If they get offended because you won’t share, consider it a confirmation you made the right choice in not doing so. Remem- ber that most people in church are broken, just as you are, none of us is perfect, and we all need the grace and help of God to overcome the various hardships we are undergoing. So don’t get upset if many of the Christians you know don’t reach your expectations – many are also wearing a mask, which is why, sadly, many also have unresolved problems. In Matthew 6 Jesus explains in the Sermon on the Mount that hypocrites do what they do to make a show before people – to be seen as something they are not. He says that we should not be like them, and not seek the regard of people but rather of God. Which brings us to the biggest danger of the practice of people pretending to be something they’re not – they are so entrenched in their hypocrisy that they find it difficult to be honest and open with God. The apostle Simon Peter writes to Christians, Therefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speaking; as newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that you may grow thereby. – 1 Peter 2:1-2. The reference to being as newborn babes comes from verses earlier in the epistle: Seeing you have purified your Step Two – Identify Any Ongoing Sin 103

souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto sincere love of the brethren, see that you love one another with a pure heart fervently: being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which lives and abides forever. – 1 Peter 1:22-23. Peter is making the point that when our nature was changed our Soul began to learn the truth of the new godly nature, in particular, sincere love of the brethren. This means that all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speaking are not according to the nature of God and are, at their core, unloving. Pretending to be something you are not is unloving – it beneﬁts no-one. We grow as we lay aside the aspects of the fallen nature, including hypocrisy. One of the problems in churches that preach the word of faith is that it emphasises the need to “believe” that everything is okay even when it doesn’t appear to be. So many people in those churches often live in a state of “make believe” unable to tell the truth because they fear they will be criticised for not having enough faith. So they lie to each other, and they lie to themselves. But most sadly, they lie to God because they fear that God will not be happy with them for lack of faith. [Note: In Hebrews 11:6 where it says, But without faith it is impossible to please him, it does not mean that God is not happy with you if you can’t manufacture enough “make believing” to get what you want. In context, it refers to God being pleased with us when we believe what He says to us, submit to His will in it, and act on it accordingly. All the heroes of faith in Hebrews 11 trusted what God said to them, submitted to it, and acted on it. They didn’t make believe anything in the way the word of faith message often asserts they did. You didn’t have to make believe anything to be born again, you trusted what God was revealing to you, you submitted to it, and you acted accordingly; and in doing so, you pleased God, and He rewarded you with what He said He would.] 104 As Your Soul Prospers

The word of faith message also clearly contributes to the alarm- ing amount of depression in the church. Trying to manufacture “faith” by saying you have money for your bills when you don’t, that you are healed when you aren’t, and that you’ll keep your job during layoffs even though you are the laziest person in the work- place, causes conﬂict in the Soul. The longer this conﬂict continues without being resolved by testable, reliable truths, the more pressure it puts on the Soul. Such pressure can manifest in many ways, including what we call depression. The word of faith doctrine also promotes hypocrisy and the problems that come from it because, at its core, word of faith is pro- moted as the way to get what you want from God, which is at its core wordliness and covetous, and therefore contrary to the nature of Christ.

Pride The fourth often overlooked sin in the lives of Christians who have ongoing personal problems is pride. Simon Peter exhorts those in the church: ...Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resists the proud, and gives grace to the humble. – 1 Peter 5:5. Pride at its core refers to lifting oneself to a place where the person sees themself as above others. So simply put, pride is people shouting, “Look at me, look at me. I’m better than them; I’m more important than them. Worship me, idolise me.” The opposite of pride is humility. Humility in the Bible means to be ﬂat, low lying, and not lifted up. One way to understand this is to look at how servants in those cultures would prostrate themselves at the feet of their master. When Jesus washed the feet of the disciples, He was emphasising the importance of a type of humility which is based on love for one another, i.e., to seek the beneﬁt of another even at one’s own cost. If you have ever had the opportu- Step Two – Identify Any Ongoing Sin 105

nity to wash someone’s feet, you will have noticed it is a lot easier to wash the feet of someone you love than someone you don’t. Love, by its very nature, is humble. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not a thing to be grasped to be equal with God: but made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. – Philippians 2:5-8. Note in 1 Peter 5:5 what God does to the proud... He resists the proud. The Greek word used here means to set against in direct opposition, as an army would do against an advancing enemy. If we continue to live according to our former nature which saw itself as a god who must be worshipped and obeyed, we can expect God to oppose us directly. Why would He do that? The same reason He does most things – He loves us and others. When we act according to the true nature of Christ which is in us, we glorify God, that is, we make Him bigger in the world so others can see Him and be drawn to Him. And when we desire and strive to express the true nature of God according to our born again Spirit, He gives us grace – He leans toward us in loving kindness and tender mercies. Now read 1 Peter 5:6 – Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time. The reward of willingly and enthusiastically submitting to the will of God rather than our own will is that in time God will exalt us – lift us up. Jesus explained this to the proud religious leaders of His time, For whosoever exalts himself shall be abased; and he that humbles himself shall be exalted. – Luke 14:11 (see also Luke 18:14). This principle is found in other places of the Bible such as, The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom; and before honor is humility. – Proverbs 15:33; and 106 As Your Soul Prospers

Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honor is humility. – Proverbs 18:12. If we seek to be exalted and bring ourselves glory, God will humble us, yet if we humble ourselves to show God’s glory, He will exalt us into His glory. The difference is the true motivation of the person. The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogance, and the evil way, and the perverse mouth, do I hate. – Proverbs 8:13. Everyone that is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD: though they join hand in hand, none shall be unpunished. – Proverbs 16:5. There are many scriptures that deal with pride and humility, but for now, that should be enough to show why Christians who are still holding to the old habits and attitudes for self-exaltation are often unable to overcome difﬁculties in their lives.

Long-term sinful behaviour in a Christian is a sign that the person holds to a particular false truth which they justify in order to continue in it. Whatever the sin, it must be identified and named before the Soul can accept help from the Holy Spirit in overcoming it. This will then bring the person to a place where other personal problems in their lives can be overcome. This does not mean that every sin you ever did has to be identified and confessed, it means that the sins you are now knowingly engaging in need to be dealt with. If you can’t do it alone, seek mature Christians who can help you with it, you’ll know them by their love of others, their love of the word of God through scripture, and their loving kindness toward you in spite of your sin. And if you think you can’t overcome any sin, you’re believing a lie. Having therefore these promises [that God will be our Father and will dwell with us], dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. – 2 Corinthians 7:1. Who cleanses us? Is it a priest or a prophet, or an evangelist or an Step Three – Take Full Responsibility 107

angel or even the Holy Spirit? No, it’s us. The reason Paul was inspired by the Holy Spirit to call us to cleanse ourselves is that we are very able to do it. Again: And that you put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. Therefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbor: for we are members one of another. – Ephesians 4:24-25. Who puts on the new man and puts off the old nature? You! We would not be told to do it if we were not able to. We can overcome the power of any sin in our life! We are no longer slaves to sin; Christ has set us free and given us the ability to take control of our thoughts, behaviours and habits. As we identify the sins in our lives and practice putting them off, Jesus through the Holy Spirit works with us in doing it. If we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. – 1 John 1:7. Keep in mind that even though we are to take action to cleanse ourselves, we do so because that is our very nature. Seeking to be free of the control of sin is what a Christian does by nature. We want the victory. Therefore we strive for the victory. And therefore we achieve it.

Step Three – Take full responsibility for your actions and choices

One of the main causes of personal problems and difﬁculties in western countries is that people, in general, do not take responsibility for their actions and choices. A major part of the reason for this is that society has evolved to give in to demands for special treatment by people who claim victimhood. Therefore the Souls of people in society quickly learn that the way to get out of trouble and avoid consequences for one’s actions and choices is to blame someone 108 As Your Soul Prospers

else or something else. The rapist blames the person they violated for dressing provocatively, the thief blames the system or their boss for not giving them enough money, the person who cheats on an exam blames the teacher for not being a good enough teacher, the black criminal blames the police and the judicial system for being racist, the violent bully blames their violence on the victim for not giving them what they wanted, and the Christian minister who commits adultery with his secretary blames the devil for making him do it. The blame game is a support construct of the fallen nature seeking to express itself without consequences. However, when we all stand before God on Judgement Day, no one gets to blame anyone else for their own choices and actions. That’s because we all know what is good and evil, and we all know by the Holy Spirit what is right and wrong. Only when we take responsibility for our choices and actions, are we in the right place to appreciate and properly accept the payment God made for our sin. Those who are serious about overcoming personal difﬁculties in their lives must do more than just own up to their sin; they must also “own” them. This isn’t merely saying you are a sinner and have sinned, but also saying the same as God says about your sin, your choices, and your actions. God says you are a sinner and that you expressed your sin nature by your own free will, you are therefore guilty of treason against His lordship, and worthy of eternal damna- tion. Fortunately, that is not all God says about you and your sins. He also says that He came into the world in the body of a human to live without sin so He could pay the price to set you free from the consequence of your sin if you accept the payment, turn from your sin, and follow Him the rest of the days of your life. He also says that when you do that you will be born again and your core nature (your Step Three – Take Full Responsibility 109

Spirit) will change to want to follow and please Him, and that in doing so you will experience close relationship with Him as He leads you and helps transform you into His image by strengthening you to overcome your former ways. And then one day, whether you are alive or dead, He will return and receive you into His kingdom forever. (If you have never heard it that way before – that is the Gos- pel.) To say anything other than “It’s my own fault” is to deny the truth and the light, and it shows an ignorance of the attributes of the omniscient God who knows even the thoughts and intents of your heart: And I will kill her [that woman Jezebel’s] children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works. – Revelation 2:23. I the LORD search the heart, I test the mind, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings. – Jeremiah 17:10. After a life of searching out wisdom, Solomon, once the wisest man on earth wrote, Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil. – Ecclesiastes 12:13-14. And Paul warns, For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that everyone may be recompensed for the things done in his body, according to what he has done, whether it be good or bad. – 2 Corinthians 5:10. If you ﬁnd it difﬁcult to own your sin, and you say that you do not sin, you possibly need to go back to Step One. The apostle John declares, If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: but if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, 110 As Your Soul Prospers

and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. – 1 John 1:6-10.

Another reason to own and confess our sin is to remove the internal stresses of our guilt. Guilt is an aspect of our Conscience which is the inﬂuence of the Holy Spirit on the Soul regarding righteousness and moral standards. Guilt, especially suppressed guilt, will eventually manifest in our lives in one way or another. No matter how much people deny their sin and wrongdoings, they know the truth because the Holy Spirit is ever present. This is especially true for Christians who have the Holy Spirit, that is, the Spirit of Truth, dwelling in them.

By completing the first three Steps, a person is as free as possible from the spiritual darkness in life which stops them overcoming difficulties. When the first three Steps are completed, the person is at peace with God and allied with Him to overcome any obstacle. King David proclaims, For by you [God] I have advanced against a troop; and by my God have I leaped over a wall. – Psalm 18:29. When read in context from verse 20 or before, to verse 42 or beyond, David understands his victories were the result of his heart being right with God. We do not overcome our difficulties because we have God on our side; we overcome the difficulties that besiege us when we are on God’s side. We only conquer our difficulties through His involvement in the situation, and in us being enabled and strengthened by Him to make the necessary choices and take the necessary action. Step Four – Identify the Real Problem 111

Step Four – Identify and name the real problem

There was an occasion when a blind man referred to as Bartimaeus called to Jesus for mercy. Jesus asked him, “What will you that I should do unto you?” (Mark 10:46-52 and Luke 18:35-43). In another case, when Jesus saw all the sick and inﬁrm lying at the pool of Bethesda, Jesus asked one sick man, “Will you be made whole?” or more precisely, “Are you serious about wanting to be healed?” (John 5:2-15). Those are strange questions. Surely it would be obvious to anyone that a person who has become blind wants to see again, and a weak, feeble man who has been an invalid for decades wants to be well. So, why did Jesus ask those questions? Quite probably it was to get the person to focus on the problem. Bartimaeus must have been blind for some time to have resorted to begging for a living, and the lame man we know had been in that condition for 38 years. It is common for humans, especially with long-term difﬁculties, to identify themselves with the problem (just as many identify themselves with negative personality traits). So, the questions of Jesus are certainly valid. Does Bartimaeus want to see again, or to be given money? Does the man by the pool want to be healed, or has he given up hope and is now brought to the pool out of routine? To overcome our personal problems we need to identify them and name them. This gives us a place to start for our trip back in time to uncover the root cause of the problem, which is Step Five. 112 As Your Soul Prospers

Step Five – Go back to when the problem began

Most of our serious problems had a beginning, which wasn’t actually the beginning, but just the time they started being serious problems. Before it turned into a serious problem it was another problem which wasn’t serious – it possibly wasn’t even the same type of problem, just like the caterpillar eating your vegetable crop is nothing like the pretty white butterflies fluttering in the garden. We could say that a serious problem is like a cancer tumour which suddenly appeared causing concern. Unfortunately, as with cancer tumours, a lot of effort goes into treating the visible problem, without recognising it is rooted somewhere else such as in a toxic diet and inadequate nutrition which began many years ago. Unless we deal with the root as well as the problem, we will never fully be free of it. One helpful approach to find the root cause of the problem is to ask “when did it begin?”, then “what big things were happening in my life at the time?” then, “how did I feel about it?” and “what did I want to happen?” Often these questions, or ones like them, are all that is needed to understand the root cause. For example, you might often struggle with thoughts of suicide. The first time you entertained the thought, and even made plans to kill yourself, you might have been going through a traumatic breakup over which you felt you had no control. In desperation to stop the pain, you may have mentioned to someone that you were thinking of killing yourself. In doing so, you received support and may have gained a sympa- thetic hearing from the person you were hurting over. Your Soul identified the benefit of planning to kill yourself. When this was reinforced over time, your Soul programmed the behaviour for Step Five – Go Back to When the Problem Began 113

automatic activation when you are experiencing loss or grief over which you feel you have no control. Once you identify the root cause of your suicidal tendencies as your way of manipulating people to submit to your will, you are ready to overcome the problem. (Of course, this is just a possible scenario, not everyone with suicidal tendencies has them for the same reason.) Sadly, in recent years, as people with mental disorders, especially depression, are given a lot of sympathy and favourable attention, some people have feigned the problem to get the attention. As this behaviour continues to provide them with beneﬁts, it ceases to be a ruse and becomes a subconscious programmed response. (This is also becoming common for other issues, including self-harming and transgenderism.) Going back to when the problems began could reveal natural causes such as exposure to toxic chemicals that cause physical or psychological problems. In fact, the cause could still be in your environment, even in the air you breathe, the food you eat and what you drink.

If you have trouble identifying the first cause, ask God. He is the best source of truth and knowledge because He knows everything and was there and aware of your thoughts and intents when the problem began. First, though, you need to accept the truth that God wants to help you overcome your difficulty. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all men liberally, and reproaches (blames, insults, reviles) not; and it shall be given him. – James 1:5. Once you believe and apply the truth of that scripture, you are well on your way to identifying the root cause of the problem. Until you accept that truth, you may struggle to find the answer. But let him ask in faith, nothing 114 As Your Soul Prospers

wavering. For he that wavers is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord. A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways. – James 1:6-8. Another scripture to reinforce the truth that God wants to help you overcome difficulties is, Let us therefore [because Jesus is our great high priest who understands us from a human point of view] come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. – Hebrews 4:16. God wants us to come to Him for help. He loves us. Therefore He wants to help us. In fact, He is always leaning toward us with loving kindness and tender mercies to help us when we need help. Though it may not always be the type of help we imagine or want, it will be the perfect help, at the perfect moment. Remember that Jesus also sent the Holy Spirit to help us. One of the ways the Holy Spirit provides help for those in the church is through what Paul calls the “Gifts of the Holy Spirit” (1 Corinthians 12:1-11). The emphasis Paul makes regarding the Gifts of the Spirit is that God has established people in the church who can help us hear from Him so we can progress on our journey to become more like Christ. Though God can speak through anyone, typically the people who operate in the Gifts are pastors and elders – trustworthy shepherds of the flock. When we are commanded in Hebrews 13:2 to be hospitable to visiting Christians, we are encouraged that in doing so, some have “entertained angels unawares”. The most likely understanding of this verse is that the visitor had a word from God for them – possibly without the visitor even knowing it was. The word angel simply refers to someone with a message from God. Yes, it can be a supernatural being, but it can also be a person (To the angel of the church of Ephesus write… – Revelation 2:1). There are at least two ways you can be confident a word is Step Five – Go Back to When the Problem Began 115

truly from God: one, it conforms to the tenets of scripture (God would not contradict Himself); and two, it conﬁrms something that you know to be true because God has already started revealing it to you. It is not wise to accept that a word is from God simply because the person said, “Thus sayeth the Lord…” – no matter who the person is. We each have a duty to check for ourselves if it is truly from God. Ezekiel 13:2 in the Old Testament warns us that people can “prophesy out of their own spirit”. In other words, just because the message is based on scripture, or is spoken by a respected leader in the church, that doesn’t guarantee it’s from God. 1 John 4:1 warns us, Beloved, believe not every spirit, but test the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. 1 Thessalonians 5:20-21 exhorts us to Despise not prophesying. Test all things; hold fast that which is good. There are also scriptures in the New Testament warning us that there are false prophets in the church – people saying that things are from God when they aren’t. E.g. Matthew 7:15; Acts 20:29-30; 2 Peter 2:1-3.

Looking more into the Gifts of the Holy Spirit, two of the Gifts are word of wisdom and word of knowledge (1 Corinthians 12:8). Word refers to something being said or expressed. Wisdom, translated from the Greek sophia (sof-ee-ah) from which we get the words sophisticated (artful in the use of wisdom) and philosophy (affection for wisdom), literally means clearness or clarity as applied to cleverness, insight, and the application of learning or knowledge. Knowledge is translated from the Greek gnosis (gno-sis) which refers to applied knowledge, or knowledge gained by personal experience in applying something learned. In other words, the Holy Spirit can reveal to us directly, or with the assistance of others, clarity and insight into matters, and show us 116 As Your Soul Prospers

how to apply truths and learn from them, including about ourselves and God and our relationship with Him. Even though God has equipped people in the church to help us seek wisdom and overcome difficulties, we should always be careful with whom we share our deepest issues because not all people in church are of godly character, some are gossipers, talebear- ers and people who stir up trouble and division. Proverbs 25:19 – Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of troubles is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint. Proverbs 20:6 – Most men will proclaim everyone his own goodness: but a faithful (trustworthy, true) man who can find? Other than being an exhortation for each of us to be faithful and true, this is a warning about the integrity of others who “talk the talk” but don’t “walk the walk”. Other people we should be reluctant to get counsel from are the ungodly. Remember Psalm 1:1-2 – Blessed is the man that walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law does he meditate day and night.

Often when God reveals something to us, it is an “Ah-ha” moment, and can be accompanied by strong feelings such as joy, excitement, hope, or sadness. The word enthusiasm literally means “in God” (en- theos) and originally referred to someone who has been inspired by, or experienced, a revelation from God as if “possessed” by God. The word inspiration also has its root in the supernatural (in-spirare) relating to being “in the spirit”, or having breathed in a spirit, or been breathed upon by a spirit – for our purposes the Holy Spirit.

It’s as good an opportunity here as anywhere to identify two common root causes of personal problems which many people overlook: diet and negativity. Step Five – Go Back to When the Problem Began 117

Diet It’s a fact that what we eat and what we don’t eat can affect us physically and emotionally. Problems involving poor diet can include arthritis, lethargy, sleepiness, sleeplessness, moodiness, headaches, fatigue, muscle weakness, brittle bones, ADHD, dementia, sight loss, hair loss, tooth decay, rashes, diabetes, and even cancers. Feeding our body toxins but not giving it the resources to detoxify and fight disease is a recipe for many types of problems. God designed awesome biological machines for us to live in, machines which are able to convert food to provide every need of our bodies to stay free from sickness and disease – if we give them the necessary foods. Unfortunately, because of the genetic decline of the human race, and the preference of people to eat and drink “foods” that cause the body harm, people are suffering increasingly from diet-related problems. And though these amazing machines adapt as much as possible to make do with what diet they are fed, even by giving us cravings for what we need and sacrificing one part of the body to protect a more crucial area, eventually, the abused and neglected system will begin to fail. When our biological system starts to fail, we usually run (or shuffle) to doctors for operations and pharmaceuticals, whereas simply returning to a proper whole food diet, clean water and daily exercise might be all we need. [You have probably noticed a section in your supermarket called “health food”. If this section has health food, what type of food is in the rest of the store?] Even though many people are well aware that their problems are diet related, they still prefer to eat what is doing them harm over what will do them good. One of the main reasons for this is that highly processed, chemically enriched and genetically modified foods mimic true foods tricking the body into accepting them while depriving the body of what it really needs. 118 As Your Soul Prospers

Another reason people continue to eat what they know is harming them is that the fake foods often provide pleasure or other benefits which feed the fleshly nature. And because there are no immediately obvious serious consequences to eating the fake food, the Soul has no reason to change. Remember, change takes effort, and the Soul which hasn’t been exposed to sufficient God truths will usually avoid expenditure or effort – always preferring the easy road over the hard – the path of least resistance. If you are already making up excuses in your mind to keep to the poor diet you are on; you know this is an issue which you need to address. At least it is an issue you need to explore and ask yourself when the diet-related problem began, what was going on at the time, and why at the time the diet choices seemed the best option for meeting your needs. Sometimes the cause can be as simple as not knowing how to prepare proper meals, or being too lazy to learn or prepare them. The reason some people binge eat or drink is because at some stage in their life when they were struggling it gave them a buzz or a high. So when they feel overwhelmed by life, they subconsciously revert to the same “drug of choice”. Other people might eat fake food because they were ridiculed at school about the healthy lunches their mum packed them, so eating well has negative feelings associated with it. Maybe the only happy times a person remembers as a child was staying with their grandparent who always fed them junk food and ice-cream, so when they want to feel happy and recapture those times, they eat junk food – and who doesn’t want to be feeling happy all the time? Maybe, as a young teenager, a girl had her heart broken many times by boys who promised her “love” simply so they could get sex. So her Soul, intending to protect her, identified that being extremely overweight would keep boys away so they wouldn’t hurt her. Step Five – Go Back to When the Problem Began 119

Unfortunately, many Christians with diet-related problems are very quick to pray for God to heal them, yet they won’t follow His prompting to change what they feed their body.

Negativity Negativity robs people of many physical and psychological benefits which they might otherwise experience through optimism. In the same way that the placebo effect works to help heal people, so believing the worst makes people sick. Habitual negativity can affect a person in the same way post-traumatic stress disorder affects people who have lived a long period in a stressful or life-threatening situation. Negativity is like always worrying about things, even things that aren’t real. This puts us in a state of stress which causes our bodies to produce certain hormones to help us defend and protect ourselves, which causes other parts of the body to shut down. But, having never been designed to live in a constant state of alert, our physical system and the way we see the world starts to break down, and problems arise. If you find yourself being negative about everything, it would be sensible to ask yourself when this started, what was going on in your life at the time, and what benefit it is you think you get from being negative. Possibly, once upon a time while you were being negative about something you got support from people around you which made you feel loved and cared for. After trying it a number of times, you found that it consistently provided the same positive result, so your Soul subconsciously programmed it in as part of your personality. Your Body is a machine influenced by your Soul. You can, therefore, to some degree, believe yourself to be well or ill if you have received and tested sufficient information to provide that 120 As Your Soul Prospers

truth. The ultimate truth though is that negativity does not beneﬁt you. Be anxious for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall keep (guard) your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. – Philippians 4:6-8. Which of you by taking thought (being anxious or worried, or falling to pieces) can add one cubit unto his stature?... Take therefore no thought for tomorrow: for tomorrow shall take thought of the things for itself. Sufﬁcient unto the day is the evil thereof. – Matthew 6:27, 34. Don’t add to your troubles by focussing on all the possible troubles. There are enough bad things to deal with right now, without you adding to them.

Regardless of how your problem started, you need to recognise the root cause and take steps to override it with a better truth which comes from the next Step – Find out what God says about the problem.

Step Six – Find out what God says about the problem

All scripture is given by inspiration of God (God-breathed), and is proﬁtable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. – 2 Timothy 3:16-17. Step Six – Find Out What God Says About the Problem 121

That phrase thoroughly furnished means to be completely ﬁt for purpose because every part is working together (all one’s problems are dealt with). Another way to say “thoroughly furnished” is “fully equipped”. So, everything you need to overcome the things that are holding you down or back can be learned in the Bible. Note too that the purpose of scripture is for the “man of God” to grow, it is not for the unsaved person. That’s because God’s wisdom and understanding are so far removed from the human mind that we need the Holy Spirit to help us initially and progressively comprehend the truths of God. God says in Isaiah 55:8-9, For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, says the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. Though in context that passage refers to God’s forgiveness of sin being beyond what people are able to comprehend, the statement obviously holds true in all areas of human thought and actions when compared to those of God the designer, creator and sustainer of all things, who transcends the entire universe, and yet, is intimately aware of everything about you from the thoughts and intents of your heart (Hebrews 4:12) to the number of hairs on your head (Matthew 10:30, Luke 12:7) and all the tears you have cried (Psalm 56:8). Imagine the arrogance of people who ordain themselves as a judge of God regarding things they read in the Bible. To think that even the combined knowledge and wisdom of the whole of humanity since creation, could come remotely close to being equipped to judge God is absurd in the extreme. And yet, God gave us the Bible and the Holy Spirit and the mind of Christ, so that we might experience something of His thoughts and ways. But this privilege is not available to the carnal person, But the natural man receives not the things of the Spirit of God: for 122 As Your Soul Prospers

they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. ... For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ. – 1 Corinthians 2:14, 16. The born again believer has been given the ability to comprehend thoughts and intents of God. How amazing that is! Because scripture is God-breathed, it contains His thoughts, so the more we read it and dwell in it, the more opportunity the Holy Spirit has of showing us great and wondrous things. Also note in 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (which we read at the start of this Step) what form the furnishing process takes: doctrine, reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness. When the Holy Spirit speaks to us through scripture (and through godly people with a highly developed understanding of scripture), sometimes it’s doctrine (teaching – particularly how to live), reproof (proof or convic- tion of sin), correction (restoration to a right state), and instruction (as in disciplining a child to attain full potential) in righteousness (doing what is right in the eyes of God).

Always remember to never read a verse isolated from its context, and to always compare it with the rest of scripture to ensure that what you think it means is confirmed throughout the Bible. Unfor- tunately, most of us have been trained to want quick answers with as minimal effort as possible, and as much as possible only that which agrees with our existing worldview. We must, therefore, be on guard against distorting the obvious teaching of scripture to fit with our existing ideas about God and church doctrines. Our challenge is to be always learning and always refining our understanding so that we are progressively transformed from the inside out. Ideally then, the more serious the problem you have, and the more serious you are about overcoming it, the more time and effort you should put into finding everything you can that God says about Step Six – Find Out What God Says About the Problem 123

it in the Bible. A useful tool for this is a Topical Bible. But beware that not everything in a Topical Bible is always in context. Also, beware of books that list scriptures you can quote to get whatever you want from God. Often, they are not in context either. For example, some books recommend quoting Amos 4:6 to claim the “promise of God” that He would give His people clean teeth: I also have given you cleanness of teeth in all your cities. If God did operate by us “claiming promises” and you claimed that promise, you would be claiming a famine on your life, which is the context of the passage. The clean teeth are a result of not having food to eat. According to some, Isaiah 43:2 is a promise of God you can claim to stop your children from bed wetting: When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. Claiming that that verse can be used to deliver children from bedwetting is in complete contradiction to the context of the passage and what God is expressing through it. It is futile to try to make what God says to fit our own purposes. Scriptures are not “spells” which we can recite to get what we want, or to make God give us what we want. Christians who use it in that way will not hear God speaking through it, nor come to know His mind on any matter. Our job is to discover what the author is saying, not to try to make His words agree with what we are saying. Anti-Christian apologists have been known to quote scripture for their own agenda, for example, Galatians 5:2 clearly says, Christ will profit you nothing. Does quoting that make it true? Of course not, especially when it’s read in context. When Christians quote scriptures to get the outcomes they want, they are doing exactly the same – promoting their own agenda. Will quoting any scripture make it happen? If it did, there would be many Christians dying of starva- tion with sparkling white teeth. The primary purpose of scripture is for us to read it and medi- 124 As Your Soul Prospers

tate on it day and night to understand how God wants us to live and to bring glory to Him. When we view scripture this way, God reveals His truths to us. And when we have His truths, we have the strength to overcome anything that is not God’s ideal for us – even if overcoming means being able to endure it. Finding out what God says throughout all the Bible about the issue you have will either reveal the previously unidentiﬁed sin you are in which is responsible for the problems and therefore show you the solution, or it will give you insight into the matter which will help you understand it from a whole new perspective, and therefore show you the solution. Finding what God says (His truths) about the problem is the ﬁrst part of overcoming it, taking the necessary action is the second part. Which brings us to Step Seven – Get support from trustworthy leaders.

Step Seven – Get support from trustworthy leaders

This can be a very difficult Step. First, because it can be difficult to find someone you feel you can trust, and second because they might not agree with the approach you are taking in overcoming the problem – or even that in their eyes it is a problem. Ideally, but not necessarily, the person should have been through the same or a similar issue and had victory over it, or be well on the way to doing so. This is one of the principles which work for programmes like Alcoholics Anonymous – people who have overcome helping those who have recently entered the battle. Not everyone is able to or willing to take this Step; it is for Step Seven – Get Support from Trustworthy Leaders 125

those who feel they would beneﬁt from it. Whether you take this Step or not, the focus should always be on the Holy Spirit as the helper. The primary role of the person providing the support is to keep pointing you in that direction. Christians are told to comfort one another, which means God intends us to get help from others, even if it is just for a short while. Paul begins his second letter to the Corinthians with, Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them who are in any trouble, by the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted of God. – 2 Corinthians 1:3-4. Note the two sources of comfort: God (through the Holy Spirit, i.e., the Comforter: And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever; – John 14:16), and people who have been comforted by God through troubles. [And of course, God can comfort us indirectly through people (see 2 Corinthians 7:5-7).] All the words translated comfort in its various forms in the above verses are associated with the word parakaleo (par-ak-al-eh-o) which means call near, as in up close and personal, and can be to support, strengthen, correct, encourage, entreat, or speak on behalf of. If you don’t have a trusted leader you can enlist to support you, you might ﬁnd support by watching or listening to teachings and reading books, articles and commentaries by suitably trustworthy leaders and scholars in the body of Christ. This is especially helpful if you are confused about a verse or passage. Reading half a dozen commentaries on it might provide you with six different views. Nevertheless, it is in the struggle to understand and seek out the truth, that we grow more like Him. Remember that not all theologians are godly – they might study to know about God, but they do not know God. 126 As Your Soul Prospers

Step Eight – Wait actively and expectantly

Getting free from serious difficulties and issues can happen quickly or slowly, and it can happen all at once by an epiphany, or gradually over time. It all depends on how deeply rooted the problem is and how much quality information you can access and test. If the problem has afflicted you for a long time, without a miraculous move of God, it’s more than likely that it’s going to take some time for you to be fully free of it. Even though sometimes you might feel as if you are never going to overcome, don’t quit until the issue is resolved – keep asking, keep seeking, and keep knocking (Luke 11:5-13) until either you receive the thing you desire, or God reveals His will to you on the matter (1 John 5:14). That’s because the victory can come like a dam breaking. As you seek out and test new truths, you start to fill a reservoir behind the problem. The more you add to the reservoir over time, the greater the pressure is that builds up against the problem. Then, one day, suddenly the dam wall cracks and breaks and the problem is washed away. The dam breaking might be in an instant, but the pressure to bust it might take months or years to build to a sufficient level. Whatever happens, and however it happens, it’s always important to remember that God is working to achieve the best result for you and others – whether you notice it or not. Because we should know that God loves us, we should realise that whatever is happening to us, He is not only there alongside us, but is working in us and with us to bring good from it. Paul tells us in Romans 8:28, And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. Even though this is a very small part of a much more involved teaching in Romans, the truth is still reinforced here, that Step Eight – Wait Actively and Expectantly 127

whatever happens to those who love God, He ensures that it works together with everything else for His purpose. This side of the grave we may never know what His purpose is in our struggle, but we know there is a purpose, and we learn to understand that our goal should be that His purpose is fulfilled – His will be done. It has been said that if you take pity on a butterfly struggling to emerge from the cocoon and help it do so, it will never be able to fly. This is because the struggle causes the blood flow which pumps into the wings to “inflate” them. The same is often true when we are struggling with hardships and difficulties. God is much more interested in the benefit to us and others of our struggle than providing the outcome exactly how and when we desire it. Paul asked God three times to take from him a “thorn in the flesh” (2 Corinthians 12:8-10), but God did not remove it. Instead, God explained to Paul that the thorn in the flesh (whatever it was) was to stop him becoming arrogant and prideful because of the abundance (Greek huperbole, pronounced hoop-er-bol-ay, and meaning surpassing excellence) of revelations he had been given. This is the same Paul who wrote Romans 8:28 – All things work together for good. And the same Paul who wrote Romans 8:35, Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? and Romans 8:37- 39, Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creation, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. And it’s the same Paul who ended his account of the thorn in the flesh by declaring, Therefore I take pleasure in weaknesses, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak (frail, feeble, sick), then am I strong (powerful, able, 128 As Your Soul Prospers

mighty). – 2 Corinthians 12:10. To understand how one can be both weak and strong at the same time we need to look at the verse in context. God reassured Paul that when the thorn in his flesh both- ered him, he should remember, “My grace is sufficient for you: for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” – 2 Corinthians 12:9. God’s active love (grace) towards Paul enabled him to endure the thorn in the flesh, and at the same time, developed and revealed His strength to Paul and those around him. Until God removes our thorn, we too can rely on His strength as we endure it. Before we leave the thorn in the flesh passage, look at the last sentence in 2 Corinthians 12:9, Most gladly therefore will I rather boast in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. A more literal translation of rest upon me is spread a tabernacle/tent over me. When we are being weakened through suffering of any kind, Christ comes with His strength and dwells with us. Did He not promise that He would never leave us or forsake us [in times of trouble]? Your suffering with your problem, no matter how serious it is, and your struggling to overcome it, can be a time in which you experience more of the grace of God, and through it develop the Christ- like character trait of patient endurance. It is no wonder, then, that Paul wrote to the Thessalonian Christians, Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. – 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18. Give thanks is a translation of the Greek eucharisteo (yoo-khar-is-teh-o). This might be a familiar word to Roman Catholics; the Eucharist is the taking of the Bread and Wine in Holy Communion. Eucharisteo refers to being thankful for the “good grace” of God. So, we are encouraged in scripture to give thanks for the good grace of God in all and every situation and circumstance – even what you are going through at this time. Step Eight – Wait Actively and Expectantly 129

If you hang around people who follow word of faith teachings, you might think that you are the only Christian suffering from a serious problem. That’s not because word of faith followers always get whatever they are “believing for”. It’s usually just that they are too scared to admit they are struggling because they believe that if they say they have a problem, either they will be condemned for not having enough faith, or the thing they want (which might only be a short while away) won’t come to pass. It doesn’t take much objective reading of the Bible (Old and New Testaments) to see the truth that God’s followers often do suffer, and often struggle in their suffering. The book of Psalms gives us many examples of God’s people suffering and crying out to Him. These biblical truths can teach us much about what to expect in our own suffering. LORD, you have heard the desire of the humble (poor, weak, afﬂicted): you will prepare (establish, make ready, set up) their heart, you will cause your ear to hear, to judge (vindicate, to deliver from the hand of) the father- less and the oppressed (crushed, afﬂicted), that the man of the earth may no more oppress. – Psalm 10:17-18. God hears the prayers of those laid low, and He prepares their heart to be sustained until the time He delivers them from the oppression. The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry (for help). – Psalm 34:15 (quoted in 1 Peter 3:12). If you are born again and living to please God and to do His will, you can know for sure that God is well aware of what is happening in your life and is listening when you call to Him for help. It’s never a waste of time calling out to God from the heart, for He desires to help His people during, and from, their trouble. Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear (stand in awe of) him, upon them that hope (wait expectantly) in his mercy; to deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine. – Psalm 33:18-19. Our 130 As Your Soul Prospers

part in the process is to wait expectantly and actively, doing what we can do and what we know to do. Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart: wait, I say, on the LORD. – Psalm 27:14. The Hebrew word translated wait means to wait expectantly or eagerly, and comes from a root word meaning to bind or twist together. So waiting on the LORD can include twisting ourselves in with Him, His purpose and plan, and in the present situation being confident of His help. Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all you that hope (wait expectantly) in the LORD. – Psalm 31:24. Note that it’s for our benefit when the answer doesn’t come quickly – our heart is strengthened. That’s just a taste of what is in Psalms on this subject. But if you look you’ll find this seam of precious truth running throughout the Bible. Here’s one from Isaiah the prophet: But they that wait (eagerly, with expectation) upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. – Isaiah 40:31. The word translated renew includes the meaning of changing, as in changing garments. Mount- ing up with wings as eagles provides an encouraging view that those who wait expectantly and eagerly for God shall be changed by the waiting into a new creature which is able to rise above their earthly struggles – closer to God. In much of the New Testament where scriptures refer to hope, they are referring to the hope (confident expectation) of the return of Jesus and the resurrection to eternal life. Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness; in hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised before the ages began. – Titus 1:1-2 (see also Titus 3:5-8). Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation Step Eight – Wait Actively and Expectantly 131

[second coming] of Jesus Christ; – 1 Peter 1:13. But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them who are asleep, that you sorrow not, even as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also who sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. – 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14. This expectation of future glory is what we focus on to help keep our present situation, whatever it might be, in perspective. Even if everything seems so dark for you that you can’t see any light at the end of the tunnel, you can be conﬁdent that the tunnel does have an end where you will emerge into the light of His glory. Nothing on earth can compare to that. All we need to do is actively wait – keep doing what we know to do, and feel our way forward one step at a time – knowing that He walks before us, and beside us, and behind us to complete His purpose in our lives.

Most journeys include occasional stumbles, grazed knees, and weariness; overcoming long-term issues of the Soul is no different. In fact, every failure is an opportunity to identify what contributed to the fall so that lifestyle and thinking can be adapted to avoid the problematic circumstances. When we fall, the Lord lifts us up. When we make a mistake, He does not abandon us. The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delights in his way. Though he falls, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholds him with his hand. – Psalm 37:23-24. In other words, when we walk righteously such as applying His truths in our lives to overcome the Soul programming of the old nature, God has pleasure in what we are doing and helps us do it. So, even when we stumble seriously, God will save us from complete failure by catching us with His hand and lifting us up again. Ideally, the stumble is an opportunity for us to learn, grow and be strengthened. When a born again person fails to overcome sin, it 132 As Your Soul Prospers

goes strongly against the intent of their righteous Spirit. It is not surprising then to experience a sense of despair at having betrayed Christ by the unrighteous act. Often a Christian grows through stumbling because it increases their resolve to get it right and please the Lord. This can be demonstrated (though somewhat in the extreme) with the martyrdom of Thomas Cranmer (1489-1556). Cranmer was the Archbishop of Canterbury when Henry VIII was king of Eng- land, and was instrumental in the creation of the Protestant Church in England and the country’s rejection of the Roman Catholic teachings and the power of the Pope over the people. When Roman Cath- olic Queen Mary (the original “Bloody Mary”) later took over the throne of England she ordered the death of all Protestant church leaders who did not recant and return to Roman Catholicism. A great many of them refused to deny the truths of scripture in favour of the teachings of the Popes, so were tortured and burned to death. Cranmer, however, after being imprisoned for six years eventually signed a recantation saying he rejected Protestantism and again fully embraced the Roman Catholic teachings and the authority of the Pope. When Cranmer continued to experience the unfailing grace of God, even after such a public rejection of the truth, his betrayal of Christ became increasingly grievous to him. Which is why, at a time Cranmer was to make a speech in support of the Pope of Rome, he used the opportunity to denounce the unscriptural doctrines of the Roman Catholic Church and the Pope. Of course, this crime against the Church of Rome and the Queen of England demanded his death by burning at the stake. As the ﬂames grew and came closer to him, Cranmer reached out his right hand into the ﬁre until it was burned to char, saying over and over as it burned, “This unworthy right hand.” It was the hand with which he signed the recantation. Then, just as Stephen Step Eight – Wait Actively and Expectantly 133

did when he was martyred (Acts 7:54-60), Cranmer looked up to heaven saying, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” (Ref: Foxe’s Book of Martyrs.) Remember that we have a high priest who is personally acquainted with the human condition and with our weaknesses and fears. Anytime we fail in our efforts to overcome He works in us and with us to lift us up and get us back on the path that leads to life.

So whatever the serious long-term issue in your life is which is holding you back and pulling you down, you now have enough of God’s truth to start the journey to freedom – at least three essential pillars and Eight Steps. The following chapters cover different cate- gories of issues in more detail to provide more truths for you to test and apply to the structure of your Soul – so that you might prosper and be in health just as your Soul prospers. 134 As Your Soul Prospers 135

8. The Word of God Overcomes Difﬁculties

The only way people struggling with Soul-based difﬁculties can be set free is with new, reliable and suitable information. The best source of such information is God through the Bible and by the Holy Spirit. The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlight- ening the eyes. – Psalm 19:7-8. And be not conformed to this world: but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. – Romans 12:2. Come unto me, all you that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and you shall ﬁnd rest unto your souls. – Matthew 11:28-29. Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge (Greek: epignosis) of God, and of Jesus our Lord, according as his divine power has given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge (epignosis) of him who has called us to glory and virtue; by which are given unto us exceedingly great and precious promises; that by these you might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. And for this reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge (Greek: gnosis); and to knowledge (gnosis) self control; and to self control patience; and to patience godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness love. – 2 Peter 1:2-7. 136 As Your Soul Prospers

In that last passage, we see two types of knowledge. The ﬁrst is that which God provides – epignosis (ep-ig-no-sis) – knowledge which comes upon, such as awareness of something related to us. It is by this type of knowledge given to us by God that we are born again. By responding in faith to that knowledge, our Spirit nature is changed. The second type of knowledge is that which we acquire through our efforts, thoughts and reasoning – gnosis (gno-sis) – knowledge which can be applied, such as doctrine and wisdom – so that we can grow in and hold onto our faith and help others also to learn.

In the following chapters we look at scriptures as they relate to various areas of difficulty. The verses and passages are meant as a sampling to provide a general overview of what God says regarding the issues. To overcome the difficulties you will need to check the scriptures in context, and add your own to the list, then meditate on them day and night. One of the best ways to overcome a serious long-term false truth is to read through the Bible at least once, taking note of everything you find that God says on the subject. If you feel daunted by the size of the Bible, start with the New Testament and be sure your understand that it is not a race or a competition, and you will not be graded on what you remember or understand. It took you a long time to fully develop your problem from the false truths that hold it up; it is reasonable then to accept that it is going to take some time to replace them with new truths. So don’t be concerned if some things don’t make sense to you; just focus on what is obvious. As you learn new things, the parts you didn’t understand at first will gradually become clear. Hopefully, you will be able to find a mature believer strong in the word to help you with the construction work. The Word of God Overcomes Difficulties 137

Remember too; a scripture is not a magic spell which, if said often enough, will solve problems. Nevertheless, when we read scripture, God has an opportunity to speak to us through it showing us truths upon which we can rely and build – this is the first aspect of faith. Faith does not happen just by reading scripture, but by God using it to show us a truth. When you are reading the Bible, and something “jumps out” at you, it could be because it is confirming a witness by the Holy Spirit about a truth. So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. – Romans 10:17. A very well known Bible verse is Psalm 119:105 – Your word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. Word can mean anything spoken by God, but here it most likely refers to the Ten Command- ments and the statutes and precepts of the law of Moses. (Proverbs 6:23 tells us, For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life.) Lamp refers to where we are putting our feet – what to do and how to behave in the current place and time we find ourselves. The word of God keeps His people from stumbling over obstacles and into pits or sewers. Light refers to the general direction we are each headed, keeping us from going down wrong roads. It can also refer to a star or the dawning sun, or a light- house – providing a bright light directing us and helping keep us going the right way. In this dark world where there are many hidden dangers lying in wait to harm us, both lamp and light are essential for our well being. The need for light can apply particularly to times that seem extra dark, in which we are scared, confused, or lost. The good news is that God knows what is in the dark: He reveals the deep and secret things: he knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with him. – Daniel 2:22; If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me.” Even the darkness does not hide from thee; but the night shines as the day; the darkness is as the light. – Psalm 139:11-12. 138 As Your Soul Prospers

Interestingly, Psalm 119:130 says, The entrance of your words gives light; it gives understanding unto the simple. In other words, when a person takes on board the things God says to them through scripture, even the most ignorant and uneducated is able to discern between right and wrong, good and bad. The Hebrew word translated entrance is also translated opening and refers to the explanation of the word. It reminds us of when Jesus taught, “not as the scribes and Pharisees, but as one having authority” – one who spoke with the power and authority of the author (Matthew 7:28-29. Also Mark 1:22.). It also reminds us of when Jesus walked with the two disciples on the road to Emmaus and revealed to them from the Old Testa- ment that the Messiah would come and be sacrificed for sin – “Did not our hearts burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?” (Luke 24:32). A final point to consider here is that a lamp is of no use to a blind man. Hence we must be born again to fully benefit from the word of God which IS Jesus – the way, the truth and the LIGHT. But the natural man receives not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. – 1 Corinthians 2:14.

If you doubt the inspiration and reliability of scripture, you will not be able to help yourself or others. The epistle of James says, If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all men liberally, and reproaches not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavers is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord. A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways. – James 1:5-8. The Bible has proven itself to be the reliable word of God in many ways, including historically, scientiﬁcally, prophetically, and philosophically. When in 1 Peter 3:15 it says, but sanctify the Lord God The Word of God Overcomes Difﬁculties 139

in your hearts, and be ready always to respond to every man that asks you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and reverence, the Greek word translated respond is apologia (ap-ol-og-ee-ah) which refers to intelligent reasoning – a defence based upon compelling proof. Obviously then, there is compelling proof that Christianity and the Bible are true, and it is something all God’s people can discover and comprehend. [It is not within the scope of this book to provide the evidence for the reliability of scripture as being inspired by God, but if you want to learn more about it, some trustworthy online sources (at the time of publication) for helping you test and prove for yourself the reliability of the Bible are: apologeticspress.org; carm.org; creation.com; and answersingenesis.org. An extensive online library of resources for Bible study is biblehub.com. A book highly recommended is The New Evidence that Demands a Verdict by Josh McDowell.]

Information provided in the following chapters for the various issues is in support of the Eight Steps, not instead of. Because many of the scriptures cover multiple issues, it is deﬁnitely worth your while reading all the following information so that you might encounter verses God uses to speak to you. Always remember, the purpose of scripture is not for you to bludgeon someone with it to make them do what you want, but for you to use as a mirror to see what you need to know so that you can grow and prosper. 140 As Your Soul Prospers 141

9. Relationship Problems

SEX AND MARRIAGE A large number of relationship problems are the direct result of sex outside of marriage. Though in direct opposition to what is pro- moted in society, God is quite clear what He says about it, and He says it for our benefit because He loves us. Abstaining from sex before marriage is for our benefit because only in the security of the marriage covenant can people work through the issues which will be raised by this level of intimacy. Without a biblical marriage between God-focussed people, the two main carnal attributes of pride and selfishness will wreak havoc. The relationship in the Bible which most closely reflects “living together” is a man and a concubine. A concubine is a second class “wife”, often a slave used for the sake of sex without commit- ment. A concubine does not generally have the benefits, entitlements, and status of a wife, and can be easily gotten rid of when it suits the man. In the New Testament, engaging in sex of any type out of marriage is called fornication. This is because the purpose of a godly marriage is that it is a covenant between the man and the woman with God as the witness. The idea of covenant in the Bible is an unbreakable contract – if you break this, you should die. That’s why many legally binding contracts have a red seal on them – it repre- sents a blood covenant. When you sign a contract, you affirm that the consequence of you breaking it is that you should die. It is God’s role in the marriage covenant to keep people true to their oath. The traditional Church of England marriage service includes in the Preface, “No one should enter into it [marriage] 142 As Your Soul Prospers

lightly or selfishly but reverently and responsibly in the sight of almighty God...” It ends with, “We pray with them [the husband and wife] that the Holy Spirit will guide and strengthen them, that they may fulfil God’s purposes for the whole of their earthly life together.” Though we do see God making allowance for divorce in the Old Testament, Jesus explained that God only provided it because of the hardness of people’s heart (Matthew 19:8, Mark 10:5). In the New Testament, a genuine Christian is supposed to have a soft heart full of love for others – exemplified in their marriage. The provision of divorce in the New Testament is if the other person is a nonbeliever and leaves, in such a case the Christian can remarry. Otherwise, the standard is that if a Christian divorces, it should be on the terms that they do not remarry. The probable reason for this in the New Testament is that people were using divorce as a way of legalising their desire to have sex with other women. Men would trade one woman for a newer model. It is obvious, then, divorce should find no place in the church. Marriage is a “type and shadow” of Christ and the church – the oneness and unity between Jesus and His bride. God will never break a covenant or His word; divorce is therefore in direct opposition to the Spirit nature of all born again believers. In the Old Testament, there are many cases where the leaders of God’s people have more than one wife, or concubines as well as wives (which God neither condemns or condones), but in the New Testament the standard of leadership in the Church (those who are to be an example of Christ) is that they be “husband of one wife” (Titus 1:6, 1 Timothy 3:2). Any Christian engaging in any form of sexual immorality is in direct opposition to the will and nature of God. And because most people know they are wrong to do it, they are willfully setting them- Relationship Problems 143

selves up above God and against Him. If you are in a sexual relationship outside of marriage, you and the person you are with are in self-willed opposition to God. How can you, therefore, expect to benefit from a genuinely loving relationship? What hope is there of a genuinely loving relationship when each person in it is focussed on their own desires above all else, including God and the other person? This does not mean that people in godless marriages cannot have good relationships based on shared goals and mutual respect, it just sheds light on what might be behind the relationship problems you are having. All marriage relationships in the body of Christ should bring glory to God and shine a light in a dark world. The issue about governments redefining “marriage” so that anyone can marry whomever or whatever they like, is not as great an issue as why Christian marriages are not so exemplary that the world wants to know why they work. They work best when both the man and the woman are primarily focussed on submitting to the will of God and His word, and on being transformed into His image. The primary cause of problems in marriages and most other relationships is pride and selfishness. Once these are addressed through growing into the image of Christ as a common goal, the relationship can’t help but be improved.

What God says about Sex and Marriage Proverbs 5:15-19 – Drink waters out of your own cistern, and running waters out of your own well. Should your fountains be dispersed abroad, and rivers of waters in the streets? Let them be only for your own, and not for strangers with you. Let your fountain be blessed: and rejoice with the wife of your youth. Let her be as the loving deer and graceful doe; let her breasts satisfy you at all times; and be ravished always with her love. 144 As Your Soul Prospers

Malachi 2:16 – For the LORD, the God of Israel, says that he hates putting away (divorce). For one covers violence with his garment, says the LORD of hosts: therefore take heed to your spirit, that you deal not treacherously. First, note here that God hates divorce. Divorce goes against His directive for marriage “What therefore God has joined together, let not man put asunder” (Matthew 19:6, Mark 10:9). The second thing to note here is that the most likely interpretation of one covers violence with his garment is: by divorcing your spouse you show that you are a violent/hateful person, especially if you are doing so to pursue an ungodly union. Another view of this phrase is that “hating” your wife will bring trouble into your life. Both are true. Proverbs 6:32-35 (Wisdom concerning adultery.) Matthew 5:28 – But I say unto you, that whosoever looks on a woman to lust after her has committed adultery with her already in his heart. (This would include engaging in pornography.) Mark 7:21-23 – For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, licentiousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and deﬁle the man. Fornications is translated from the Greek word porneia (por-ni-ah) and refers to any sexual activity outside of marriage, hence it is also translated sexual immorality. Licentiousness refers to the wanton abandonment of restraint and any uncontrolled lust which is outrageous to public decency. The Greek word is also translated debauchery, sensuality, lewdness and ﬁlth. Mark 10:1-12 (Jesus teaching on divorce.) 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 – Know you not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor Relationship Problems 145

adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. 1 Corinthians 6:18-20 – Flee fornication. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he that commits fornication sins against his own body. What? Know you not that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have of God, and you are not your own? For you are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s. 1 Corinthians 7:1-16 (Paul’s teaching on marriage and divorce.) 2 Corinthians 12:21 – ...I shall mourn over many who have sinned already, and have not repented of the uncleanness and fornication and licentiousness which they have committed. Galatians 5:19 – Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; adultery, fornication, impurity, licentiousness. Ephesians 5:1-3 – Be you therefore followers of God, as dear children; and walk in love, as Christ also has loved us, and has given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling fragrance. But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becomes saints. [A saint is anyone set apart for the sole use of God. The word is closely akin to sanctification and holiness.] Ephesians 5:5 – For this you know, that no fornicator, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Ephesians 5:33 – Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she respect her husband. Titus 2:3-5 – Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips, nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good, that 146 As Your Soul Prospers

they may teach the young women to be sensible, to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed. (According to this passage, women do not instinctively love their husbands and children – they can be taught how.) Colossians 3:5 – Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection (strong feelings or lusts not guided by God, depraved passion, lust), evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 1 Thessalonians 4:3-5 – For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that you should abstain from fornication: that every one of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor; not in the lust of passion, even as the Gentiles who know not God. Hebrews 13:4 – Let marriage be held in honor by all, and the bed undefiled: but fornicators and adulterers God will judge. Revelation 22:14-15 – Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. For outside are dogs, and sorcerers, and fornicators, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loves and makes a lie.

Note that loving one another is not effortless; like everything godly in Christianity, love takes effort. And loving your spouse is not dependent on how they treat you. God doesn’t tell husbands to love their wives only if their wives respect them; the command is to love your wife. And God doesn’t tell wives to only obey (submit to) their husbands if their husband loves them like Christ loved the church; the command is to obey (submit). If you have troubles in your marriage, but you struggle with those biblical truths, it could be an area about which you need to acquire more truth. Relationship Problems 147

LYING Another leading cause of relationship problems is the inability for people to be truly honest with each other without being nasty or taking offence. This means that relationships are founded on either telling lies one thinks will be accepted as truth, or not saying anything about important issues. Either approach will end in conﬂict. A person unwilling to tell the truth needs to go back to the Eight Steps where Step Two discusses the sin of hypocrisy (being different on the outside than on the inside). Of course, it takes a lot of practice to only speak the truth in love and to accept that it’s not the role or responsibility of your partner to always agree with you and tell you what you want to hear but to tell the truth so that your relationship can have a solid foundation. On the journey to truth you’ll learn to not ask a question if you don’t want the truth, and to not punish the person for telling you a truth that you don’t want to hear. Lying is more than a problem in relationships, at its core is a self-focused, egomaniacal carnal nature which uses lying to manipulate, cheat, cowardly avoid consequences, and steal. There would be few wicked behaviours that do not involve the dark art of lying. Because lying is a fruit of a carnal Spirit, when used by God’s people it dishonours and blasphemes Christ and His body.

What God says about Lying Proverbs 12:22 – Lying lips are abomination to the LORD: but they that deal truly are his delight. Proverbs 17:7 – Excellent speech becomes not a fool: much less do lying lips a prince. Psalm 5:5-6 – The foolish shall not stand in your sight: you hate all workers of iniquity. You shall destroy them that speak falsehood: the LORD will 148 As Your Soul Prospers

abhor the bloody and deceitful man. Psalm 52:1-7 (What God will do to Doeg the lying and deceitful Edomite.) Psalm 120:2 – Deliver my soul, O LORD, from lying lips, and from a deceitful tongue. (Includes false accusers and slanderers.) Proverbs 6:16-19 – These six things does the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: a proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked imaginations, feet that are swift in running to evil, a false witness that speaks lies, and he that sows discord among brethren. James 3:6 – And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell. 1 Peter 3:10 – For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile. Revelation 21:7-8 – He that overcomes shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and fornicators, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. [“Liar, liar, pants on fire!”] Revelation 22:14-15 (Those who practice falsehood cannot enter the Holy City of God where God abides. In other words, liars cannot come into the presence of God.)

ANGER Violent, angry and aggressive people are bullies using their power to dominate others and to seek their own selﬁsh will – the epitome of the fallen nature. Relationship Problems 149

What God says about Anger James 1:19-20 – Therefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger: for the anger of man works not the righteousness of God. Titus 1:7-8 – For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not self-willed, not soon angry, not given to wine, not violent, not given to dishonest gain; but a lover of hospitality, a lover of good, sensible, just, holy, temperate. Ephesians 4:26 – Be angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath. (This emphasises that it is possible for anyone who gets angry, to control the anger so that it does not turn unloving. Anger has its place when used as a tool to highlight the seriousness of the situation, yet it should never be an emotion used to selﬁshly manipulate.) Ephesians 4:30-32 – And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, by whom you are sealed unto the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: and be you kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake has forgiven you. (Note that we CAN put anger etc. away from us. You are not powerless to overcome your bad temper. See also Colossians 3:7-8.) Psalm 7:11 – God judges the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day. Psalm 37:8-9 – Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not yourself in any way to do evil. For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth. (Anger leads to evil doings.) Proverbs 3:31-33 – Envy you not the oppressor (violent), and choose none of his ways. For the perverse is abomination to the LORD: but his secret is with the righteous. The curse of the LORD is in the house of the wicked: but he blesses the habitation of the just. 150 As Your Soul Prospers

Proverbs 12:16, 14:29, 15:18; 16:32, 22:24; 29:22 (More Proverbs about anger.) Ecclesiastes 7:9 – Be not hasty in your spirit to be angry: for anger rests in the bosom of fools. 1 Peter 3:8-9 – Finally, be all of one mind, having compassion one with another, love as brethren, be tender hearted, be courteous: not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but on the contrary blessing; knowing that you are unto this called, that you should inherit a blessing. Matthew 5:21-22 – You have heard that it was said by them of old time, You shall not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment. But I say unto you, that whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, You fool, shall be in danger of hell ﬁre. (When the purpose of anger is to dominate or destroy anyone seen as opposition, it is no less evil than premedi- tated murder which is used for the exact same reason.) 151

10. Sexual Problems

PORNOGRAPHY The English word pornography comes from the Greek porneia (por-ni- ah) which often appears in the Greek New Testament and is usually translated as sexually immoral or fornication. The problem with pornography is that at its core it’s self- gratification – particularly the beast nature of man seeking to fulfil itself with pleasure through the senses of the flesh. Pornography is no different in the eyes of God than adultery, fornication and any other form of sexual immorality.

What God says about Pornography 1 John 2:16 – For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. Romans 13:14 – But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof. 1 Peter 2:11 – Dearly beloved, I beseech you as aliens (foreigners) and exiles, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; having your conduct honest (honorable) among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation. Galatians 5:16-17 – This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that you cannot do the things that you would. Galatians 5:24 – And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. 152 As Your Soul Prospers

1 Corinthians 6:13 – Foods for the belly, and the belly for foods: but God shall destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body. Matthew 5:28-29 – But I say unto you, that whosoever looks on a woman to lust after her has committed adultery with her already in his heart. And if your right eye causes you to offend, pluck it out, and cast it from you: for it is better for you that one of your members should perish, and not that your whole body should be cast into hell. (This does not mean that if you have been looking at pornography, you should pluck out your eyes. Keep your eyes. The use of hyperbole here emphasises the dangers of feeding one’s lust; the consequences of which are much worse than losing an eye. One way for people in our day to “pluck out their eye” is to put family ﬁlters on internet devices. Another sensible move is to always have your computer facing the room so anyone can see what you are looking at.) Titus 2:11-13 – For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live sensibly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ. Proverbs 5:1-23 (The pitfalls of immorality. The woman you are looking at on screen is the adulteress luring you to your destruction. And you women in the church who dress provocatively showing off your body and assets, are you not just like the immoral woman?) Also Proverbs 7:1-27.

HOMOSEXUALITY While we are on the topic of appropriate and inappropriate sex, we might as well touch on the homosexual debate. Sexual Problems 153

Scripture clearly teaches that the only acceptable form of sexual expression in the eyes of God is a man and a woman in marriage. Many professing Christians, however, try to distort or dismiss those scriptures as being irrelevant in the modern world. One of the main argument used to solicit support for homosexuality is that people are born gay or straight (or any other way). The truth though is that there is no gay gene. The complete human genome has been mapped, and there is no gene that makes a person gay or straight, (or ﬂuid or anything else). There are currently many godly resources available on the internet refuting the “born gay” argument and the ﬂawed “science” cited to support it. For example, if people were born with an attraction to the same sex, why do identi- cal twins not share the same desire? And, why, if it is genetic, do some people stop being gay? But, even if there was a DNA or brain issue related to homosexuality, it does not make the behaviour legitimate. If people were predisposed to paedophilia, would that make it right? If they were predisposed to murder, would that make it right? What about being predisposed to unfaithfulness, or lying, or animal cruelty, or bestiality or anything else, would that make it right? Of course not. No matter how it manifests, all humanity is predisposed to sin. Making any sin legal in a society does not make it acceptable to God.

What God says about Homosexuality Remember that the point of scripture is to reveal the will and nature of God. God is not trying to ruin your life on earth by telling you that certain behaviours are wrong, He is warning you and showing you a way to have eternal life the other side of the grave. If you don’t like what God says about certain sins, or you think He is unjust, that is a clear warning you are setting yourself up as being superior to God – which is characteristic of a fallen nature rather than a godly one. If 154 As Your Soul Prospers

so, return to Step One – Ensure you are born again. Leviticus 18:22-23 – You shall not lie with a man, as with a woman: it is abomination. Neither shall you lie with any animal to defile yourself with it: neither shall any woman stand before an animal to lie down with it: it is perversion. (The word translated perversion refers to confusion and violation of the natural or divine order.) Leviticus 20:13 – If a man also lies with a man, as he lies with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them. (Read in context for other sexual sins.) Romans 1:26-27 (God’s wrath against unnatural sexual sin. Read in context from verse 18.) 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 – Know you not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate (men who take on the role of women during sex), nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but you are washed, but you are sanctified, but you are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. Homosexuality is no more permanent than other unrighteous behaviours. Abusers of themselves with mankind is translated from the Greek arsenokoites (ar-sen-ok-oy-tace) which literally means bedding men, i.e. homosexuality and sodomy. 1 Timothy 1:9-10 (Paul lists examples of what constitutes unrighteousness. He does this to make the point that the purpose of the law of Moses and God, in general, is to emphasise what is sinful and to warn the willingly unrighteous of the consequences of sin. The purpose of the Gospel is to free people from the “law of sin and death” by changing their nature to one of righteousness.) Sexual Problems 155

Titus 3:3-5 – For we ourselves also were once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. But after the kindness and love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Spirit. Matthew 19:3-12 (Jesus teaching about marriage being between man and woman, divorce, and chastity.) Jude 1:7-8 – Even as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after unnatural lust, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire. Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise authority, and speak evil of the glorious ones. Deuteronomy 23:18 – You shall not bring the wages of a harlot, or the price of a dog, into the house of the LORD your God for any vow: for even both of these are an abomination unto the LORD your God. When the Bible refers to “dog”, it can relate to male prostitutes engaging in sodomy. Dogs were generally despised in the east (as they are today) because they were unclean animals and scavengers. Hence it became a term used to describe what is unclean and unholy, including Gentiles (Matthew 15:26), and homosexuals. Revelation 22:15 – For outside [of the city of God] are dogs, and sorcerers, and fornicators, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loves and makes a lie. They are not able to enter.

Note that homosexuality is no greater or lesser sin than other sexual sin. All sexual sin is rooted in a sinful nature which opposes the natural and divine order of things. Remember as before, the purpose of these scriptures is not to beat people over the head to force compliance to rules but to reveal 156 As Your Soul Prospers

God’s will and perspective regarding the issue. If you reject the word of God because you want to express your sin nature, that will be between you and God on Judgement Day. But if you are born again and want to understand and overcome this issue, God has given you the scriptures, the Holy Spirit, and mature Christians to speak the truth to you in love and to walk with you on the journey of transformation. If you are struggling with the issue of homosexuality or any other “unnatural” form of sexual desire, be sure to work through the Eight Steps, particularly Step Five to ﬁnd out how it started. Studies in this area reveal contributing factors which lead to the “imprint- ing” of homosexual tendencies. These factors include being in a home where men are denigrated, the mother is overbearing, the father is absent physically or emotionally, where there are no godly male role models, where grooming by homosexuals occurred at an early age, and where there was confused admiration of strong male- ness during adolescent sexual development. During puberty, boys who identify as girls become attracted to what they see as the opposite sex. The same applies with girls who grew up identifying as boys. The point is that there is a signiﬁcant amount of information available to prove that people are not born homosexual. Contrary to the desires and programming of many unrighteous people in society, the word of God is true and reliable, and you can overcome ungodly behaviours that stem from a fallen nature, false teaching, and worldly indoctrination.

GENDER CONFUSION It is a scientiﬁc fact that there are only two genders. These are determined by the presence or not of a y chromosome. So if anyone who is Sexual Problems 157

a biological male feels like a female, it is not a biological issue but a psychological one. For a start, how can a biological male know what it feels like to be a woman? They can’t, just like they can’t know what it feels like to be a six-year-old girl, or a dragon, or a cat, or an alien from another planet. Logically, all they can actually feel is what they “believe” it feels like. [If you think it is possible that you or anyone might be an alien from a distant planet, or could have been abducted by one, you should read the book Alien Intrusion by Gary Bates.] The biblical reality is “God made them male and female” (Mat- thew 19:4, Mark 10:6, Genesis 5:2). Anything else is an issue of the Soul in response to the environment they grew up in and the core nature of the person. Though saying such things in some societies is attacked as “hate speech”, and is being censored in public forums and on the internet, the truth of God is always more reliable than personal truths. The danger of society encouraging anyone to embrace whatever they feel they are, contrary to reality, is that more people are replacing a functional reality with one that provides empty promises of acceptance. The suicide rate among transgender people in countries where it is supported, and in countries where it is not supported, is the same. Therefore, encouraging these people in their false truth will at best only temporarily mask the real problem. If you are a Christian who wants to overcome this issue, it is important to go through the Eight Steps – particularly trying to find out where it started. There are also organisations run by ex- transgender people exposing the lies of the culture and helping people escape it and find more fulfilling lives. In our fallen society where men are increasingly ungodly and women increasingly hateful of men, boys grow up believing that they would benefit more from being a girl than a boy. [For extensive resources and help on this subject see 158 As Your Soul Prospers

SexChangeRegret.com and Walt Heyer Ministries (WaltHeyer.com) who is a former transgender.]

What God says about Gender Confusion Deuteronomy 22:5 – The woman shall not wear that which pertains unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman’s garment: for all that do so are an abomination unto the LORD your God. The essence of this verse is that men should be manly and women womanly. Unfortunately, in the fight for women’s rights, feminists have confused equal with same. Women and men have always been equal in the eyes of God, but different. In Christ, there is no male or female (Galatians 3:28) even though there are still specific roles and functions and order. God the Father is head of Christ, Christ is head of the Christian man, the Christian man is head of the Christian woman (Ephesians 5:23, 1 Corinthians 11:3), the Christian woman is head of her children and household (Titus 2:3-5). Headship refers to leadership and direction, such as when the head of the body directs the body. Whether or not you like the biblical approach to the difference between the sexes, it is God’s view. So, instead of trying to distort the verses you don’t like, find everything God has to say in the Bible about the roles of men and women among His people, then seek to act accordingly. You will probably come to the understanding that God made men and women equal, but different. Proverbs 31:10-31 (Description of the ultimate godly wife i.e., godly women are strong and capable.) 1 Corinthians 11:3-16 (Paul makes distinctions between men and women.) 1 Corinthians 6:9 – Know you not that the unrighteous shall not inherit Sexual Problems 159

the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind. Effeminate here comes from a Greek word meaning to be soft or delicate – like a woman, rather than like a man.

For other mental health issues, see the next chapter – Psychological Problems. 160 As Your Soul Prospers 161

11. Psychological Problems

Part of the problem with any mental health diagnosis is being labelled with a false truth. Typically, a person feeling confused about their thought process goes to a psychiatrist who asks them questions and then issues a diagnosis – labelling them with one or more of over 200 disorders – and usually prescribing pharmaceuticals claimed to help them. Though, because of the harm done by many drugs used to “treat” mental disorders, some psychiatrists are using psychother- apy instead of drugs for minor cases, the point is that the patient is labelled with a false truth arrived at by consensus among leading psychiatrists.

Brains damaged by drugs, chemicals or physical trauma can also contribute to mental illness because the function and reasoning of the brain provide the Soul with faulty information which it uses to make programming choices. As with everyone, a change in the Spirit nature of the person with a damaged brain will affect how the Soul processes information, but without a physical healing miracle as well, the Soul could still develop programmes based on misunderstood information.

Contrary to the claims of mainstream medicine, people can be inﬂu- enced and even possessed by demons. And contrary to the beliefs of some Christians, not every psychological problem is demonic in nature. Even if people are inﬂuenced by demons, it is usually because the person already had a problem which the demon found useful in expressing itself. So even in the unlikely event the problem 162 As Your Soul Prospers

is magnified by an evil spirit, the problem had an earlier cause which was instituted by the Soul to benefit the person. If there is an evil spirit involved in the mental illness, the best place to start is the Eight Steps. Being sure the person is born again and has repented of sin will ensure the problem isn’t demonic in nature. (See Luke 8:27-35. Verse 35: Then they went out to see what was done; and came to Jesus, and found the man, out of whom the demons were departed, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid.) Any person who is born again and has turned from sin to God can be confident that not even the devil himself can exert any control over them if they do not want him to. By going back to when it began, a person who “hears voices” might recall that at the time the voices started they were going through a very difficult time in their life, probably feeling they had no support. Possibly the disorder appeared along with the use of particular drugs which shut off aspects of the brain which led to their Soul programming behaviours based on faulty information. It is possible the Soul provided the voices in the Mind to help meet the person’s needs. Even people who regress into a catatonic state might do so because in some way their Soul believes it is beneficial. Likewise, the full-grown man who claims he is a six-year-old girl has a psychological “disorder” initiated by the Soul which identified an opportunity in a society that gives favourable treatment to aberrant behaviours. The same applies to the person who believes they are a cat or a dragon or were born into the wrong gender body. When a person with a psychological disorder identifies the real cause and receives biblical truths that God is a better option than the disorder, the disorder may progressively deteriorate or become less dominant. As with addictions, a person wanting to overcome psychological problems would be wise to seek help from qualified and experi- Psychological Problems 163

enced people who are prepared to treat them individually, not just according to a one-ﬁts-all diagnostic tool and a pharmaceutical protocol.

DEPRESSION It is natural for everyone to experience a range of emotions, and periods of confused and conflicting thoughts, so we must be careful to not go along with the media-driven view that when we suffer such things we have depression. Read through Psalms and you will see David often moves from utter despair to exalted joy. Neverthe- less, when we spend too much time in a negative state – a state of despair – we certainly might go into depression. If we then go to the doctor, we will typically be prescribed antidepressant drugs, which seem to work for a short time, and are then boosted or changed to help us stay on top of the depression. This continues with a variety of drugs in an attempt to find new temporary fixes. Nevertheless, because the problem is in the Soul, it seems to get progressively worse rather than better. To help us see this in perspective, depression might be better described as “long-term unresolved pressure or grief over a significant loss or a sense of hopelessness”. It is commonly associated with regret and unforgiveness – neither of which can be satisfactorily fixed with drugs. Psalm 42:5 – Why art thou cast down (in despair), O my soul? And why art thou disquieted (murmuring discouragement) against me? Wait thou for God, for I shall yet praise him for the wellbeing of his presence.

If you have worked through the Eight Steps and still ﬁnd no solution for depression, read Psalm 71 over and over. In it, David explains what he has done in the past and will continue to do when he is 164 As Your Soul Prospers

overwhelmed by life and circumstances: hope in the Lord, declare the greatness of God, and praise Him continually. The word translated praise a number of times in this Psalm refers to singing loudly and boldly the praiseworthy things of God. Also note, that in a number of places in this Psalm David refers to declaring the glories of God. Could it be that in telling people about God and the Gospel we can escape from our personal problems?

One disturbing outcome of unresolved depression is suicide. Because everyone has different Soul truths, they also have different reasons for killing themselves. It might be because they believe the grief is no longer bearable, or there is an overwhelming fear of future suffering, or the intent might even be to punish someone. Whatever the reason, it is always because the Soul has determined it will provide a beneﬁt greater than staying alive. Christian tradition says that suicide is murder, so killing yourself would result in an eternity in hell. Though this may have pre- vented some people killing themselves, it is not biblical. Jesus said that murder is rooted in the use of anger to dominate others (Mat- thew 5:21-22). In 1 John 3:15 we are told, Whosoever hates (detests, loves less) his brother is a murderer: and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. People who kill themselves, especially Christians, do not usually do it because they genuinely hate themselves or are unrighteously angry with themselves. That would be contrary to the function of the Soul. The Ten Commandments does not say, “Though shall not kill”, more correctly it says “Thou shall not murder” (Exodus 20:13). Murder is the wanton taking of life, usually premed- itated, based on the will of the person to operate in the place of God. (Only God has the right to take life since all living belongs to Him.) Some Christians kill themselves because they are conﬁdent Psychological Problems 165

they will escape the hardship of living, and wake in the peace of heaven. This is problematic because the Christian has the Holy Spirit who always moves to help the Christian to maturity in Christ, to bring glory to Him, and draw others to Him. Suicide achieves none of these. If you are a Christian struggling with suicidal thoughts, you already know the answer does not lie down that road. And if you have read this far and worked through the Eight Steps you would already have identified the validity of suicide as a false truth, and identified some godly truths you have started testing. One verse God has used to help some combat the relentless draw to self-destruction is, But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. – Matthew 24:13. The Greek word translated endure in this verse means to remain standing under the load, waiting for and trusting in the power of God. Our salvation is fulfilled only if we endure to the end. This doesn’t mean that people who kill themselves lose their salvation. The emphasis is more on God’s intent for us – that we endure hardship even if we can’t see a purpose or hope in it. Our Christian duty is to be a good soldier standing and fighting for our Lord until He calls us out of the line to come home, where we all hope to be greeted with the words, “Well done good and faithful servant.” Another verse sometimes used to try and stop Christians committing suicide is 1 Corinthians 3:16-17 (NASB) – Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If any man destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him, for the temple of God is holy, and that is what you are. The implication is that people who kill themselves will go to hell. This is not what that passage means! First, it goes against every biblical pillar of truth about the nature of God and His relationship 166 As Your Soul Prospers

with His people. Second, it is clearly not what that passage means when read in context, or in many other translations. Any Christian who genuinely believes God will condemn one of His children to hell because they could see no other way of overcoming the unbear- able hardship they were going through, is either extremely immature and badly misinformed, or lacking any understanding of the loving kindness and tender mercies of God, to the point that they might need to question whether they are born again. Paul is making the point that if anyone comes into the church to destroy it in any way with false doctrine or causing division, God will destroy them (see also 2 Peter 2:1).

ANXIETY Be anxious for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. – Philippians 4:6-7. We are told not to be overly anxious about anything. The Greek word translated anxious here means to fall to pieces or be torn in different directions, and thereby being distracted from the job at hand. Jesus is making the same point in Matthew 6:34 (NASB) when He says, “So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” The scripture from Philippians 4:6-7 makes it clear that it is within our ability to control our anxiety by bringing our focus back to one thing – God and His involvement in our lives. We do this by identifying what we are distracted by and letting God know what is going on which concerns us and what we would like to happen, or for Him to help with. Simply by focussing on Him, anxiety dissipates as His peace comes upon us to protect us from ourselves. The Greek Psychological Problems 167

word translated peace relates to wholeness or being joined or united. What an inspired choice of words – when we are falling to pieces, by bringing our focus on Him, He joins us together again. All the king’s horses and all the king’s men couldn’t put Humpty together again – but the King can. Note too that anxiety is not a bad thing. Anxiety can make us more alert to what’s going on around us. The problem is being OVERLY anxious – having more than we can handle. But the solution is simple, rolling upon God our concerns and worries, and trusting in Him to do what is best for us. 1 Peter 5:7 – Casting all your care upon him; for he cares for you. (Also Psalm 55:22.) God wants us to bring our problems to Him. He is wanting and waiting to help us. The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry for help (prayer). – Psalm 34:15 (quoted in 1 Peter 3:12). The righteous cry, and the LORD hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles. The LORD is near unto them that are of a broken heart; and saves such as be of a contrite spirit. – Psalm 34:17-18. And David was greatly distressed; for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David strengthened (encouraged) himself in the LORD his God. – 1 Samuel 30:6. David, a man after God’s own heart (Acts 13:22, 1 Samuel 13:14), endured distress repeatedly throughout his life. In this situation, he and all his men had gone off to join a battle, and had come back to the town of Ziklag where they were living to ﬁnd it had been raided, set on ﬁre, and all their possessions and families had been taken. So not only did David have to deal with the loss of his two wives and all he owned, but also that his men wanted to kill him. This verse tells us that David was greatly distressed. The Hebrew word translated distressed means to be tied up, restricted, or cramped, and comes from the idea of being besieged and oppressed 168 As Your Soul Prospers

on every side by one’s enemies with no chance of escape – something akin to anxiety, wouldn’t you say? David’s response to the great distress was to strengthen himself in the LORD his God. The Hebrew word translated strengthen refers to being made firm or strong or hardened. But note how David strengthened himself. It wasn’t by pumping himself up, but by encouraging himself in the LORD his God. He sought guidance and counsel from the Supreme Being he served – he prayed. He then trusted in HIS God – not just a nebulous God of the universe, or the God of Israel who appeared to Moses, but the one with whom he himself had an individual relationship. This is the same with the Christian – though He is God of all, He is also God to each of us personally. David didn’t just pray, he put a great effort into it, and kept at it until he was confident that God would bring light out of his darkness. Note too; God did not fix the problem for David, David had to go and fight. Hence the adage, “God helps those who help themselves”.

So in overcoming any difﬁculty, even anxiety, we have to be valiant to do whatever we need to. Then God can do what only He can do. Psalm 56:3-4 – Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in you. In God, I will praise his word, in God, I have put my trust; I will not fear what ﬂesh can do unto me. Psalm 62:8 – Trust in him at all times; you people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Proverbs 12:25 – Heaviness (anxious care) in the heart of man makes him stoop: but a good word makes him glad. Isaiah 26:3 – You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Psychological Problems 169

you: because he trusts in you. The Hebrew word translated stayed here refers to leaning upon or resting upon that which provides support and sustenance. Mind in the Hebrew refers to purpose or intent, i.e. that which is being framed or formed in the mind or imagination. So, the person whose purpose or intent rests fully on the LORD through trusting in Him will have perfect peace because the LORD keeps (watches over or keeps close to guard and protect) him. Perfect peace in the Hebrew is shalom shalom. When the Bible repeats a word, it does so to emphasise it is to the full. (Verily, verily I say unto you... John 3:5. Woe, woe, woe to the inhabitants of the earth... Revelation 8:13. Holy, Holy, Holy is the LORD of hosts... Isaiah 6:3.) Shalom (shaw-lome) refers to complete welfare in every regard. To understand this further read the whole of Isaiah 25 and 26. We see the same principle in Ephesians 6:10 – Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Our part in the process is to be strong as we trust in Him to do what is best. Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice. – Philippians 4:4. (See also Philippians 3:1, 2 Corinthians 6:10, and 1 Thessalonians 5:16.) Paul never tires of encouraging Christians to rejoice in the Lord always, no matter what terrible things are happening. He is making the point that what we are to do in and out of hard times, is focus on the Lord and His loving, gracious presence in our lives. Rejoicing is the process and outcome of acknowledging the grace of God in our lives. There is no greater relief from the hardships of life than recognising the presence of God. That is why the word translated rejoice in those verses is elsewhere translated farewell – the journey is always made better when you “go with God”. You will show me the path of life: in your presence is fullness of joy; at your right hand there are pleasures forevermore. – Psalm 16:11.

In all the scriptures about overcoming our problems, especially the 170 As Your Soul Prospers

problems that overly occupy our minds and pull us to pieces, a signiﬁcant part of the solution is prayer. Prayer allows for the expression of suppressed issues which are tearing us apart. Ideally, this will bring our attention back where it belongs – our relationship with God and our purpose in Him. 171

12. Chemical Addiction Problems

Most people who drink alcohol, smoke cigarettes, or take drugs, do so for the simple reason they like what it does for them. Not until they want to overcome the problems caused by the addiction more than they want the “good feeling” can they be set free from it. No one will ever get free of a demon they want to keep. If you are a born again believer, you will, by the Holy Spirit, already be coming to the view of God about such things – that such things are generally for those without hope.

What God says about Chemical Addictions These are mostly scriptures about alcohol because the purpose and effect are somewhat the same. (Note that not everything God says about alcohol is negative.) Genesis 14:18 (Melchizedek the priest brought bread and wine to Abraham to celebrate his God-given victory.) Genesis 19:30-38 (Lot’s daughters made him drunk with wine so they could have sex with him.) Exodus 29:39-40 (God commanded the use of wine in sacriﬁces.) Deuteronomy 14:26 (God allows the Israelites to spend their tithe on wine or similar drink so they can celebrate God’s provision.) Isaiah 28:7-8 (The leaders of God’s people should not get drunk.) Hosea 4:11 – Harlotry and wine and new wine take away the heart. (Take away their understanding, rob them of their senses.) Micah 6:15 (God punished Israelites by preventing them drinking wine.) 172 As Your Soul Prospers

Ephesians 5:18 – And be not drunk with wine, in which is excess; but be filled with the [Holy] Spirit. The Greek word translated excess literally means unsavedness, i.e., not saved – being in the same state as when not a Christian. It is also translated reckless indiscretion, debauchery, wild living, and riot. Romans 13:13 – Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in reveling and drunkenness, not in debauchery and wantonness, not in strife and envying. Psalm 104:15 (God provided wine to make the hearts of men glad and happy.) Proverbs 21:17 – He that loves pleasure shall be a poor man: he that loves wine and oil shall not be rich. Proverbs 31:4-5 – It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink: lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted. Proverbs 31:6-7 – Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts. Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more. Proverbs 20:1 – Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise. Proverbs 23:29-30 – Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has conten- tions? Who has babbling? Who has wounds without cause? Who has redness of eyes? They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine. (Be sure to read to verse 35.) Isaiah 5:11 – Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning, that they may follow strong drink; that continue until night, till wine inflames them! Isaiah 5:22 – Woe unto them that are mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to mix strong drink. John 2:3-10 (Jesus turned the water into the best wine.) Chemical Addiction Problems 173

Luke 7:33-34, Matthew 11:18-19 (Jesus drank wine.) Titus 1:7-9, 1 Timothy 3:3 (Leaders in the church should not be “given” to drink alcohol.)

A thorough and objective study of alcohol in the Bible shows that drinking alcohol is not in and of itself sinful. Nevertheless, people who are under the inﬂuence of alcohol or other drugs do often behave sinfully hurting themselves and others. And people who encourage or support others in doing what causes them to stumble are sinning. It is good neither to eat meat, nor to drink wine, nor anything by which your brother stumbles, or is offended, or is made weak. – Romans 14:21. Therefore, if food makes my brother to stumble, I will eat no meat while the world stands, lest I make my brother to stumble. – 1 Corinthians 8:12-13. If you still insist on your right to drink or take drugs, you need to question your motives and therefore the core nature of your heart. Essentially the biblical view of alcohol and drugs is that they are of beneﬁt for those who have no hope, providing them with some temporary relief from the hardness of their life. But those who are born again are not without hope – Christ is our hope, our expectation, our refuge, our salvation. We do not need to use harmful behaviours or substances to distract from life’s problems, but rather be an example of a sure hope for those who can’t handle reality. If you are Christian with an alcohol or drug problem, you already know by the Holy Spirit that it is better to put it out of your life. You also need to remember that you are equipped to stop, and that the Holy Spirit is aiding you in doing so. Maybe you are scared of the physical discomfort of giving up the long-term drug habit, or maybe you have tried but stopped trying because you felt it was too painful. Perhaps you have gone from an illegal drug to a legal one to 174 As Your Soul Prospers

help you quit. If so, you should ask yourself if you really want to quit. Remember Paul said he “buffets” his body to bring it into subjection – to be the master of his ﬂesh (1 Corinthians 9:27). All Christians can do what Paul did because we are all empowered to do so. (Obviously, if you have a serious, long-term addiction you should get help and support in doing this by experienced and quali- ﬁed people.) 175

13. Physical Problems

Even a casual read of the Gospels reveals that God, by His very nature, is a healer. But church history and everyday experience show that even though God can, and still does, heal miraculously He does so according to His will, not our will. Even genuinely righteous believers become ill and die. After Job lost his children, possessions, and his health, and was sitting in ashes scratching at the boils all over his body with broken pottery, and ﬁnding no answer for the cause of his calamities, he declared to his accusing friends, “Though God slays me, yet will I trust (hope in) Him.” (Job 13:15). The truth is that sometimes our only hope of healing is God, but in spite of our pleading and begging and ranting and raving and tantrums, and proclaiming our healing, claiming the promises, quoting scriptures, fasting and praying, giving money to TV Evan- gelists, having hands laid on us, and being anointed with oil, He does not heal us. What do we do then? Because we did not get our way, do we walk away from Him our only hope? If we do, it will show that possibly we are not born again or are still carnal babes in Christ. Both of which are often due to false truths taught by ignorant, deceived or wicked ministers promising that God would make our lives perfectly healthy, happy and wise if we ask Jesus to be part of our life. The false gospel makes God the means to a selﬁsh end, which is why it attracts the world and leads to false converts. A genuine born again believer learns to see God and His glory as the end. When many of the disciples walked away from Jesus because they were offended by what He said, He asked the twelve if they were going to leave too, to which Peter replied, “Lord, to whom shall 176 As Your Soul Prospers

we go? You have the words of eternal life.” (John 6:68). Even if we don’t get healed by God according to our time frame and our goals, where will we go? So if you ﬁnd yourself in that place with a long-term physical hardship for which the medical industry has no cure, your job is to ask, seek and knock until you are strengthened in your Soul to endure for as long as it takes – even if that is until the return of Christ.

What God says about Physical Problems James 5:14-15 – Is any sick among you? Let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: and the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. (Note that some sickness is related to sin.) Mark 2:1-12 (Paralytic healed by Jesus forgiving his sin.) John 5:14 – Afterward Jesus found him in the temple, and said unto him, “Behold, you are made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto you.” Mark 16:17-18 – And these signs shall follow them that believe; in my name shall they cast out demons; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. 1 Corinthians 12:9 (Spiritual gifts in the church includes “gifts of healings”.) Matthew 4:24, Matthew 12:22 (Some sicknesses are due to evil spirits.) Mark 9:25 – When Jesus saw that the people came running together, he rebuked the foul spirit, saying unto him, “You dumb and deaf spirit, I charge you, come out of him, and enter no more into him.” Physical Problems 177

Exodus 15:26 (God’s nature is to heal. To His people He calls Himself Jehovah Rapha – the LORD who heals.) Psalm 103:2-3 – Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his beneﬁts: who forgives all your iniquities; who heals all your diseases. 2 Chronicles 16:12 – And Asa in the thirty and ninth year of his reign was diseased in his feet, until his disease became severe: yet in his disease he sought not to the LORD, but to the physicians. (The word translated physicians is the Hebrew word rapha pronounced raw-faw. Note that the physicians were not like contemporary western doctors. The probable issue is that he did not seek God with all his heart and soul as he had covenanted to do. See 15:12.) Luke 8:43-44 (Woman who had bleeding for 12 years spent all she had on physicians, but the condition only grew worse. She was healed when she touched the edge/corners of Jesus’ robe which were tied according to Numbers 15:38-41 to remind them of the commandments of God. Also, when the corners were tied they each looked like a wing, which reminded them of the verse: But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and you shall go forth, and grow up like calves of the stall. – Malachi 4:2.) 2 Kings 13:14 – Now Elisha had fallen sick of his sickness of which he died. (This is the Elisha who had double the anointing from God that Elijah had, and performed twice as many miracles – including healings.) Genesis 27:1 – And it came to pass, that when Isaac was old, and his eyes were dim, so that he could not see. (Why didn’t God prevent Isaac with whom God had a covenant going blind?) Genesis 48:10 (Isaac’s son Jacob with whom God also had a covenant also lost his sight in his old age.) 178 As Your Soul Prospers

1 Timothy 5:23 (Paul instructed Timothy to drink a little wine because of his stomach problems. Why didn’t Paul pray for his healing and see it?) 2 Timothy 4:20 (Paul left one of his companions Trophimus behind because he was sick.) Philippians 2:25-30 (Epaphroditus, another associate of Paul almost died from an illness. Paul says it was by the mercy of God that he did not die – not because of “Jesus’ stripes” or by claiming “promises of God”. Nevertheless, in Acts 19:11-12 when Paul was in Ephesus, God healed many people through him.) Isaiah 53:5 – But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed (Hebrew rapha). This verse is included here because there is some disagreement about the nature of the healing. When Isaiah 53:5 is read in context with the next verse in Isaiah, and in the light of 1 Peter 2:21-25 it appears to refer to the healing of the relationship with God – to bring the lost sheep back to the shepherd. When it is quoted in Matthew 8:16-17, Matthew is saying that it was fulﬁlled when Jesus healed while on earth. Of course, this does not mean that God does not still heal, He does, but not everyone is physically healed this side of the grave, no matter who prays for them or how many people pray.

According to scripture, God is by nature our healer. Healing is still available in the church, and many people are still being miraculously healed around the world in the name of Jesus. But not everyone is healed. Sometimes the reason is that their illness is self- inﬂicted by unhealthy living – and they know it. Others do not genuinely want to be healed because they get beneﬁts from being ill (e.g., pensions and pity). God’s primary concern in all He does is to Physical Problems 179

bring us and others to Him. Salvation is the ultimate healing because it is eternal. Sometimes God is gloriﬁed in the healing; sometimes He is gloriﬁed in the character development of the person who is suffering. Only God knows why He heals some this side of the grave, and why he doesn’t heal others. 180 As Your Soul Prospers 181

14. Financial Problems

The main reasons for ﬁnancial hardship in most western countries is people spending money they don’t have, living beyond their means, and not being prepared to work. Unfortunately, this is also common in the church where the weaknesses of babes in Christ are compounded by the “prosperity gospel” which says if you tithe (give 10%) and give enough money to the ministry, God will bless you so much that you are the envy of the world. It is not within the scope of this book to discuss the validity of the tithe in the church, but an objective study of scriptures concerning the tithe will reveal that its purpose is not as a means of becoming wealthy. Rather the purpose of the tithe was for the Jews to 1. Provide for the Levites (the tribe of priests) so they could assist God’s people in knowing and growing in Him; 2. Provide for the poor; and 3. Honour God as the Provider of their needs. Though tithing is not prescribed in scripture for Christians, the “spirit” of the tithe is certainly still relevant. The New Testament church is told that everything we have belongs to God, not just a ten percent tithe. Hence we are encouraged to be generous with our ﬁnances to support the ministries which help us and others grow (1 Corinthians 9:3-14; Galatians 6:6), to support the poor and needy (Hebrews 13:16; James 2:15-17; 1 Timothy 5:3-5, 8; 1 John 3:17), and to glorify God as the source of all we have whether it is great or small (1 Thessalonians 5:18; 1 Timothy 6:6-8). There are also many scriptures warning of the dangers of seeking money, for example: Luke 12:15 – And he said unto them, “Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consists not in the abundance of the things which he 182 As Your Soul Prospers

possesses.” 1 Timothy 6:8-10 – And having food and clothing let us be with these things content. But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which plunge men into destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. Ecclesiastes 5:10 – He that loves silver shall not be satisﬁed with silver; nor he that loves abundance, with increase: this is also vanity (emptiness). Matthew 13:22 – He also that received seed among the thorns is he that hears the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful. Proverbs 23:4-6 – Labor not to be rich: cease from your own [carnal] wisdom [regarding wealth]. Will you set your eyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings; they ﬂy away as an eagle toward heaven. Note though that God is not against His people being wealthy. There are many wealthy godly people in the Bible, e.g., Abraham, King Solomon, and Joseph of Arimathea. Jesus had wealthy women supporting His work (Luke 8:3), as did Paul (Romans 16:1-2). What God is against is their money being their idol and their source of glory and hope, because that will keep them out of the kingdom of God (see Matthew 19:24). 1 Timothy 6:17-19 – Charge them that are rich in this present age, that they be not haughty, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy; that they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to share; laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life. Financial Problems 183

Covetousness is arguably the number one cause of financial difficulties in the church. Christians wanting to look successful go into debt to get what they haven’t worked for. Debt in the Old Testament was resolved by slavery – if you couldn’t pay a debt, you had to work it off as a slave. The same applies to debt now – you are enslaved to the person you owe. Every day you go to work to pay the bank what you borrowed plus the interest – you are their slave for as long as you owe the debt. Proverbs 22:7 – The rich rules over the poor, and the bor- rower is servant to the lender. Christians are told to practice being content with what they have and not be greedy for more. Let your conduct be without covetousness (love of money); and be content with such things as you have: for he has said, I will never leave you, nor forsake you (Hebrews 13:5). Therefore, if you have any ministry enticing you to give by promising a great return on the money you “sow”, they are operating in a false doctrine contrary to the true word of God (see 2 Peter 2:1-3). Many Christians who have believed such false teachers have landed themselves in debilitating debt and financial hardship. An overriding principle of God for His people is that everyone works hard to make a living, but if anyone is genuinely lacking their daily bread, God’s people help them out. When we help God’s people who are in need, our hope is that God’s people will help us if we are in need. That is one of the meanings of Cast your bread upon the waters: for you shall find it after many days (Ecclesiastes 11:1).

What God says about Work and Laziness Proverbs 13:11 – Wealth gotten by vanity (i.e. not working for it, e.g. gambling) shall be diminished: but he that gathers by labor shall increase. Proverbs 13:4 – The soul of the sluggard desires, and has nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made rich. 184 As Your Soul Prospers

Proverbs 14:23 – In all labor there is proﬁt: but the talk of the lips leads only to poverty. Proverbs 19:15 – Slothfulness casts into a deep sleep; and an idle soul shall suffer hunger. Proverbs 20:13 – Love not sleep, lest you come to poverty; open your eyes, and you shall be satisﬁed with bread. Proverbs 28:19-20 – He that tills his land shall have plenty of bread: but he that follows after worthless pursuits shall have poverty enough. A faithful man shall abound with blessings: but he that makes haste to be rich shall not go unpunished. Proverbs 12:11, 15:19, 20:4, 21:25, 23:21 (Other Proverbs on laziness and work.) 2 Thessalonians 3:10 – For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat. Genesis 3:19 – In the sweat of your face shall you eat bread, till you return unto the ground. Ephesians 4:28 – Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labor, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needs. 185

15. Why Should You Believe Me?

One evening in May 1986, shortly after turning off the lights and going to bed I saw a demon in the corner of the bedroom. Having been raised in an atheistic home, I did not believe in demons or angels or ghosts, or anything else in the supernatural spectrum. Being a clever person, I knew there was only the natural world – only that which can be observed, measured and tested exists. To suppress the tangible uneasiness I was feeling, I reasoned that the dark, misty character I had seen brieﬂy in the dimly lit room was just my imagination stirred up by the claim of the woman who lived in the apartment before me that a ghost lived there. Being a clever person who knew such entities did not exist I had not been put off from moving in. Nevertheless, after a few weeks living in the one bedroom apartment, I became increasingly convinced there was something moving about. Though I never saw it or heard it, I was aware of a presence. Having seen documentaries on the paranormal, I reasoned that maybe there is something to the claims of an unseen realm that exists along with our own. Maybe it was the spirit of someone who had died tragically in that place but had not found rest. Or maybe I was subconsciously creating the invisible ﬂatmate. To be on the safe side – just in case it was real, on one occasion when I strongly sensed the presence, I spoke out to it saying that I accepted it needed a place to live too, but that if we were to live together it should be on the grounds of it leave me alone and we do our own separate thing. After this, the atmosphere of the apartment returned to normal, so I reasoned that my talk to the ghost had resolved the 186 As Your Soul Prospers

issue in my subconscious. What a clever person I was. Which is why, on the night it appeared, I thought it was just my imagination again. But this night, try as I might to reason away the image that was fixed in my mind, I could not. To prove for myself it did not exist in reality, I turned on the light and went to the corner near the wardrobe where I had imagined the dark wispy shape. I even checked in the wardrobe in case it was a prank by someone hiding there. In spite of proving to myself that I was completely alone, I could not clear the image from my mind. Every time I looked into the corner the memory of the spectre returned. Even with every light on in the apartment, I could not clear my mind enough to sleep. Giving up on trying to sleep I made a hot drink and tried to read a book, but what I was reading could not distract me from the vision. The more I thought of it, and tried to not think of it, the stronger the sense of its presence grew – a presence I eventually began to recognise as evil. But being a clever person, I knew evil was just a concept, not something that could be felt. As if to mock my cleverness, the sense of evil continued to grow to the point that, for the first time in my life, I realised there was a power, an evil power, outside of the control of my reasoning, and outside of my physical ability to deal with a threat. Whatever it was, I knew with certainty, it could do whatever it wanted, and I was powerless to prevent it. The only weapon I had was my reasoning, but this was unreasonable, how could I deal with something which does not exist, which cannot exist – yet it does? Then a thought came to my mind, a highly unreasonable thought. I picked up a pad and pencil and drew a cross, a church type of cross. I drew many crosses, some small, some large, some 3D until the page was filled and another page started. This was unreasonable because I was brought up in a home without Jesus. The only Christian influence I remember was RE Why Should You Believe Me? 187

(Religious Education) classes once a week at school which were a total bewilderment to me. The enduring memory I have of them is that I couldn’t win the prizes because I was unable to answer any of the questions. Yet, there must have been something I picked up from RE because when I was threatened by evil and darkness, I somehow knew the cross was the answer. Apparently, the only way to overcome an unreasonable problem is with an unreasonable solution of greater power. Even though drawing crosses provided a sense of peace in the storm, one can quickly become bored of drawing crosses. So I looked around for other Christian related images I could copy. There was nothing. Why did I even think I might have owned anything with Christian images? Then I noticed among the small change on the bench a bright new Australian dollar coin, freshly minted in 1986 to commemorate the International Year of Peace. The Year of Peace face of the coin included a pair of hands releasing a dove. So I began drawing doves and hands, but instead of the hands open, I drew them praying. Somehow, I associated a dove with the cross and with praying. Eventually, I became so tired that nothing could have kept me awake. So, still with all the lights on I went to bed and to sleep. The next day at work, my girlfriend (M), a lapsed Roman Catholic, asked me why I looked tired. I brieﬂy explained what had happened the night before. It just so happened that her brother (P) had recently moved to town. M explained that he was a non- Catholic type of Christian who had recent experience casting demons out of people inﬂuenced by witchcraft, so he might be able to help with my situation. After phoning him during the day, she told me he had invited us to join his family for dinner at their home after work that day. Hoping to avoid a repeat of the previous night’s adventure, and 188 As Your Soul Prospers

thinking that he might be able to provide a permanent solution, I agreed. After dinner, M and I joined P in the family room where I described my supernatural experience. He seemed to know all about such situations, educating me about demons and about Jesus, and answering every objection I could think of regarding Christian- ity and religion as a whole. Then he dropped the penny – the only way I would be able to overcome my problem was to become a Christian. This was not something I would have considered if I knew any other option. All I knew was that going back to my apartment and having to deal with a demon was not something I was equipped to do, and if no one was going to get rid of it for me, I would need to be properly armed. So I asked what I needed to do to become a Chris- tian. Apparently, all I needed to do was repeat a prayer after P. But I didn’t know P, and this was all somewhat uncomfortable, so I asked if there was another way. He explained that the Bible says I had to “confess” Jesus is Lord, believe that He was raised from the dead to pay for my sin, and ask Him into my heart which would “save me”. Confession, he said, meant I had to say it in front of someone. So I asked him to write down the “sinners prayer” which I would say to M when we left. (I know now that following these steps isn’t what makes someone a Christian, but it shows that God will move through any means available to Him to bring people into His kingdom.) On the way home, I pulled the car into a car park looking over the lights of the city, and with M as my witness, I confessed what was on the paper. Apparently, I was then equipped to cast out demons in the name of Jesus. I then dropped M at her place and continued home. I clearly remember standing in front of the door with the key Why Should You Believe Me? 189

in my hand wondering if the demon was standing defiantly on the other side of the door. I had been assured that, according to the Bible, if I commanded it to leave “in the name of Jesus” it had to obey. But would it work? The only way to find out was to go inside. Taking a deep breath, I opened the door, went in and turned on the lights. Nothing supernatural was there, at least nothing I could see. Then, feeling somewhat of a traitor to reason, I commanded the demon “in Jesus’ name” to leave my home. And I went to bed. It was then, in the stillness, that the sense of evil began to rise. Thinking it may be just my imagination, but just in case it wasn’t, I repeated the command for the demon to leave – “in Jesus’ name”. But the sense of evil persisted. Unable to sleep I turned on the lights and sat in the lounge. Even though all the lights were on, there was somehow a darkness dimming them. I drew crosses; I handled the dollar coin with the dove, I read the sinner’s prayer and thought about the discussion of that night. At one point I considered leaving and going to M’s house to sleep, but I remembered a warning from her brother that there was a fight going on for my soul, and that the devil might try to kill me with a car accident rather than let me be saved by Jesus. Then, around one in the morning, the apartment became suddenly light, like a window blind being lifted on a summer morning. So I turned off the lights, went to bed and fell almost instantly asleep. Driving to work later that morning I was amazed by how vibrant the world had become – the sky was bluer, the grass greener, the air cleaner, the birds sang happier songs, and the familiar songs in the radio took on new meanings, better meanings. The darkness hadn’t just lifted in my apartment but the world. Contrary to all reason, something had changed, and I liked it, I liked it a lot. Without knowing it I had lived my life with a great weight bearing down on 190 As Your Soul Prospers

me, but as soon as it was gone, I felt a difference as if gravity had lessened. When M asked me how it had gone when I got home, I told her what had happened and that early in the morning the darkness had lifted, so I went to bed. She said, “That would have been about one o’clock.” I asked her how she knew that, suggesting that P had sat outside my apartment to ensure I didn’t drive anywhere. In fact, P and his wife, and M had stayed up praying for me, “battling in prayer” as they say. At around one o’clock M had felt the battle was over. She had spoken to P when she woke up, who told her he had “Turned off the light at about one-thirty.” That was the ﬁrst time I had proof of something “real” existing outside the limits of the natural world.

A few months later I was baptised by P in an extremely cold river, so cold that as we were wading to a point deep enough for full emersion, I had trouble catching my breath. Christians had told me that God sometimes warms the water for people being baptised – He didn’t do it for me. But eventually, I caught and was able to hold my breath long enough to bend my knees to go fully under. While I was in my watery “grave”, I opened my eyes and saw what looked like a slick of dark oil drifting away from me into deeper water. The next morning I woke with a phrase in my head which was not English. Having attended a Pentecostal “Full Gospel” church a number of times, I had some understanding of speaking in tongues. But not liking the idea of saying anything I didn’t know the meaning of, I shook off the impulse to speak the phrase. But the phrase persisted while I shaved, and showered, and dressed, and prepared and ate breakfast. Eventually, I surrendered to what I later came to know as the prompting of the Holy Spirit, and spoke out the phrase. It was fun – so much fun that I wanted to do it more, so I simply Why Should You Believe Me? 191

continued speaking in a language I had never learned. For the entire day I played with the new gift, sometimes giving it a Russian sound or Chinese sound, or sometimes focussing on words beginning with certain letters of the alphabet, and sometimes letting it ﬂow freely. Unknown to me, when I was under water in my baptism, P had prayed for me to “receive the Holy Spirit”. So I had been baptised in water and in the Holy Spirit at the same time. Looking back, I know how blessed I was to have not heard the negativity about this often misunderstood, but liberating and empowering gift. I believe the main reason I received it so completely was that no one had told me I couldn’t.

By the end of September, I was without a job and without a girlfriend, so I had plenty of spare time to read the King James Scofield Study Bible I had been given by P. I read it through and through. Strangely, it was during this time that I first seriously considered killing myself. I even planned how I would do it and wrote a letter for the police so they would be the ones to find my body. But all the while I was organising my departure I felt pressure to phone P. Eventually I gave in and phoned him at work. He told me he was too busy at work but would come and see me at the end of the day. Even though I was highly offended by his apparent lack of concern, the time I spent waiting was all I needed to be comforted by God and hear enough to cancel the plan. (About 10 years later I was so devastated by a relationship breakup that I again organised to kill myself. But again God inter- vened. And even though I have entertained the thought of that option a number of times since, it has never been done seriously. Over time I came to understand that my life belongs completely to God, so I have no right to take it. I have also learned by experience that no matter how difficult life gets He’s still in control.) 192 As Your Soul Prospers

Then one day while sitting in a sunny spot of the apartment reading a passage about the love of fathers for their sons and sons for their fathers I started to cry. This was very difficult for me because “boys don’t cry”. I don’t remember having shed a tear since I was about nine years old when my father ridiculed me for crying during a Disney movie. “What have you done to me?” I demanded of God, terrified I had turned into a softy. The reader should understand at this point, that I had not spoken to my father for about eight years, and that I told people I did not have a father. I also did not have a mother since my natural mother had died a long time before, and my father and stepmother had divorced. With only myself to rely on I had to be in control of my feelings and emotions. So what had God done? During this time God revealed two truths to me: one, He had changed my heart of stone to one of flesh; and two, He had melted my coldness and hatred toward my father. Hatred cannot exist anywhere the love of God abounds. Soon after, I contacted my father and returned to the city where he lived, staying with him until I found a job and my own place to live. Even though my father thought my Christianity was merely a phase I would grow out of, he recognised that somehow I was a very different person than I used to be. Because reading the Bible every day raised many questions in me, I had started a Bible Study correspondence course which P had recommended. But a Bible Study course is designed to teach certain doctrines, not answer questions, so two years later I found I had far too many to be answered by going to church on Sundays and a home group during the week. So I moved to the other side of the country and enrolled in a two-year full-time Bible College course attached to a “word of faith” church – one of the largest churches in the city at the time. Why Should You Believe Me? 193

This is where I first discovered that not everything they tell you in church or Bible College can be trusted, and not all verses and passages mean what some ministers and Bible teachers say they mean. For example, we were taught at Bible College that God meets all our needs, and that God would miraculously provide for Chris- tians who are “trusting in Him”. This was comforting to know because by halfway through the first year of College my bank account was empty, and my credit card was full. The little money I made from a part-time job barely covered the rent and utilities. With my diet consisted mostly of boiled spaghetti with seasoning from a stock cube, and biscuits from the staffroom where I was working, I looked forward to God’s miraculous provision in response to my trusting in Him – Jehovah Jireh, the LORD my Provider. While expectantly waiting for God to supernaturally direct someone to leave bags of groceries at my front door, I lost almost seven kilograms from my already slim frame. Seemingly no-one at Bible College or church noticed my emaciation, or maybe they thought I was fasting, either way, no one asked. Strangely, it was only after confiding in someone what I was trusting in God for, that a bag of groceries was left at my door. At another time I was taught that if someone truly believed something, they would act on what they believed. Therefore, if a Christian needed healing they had to act as if they had already received it for it to “manifest”. God was apparently waiting for me to prove I had sufficient faith before I could be healed. At the time I wore glasses because I was short-sighted, and was “believing” God to heal my eyes. Obviously, if I truly believed I was healed, I would not wear glasses. So, not only did I stop wearing glasses, but I ran them over with my car again and again until they were crushed and mangled beyond repair. Surely then, just as with blind Bartimaeus who walked away from his belongings to receive his healing from 194 As Your Soul Prospers

Jesus, me walking away from my glasses would cause me to receive my healing. Many times during “worship and healing” services I was convinced that when I opened my eyes I would see clearly. But I never did. Of course, according to the teaching, I was already healed – “by His stripes I was healed” – it just hadn’t yet manifested. In demonstrating my faith to receive my healing I experienced difficulties such as not being able to read what was written on the whiteboards in lectures, and not being able to read street names, house numbers and speed limit signs when driving. If I wanted to know what a street sign said, I had to stop the car, get out and stand under the sign and squint. To find a house number I had to pull into a driveway of a random house close enough to their letterbox to see the number, then calculate how many more houses I had to pass to get to the one I wanted. But I didn’t mind doing this because I knew that the longer I acted like I was healed the closer I was to receiving full healing. Then one stormy night driving through a busy shopping area I saw someone’s shadow as it passed over the reflected light on the road – but I did not see the person. The next day I made an appoint- ment with an optometrist. Still being a clever person at that time, I concluded that the Bible must be wrong. Obviously if the Bible says things that are proven to be wrong, the Bible couldn’t be from God. The good thing about being a clever person was I knew that to find answers all I needed was more information. If the Bible was wrong further study and testing of it would prove the case. The good thing about being at Bible College was a well-stocked library. So every day after classes I would spend four to five hours going through library books, reading anything that took my attention until the college closed when the night school classes ended. Why Should You Believe Me? 195

This extracurricular study, as well as providing a great deal of information and showing me that it was far more likely the teachers were wrong than the Bible was, also raised a lot more questions, which I asked the teachers if the occasion presented itself. I soon realised that the teachers had not studied what they were teaching, but were simply parroting videos or following lesson plans prepared by someone else. Not understanding my deep passion to seek and find the truth, some teachers took offence and claimed I was asking questions to grandstand myself. The College’s verdict was that I was no longer permitted to ask questions in class. My response to the hurt I felt about this was to look into the topic of offence. When I found all I could in the Bible about what God says about offence and the importance and benefit of not taking offence, I found it easier never to be offended again, or to quickly deal with it when I feel I am. Also in doing that study, I started to think that maybe God is not in the business of changing circumstances to the way we want but uses circumstances to change us to the way He wants. Another good thing about the problems I experienced at Bible College is that I began to look to the Bible as the primary source of truth – against which all other “truths” need to be assessed, including what is taught as truth in churches and Bible Colleges. I found that even though the teachers and lesson plans could not stand up to close scrutiny and my relentless questioning, the Bible does. At first, when things I was being taught were at odds with reality, I questioned the veracity of the Bible. But after about five years of testing the Bible, while I was reading 2 Corinthians 10:5 – Casting 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. (KJV) – God clearly spoke to me saying something along the lines of, “It’s time you stop doubting and testing the word, 196 As Your Soul Prospers

but instead start using it to test other things and doctrines.” Since then, every time an issue arises about a doctrine and belief, I search the Bible for every verse and passage I can find related to it, then I meditate on them day and night trusting God to reveal the overarching principles and enduring truths. I learned through Bible College that error primarily comes by “cherry picking” verses to support one’s own beliefs, without considering their immediate context or the context of the entirety of scripture. My frustration with the conflict I saw in the church over certain doctrines, especially “word of faith” and the trouble it caused many sincere Christians, culminated in 2005 with the publishing of my first book, “Before You Stop Believing”. Being somewhat cathar- tic in nature, doing the extensive studies on the various doctrines covered in the book, and clarifying them on paper, establish in me strong supports for my Christian faith. The second book I worked on, “The Plan”, was again the result of problems I heard from Christians who said they found reading the Bible too large a task. “The Plan” was a paraphrased, abridged and chronological rendering of the entire Bible in which all related passages from different books are brought together into one easy to understand story incorporating explanations about cultural beliefs and traditions of the times. Though after three years work on “The Plan” I abandoned the project because I was unable to satisfactorily reconcile some differences in the Gospels, I mention it to help the reader better understand my passion for studying the word to know and follow all it says, to clearly understand its truths, and to help others do the same.

It’s been over 30 years since my ﬁrst encounter with a demon. During that time I have studied the reliability of scripture and tested many church doctrines, denominations, cults, and religions. Also in Why Should You Believe Me? 197

that time I have been wrongfully slandered, gossiped about and vilified by leaders and teachers in the church, I have suffered deeply from trusting false doctrines, I have endured Christians lying and stealing from me, I have been betrayed by those I trusted and abandoned by those I loved, and often I have known dark despair, great need, and sickening turmoil. While grieving the things I have lost, and the mischief done to me by professing Christians, my greatest cause of grief is the wrongs I have done to others which caused them pain – wrongs I can never make right. Yet through it all, and in it still, one truth has remained absolutely constant – the grace of God. His gracious, loving kindness and tender mercies have never left me, always being expressed in such a way that shows He knows me personally and has moved in my life in a way designed specifically for me, to bring me closer to Him. Truly, it is said that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28). And through it all, as I relentlessly sought answers from the Bible, He has directed me most often by His word through the Holy Spirit, which is why this book is heavily based on scripture – His truth – and why you should consider its content in understanding how the Soul works, and therefore how to overcome or patiently endure difficulties and hardships. My prayer is that God, the source of all love and grace, and knowledge and wisdom might use this book to encourage and equip you through your current and future difficulties, bringing you closer to Him by making you more like Him.

Colin P. Norris 198 As Your Soul Prospers 199

Bibliography

In alphabetical order. (Note that most of the following reference materials were accessed through BibleHub.com)

Barnes’ Notes on the Entire Bible (Notes on the Bible by Albert Barnes [1834]. Source: Internet Sacred Texts Archive.) Bengel’s Gnomon of the New Testament (Gnomon of the New Testament by Johann Bengel. Source: BibleSupport.com) Benson Commentary (Benson Commentary on the Old and New Testaments. Source: BibleSupport.com) Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew and English Lexicon (Brown-Driver- Briggs Hebrew and English Lexicon, Unabridged, Electronic Database. Source: BibleSoft.com) Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges. Source: BibleSupport.com) Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Source: BibleSupport.com) Expositor’s Bible Commentary (The Expositor’s Bible. Source: BibleSupport.com) Expositor’s Greek Testament (The Expositor’s Greek Testament - Nicoll. Source: BibleSupport.com) Geneva Study Bible (The Geneva Bible Translation Notes [1599]. Source: BibleHub.com) 200 As Your Soul Prospers

Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible (Exposition of the Entire Bible by John Gill [1746-63]. Source: Internet Sacred Texts Archive.) HELPS™ Word-studies (By Helps Ministries, Inc. Source: TheDiscoveryBible.com) Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary (A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments by Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]. Source: BibleHub.com) Keil and Delitzsch OT Commentary (Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament, by Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch [1857-78]. Source: Internet Sacred Texts Archive.) King James 2000 Bible (KJ2K) (Edited by Dr Robert A. Couric, ThD [1929-2011]. Source: BibleHub.com) Matthew Henry’s Commentary (Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible by Matthew Henry. Source: BibleHub.com) Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible (Hendrickson Publishers.) Matthew Poole’s Commentary (Source: BibleSupport.com) Meyer’s NT Commentary (Heinrich August Wilhelm Meyer’s NT Commentary. Source: BibleSupport.com) NAS Exhaustive Concordance (NAS Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible with Hebrew-Aramaic and Greek Dictionaries. Source: Lockman.org) Nave’s Topical Bible (By Orville J. Nave. World Bible Publishers.) Pulpit Commentary (The Pulpit Commentary, Electronic Database. Source: BibleSoft.com) Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance (Source: BibleHub.com) Bibliography 201

The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (Thomas Nelson Publishers.) Vincent’s Word Studies (Vincent’s Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886]. Source: Internet Sacred Texts Archive.) Vines Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words (By W.E. Vine. World Bible Publishers.)

Beloved, I wish above all things that you may prosper and be in health, even as your soul prospers.

– 3 John 1:2