Renew#2

       In this V John said that he wished that our SOUL would prosper. What is t SOUL? It is t MIND, t WILL, t INTELLECT, & t EMOTIONS. T soulish realm is where Christians get into trouble. In t soul is where your thinking & reason takes place, that's where we get into trouble.

       I. ISA 55:8‑9

                 A. Many times we begin to reason out t things of God.

                             1. We might reason out healing by saying that they would have recovered even if no one laid hands on them.

                                         a. Tongues ‑‑ (emotions, passed away)

                                         b. Miracles ‑‑ (done away w/, they thought they were healed during an emotional time, but ....)

                             2. But God says that His ways are not our ways & what I mainly wanted you to see is that His thoughts are not our thoughts.

                                         a. God's thoughts are not t thoughts of t natural mind  or t carnal mind.

                 B. Back in 3JOHN 2 John said, "this is my # 1 prayer, that you would prosper & live in health, even as your soul prospers."

                             1. Success in your life will be governed or determined by  your soul.

                             2. T words "even as" in 3JO 2 means "just (or inasmuch) as,  ‑according to, (according, even) as, how, when.

                                         a. You could read (3JO 1:2) like this, "Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, ACCORDING  TO thy soul prospering.

                                         b. John is saying that when your soul is prospering, your going to prosper financially & you'll be in health.

                                         c. T word of God says in (HOS 4:6) "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge."

                                         d. What is t knowledge that we need to get?

                                                     i. Of course it's t Word of God.

                                         e. & where is that we put knowledge?

                                                     i. In our minds or in t soul.

                                                     ii. There is a part of getting t Word in your heart for faith, but I'm mainly talking about getting your minds renewed to t Word of God.

       II. Now going back to our main text again 3JO 2 Says, "Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth. (KJV)

                 A. According to this V it's possible to have a prosperous soul, if that's true then it's also possible to have a poor soul.

                             1. What are some things that would give someone a poor soul?

                                         a. We already looked at (HOS 4:6) Which says, "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge."

                                         b. A lack of knowledge of t Word of God will give you a poor soul.

                             2. #2 Being controlled by t desires of t flesh, like money,  food, sex, power, whatever.

                                         a. (Rom 8:5‑6) For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. (6) For to be carnally minded {is} death; but to be spiritually minded {is} life and peace.

                                         b. For you to follow after t things of t flesh it will cause you to have a poor spirit.

                             3. #3 Choosing things that are contrary to t will of God.

                                         a. Luke 10:42

                                         b. So many times people are doing things that are good  things, but never let those good things steel your time that you should be having w/ t Lord.

                                         c. You need to sit at t feet of Jesus & receive His Word as often as possible.

                                                     i. You need to be careful or you might get caught up in doing to many things, anywhere from doing to much for God & getting burnt out to doing to much w/ your family & neglecting God.

                                                     ii. You need to be like Mary & choose t best part  by sitting under t WORD.

                                                                 a. If you're sitting under t Word your going to have t strength to go on.

                                                                 b. If you're not sitting under t Word you're going to be doing things in your own strength & in t flesh.

                                                                             i. If you're doing things in t flesh you're going to produce an Ishmeal, & Ishmeal's always produce problems.

                             4. T 4th thing that will cause you to have a poor spirit is being UNDISCIPLINED & FANTASIZING on ungodly things.

                                         a. (2CO 10:5) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing...

                             5. #5 REFUSING TO CHANGE.

                                         a. (ROM 12:2) And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind...

                             6. #6 Being more CONCERNED about t THINGS of t Earth, rather  than t things of Heaven.

                                         a. Look at COL 3:2

                             7. #7 Allowing emotional feelings to decide how to act rather than t Word of God.

                                         a. (JOH 16:13) Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is  come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, {that} shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. (KJV)

                             8. #8 A mind that contains worry, fear, & negative thinking.

                                         a. (PHI 4:8) 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. (KJV)

                 B. W/ one or more of these things going on inside of you, you will be poor in t soulish realm.

                             1. But according to 3JOHN 2, t prosperity of your life is based on t prosperity of your soul.

                             2. If your soul is poor it will affect every area of your life: MARRIAGE, BUSINESS, FAITH, HEALTH, SOCIAL LIFE, EVERYTHING.

       III. But on t other hand there is t prosperous soul. And t prosperous soul has 6 basic characteristics.

                             1. #1 It is a mind that is ready to repent or change any  thought at any time.

                                         a. Again (ROM 12:2) And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what {is} that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. (KJV)

                             2. #2 It follows t things of t H.S. thru t human spirit.

                                         a. (Rom 8:5) For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. (ROM 8:14) For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. (KJV)

                             3. #3 T prosperous soul has a mind that meditates on t God's  Word regularly.  a. Psa 1:1‑3

                             4. #4 A prosperous soul is disciplined to think on t positive of things w/out fear or worry.

                                         a. Again (PHIL 4:8) tells us to think on t things that are true, honest, pure, lovely, good report...

                             5. #5 A prosperous soul will do t WILL of God, no matter what it cost.   JOSH 24:15

                             6. #6 T prosperous soul does not allow it's self to be guided by t EMOTIONS.

                                         a. (2CO 5:7) (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)

                 C. As we get our minds renewed to t Word of God, our soul will become prosperous, & we'll be blessed in every area of life.