Two things I want to address, to make myself clear on some things.

First:

Some leaders got upset because of a statement I made about Apostles being on public assistance.

I stand on that without apology and I will explain why. As leaders, we are not to teach the people dependence upon the world system.

I’m a firm believer that God gives us the ability to produce provisional sources to help us to provide for the work and our personal lives. As I studied the Word, I saw were even the Apostles when they wasn’t on a ministry journey, used their crafts to provide.

Paul use his tent making skills; some were fisher men. They didn’t sit around waiting on handouts, they worked or had a business.

We may have times when we need help, but it’s not suppose to become a crutch for us to just sit and expect to be taken care of by the world’s government!

I stand on it, that we are to teach those whom we are called to, how to govern their finances and how to produce various ways to obtain financial sources of provision.

We are to teach them the benefits of sowing and reaping and giving to the Kingdom of God.

As leaders in the Body of Christ, something’s we say may be harsh but necessary, to keep us from becoming dependent on others, or crippled by a worldly system.

This was not said to make you feel bad, but to give you the strength to do something and make you think about other ways that you can obtain finances.

People, we have to stop becoming offensive, or taking things so personally when they are said. Many times we feel offended, because it’s something we know we should be doing, but are afraid to do, or something we are convicted of, but didn’t want to face.

Teaching people have to be self sufficient and independent is one thing we need to do more of in the Church, especially teaching leaders to not just depend on offerings and seeds from people.

Second:

We need to know how to walk in wisdom when it comes to dealing with married couples.

I try not to put myself in situations were no wife will feel uncomfortable with me concerning her husband.

I stay in the boundaries that the spouses sets for the relationship. If the husband doesn’t want me speaking to his wife because he is uncomfortable concerning it, I back off from them, because I can’t be effective in helping them if there is confusion and disagreements concerning my involvement in their relationship.

If the wife is uncomfortable with me interacting with her husband, then I respect her wishes.

It doesn’t matter if I didn’t do anything, or if I think the spouse is jealous or insecure, I respect their marriage and won’t interfere with the relationship, because I need to prove a point.

Remember, that is their husband or their wife, and no matter what, they are married and the boundaries can’t be crossed.

I pray that we can learn how to judge things, with the Spirit of God, and just plain common sense.

Finally:

We must learn how to take constructive criticism, without becoming overly emotional or offensive every time something is said or spoken, with the attitude that somebody trying to hurt us or attack us.

There are issues going on in the Church that will be addressed and we need to understand that there are persons dealing with similar things. So please don’t think that I, along with other leaders, will not speak on a subject just because we know you and you may be dealing with something God gave us to deal with.

Personally, God deals with me about what is in the house when He sends me, and often people don’t like it. I do understand.

I don’t preach to personally attack anyone. That would be ludicrous, when God will hold me accountable, and I’m sorry to bust anyone bubble, but I’m not getting chastised, disciplined, or brought into judgment for anybody. I’m not having blood on my hand, that’s why I speak what God gives me without reservations, because I’m not getting in trouble for disobedience.

I will never apologized for obeying God, but I will take the time to further give an explanation so that there will be no misunderstanding between me and those that had questions.

My policy is, you can always come to me in a RESPECTABLE way and ask me anything for clarity. People, let’s grow up, walk in love, stop jumping to conclusions, and start thinking in the Spirit!

 

~ Apostle Barbara R. Thomas

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Apostle Barbara R. Thomas is founder of I Come to Heal Ministries, A Woman’s touch Ministry, The Next Dimension Global Outreach Ministries and Spoken Word School of Ministry and she is on a mission traveling the world proclaiming the Gospel for soul to be won to the Kingdom of God. She has a mandate on her life to help brings others to their divine purpose.

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