Integrity- People of God

Christ came and died that we might have an abundant life, not just a mediocre life, one where we are barely getting by, but life that is overflowing with God’s goodness, grace and mercy. But our minds have been trained to think otherwise. This is not to say that we will not go through some trials, testing or hard times but God in His faithfulness and mercy will see us through it victoriously. It takes time and faith in the power of the Holy Spirit for us to accept that God will see us through every challenge and He wants us to live an abundant life to live out His promises in our lives.  

We should ask God to change our habits and redirect our thoughts to lineup with His word. That we may standfast in the midst of these challenges, trials that come to test our faith to see if we believe earnestly the truths we received. We must learn how to navigate these situations in such a manner that we trust God and His faithfulness and we will know that we are able to be victorious and more than conquerors in the trials and hardships that we go through.  

John 10:10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.NKJ

God’s tender mercies and grace saw us in our ruin and debased state and sent Jesus, His only begotten Son, to rescue us. The love of God is at the beginning of every love story, every love song, every rag to riches story, in every low-class person being transformed into one of affluence.  Jesus coming to save and rescue us from the evil one is in every story that has been told of a person being liberated and rescued.  Some people have seen hard times in their life experiences, which have battered their conscious into a negative view of themselves and others. Their perception of life is negative and painful and because of their past hurts some refuse to receive the light of God’s truthand forgiveness. God has shown us His love through the majestic, beauty and abundance of His creations on the earthand in the heavens. We see the love, mercy and forgiveness of God in every love story where hearts learn to turn from hate and to love someone other than themselves.

Romans 1:20-22 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.  Professing to be wise, they became fools, NKJ

It is Christ living in us, through the power of the Holy Spirit, that gives us the grace of God, which enables us to love others truly and deeply.  True followers of Christ will display a greater love than those who are selfish and who are in need of immediate gratification. Followers of Christ will put the salvation and the love for others first.   We have been enriched by Christ, by the power of the Holy Spirit, in all utterance and knowledge that we may know how to speak a word of truth in love. 

1 Corinthians 1: 4-9  I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given to you by Christ Jesus,that you were enriched in everything by Him in all utterance and all knowledge,  even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you,  so that you come short in no gift, eagerly waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ,  who will also confirm you to the end, that you may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.  God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. NKJ

Some people will hurt, wound or offend others with their words calling it truth to make a point or to show their knowledge. Truth without love is brutal and cruel. We have not been called to be vicious or callous for the sake of making a point. We were given a new command to love one another as Christ loved usand gave Himself for us. Prior to Christ, man could only love others to the level that they themselves have loved.  Mankind can be narcissistic with an inflated sense of self-importance, which limits their ability to love others well.   Love is to be above all other schemes, agendas or fixations. If we cannot speak a truth without love we should wait before God and ask the Holy Spirit to teach us and show us how to speak this truth with the love of God. 

John 13:34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. NKJ

Some people may have the gift of speaking like an angel, or able to give a word of prophecy, or may have a great understanding and knowledge of the Bible. But if they speak or minister without a kind and loving heart it will not profit them anything.  Love is patient with other so that it may show kindness and considerations to others. We should be watchful of our words before speaking to ensure that our speech is from a position of love. We are not to speak to make our point or to show we were right in our knowledge of the word. God is more concerned for the souls of men than He is with people making a point or displaying their knowledge.  

1 Corinthians 13:1-4   Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.  And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body ]to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing. Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; NKJ 

Abundant life is in Christ and it is in Him that we live our everyday lives with changes, progress and development that creates in us a new nature which is the essence of our life in Christ. Through faith we become children of God in the familyof the Most-High King and our nature is being changed to be more like Christ. 

Act 17:28 For in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also His offspring.’ NKJ

This life will have its challenges, its trials and the testing of our faith but when we operate according to God’s kingdom principles we will be more than a conqueror.  A conqueror is one who goes to battle and defeat his foe, but we are more than a conqueror, because we did not even have to fight the battle,Christ died at the cross and yet we are more than victors. 

Romans 8:37-39 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who 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 created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. NKJ