It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter. Proverbs 25:2

Posts tagged ‘life choices’

The Soul and Spirit of Mankind-Made by God  for God! 

Mankind is a tri-part being, body, soul and spirit. The body came out of the earth, the soul and spirit are from God.  Our soul is the essence of who we are, it is what gives us our individuality and uniqueness as a person. The soul is where our will, conscience, intellect, thoughts, feelings and emotions are held, the soul is the very core of our being. The spirit of man came from God when He breathed His life-giving breath into mankind and we became a living soul. The spirit is what attached the soul to its source (God). The soul/will is what governs and directs the body, be it through the living spirit that is within us, or in death without the spirit. 

Genesis 2:7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. KJV

The body came out of the earth and mankind was given rule and dominion over the earth, as he was created from the dust of the earth. The soul and spirit of mankind came from God and weremade for God, so that humanity could navigate in the spirit and earthly realm. God’s Spirit, was breathed into mankind and he became a living soul and spirit. The body returns to the earth when it is dead, just as the soul and spirit of mankind returns to its source when it dies, where it will give account and/or be rewarded according to the life it lived in fulfilling its created purpose. 

 2 Corinthians 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.

There is a spiritual realm where God, angels and all other spiritual beings exist in the heavens. God created a natural dominion, the earth, that consists of physical things. Mankind was created to exist in both the spirit and earthly realms and they are very real places with different principles and laws that govern their territory. We need to understand these principles in order to navigate, negotiate and live in both of these spheres. God created mankind to co-exist in both realms.

Genesis 28:12 He had a dream in which he saw a stairway resting on the earth, with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. NKJ

Humanity’s natural life is attached to the earth, because the body was formed from the ground, created in God’s likeness and it is fed and nurtured by the living sustenance of the earth, the ground, from where he was taken. Without these life-giving nutrients the body would die, because it would lack the source it needs to continue. 

 

Genesis 1:27-28 So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” NKJ

 

The spirit and soul of mankind came from God, and they had the Shekinah Glory of God upon them and God’s Spirit within. When God blew His breath of life into mankind, they became a living soul. The soul and spirit of mankind was alive and in full connection with its source, the Spirit of God, just as their natural bodies were connected to its source, the earth.Mankind’s body, soul and spirit was living in completeness with its purpose, his body fully connected to the earth and his soul and spirit fully connected with God. The body, soul and the spirit all were living attached to their source, earth and God, to fulfill their purpose, which is to replenish the earth with living souls that would be connected to God, the Creator and King. 

 

Proverbs 20:27 The spirit of a person is the lamp of the LORD, Searching all the innermost parts of his being. NAS

 

The very day mankind rebelled against their life-giving source, God, their God-like spirit left, because light and darkness cannot occupy the same space.  The spirit of mankind died, when the Shekinah-Glory of God left them, because its spiritwas no longer attached to its source. Therefore, the created God-like man no longer existed. As when a plant is uprooted from the soil or a fish is taken out of the water, they die. The God-Spirit in man surely died that day, and their souls were no longer attached to their life-giving source. 

 

Genesis 2:16-17 And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.” NKJ

 

Genesis 3:23-24 therefore the Lord God sent him out of the garden of Eden to till the ground from which he was taken.  So He drove out the man; and He placed cherubim at the east of the garden of Eden, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to guard the way to the tree of life. NKJ

 

Mankind was then driven out the garden of Eden and were no longer in that close relationship with their Creator-God. God had to drive them out of the garden, because of the evil state of fallen mankind. Had they eaten from the tree of life, to live forever in a life full of sin and depravity, it would be even moreof a horrifying state for this world to be in. 

God’s mercy He did not allow fallen mankind with all of itsdestruction and devastation to have the ability to live forever in the earth. God’s love and mercy would not allow that to be.  Instead, He provided a way for mankind to be delivered, through faith in Jesus Christ, and to be reunited with theirSource, their God, Creator and King. 

 

Romans 6:17-19   But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness. I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves of uncleanness, and of lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves of righteousness for holiness

 

Fallen mankind lost their God given Shekinah glory, after obeying Satan, and they were transformed, mutated and transfigured into the likeness of their new master, Satan and sin. In their obedience to Satan, they gave all their God given authority and dominion over to Satan and the world fell into chaos, death and destruction.  

 

God did not create this world of confusion, death and ruin, it was the result of the choice of mankind and their disobedience to God’s instructions. With the death of mankind’s God-like spirit, man became the living dead, because its spirit and soul were no longer attached to its source. The death of the spirit and lost soul is the dead that Jesus was speaking of when he told the man, “Let the dead bury their own dead.” In this fallen state mankind’s spirit is dead and his soul is lost. 

 

Romans 6:16 Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?  

Luke 9:59-60 Then He said to another, “Follow Me.” But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and preach the kingdom of God.” NKJ

Mankind’s “will” is part of their soul, it is their ability to choose, and it is their God given right, characteristic and attribute. Satan cannot take humanity’s ability to choose, though he may lie to deceive them to make the wrong choices. God will not take away their ability to choose, even though their choices may be wrong, toxic or fatal. In the beginning it was in their God given power to choose, whether to obey God or Satan. Humanity’s ability to choose, “their will” is at the very core of who they are, their being. The will of mankind is atthe very heart of their soul and spirit. The body was made to function on the earth, but the soul was made to commune with their God through the spirit to fulfill its purpose, but the spiritof mankind died at the fall. 

 

Ephesians 2:4-5, But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 

 

The soul is constantly looking for a connection and is trying to find purpose and meaning for life, because it became lost and unattached to its Source, God’s Spirit. The soul is looking for love, value and purpose in all the wrong places. Humanity will not find true love, purpose and value until their spirit is revived by the Holy Spirit, through faith in the completed work of Christ.    Once again God sends His life-giving Holy Spirit into mankind, and they become a living soul, re-connected to theirlife-giving source (God) and his created purpose, to reveal the love and life of God upon the earth. 

 

We often hear the terms, the lost soul, the wandering soul, or no peace for the soul, that is because God’s plan and purpose for mankind did not change. Because of the fall, God’s original purpose for mankind took an alternate course in following Satan, but God’s purpose did not change. Humanity still has a will and their God given right to choose, again whether to return to God or to continue in a life of chaos and destruction. 

 

It was God’s mercy and a Father’s love for His creation and His children that caused Him to send Yeshua, Jesus as our Rescuer and Savior, so that we could be restored back to a relationship and into the family of God as His children. God provided a wayfor His children to be set free from Satan’s mutated, distorted and perverse state of being.

 

John 3:16-17 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

 

There is nothing we can do to make God love us more, no work we can perform to make us holy, righteous, or saved on our own. We are saved and made holy and righteous because of what Christ has already done. No one can stand before God according to their work or performance, our best efforts are filthy in His sight. We all stand on the same ground, at the foot of the cross of Christ in need of a Savior. It is because we are love by God and have been saved through faith that we now go and serve a lost world. We are not trying to earn God’s love, we already have it, but it is our love for God and His Son Jesus that we now go out to show that love to a lost and deprived world. 

 

Ephesians 2:8-10 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

 

The renewed Holy Spirit of God lives in us through faith in Jesus Christ.  We can show His mercy, grace, forgiveness and love to others because this is what we have received from God. We do not work to obtain God’s love, it is His gift, we cannot earn it.  It is because we have received God’s love that we now show His love, mercy and grace to a lost and dying world. 

 

1 Corinthians 15:45 So it is written [in Scripture], “The first MAN, Adam, BECAME A LIVING SOUL (an individual);” the last Adam (Christ) became a life-giving spirit [restoring the dead to life]. AMP

 

The first Adam, became living with the Spirit of God and his will/soul was connected to God. Adam rebelled against God and the Spirit of God left and his soul was disconnected from its source. Jesus, the last Adam became the life-giving spirit, reviving the dead spirit of mankind and reconnecting his soul/will to its Creator and restoring God’s original purpose, for humanity to be the image bearer of God and replenishing the earth with His likeness. 

 

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 Our Forgiveness Was A Great Cost To God 

We may come to God in an emotional state of despair, anguish and hopelessness because our sins are so overwhelming to us.  Some may have given up and have lost heart in believing that they will ever be made right with God or forgiven. But in every situation God has provided a way of escape.

Sin is a serious matter to a Holy and Righteous God and it cannot be taken lightly. It was of a very high cost to God, at the expense of the blood, death and resurrection of Jesus His Beloved Son. At this great cost, God was able to atone and pay the costly sin debt that all mankind owed because of their rebellion against Him.  

Romans 3:25 God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— NIV

I Corinthians 10:13 The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure. NLT

Sin cannot stand before God’s Righteousness and Holiness; light and darkness cannot occupy the same space. The wages of sin is death and thereby a Just and Holy God must requires the payment of life blood for the remission and forgiveness of sin. We all owe this debt to God because of our sins and only the blood of Christ can atone for it and make us once again right with God.

Romans 5:6,8 While we were still helpless [powerless to provide for our salvation], at the right time Christ died [as a substitute] for the ungodly. 

But God clearly shows and proves His own love for us, by the fact that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. AMP

All have sinned and come short of living rightly before God. Therefore, everyone must pay this debt owed to God for their acts of rebellion and sin.  No person can live a perfect life and they are not able to pay the debt that is owed to God because of their own sins.

But God in His lovingkindness, great compassion and mercy chose to provide forgiveness for all humanity and gave us the only sacrifice that could be made. It was His Son Jesus and through His life lived, His blood shed and the death He took on our behalf that paid our sin debt.

Romans 3:23-25 or all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, NKJ

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. NKJ

Sin that resulted in rebellion against God is no light matter. It is not something that God can turn a blind eye to and still be a Holy and Just God. Because of the sins of Adam and Eve an animal died, its blood was shed and clothing was made for them. The blood of animals could only cover their sins for a while but it did not remove them.

God’s grace came at the appointed time through Christ Jesus to pay the total debt of sin by the shedding of His blood, His deathand resurrection. Every sin debt will be paid for, but whose blood and death will stand before a Holy and Just God to make that payment? 

God has provided a payment for all sin debt through faith in Christ. It is every person’s free will to choose whether to have faith in the blood of Christ’s or not, and then they must stand before God for their own sins. 

Hebrews 9:22 And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission.

Everyone will stand before a Holy God for judgement, because we all have sinned; our sinful blood cannot atone for our debt. If we try to stand before God on our own we will be weighed in the balance and will be found lacking in not having lived a perfect life before God in our own strength. 

Daniel 5:27 TEKEL: You have been weighed in the balances, and found wanting;   

Romans 2:6-8 But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed. God “will repay each person according to what they have done.” To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger.

Even after our fall God was moved by His great love for all mankind and provided another chance of salvation for humanity. God has given us another chance to escape the second death, which is total separation from God Himself. Thischance is done with a simple choice of our will to believe andhave faith in Jesus Christ the Son of God. 

Revelation 20:11-15

Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them.  And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.  And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire. NKJ

Many people are confused because of God’s love and forbearance toward us, thinking God will not judge sin andrequire mankind to pay for their sins eternally. But, a Holy, Just and Righteous God must require payment for sin or He will no longer be true to Himself and no longer be a Holy God. 

In God’s great mercy He provided another way for forgiveness to pay the debt mankind owed. God in His enormous and abundant love for us, He became the ransom and payment through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  

Romans 3:24-26 and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.  God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.

God who is a Just and Righteous God, became the One who judges sin and then He Himself provided the justification forthe sinner, through faith in Jesus.  It is an extreme insult to reject Jesus, it is a great offence and rudeness to a Holy God for mankind to refuse to accept such a great gift. Jesus came to rescue and deliver us that we may escape eternal death. Again, God does not take sin lightly and it was at a tremendous cost to Himself and His Son to make this provision of salvation to all humanity.

2 Corinthians 5:18-18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. NIV

To have this faith in God’s plan and provision of Salvation through Christ is so simple, and yet so profound!

Psalm 85:10 Mercy and truth have met together; Righteousness and peace have kissed.NKJ

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To Fellowship in the Suffering of Christ

Many may say they want to know Jesus, to walk like Him and be in fellowship with Him, but they have not come to the realization of what that really means, which is a fellowship of His suffering.  As Christ followers we must change the way we evaluate the things that are happening to us and around us. We must change the way we view life and our expectations in life. 

1 Peter 5:10-11 But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.  To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen. NKJ

1 Peter 4:16 Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter.

God’s purpose is for us to reveal His love and His glory in the earth, which we see through the life of Christ. God’s glory and love is revealed in the earth when we are obedient to His word and by obedience our faith is displayed to those who are lostand in darkness so that they too may come to the Light.

All humanity knows how to be mean, prideful, hateful and to want revenge for the evil that is done to us, it is a natural part of fallen mankind. But the love of God is seen when we show, forgiveness, mercy and love to others. 

2 Corinthians 4:6 For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

2 Corinthians 5:18-19 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.

God’s goal for our lives is that we walk in love and obedience in hard and difficult times, just as Jesus did. Through this we will reveal God’s love to a lost world and this will show our faith and trust in Him. Through the Holy Spirit we can gothrough hurt, pain, agony and persecution without hurting others in return, and this is God’s purpose for our lives. Some people may call getting to the end of the trial their goal, but forGod it is the going through the trial, with love and mercy, this is His purpose. It is the trying or testing of our faith in Him. 

What some may call the process; God calls the purpose. What some may call the end; God calls a spin-off or the result of the faith that was shown during the time of the testing of our faith

1 Peter 4:12-14 Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.  If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.  On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified.  NKJ

Many people struggle just to get through their hardships and trials, so they can be blessed and that they may see goodness and rest in the end. But actually, the blessings are byproducts of us accomplishing God’s goal. Which is us being patience and being light in dark places and by showing of His mercy and forgiveness in difficult situations. God’s purpose and plan for our lives is to show His compassion and love in these hard and difficult times. It is in these situations that we demonstrate our faith and the likeness of Christ in the face of adversity. 

2 Corinthians 1:3-5 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.  For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ. 

2 Corinthians 4:17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. NKJ

Though Jesus was the Son of God, He suffered many things at the hands of evil men and because of this sinful world system.  It was through this very process of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection that He obtained salvation for all humanity.

If Jesus’ life is being formed in us then we too will experience challenges of our own, so that we too may have opportunities to forgive the wrong that we have experienced. In this we willreveal, reflect and resemble the likeness of Christ in our homes, families and community. 

Revelation 1:9 I, John, am your brother and your partner in suffering and in God’s Kingdom and in the patient endurance to which Jesus calls us. I was exiled to the island of Patmos for preaching the word of God and for my testimony about Jesus. NLT

1 Peter 4:19 Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator.

The world will tell us that we should expect to receive only the good from God and should feel deprived or mistreated when we go through challenges and difficulties.   When our faith or sonship as children of God is challenged, by Satan or this world, we are to stand firm in who we are in Christ. 

It is in these challenges of life that stretch us and grow us into the image of Christ. Though we enjoy and rejoice in God’s blessing and favor, we will learn patience and perseverance through the things we suffer and the challenges we experience.  

Paul was ready to put aside his comfort and to be broken bread and poured out wine for those around him that they might see God’s light in him and believe in the risen Christ through his life. 

2 Corinthians 4: 7-10 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.  We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed— always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.

We are to be reminded of our God given goal, purpose and intent, which is to know who we are in Christ and to display His power, light and love in a dark and hopeless world. 

Self-pity is from the devil and we fall into his trap when we focus on ourselves and become disheartened because of the things we go through. 

We are to be God’s light and share His hope through the power of the Holy Spirit who encourages us and gives us the endurance we need. Then we can have the same attitude and mindset as Christ and we too can say, Father forgive them for they do not know what they are doing. 

2 Corinthians 4:11-12 For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So then death is working in us, but life in you. NKJ

Luke 23:34 Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” And they divided His garments and cast lots.

Again, we must change the way we think about the things we go through as an opportunity to show God’s love and the light of His glory in a dark and hopeless world.

Every act of kindness can have at least three touch points, the joy as the one who gives, the thankfulness as the one who receives and the pleasure of one who witnesses the mercy, grace and compassion of God.  When we are generous we show God’s love and others receives His love through our generosity, while others may also witness this love of God.

Romans 15:5-7 May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. NKJ

 

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Success For a Christ Follower is to Look Like Christ. – repost

The world has taken on the definition of success as the attainment of wealth, position or honor, but followers of Christ must define success differently. Christ followers define their success as the achievement or attainment of one who is Christ like in their various endeavors, performances or just in their daily lives. When we live life like Christ and when we follow in His footsteps, then we will have obtained success in the eyes of God and His kingdom.

To be a follower of Christ or to be Christ like, we must change our view of what Christianity is. The word Christian was given to the early followers of Christ by the world who were nonbelievers. This was because the Christ follower behavior was so different from the world’s way, they actually saw them behaved and walked like Christ.

Acts 11:26 And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch. NKJ

The world was living a life in fear of lack, in scarcity and in self-focus, while the followers of Christ were giving out of their poverty, sharing their resources and loving those that were unlike themselves. Christ is the One who gave Himself for others, the One who became poor that others may be rich, the One who died that others might have life and the One who forgave and loved those that abused and reviled Him.

2 Corinthians 8:9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich. NKJ

1 John2:2 And Christ himself is the means by which our sins are forgiven, and not our sins only, but also the sins of everyone. GNT

1 Peter 2:23 When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. NIV

Luke 23:34 Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” And they divided His garments and cast lots. NKJ

Successful followers of Christ are defined as the ones who live their lives like Christ. It has been said if you want to find Christ, go low. He was born in a stall not a palace, He lived as a servant and not as a Pharisee, He washed the feet of His friends and even the one who would betray Him. If we want to be first in the kingdom of God, then we are to be last in the eyes of the world. If we want to be chief among the people in the kingdom of God, then we are to be a servant to the people. If we want to be exalted by God live simply in humility, respectfully toward all people, regardless of the origin or status because all humanity are image bearers of God.

John 13:5 After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded. NKJ

Mark 9:3 And He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, “If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.” NKJ

1 Peter 5:5-6 Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for “God resists the proud, but give grace to the humble. Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, NKJ

The name Christian is a label the world gave to the followers of Christ in the early church but now the world has used this label to skew, twist or change the image of how the followers of Christ are viewed. Many people label themselves as Christians but choose to live like the world. They are self-centered, in fear of losing what they have, in fear of lack, or of not having enough, and their only concern is themselves, while refusing to help or assist others.

God has called us children born into the family of God, The Almighty God, El Shaddai, the Inexhaustible One who pours out and whose source is unlimited, boundless and everlasting. God gave us a position not a label. We are children of the Most-High King and we are in His family and we are to look like our Father. Though labels may change but God as our Father and us being born into His family will not change. Just as children in the natural take some resemblance or likeness of their parents, so do we as we grow more knowledgeable through the Spirit, into the image of Christ the Son of God.

Ephesian 2:19Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,

2 Corinthians 3:18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.NKJ

1 John 3:9 No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in them; they cannot go on sinning, because they have been born of God. NIV

Like the early church, our lives should so reflect the life of Christ that the world would notice a lifestyle different than their own. We as Christ followers should live from a place of grace and forgiveness, because the God we serve gives grace to us, therefore we give grace and forgiveness to others. We serve The Almighty God who is limitless and lives in abundance. He will supply all our needs according to His riches in Christ and not according to our self-importance or works. Therefore, we can give without fear of lack, we can love because He first loved us.

Philippians 4:19 And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. NKJ

We can be generous because the God we serve is Yahweh “I am that I am,” He is Elohim the God who creates. Whatever the need, Yahweh is the fulfillment of that need, be it peace, joy, healing, protection, provision, The Great “I Am” is that, and all we will ever need.

Followers of Christ are most successful when they operate in love, humility and grace that Christ displayed while on earth and because our goal is to love God with all that we are and to love and serve others as Christ loved us. Christ followers’ success is not measured by the world’s standards of wealth, position or honor. We are to look like Christ, to operate in meekness and not be prideful; in gracious generous giving and not mean, tightfisted or grudgingly giving. Followers of Christ are to live in kindness, having compassion, sympathy and charity to all, even those who misuse and revile us.

Acts 2:44-47 Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved. NKJ

People of the world become mean and lack generosity because they operate in fear of never having enough and refusing to share. They will not give to the needs of others because they are afraid in the end there might not be enough for themselves.

Followers of Christ operate out of kindness, generosity and humility, because we know God is our endless, vast and everlasting source. We know we can rely on God, Yahweh, El Shaddai, the One who pours out of His abundance and we do not have to rely just on our limited resource, our job or our earthly means.

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Life Choices- Cause and Effect – continued

In this present life, the circumstances and situations we are in, are the results of the ordinary every day choices we or our family have made.   Whether it is the choice of what we eat, how we use our time, or how we invest our money, it is reflected in our current life conditions. Some people may say life is by chance or like a roll of the dice were some may get a good hand while others do not, because life is about choices.  The Bible tells us that the choices of life and death are set before us and those of cursing and blessing and that we should choose life.  This is our God given will and our ability to make choices for our life.

The actions we take are a direct reflection of the choices we make. We may not admit to ourselves verbally about the choices we have made but we confirm our decisions by our actions.  When we refuse to seek God’s word we are choosing to live separated from His life and blessing and with the same action we are choosing to live under a fallen world system, which is full of death and destruction.

Deuteronomy 30:19    I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live;  NKJV

Our fate and future in life is the sum total of our daily choices.  A continued pattern of bad choices will result eventually into an unsuccessful life. We all have made poor choices that resulted into some undesirable outcomes and we know to continue to make those same poor choices will result into continued undesirable outcomes. It is when we change the way we think and those things that influence our decisions and mindset that we are able to make better choices and therefore have more desirable outcomes which allows success to happen in our lives.

What we see, hear and speak impact our mind and heart choices. Some people may say, “It is just a joke, a song or just a movie but many do not realize it is these things train our minds and teaches our hearts what is will desire. It through word and song that information is feed to our mind, heart and develop our mentality. What we see and hear we assess and assimilate and decide to embrace or to reject the information. The things we see and hear will influence us and how our decisions are made. The Bible says our heart is stirred by the things we recite and say. The tongue is like a pen writing skillfully on our heart.  Therefore, it is important for us to be on guard and to understand the various types of communication and media outlets we listen to as their tongues and words write as a pen upon our hearts. They will stir our hearts and will shape our beliefs and ultimately the choices and the direction of our lives.

Psalm 45:1  My heart is stirred by a noble theme as I recite my verses for the king; my tongue is the pen of a skillful writer. NIV

God the Creator has said we were created in His image, in His likeness for His glory. Instead of us listening to God we have allowed people, schools, jobs and our society to define who we are and how we view ourselves.  This fallen world system want to push us into believing we are less than who we are and they want us to allow them to determine who we are and what we can or cannot do.  Satan, the same enemy who tricked Eve into believing she was less than who God created is trying to use the same trick on us to pull the wool over our eyes and have us believe that same lie. Satan would have us to focus on nonessentials and the rate race of life’s distractions to keep us from God’s word and to leave us and our communities open to his demise.

John 12:40 He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, Lest they should see with their eyes,
Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, So that I should heal them NKJV

God has stated He has given each of us the ability to get wealth; He has given us His creative spirit, gifts and talent and He said our gifts will make room for us.  God is faithful to His word. Everyone has the ability to obtain wealth so that they may establish God’s covenant on the earth. Some people have asked, if this is true then why are there so many people living and dying in poverty and are homeless?   All of these situations are a direct result of someone’s choices and some of those choices have been made by past generations and they still impact the present generation.  Until someone stands and turns to the truth of God’s word and come under the covering of their new blood line which is in Christ Jesus.  When we are born again, we are a new creation and part of the family of God, joint heirs with Christ. As we learn to operate in the principles of kingdom of God, we receive the blessings and heritage from our heavenly Father.

Deuteronomy 8:18  And you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day. NKJV

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. NKJV

It is when we change our mindset and thereby our choices that we will see a change in our actions which impacts our destiny. No matter how hard the situation or test may seem God has promised a way of escape and yet we must seek out this way by seeking His word and He will reveal to us how to walk and escape. It may not be as we would want it but He has promised a way out of these circumstances. The sins of the parents impact the children born to them and this is a result of the fall of mankind.  Sometimes we see young children living in hard situations and they are living under the influences and consequences of their parents’ choices. But every child as they become of age has the same choice, to continue in that spiral depraved path which leads to destruction or to choose a different path a life in Christ. This is not to say people who follow Christ will not have hard times, because they will, but God’s word gives wisdom and teaches us how to press through and not stay in that situation.

Every life stands at the crossroads of choices and we are tempted to stay in the same rat race our parents, family and social structure that we have been in for generations.  Many people choose to continue in that same destructive life style and behavior because they are confused and scared to go through the process of change. God has made the choice available to us but it is still ours to make. Sometimes we it would be easier to stay with the familiar, however bad it may be, rather than go through the hard process of change and possible forgiveness.

1 Corinthians 10:13      No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. NKJV

Many societies will say education is the way to a better life, but we see criminals who educated and they are only smarter at getting around the system.  Some believe they should get better jobs and we see those who have all their worldly needs met and still give up on life.   Life experiences will try to tell us to only be concerned for ourselves, that is every man is for himself and self-preservation is above all.  But that is not God’s way His ways are not like man’s ways and His thoughts are high above man’s thoughts they are higher than the heavens are above the earth. God tells us to help, love and to forgive one another even if they do not ask for it or deserve it. God tells us to seek the wellbeing of others and to help those who are in need.

Isaiah 55:8-9 For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor 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. NKJV

There is a universal principle of cause and effect that some people call Karma but God says it is the principle of sowing and reaping.  If we know the type of fruit, we want then we should plant the type of seed to produce such fruit.  If we know what type of life we want to live, whether it be obtaining wealth or being shown kindness or love then we should sow the same corresponding seed and energy that will produce that fruit.   The actions or the seeds we sow toward others will produce a harvest. This occurs in both the spiritual and physical realm. Those things we want to receive in our future we should plant in our present just as we would plant corn seed in the spring to receive corn produce in the fall.

Genesis 8:22 “While the earth remains, Seedtime and harvest, Cold and heat, Winter and summer, And day and night Shall not cease.”  NKJV

Even with our bad choices and mistakes of our past we can change and turn those things around through sowing the seed of prayer over those situation and circumstances. God has told us to come to Him and let us reason together.  Even though our sins are red as scarlet God can turn them white as snow and will forgive our sins.  We do not have to let our past define us because in God we are a new creation. God is more concerned about our future than He is with our past. He is more concern with our eternity than our fleeting and short-lived lifestyle that is grounded in poor judgement.

Isaiah 1: 18-19  “Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the Lord, “Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool.  If you are willing and obedient, You shall eat the good of the land; NKJV

Many people will allow their past to imprison them so they are unable to be free to accomplish their purpose and live for their future. We see so many children and young minds destroyed through an act or an event such as being abused or abandonment or even poor choices they themselves have made. These are only occurrences or incidents that happened to us it is not who we are, but some people will allow these actions to define them and determine their self-worth. They are events but life is more than one event but it is a continuous life cycle of choices and actions and reactions.

We all have the same choices to make, whether to allow our past action or past abusive situation to consume and destroy our present lives and purpose or to trust God. When we trust God, we can release the hate the hurt and allow Him to settle the matter.  The lie of believing we have no hope because of our past is from the pit of hell. The good news of God is we can choose to accept Christ and become a new creation.

God knew mankind would fall and He knew our faults and failures before we were created and He provided a way through Jesus for us to return to Him before the foundation of the world was laid. God knew the strategies and lies the enemy would use against us to cause us to distrust God and hate ourselves.  But God sent truth, His Son in flesh so that we could be set free from the trap and lies of the enemy. No matter what the situation or circumstances were in our past, we all still have a choice concerning our future.  As long as we are living and breathing, we have a chance and a choice to make a difference. We may be living in some difficult conditions as the result of choices other people made for our lives but we can choose to make better decisions that can lead to better and different results.

We have seen those who get trapped into lifestyles or habits because of poor choices or because of some tragic events. Some people continue to relive those events over and over resulting in a stagnate lifestyle and they continue making the same poor choices. Sadly, they never move beyond their past. We also have seen those who have gone through some atrocious events, but learn to forgive either themselves or others and move on with their lives to become positive and fruitful people. Some people come out with a passion to help others who experienced similar circumstances.  We must learn how to forgive ourselves and others in order to live free from the past.

None of us can choose our families, race, nationality or social placement but we can choose what we do with the hand life have dealt us. We can choose to listen to the enemy’s lie that says it is because of our race, nationality, gender, social or economic status, that we cannot be successful. Or we can choose to operate according to God’s kingdom principles and precepts and trust in God and His promise to help and to provide a way for us to escape these lies.

Remember, no matter what situation we currently find ourselves in, there is hope for change. We can make our future different from our past. God has given a great gift in the Holy Spirit to come and dwell in us and to secure our future but the decision to receive His Spirit is up to us. We must choose to do things differently in order to get different results. Past events can impact our future but we can rise above our past and not allow it to hinder us through faith in Jesus Christ. We can choose to create new memories, new actions with new outcomes, but it is a choice.

Joshua 24:15    But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

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Life Choices- Cause and Effect

Our lives are the sum total of our choices. Though we may not have realized it when we were young, it was the choices we made as youth and young adults that set the course of our lives. This is one of humanity’s created gifts from God that is man’s ability to choose. The choices we make will not only affect our life but it will influence our eternity. What we fail to associate with our choices are the consequences that follow. We do have a say about the choices we make but we do not have a say in the consequences. Consequences are the results of actions. It is explained in Newton’s third law of motion says with every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. These are natural principles that are evident in this world system.

In the natural physical world, there are principles and natural laws that flow, some people may call it Karma or cause and effect, or Newton’s third law of motion, for every action, there is an equal reaction and for all choices there are corresponding actions or results of those choices. We do not like to hear the word consequences because it brings a negative connotation to mind, but good or bad there are results with every decision we make in the natural. There are also spiritual principles and God has provided supernatural principles and precepts for us to alter and rise above the natural ways of this fallen system. We can be transformed from our past into a new creation through faith in the completed work of Christ.

Many people do not want to be responsible for their own actions and want to believe the things they are going through just happened or is someone else’s fault. Some things we experience may not be a direct reflection of our choices and may be part of a legacy from our parents and past generations. Some people call these traits or status we inherit from our family be it generational curses or generational blessings of the parents.

We have examples of both ways some children end up in poverty because of the poor choices of their parents and other children undeserving inheriting wealth as the result of their parents’ work and dedication. These are natural principles. Just as gravity will flow and will naturally pull things down to the earth. It is only when a greater law or principle is implemented that will override gravity’s pull and allow an object to fly. Like the greater law of lift moves a plane beyond the impact of the lesser law of gravity and flight is possible.

The principles are the same with the natural law of the sins of the father may be passed on to the children and may affect their lives.  But when a greater spiritual law is implemented, Jesus’ payment for sins then the consequence of our natural parents and our own actions are cancelled and become of no effect because the spiritual and eternal is greater than the natural and temporal.  When we accept Jesus, we have a new Father, a new inheritance and we are a new creation and the old things are passed away.

2 Corinthians 4:18    While we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal. NKJV  

We cannot predict the future but, we can learn from the past, from the choices we or our parents have made in the past and see where they lead. We can as an act of our will choose to make different choices. There are some natural rules that we can look at which may be indicators of probability, like those who choose to advance their education will have a greater probability or chance at making a better living then those who do not. This is a rule of thumb not absolutes or principle because we have seen the opposite on both sides of the spectrum.

Just as those who choose to pursue God’s word and walk in it tend to live life with meaning and purpose. Their lives may not be perfect or without challenges but it can have meaning. We want to be careful with how we define Christ followers, they are not those who go to church and claim to be religious and call themselves Christians. They are those who actually follow Christ, those who seek to know the true God, develop a relationship with their creator and walk in His way. We are to seek first God’s kingdom and acknowledge the righteousness we have because of our faith in Christ and not because of our works or efforts.

There are the naysayers who refuse to believe the Word of God and they tend to allow life experiences, their culture, and allow other people to define truth for them. We are all given a life to live with a created purpose, to bring glory to God on the earth. We all are allowed to make our life choices. God did not change His created purpose for mankind even though mankind chose to rebel against God and obeyed Satan. He provided another opportunity for us to return to Him through faith in Christ.

Throughout time people change, time changes, life experiences differ, and our culture changes but God stays the same. We have allowed our culture to define truth and direction for us.  Sometimes a culture will magnify one particular way of living and life experiences while putting another down and making it inferior and they will define these cultural differences as truth. Some cultures will lift themselves up while setting for others a direction or course in life that is beneath them and is not true. If a person does not have a compass that points to the “true north,” truth which is seen in the Bible, to help direct them they will be blown in various directions. We have seen it too often with the decision’s leaders make and they will have the masses follow. People like Hitler to name one, lead people to destruction because they lack the knowledge of God’s truth that all humanity was created in His image.

We have heard it said, “Raising children is guess work because they do not come with a manual!” That is culture speaking because God has given us a guide book, His word; in it we find directions and instruction on how to raise our children.  The Bible, like most manuals, are not read and the instructions become useless then people wonder why things are not working well. Since the fall of humanity, when they ate of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, mankind thinks they have all the knowledge they need to live life. This is another lie from the enemy.

God never changes, He did not change His created purpose, and all men were created in His image.  With the fall of man, we lost the glory of God that was on mankind and they no longer looked like or acted like what we were created to be. Mankind lost the image and the character of God. They were so far removed from what they were created to be it took Jesus to come and pay our debt that we may be reinstated back into the family of God. Jesus came and showed us our created purpose and our true character as created in God’s image.

Jesus was a person who had compassion for all the people especially for those who were the least in society. Those who were without and did not have the best things and people who were sick and hungry. He loved others more than He loved His own life.  He gave His life that we may receive grace, mercy and to show us the love God has for us through His words and actions.

Therefore, if we must take a position or a stance on a belief, let it be truth which is the infallible Word of God, who is the Creator and Sustainer of all that exists. We should not let our limited knowledge, life experiences or the things we go through define who we are. The world is in a fallen state of chaos and sin.  Mankind has an enemy who comes to kill and to steal our identity and the purpose for which we were created, to be like and reflect the image of God. There is a struggle, we will have opposition in life but we can live this life victoriously when we walk in the knowledge of truth according to the word of God.

God calls those who follow Christ His beloved children and this world system will try to destroy our image as God’s beloved, our purpose and our hope for the future. The Most-High God did not leave us in that fallen state of depravity, thank you Lord, He sent Jesus. Jesus came that we might be restored and to have life and a more abundant life. God gave us His written word in the Bible so that it will give us insight and light in this dark fallen world and that we may receive understanding to know how we are to live this life victoriously.

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

Psalm 34: 12-14              Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days, keep your tongue from evil and your lips from telling lies. Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it. NIV

Psalms 1:1-3   Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither, whatever they do prospers.  NIV

Deuteronomy 30:19-20  This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before your life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the Lord is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. NIV

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