In His Timing

In  the book of John, chapters 13-17 are all written concerning what took place, and the conversations Jesus had with His disciples, at what we refer to as the Last Supper. It was Passover, and they had gathered in Jerusalem, together to celebrate, and in reality it was their last meal together before Jesus was arrested and crucified.

As I read John Chapter 16 the phrase "a little while" kept jumping out at me.

John 16:17-18

17.Some of His disciples then said to one another, "What is this thing He is telling us, 'A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me'; and, 'because I go to the Father'?"
18.So they were saying, "What is this that He says, 'A little while'? We do not know what He is talking about."

Jesus was trying to explain to his disciples that the time was upon them for His death. Even though Jesus had talked to them about it before, they really didn't want to believe it. They just couldn't imagine Jesus leaving this earth in what they felt like would be a defeated way. They didn't understand that His plan was not to "take over the government and kingship" of Israel. They wanted a new world order and even though they knew Jesus was God's Son and the Messiah, they also wanted Him to be an earthly King. Solve all their problems here on earth in their lifetime and make right all the injustices of their existence.

John 16:33
"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

Their timing was off. The Old Testament refers to a time when Jesus will rule, but it was just not at that time. I think a lot of us get our timing off. I know I have...way off. Things I know God has spoken to me have not yet come to pass. Have I given up? No...it's just not the right time yet.

Jesus says that we will have trouble, and we do. Illness, death, upset, disappointments...we all experience them. But the key here is to realize that in the end we will overcome.

2 Corinthians 4:7-8, 16-18

7. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the surpassing greatness of the power may be of God and not from ourselves; 8. [we are] afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; 9. persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed;... 16. Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. 17. For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, 18. while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

The Holy Spirit directed me to these passages today. Are you needing to see God's timing come to pass? Are you like me and need Him to step in and "make things right"? I think many of us are. I think He's reminding us today as we walk through the week before Easter, that He knows the right time to bring things to pass. What may look like a huge disappointment; something that just cannot be "fixed" or made right to us; He is in control of. He knows the days and times. He knows our needs and desires. He doesn't leave us alone. He's there; working it out. What we see with our own two eyes in the "natural", He has His hand on in the "supernatural".

I know His disciples were devastated at His crucifixion. How could it be that He let this happen, when He, Jesus, had the power to make it different. They just didn't understand the timing...it was to be "a little while" then it would all be clear. Jesus' death on the cross made it possible for our salvation; all mankind's salvation. Otherwise that would not be possible.

What we see now is temporary; what we cannot see is eternal.

Thank you, Jesus, that you are teaching us to walk, not by sight, but by faith.

love in Jesus,
Have a blessed Easter,
Debra

Abraham's Blessing

Today we're going to take a little trip back to the Old Testament in the Book of Genesis, to look at Abraham. God instituted a Covenant with Abraham that layed out the way to salvation, many years before the Law was brought about. It was a Covenant of Faith, looking toward the prophesied Messiah. Abraham was reckoned as "righteous", finding salvation, because he "believed" God and His promises. 

Galatians 3: 6-9

6. Even so Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness. 7. Therefore, be sure that it is those who are of faith who are sons of Abraham. 8. And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, [saying], "All the nations shall be blessed in you." 9. So then those who are of faith are blessed with Abraham, the believer.

Galatians 3:14
"He (Jesus) redeemed us (from the curse) in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit."

Genesis 12:1-4
1. Now the LORD said to Abram, "Go forth from your country, And from your relatives And from your father's house, To the land which I will show you; 2. And I will make you a great nation, And I will bless you, And make your name great; And so you shall be a blessing; 3. And I will bless those who bless you, And the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed." 4. So Abram went forth as the LORD had spoken to him; and Lot went with him. Now Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran.



Back in Genesis 12 we first meet Abraham, or Abram as he was known then. He lived in an area of pagan worshippers, but he was known by God. God saw something in this man that made Him know he would listen and obey God's Word. God asked Abram to pick up his family and leave his country. God said, "leave" and that He would show Abram where to go. How many of us have heard that same call from God? God tells us to "pack up" either spiritually or physically" (maybe both) and head out. Leave our comfort zone...and be willing to act in faith and move forward in to whatever God is doing. I know I've been there.

God had a big plan for Abraham, and to be able to reveal it to him, he had to be out of the atmosphere he had been living in. Sometimes God calls us to leave friends, churches, security, jobs, lifestyles etc. in order to get to a place where we can hear Him better. Our comfort zones can sometimes be a hindrance to our calling in life. Safe and secure, like Peter in the boat. God can call us to put our feet out of the boat into the uncertain waters where all we can do is look at Him and trust God that our feet will stay up and that we will not sink.

If you look back at Genesis 3:6 you will see the main point of this post: Abraham believed God and thru that Faith in God's Word he found salvation. The covenant that God made with Moses many years later which instituted "the Law" did not obliterate the covenant God had made with Abraham. The Law was given to guide and show that we cannot be saved by rules and regulations. Therefore Abraham's covenant preceded the "Law". Faith in God is the key here. Salvation through faith.


Romans 4:1-3
1. What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, has found? 2. For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about; but not before God. 3. For what does the Scripture say? "And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness."

Ephesians 1:13
In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation-- having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise...

So we've looked at a lot of scripture today, and what does it all mean in our study of Galatians? The Judaizers were trying to get the Galatian Christians, and all other Christians for that matter, to return to the Jewish way of doing things, i.e. the Old Testament way to salvation. But they were wrong even on that count, because even under the Law of the Old Covenant, salvation was not found in obeying the rules and regulations of the Law. Salvation had always been through believing in the promise of a Savior and of the Holy Spirit. So the Judaizers were wrong on all counts. The Abrahamic Covenant came before the Mosaic Covenant of the Law (the Ten Commandments). The Law did not discount the previous covenant at all. And even so, when Jesus says that He did not come to do away with the Law, but to fulfill it, the concept still stands.

No one can find salvation, or "get to heaven" by following rules and regulations, or by being "good enough", or by doing acts of charity or good will. Giving gifts to the poor or helping others are all wonderful attributes, but they do not provide salvation. Acknowledging our sin and asking Jesus to be our savior and a personal relationship with Jesus Christ are the only ways to be "justified" and made righteous in the eyes of our Heavenly Father.


Writing these posts on Galatians have made me know that in just a few minutes here each week I cannot "teach" a book of the Bible. It requires study, time, and prayer. Not only for me, but for you. A personal time for Bible Study and prayer are life changing. That's why I encourage you to look up the scripture for yourself and to pray for understanding. One of the best ways of "studying" the Bible is to look up the other scripture references in the center or margin of your text. I have used a New International Version Study Bible for years and would not go back. It gives reference material and other scripture that helps give a well rounded understanding of what you are reading.


I used to call it Bible Study Scavenger Hunt, because one scripture would lead to another. Take time with a notebook/journal and write down the scriptures you're finding and what you "get" from each one. You'll be surprised that shortly you are personally coming up with a lot of "revelation". It takes a little time, but it's so rewarding. Plus it puts you in the place of "hearing God" speak to you individually.


And I'd love to hear from more of you about what you're receiving here, if anything. I know a lot of people come in to the site, but I don't know how many of you are actually reading it or gaining anything from it. I also know we're super busy and sometimes a comment takes a minute. I'd just like to know if you're reading.

I'm called to do this, but it really makes it so much more meaningful to me if I have some input from some of you. I know there are some of you out there that come from other countries. I'd love to say "hello" to you and thank you for visiting here.


Not preaching here, just encouraging Bible Study, and asking for your ideas and thoughts on our subject matter.


I love writing these posts because it keeps me in tune and in touch with what God is saying. Believe me, He IS relevant for today and knows what each of us are doing and thinking and going through.


Have a great week everyone.
Hugs and blessings,
in Jesus,
Debra

Personal Revelation

We know God has laid out His plans for the Gospel and Eternity, but does He still speak to us, personally? Does He care about us as an individual who needs a personal "word" from the Holy Spirit? We're still looking at Saul/Paul's conversion and how he heard God speak to him.


Galatians 1: 11-17
11. For I would have you know, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. 12. For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but [I received it] through a revelation of Jesus Christ. 13. For you have heard of my former manner of life in Judaism, how I used to persecute the church of God beyond measure, and tried to destroy it; 14. and I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries among my countrymen, being more extremely zealous for my ancestral traditions. 15. But when He who had set me apart, [even] from my mother's womb, and called me through His grace, was pleased 16. to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with flesh and blood, 17. nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went away to Arabia, and returned once more to Damascus.

In verse 11 there is a key phrase I want to look at. "received through a revelation of Jesus Christ". We know Paul aka "Saul" of Tarsus, was a zealous persecutor of Christians. He was a young rabbi taught under the tutelage of Gamaliel, a famous Jewish teacher in the first century. As I mentioned last week, Saul was fast making a name for himself that was causing him to rise up in the Jewish leadership. He was the "hands on" man for persecuting and killing Christians.
 
The word "revelation" in the Greek is apokalypto which means to disclose, unveil, uncover. And has the sense of restoring or curing. We are familiar with the word, "apokalypse" which comes from this Greek word, referring in our culture today as end time events or something of cataclysmic change and importance.
 

Saul had been on a mission to kill Christians in the city of Damascus, Syria, which is north of Israel and Jerusalem. For an in depth personal account of his experience read Acts 9 :1-19. Paul makes it clear that he did not receive his revelation from any man; not from the Jews, and not from the Christians. The Jews were trying to wipe out the Christians, and the Christians were afraid of Saul so they had nothing to do with him. His revelation came from Jesus Christ himself.


And what is this "revelation" that Paul is talking about? Something that had been hidden, a "mystery" not understood or yet uncovered for the Jews to know. Plain and simple, the message of Jesus Christ; that salvation was not just for the Jews, but also for the Gentiles, (everyone else). That revelation rocked the world of the Jewish people and they did not, nor have they yet, received it. Throughout the Old Testament there are indicators and prophecies of the "Savior" who would be coming. But the Jews had a concept of who they wanted that savior to be, and he didn't look anything like Jesus of Nazareth.

Do we feel like "revelation" is just for the OT and the early New Testament times? Well, some denominations would believe and say so. But God is still God, and even though there might not be the same type of revelations, we all still need to have Jesus "reveal" Himself to us personally. Maybe we haven't led a life as counter-productive to the cause of Christ that Saul had lived, but we all need salvation and to know our Savior on a personal one-on-one way.


In verse 15 of Galatians, chapter 1, Paul talks about God setting him apart from birth, and calling him by His Grace. In Jeremiah 1: 5-10 the OT prophet Jeremiah recalls his own calling, evidently at a young age. Take time to read this passage sometime this week. You will be blessed by it and maybe feel a tug at your own heart.


I remember about 11 years ago, (not well read in the Bible, or having studied alot) I came across these words in Jeremiah 1:5, "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart..." I remember it clearly because I was on a quest for personal revelation from God. I needed to hear from Him, personally. I was setting at the kitchen table, Bible on my lap. I read those words and an electric spark went through me. God was speaking. He was talking to me. insignificant me. Those words touched me so powerfully. I had heard them before...for many years. They had lived in a hidden place in my soul and spirit. A place that sometimes seems unreachable, yet we know it's there. A place where our spirit communicates with the Holy Spirit. Those words had been hidden there, until that moment when God "revealed" Himself to me personally for my own life.


There are many many people in the world today, that believe that Jesus Christ is Lord, and Savior, yet they have not had a "personal revelation" of who He is. I'm encouraging you and me both, to seek personal revelation from the Holy Spirit and the Word of God, the Bible. (they need to go hand in hand) He will send it to you. Do you have problems in your daily life?...children, spouse, health, relationships, finances, unsaved loved ones? God is waiting to personally reveal Himself to you in these areas. It's something I need to remember too; seeking Jesus for personal revelation of His will for my life. Trust Him. He's ready to communicate.

This is where I will strongly reiterate the need for daily Bible study. When we put ourselves before God; Bible open, He sees our willingness and availability to hear from Him. If you aren't reading your Bible it's harder to get to that place. Not impossible, because people find Jesus everyday that have never picked up a Bible. But to receive instruction and personal guidance from God we need to be in His Word.


Paul is a huge example of how "suddenly" God can step in and change our lives...and our destiny. Don't give up on the possibility of "suddenlies" in your spiritual life.


love in Jesus,
Debra

He Comes in Triumph

Today, I knew that God wanted me to write about Holy Week. He had something to say, so in prayer He directed me to John 12.

John 12: 13-18
13.[The crowd] took the branches of the palm trees, and went out to meet Him, and [began] to cry out, "Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel."
14. And Jesus, finding a young donkey, sat on it; as it is written,
15. "Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, your King is coming, seated on a donkey's colt."
16. These things His disciples did not understand at the first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things were written of Him, and that they had done these things to Him.
 17. And so the multitude who were with Him when He called Lazarus out of the tomb, and raised him from the dead, were bearing Him witness.
18. For this cause also the multitude went and met Him, because they heard that He had performed this sign.
 
Palm Sunday is also called the "Triumphal Entry". Jesus came to Jerusalem for the Passover Feast. This was the week before His arrest and crucifixion, on Good Friday, and His resurrection on Easter, or Resurrection Sunday.

The crowd that had been at the house of Lazarus and saw him raised from the dead were all there, to greet Jesus and wave the palm branches which was ritually for triumphant leaders coming home from war.
 
Let's look at the prophetic scripture from Zechariah that predicts this day in Jesus life.


Zechariah 9: 9-10
9. Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout [in triumph], O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; He is just and endowed with salvation, Humble, and mounted on a donkey, Even on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
10. And I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim, And the horse from Jerusalem; And the bow of war will be cut off. And He will speak peace to the nations; And His dominion will be from sea to sea, And from the River to the ends of the earth.

I have heard that there are over 400 prophecies in the Old Testament concerning Jesus' life and death. The previous verses from Zechariah 9 are just one of them. Let's look at them with the emphasis on Jesus riding the young donkey.

In Biblical times war was almost everpresent. Chariots and horses, bows and arrows were the weapons that were used.  Throughout Jewish history the people were looking for their "King". A Messiah that would come and set up an earthly kingdom, as did King David. Most of the inhabitants of Israel were waiting for the Messiah that would come to liberate them from oppressive rule of their enemies and then, in Jesus' day, from the harsh hand of Rome.
Many of the followers of Jesus and even His disciples were thinking along those lines. Having seen the miracle He performed with the resurrection of Lazarus, they were hoping Jesus would "miraculously" take over the government and give it to the Jewish people. On Palm Sunday, that was what the crowd was thinking. They were worshipping Him as God's Son, but also hoping that the time was near for Him to be "crowned" as King here in an earthly kingdom.

But instead of a powerful steed to signify the strength of an earthly takeover, Jesus was destined to ride into Jerusalem on a lowly donkey. Just as a pregnant Mary had done all those years before, He now rode on the back of a donkey once more.

Jesus does triumph. His death on a cross almost 2000 years ago cannot be looked at as a loss, nor a failure. That is what the world does not truly understand. God's son came as a man, Jesus, to provide a way for salvation and eternal life for us. He paid the price on the cross for our sin. He was predestined to do that. The Jews did not kill him, nor the Romans. The devil did not win. Jesus won. We won. He triumphantly led the way on a young donkey. He came in peace, on a humble mount, the lowly way to arrive in Bethlehem and then in Jerusalem. He voluntarily laid down His life for us. Thank you, Jesus, for your great love for us.

If you have not received Jesus as your Savior, it's easy to do so right now. Just ask Him to come into your heart and change you. He will do it. Salvation is easy. It is not hard. All it takes is one step in His direction. He will meet you and you will begin a new life. You will win, too.

Thank you Father God, that your Son who came humbly and in humility, to bring us peace, is truly the King of Kings. 

Love, in Jesus,

Debra

The Wind of the Holy Spirit

When we first become new Christians our decision making process is beginning to change, but we are still dealing with our "old man" and the "flesh". We begin to recognize that we need to change our actions, words, and behaviors, but it's still hard. Alot of the time we end up still making those poor choices. As we mature in our Christian walk the easier it is to let the Holy Spirit lead and guide our decision making process. The more time we spend in prayer and Bible Study, the more likely that we will allow the Holy Spirit to manage our thought processes which in turn, makes decision making easier and more Christlike. This is all part of what we call "Walking in the Holy Spirit".

John 3:8
"The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit."


Acts 2:2
And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent, rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.

The interesting thing about wind is that it comes in many forms or strengths. It is soft and sweet and gentle. Then again, it can come with great power and noise. I have experienced both. And both in the Spirit realm.
I want my life to be like a sailboat. I put up the sail and then the Holy Spirit moves. His Presence takes me where He desires that I go. I want to be available to be directed by Him.

As Neil Anderson writes in our book, Victory Over the Darkness:

"There is a degree of mystery to walking in the Spirit which cannot be captured in an equation. In fact, the moment you think you have reduced the Spirit-filled walk to a formula, it probably isn't Spirit-filled anymore."

Using a "formula" for some things is helpful in the beginning. Like prayer, there are several acrostics that are helpful in remembering to include certain elements. Such as "ACTS". Adoration, confession, thanksgiving, and supplication.

We may use a formula in the beginning for many situations, but like marriage, friendships, or any relationship, while rules and regulations can help us with boundaries and maintaining healthy parameters, they are not meant to be the norm or the mature way of approaching situations and life in general. I do have a few little "habits" and daily customs that I look forward to and enjoy, but what if we did the same thing day after day without thought of spontaneity, or impulse? Safe, but boring. So it is with our relationship with the Holy Spirit. It cannot be "pinned down" or standardized. 

One thing to know and be aware of is that the Holy Spirit is a "person". He is not a thing or it. He has a personality. He is the essence of God the Father, and Jesus the Son. He is our Comforter, our Helper, He is the one who "comes along side" and holds us up. Like a person who is limping and needs someone to give him strength for the journey. That's us...the one limping, and the Holy Spirit comes to us to strengthen, encourage, and help us in life.

In the following scripture Matthew is recounting what John the Baptist is speaking concerning Jesus and His ministry:

Matthew 3:11
"As for me, I baptize you with water for repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, and I am not fit to remove His sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

And then Matthew's account of Jesus' baptism by John and how the Holy Spirit came upon Him.

Matthew 3:16-17
16. And after being baptized, Jesus went up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove, [and] coming upon Him, 17. and behold, a voice out of the heavens, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased."

Jesus came to earth as God's Son. He always knew who He was. He was not confused, and walked in an earthly anointing as such. But if you think about it, Jesus did no miracles until after His baptism when the Holy Spirit indwelt Him. His baptism by water and then by the Holy Spirit is part of the pattern that God shows us throughout scripture. Salvation and then Baptism in the Holy Spirit. It is not a requirement for salvation, but it is something God says for us to do. "Be Filled".

Quite a while back, before I had been baptised in the Holy Spirit, during the time that I was intently seeking Him, I had a dream that God fully impressed upon me as the daylight came. I was in a huge mansion. Magnificent and sumptuous. Room after room of beauty and delight. I could see the successive rooms filled with opulence and blessing, yet I was standing in the entry hall. I could not proceed into the rest of the mansion. God spoke to me and said. "This is all waiting for you but you can't leave the entry hall until you make the next step."

That's how way too many Christians live their lives. Stuck in the entry without ever moving into the abundance and blessing of knowing a life filled to overflowing with the Holy Spirit.

I'd love to hear your comments, questions,

 or experiences if you'd like to share them!

love in Jesus,

Debra

3 Types of Man: the Natural Man

Monday we looked at some scripture that speaks about the Holy Spirit, who He is, and why He came. Living a life void of God's presence, represented by the Holy Spirit, will result in a life without power for change. Walking in the Spirit is marked by the fruit of the Spirit. A life in touch with God and directed by Him.

Paul talks about 3 types of people in the following scripture passage: the natural man, the spiritual man, and the "fleshly" man. Let's look at the three types of men and how they relate to the Holy Spirit. We will see the critical differences pertaining to spiritual life which exist between these three kinds of individuals.


1 Corinthians 2:14-3:3
14. But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised. 15. But he who is (a) spiritual (man) appraises all things, yet he himself is appraised by no man. 16. For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he should instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ. 1Cor 3:1. And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual men, but as to men of flesh, as to babes in Christ. 2. I gave you milk to drink, not solid food; for you were not yet able [to receive it]. Indeed, even now you are not yet able, 3. for you are still fleshly. For since there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly, and are you not walking like mere men?

Let's take a look at this diagram to get a little better understanding of what the Natural Man is like.

(click to enlarge)

Version: NAS

Ephesians 2:1-3
1. And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, 2. in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. 3. Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.

This is a pretty concise description of a person before salvation. They are spiritually dead and living a life apart from God. This person sins as a matter of fact. He has a soul of course in that he can think, have emotions and choose. His mind, will, and emotions are not directed by God, but by his own flesh, his "old man".

The Natural Man's spirit is dead, living apart from Jesus. He cannot fulfill the purpose for which God has placed him here on earth.

This person is independent of God, and if affects his will. This independence from God gives sin the opportunity to dwell in this person's body and mind. He may try to find purpose in life apart from God, but it will be futile and temporary. He may wander from "place to place" physically and emotionally without ever finding happiness and satisfaction in life. He makes wrong choices and decisions out of habit. He cannot get off the cycle of sin.

Toxic emotions take over this person, envy, bitterness, anxiety. Obsessive thoughts and fantasy life, strife, anger, immorality; anything that rules your life and controls your thinking. Inability to forgive, love, or have sympathy. These are all attributes of a person that does not know God. As believers we still have some of these traits, but hopefully they do not dominate our lives.

He has a body that because it is not directed by God can be completely dominated by illness and disease. Now I want to give my own opinion here out of experience. I've had to adjust my thinking and ideas about "health" and healing, from this book. I have some physical ailments, yet I walk by the Holy Spirit. Do they influence me, yes they do at times, but the difference is that they do not "dominate" me. You and I may have some physical issues but the key is to not let them "define" who you are. Now, I still believe in healing, but I am not healed yet. A controversy? No. Not for me.

There are many hard line Christians who say if you're sick, well then something is definitely wrong with your spiritual life. Sin can of course affect our physical life. It's in our attitude and trust in God. I may not be completely healed, but I'm believing that God is in control, and I'm moving forward. I'm not living in fear or dread or unbelief. I believe that God wants me well and that when His timing is perfect I will be walking in it. It's not black or white. "The Healing Doctrine" can be simple, yet at times it is multi-layered and personal.

It is clear that living a lifestyle that is controlled by stress, abuse, and neglect, a person can easily become ill and then later disease ridden. "Possessing peace of mind and the calm assurance of God's presence in our lives positively affects our physical health".

Romans 8:11
But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who indwells you.

If you are affected by illness or physical disease, do what I do; seek God for His healing touch and thank Him in advance, everyday, that you are getting better and better.

Next time we'll look at the "Spiritual Man"; how we relate to God, after being born again. Remember, if you have questions or comments we would all love to hear them. Just say "Hey!" and let us know you're here. Hope you're having a great week.

love, in Jesus,

Debra

(concepts and quotations taken from

Victory Over the Darkness

by Neil Anderson)

Learning to "Walk by the Spirit"

Last week we started talking about "sanctification"; our journey after salvation, with the Holy Spirit, to be conformed into the image of Jesus. Salvation transforms our spirit. We become alive in Christ, yet we still live in the same physical body and we have the same soul, which is our mind, will, and emotions. After salvation, our spirit desires to be at one with the Holy Spirit. Leaving our old ways of thinking and doing things may be our desire, but it may not always be easy.

Version: NAS

Galatians 5:16-18
16. But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. 17. For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please. 18. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law.

Romans 8:12-13

12. So then, brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh-- 13. for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live.


There are two main elements involved in gaining victory over "walking according to the flesh". From living according to the flesh to "walking in the Spirit".

1) The first is that we need to learn to condition our behavior to our new man, our new self which is infused with Jesus Christ. We need to learn how to "walk in the Spirit".

Galatians 5:16
But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.

2) The second is that we allow our old patterns for thinking and responding to our sin-trained flesh, be transformed by the renewing of our mind.


Romans 12:1-2
1. I urge you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, [which is] your spiritual service of worship. 2. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.


Walking by the Spirit may seem like a mystery. What exactly does it mean and how do we as believers attain that "place"?

Let's start by looking in Acts Chapter 1, as Paul recounts Jesus and the disciples in one of their meetings before He ascended into Heaven. This was after His crucifixion, but before He left earth. There was a period of 40 days in which Jesus is speaking to them about what is coming, and gives them instructions for Pentecost. Pentecost falls 50 days after Easter, or Resurrection Sunday.

Acts 1:4-8
4. And gathering them together, He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for what the Father had promised, "Which," [He said], "you heard of from Me; 5. for John baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now." 6. And so when they had come together, they were asking Him, saying, "Lord, is it at this time You are restoring the kingdom to Israel?" 7. He said to them, "It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority; 8. but you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth."

Luke 24:49

"And behold, I am sending forth the promise of My Father upon you; but you are to stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high."

John 14:25-26
25. "These things I have spoken to you, while abiding with you. 26. "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.
We are going to be looking at the concept of "walking by the Spirit" for the next week or so. I wanted to share the previous scriptures before we get started. Before Jesus died on the cross the disciples of Jesus were "saved", but they found their salvation under the Old Testament covenant. Jesus had not yet been crucified, and in so doing, He had not yet fulfilled the requirement for New Testament salvation. Jesus had spoken to them about the Holy Spirit who would come and be with them. Under the Old Testament the Holy Spirit "visited"  a person, but under the New Covenant the Holy Spirit "indwells" a believer. The Baptism of the Holy Spirit brings God's power into our lives and enable us to live a life unto God.

Wednesday we will start looking at the three kinds of "man" Paul talks about, the "natural man", the "spiritual man", and the "fleshly man" and how each one interacts with God and then his relationships with others.

The topic of "walking by the Spirit" can be a pretty far reaching subject, and also the "Baptism of the Holy Spirit". I want to stick with the book for the next few days, but if you have questions or ideas I'm open for them. I'll do my best to find Biblical answers.

If you read the comments from the last post, you have read the insightful and personal thoughts from a young friend of mine, Cassandra. She is an amazing young woman who I have known for the last few years. Reading her comment was such a blessing to me. I encourage you to go back and take a minute, you will also be blessed.

love to you all,

Debra

Set Free

Last time we talked about our "old man", that is our "old nature" before salvation. We have seen that upon the moment of salvation our old nature is nailed to the cross with Jesus. We have been "crucified with Christ".
We become a new creation in Christ Jesus. But there still remains one big question...why do we still sin? The apostle Paul really addresses this in the 7th chapter of Romans:

Romans 7:15-24
15. For that which I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I [would] like to [do], but I am doing the very thing I hate. ...19. For the good that I wish, I do not do; but I practice the very evil that I do not wish. ...23. but I see a different law in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind, and making me a prisoner of the law of sin which is in my members. 24. Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death?

And what are some of these deeds that can keep us in a life of sin?

Version: NAS

Galatians 5:19-21
19. Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20. idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, 21. envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you just as I have forewarned you that those who practice such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

An unbeliever cannot help himself in these areas. They may find a temporary solutions or help, but as a rule an unbeliever can stay in this lifestyle for most of their life. They cannot help but live "in the flesh", but we as believers, no longer have to live this way.

Getting rid of our old fleshly nature was God's job and gift to us at the cross. He changed our nature, supernaturally, but it is our responsibility to change our "behavior", by putting to death the "deeds of our body".

I, and all of us for that matter, exhibit certain bad habits, sinful actions, and problematic behaviors, even as a born-again child of God. All we have to do is take a look at that scripture from Galatians 5 to see some of the biggies.

I had a problem with anger. It wasn't so much a problem with being angry "at" people, but I exhibited anger because of my frustration with situations, and then it came out as anger. You know, the old "short fuse" syndrome. I'm not a jealous person, or like to pick fights. I hate strife and want it no where in my life. But I could go off in a split second, then you better watch out. I would be over it in 5 minutes, but by that time the damage was done, and I was left feeling horrible for my behavior and wishing that I could just undo what had been said and the actions I had just exhibited.

OK, you want another one? I seem to be letting all the cats out of the bag, so here is another one. I cannot drink. When I do, I turn into someone else. Someone who I don't care to be. I cannot hold liquor and I frequently made a fool of myself. Actions, words... oh my, I was a mess. So, I don't drink.

I love the taste of wine, and a variety of other alcoholic beverages, but I cannot just have one and be done. Nope, I just keep going. There are other reasons I don't drink: medications, and a promise I made to God when our daughter was going through a tough time. I know it's just not something I need to do.

Now, having said that, I don't have any problem with anyone else, so this is not about you all out there. It's my way of confessing my own problems. If you can enjoy yourself with a great glass of wine, or find a drink at a get together is a social indulgence, then I find nothing wrong with it, but for me... I couldn't control it. I wanted one or two drinks everyday. Then it got to be a bottle of wine, you get the picture? For me, it didn't work.

The same principle would hold true if it were 5 candy bars a day, a pack of cigarettes, or 2 liters of soda. It's not a moral thing with me, but a health and behavior issue. I don't want to be controlled or dominated by any thing. And there are certain things that for me are just not worth jeopardizing my relationship with God. I know it's wrong for me, so I don't do it.

After what I know now these many years later, could I drink responsibly? Probably. I think I could use discernment and maturity to my advantage, but I just don't want to go there again. So, as I said, I make no judgement on others, I just know it's not the best for me.


Romans 8:12-13
12. So then, brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh-- 13. for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live.

There are two main elements involved in gaining victory over "walking according to the flesh".

1) The first is that we need to learn to condition our behavior to our "new skipper", our new self which is infused with Jesus Christ.

Galatians 5:16
But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.

2) The second is that we allow our old patterns for thinking and responding to our sin-trained flesh, be transformed by the renewing of our mind.

Romans 12:1-2
1. I urge you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, [which is] your spiritual service of worship. 2. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

My question about these matters was always, "OK, I understand this, but what is the practical application to changing my behavior? How do you "walk by the Spirit", and how do you "transform and renew" the mind."?


This is where we find the disconnect. We hear these truths of scripture but we don't know how to make it a reality in our lives. We will begin talking about the practical application of these scriptures, but first put yourself in a place with me to ask The Holy Spirit to reveal any issues, behaviors, or attitudes that are standing between you and Him. That's the first and most important step.

Love in Jesus,

Debra

(concepts taken from Victory Over the Darkness

by Neil Anderson)

Old Man - New Man

The author of Victory Over the Darkness recounts his Navy years when he references a two year period where the captain of his ship was a particularly gruff, codgery, old sea captain, "the Old Man". He harassed his junior officers and belittled his crew. But then a time came when he was transferred to another ship and they were given a new Captain; a "New Old Man".

bad attitude in the flesh!

"The old "Old Man" no longer had any authority over us; he was gone-completely out of the picture. But I was trained under that "Old Man". So how do you think I related to the new Old Man? At first I responded to him just like I had been conditioned to respond to the old skipper. I tiptoed around him expecting him to bite my head off. But as I got to know the new skipper I realized that he wasn't an old tyrant like my old Old Man....he was a good guy, really concerned about us. But I had been programmed for two years to react a certain way. I didn't need to react that way any longer, but it took several months to recondition myself to the new skipper."

Once we also served a cruel self-serving master; our old sinful self with our old sinful "Nature". The admiral and leader of that ship would be Satan himself, the prince of darkness.

Version: NAS

Colossians 1:13
For He delivered us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, ...

Now we have a new Captain, and our new self which is infused with the divine nature of Jesus Christ. We are no longer under the control of the old master the old Man. The "old Man" is dead and gone.

Then if the Old Man or Old Nature is gone, why do we still behave and react like he is still in control of our "ship"? Because while we served under "the Old Man", our old self was trained and conditioned in actions, reactions, emotional responses, thought patterns, memories, and habits. These are all what we call "the flesh". The flesh is that tendency within each of us to operate independently from God. Our interests are totally on ourselves.

When we were born again, our old self died and our new self "in Christ" came to life. We were made a partaker of Christ's divine nature. But our flesh remains. Before we came to the commitment of salvation, our lifestyle and mindset was formed in the world, apart from God, and centered upon ourselves. Our worldly experiences programmed our brain with thought patterns, memories, responses and habits, all having formed without God in mind.

Romans 8:8-13
8. and those who are in the flesh cannot please God. 9. However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him. 10. And if Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness. 11. But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who indwells you. 12. So then, brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh-- 13. for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live.

Living "in the flesh" is different from living "according to the flesh". "In the flesh" refers to our life before Jesus. "According to the flesh"  refers to the fact that we still may choose to walk as the world or before we knew Jesus; big difference.


Because of our old conditioning and mind set we may still choose to live as though we are independent of God, but that is where we begin to let God "transform" our thinking, behaviors and viewpoints.


Our old nature is dead and gone, nailed to the cross with Jesus. We are now in Christ. This is such great news. We are no longer under the authority of Satan, we are now able to walk in the authority of Jesus Christ. We are no longer subject to sin, we are now walking in Freedom and Truth.

Next we'll talk about the beginning of our transformation; our road of sanctification in our new life in Jesus Christ.

I love this analogy of the Old Skipper. Not fun taking orders from the character above. But there have been times that I'm sure my family saw me like that!!

Hope you have a great week. Visit my other blog, Common Ground, for my Birthday Celebration Give-Back.

love, in Jesus,

Debra

(concepts and quotations taken from

Victory Over the Darkness

by Neil Anderson)

Crucified With Christ

Quoting from the book Victory Over the Darkness by Neil Anderson:

"Generally speaking, all unbelievers are partakers of the old nature characterized by sin. Personally speaking, before you came to Christ you were one of those individuals. You were a sinner because it was your nature to sin; that is known as our old self, or as the King James Version says, the "old man"."

The New American Standard Version says it like this:

1 Corinthians 2:14
But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised.

So what happened to our "old man", or "natural man" at salvation?... He died. Not physically of course, but the old nature we had in our inner man, the one we inherited from Adam. And what was the method of our old man's execution?

Version: NAS

Romans 6:6-7
6. knowing this, that our old self was crucified with [Him], that our body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin; 7. for he who has died is freed from sin.

Colossians 3:3
For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

Galatians 2:20
"I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the [life] which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and delivered Himself up for me.

Galatians 6:14
But may it never be that I should boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.

At salvation we are placed "into Christ", the one who died on the cross for our sins. Being "in Christ", our old self, our old nature, died with Him there. And why did it have to die? Romans 6:6 tells us that the old self was independent and disobedient to God, so it had to die in order that "our body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin.

"Death is the ending of a relationship, but not of it's existence. Sin hasn't died; it is still strong and appealing. But when your old self died with Christ on the cross, your relationship with sin ended forever. You are no longer in the flesh, but "in Christ". Your old self - the sinner - and your old nature- characterized by the sin which was inevitable since you were separated from God - are gone forever because you are no longer separated from God."

Romans 8:1
There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

This doesn't say that we are sinless, The death of our old self formally ended our "relationship" with sin, but it did not end sin's existence. Sin and Satan are still around, but sin's power over you has been broken.

Romans 6:7-14
7. for he who has died is freed from sin. 8. Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, 9. knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, is never to die again; death no longer is master over Him. 10. For the death that He died, He died to sin, once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. 11. Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus. 12. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body that you should obey its lusts, 13. and do not go on presenting the members of your body to sin [as] instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and your members [as] instruments of righteousness to God. 14. For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law, but under grace.


There has been a lot of scripture that basically says the same thing to us. At salvation our old nature dies, and we become a new creature "in Christ".

We are no longer under any "obligation" to serve sin; to obey sin, or to respond to sin. We must realize this and incorporate it into our identity. Yes, we may sin, but we are no longer compelled to by our nature.

This is part of our new Identity In Christ. A simple statement, but a life-changing TRUTH. 

Sin's power over us is broken!

You may say, OK, this is good, but how does this affect my everyday life?
Have you ever said, "I know that this is wrong, but I just can't help myself?" Have you ever felt like you are powerless to quit a bad habit? Do you have problems with your mouth, the things you say, a bad attitude, nagging thoughts and little sins? I had these kinds of things in my life that I just could not get past. I thought it was just "me" and that I would never be able to get beyond them. Not until I realized that God's Word declared me dead to sin was I able to realize that, yes, it would be possible for me to quit them. Life changing and freeing.
Click on  Crucified With Christ as sung by Phillips, Craig and Dean. A powerful song, with a powerful message.

May we all remember this,

love,

Debra


(concepts and quotes taken from
Victory Over the Darkness )

God Provides a Way for Our Salvation

There were some comments on the day when we talked about our salvation that I want to address, because they are so very important. Important views on how we see God the Father, His Son Jesus as our Saviour, and God's viewpoint and treatment of the unsaved.

I know there are many wonderful people in the world that are not Christians. People that are caring and help others. People who lead a pious life, who dedicate themselves to helping the poor, feeding the hungry, and taking care of the sick. People who spend their lives working for the betterment of mankind; but if they have not asked Jesus into their hearts they will not be living eternally with Jesus, God and the Holy Spirit in Heaven. I know to some this may seem harsh and narrow minded. I understand how you might feel this way. This is how God has established this, it isn't something that organized religion has just came up with.

One of the most quoted verses in the Bible is John 3:16. Most of us memorized this in Sunday School when we were very young. But have you read and contemplated the next two verses? Sometime we don't get the complete thought and explanation in just one verse, or if we take it out of the original context.

Version: NAS

John 3:16-18
16. "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life. 17. "For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world should be saved through Him. 18. "He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

Then the Revised Standard Version says it slightly different:

Version: RSV

John 3:16-18
16. For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17. For God sent the Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him. 18. He who believes in him is not condemned; he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.

God provides a way for our salvation. He is perfect and just and loves us so very much. Because of His holiness we cannot come before Him unless we have been "justified". Jesus provided that sacrificial "payment" on the cross. We are now covered in the blood of Jesus. When Father God looks at us He sees that covering on us. We still sin, yet our belief and faith in His Son, Jesus Christ, allows us the redemption from that sin.

So many people use the argument against Christianity of "How could a loving God condemn us to eternal death and damnation in a place such as Hell?" Because they have that thought they cannot get past it to see that God is loving and kind and good. They have not read the 17 and 18 verse of John 3.

Let's read it again: 17. "For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world should be saved through Him. 18. "He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.



Our lack of belief in Jesus as God's Son and Savior of the world, causes us to condemn ourselves. God does not point His finger at us and send us into the darkness of eternity. We do it ourselves with our unbelief. You may say, It's the same thing, but it is not. God in His great mercy and love has set up a way for us to be delivered. If we do not choose to believe we are condemning ourselves.

Look at it this way: If a ship was sinking and a life boat was provided we have the choice to take a seat in the lifeboat and in doing so find salvation, or we can stay on the sinking ship and then curse the life boat captain for condemning us to death. Make sense?

God does not condemn us. Our lack of belief in Jesus Christ condemns us. Now as the thought that a good person might not make it to Heaven, I have to say, that being good does not get you to Heaven. 
Feeding the poor, finding new cures for disease and all the good intentions in the world will not get you there. There is only one way to Eternal Life and Jesus Christ is the Way.

John 14:6
Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me.

And as to the thought that a good God could not and would not condemn those to Hell that had not heard the salvation message, I will tell you what I believe. I believe that the Holy Spirit makes Himself known to each and every human being. They may be in another "religion" or without one, but I believe that God will personally seek out each one of us and give us an opportunity to know Him. Then it is up to the person to either accept or reject this approach of the Holy Spirit. This may be up for debate, but I feel this is what the Bible speaks of in Romans the first chapter.

Romans 1:20
"For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they (mankind) are without excuse."

God's creation speaks of Him and causes all mankind to know that God does exist.
So for those in other religions, I believe God is so good that He desires no one perish. That does not mean all will go to Heaven. He will attempt to make Himself known to those who do not know Him. Each person then has an opportunity to be willing to hear more about Jesus. And if you are in a church or denomination that holds no "spark" of the Holy Spirit, I would seek God if that is where He wants you. If you have been in a religion, or even a denomination that offers you no hint of the power of the Holy Spirit I would question if that is where you are supposed to be.

Matthew 28:18-20
18. And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19. "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20. teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."


This doesn't let us off the hook for evangelism and the spreading of the Gospel; we are clearly called and mandated to do this. But I do feel like that, even those who have not heard the Gospel message of Jesus Christ will be given a chance to know the Truth. They are given a chance to know Jesus. I have read (can't give you particulars on this, but I know that I have) that certain people groups in various parts of the world have had dreams and visions of Jesus, without ever having been exposed to the Bible or missionaries.

So we see that God does all that He can to bring us to the point of salvation. He is good, loving, not desiring anyone not know Him. But inevitably the decision to ask Jesus into your heart is your own personal decision. If you have not done that, please pray for Him to do that right now.

Love, in Jesus,

Debra

Before and After

Friday we looked at the idea of having two natures living within us; good and evil, the "black dog" versus the "white dog". We saw scripture that disputed this idea for the born again Christian. Let's look at the word "nature" pertaining to our spirit and soul and see what the Bible has to say about our "nature" after we have accepted Jesus as our Savior.

Version: NAS

Ephesians 2:1-3
1. And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, 2. in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. 3. Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.

2 Peter 1:3-4
3. seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. 4. For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, in order that by them you might become partakers of [the] divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.
 
The verses from Ephesians speak about our "old" nature, before we knew Jesus. It clearly says we were dead, living in the lusts of our flesh, and children of wrath. The verses from 2 Peter tell us that we have escaped the corruption and are now partakers of the "divine" nature of God. Comparing these two verses show us that we didn't add a new nature on top of the old, but we exchanged our nature.
 

I have a great example, that all of us moms can appreciate (dad's too, or anyone else who has been around a baby). As babies go there is the obligatory dirty diaper to deal with. What if instead of taking off the diaper in question and doing a clean up, we just decided to put a new fresh diaper on top of the old dirty one? Well, that would solve nothing, huh? Dirty, stinky, messy, and uncomfortable. Putting a fresh clean diaper on over the filthy one would do nothing to change us, only "appear" fresh on the outside. But it wouldn't take long for the "stink" to find it's way out, and some other unsavory "matter" also.

Salvation and putting on the "new" nature of Jesus Christ is a "change" in the best way of thinking. The old dead, stinky life we used to lead is exchanged for the new fresh clean "nature" that God will give us.

Ephesians 5:8
for you were formerly darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of light

This scripture that we looked at on Friday really says it. We were not IN darkness, but we WERE darkness. At salvation we don't walk into the light, we BECOME light. Just as Jesus is light, we are in Him and He is in us, so we become light. God has changed our basic nature from darkness to light. We aren't just thinking about improving our nature, our nature is already changed. We need to learn how to walk in harmony with our new nature.

We need the nature of Christ within us so we can BE like Christ, not just ACT like Christ. We were not given the power to imitate Jesus, but to really BE like Him. Becoming a Christian is not a matter of acting like one until you become one, it is a matter of becoming a Christian, then we learn to walk as one. We are not based on performance to become a Christian. "Measuring up" and doing good deeds will never get us to heaven. To address the idea of "gaining our way to heaven" with good intentions and good deeds doesn't fit the Biblical criteria for salvation. We could never be good enough or do enough good deeds. Our salvation is based on our acceptance of Jesus Christ and nothing else. 

God knows we cannot solve our problems of our "old nature"; our old sinful self by simply improving our behavior. He doesn't say "Here are my standards, now you need to measure up to all the rules and regulations." In fact He did allow that for a time, and that was known as the dispensation of "the Law". (the Old Testament during the time of Moses until the time of Jesus.) And by the way, we didn't do a good job. He knew He would have to change our nature. He has to give us an entirely new self, the life of Christ in us, which in turn provides the grace to allow us to change.

This fact that we have a new nature is really exciting to me. Years ago when I was struggling with wrong behaviors and bad habits the knowledge of this radically changed my thinking. "You mean I'm not trapped in the sin cycle?" That one piece of information was enough to wake me up. It was a long road, and I'm still not "there" but finding out that I wasn't on a treadmill of sin operated by the enemy was absolutely liberating.

We are starting to get into the "meat" of this study. Hope the new schedule will be easier to keep up with. Thank you everyone. I know that many of you take time out of your super busy schedules to meet here everyday. You cannot know how much I appreciate each and every one of you!

love, in Jesus,

Debra

(concepts taken from Victory Over the Darkness

by Neil Anderson)