Christianity

WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?

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Who Do You Think You Are?

Have you ever thought about your creative being? The Bible tells us that we were created in three parts: body, soul, and spirit. We need to understand that the soul and spirit are not the same although they interact. Man is a triune being because he is created in the image of God. The Bible is very clear on this subject.

Genesis 1:26 – 27 (KJV) 26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. 27 So God created man in His own image, male and female created he them.

Since God created us in His image, it would stand to reason that we have a spirit.

John 4:24 (KJV) 24 God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship Him in spirit and truth.

Spirit beginning with a capital “S” refers to the Holy Spirit. Spirit beginning with a small “s” refers to mans spirit. The above verse indicates that man must worship God in spirit, small “s.” In other words, the Holy Spirit must connect to man’s spirit in order to have a relationship.

1 Corinthians 2:14 (NIV) The man without the Spirit (Holy) does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit.

Let us look at the makeup of the body, soul and spirit of man.

* The body of man is the outer layer of his being. It is made up with the five senses: ‘Sight,’ ‘Smell,’ ‘Hearing,’ ‘Taste,’ and ‘Touch.’

* The soul(mind) of man is the next inner layer of his being. 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.

The soul (mind) is made up of man’s ‘Imagination,’ ‘Conscience,’ ‘Memory,’ ‘Reason,’ and ‘Affection.’

* The spirit of man is the innermost part of man.

The spirit and the soul (mind) of man will have an interaction with each other. The spirit of man receives communication from the Holy Spirit with regards to ‘Faith,’ ‘Hope,’ ‘Reverence,’ ‘Prayer,’ and ‘Worship.’ Now, these elements must interact with the soul (mind). This is accomplished by what is stated in the following verse.

Romans 12:2 (NIV) Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind (soul). Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is–His good, pleasing and perfect will.

Man’s natural desire is to satisfy the needs of the body and he loses sight of what God wants. Your body is not the real you, it is something you possess. You need to remember that the body will go back to dust. The soul (mind) and spirit continue to exist at the discretion of God.

Let us look at what John 3:6 – 7 (NIV) says: 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but Spirit (capital “S”) gives birth to the spirit (“small “s”). 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, The Spirit (Holy) gives birth to spirit (man). The part of you that is born again is your spirit. The spirit sends a message to your soul. Now, you are in communication with the Holy Spirit who will lead you into the truth.

Only one thing blocks man’s spirit from being born again and that is his will. When you surrender that will, the Holy Spirit is able to take up residence in your spirit. You are to bring your body and soul (mind) under control. You control these by what feed your mind with.  It is written that eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things God hath prepared for them that love Him, 1 Corinthians 2:9.

Many people are content to remain in the same old condition. Yet, they confess that they get little or nothing from reading the Bible. Oh, they may attend church regularly  and even read the Bible regularly. The key to a regeneration is spoken by Jesus Christ and written in John 3:7: you must be born again. The deep things of the Bible and Jesus Christ will never be understood outside of the spiritual realm. Only when the Holy Spirit is connected with your spirit will you ever know the truth and then the truth will set you free, John 8:32. Don’t let satan rob you (and he will if you let him) of the blessings God wants you to have, if you continue to resist surrendering your will to Jesus Christ.

One day and it may be soon, Jesus will return to gather His believers. Also, you are not promised tomorrow. The Bible is clear in 1 Thessalonians 5:23 (NKJ): Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Notice that spirit is mentioned first.

According to the Bible, there is only one way for salvation and that is by and through Jesus Christ. Seek and you will find the truth. Love to all.

WHAT IS THE HELMET OF SALVATION?

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WHAT IS THE HELMET OF SALVATION?

The human mind is the key to the Christian life. The reason why non-Christians do not respond to Christian truth is that they cannot discern spiritual truth (1 Corinthians 2:14). The gospel is a call for the unbeliever to repent of his sin and embrace Christ by faith. The Greek word translated “repentance” carries the notion of a change of mind. Our thinking must be changed (transformed) from old, ungodly ways of thinking into new, godly ways of thinking. What we know in our minds to be true forms a conviction in our hearts of that truth, and that conviction in our hearts translates into action. Therefore, we must first renew our minds.

The only way to replace the error of the world’s way of thinking is to replace it with God’s truth, and the only infallible source of God’s truth is His revealed Word, the Bible. Transformation through renewed minds comes as believers expose themselves to God’s Word through the faithful exposition of it each week in church, personal Bible study, and group Bible study. A solid church that believes in preaching the Word, reading the Word, and singing the Word is invaluable in helping us renew our minds.

Let’s look at some of what people keep their minds focused on even to extent that it becomes an addiction. When it becomes an addiction, it becomes even harder to set your mind on the things of God. In fact, God is gone and in His place is the addiction. When there is an addiction, the first thing to surface is denial. Drinking alcoholic beverages, drugs, pornography, sex, work, sports, TV, cell phones, and the list goes on. With an addiction, many people will suffer. Some people go into rehab, others die, and as I already mentioned almost all will enter into denial. This is one of the major goals of Satan, to destroy you and your family. The most important area of the body Satan wants to destroy is your mind. This is where he will attack first and will continue his attacks.

Why is the helmet related to salvation? Satan’s attacks are primarily directed at our minds in the form of discouragement and doubt. He constantly points to our sins, failures, health problems, financial problems and any other thing he can cause us to doubt God in order to get us to turn away from our salvation.

Putting on the helmet of salvation does not refer to receiving Jesus Christ as Savior. This is reserved for the saved, those who are born again and under the attacks of Satan. Satan does not care about the non-Christian as they already belong to him.

1 Thessalonians 5:8   Paul calls the helmet “the hope of salvation”. The word hope has a different meaning than how it is generally used. The helmet covers our mind and provides the assurance of our salvation. Through God’s word we learn (in our mind) to have faith in all the promises God has given us in His Holy Word. The helmet of salvation protects the critical part of our body, our head which is the seat of our mind.

Christians need to read Ephesians 6:11-17. Whether you realize it or not, you are constantly under attack from Satan. You cannot stand alone and fight Satan’s powers. We cannot ignore God’s Word concerning the putting on the full armor of God. The helmet is only one piece of the armor. I am writing about the helmet because I believe that if a person is to become a true Christian they must have a renewing of their mind. They must have a clear understanding of what God requires of them. It is very important that God’s word touches our mind and our hearts. Put on the helmet of salvation and take up the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God. Jesus prays for us in John 17:17, “Sanctify them in the truth, your word is the truth”.

Love to all

Understanding Faith

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UNDERSTANDING FAITH

If there was ever a word that Christians need to understand, it is the word “faith”. From Genesis 1 through Revelation 22, it is what God requires from His people. God requires people to have faith more today than when Jesus walked the earth.

I believe that some of the most important verses regarding faith are found in the following:

John 20:29 (NIV)  29 Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

Faith is the key word in order to have a relationship with God. If you read the Bible carefully, you will see that God requires you to have faith. Hebrews 11:6 (NIV)  6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

Mark 11:22 (NIV) “Have faith in God,” Jesus answered.

God requires everyone who calls themselves a Christian to have faith in Him even when things are not going well or the way we think they should. If we do not understand, we cannot have true faith. If we were honest, most of us base our faith on what is seen instead of what is not seen. This is the normal concept of faith in our lives today. We limit ourselves by what we believe and have faith in. We are afraid of stepping out in faith because it is not natural. A lot of people have been taught that stepping out of the norm is impossible and scary, so they stay in their comfort zone. Many lose so many blessings because of fear to walk in faith. Some may lose their salvation.

Romans 10:17 (NIV)  Faith comes by hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.

The truth of the gospel comes by faith in the Holy Spirit’s teaching and causing us to believe. It only stands to reason that if the Temple of the Holy Spirit is not in order, we will not experience His persuasion. By faith learn to listen and follow the leadership of the Holy Spirit. His leadership will not fail you.

2 Tim 1:12b-14 (NIV)   I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day. What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus. Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you, guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit that lives in us.

We are nothing if we do not have faith in Jesus Christ. Every Christian should desire true faith and don’t waver when things don’t go as you want. I know it is not easy when we battle the desires of the flesh but through faith we can overcome. All you need to remember is that Jesus Christ is our Savior and God is our Heavenly Father. We need to have faith in them for they both love us very much, more than we love ourselves. They are always with you.

Fill your mind and soul with Bible verses regarding faith. Hebrews, Chapter 11 is a chapter on faith. Also, the bible is full of stories about men and women of faith. Read the stories of faith regarding Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Joseph, Samson, David, Gideon, Mary, Elizabeth, Ruth, Sarah, and Naomi, just to mention a few. When you are feeling low, read Bible verses about faith. When your circumstances seem like there is no light at the end, keep the faith by claiming the many promises that the Bible gives to you. Yes, Jesus said I am coming back soon and I say, Come Lord Jesus.

Love to all.

TEMPORARY

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TEMPORARY-Definition of temporary: Lasting for only a limited period of time; not permanent.

When I was younger, I thought time seemed to drag by. Now that I am much older, I believe that time is going by so fast. Days seem like hours, weeks seem like days and years seem like weeks. Oh! Where does the time go? I have witnessed individuals who have lived just a few minutes and others who have lived over a 100 years. Regardless, God has a time frame for your life here on earth and it is only temporary. The moment you are born, you begin your journey into eternity and that is not temporary. It is forever and forever. Read the following Scriptures and then decide if you are prepared for eternity.

2 CORINTHIANS 4:18 NIV 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

1 Corinthians 7:31 NLT   Those who use the things of the world should not become attached to them. For this world as we know it will soon pass away.

Sometimes it feels that life is too short and too some it is. No one can take life for granted. We need to cherish and be thankful for what time we are given and the time we have with loved ones. Be joyful, prayerful, and loving, for life is temporary and it is only a one time experience. Seek God’s wisdom on how to spend your time here on earth. Psalm 90:12, NLT Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom.

This is only a temporary home regardless of whether you are a born again believer or not. Your final destiny is in your hands and you will be assigned a permanent place when your temporary life expires. Hebrews 9:27 (KJV) 27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment

Deuteronomy 30:19 NIV … I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Now choose life, that you and your offspring may live.

Matthew 6:19-21, ESV Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.

Love to all.

IN CHRIST

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“IN CHRIST”

What does “in Christ” mean? It means to be anointed. To be “in Christ” means that all of the things that the Bible says are true about a believer in Jesus are a present reality and can be enjoyed in the here and now. Christ” comes from the Greek word Christos, meaning “anointed one” or “chosen one.” This is the Greek equivalent of the Hebrew word Mashiach, or Messiah. Jesus was called “the Christ” (or “Messiah”) because He was “anointed by the Holy Spirit.”

The expression “in Christ” occurs 216 times in the Pauline letters. It appears 28 times in Ephesians. Let us look at a few.

Romans 8:1 There is therefore now condemnation to them which are “in Christ Jesus”, who walked not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Romans 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life “in Christ Jesus” hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

1 Corinthians 1:30 But of him are ye “in Christ Jesus”, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption.

2 Corinthians 5:17 – Therefore if any man [be] in Christ, [he is] a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Jesus alone is the Christ. As the Christ, He has three offices: Prophet, Priest, and King. The title, also treated as a name, given to Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus was the man who discovered and expressed his divinity and became known as Jesus Christ. Since we were created with the exact same potential as Jesus, we, too, can discover and express our divinity.  The Christ is the presence of God in each of us.

Your Spirit and the Christ are the same thing. A born again believer needs to become aware, fully understand his or her divine gift(s) as God intended through the Holy Spirit. According to Luke 10:19 God through Jesus Christ gave us authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. The question is: are you “in Christ” or not?

With all the references regarding “in Christ”, the Holy Spirit is witnessing to us through God’s Holy Word so that we can have God’s approval through faith “in Christ”. In order to be found “in Christ” you must be united with Him by His Holy Spirit, walk in Him, and live in Him all in faith.

Romans 8:15 For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, Abba, Father”.

The name Jesus means “Savior.” It is given to our Lord because “He saves His people from their sins.”

Christ” is His title, signifying Jesus was sent from God to be a King and Deliverer.

To be found “in Christ”, it is not through your own righteousness but through faith in Him. 1 John 4:4 You, dear children, are from God and overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.

Praise be to God!

EASTER

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EASTER

As we approach the time of the year where we celebrate the holiday called Easter, do we as Christians really know what we are celebrating?  The term ‘Easter’ is not of Christian origin. The word ‘Easter’ is not found in any translation of the Bible except once in the the King James Version and it is a mistranslation of the Greek word ‘pascha.’. This is only found in Acts: 12:4. The correct translation should have been ‘Passover’.

So where did the term Easter come from? It originated from European traditions. The name Easter comes from a pagan figure called Eastre or Eostre who was celebrated as the goddess of spring. The festival called Eastre was held in the spring by those that honored her.

A majority of the modern day population celebrate Easter out of context with how it is actually related to the story of the Passover. The feast includes an Easter Ham in place of roasted lamb, decorated eggs, colored chickens and stories about the Easter Bunny or chocolate rabbits. Some churches even put on Easter egg hunts.

I ask, are we worshipping our Holy God in vain with all the mixed representation of Christian Holidays that we are faced with today? Are Christians expected to be teaching the ‘truth’? Is the Church falling away from what God expects? Let us briefly look at what Easter is meant to be.

Easter should actually refer to the Passover. The Passover is the first of God’s seven annual festivals. The Passover in the Holy Land is a reminder of how God saved His people from death in Egypt. God spared His people from death by the blood of the sacrificial lamb on the door frames of their home. The complete story is found in Exodus Chapter 12. Jesus always observed the Passover while here on earth.

The blood of the Passover lamb foreshadowed the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. The blood of Jesus passes over the sins of those who repent and receive Jesus Christ as their Savior. It is very clear in the New Testament that Jesus Christ is our true Passover lamb, who spared us from eternal death.

Matthew: 26: 26-28, Jesus observed His last Passover with His disciples where the symbols of bread and water represent His body and blood with what we refer to as communion. With this symbol Jesus offered us forgiveness (or passing over) our sins and the penalty of death. Have you received this free gift?

The death of Jesus actually took place during the daylight hours that followed the Passover evening. Christ was crucified on the day of the Feast of the Passover. He was declared dead that same afternoon and was buried just before sundown.

We need to read and study the Scriptures. John: 8:32 NIV: Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free. 1Thessalonians 5:21 KJV: Prove all things; hold fast that which good.

Thank you Jesus for passing over my sins.

SALVATION

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SALVATION

Since one of my main concerns is, where will people especially family, friends and acquaintances spend eternity, I believe that I should discuss how salvation is explained in the Bible. First of all we need to understand that salvation is a free gift. It is the most important gift you will ever receive. It is a gift that will last for eternity.

What is eternity? Most people do not understand the meaning of eternity. To most it means a long, long time. Eternity is the fullness of time, past, present and the future all experienced at once. There is no end. When you take your final breath here on earth and you cross over, your final destination will be spent in eternity. Where that will be is going to be your choice. God has given us a free will to make choices especially regarding salvation.

Let us look at what the Bible says regarding salvation. I believe that the salvation that God provides in Jesus Christ is a continual process and not just a one-time experience. I base this on the fact the Bible tells us that we must be born again according to Gospel of John 3:3 that says: “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God”. When a person is born physically, they start out as an infant and continue to grow into maturity. When you are “born again” in Jesus Christ you become a new creature. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says: “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. When a person is “born again” they begin a new life in Jesus. We are all sinners and when we invite Jesus into our life, we get saved by believing on Jesus Christ and recognizing that we do not have the righteousness to get by God’s judgment. That is why God provided a Savior for all mankind who put their trust in Jesus Christ and believe in Him for their salvation. Romans 3:10 says “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one”. When you are born physically, you continue to grow. When you are born again, you begin to grow in your new life in Jesus. Salvation through Jesus Christ is the main topic in the New Testament of the Bible. This is God’s way of delivering us from sin and death.

To be born again is to undergo a “spiritual rebirth” (regeneration) of the human spirit. Regeneration comes through the working of the Holy Spirit. The biblical truth is that we are saved by God’s grace through our faith (believing and trusting) in Jesus, the Savior that God provided thru His grace.

Let us look at additional scripture that refers to our salvation.

John 3:7-8: Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. / The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.

ACTS 4:12: And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

John 14:6: Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Also – Romans 10:9-13, 2 Peter 1:10-11, Titus 2:11

Individuals who profess to be born again often state that they have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. The Old and New Testament are full of passages that say we are saved by God’s grace through our belief in His Savior. I challenge anyone who can show me in scripture where anyone or anything besides belief in God’s Savior, Jesus Christ, is required for salvation.

If you have invited Jesus into your life, praise God. If not, confess you are a sinner and invite Him into your life. Remember that eternity awaits your presence. Don’t put off something as important as your salvation because of stubbornness, earthly desires, or I will do it tomorrow, or I am not worthy attitudes. God loves each one of us and wants us to enjoy His salvation. He showed us His love by the sacrifice and suffering of His Son who died and shed His blood on the Cross of Calvary for our sins. Give up those selfish worldly desires and join me in eternity with my Savior Jesus Christ. Love to all.

IS THE CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY SENDING THE RIGHT MESSAGE?

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IS THE CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY SENDING THE RIGHT MESSAGE?

I have been thinking about the message the Christians Community has been sending to the lost regarding salvation. How are we attempting to reach those who we believe are not saved? For some time, have we been sending the wrong message regarding God, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit? It is evident that something is not right regarding our redemption plan. Otherwise we would be in a worldwide revival. It appears that we are working a dead horse with spreading the Gospel. Is it time for a new message or going back to the messages that drew people to Jesus Christ?

One thing I notice is that the messages we hear today about religion is more about church membership, baptism, involvement, commitment, dedication and of course tithing or giving. Don’t misunderstand, all of those have their place in salvation if presented properly. The most important factor regarding salvation must focus on the Gospel of Jesus Christ. His death, burial and resurrection and the precious blood that saved us sinners. I have noticed an increasing trend toward messages that make people feel good. There is also the guilt trip message. Also, I notice that churches are neglecting Bible study and old fashion prayer meetings and replacing them with a social atmosphere. I believe that anyone who leads a flock, whether it is one or a thousand, may they be reminded of what it says in Jeremiah, Chapter 23.

People are being introduced to excitement and hype. Success is counted by numbers. I believe that the natural man and even the evangelicals do not completely understand what a personal (distinctive to a certain person), intrapersonal (inside or within), and interpersonal relationship (relationship between persons) with Jesus Christ is all about. I believe that if we did, there would be more people seeking Jesus. If a person does not understand the relationship connection, how can they explain it to others correctly? How can we begin to understand the function of the Lordship of the Living Lord Jesus? Not just accepting an opinion that He is Lord, God, and Deity, but as the acceptance of the fact that my life is no longer mine to determine, but is entirely at His disposal and determination. In Luke 6:46, Jesus rebukes those who addressing Him as Lord. He said, “Why do you call me Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?”

Another contributing factor to the decline is the one on one contact with the lost. One of the many reasons people shy away from personal contact is fear. Does this have something to do with the relationship a person has with Jesus? I notice that many individuals communicate through the use of banners. Again, don’t get me wrong, banners for the most part encourage and support the saved and we all need encouragement. I ask you, are they reaching the lost and winning souls for Jesus Christ? Beware of Satan’s deceitful ways when approaching lost souls. Modern technology cannot replace the old fashion personal contact. Believe it or not, people love personal contact.

Could our churches be teaching that a person can be a Christian and not be a disciple? Is man changing God’s plan? My understanding is that when you follow Jesus Christ, you become a disciple. I believe that if you use the name Christian, you are a follower of Jesus. Don’t use the name in vain.

I ask my true brothers and sisters in Christ, are we allowing converts to become disillusioned and confused by what we are presenting as salvation? Are we presenting half-truths and not the whole truth as presented in the Bible? They then fade away and turn back to the way of the world or seek out a feel good church. I can assure you that a feel good sermon is only temporary. True blessings from God only come when a person believes wholeheartedly from his or her heart on Jesus Christ and follows the instruction of the Bible as God teaches. Are we failing to teach the Word of God and its truth?

Is your salvation based on a carnal nature and carnal wisdom? When you have to make important and even non-important decisions, do you follow God’s instruction or your own carnal way? Are you afraid that you cannot live as God wants you to because of guilt (which comes from the devil) of past sins? Let go and let Jesus save you and be set free. Give all to Him and receive the peace and understanding of a loving God and Savior. Let the Master of Life take over and be blessed.