Tag: Jesus

Seven Keys to an Abundant, Spirit-filled Life

Walking With the Lord

These are tumultuous times, with many ominous threats on the horizon for this new year of 2024, relating to our economy, national security, and war, to name just a few. And the pace of change is accelerating. So how can we live in this perilous environment and still have peace of mind and joy in our hearts?

In John 10:10, Jesus describes how He came that we may have AN ABUNDANT LIFE:

“The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.”

In Greek the word life is Zoe, and refers to the principle of life in the spirit and soul. Distinguished from Bios, or physical life, Zoe describes how Jesus’ followers shall not merely have a bare existence of life, but they shall have those things which make life eminently blessed and transcendent of circumstances – joy, fellowship with other believers, the peace of God, and eternal life. And this can happen even in the midst of suffering.

The following are seven keys that I have found that enable us to live an abundant, Spirit-filled life. These keys are not merely interesting; they lead us to the narrow path, which Christ spoke about:

“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.”            Matthew 7:13-14

These keys can open our hearts, minds, and souls to a vibrant life where we can live lightly and freely. And they may save your life.

Seven Keys to an Abundant, Spirit-filled Life

KEY #1: REPENT of our sins to become spiritually clean

  • When we repent of our sins, we become SPIRITUALLY CLEAN. God is holy, and He will not tolerate sin in His presence. So if we approach Him with petitions (which He encourage us to do) with unconfessed sin on our hearts (a form of idolatry), He won’t hear us.
  • This includes sins we willfully commit, sins of omission (good actions we fail to perform), and unknown sins that we commit without knowing they are sin. (And yes, that includes taking the Covid-19 “vaccine”, because it is not a vaccine, but a gene-modifying operating system that alters our very genetic make-up – the essence of who we are, created by God.)
  • But God is merciful, and He forgives ALL sins from those who approach Him with a contrite heart.
  • Spirit-led Christians repent quickly and often, because they want to be spiritually free and clean, which is necessary to discern the still, small voice of the Holy Spirit.
  • Repentance is not a burden or embarrassing; it is the natural (or supernatural) means to live a life of freedom and joy, with no fear of death. We even need to ask the Lord to show us any sin in our hearts, so we can repent and get rid of it, lest it grow into a cancer of the soul.

KEY #2: FORGIVE others of sins they have committed against us.

  • None of us are perfect, and sooner or later someone will sin against us. We are to forgive them, regardless of what the sin was, and regardless of whether they ask for forgiveness.
  • If we don’t forgive those who sin against us, God will not forgive us of our sins, and we will be judged guilty under the law, a very serious matter.
  • The sin of unforgiveness in our heart can even become a doorway for demonic influence into our lives.
  • Unforgiveness also sprouts a root of bitterness that can grow into a cancer of the soul. Not forgiving another is like the guy who swallows poison and waits for the other guy to die.

KEY #3: SURRENDER to Christ and receive salvation – eternal life in heaven.

  • “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.’” John 14:6
  • While He was here on earth, Jesus performed many miracles and fulfilled many Old Testament prophecies. He even rose from the dead, attested to by many witnesses. No other religion has such a supernatural track record, thoroughly documented by many credible sources.
  • God doesn’t want to fight with us (He would win); He wants us to surrender and come out our hands up.
  • We need to die to self to live for Christ. And when we receive Christ, we even become new creations: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” II Corinthians 5:17

KEY #4: SPEND TIME WITH THE LORD and seek Him with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength.

  • If we spend all day in the world and no time with the Lord in His Word, prayer, worship, and fellowship with other believers, we will be starved spiritually, and will operate in the flesh and by worldly principles.
  • “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of  
  • your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” Romans 12:2
  • It is when we spend time in the Word of God that our minds become transformed, we begin to see the world and other people as the Lord does, and we can begin to discern the still, small voice of the Holy Spirit.
  • Jesus even promises that we will find Him: “Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. I will be found by you, says the Lord.      Jeremiah 29:12-14

KEY #5: LISTEN for the still, small voice of the Holy Spirit.

The Word of God states that God desires to communicate to us, primarily through the Holy Spirit:

  • “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.”  John 10:28
  • “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 things that I said to you.” John 14:26
  • “Therefore, the Holy Spirit says: ‘Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, in the day of trial in the wilderness.’” Hebrews 3:7-8
  • “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth… and He will tell you things to come.” John 16:12-13
  • You want to hear the voice of God? Start by reading the Word of God and asking the Holy Spirit to speak to you, because that is one of the primary ways He does.
  • Being able to discern the still, small voice of the Holy Spirit enables us to go from BELIEF in Christ to having a RELATIONSHIP with the Lord, from KNOWING ABOUT GOD to KNOWING GOD.

KEY #6: OBEY the Lord

  • We need to obey the laws of the land, unless they contradict the Word of God and His commandments.
  • And if we are prompted by the Holy Spirit to do something, such as reach out to someone and minister to their needs, we should do so as soon as possible, because often there is a window of time that will close and it will be too late.
  • There are many stories of how people’s lives were saved because they were in life-threatening situations and they heard and responded to the still, small voice of the Holy Spirit. (I am one of those, as I believe the Holy Spirit nudged me several years ago to slow down on a dark, slick highway, thus narrowly missing hitting a huge deer that passed right before my car.)

KEY #7: REJOICE IN THE LORD and let the truth and love of God flow through you to others around you.

  • Rejoice is to feel and show great joy or delight. When we were born, our family expressed JOY that we were born. When we receive Christ, we are born again (spiritually), and the angels in heaven and our brothers and sisters in the Lord REJOICE that we are now in God’s family as a child of God.
  • And we are to love the Lord our God with all our heart, mind and soul, and our neighbor as ourselves, with the truth and love of Christ flowing through us to all who come across our path.

Summary

These are Biblical times, as we see events prophesied in the Bible taking place before our very eyes. And the safest place to be is in the center of God’s will for our lives, which we discover when we are living Spirit-filled lives.

Furthermore, each of us was created to live at this time. So no matter how hopeless our circumstances may seem, God is calling us to a higher, transcendent calling and purpose in our lives, beyond merely accumulating stuff and worldly acclaim:

  • a love for us to experience that can transform us,
  • a battle for us to engage in that is worth fighting, and
  • a story for us to live in that is far bigger and better than we have known.

Our Lord tells us we are not to fear:

“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”  Isaiah 41:10

But we are to trust Him with all our heart and He will direct our paths:

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6

And finally, when facing trials and tribulations, read the 23rd Psalm out loud:

The 23rd Psalm

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still waters.
He restores my soul;
He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil, for You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life;

And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Life is short. God is great. Walk with the Lord.

Mark Peterson, Ph.D.

LifeintheSpirit.net

Carrying a Precious Gift – Four Stories

Story #1

There was once a great king who wished to send an invaluable and precious gift to a distant kingdom. So he chose a young man who was swift of foot, with a sound mind and loyal heart to carry this precious parcel to its final destination. The king chose his carrier carefully, because he knew the gift was very valuable, and a person of unsound mind or questionable character could not be trusted with such an important task. Such a person could easily be sidetracked or even sell the precious gift for money or other worldly considerations.

Story #2:

When the angel came and spoke to Mary, he told her that God trusted her to carry the Christ child from conception to full maturity and birth, then to raise Him as her son. She was to carry the Christ from the Kingdom of God into the Kingdom of Man, a sacred journey. She knew that the child within her body has not hers, but it was her responsibility to carry it to full term to delivery into life on earth.

Story #3:

When a woman conceives a child, she is not merely carrying a parcel or mass of tissue, but another human being, created in the image of God. The child within her may not only be a male, but have a different blood type from her own. So although it is within her, it is also distinct from her. Psalm 139 describes how precious and special each of us is, and God’s involvement in our creation, growth, and development:

“You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. My frame was not hidden from You, when I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, the days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them.” Psalm 139:13-16

“Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying: ‘Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; before you were born I sanctified you…’” Jeremiah 1:4

So God forms us through human means. He even knew us and our names long before we were conceived, and designated the days of our lives. Like Mary, women are the noble carriers of the most precious gift – a gift of human life – on a nine-month journey, to deliver it into life on earth.

This precious cargo started in the Kingdom of God, where it was conceived in the mind of God, then entrusted to a woman to carry this precious life to full term and deliver it to the Kingdom of Man on earth. Like Mary, her responsibility continues in the nurture and admonition of the baby through childhood and into adulthood.

Story #4:

When we receive Christ as our Savior, our bodies become temples of the Holy Spirit, who comes to dwell within us. So our bodies (and souls) are to be holy, set apart as the very throne room of God.

“Be ye holy; for I am holy.” I Peter 1:16

“Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord…” Hebrews 12:14

It also means we should take care of our bodies, and not become obese, use drugs, or embrace any other sin that would pollute our bodies, the very tabernacles of God. For we are carrying within us the Holy Spirit, the third person of the triune God. And although this does not culminate in physical birth as does a woman carrying a child, it can result in spiritual birth in others as the love and truth of Christ flows through us to reach those who don’t know the Lord and are on the broad path that leads to perdition.

For a woman to carry a child and give birth to a new human being is INCREDIBLE. And for a person to host the Holy Spirit – the very presence of God is SUPERNATURAL. So let us go forth and share the love, the truth, and the joy of the Lord, for time is short and we are not guaranteed tomorrow.

To God be the glory

LifeintheSpirit.net

A Great Wealth Transfer is Coming

A great wealth transfer is coming soon to our nation. Usually, when there is some great financial crisis, everyone does not lose out, but assets move from those who did well in the old system, to those who are prepared (by foresight or luck) for the new system. That is what this blog post attempts to explain – how this happens, and the implications for all of us. You can see it here:

Great Wealth Transfer IIDownload

Our Lord has raised up watchmen and women to warn America and other nations about coming events, consistent with these passages:

“Surely the Lord God does nothing, unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets”. Amos 3:7

“I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth…”  John 16:12

In I Chronicles 12:32, the sons of Issachar were commended for understanding the times and knowing what they should do. So let us be like them, seeking understanding of the times and what we should do to live at this time and serve our Lord.  As in all things, question everything and take it to the Lord for confirmation.

This blog is for the remnant Bride of Christ and all who seek The Truth. You won’t want to miss it.

Be bold. Be strong. Be courageous and walk with the Lord.

Mark

Mark Peterson, Ph.D.

You Don’t Know What Will Happen When You Die

“You are going to die…  And though you may believe you know what will happen after you die, I don’t believe you do.  I believe we all tell ourselves things to mediate what otherwise might be a constant whir of pain and doubt”.  

Response: I appreciate your openness, honesty, and courage.  Most people are not willing to take their beliefs to their logical conclusions and to share this with the whole world.  So my hat is off to you.

I think it is fair to say that the logical end of evolution is nihilism – the notion that no one knows what happens when we die, that nothing matters beyond what we identify as our own self-interest, and that any means are justified by this end (self-interest, or in evolutionary terminology, self-preservation).

If evolutionary theory is true, then we are just animals, albeit smart animals, tender feelings are in fact phantom pains, and life has no higher purpose other than self-interest and survival.  By the way, I think it takes much greater faith to believe in evolution than creation by an intelligent being.

I would agree that from the evolutionary / nihilist perspective, any means are justified.  So because there are no rules, anything goes, including infanticide, abortion, polygamy, bestiality, murder, etc.  Life would be a jungle, with self-preservation the one and only life goal.

In your column, you stated: “You are going to die…  And though you may believe you know what will happen after you die, I don’t believe you do”. 

If someone is lost in the jungle, on what basis might they assume that everyone else is also lost in the jungle.  But is it a valid assumption?  The most brilliant person in the world may know 5 percent of all knowledge that exists.  Is it not possible that knowledge of the sovereign, living God could be in the other 95%? 

In his book “The Math of Christ”, retired Army Colonel Stephen Bauer calculated the odds of just 40 of the fulfilled prophecies from the Old Testament to have happened by chance to be one in 1×10 to the 136th power.  If you covered the earth with silver dollars, including a red one, and asked a blind man to find the red one, his chances of success are one chance in 3.5 x 10 to the 17th power.  Dr. Emile Borel, who created the basic law of probability, stated: “The basic law of probability states that the occurrence of any event in which the chances are beyond 10 to the 50th power is an event that we can state with certainty will never happen.” 

There is someone who knows the way out of the jungle – a life of purposelessness and despair, and His name is Jesus.  In contrast to the evolutionary / nihilist perspective, Biblical Christianity is based on the notion that we were created in the image of the sovereign, living God, that we have meaning and purpose in our lives, and that we were created with the capacity to have a RELATIONSHIP with God (not just a BELIEF) that continues beyond the grave.  That invitation is open to each of us.

We Are Not to Judge Others

“We are not to judge others.”

Response:

For many Christians (and non-Christians) “judge not” is essentially another commandment, based on Matthew 7:1a: “Judge not lest you be judged”.  The result is that they look the other way in the face of real sin, and can themselves rationalize various sins.

Even more insidious is the double standard of many critics of Christianity, claiming that Christians are narrow-minded and always judging others, when in fact that is what they are doing themselves.  “You are bad people because you are always judging others” is a statement of judgment. 

Looking deeper, we discover that while there are instances in the Bible where judge means to condemn, the more common usage of the word “judge” in Greek is Krino”, which means “to divide, separate, make a distinction, come to a decision”.  With this definition, it is clear that all of us “judge” matters every day, which is essential for us to survive.  Now read the following passages with this definition in mind – to make a distinction. 

But there is more to this issue, starting with the full context of this passage:

“Judge not, that you be not judged.  For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.  And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye?  Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye?  Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”              Matthew 7:1-5

In this passage, Jesus is commanding us to not judge hypocritically.  He is not commanding us to never judge, but to remove the plank from our own eye (repent of our own sins first) so that we help our brother more effectively.

“But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one.”           I Corinthians 2:15

We are to judge all things (not people).  Abortion, theft, murder, etc. are things – actions and fruits that we are to judge.  To gain a more complete understanding of the Biblical perspective on judging, let’s look at additional passages:

“You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thorn bushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.  A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit.”             Matthew 7:16-18

In this passage, Jesus distinguishes between good and bad fruit (behavior), and implies that we should do the same.  This requires judgment, as does the following passage:

“Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters?  Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life?  If then you have judgments concerning things pertaining to this life, do you appoint those who are least esteemed by the church to judge?”                           I Corinthians 6:2-4

“How much more, things that pertain to this life?” covers all of our lives and our behavior.  There is a difference between mistakes and sin.  Mistakes are typically unintentional, while sin is intentional.  We may apologize for mistakes, but we need to repent of our sins.  And churches need to teach us the difference.  

“Only fools don’t judge.  Judging can keep you safe. Judging can keep you from making bad decisions. Judging can keep your butt out of hell.  What would Jesus do?  I’ll let you be the judge.”       Coach Dave Daubenmire, Newswithviews.com July 31, 2014

                 

                                                                                                          

Casting Your Cares Upon Jesus: Why Are You Still Carrying Them?

“Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you.” 1 Peter 5:7

Most all Christians are familiar with this Bible verse. I find the words contained within it to be so simplistic that most tend to just read right through it without giving it much thought. Truth is, I also discern it has not been given the power behind the words that is so deserves. How many have taken the time to perform a quick study of the key words contained in this verse written by the apostle Peter? To candidly read right through it with no farther examination, our minds tend to go only as far as our English vocabulary takes us, therefore applying our own watered down meaning behind it. Perhaps this is one big reason why so many Christians are not doing what it says to do.

Too many believers are living day to day with the heaviness of all their problems weighing down on them. Our problems have, in essence, become a part of our being as we drag them around with us everywhere we go. Are you allowing the sheer volume and weight of all this excess baggage to make it virtually impossible to live in the fullness of joy the Lord instructs is a marking of His own people? Suffice to say, if the fruit of joy is non-existent in your life, this does not only affect you, but it affects every lost soul that comes in contact with you through the day. To fully understand 1 Peter 5:7, let’s look deeper into three key words contained within the passage:

The Greek word epiripto, [is] a compound of the words epi and ripto. The word epi means upon, as on top of something. The word ripto means to hurl, to throw  or to cast, and it often means to violently throw or to fling something with great force. The only other place this word epiripto is used in the New Testament is in Luke 19:35, where the Bible says, “And they brought him to Jesus: And they cast their garments upon the colt, and they set Jesus there on.” It is important to note this passage, for it correctly coveys the idea of the word epiripto, which in secular literature often pictured the flinging of a garment, bag, or excess weight off the shoulders of a traveler and onto the back of some other beast, such as a donkey, camel, or horse. (Source: Sparkling Gems from the Greek, Rick Renner 325)

In the blueprint of the human body, God did not create it to withstand long term stress caused by our problems. Stress wears the body down and will cause you to be sick, both physically and mentally. The meaning of “casting” is far stronger than just a “giving” of. Jesus is not a fragile kitten, rather He is the mighty LION of the Tribe of Judah, able to bare what we cannot. Instead of approaching Him timidly in defeat, He wants you to approach Him in the authority given you by the Holy Spirit and lift off of your shoulders every burden and care you are holding onto, and with ALL your strength, forcefully and violently throwing it all upon His back.

The word “cares” is the Greek word merimna, which means anxiety. However, in principle it described any affliction, difficulty, hardship, misfortune, trouble, or complicated circumstance that arises as a result of problems that develop in our lives. (Source: Sparking Gems from the Greek, Rick Renner 325)

What “cares” did he apostle Peter say to cast upon Jesus? ALL of them. Your cares may include family issues, such as with your children, spouse, and in-laws, or financial difficulties, trouble in the workplace, school, or even church. Mental and emotional turmoil such as depression, anxiety, panic disorders, fear, worry, and self- esteem issues are also all examples of the list of cares being toted around daily by Christians. Notice that Peter does not tell us to “try” and cast them, rather he charges us to do it. You cannot afford not to.

The word “careth” is taken from the Greek word melei, which means to be concerned; to be thoughtful; to be interested; to be aware; to notice; or to give painful and meticulous attention. (Source: Sparkling Gems from the Greek, Rick Renner 325)

Peter gives us irrefutable evidence that our Lord not only FEELS what you are feeling but His FULL attention is upon you in every circumstance in your life. He is waiting for you to fling it upon His back because He is constructed to take it on whereas you are not. You may not be able to change the present situations, trials, and circumstances you are facing, but you are commanded to shift the weight from yourself unto Him by faith.

One of the greatest ongoing battles facing the Believer is separating faith from feeling. We are moved by what we feel rather than by blind faith. Faith is an action, not a feeling. Have you been plagued with the same struggles and same unanswered prayer for months or even years?

You may have days of joy and what seems to be breakthrough, where you feel empowered to go forth and weather the storm no matter what comes your way. You may have several days or weeks where things seem to be looking up and just when you think your strength is renewed, it all comes crashing down upon you again. All the negative emotions, thinking, and speaking suddenly begin again. This empowerment then defeat is a continuous never-ending cycle. Have you recognized it to be a cycle, or are you so caught up in your feelings and defeat that you accept it as part of your life?

You then begin to doubt God or even blame God, wondering if He even hears you any longer. You expect HIM to change your situation without putting in the time and commitment it usually takes to get free. Have others made multiple attempts to give you Godly counsel on what to do and yet you still refuse to heed their words? People of like mind may give you good advice in line with scripture, but at the end of the day the answer lies within you and God alone. If you continue to refuse to take action, or only keep taking short-term action, this is considered disobedience. The answer does not lie in God’s willingness to act, but lies in you not doing what He instructs in His Word.

Granted, the Lord at times will allow these trials to promote growth, but my focus is on those who are living with their burdens indefinitely, allowing them to control every aspect of life, and not being diligent in obeying the Word until deliverance manifests.

My hope is that today will be the day you make a conscious decision to examine the words of the apostle Peter and run to Jesus with the full revelation that He has not abandoned you. That He loves you so much that His full attention is set on you and He is desperately wanting to carry the load for you. He wants to fulfill the greatest desires of your heart and longs to see you victorious in every aspect of your life. May you once and for all settle it with yourself that you will no longer rely on your own strength but the great strength of the Lord.

Prayer:

Lord, I come before You today to repent of all areas of pride in my life. Forgive me for allowing pride to cause me to carry my cares and burdens in my own strength. I recognize that You have been waiting for me to permanently give them to You. Right now I violently fling unto Your shoulders all the cares that have caused me to not only think but speak negatively.

These cares include (confess all cares as defined in Greek-anxiety, worry, fear, etc.). Take them Lord. I can no longer do this on my own and I do not want to. Today I break to cycle I have allowed to keep returning, and I make a conscious decision that I will resist taking them back upon myself at the moment they try to come back into my life.1 Peter 5:7 ensures me that You give painful and meticulous attention to every area of my life. I will not be moved by what I feel any longer but I will be moved only by faith.

I believe You love me and died that I may be free from all my burdens, for Your Word says, “He whom the Son sets free is free indeed.” (John 8:36). Restore to me again the joy of Your salvation as stated in Psalms 51:12. I choose to walk in this joy each and every day from this day on. In the name of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Now begin to thank Him for answering your prayer. Thanking Him is your surest expression of faith. You need not beg Him every day to take your cares. Just thank Him by faith that it is done and believe for the manifestation to come.     Written by Brook A.   https://aminutetomidnite.com/the-christian-life/casting-your-cares-upon-jesus-why-are-you-still-carrying-them/