Desires We know As LIFE

My thoughts…

I was thinking about us… humanity… God’s chosen creation… And how He created us in His own image (Genesis 1:27).  How that image is to reflect God… I then thought of what we all desire as humanity.

We all desire hope… joy… peace… grace… what is faithful… righteousness… morality… justice… love… acceptance… courage… humility… self-control… purpose… security… and eternal life in Heaven. 

And it is clear when we read God’s word… these desires have not only been put in us by God our Creator but can only be had, satisfied and answered and given by God our Creator.

But by denying God in our daily life, we deny and deprive ourselves of what we desire most (what we somehow know as “Life”).  And nowhere else to turn we turn to the substitutes of the world that fail, never satisfy and destroy our soul.

When we deny God we reflect the fallen and hungry world BUT when we take hold of God’s hand like a little child- LIFE comes…  For we were made by Jesus Christ.  

“He was with God in the beginning.  Through Him all things were made and without Him nothing was made that has been made.  In Him was life, and that life was the light of men…” John 1:3

(Take your hands and lock your fingers together.  One of your hands illustrates your soul and the other illustrates God who is Life.)  God created our soul to yoke “perfectly” with His Spirit just like our hands fit together perfectly. Note: Matthew 11:30

Several verses in the bible say, “Clothe yourself with Jesus Christ.” This would also illustrate how the Spirit of God perfectly fits our soul.   

Allowing our soul to be yoked, calibrated, receptive, obedient, abided in the Spirit of God manifests His good, perfect satisfying will in our life (Romans‬ ‭12:2‬)‬‬ and produce what is says below. 

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.  Against such things there is no Law.”  Galatians 5:22-23

For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love and self-discipline. 2 Timothy 1:7

Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” John 3:5

The Spirit alone gives eternal life.  Human effort accomplishes nothing.  And the very words I have spoken to you are spirit and life.” John 6:63   Note: Galatians 3:3

Jesus said, I am the way, the truth and the life... (John 14:6) It makes perfect sense then if He created us then He is the source of what we desire to fulfill and define as LIFE.  But in order to experience and have what our soul desires, we have to come to Jesus the source of LIFE.  We have to surrender our life to Him and make Him Lord and Savior over our soul. He is the only way we will ever experience LIFE and LIGHT for our soul on a daily basis. 

“For He has satisfied the thirsty soul, and the hungry soul He has filled it with what is good.” Psalm 107:9

Come and experience the way, the truth and the life in your soul!

Prayer:

Lord Jesus I know by the way I have been living I have not only failed to experience LIFE in you but have looked to other things to try to satisfy my soul and in doing so have sinned against you - for I have looked upon them as if they were gods.  Forgive me.

In my faulty human understanding I have also sinned against you and others as well.  In this I ask humbly for your forgiveness.  I have heard that you created me and my rightful place is with you.  You are the LIFE and LIGHT in which I have sought for so long.  Jesus I surrender my life to you.  Be my LORD and Savior and fill me with your glorious Spirit that I may not strive in the ways and understandings of men but in your perfect will for my life. 

Thank you Jesus for laying down your life for mine that I may have life and life more abundantly in you.   Help me to know you and grow in you according to your word.  Help me find a spirit filled bible believing church that I can grow and be part of.  Help me as I read your word to understand it and have it enrich my soul as you guide me in reading it.  Enrich the soil of my soul that the roots of my faith will grow deep in your love.  In the measure of faith you have given me- I pray this in your wonderful name- In Jesus name Amen.

*May the Spirit of God be poured out upon you according to your honest words of faith in Jesus Name, Amen.

Attitude of a Soldier: What's Inside?

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Are you bored? Have you become indifferent? Have you been lulled into a false sense of security? Does your life mirror more the world then Christ?  Has your soil turned hard and/or dry?  Has your life been crowded by the affairs of this life and have you let the birds of the air steal was is rightful yours from God?  Have you settled for moldy bread? Who has become GREATER in your life?         

Recently I had a dream where I graduated as a Marine.  When I awoke, I pondered, “Me a Marine?”  I might as well been Gideon at the wine press threshing some wheat when he heard the angle of the LORD say,

“The LORD is with you, O mighty man of valor.” Judges 6:12

This dream urged me to see how the code of a U.S. Marine mirrors the characteristics of a soldier in Christ.  There are three characteristics a Marine is to possess.   These three attributes are also to be possessed by the soldier of Christ Jesus.

Marines are to have Honor…

“'Therefore, the LORD, the God of Israel, says: I promised that your branch of the tribe of Levi would always be my priests. But I will honor those who honor me, and I will despise those who think lightly of me.” 1 Samuel 2:30

We are to revere, honor and abide in God who empowers us to exemplify good ethical and moral behavior. We love, respect, and have concern for our fellow believers and others.  In God we are to mature, trust and depend.  We are accountable for our actions and hold others accountable for their actions. 

“But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its rays. And you will go out and frolic like well-fed calves.  Then you will trample on the wicked; they will be ashes under the soles of your feet on the day when I act,” says the LORD Almighty.”  Malachi 4:2-3

I think part of the trouble with the church in America today is not fearing or reverencing the LORD as they should and above all things.  We look at the world as being this monstrous machine cutting down anyone who doesn’t conform to its erroneous opinion but who is the source of this erroneous thinking to start with? Satan.  Yes the people of this world act just like Satan.  They want to kill, steal, belittle, bully, and destroy anything that goes against their erroneous thinking.  BUT hasn’t Satan been defeated? So WHO should we rightfully fear then? Who’s TRUTH will stand forever?

 “Woe (judgment is coming) to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness; Who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!” Isaiah 5:20

How true it is about JOY being a byproduct of reverencing the LORD and JOY bolstering COURAGE.   

Marines are to have Courage…

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” Deuteronomy 31:6

We are to have courage in God who is to be continually our mental, spiritual, moral and physical strength that sees us through the spiritual warfare and daily challenges of this life.  He gives us mastery of fear, to do what his right, lead by example, and make tough decisions under stressful situations.   We take courage in God who gives us a higher standard of conduct.  

As the United States and the world progresses down this downward slippery slope as it has, many churches will be pressured and start to compromise to appease the immoral appetites of the world but their appetites will never be appeased.  As you see churches fall and marry into the culture rather then stay faithful to God, God wants us to take courage in Him and obey Him rather than human authority. (Acts 5:29).   

Marines are to have Commitment...

“Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this:  He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn, your vindication like the noonday sun.” Psalm 37:5-6

We are to willfully, daily commit, surrender, and humble ourselves before God knowing God’s commitment to us.  He is for us not against us.  For in His continual faithfulness- he promotes excellence in every endeavor and to endure.   In His commitment He promotes in us self-discipline.  He prompts concern and love for others.  We see the horrors of the spiritual warfare but we look to His unrelenting faithfulness... He makes certain we finish this race and helps use emulate Christ in this increasing darkening world.  The darker the world becomes the more we will illuminate Christ. It’s His all-empowering grace that does this in us.

God wants to feed and "really" nourish our soul so it can rise above our understanding and soar like He intends.  

 

So in Short, a soldier in Christ is to:

Honor God…

Take Courage in God…

and Commit to God…

“Then those who feared the LORD spoke with each other, and the LORD listened to what they said.  In his presence, a scroll of remembrance was written to record the names of those who feared him and loved to think about him.  ‘They will be my people,’ says the LORD Almighty. ‘On the day when I act, they will be my own special treasure.  I will spare them as a father spares an obedient and dutiful child.’”  Malachi 3:16-17

Amen.