God's Love Operating In Us

There is no doubt that God has been enriching and building within us lately.  He reminded us that JESUS is our LIFE Coach and the importance of holding onto Childlike Faith. 

Now He is continuing with this verse that encompasses those things.

 Jesus said: “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me.  For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.   For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul?  Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?”

Take up your cross… do you know what that means? It is to live a “sacrificial” life.  Some may wonder what does “a sacrificial life” mean?  It means you no longer live or practice the former sinful and selfish passions and desires but giving your life to God to guide as it was intended and made for.

Who better to make the soul all it is to be then God!

And “For whoever saves his life will lose it,” means to resist and not give your life fully to God/Jesus Christ.   It is continuing down in that same old and returning to the same old understanding, never growing and maturing in God.   It is to never know God and be saved from our understanding, this world- that is based on the fallen understanding, and if that wasn’t enough- saved from the tortures of hell.

“But whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.”  There again we see Jesus being our “LIFE Coach”. He is the one who helps us overcome and live this life successfully in God’s perfect will that is pleasing to the soul. 

Many men and women have tried to turn Christianity into a religion and tried to pass these religious ideals on to others but Christianity is a honest to goodness relationship with God.  It’s about Him doing the doing in us.

God is forever- this world… not so much, in fact the bible says this world is going to burn one day.  Jesus is saying you want to invest your life, your soul, in something that is going to disappear- and mean nothing?

God wants us to look at the big picture and get a glimpse into eternity.  See LIFE through His perfect “eyes” and perspective.  “You lose your life” to God -you let go of your grasp and let God take hold of it, you will find LIFE but if you try to keep it you will find only misery for first I find the human understanding is not kind and loves to be entangled and enslaved to thinking that is unsatisfying for the soul.  It is like a type of religion.  It is unsatisfying and a burden.  Second without God there isn’t anything to satisfy and encourage our soul for He is the rightful provider and sustainer of our soul in all instances and circumstances that come in this life. 

There in God we do find gratification and purpose when God’s love is operating “in” our life but again few consider “living in” and “finding it” because they choose to ignore, deny, and refuse to surrender to God who made the soul and knows what the soul needs… hence they lose their soul and the benefits of God in their life.  

Think… the world would be a totally different place if everyone had a relationship with Jesus Christ- the Creator of Life.  

God says, “Love me and find LIFE for your soul”. God says, “Love me and find what means to live in love”.

THE COACH

Who is the coach of your soul? Who inspires you? Who challenges you? Who disciplines your ways of understanding? 

 

I think we all have had moments in life where we get tested, tired… weary… fail… doubt, want to presume, want to become indifferent, want to not care or even want to throw a temper tantrum like that 3 year old in Walmart.

 

But who brings you out of those moments?

 

Jesus… says to His bride (His church), “Hey love, who do you love? You know who you want to be looking at? Let me take your burden. Let me erase your doldrums. I will answer your need. I will be your cheer squad. I will give you reason to smile and help you overcome the cares of this life. I will give you “living” purpose and reason. I am all you need.”

 

Sounds like some love song, but is it SO true when it comes to Jesus? Jesus is the lover of our soul.

 

But to go about life as “usual” and to “ignore” God is to lose… lose… lose.

 

Some may say, “I want to go to heaven but I don’t care to know Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior.”

 

Let’s challenge that thinking for moment: You would never tell the coach of the team you want to be on, “I am going to be on the team coach but I don’t want you coaching me.” We know it doesn’t work that way… so why would we think that would work with God?

 

Jesus is our LIFE COACH. He is the Sustainer. He IS the WAY, the TRUTH and the LIFE. (John 14:6) No one gets into heaven without Him and no one succeeds in the things that truly matter in life without Him.

 

From His unlimited resources at His grasp Jesus is about us learning to live in Him… His reality from start to finish...

 

Hebrew 12:1-2 which says: “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily hinders our progress. And let us run with endurance the race that God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, on whom our faith depends from start to finish…”

 

What is the reality of our day… how is our outlook? Is our perspective skewed by monotony, apprehension, dread, doubt, worry, fear, hopelessness, cares of tomorrow, cares of yesterday, or the cares of what the world says are important?

 

This is what Jesus said about this kind of thinking: “And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.” Mark 4:19

 

No wonder why the word of God ALSO says:

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6

 

And

 

“Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” Romans 12:2

 

There is NoTHING routine about the WAYS of God but how often have we gone about our day, taken the bait, and swallowed or surrendered to ROUTINE thinking instead of newest of God who lifts up our soul? How many times have we allowed “baited thinking” to put up it’s umbrella to divert that living water of God from pouring in our cup? If you find yourself there ask yourself: Where is the newest of this day? Where is the Spirit to stir up a fire in my soul?

 

Spiritual athletes just as athletes, to accomplish the feats in their path, must not yield to "baited thinking" but look beyond themselves.

 

* We most love God MORE then the things that add no COLOR to our day .

*To thrive… to endure… God’s breathed renewing Spirit must guide us in all things.

*God’s living word most be protected in our hearts and minds and not get choked out.

 

Jesus is our LIFE COACH. He must be given access, to teach, counsel, instruct, heal, inspire and to drive us to greater lasting and satisfying things.

 

That we may be spiritually equipped for what only God knows and awaits us.

 

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

 

Good way to start, is to lay down the oldness of yesterday. Look to what God has for today. Surrender your thoughts and seek living words that God is going to point out and drop into your heart and mind and let them manifest Him in us through love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control in the course, court, trail, and field of life.

 

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:11-13

 

Just as a coach has plans for his players, God has a plan everyday for us but it’s our choice to listen to the LIFE coach of LIFE or not.

 

“From one man he (Jesus) made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us. ‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’” Acts 17:26-28

 

Are you ready for the LIFE coach to move you? Are you ready to win with the one who has already experienced victory? Pretty awesome to think that God the Father sent His Son to make sure we would not only make it to heaven, for those who believe, but we would have life and have life to the fullest.

 

... Jesus is the answer.

 

Thanks for reading.

An Effective Witness Part Two

I love the changing colors of the autumn.   How lawns and concrete sidewalks are temporarily decorated with festive warm colors that are shed from the standing trees above them.  These eye-feasting days are the evidence that another beautiful fall is upon us.   And just as we observe the changing colors that represent "Fall" we must also take note of the messages God is giving His pastors and people to share with His people, for they too are showing us the season in which we are living and heading in to.  Just as the seasons tell us what time of the year we are living so are the messages God gives to equip and ready His people for what is ahead and is to come.

God has always prepared His people for what is to come- since the very beginning.

“Then God said, ‘Let there be lights in the firmament of the heavens to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs and seasons, and for days and years;’” Genesis 1:14 NKJV

And now…

“Now learn a lesson from the fig tree.  When its buds become tender and its leaves begin to sprout, you know without being told that summer is near.  Just so, when you see the events I’ve described beginning to happen, you can know his return is very near, right at the door.”  Matthew 24:32-33 NLT (READ Matthew 24 when you get a chance.)

Present Messengers Messages

The messages and even in my studies with the Lord, there has been an emphasis on these themes:

1.     Jesus’ coming is near.

2.     Jesus is preparing and securing his people in himself before he comes.

3.     Persecution of bible believing Christians is going to increase.

Under preparing and securing his people are questions like these: “Are you really saved?” and “Do you know what it means to be saved?”

Why would God have his messengers ask such questions?

•  People accepting false teachings.
• People fallen into human understanding.
• People not living the way they should.
• People not educated in how one is saved.
• People are worried and uncertain in their salvation in Jesus Christ.
• God doesn’t want anyone to perish but have eternal life in heaven with him. (Note: 2 Peter 3:9)

If we are offended by such questions we should ask ourselves why?  I think we should be grateful to have such questions asked.  Such questions help us to refocus on what is important in this life and strengthen our faith in God.  God wouldn’t ask us these types of questions if he didn’t care, would he?

Someone might ask, “I go to church, doesn’t that make me a Christian?” I can stand in the produce department at the grocery store does that make me an apple, orange, banana or a grapefruit...? Hopefully not a grapefruit. :)

There were many times when I was persuaded to go to church - I got some “la la la” and then some “blah, blah, blah” but nothing really stuck.   My heart didn’t change and certainly my mindset didn’t change. 
 

 It wasn’t until I gave my life to God did the change take place. That is when I became a Christian.

“And I will give them singleness of heart and put a new spirit within them.  I will take away their hearts of stone and give them tender hearts instead.” Ezekiel 11:19

I do many good works but does that make me a Christian?

Does a fire fighter, a law enforcement officer, a teacher, a medical physician, an athletic coach, do good works? Does that mean they are all Christians?

Even individuals in false religions do good works but do they believe Jesus Christ as being LORD and Savior?  Is Jesus Christ God of them? Is Jesus Christ – The WAY into heaven?  Are they depending on Jesus Christ to save them?

The word of God says, “ All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away.  No one calls on your name or strives to lay hold of you; for you have hidden your face from us and have given us over to our sins.” Isaiah 64:6-7 NIV

If one depends on their own so-called “righteous acts” to try save themselves instead of Jesus Christ, their “good deeds” are worthless.  Their “good deeds” are filthy rags to God.  They are done in the wrong motive to only benefit the doer in temporary human praise and deny Christ as Lord and Savior.  This type of person becomes prideful, puffed up, legalistic, ignorant, jealous and foolish in their thinking.   It is the very opposite in how God works in our life.  (Note 1 Corinthians 13 & Galatians 5:16-26)

Our good deeds do not save us.  It is only through Jesus Christ that we can be saved.

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.  Ephesians 2:8-9

“For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:10

We don’t do good works to be saved but walk in good works because of what Jesus Christ has done in our lives. 

I haven’t killed anyone, done drugs, or stolen anything?  I consider myself a good person.  Does that make me a Christian?

Being a good person, does that give me right of passage into heaven?  A good person… according to whom… me, others, you or God?

“For all have sinned: all fall short of God’s glorious standard.  Yet now God in his gracious kindness declares us not guilty.  He has done this through Christ Jesus, who has freed us by taking away our sins.  For God sent Jesus to take the punishment of our sins and to satisfy God’s anger against us.   We are made right with God when we believe that Jesus shed his blood, sacrificing his life for us….”  Romans 3:23-25

Without Jesus Christ, whatever you thought would secure you a place in heaven will vanish before your eyes and you will fall into the pit of hell.   Don’t be tricked.

Do you have Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior of your life?

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

“There is a path before each person that seems right, but ends in death.” Proverbs 16:25

Jesus said, “You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate.  The highway to hell is broad, and it’s gate is wide for the many who choose the easy way.  But the gateway to life is small, and the road is narrow, and only a few ever find it.”  Matthew 7:13-14

“God blesses those who realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is given to them. - God blesses those who are persecuted because they live for God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.”  Matthew 5:10

Jesus said, “Yes, I am the gate.  Those who come in through me will be saved.  Wherever they go, they will find green pastures.   The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy.  My purpose is to give life in all its fullness.  I am the good shepherd.  The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” John 10:9-11

Jesus said “However, those the Father has given me will come to me, and I will never reject them.  For I have come down from heaven to do the will of God who sent me, not to do what I want.  And this is the will of God, that I should not lose even one of all those he has given me, but that I should raise them to eternal life at the last day. For it is my Father’s will that all who see his Son and believe in him should have eternal life- that I should raise them at the last day.” John 6:37-4

Life is short.  The devil only has a short time as well.  He wants to convince people of many different philosophies of thought concerning heaven but God has made it plain.  You and I can't have eternity in heaven unless we have Jesus as our Lord and Savior.   It wasn't some false prophet or ordinary man that split his blood for all of humanity but it was God's blood.  Jesus all man and all God.  Pure and without sin.  He was the sacrifice for our sins.  God's blood...  only God's blood can cover our sins.

I know sometimes in life to find real answers, we have to find no solution in us and/or humanity.   We have to be in a dark pit of sorts where we relinquish our life to God and God makes a way where there seemed to be no way.

God has made way- where there seemed to be no way and that is through Jesus Christ.

This message is not just important for those who haven’t got to know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior but it is important to Christians as well….  It is a reminder that we cannot be an effective witness for Jesus Christ (a Christian) if we have something other then Jesus or added to Jesus as our foundation of our salvation.  Too much sand, too much water and the concrete will crumble.  This applies to everything in our life as well.  We not be consistent in all our ways unless our focus and trust in him.  God is always consistent.   He is always faithful.  Jesus needs to be our salvation in entirety- nothing more and nothing less.

Again Spirit of Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, is preparing and securing his people in himself before he comes.

Before we know it all the colorful leaves will have fallen to the ground and disappeared.  It will be winter and if we don't take the messages we are given to heart, what will warm our hearts in the cold of winter? Is eternity with Jesus set in your heart?

I am anxious to see my Jesus are you?

I hope this speaks to you