Living Light

Stirring The Deep


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Confined in the Unreal

Confined in the Unreal

 

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I’ve mentioned before that this reality of our earth existence is like being in a womb. The overlays between a physical womb and spiritual womb are deeply intertwined, as the physical is a shadow of the spiritual to serve for instructional purposes. And there is much to learn from this particular analogy.

In a physical womb, the child is enveloped in flesh, which enables her to grow, but it also is a barrier from being face-to-face with her parent. We too are enveloped in a flesh covering that is serving to develop our soul individuality, and like the child we are “separated” from our heavenly Father, though he is all around us. Thus, as the child has never “met” the parent, we too experience a “disconnect”.

Because of this separation, our Father and we are both confined in the unreal. We are in this temporary dark reality and our heavenly Father is outside of these dark waters in the light. Thus, while in the womb we are confined in the unreal (detachment from our Father), but our Father is also confined in the unreal because in this state he remains in a sense unreal to us. Thus, why there are so many images of him that exist. He exists in a reality different than our own, and he can’t embrace us as he so desperately longs to. He can’t until we are full grown and come to birth. Thus, we are both trapped in the unreal unable to fully embrace one another in a way that creates an everlasting unchanging oneness.

To find this oneness, we need to be full grown so we can exist outside the womb.

Some souls have desirously and diligently sought for his true presence as their souls have been awoken to his love. They’ve become aware of the true heavenly Father and his love for them. This is the fertilization of their soul by his love. His love awakens us out of our dormant state as a mere egg in this womb. This awakening is the beginning of our embryonic growth, and what lies ahead is the much-needed development of our soul so we can grow into a creation that can abide in harmony in the reality outside of the womb. An embryo can’t survive outside the womb. It must grow to come to full maturity before it is ready. Likewise, we must become developed in our soul, so we can come forth, as a soul able to reflect our Father.

In this diligent seeking, these souls have learned and matured to “sense” his true essence beyond the womb. In this understanding and connection to the outside, they grow and mature in and by his love, which comes through his truths, as souls preparing to reflect the divinity of their Father. Others are so disconnected in the womb state that they doubt there is a parent at all. They remain a seed unfertilized by his true divine love. Then there are the many souls in-between these two states.

In this separation, we don’t “see” our heavenly Father, we only “see” him by faith. True faith is first knowing of the true Father, then believing that though we don’t see him, we know he is there and his love is endless and perfect for us. It’s learning to live a life established on the reality outside of the womb, a reality only those outside can teach us. Thus, the importance of constant soul communion with our Father and his Christ, who teaches us and helps us grow to come forth in a new birth. In this understanding, we spiritually mature, so that our faith becomes established in his ways, attributes and love to an extent that we sense him as if he is with us, but it’s only the strength of our faith that we are experiencing. But it’s that strength of faith that brings us forth into a new birth of our soul.

In our faith, we continue to grope in the darkness only seeing by our faith. This is why as our faith develops it sometimes waxes and wanes. With it we battle the fears of not knowing, uncertainty and perceived distance from our Father.

However, with our birth into the real, faith ceases and in its place is a deep knowing, thus rest and eternal peace. Faith is only required when there is a separation from our Father. Though it is essential to our soul development … when the time comes, it fades away and a knowing takes its place and our love becomes full and ever expanding into eternity. Instead of seeking to find an oneness with our Father, we gain that oneness with his divinity, and we no longer seek but become. We become his child bearing his reflection, thus we simply be.

In our birth, we are partakers of the divine essence of the Father, thus reflect his nature in our outward soul expression while maintaining our individuality. The key reflector of our new birth is the full reception and giving of the divine love of the Father. This is our shining attribute that with it carries divine intellect. Our hopes fade as they are fulfilled, and now there is growth in the light and by the light, no longer by stumbling through the darkness where we learn by error. When we can’t see we grow through our errors, learning what is and what is not. But in the light we simply grow. Our soul essence finds an oneness with the Father, as a baby born is placed in her Father’s arms, face-to-face.

But until our new birth of a divine soul, we are confined to this reality and our Father is confined to outside of this reality. This is why we seek to be a developing soul who has the strength of faith to come to birth. Without soul development that prepares us to be a new creation of divinity, and without the faith that enables us to grow and push out of the womb, we don’t come to birth. But with the two, we become identifiable children of our heavenly Father.

 

 

 


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Metamorphosis of the Spirit

Metamorphosis of the Spirit

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Monarch with caterpillar

Our spiritual transformation is a metamorphosis from one creation to another.  From a dead spiritual entity, which continually feeds on death, which perpetuates death, to a living spiritual entity that continually drinks in the sweet nectar of life and reflects the beauty of the Creator’s character.

Our merciful God created this earth to instruct us in His ways.  A beautiful illustration of our transformation is found in the journey of a caterpillar into a butterfly.

As a caterpillar has to die to its current form to transform into a butterfly, we too have to die to our flesh form to be transformed into a spirit creation; a creation reflective of the Creator’s likeness and of the spirit (air).

Stage One: The Seed/Egg

There is a seed of life in each of us. It’s the seed of eternity (Ecc 3:11), and the seed that holds the DNA of our Creator. With the right conditions, the seed within grows and we transform into entities reflecting our Father’s likeness, His character.  A seed looks nothing like the living creation it becomes; yet it contains the source code that is needed to become a living creation.

What are the conditions of spiritual change; the secrets of spiritual metamorphosis?

Stage Two: Feasting on the Green Tree/Eat and Eat

The main activity of the caterpillar is to eat … and eat. It’s required for them to grow to transform. Likewise, our main job is to eat to grow. We are to feast constantly on the Tree of Life, Christ spoken word to us from within our souls. This nourishment isn’t doctrines of religion, but the pure word of the spirit of God spoken directly to our spirit by the spirit interpreter, the Holy Spirit.

Worm that Doesn’t Die

As we begin to feast on the words of life, we cease to feast on death (lies, corruption, deception, false doctrines, wisdom of the world) little by little. These words are the pure words of truth, which comes from a pure conscience within us (Christ the Internal Teacher), spoken to our spirits and received in understanding. We need only to feast on these words of life to transform, but we must feast and feast continually.

If we continue to feast on death, we are the worm that doesn’t die, thus doesn’t change.

“where ‘Their worm does not die, And the fire is not quenched.’ Mark 9:44

Do you know what this worm that doesn’t die feeds on? Dead bodies, death. (found in the definition of worm in the Strong’s concordance)

Through false doctrines, many people have been misled that this life is neutral ground, not heaven and not hell. It’s our own spiritual deadness that makes our reality hell. Hell continues as our reality as along as we feed on death. In feeding on death, we are the worms that do not die and transform into new creations.

At this stage, our purpose in life is to feast on the truth, the bread of heaven, so we can transform from our worm state and leave Sheol.

Stage Three: Inner transformation/Chrysalis

After feasting for some time on the green plant, the Tree of life (Christ), we start a deep internal conversion. When His words of life become our internal truth, it starts to change everything, beginning with our heart from stone to flesh. We mature to a certain point by His truths that we die (abandon and put off) to all that isn’t of the truth.

This is a time in our lives where we experience intense positive change within our souls. At our core, our character starts to take on Christ’s likeness. Once this occurs a flood of transformations begin. We start thinking, speaking and acting differently. Loving kindness, healing, and deliverance from entrapments of our flesh manifest. It’s a tremendous stage of spiritual growth that affects every dynamic of our lives.  And like being in a cocoon, we become separated from the world. Often we are cut off from many worldly things, people and activities so that our growth can take place unhindered.

Stage Four: New Creations/Butterfly

Once we come to a certain level of spiritual maturity, our flesh skins start to break away. As the caterpillar sheds its skins, we shed the skins of death/affliction/ bitterness, and what comes forth is something altogether different and beautiful. This stage comes with a great “earthquake” to our lives. As our old skins, which are of the dust of the earth start quaking, splitting open and breaking away, all that we have known starts to change as we become a creation of the air and no longer of the dust. The wind, the breath of God, starts to fill our new wings, spiritual mind, and we embark upon a new life as creations of the spirit/air. Everything is growing out of a point of perfection, His spirit within us; truly a new beginning and a new life of life.

Our appearance becomes a reflection of God’s glory/character. A butterfly’s wings don’t hold the pigment of their brilliant colors, but they have a reflective quality that reflects the light in such a way that it creates their magnificent brilliance. So too, we are mirrors to our Father’s brilliance. When we transform spiritually, our mortal bodies are clothed with new skins of eternity, thus bearing the likeness of Christ, who is the reflection of the heavenly Father.

This glorious transformation occurs in the end at the return of Christ, which is the brilliance of God abiding within mankind. What lies ahead, I do not know as no one has gone through this full metamorphosis in the earth, as it is only possible upon Christ’s return. It is through the fullness of His spirit within us that we become living eternal creations. No mind has conceived what He has in store for those who love Him.

Our eyes are starting to twinkle with the brilliance of His reflection.

Take a moment when you have time to look into a butterfly’s journey. You will find many overlaps to our spiritual journey.

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Characteristics of the Spirit Mind

Characteristics of the Spirit Mind

 

The womb of this world is opening and bringing forth the sons of God. Galatians 4:19 They are going through the torn veil and entering into the Holy of Holies to abide in the presence of God and thus for His presence to fill their present. Mark 15:38, John 3:5-6 These symbolic illustrations point to and describe mankind transitioning from the finite flesh mind into the eternal spirit mind. And, what happens as you go through the birth canal leaving the water (womb/earth) and entering into the air (spirit/heaven)? You leave the unreal, death and lies, and enter the real, life and truth. Revelation 4:1

The real has been hidden in the unreal. Revelation 2:17  The real is the present moment, which mankind experiences as a flash because the finite flesh mind abides in the past and the future. Yet the present moment is the only part of our existence that is real. The past only exists as a memory and the future doesn’t exist. So as we are born into the spirit, our minds move into the present and that present expands to become eternity. Abiding in the present is how we dwell within the presence of God because that is where God exists, in the real. When we become present minded within the presence of God, we enter into eternity. When our minds change; we change. This is gaining the mind of Christ. It’s a state of being connected to and governed by the mind of God; thus the will of God. John 12:26, John 5:30, John 8:28. Abiding in the present is the only place we can truly do the Father’s will because there we are completely governed by Him.

This transformation is the work of Christ in us; who is our wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. 1 Corinthians 1:30 It’s the new wine-skins and the new wine. This transformation is becoming as a child to enter into the Kingdom; moving into the present as we abide in absolute trust of our loving heavenly Father. Luke 18:17, Matthew 18:4, Matthew 6:33

Below are some mind-shifts we go through as we transition from a finite flesh mind into an eternal spirit mind. As we shift, we become a light in the darkness as the presence of God becomes our reality in the present. Some of these I’ve discussed in videos; some I have not; but I’m sure I will.  This is an amazing transformation, and above all we have to trust God to direct it and create it perfectly in us. Our part is to listen and follow, starting now. Zech 6:15

The points below lead to living in the present moment and God’s sovereign reign in our minds, thus lives.

  • We DRAW WISDOM from the pure consciousness of God and not from the mass consciousness of mankind. James 3:14-17, John 6:27, 63
  • Our EXPECTATIONS are of the PRESENT moment and are ONLY of the things of the SPIRIT (peace, loving kindness, honor, peace, joy, etc), thus no pre-defined physical images dictated by the mankind’s wisdom. 2 Timothy 2:20-26

(The above discussed in: Reshaping the Mind to Abundant life)

  • We SUBMIT our “FREE-WILL” (not truly free, but our ability to create “desired” images of the future based on our present surroundings and pursue those images) to God and let Him direct our will in everything, as we learn following our will only leads to harm. This submission is the true humility, and fear of God. Luke 9:23-24, Isaiah 57:15, Micah 6:8
  • In the moment, we FOLLOW the PROMPTING that comes to mind (action or words to speak) if it’s best to do it at that time. Otherwise, we recommit the idea/task to God and let Him bring it to mind to do in the future. Psalm 37:5-6, 23 What is best is determined by what aligns to the nature of God (what creates peace, love, kindness, joy, rest). This knowledge of God’s nature is the oil (truth) we need in our lamp (soul) to be lit (connected to Christ). Now you see why; it’s the foundation needed to be able to be present minded. Matthew 25:1-12, John 6:45 
    • Thus, planning for the future (lists, goals, etc) is greatly limited; instead we trust God to prompt and direct us daily and keep our expectations of the spirit. Isaiah 55:8-9, Galatians 5:22-23

(The above discussed in: Sabbath Rest and the Eternal Mind)

  • The present creates the future; thus TODAY we ACT on the WISDOM of God that creates peace, love, mercy, joy, honor, etc today. For, tomorrow is created out of today. James 3:18
    • One moment establishes and directs the next, thus we let God establish loving-kindness and peace in this moment by the wisdom He gives us.
  • We FULLY TRUST God to direct our actions/steps each day according to His wisdom. We listen in the awareness of our present and obey. Prov 3:5-6
  • We are AT PEACE and REST as we can abide fully in the present moment without worrying about the next. When we are doing what God directs each moment, we know we are doing the perfect thing at that time; we don’t need to be concerned with doing something else. Isaiah 26:3
  • We trust God with all our SPIRITUAL development; trusting He is working ALL for our good in each moment. Romans 8:28, Psalm 32:10 We listen, learn, and obey His voice more continually in conscious awareness thus moving obedience into our unconscious awareness. And, His mercy covers all as we grow in unity with Him. We trust Him with the increase of our growth; as it’s His work in us. Ephesians 2:10, 1 Corin 3:7 We trust Him to bring to mind the concepts/truths we learn from Him, when we need them. John 14:26
  • By grace, we are PURGED from MINDSETS of HARM that keep us tied to the past, thus to the pit; like blame, personal vengeance, and un-forgiveness. As a child; we lift up those who hurt us to our Father and let Him counsel us and work out the situation for the good of all. Matthew 5:44, Luke 6:35 We follow His instruction and don’t seek personal retribution. Matthew 6:14-15, Romans 12:17-21

(The above discussed in: Letting Go of the Pit )

  • We FOLLOW our NATURAL RHYTHM, thus not hurried/rushed or slowing down (procrastination, etc). Thus, God directs the happenings of our lives; while we let go of trying to control how the future occurs. Jeremiah 8:6
  • Once we commit all our desires to God, God directs us by our desires. Thus, we DO WHAT WE DESIRE, not what we don’t, this is a significant part of loving without hypocrisy. Psalm 37:4-5
  • We SEE ourselves, others, and God in the PUREST of LOVE for we are “seeing” from within the presence of God, who is love. In this “sight”; pure love is sown and grown in the earth. This love entails all the characteristics of God; honor, truth, purity, righteousness, mercy, justice, peace, etc. Thus, all our actions and words are of the intent of the purest of love. 1 John 4:16

We are like trees; we grow. The Kingdom of Heaven is like a tree that grows. Matthew 13:31-32 This transition is a process. Trust your heavenly Father to birth you into His Kingdom perfectly. It’s He who establishes your faith as He assembles the truth, His mind, in you. When God creates your reality, your present, then you are a son of God. Romans 8:19, Romans 8:14


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Part I of 4: Coming Kingdom & Judgment

Part I of 4: Coming Kingdom & Judgment

Jude 1:14-15
And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.

Jeremiah 5:14
Therefore thus says the LORD God of hosts: “Because you speak this word,
Behold, I will make My words in your mouth fire, And this people wood, And it shall devour them.

1 Peter 4:17
For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God?

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The Meaning of “Born Again”

The Meaning of “Born Again”

 

This term has been so common and misused it has lost depth of meaning and the truth it is grounded upon.. here I dive into its understanding. Talking about: How do you know you are born again? What does that mean for your life, now?

John 3:3  Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

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The Awakening

The Awakening

Light as a sword cuts through the darkness
Where it goes life replaces the corpses.

A thought dispelled, a bond broken
An act redeemed, a life spoken

The voice long silenced breaks forth in song
A melody of love is forged and strong.

Truth takes flight changing the course of time
In response the soul plays a new rhyme.

A thought dispelled, a bond broken
An act redeemed, a life spoken

Thoughts transcend to a new dimension
Creating a path of freedom in redemption.

Though a flower dies upon a field of gold
A new bloom rises bearing eternity untold.

A thought dispelled, a bond broken
An act redeemed, a life spoken

Eyes wide open see a crystal lake
An awakening brings birth of no mistake

Heaven rejoices in voices and strings
For one new birth among the beings.

~Rachel DiPaolo
January 2, 2011


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Circle of Life … PART 2

Circle of Life … PART 2

Continued from previous post … Circles of Life … To be Born Again Part 1

To be “born again” or “born from above” is to be born of the spirit of God leaving the spirit of man behind. John 3 Only by being born again into the spirit of God can we escape the bondage of the spirit of man because it is only then that we leave that circle.

Once born for a second time, the source of who we are isn’t of man but of God, thus we are new creation. Galatians 2:20. The source changes everything. No longer are we connected and tied to the corruption. Instead we are connected to God thus eternal life. Therefore the “issues” we developed and owned start to fade as the chord is broken.

Consider what this means. It’s tremendous. No longer are we bound to that spirit of man and all the corruption is creates. No longer are we bound to our destructive behaviors. No longer are we bound to our past. No longer are we bound to those who hurt us. This is a significant part of what it means to be born again – you literally start feeling and acting like a new creation. Once you’ve truly experienced this new life – it will blow your mind – literally… (more on that in a minute). It frees you from the corruption thus your “issues” and you are truly able to move into a different place in our soul leaving the corrupted past behind.

HOWEVER, though we are born of the Spirit of God, we can still walk in the old life like we are still in the other circle. We do this because our minds are not aligned to our new spirits. Our spirit is there – our minds have to catch up. Our bodies are machines; machines that are trained to function and respond in a certain way. Most of what we do is automated – our responses, thinking, attitudes, and perspectives. And all of these were developed when we were attached to the spirit of man, thus they are formed in corruption. Thus, our minds need to be rewired to align with our new spirit. Our machines need retraining and it starts with the hub – the mind, which directs everything else. Beliefs, ways of thinking, emotions, perspectives, attitudes, lies, and deception are all aspects of our minds that have to be renewed in God’s truth and wisdom.

As we seek God’s wisdom in the Bible and the Holy Spirit’s instruction, our minds are rewired to be in sync with the spirit of God. As a result, the “issues” we had start to dissolve and we start to live in freedom. The fruits of the spirit, the words and ways of God, God’s wisdom and truth take their place.

The renewing of the mind is a process; it isn’t instant. Further, it requires our participation. It takes dedication to seeking God’s instruction, a willingness to let go, to walk in God’s ways, and a strong desire for truth. If we don’t make this journey of renewal we will remain trapped to the spirit of man by our minds, though we have been severed from it. This is how many believers live. It’s a sad state because they have been given the key to freedom yet fail to use it.

It’s like a man who has been in prison and one day released. Though free, he continues to live as a prisoner. He doesn’t understand what it means to be free because he has been imprisoned for so long. His mind is wired to think like a prisoner and therefore hasn’t come in sync with the reality of his condition, freedom.

The renewal of our mind is an essential component of experiencing the new life we’ve been given. Though we are free we can still live like we aren’t. Spiritual birth isn’t our choice just as physical birth isn’t, but this renewal is where we do have a choice. John 3:6 When the disciples asked what is the work of God, Jesus responded it is our work is to believe in Him, which is our new life. John 6:28-29 That means our part is to spend time with God, abide in His Word, listen to the Holy Spirit, and respond in obedience to His leading. If we do, over time our minds are transformed and come in line with the spirit of God. When our minds are transform to a certain extent, we literally feel born again and like a new creation.

When we seek and commit to the journey of developing a transformed mind, we will start experiencing amazing freedom, fruit of the spirit of God, the Kingdom of God, and a new reality. We’ll experience the freedom, joy, abundance and love we’ve longed for.

Our minds are a powerful tool. We can choose to seek God and His truth or we can choose to remain as we always have been.

What circle do you want to be a part of? 1 Corinthians 15:22


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Circles of Life…. To be Born Again PART 1

Circles of Life….

To be Born Again PART 1

Imagine two separate circles. The smaller one represents the spirit of man and the much larger one represents the spirit of God. We are either a part of one or the other. We enter into them by being born; one by being born in the flesh through man; the other by being born in the spirit through God. John 3:1-21

The first human man to know God, Adam, was the first man into the circle of the spirit of man when he chose to go his own way. This circle encompasses man’s will fulfilling his own desires completely separate thus contrary to God. To be a part of the second circle, the spirit of God, is to be in unison with God’s will and to be one with Him. John 17:23

When we are physically born, we are born of the flesh and therefore into the spirit of man. Our spirit is easily corruptible because it’s detached from God. Further, it’s a spirit that is corrupted because it’s united to the others in the circle who are of the spirit of man and thus corrupted. 1 John 5:19

Within the individual circles everyone is connected. Everyone impacts, influences and affects each other. If we are in the circle we are a part of that circle; being shaped by those in it. Some connections are stronger than others, but all influence one another to some degree. Thus what circle we are in will determine the condition of our spirit.

Where we clearly see the impact of this connection as in the circle of the spirit of man is in families. Everyone has “issues” that has caused a whole host of problems, issues like a lack of value, rejection, neglect, perfectionism, irrational fear, jealousy, addiction, manipulation, and pride. Many of these issues often start with one’s parents, because it’s a strong connection, then those issues are fed by others in the circle. One person gets issues from their parents, which they got from their parents as so on. Issues are passed along like a disease.

When we are born into this world we are born into the spirit of man, therefore we are in bondage to corruption. Psalm 51:5 At conception, we begin to be affected by those in that circle. We are born with a self will that is detached from God and connected to this degraded spirit of man. Immediately, we started to absorb other’s issues like our parents’ issues making them our own. Imagine if we didn’t “own” them how differently our lives would have played out? But we never had a choice to receive them or not we just did because we were connected to them. This influential element is how it is in these circles; we are connected to everyone else because we share the same spirit.

Every issue I’ve had is because I’ve “owned” someone else’s issues. They modeled lack of value, so that is what I learned. They treated me poorly because their own pain, but I took it as something wrong with me. This isn’t pointing the finger – it’s acknowledging that we are all connected. (When we get older we have more of choice about how to handle our issues, though if we are in the circle of man it is just moving from one corruption to the next.) This is true for everyone. And once I owned it, which we do at a young age, it corrupted my mind sending me on a path of ill-thinking, which led to destructive mind and behaviors, thus a corrupted life.

Now you can see how that death/sin was passed along through one man, Adam. And how life is passed along through one man, Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:22 We are all connected. Flesh conceives flesh. Spirit conceives spirit. John 3:6

To be continued …


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How You Know You’re Saved

How You Know You’re “Saved”

 

For years I would repeat the “sinner’s prayer” over and over just in case it didn’t stick the previous times. I wanted to believe those preachers who said if I just said a prayer I was saved, but deep down I knew something was off. So, how do you know you are saved?

Saved means we are no longer simply flesh human beings but spirit as God is spirit. That spirit is eternal. It is a part of God like our flesh is a part of our parents. 2 Peter 1:4 Its life comes from being connected to God. John 15:5

The way that we are able to enter into this spirit life is through the sacrifice of Christ Jesus. To abide as spirits with a holy God, we need to be pure and holy. Jesus is holy and our sacrifice. He paid the price for our sins, which is death. As our Savior AND Lord, He took our place so we can take on new eternal spirit life. Because of what He did for us, we are resurrected into new life as He was, and a life that is perfect, eternal, and holy. 1 Peter 2:24, John 10:10

I believe God saves. We didn’t choose Him. He chose us. Just as we didn’t choose to be physically born we don’t choose to be spiritually born. Someone who is spiritually dead can’t choose life. Romans 8:29-30, Ephesians 1:5, Ephesians 1:11

And when God saves us, His Spirit makes it home in ours. John 14:23 Therefore, some proof of that spirit life are the following:

Our spirits:

1. Know God as our Father
2. Long to draw near to Him in truth and love
3. Want to know Him
4. Desire to be like Him

First, our new spirits identify with God as our Father. Galatians 4:6 John 10:4 Just as a child knows his dad because he is a part of him and has a relationship with him. We connect with God in a similar way.

Second, our spirits long to draw near to Him because He will draw near to us. James 4:8 Children desire to be with their dads because they love them and want their love. We want to and do abide in His truth and His love.

Third, we want to know Him. 1 John 2:5 Children, especially when they are older, want to know their fathers. We want to spend time in His Word getting to know Him and learning of His ways. We keep His Word close to our hearts and fill our minds with His truth because it is the words of our Father.

Fourth, our spirits desire to be like Him. 1 John 2:15, John 14:24 Children want to be like their fathers, we desire to be like our Heavenly Father. When we walk outside of His will we feel convicted of that sin (anything not God’s way) and want to leave our ways (repent) and walk in His paths. There is a desire to leave our old ways and not simply because we should or have to.

A spirit born of Him is growing into these four points and it starts with a desire to draw near to Him.

The underlining factor to each of these and defining factor of whether we are saved or not is an action packed desire to be in a relationship with God. If we are cultivating a relationship with God, one-on-one like someone we love, then I think it is proof we are His. Anything else, confession, going to church, or trying to be good can be easily motivated by other things like guilt and pride. But to spend our time with no one watching to abide, to seek His face and sit at His feet with a heart to know and cultivate intimacy can only really be done from the desire of being a part of Him. Not to be a scholar, but a bride who is passionate about her bridegroom. When we are God’s, we hunger to know Him, to draw near to Him, to spend time in His Word getting to know Him as He is.

Looking back, when I said the sinner’s prayer it was out of fear not going to heaven. True Christianity is about being a loving bride not a scared rule bound convert. Christianity is living as an eternal spirit who is of God and therefore longs to be close to Him. It is about being united to God like someone we deeply love.


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Preacher, Are You Sure I’m Saved?

Preacher, Are You Sure I’m Saved?

 

How often do we hear – say the sinner’s prayer and be saved? I remember sitting in the church pew whispering the prayer at the invitation just in case God didn’t hear me the last seventeen times. I was terrified of not going to heaven; not realizing it is mostly about a state of soul.

I recited it over and over because I had the head-knowledge that Christ died for my sins and through Him I could be forgiven. I recognized my need and knew I needed deliverance and of course I didn’t want to go to hell (not realizing the churches understanding was bound in lies), who does? However, I remained in charge of my life (often the part of the gospel quickly overlooked as churches focus on the number of people walking down the aisle). Jesus wasn’t Lord of my life, I was. I split Christ in two; I wanted Him as my Savior but His Lordship was on the back burner – and according to most churches that was okay, but it wasn’t and deep down I knew something was off, just not exactly what. I figured I just needed to say the prayer with more passion.

With Christ it is all or nothing. He is Lord and Savior. My plea was in vain because what I was looking for was a quick fix to my guilt, fear and terror of “hell” instill in by the church. Nothing changed in my life because I didn’t want to let go because I didn’t take the time to seek Him so I could know Him so I could trust Him to be my Lord. When it comes to salvation many churches overlook the significance and meaning of Christ as our Lord, it is all about a prayer and Lordship is an option. And for many who profess Christ is Lord, He isn’t. Our actions tell the truth; who we listen to, who we trust, who is the source of our truth, really. Words are useless without action backing them up. James 2:20

I wanted to believe in the words of pastors telling me that if I just said a prayer all was okay, but the restless in my spirit remained. Despite how I felt, for years I continued to try to trust in their words that left me barren, empty and spiritually deprived because without Christ as Lord we’ve got nothing.

The sinner’s prayer isn’t a magic prayer that takes us on a carpet ride into His kingdom; it is only an acknowledgement that our way isn’t the way to go. Surrendering our lives, believing in Him, Him being our Lord and Savior, and Him becoming the love of our lives is a much longer process. It entails knowing, trusting and living out what we know. We gain knowledge, trust and faith by abiding in His Word and cultivating a relationship with Him. If we aren’t abiding in His truth we can’t personally know and trust Him as He calls us to. Believe is a loaded word. If we truly believe Christ is our Lord then what would our actions be?

Romans 10:17 “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

1 Corinthians 15:1-2 “Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, 2 by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you–unless you believed in vain.”

Telling people they are saved if they say a prayer presents a false security and denounces Christ’s Lordship, besides how do we know if they are saved or not? We don’t save others; we don’t save ourselves, only God saves thus eventually he will “save” all. It was never a question in the magnitude of his love. It puts us in the wrong position in their lives, a position that only God should hold. John 1:12-13 We have to be very careful not to be the surety or guarantee of someone’s salvation by telling them they are saved – only Christ can be their surety of new life.

Proverbs 17:18 “A man devoid of understanding shakes hands in a pledge, And becomes surety for his friend.”

Proverbs 6:1-3 “son, if you become surety for your friend, If you have shaken hands in pledge for a stranger, 2 You are snared by the words of your mouth; You are taken by the words of your mouth. 3 So do this, my son, and deliver yourself; For you have come into the hand of your friend: Go and humble yourself; Plead with your friend.”

Hebrews 7:22 “by so much more Jesus has become a surety of a better covenant”

A ticket to heaven and a prayer that is the be-all-end-all is a dishonor to God and to what Christ has done for us. He came to give us new life, to be our Lord and our Husband, for us to draw near to Him and abide with Him now not just when we die. Going to heaven is only the continuance of what we have done on earth – abiding with our Lord.

We are to point people to the One who saves, not give them a false pre-mature security by telling them they are saved. It only cripples their spiritual growth and we play God’s role as being their guarantee of new life.

1 Corinthians 4:5 “Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each one’s praise will come from God.”