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Pulled out of the Pit

Pulled out of the Pit

 

QUESTION: Are you following Christ out of the pit and into the Kingdom? OR are you clinging (unknowingly or knowingly) to the sides of the pit by remaining in sin and unbelief?

Isaiah 1:18-20 Come now, and let us reason together,” says the Lord, Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool.  If you are willing and obedient, You shall eat the good of the land;  But if you refuse and rebel, You shall be devoured by the sword”; For the mouth of the Lord has spoken

25-26 I will turn My hand against you, And thoroughly purge away your dross, And take away all your alloy. I will restore your judges as at the first, And your counselors as at the beginning. Afterward you shall be called the city of righteousness, the faithful city.

The Kingdom of Righteousness is now being established in the earth. This is how it’s occurring…

The Kingdom starts as a mustard seed and grows. Matthew 13:31-33 It grows from within out. Luke 17:21 Because it’s NOW being established, we NOW have the power and grace of Christ moving IN US pulling us out of the pit and purging us from all corruption; IF we embrace Him, the truth, Word of God. Rev 19:13, 1 Peter 1:13, Isaiah 26:12

Isaiah 40:5 The glory of the LORD shall be revealed, And all flesh shall see it together; For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.

Christ’s spirit IN us transitioning us into the sons/daughters of God is His glory being revealed because this transformation was the purpose of Him entering the flesh and into death. Thus, as Christ’s glory is manifested, those who are truly of God are revealed for His presence in them will become undeniable. John 6:45, Romans 8:18-19

As Christ’s kingdom is established, people are either being pulled out of the pit or clinging to it by remaining in sin. If we cling to it, all will perish for this world of wickedness is passing away. 1 Corin 3:13-15 We will be “burned” by the righteousness of Christ’s spirit as He usurps the wickedness and establishes righteousness.  2 Thess 1:7-8  The spirit of God is the fire to consume the earth. “For our God is a consuming fire.” Hebrews 12:29

Known by Their Fruit

Being pulled out of the pit and into the Kingdom means we are growing in unity with the spirit of wisdom, Christ’s Spirit, speaking to us from within on how to live in righteousness and pure honoring love. As we follow His lead by His power in us, the corruption/sin (anger, bitterness, hypocritical love, judging spirit, lust of eyes/flesh, idols, false images, unbelief, etc.) is purged from our lives. If we aren’t following; it’s not being purged. According to our hearts being changed or not, each one of us is witnessing either increasing good fruit or bad fruit in our lives. Luke 6:44, Proverbs 11:18-19

Proverbs 11:3-5 The integrity of the upright will guide them, But the perversity of the unfaithful will destroy them. Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, But righteousness delivers from death. The righteousness of the blameless will direct his way aright, But the wicked will fall by his own wickedness.

The path we’ve really chosen, despite our professions and religions, is becoming more apparent as our fruit reveals our choice. Until now, the wheat and tares looked similar as the glory of Christ hadn’t been manifested in people’s souls. But as He starts to rise in our hearts, those sowing unity with His spirit will experience increasing peace, love, joy, rest, wisdom, understanding, prosperity, protection, and healing. Those not following His Spirit will experience increasing angst from abiding in the pit of darkness; unrest, suffering, pain, affliction, and hardship. These difficulties serve to turn souls from the paths of death to the paths of life to become renewed unto eternal life. Matthew 13:28-30

Growing Division

This separation caused by the Spirit of Christ will cause a great division in this earth. This division causes the kingdom of darkness to fall; for a kingdom divided can’t stand. As evil’s reign has made ALL a slave to sin; righteousness’ reign will make ALL a slave to righteous love. Isaiah 26:9 , 1 Corinthians 15:22 Christ will reign, until He puts an end to all powers contrary to Him. 1 Corin 15:22-26 It’s a reign within our hearts because that is where the fruit of this earth is produced. Everything starts from within, thus this is were restoration begins and ends.

This earth and all that it is, is being transformed by the souls transitioning into sons/daughters of light. This earth is what it is because of the souls that live in it. Change the souls; change the earth. Change the souls by changing the power of the air from Satan to Christ. Ephesians 2:2

What fruit your heart is producing signifies which way you are headed. If it is in the wrong direction; now is the time to seek the will of God and start following His spirit of wisdom leading you from within in the paths of peace and the purest of love.


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Transitioning into the Kingdom of God

Transitioning into the Kingdom of God

Revelation 3:18 “I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see.

In this video, I talk about the transition you will experience as the kingdom of God comes upon you. I go into how you gain the mind of Christ and what that process looks like and means for your life.

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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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Washing One Another’s Feet

Washing One Another’s Feet

John 13:14-15 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you.

Once Christ washes our feet (Christ Washing Your Feet), THEN we can wash one another’s feet.

When we’ve been washed in the truth by heeding the voice of the Good Shepherd, (thus the love of God is the growing foundation/intention for all we do, as love is the sum of all the commandments), then we have His love. When we have His love, then we can wash another’s feet as our Teacher does because He is in us and we are in Him. We can only give what we first have. We give what we are. Thus love God first, THEN others. Mark 12:30-31

“If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet …”

Washing our feet is following/obeying Christ, the truth, in the paths of righteousness. When we follow the light (truth) of Christ, we begin to see. For truth reveals the lies. Only until we are in the light does it expose the darkness within our souls. Psalm 36:9 In this awareness and exchange of truth for the lies, we are set free.

Christ, with truth and love, removes the plank from our eyes; a plank because before He removes it we are in great blindness. But once the plank is removed, we can see in others that truly it’s a speck. Sin/lies are nothing in the face of truth and love. This is what we realize when we begin to see, thus it’s only a speck in another’s eyes from our point of view because we’ve intimately learned the strength of God’s love.

Matthew 7:5 Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

“… you also ought to wash one another’s feet … that you should do as I have done to you”

We do as we see Our Teacher, Christ, do, as our will becomes His will. John 8:28 He serves mankind by pouring out the words of life (truth); for that is what love does and desires – to give life – therefore we do the same for others. John 6:68 There is no greater treasure than the truth/love of God. We know we’ve found this treasure, when we’ve experienced its power and manifestation in our lives. It’s the nature of the pure love in us to flow to others; thus we wash another’s feet. Prov 12:28

” ….  a servant is not greater than his master”

In this intimate instruction to His disciples, Christ taught that some people will receive the words of life and some won’t. If people receive Christ’s words, they will receive our words, because we have been taught by Him. This similitude with Christ is a reflection of the master-servant; teacher-student relationship. However, like Christ, we also will be persecuted (rejected, silenced, etc.) for the words of life we speak. John 13:16

John 15:20 “Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greaterthan his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also.

What does it look like to wash another’s feet?

It’s speaking words of life into their lives with the intention of pure love. Suppose, you have a family member who is rough around the edges, defensive, and sometimes crass. Yet with “enlightened” eyes (no more plank) given to you by following the Good Shepherd, you see the rough exterior as a symptom of a bound spirit. You see beyond the bondage and the beautiful creation she truly is.  Because the words of life abide in you and God’s love, now you can speak the love of God into her life. This love will flow unconsciously through your actions. If those words/acts are received, they become healing serum to her soul. They help to burn away the dross/lies she carries around affecting the way she interacts with you and others. Your love helps to free her from the prison of her mind to become who God created her to be. This is the power of truth. This is the power of love.

Yet, some will reject words of life, because what is the fragrance of life to some is the fragrance of death to others. 2 Corin 2:14-17  Each soul is under the care of the Good Shepherd and we can trust in His perfect ways, timing and care. He gives the increase. 1 Corin 3:7

What are seemingly most weak, truth and love, are the most powerful weapons we can possess, as we witnessed with Christ who brought down the enemy of mankind with these two powers.


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No More Sickness or Sorrow

No More Sickness or Sorrow

This video expands upon the previous blog post, it may help to read it as well. Some powerful truths here.

1 Peter 1:22-23 Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever,

Revelation 21:4 “And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”

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Defeating Illness

Defeating Illness

 

3 John 1:2  Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.

It’s quite straightforward really …

Fear = disease       Love = health

Every time you act in true pure love, you heal. When you act in fear, you proliferate disease.

Many are suffering in the afflictions of illnesses and sicknesses. Healing springs forth when a transformation occurs within. Whatever is the state of your heart; so your life will be. When you think, speak and act out of the pure love of God, then all you are and all around you prospers in blessing, peace, rest, beauty, and loving kindness. When you think, speak or act from any other motive, then you and all around you deteriorates in suffering, illness, hardships, sorrows, and pains. This truth has been given to us from the beginning, yet it’s manifesting more powerfully in these days as truth increases. Proverbs 4:23, Luke 6:45

Deuteronomy 28:2 And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, because you obey the voice of the LORD your God:

The key to vitality is for your truth to be God’s truth. The truth of God is true love and God’s love is the truth. Mark 12:30-31, 1 Timothy 1:5

Whatever your truth, it manifests itself in your life and surroundings. If you are bound in lies that create fear and its subparts: anxiousness, worry, guilt, blame, and anger, then in your life you create what you hate (all the negative outcomes including illness). In seeking and following after THE Truth/love; all that you hate is removed because the sources of it, the lies, are replaced by Truth.

If you are facing sickness and illness; become aware of God’s wisdom speaking to you from within; where He speaks intimately with YOU. No one can listen and find the answers for you. Only the spirit of God can search your soul and reveal your lies that you hold as truth; lies that are destroying you. Others can only confirm what you have heard. Ask for His wisdom regarding your circumstances. Desire to come into HIS truth and have all that isn’t of Him purged from your life. And be aware of the great manipulator; hypocritical love. It can be difficult to see. Romans 12:9

James 3:17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.

As you listen and obey, health will start to fill your soul and body transforming you, inward out.

When a thought or situation arises that causes you to respond in fear, chose to trust in the love of God. When you trust Him in the midst of a situation, (thus you feel a deep letting go and peace), you infuse His power into your circumstance and the outcomes are full of His perfect grace and love. This display of power is also how you know you are trusting the true God. When you truly trust THE GOD, you see His power. Psalm 34:10

When you feel pain within your body; seek God’s counsel to understand its source. Be aware of the acts or thoughts His Spirit within you brings to mind for you to stop and which new ones to embrace. It may be these incorrect thoughts/acts are manifesting the pain or illness. When you obey God and walk according to His perfect love; your obedience creates peace and power in your life across many dimensions.

God has given you all you need for what you seek; His spirit of wisdom/love which longs to commune and be united to your soul. 

John 7:38 “He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.”


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Seeker of Truth OR Follower of Religion

Seeker of Truth OR Follower of Religion

Laying out the difference between being a true disciple of Christ, a truth seeker, versus a follower of religion, specifically the religion of Christianity.

Luke 5:38 “But new wine must be put into new wineskins, and both are preserved.

Matthew 7:13-14 “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.

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Christ Washing YOUR Feet

Christ Washing YOUR Feet

John 13:5 After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded. 

When Jesus knew His Hour had come, He kneeled down and humbly washed His disciples’ feet with the towel that was girded around His waist. The disciples didn’t understand … but would. John 13:7 What is the meaning of this beautiful act by the true King of Kings to those who followed Him?

The Foundation

Christ died so that His Spirit of liquid light could consume us, purge all darkness, and transform us into holy eternal creations, thus bringing us into reconciliation/unity with God. At His death, Christ’s eternal spirit penetrated death of the true grave; the spiritual sepulcher of the flesh body that’s cloaked in sin. Romans 8:3 On the last day (the Day of the Lord, the Revelation of Jesus Christ), His Spirit would resurrect in the souls of mankind bringing them into eternal life. In this resurrection, sin, thus death, would be defeated in us forever. John 12:23-25 His Spirit rising in us is the true breath of life, the purest of love and truth, imploding our souls. 2 Peter 1:19 This filling of Him in us is the coming of His righteous kingdom to earth. Luke 17:21 It’s the salvation of our souls from death and all that it produces; pain, suffering, hardship, unkindness, and fear. This is the true salvation. And His hour has come once again, thus the need for Him to wash our feet.

Christ Washing Our Feet

“… and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded.” 

The girded towel represents truth. Ephesians 6:14 Now that the seed of Christ’s spirit is rising within us, it has to be combined with the truth. When spirit and truth meet within our soul, then new life grows within us. Our souls then become the living stones of the kingdom of God.

The truth flows from this seed, for Christ is the word of God, the truth. He is the blood and the flesh. He is the wine and the bread. All these are symbolic of Him being the spirit and truth that when they come together within one soul produces life.

As Christ spirit rises in us, we perceive it as a cleansed and purified conscience. Hebrews 9:14 When our conscience is pure, then we can discern between holy and profane. We can walk uprightly, thus we can abide in the truth of God and His transcendent all-powerful love. But we have to listen and obey (walk) His inner counsel to us, which we do by His power in us. When we do listen and obey, we walk in paths of righteousness and we become righteous. This obedience is allowing Christ to wash our feet; feet representing the path we walk.

NOT Letting Christ Wash Your Feet

John 13:8 Peter said to Him, “You shall never wash my feet!” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.”

If we don’t heed our cleansed conscience, then we aren’t having our feet washed. We continue generating unrighteous thoughts, words, and deeds. We continue to propagate the filth of sin not only in us, but also in the lives around us. Instead of fragrant pathways of rest, peace, joy and true love, we step in and spread dung all over the place. Have you ever had poo on your shoe? This is what we are carrying on us and spreading all over when we ignore His counsel; even in the smallest details. 1 Corin 5:6 We leave its residue wherever we go and spread its stench with every step. Jeremiah 8:2

If Christ does not wash our feet, we have no part of Him.

If we are not heeding Christ’s wisdom of truth being spoken to us from within (all in harmony with the Word of Truth as Taught by GOD), then we have no part of Him. Not only do we remain unrighteous, but we dismiss the very purpose in which He came; to be the door and the light by which we walk out of the pit of death and into eternal life. Though that seed is within us, it won’t take root. It won’t grow without following the wisdom of God. The tares of wickedness take over. We remain as we’ve always been, bound in the darkness of sin. In this state, great tribulation awaits as the Truth is coming as a flaming fire to reveal all the works of darkness and destroy all that is not of it.

Letting Christ Wash Your Feet

If we do heed Christ’s still small voice of truth guiding in the paths of true love, for that is what it teaches us to love ourselves, God and others, then we will be changed into eternal creations of the purest of love.

Therefore, if Christ is washing our feet, we are growing in true love every day.  One note, our love has been exceedingly abundantly corrupted by this world. Religion has proliferated hypocritical love, blinding people further to the lack of God’s true love in their lives. This world has amplified lust and judgment that fills people’s conceptions of love. Therefore, this isn’t as easy or straightforward as it may first appear. As we listen to the spirit of wisdom, we’ll find it’s a love far purer and beyond anything we’ve known. To walk in a life of true love, we require His detailed instruction (wisdom) until we become the truth we hear. Therefore, it isn’t following our preconceived notions of love; it’s seeking God’s love by having a constant listening ear and an attentive soul to His ways. Thankfully, it’s God’s will that we have this unity in Him, and His grace is more than sufficient to make us into His vessels of love as we are willing to follow Him.

Signs of True Love

To abide in the love of God is to be totally dependent on the leading and will of God in all areas of your life. It’s to be led by His spirit from within, not by rules from the outside. It’s to have a deep love for yourself, God and others around you so that you love unconsciously. It’s to know the truth for the truth is love. To walk in love is to walk in truth. It’s to trust God above all else, for those who trust Him obey Him, and those who obey Him, love Him. John 14:23

Have you allowed Christ Jesus to wash your feet? Do you daily seek, listen and walk according to His whisperings of wisdom (love) to your heart? Or do you walk according to the dictates of others, religion, the world’s wisdom, and your own imaginations?

There is only one way to be a part of Christ, to let Him wash your feet; to listen to the spirit of wisdom within you and allow His spirit to create your soul in perfect truth and love.


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Power to Believe Unto Eternal Life

The Power to Believe Unto Eternal Life

 

John 5:25Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live.

In the Old Testament (OT) covenant, God clearly laid out the choice between life and death and what each path manifested. Deuteronomy 30:19 He granted them forgiveness for their transgressions against Him, yet very few repented and turned to His ways. If and when they did turn because of the painful afflictions of going their own way, He was right there to heal and restore them. Yet, even after the outpourings of mercy and blessing, they soon again rebelled in following the dictates of their own hearts. Isaiah 65:12 They lacked the power to truly believe.

Why was it so hard to believe?

The Israelites had God’s forgiveness and help. They saw His wondrous works. So, why couldn’t they follow Him; what was missing? Without God’s spirit in us, we can’t believe as we ought. This is why the Israelites fell so quickly into rebellion and why you see the same thing throughout history. The only way we truly believe is by the power of God’s spirit working in us. John 6:45

Corrupted Spirit vs. God’s Spirit

We are either governed by a corrupted spirit or by God’s pure spirit of righteous love. Soon after birth, we become imprisoned by the lies (what appears as our truth) of the world flooding into our spirit taking us captive to do their will. 2 Timothy 2:26 This corrupted spirit opposes God’s wisdom and love; therefore all we do is sin for we’re slaves to sin. John 8:34 Under its reign, we are blind as our truths are lies, therefore we can’t truly believe in God, thus walk in righteousness leading to eternal life. How can a soul believe in life if it is consumed in darkness and deception; holding lies as truth? How can it find its way out of the pit of darkness and death? The answer lies in the power and victory of Christ’s spirit filling us. God gives us His spirit to govern us instead; this is the new birth. Our Father births us to life, by His will, not our own, by giving us His seed of life. This seed holds His faith which enables us to believe unto eternal life. This Seed of His spirit within us is our deliverance and salvation from the pit of eternal darkness in which people now dwell.

God’s Plan of Salvation

God made a promise to Abraham, that ALL the nations would be blessed through him and his seed. Genesis 22:18, 28:14 He was promised that his descendents would be as the dust of the earth; a promise of giving salvation to many many souls. Have you seen dust recently? What we do see is a huge gap between ALL nations being blessed and just a few truly believing unto obedience that leads to righteousness and abundant life. As I talked about true belief in a previous post, as it stands right now very few would move into eternal life because very few truly believe, yet this doesn’t fit with God’s promise to Abraham.

When true belief has shown to be extremely trying at best, what hope is there that ALL nations will be blessed? Revelation 15:4

This powerlessness to truly believe is why Christ gave up His spirit. He offered up His Spirit on the cross, so it could be resurrected in many in the end days.  John 12:23-24, Joel 2:28, 1 Peter 1:13 With the seed of His spirit in us, we are able to grow unto eternal life because we now have the ability to believe because of His spirit within us giving us His faith. Hebrews 12:2 This is why some will not die, but be changed. 1 Corin 15:51 As the spirit of Christ is being raised in souls, then eternal life will begin to exist on earth, for He is eternal life. Since Christ’s flesh resurrection over 2000 years ago, there has been the Holy Spirit, God’s wisdom, in grace enabling some to believe in the hope of salvation. Romans 15:13 Yet, we haven’t see the fulfillment of that hope of salvation as people are still living lives of sin leading to death. The Holy Spirit is a guarantee of what is to come; the union of our spirit with Christ’s. Ephesians 1:13-14 As the wedding feast fast approaches; as Christ spirit starts resurrecting in people thus being “married” to their soul, they will start walking in righteousness leading to eternal life and therefore not taste death.

Marrying Christ’s Spirit

Now is the time to draw near to God, for Christ has sowed His seed in the field, our souls, to bring in His Kingdom. Hosea 10:12, Matthew 13  He has given us the grace and power by giving us His faith to believe in a world of death and lies. Now we have to step into that grace and power by sowing truth into our lives which allows the seed to grow in us.

Sowing the Seed

We sow the seed of Christ’s spirit by seeking truth, for God is truth. As we do then His spirit of wisdom grows in the depths of our soul. John 12:25 Wisdom is truth driving our lives. We gain wisdom by listening to and following His gentle whisperings to our soul, leading us into all truth. John 6:32, 45, 57, 63, James 1:21 It isn’t religious doctrine we heed and follow; it is the perfect spirit of God communing with us in the depths of our being. Psalm 85:8 The spirit of wisdom grows within us as we listen and obey God’s voice, which is now possible because we have Christ’s spirit of faith in us enabling us to believe. James 2:14-26 In time, we are trained in righteousness, so we can walk in righteousness. Sin ibrings death. Right-mindedness brings immortality. Proverbs 12:28

Further, God takes our transgressions, now under the umbrella of His forgiveness, and they become part of our training ground as we are chastened by them and delivered from them by a loving Father. In time, our minds are renewed and we become holy eternal creations. In God’s perfect timing, all will learn righteousness. Isaiah 26:9 First those of the “elect”; then the rest. 1 Corin 15:22-24 The elect serve the rest by preparing the way and bringing in the Kingdom by Christ’s spirit in them.

As we sow truth, we start to yearn for God’s will over all else because we become aware of the perfection of His ways and how it is His ways we truly desire in everything. We realize we are truly poor in spirit, and need His spirit of wisdom. Matthew 5:3 When we gain these understandings, we abandon all other “wills” to be fully governed by His spirit. Our part is to know and embrace the will of God and forsake all other paths; for love involves choice. Mark 8:34

Now is the time to listen for the voice of the Son of God; because those who will hear will live; for the kingdom is at hand.

John 6:38-39  For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day.


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Placebo of Religion vs. True Belief

Placebo of Religion vs. True Belief

 

John 3:15-16 that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

What does it mean for a soul to believe in Christ Jesus?

If you knew there was a treasure in your backyard that would solve all your problems and give you all you desire, what would your response be?

If someone told you that if you took a pill and it would bring perfect health to your body, but you wouldn’t see the affects until you die, what would your response be?

In the first scenario, you would go digging and seeking, wouldn’t you? In the second, you wouldn’t give it a second thought because what would health matter once you were dead?

The Bible tells us of the first scenario, if we truly believe in Christ (the Word of life, truth) then we will have abundant everlasting life. God will make our paths smooth, defeat our enemies, deliver us, heal us, and give us the mind of Christ. To abide in truth, which is love, is a powerful reality. There are MANY beautiful and powerful promises for those who truly trust in God. What’s our response to those powerful words? Do we see most people diligently seeking to know the truth and to discover the paths of life while forfeiting all else to find that priceless treasure? Matthew 13:45-46 Do we see people living out those promises of rest, peace, and rejoicing in all truth?

Placebo of Religion

Do people truly believe in Christ? Or a religion built around the Bible and an image of God? What do people’s actions reveal? James 2:19, 26 One is the true treasure, the other a placebo. A person’s actions testify to their beliefs. Most believe steadfastly in a religion, which crafts an image around God and what it means to be a godly person, while the treasure hunt for truth is largely neglected. 2 Timothy 4:3 Why the blindness when it comes to what it means to believe in Christ? James 2:19  People cling to religion; not Christ, which is a huge difference, yet this difference seems to go mostly unnoticed.

The path of life is narrow and few find it. Matthew 7:13-14 Communing directly with God and learning to hear His voice and obey leads to the path of life. Seems easy, but in a world of lies, it’s much harder than it appears, this is why few do it. A corrupted self-will governed by lies keep people blind from seeing the truth. It keeps them imprisoned by focusing on the wrong things and not the right ones. In deception, you don’t know you are deceived, that is the whole point. To satisfy the longing in their hearts for God, many people have mistakenly fallen for the placebo; they took the pill of religion. It comes to them as the way to God (and an easy way – Satan knows us well); just follow what someone tells you to do and think, instead of learning of God yourself.  However, we reap what we sow. If we reap religion, empty promises await. If we reap righteousness and the presence of God that is what we experience. Hosea 10:12 What a glorious treasure to really dwell in the heart of God’s love.

The pill of religion is a dead end, literally. It’s the most damaging of situations, because people think it leads to life, but it doesn’t, thus they are worse off than before. When you think you’ve found, you stop seeking and the doors that would’ve led you to truth have been blocked. Further, the closer a religion is to the truth the more compelling and imprisoning. Yet, this falsity of religion goes unnoticed because the “testifying results of the truth” have been removed until you die and go to “heaven”; when only then are you righteous, only then do you have abundant life, and only then are you free from suffering and pain. When the results of the belief are removed, how do you know it’s the right belief? The Apostle Paul spoke of results. He talked of the kingdom of heaven within us and what that meant for our lives, right now.

Paul spoke about growing in righteousness. 1 Peter 1:2, 15 If we weren’t, then he said our beliefs were in vain, thus null and void. 1 Corin 15:2 When someone truly believes something it affects him/her to the core. If people believed in Christ and the paths of life, their lives and this world would be totally transformed because true life would be here. 2 Timothy 2:19 Conversely, religion makes excuses to make nil the proof of spiritual health. Suffering and afflictions are accepted as a way of life, not the death Christ delivers us from. When the “testifying results” are removed people can’t see it for the lie that it is. Thus, everything around them remains cloaked in death. Without the contrast of true life no one is the wiser.

God is in us and we in God if we are being transformed glory unto glory. 2 Corin 3:18 When we experience increasing peace, rest, loving kindness, joy, mercy, wisdom, and gentleness beyond ourselves and from our core, then we are growing in truth, in Christ. Then we believe. Do you see His growing righteous love in your soul that is a true transformation and not a forced self-will of goodness cloaked in hypocrisy? Have you received Christ’s testimony; His life of abundant grace, power, and transformation? John 3:33

People believe money brings about certain freedoms, necessities, and blessings in this life. They sacrifice, strive, effort, work and give much of their life to gain money to provide for themselves and their family. They believe money is what they need to get want they need, and their actions reflect that belief.

Do people believe in God like that? Do people give their lives to know Him in truth and spirit as He is, and desire above all to walk in His ways?  Conversely, most find it easier to trust in other things other than God and very difficult to trust in God. As for God, they’ve boxed Him out of their lives by religion.

True belief in God is stifled in a world of lies. When we are imprisoned in darkness how do we see the light? How do we break free from the web of lies in our minds and know the truth of God in all purity, which we truly hunger for?  You’ve seen that darkness in others; you’ve experienced it for yourself. What hope do we have for this world; if so few find the narrow way?

AMAZING HOPE, thanks to the grace poured out to us in Christ in these days. The ability to truly believe comes by the power of God’s spirit in us … which I’ll address next time, God willing.