hewalkswithme6.wordpress.com

Tag: growth

  • Flesh Issues?

    Flesh Issues?

    Lesson: You ever fall and just give in to that thing you know the Word says not to be in or even associate with people that are into that thing? Then guilt and shame overwhelm you when you come back to your senses? We all want to prevent the fall, but if you don’t, then what?

    The answer? ” This I say, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.” I’m guilty of thinking this verse is talking about sextual sins one can fall into only. But really it covers much more. The word clarifies what the deeds (lusts) of the flesh are; ” Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witch craft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envying, murders, drunkenness, raveling, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. We who are the sons of God once walked in such manner intentionally and joyously. But having been saved we now shun such behavior. When we do fall we know to pick ourselves up and remember that there is now no condemnation for them that are in Christ Jesus, enabling us to keep walking this narrow path we are on.

    To fortify our resolve to stay saved and stay away from all of the above that we are weak in, we have to learn to walk in the Spirit. But what exactly is walking in the Spirit? I used to think abstract was the way to go, you know basically meditating. But when meditating I would sit thinking, then get up and do what I thought. Am I the only one? Ok. But walking in the Spirit means going into the word each time you have a doubt, or wonder; or thinking what should I do in this case. You have to take the time to get your counsel from the word. It covers all things that we come face to face with and directs on how to handle the matter. In this way you will ” live a life guided and empowered by the Holy Spirit (Ghost). Reading what the word has to say about your situation is you actively seeking and following the Spirit’s lead. You no longer rely on your impulses or ideas to traverse this world. So confidently walk in the Spirit.

    Thought: today’s bible says God is a Spirit (confining Him). When I first learned that scripture it said God is Spirit, able to be everywhere at the same time. satan is a spirit, confined to being in a place like we as individuals—but not in every place at the same time like God. And I have heard some say God is not in Hell, but the word says He is everywhere. He is not consumed in what hell does. Ramblings? Think about it. The bible is being tweaked, words missing, words added. That is why it is important to have the Holy Ghost teaching you as you read the word. Ask old people to recite verses that they memorized as young people and see if this is not so.

  • Selah

    Selah

    “As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God:”

    The whole of Psalm 42 is me today. I’m not even going to say I relate to the writer, I am in this instance the writer. Day to day the battle rages with me sitting in my dug out trench, but some days it is hand to hand combat with my invisible enemy. I can whisper within me “in the multitude of my thoughts within me thy comforts delight my soul. Unless the Lord had been my help, my soul had almost dwelt in silence. My feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped. When I said, My foot slippeth; thy mercy, O Lord, held me up.”

    I was greatly distressed: but I have encouraged myself in the LORD my God.

    Selah

  • Untitled post 188

    Today’s thought:” many are called but few are chosen”. We are all called, but there are those that are chosen (handpicked for particular purposes). This brings to mind the 12 disciples and Paul. The 12 walked with Christ while He was here on earth as we all know. But don’t forget Paul was also handpicked by Christ after Christ ascended to the Father. Yeah, I know you know. Are you among the chosen? Among those who gave up everything to gain the Kingdom of God? Those who ended up not getting wealth, fame or even a like — but regardless they set their faces as flint to spread the word to humankind. A word that would gain anyone who dared believe eternal life (not being separated from) and being reunited with the heavenly Father. That is what this thing is all about– gaining reconciliation with Abba Father. I enjoy my wondering thoughts….

    Back to the subject matter- the last gift set (put in the church gatherings) is that of “diversities of tongues”. Again, notice that there are those given the ability of speaking in divers kinds of tongues, now it is married to the divers tongues being in the body. These tongues are not just babblings that no one understands. Remember Paul said the tongues spoken in church—- (you know that is when someone stands in the congregation and utters in a different language that is actually spoken in some part of the world, and someone in the congregation totally understands what the person said as if they are fluent in that language–) should come with interpretations. Paul writes “if any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course: and let one interpret.” This show of tongues is primarily for the unbeliever to demonstrate the power of the Lord. But keep in mind, tongues is not to be used as a teaching method. Paul further emphasizes, “yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.”

    This is another gift I do not see in the church of today. Do you experience it when you attend services? Maybe not all the time, but occasionally?

    Are there parts of the bible that are done away with before the coming of the perfect one? Which ones? I know at the top of the list is the belief that we do not have apostles, and prophets. I don’t; see too many evangelists; it appears as though pastors and teachers are what is left to the body. I just don’t see where the others were done away with in scripture.

  • Is this You?

    Is this You?

    My thought of today: Do churches fast nowadays? I remember when I was first saved, our church fasted as a whole twice a week. Now I don’t hear too much about fasting so one can have power. I do hear people fasting to arm wrestle God so He can do as they want/say. Some believe God is our servant or servicer. Fasting used to be about turning your plate down so you could get closer to God, so you could hear Him more clearly. What happened? Have we become so comfortable that we no longer need what brought past generations to this point? Just musing……

    Continuing to look at the gifts set/put in the Church. “And God has set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after those miracles, then gifts of healings…” Today we will look at the gifts of helps. I generally think of the ushers in this category. But this gift covers so much more. “The gift of “helps” is a spiritual gift in Christianity that enables individuals to recognize and fulfill the practical needs of others, both physically and emotionally, in a way that supports the overall ministry and well-being of the church. It’s about serving others, often in a humble and unseen way, to ensure that things run smoothly and that the needs of other are met.” I couldn’t have said this better myself. This group of gifts to the body are never seeing for recognition or attention to self. They are fulfilled with being able to help, sometimes anonymously they give. I remember at my very first church, as a single mother I couldn’t even afford a burger for my children. One of the older sisters came to give me a hug and handshake. I had never noticed her in the church. With a smile she quietly and quickly put some money in my hand and went about her way (after service was over) I was so humbled and touched that God had sent her my way. Is that gift still in operation? You know as a young new Christian this act solidified my trust in that God so loved me that He gave His only begotten Son for me. I was all in after that!

    Most times I see this gift being allocated to those who service the pastor or elders of the church; these are often the ministries of helps; or the benevolent ministers. The gift of helps is so different, these individuals are never seen but by those they assist quietly, they don’t draw attention to what they do so as not to embarrass or offend. Their goal is to serve while protecting the privacy of those they assist. What a benefit to the body!

  • Gifts to the Body

    Gifts to the Body

    continuation:

    To recap: there are spiritual gift for the body that are given thru/by the Holy Spirit. There are differences of gifts, but only one Holy Spirit who gives them all. Now we had established that the gifts are given to individuals within a grouping. The first two gifts mentioned were 1) word of wisdom 2) word of knowledge.

    The next gift is 3) the gift of faith— faith is the substance (physical matter, a specific kind of material with particular properties) of things hoped for, the evidence (“the information or objects that can help to prove a statement or fact”) of things not (yet) seen. So clearly the person with the gift of faith sees and has proof within themselves that makes them confident of what they see/know. To them it is as real as the things we physically see, feel, hear or touch. Let us not confuse this gifting with the clairvoyant worldly individual who claims or exhibits an ability to perceive events in the future or beyond normal sensory contact. Gifts can be perverted; “For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.” (a subject for another day). It is important to recognize who is doing the administration of the gift, be it the Holy Spirit (gift of faith) or has it been hijacked by the demonic (clairvoyant)?

    4) To another individual is given the gift of healing by the same Spirit. When we think of healing, we envision a cripple being able to walk again, blind eyes opened, and things of this nature. But healing is restoring someone to whole health, spirit, soul and body. The person with this gift is a benefit to the body because some people have to see that God’s people are endowed with such gifts to be able to believe. Some people only believe what they can see or touch. This then aids some to come into the faith.

  • Recognizing real love

    Recognizing real love

    Whom in your life do you look at, profess to love, that you can honestly say this about — nothing can separate me from this love; not tribulations (problems of life, disagreements), or distress (extreme anxiety – sorrow- pain), or persecution (ill treatment) , or famine (denied food) , or nakedness (humiliation–left bare), or peril (life endangered) , or sword (weapons aimed at you)? Is this not the love shown by Christ and His chosen disciples (minus one but) plus Paul?

    This should be a measuring stick of those we join ourselves to, or let join themselves to us. Can you say that about those you claim to love? What about those who claim to love you? If not that person is just an acquaintance, or better yet your assignment, or one to witness to; not one to hang your life on— not your ride or die person.

    Problem: not being able to define and recognize real love

    Solution: use scripture to learn what real love is compared to all other feelings you encounter in your journey of life that people mistake for love.

  • Master change

    Master change

    We all know that in order to change anything, especially self, it starts with your thinking. A famous quote says “And be not conformed (behave according to socially, acceptable conventions or standards or to be similar in form, type; to agree to men’s standards) to this world: but be ye transformed (make a thorough or dramatic change) by the renewing of your mind...”

    I think of reactions to situations that we think are beyond our control. Those times we think “I can’t make it”! What does one do? In the Christian Walk one starts begging God to do something, usually not believing He will do something to stop the crazy. Panic sets in and it is downhill from there. How does this happen to a bible stomping, faith filled believer? Yet it happens more than we want to admit.

    Problem: the thought process, thus reacting instead of being pro-active.

    Solution: Fighting the good fight of faith. Meaning- remind yourself of who you are and whose you are. Find your word (sword) and find the scriptures dealing with that issue. You have changed your victim mantality to that of a fighter! Now affirmations begin. Speak the scriptures out loud— you want you and the situation, demonic spirits, and anyone else listening to hear these words. After all life and death are in the power of what you say. Flip the script on the situation. After all the example that inanimant objects listen and obey is when Christ spoke to the fig tree that it die starting with its roots. Later on when He and His disciples passed it again it was dead. Also remember that you were told as a believer if you spoke to the mountain and told it to be removed unto the sea that mountain would obey you without even a struggle.

    The point is change your mind on how you see things, and you can overcome your situation. It will take fighting because most times situations believe they are in charge. You have to take the power from your situation! Fight instead of thinking you are defeated just because the situation dares to chalenge you trusting that you will throw up your hands and let things happen.

  • 3 days and 3 nights

    3 days and 3 nights

    Just a nagging thought–Every year we celebrate Good Friday, the day that Jesus died on the cross, and Resurrection Sunday. Let’s take a look as to how this compares to scripture.

    Matthew states 12:40 states “For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly: so, shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.” Luke 9:22 “For I tell you that the Son of man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes (church leadership), and be killed, and be raised the third day.” Luke 24:7 “…The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.”

    I can see that Friday, Saturday and Sunday seem like three days, but no one counts days that way or do they? If I would say to you on Friday, call me in three days, you would not call me on Sunday, or would you? You would count Saturday, Sunday then call on Monday. True? Some have said the Friday to Sunday celebration stems from counting in the Jewish tradition. “The Jewish day starts at nightfall, and continues throughout the night and following day, until the next night. This is based on the first verses in the story of creation (in the book of Genesis), where it says “it was night, and it was day–day one (of creation)” states Rabbi David Sperling. In this case, Jesus’ body was taken by Joseph of Arimathaea that evening of the crucifixion as the centurion had confirmed his death. The counting of the day then would start here. Friday into Saturday evening is one day; Saturday evening to Sunday evening is the second day, Sunday evening to Monday evening would then be the third day.

    Now let us look to see what would agree with scripture. If we use the Jewish method of counting the days, we could count Wednesday evening into Thursday is the first day; Thursday evening to Friday evening is the second day; Friday evening to Saturday evening is the third day spent in the tomb with resurrection then occurring on Sunday morning. So really Christ died on a Wednesday to resurrect on a Sunday is more likely.

    What is the point or problem here? Tradition. We all follow it, as I am sure I am not the only one wondering how Friday to Sunday constitutes 3 days and 3 nights as the Bible reads. My observation of the 3-day count may seem minor; the important thing here is the changes made to the word of God and the church following without question or reason. Traditions generally come from interpretation of scripture but tend to contradict scripture when looked at closely. One could say the celebration of Friday to Sunday is no big deal and it harms no one. Sound the alarm! This is how one slowly moves from adhering to scripture to traditions of men that make the word of God of none effect; opening that door – listen to wrong teachings and accepting it because one thinks the deviation heard is no big deal. The enemy does not come with anything alarmingly or noticeably different; he just makes little tweaks that seem like no big deal.

    Solution: refuse to take in and follow what is not in scripture, no matter how small. Read your word with understanding, memorize verses to enable you to see error in what you hear or read from even your favorite pastor, the Holy Ghost will bring up that word in you to your remembrance. Be as the Bereans (Acts 17:11) who went from church meetings to their homes only to read their word for themselves to see if what they heard was really the word of God. When you do as they did, you will ensure health to your mind and a strong healthy relationship with your God.