Walk and talk like a son or daughter

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God. Rom 8:14-16

Share in the sufferings of Christ?

In our last post we pondered the question: Do we have to suffer as Christ suffered?

Remember we ended with Paul's famous Philippians quote ...

But whatever former things were gains to me [as I thought then],

these things [once regarded as advancements in merit] I have come to consider as loss [absolutely worthless] for the sake of Christ [and the purpose which He has given my life].

But more than that, I count everything as loss compared to the priceless privilege and supreme advantage of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord [and of growing more deeply and thoroughly acquainted with Him—a joy unequaled]. For His sake I have lost everything, and I consider it all garbage, so that I may gain Christ,

and may be found in Him [believing and relying on Him], not having any righteousness of my own derived from [my obedience to] the Law and its rituals,

but [possessing] that [genuine righteousness] which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith.

And this, so that I may know Him [experientially, becoming more thoroughly acquainted with Him, understanding the remarkable wonders of His Person more completely] and [in that same way experience] the power of His resurrection [which overflows and is active in believers], and [that I may share] the fellowship of His sufferings, by being continually conformed [inwardly into His likeness even] to His death [dying as He did]; Phil 3:7 - 10

... and coming from that post, we agreed that this is exactly how we should react as heirs in the kingdom ...

... but (gulp) what was Paul saying here to the Philippians? Fellowship in Christ sufferings? Dying His death?

Heirs by agreement

One thing we seemingly do not understand ...

We are heirs!

But we do not understand what it means. And because we do not understand what it means, we are rendered powerless.

To make it even worse, the institutional church got it all wrong for more than 2000 years!

So, how do you become an heir? And what is the difference between the two covenants that says you are or you are not?

Stand - the fight is fought

Sometimes something happens and we loose control.

Sometimes when something happens and we loose control we get all emotionally shattered-up and short-circuited (eh). We loose our ability to think clearly and loose or ability to ... stand ...

What?

Yes! We get emotionally muddled ... higgledy-piggledy.

And then we cry onto God.

And it happens so quickly, because we are wired by this world to go into panic mode.

Can we pray to move God?

The other day someone I deeply respect and listen to quite often was teaching on how that when we pray God moves ...

... and the Holy Spirit moved inside of me ...

The Holy Spirit reminded me of an awesome truth that I would like to pen here and remind myself of every now and then. This is the Truth I should NEVER forget and always take into account in every situation ... because this Truth is the GOSPEL TRUTH!

We say things we do not think through

We say things that sound profound. It even sounds Bible-ish, even Godly but these words are frequently the manifestations of our brainwashed religious upbringing.

We proclaim Grace ... and wonder why our prayers did not work immediately. And the "best" reason we can come up with is from the book of Daniel. That is, if you don't subscribe to the ridiculous and insane gesture that God is always in control no matter what.

Yet, there is something we keep missing as New Testament heirs in the kingdom of God that makes the whole Daniel example totally irrelevant to our prayers.

So, here goes!

In grace teachings one would often find teachings or motivational messages that attempt to provide reasons why certain prayers did not work. After all, Jesus did say that we could ask anything in His name and we shall receive.

So, what could go wrong?

THINK truth, honest, just, pure, lovely, good, virtuous, praiseworthy

You can think what you want ... 

But remember you are as you think. Whatever is in the heart will manifest in the physical, whether you want to know it or not.

Out of the heart flows the issues of life! Pro 4:23

Your life is determined by what (or Who) you behold

Throughout the Bible much emphasis is given to what we think and what or who we spend our time with and on.

Am I making sense?

That is why Solomon, in all his wisdom, gave us the proverb that says As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he. Pro 23:7

Why not talk more about hell?

I have been accused of not talking about hell enough.

And that I do not believe that hell was meant to be the home of any human being.

What do I say to this?

Guilty as charged …

So, what do you have to say in your own defense Daniel?

Go to your closet

I had an interesting conversation with someone earlier this week after a morning prayer session with colleagues at work. [Let me just explain. We fellowship before work and pray. Yet, being such a diverse group, the praying can get somewhat loud and extravagant at times as all indulge simultaneously, the African way).

Why are people against some forms of prayer?

Fruit from receiving in prepared ground, hearing the word and understanding

I was accused the other day of saying that healing, as part of the atonement, was for everyone right now, in this life ...

Well, did I?

... I admit wholeheartedly to have done so. I said it exactly as I stand accused ...

I created a poll that stated "Healing is part of the atonement and finished work of Christ! We have freedom to receive healing. It is our inheritance."

... and I posted it for voting purposes on a couple of social media grace groups.

Did people like it?

One response explicitly reprimanded me

All birthed from One - the Gospel in Psalm 87

Some nations and peoples are condemned to spend an eternity in hell ... or are they?

Worldly springs yield no pure delight; all there are mixed and turbulent: all here are refreshing, satisfying, delightful.

Springs? Wells? Fountains?

Does it say so?

The Word of power denied - the story of Saul

What we desire is not always good for us. Especially if what we desire is based on what we see and compare from others we interact with ... and not in line with God's Word.

Choice first grade flesh is not such a good choice after all!

The flesh can be corrupted ... and the evidence is everywhere.

So, my post today is all about how the Gospel can be, and frequently is corrupted through the choice man makes.

What a topic!

whosoever

Who is whosoever?

The dictionary defines whosoever as whoever. Used as a pronoun in a sentence we usually get something like  "Whosoever wants a soda needs to pay at the counter," which means that anyone (whoever) who wants a soda has to pay at the counter.

The answer is very simple. It is anyone.

So, who is this in Bible terms?

Wherever - because you are anointed

When is the right place and right time to preach the Gospel, and to whom?

And what is this Gospel we are supposed to bring?

When the Gospel is to be ministered there are always a number of questions that people come up with to substantiate their unwillingness or indifference.

Typically these include where, who and what?

In this blog post I will be dealing with the where-part.

Against the odds in Malta

Sometimes when someone is on his or her last leg, so to speak, they give up.

What if they were on their last leg ...

and a prisoner ...

and  stranded amongst pagan heathens ...

and bitten by a snake ...

and being thought of as being a criminal that was pursued by their pagan gods ...

and ... no family, no transport, no daily amenities ....

Well, that's how it turned out for Paul in Malta.

The way of a fool!

Recently a grace teacher of note wrote in his newly released book that it is quite possible to hear the words of Jesus and not hear what the Holy Spirit is saying ...

Gulp ...

What?

Well, it is true because so did Judas and the Pharisees and a host of many others.

How do we hear then?