Balancing Spiritual & Carnal Part 4

Last time we said –
Jesus tells them that is not your business Jesus tells them “after the Holy Ghost is come upon you, ye shall (shall is future tense) receive power. But wait a minute. Jesus breathed on them and gave them the Holy Ghost before. Clearly, the apostles already had the Holy Ghost and after 40 days after the resurrection Jesus is telling them they shall receive power after the Holy Ghost comes upon them? This is easy to explain and understand because it all ties in to our spirit man and the Kingdom of God. It is not a matter of Pentacostal or Baptist as some have taught, it is about the Kingdom of God.

In Acts Chapter 1 Jesus is telling his apostles to stay in Jerusalem and wait for the promise of the Father. In context, the very next verse? Acts 1:4-5 KJV
” And, being assembled together with them , commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he , ye have heard of me.
[5] For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.”

Notice again the word “shall” which means future tense. It had not happened yet. Ye shall be. And notice baptized with not in?

We know when Jesus told his apostles this, he had already given them the Holy Ghost from John 20:21, 22. So what was Jesus telling them? What does the word baptized mean? By definition, immerse. One could be immersed in water, in orange juice, in marhmallows, in debt, in work, in hardships, in prosperity. That is why Jesus said John truly baptized with water. John immersed the people in water.

But being baptized “with” not in the Holy Ghost is what Jesus was telling them.
Acts 1:5 KJV  “For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.” And then Jesus explained what being baptized with the Holy Ghost meant.

Acts 1:8 KJV  “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”
Another words, when you get saved you receive the Holy Ghost / Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit quickens , makes alive, your spirit man towards God. And being baptized with the Holy Ghost is after you are saved you will be immersed with the Holy Ghost and you will receive power. What is this power? Verse 8 told us, we shall be witnesses unto Jesus.

Students of the word of God know, it is Acts Chapter 2 where the power of the Holy Ghost comes. When Pentecost came. Pente means 50. So Pentecost is 50 days after the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. The apostles already had the Holy Ghost but 50 days later,

Acts 2:1-12 KJV  “And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
[2] And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
[3] And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
[4] And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
[5] And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.
[6] Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.
[7] And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans?
[8] And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?
[9] Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia,
[10] Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes,
[11] Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.
[12] And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this?”

I am not going to get into why there were Jews in Jerusalem hearing these different languages. Or why Jews require a sign. Or why tongues / languages are for a sign.  But I am going to note every one of these tongues were a language someone recognized. It was not jibber jabber. These tongues were recognizable languages to everyone there. And the point is not about the tongues anyway. It is about the people speaking were preaching Jesus. Peter explained that in Acts 2:14-36.

So let’s set the scene. You have Jews, in Jerusalem, preaching to Jews. And the Holy Ghost, who is already in those believers, comes and gives them power to speak different languages so they could preach Jesus to everyone there, even those from Gentile areas, look at Acts.

So if we ask ourselves, what is different since the death, burial and resurrection? Clearly, it is the promise of the Father to send the Holy Ghost after Jesus was no longer here on earth. And the purpose? Basically –
~ To quicken our spirit man unto God
~ To seal us for God (Ephesians 1)
~ To immerse believers with the Holy Ghost so we had power to preach Jesus

And remember, at this point, everything is still focused on Jerusalem on Jews. And the believers never scattered to preach this good news of Acts 2:21 KJV
  “And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” that Peter spoke of until persecution came. Then the people scattered.

Then this fellow named Saul comes on the scene in Acts 8 and Saul gets saved. God changes his name to Paul and God is going to work through Paul, as God told Ananias, Acts 9:13-15 KJV
“Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem:
[14] And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name.
[15] But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:”

Not only did Paul learn who Jesus is and get saved on the road to Damascus but Paul was filled with the Holy Ghost when Ananias put his hands on him.

Acts 9:17 KJV  “And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.”

Notice the terminology change? Not baptized, but filled?

Now we begin to see God making a shift. Damascus is not Israel. And God says he is sending Paul to Gentiles, kings, and to the children of Israel. We know Paul always spoke to his kinsmen, Jewish people, but Paul’s focus was reaching Gentiles to provoke Israel to jealousy. 

To understand this provoking, remember when the laborers were hired and the guy who started early in the morning received the same pay as the one who started near the end of the day? And the one who started early in the day complained to the master saying I’ve worked longer shouldn’t I get more pay? The master said, you agreed to be paid a penny for a day’s work, didn’t you? So the person who gets saved on their death bed receives the same inheritance as the child who gets saved. The difference? Rewards for our labor.

Question: What spiritual gifts did Peter teach or preach about? What did Peter teach about the “filling” of the Holy Ghost?  What did Peter teach about our spirit man? And who was Peter trying to reach with the gospel?

According to God’s word, the New Testament says there is neither Jew or Gentile, bond or free, but we are all one in Christ.  Shouldn’t Peter and Paul’s message be the same? But when Peter was speaking about Paul’s letters, epistles, Peter didn’t understand some of what God gave Paul. 2 Peter 3:15-16 KJV  “And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;
[16] As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.”

Notice Peter says Paul was given wisdom? God immersed Paul in the Holy Ghost and Paul was able to bring his body into subjection. Another words, Paul was spirit man living. So how do we live in our spirit man? And how does the Holy Ghost later called Holy Spirit by Paul, immerse believers today? Not what you might think. Until next time.

Balancing Spiritual & Carnal Part 3

In Part 2 we said, But the gifts and talents I have been speaking about are body, flesh related. These are our God given gifts and talents that we use in our body for this world. But these aren’t the only gifts. God also gave believers, all believers, spiritual gifts that work through our spirit man. And why did God give believers spiritual gifts for our spirit man? 1 Corinthians 12:7 KJV  “But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.” God gave spiritual gifts to all believers to profit.

Jesus told the disciples that he had to leave but he would send the Holy Ghost. And when he sent the Holy Ghost what would the Holy Ghost do? John chapters 14, 15 and 16 tells us the Holy Ghost is the Comforter. So believers, after Jesus left earth, would have the Comforter here on earth. The Holy Ghost will:
~ Be with us forever – John 14:16.
~ Be in us, inside our body – John 14:17.
~ The Holy Ghost will teach us – John 14:26
And in John 16 we read, John 16:8-16 KJV  “And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
[9] Of sin, because they believe not on me;
[10] Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more;
[11] Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.
[12] I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.
[13] Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
[14] He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.
[15] All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.
[16] A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me, because I go to the Father.”

These 3 chapters in John is where we see Jesus explain who the Holy Ghost / Holy Spirit is and what the Holy Spirit will do. No where here in this explanation does Jesus say the Holy Ghost gives believers power. These verses in John speak of the Holy Ghost as the Comforter and teacher for believers.

Then after the death and burial of Jesus, on the same day of the resurrection of Jesus, Jesus breathed on his disciples ( all except for Thomas and Judas ) and gave them the Holy Ghost. John 20:21-22 KJV  “Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.
[22] And when he had said this, he breathed on them , and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:”

Again, nothing is said about any power they would receive. The disciples knew, from what Jesus told them back in John chapters 14, 15 and 16, the Holy Ghost was a Comforter and teacher.  And that is what most of today’s religious denominations teach about the Holy Spirit. They teach he is the Comforter and our teacher. That also is what I was taught about the Holy Spirit. And that is true based upon God’s word. But it doesn’t end there. Most fundamental teachings end there but God’s word has more information.

Now I am going to mess with your head on a couple of religion’s teachings and no, I am not a Pentacostal or a Baptist, I am a Christian. We know that after Jesus breathed on his disciples – (remember God breathed into Adam and that is what gave Adam life?) Jesus breathed into the disciples and gave them the Holy Spirit – ( giving them life in their spirit man, quickening their spirit ).

So now we understand there are two types of people on earth, those with a dead spirit and those with a live spirit.

New Testament phase two. Phase one was Jesus physically here on earth. Phase two, Jesus gives the Holy Spirit and quickens our spirit unto God. We now have the Comforter and Teacher. Then just before Jesus goes back up to heaven he tells his disciples, through the Holy Ghost commandments:

~ do not leave Jerusalem but wait for the promise of the Father.

Acts 1:1-5 KJV  “The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach,
[2] Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen:
[3] To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:
[4] And, being assembled together with them , commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he , ye have heard of me.
[5] For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.”

Notice a couple of things here:
~ The commandments were given to the apostles, by Jesus, through the Holy Ghost.
~ Jesus was seen in a physical body by the people 40 days.
~ Jesus was not speaking now, after his resurrection, about the Kingdom of Heaven but now, after his resurrection he was speaking about the Kingdom of God. There is a kingdom change. Remember when Jesus explained what the Kingdom of God is in Luke?
Luke 17:20-21 KJV  “And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation:
[21] Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.”

This is important because after the resurrection, when Jesus is speaking to his apostles about the Kingdom of God (Acts 1:3) the apostles ask him Acts 1:6 KJV  “When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?”

The apostles, by their question, were thinking physical earthly reign – the Kingdom of Heaven. Jesus told them it is not for you to know.

Acts 1:7-8 KJV  “And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.
[8] But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”

Another words, not your job. But notice after Jesus tells them that is not your business Jesus tells them “after the Holy Ghost is come upon you, ye shall (shall is future tense) receive power. But wait a minute. Jesus breathed on them and gave them the Holy Ghost before. Clearly, the apostles already had the Holy Ghost and after 40 days after the resurrection Jesus is telling them they shall receive power after the Holy Ghost comes upon them? This is easy to explain and understand because it all ties in to our spirit man and the Kingdom of God. It is not a matter of Pentacostal or Baptist as some have taught, it is about the Kingdom of God.

It is about the Holy Ghost / Holy Spirit not only being our Comforter and Teacher but how the Holy Spirit works through our spirit man and gives us power in our spirit man for the Kingdom of God. To magnify Jesus and do the will of the Father. And this is key to balancing our spirit and our flesh. We will pick it up from here next time.

Until next time.

Balancing Spiritual & Carnal Part 2

In Balancing Spiritual & Carnal Part 1 we pointed out our body is physically here on earth but, for believers in Christ, our spirit man sits in heavenly places in Christ. But what about our soul? Remember, soul is defined as your mind. It is your mind, your will and your emotions.

Think about it for a minute. When you get happy, why are you happy? Or if you get sad, why are you sad? Whether happy or sad, these are emotions. And where do emotions come from? Your thoughts. If you think happy thoughts, you will be happy at that moment. And if you think sad thoughts, you will be sad.

So while our body, our flesh, is here on earth, our soul is too. Our mind, will and emotions are not captive to our flesh. Another words, our soul / mind can wander. Remember,  our soul is made up of our imagination, conscience, memory, reasoning and affections.

As believers, God tells us to renew our mind. To think on good things. Remember whatsoever things are just…
Philippians 4:8 KJV  “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”

God tells us to renew our mind. To change the way we think, change what you think about and change your thought patterns. Ephesians 4:23-32 KJV  “And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
[24] And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
[25] Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.
[26] Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:
[27] Neither give place to the devil.
[28] Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.
[29] Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
[30] And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
[31] Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:
[32] And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.”

You see, every day you are alive in the flesh on earth, your physical body is slowly decaying. And one day you will look in the mirror and see your skin start to sag, you see you start loosing your hair, your teeth start falling out or breaking. To the believer, this is a realization that departure is approaching. Departure from this flesh to a glorious new adventure with our Lord and Saviour. 

To the unbeliever, it is a time for facelifts, tummy tucks, and changing your parts out with implants or machine parts, (trans-humanism). They want to live forever in their body here on earth.

2 Corinthians 4:16 KJV  “For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.”

So in the meantime, we believers press on to do our job for our Lord, the King of all kings. And we use our gifts and talents to work together for good as an ambassador. Not only to the church but  God has given everyone gifts and talents. We use our gifts and talents. Believers use their gifts and talents to further the gospel of salvation and for their flesh by way of their job or career path. Believers know the gifts God has given not only prosper the flesh,  but also the spirit man.  Unbelievers use their gifts and talents for their flesh in this world.

How many times I have thought I wish I could work in ministry full time and it would help me pay my bills. I did and do work in ministry but not once in 34 years now, have I ever been offered a dime from any church where I have labored. Maybe they didn’t read the scriptures that teach if someone labors for you, your work, your ministry, you are suppose to pay them. A man is worthy of his hire. Deuteronomy 24:14, 15 teach that and Luke 10:7 KJV “And in the same house remain, eating and drinking such things as they give: for the labourer is worthy of his hire. Go not from house to house.” I do not hold anything against any of them. God will give me my reward. Remember, we are all laborers together in Christ and we have a time set for rewards in the future.

But the gifts and talents I have been speaking about are body, flesh related. These are our God given gifts and talents that we use in our body for this world. But these aren’t the only gifts. God also gave believers, all believers, spiritual gifts that work through our spirit man. And why did God give believers spiritual gifts for our spirit man? 1 Corinthians 12:7 KJV  “But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.” God gave spiritual gifts to all believers to profit.

And we will pick it up from here next time. Until next time.

Balancing Spiritual & Carnal

God tells us, as believers, it is all about the spirit man/person. But we are physically in a body, in the flesh. So how do we deal with this difference? When we say we are to live in the spirit, walk in the spirit and be led by the Spirit as Galatians 5 teaches us, how does that fit in to our job in the flesh? What about when the electric bill comes due? How does living, walking and being led by the Spirit fit into every day life when we are in the flesh still?

Clearly, our spirit man is seated in heavenly places in Christ  Jesus. Ephesians 2:6 KJV  “And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:” and the Lord Jesus Christ has blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places. Ephesians 1:3 KJV  “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:”

So why are we here in the flesh? And if we are spirit beings and everything is based on spiritual matters, why the flesh? What are we doing in this fleshly body? Are we in a fleshly body to work for the Lord? To win the lost? To preach the gospel? To be an example to others? To enjoy life? It is almost like God has put believers in a field, a field of people. We are to labour in the field – work – in the field. Remember when Jesus said the harvest is great but the laborers are few?

And then what?

When we die,  our works, our labours follow us into eternity. The lost, the unsaved, are judged by the works – at the Great White Throne Judgement (Rev.20:11) Revelation 20:13 KJV  “And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.”

We know these are unbelievers because these are cast into the lake of fire as the following verses explain.

Believers are judged by what they did in their body, their flesh. And believers stand before the Judgement Seat of Christ. 2 Corinthians 5:10 KJV  “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.”

But the difference? Believers receive rewards or loss of rewards by what they do in their flesh, their body. 1 Corinthians 3:11-15 KJV  “For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
[12] Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;
[13] Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.
[14] If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
[15] If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.”

Clearly, we see that what we do in our body, in our flesh, impacts us after we die in this body.

THEN – God throws us a curve. He tells us there are these “spirits” and we can not see them, but they are there. And not only are there these spirits, some of them are evil and wicked and will come against you.

So we have learned that our body, our flesh, what we do in our body our flesh, determines things in our future when we are no longer in this fleshly body, but now we also have these beings we can not see? Ephesians 6:12 KJV  “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places .”

Now what? How do we handle this? We will pick it up from here next time.

Sarcastic, Incompetence Or Leadership

When I was working on a project I said to someone, we need a first and last name of the customer and Mr. is not a first name, I was falsely accused of being sarcastic. That hurt me deeply because I don’t think I have a sarcastic bone in my body. As I started thinking on the matter I did pray and ask God to help me pray for the person who falsely accused me.

But then I wondered how they could come to the conclusion that I was sarcastic or even rude? Then I asked myself, do I have a communication problem? The Lord showed me he created us all with different gifts, different talents. We use our gifts and talents throughout life to help others, to teach others, to be a benefit not only to God and believers, but also to society.

As a technically minded person, I pay attention to details and follow directions. You might think that means I am concerned over every little detail. You would be wrong. That is not what I mean. Actually, I have all my life been in a leadership role in some form or another. Even when in the Army, I never peeled potatoes or went on maneuvers. They pulled me aside and sent me to leadership training school. What it does mean is when you give me a project, I will be sure to complete it according to your specifications, every detail. I have a purpose here so stick with me. Let me try to explain.

Let’s say a customer comes to you and tells you, I have a project for you. They say, I want you to build a car for me. The car needs to have wheels, have a motor and be able to carry 800 pounds of weight, you interested? I would then ask, what are the “details” ?  The customer says, I have five criteria:
~ The car needs wheels
~ The car needs to have a motor
~ The car needs to transport 800 pounds of weight
~ The budget is $ 3000.
~ The car needs to be delivered completed in 30 days.
That is it.

Question: Does the customer care how many wheels the car has? Does the customer care what type of motor the car has? No and No.

Typically, the group would set up project leaders. They would put one group, with knowledge and experience aka gifted by God, in charge of the wheels. Another group would handle the motor. Another group would handle weight issues. Then you would have the budget and finance group and finally the testing and QC ( quality control) group.

If believers, they would gather together and take a knee bringing the matter to the Lord and pray for wisdom, guidance and success. What happens then? What happens between those 30 days?

The person who ordered the car, the customer, will be back in 30 days expecting to see a car that meets their criteria. So how would you handle this? What happens next?

Sadly, this is where not only companies but people make it or break it. There has been a shift from the 30s, 40s, 50s and 60s until now. In the past, people looked at the project, put the teams together and produced the product. Today, in 2017, people and business is more concerned with how you speak to each other, what details are in the rivets or bolts. What tree or weed or animal was displaced for this product. This is labeled as micro-management.

And it does not matter what job, what business, what field you are in – customers buy products. Sure there are some customers who want organic, but business in general is all about producing a product or service a lot of customers will want to buy.

As a project leader or manager, you don’t care about the type of rivets, the bolt chemistry or the composition of the wheels. micro-managers do. Good managers and project leaders don’t care if the people putting the car together have a college degree – can they do the job is what matters. Can they do the work with excellence. And along the way if the project manager sees someone struggle they will look to their team and say, certainly, this person needs help. Question:  By saying, certainly this person needs help, are you being sarcastic and rude?

When you look at the word sarcastic, by definition it means bitterly, severe taunting. It is a reproach or expression uttered with scorn or bitterness. So when I said to someone Mr. is not a first name I was making a factual statement covering the details of the project. The customer’s criteria was first and last name. And when I said this person certainly needs help, it was not sarcastic, it was pointing out to their team leader this person is struggling with this and needs help understanding the details (what the customer ordered).

I am beginning to wonder if not only the church but Americans have lost their mojo. Have they all turned in to, what one person said, snowflakes? Micro-managers are on the rise and people seem to be more concerned with how you speak and not the project. Yes, even in the church. When was the last time you heard a hell, fire and brimstone message? Does that mean hell, fire and brimstone no longer exist? No. Hell is real if you want to hear the truth or not.

The solution? Be a great project manager and state up front, if you are scared easily or offended by every little thing, or require hand holding during your job – do not apply. But if you are willing to learn and pitch in and help others, to be thick skinned and tender hearted and will do a job of excellence – then by all means we want you.

Until next time.

7 Questions To Answer

Okay, God has shown me I need to use a different approach on this topic. I need to engage our readers more. This blog is not designed to bring across my point of view or how I feel about spiritual topics or what I think. This blog is called Heavens Record because it examines Heaven’s Record, the Holy Scriptures, on issues and topics to see what saith the Lord God about a topic.

In this blog, I also try to share how God has taught me, helped me and opened my understanding to him and his word. This in its self is a great miracle because as our regular readers know, I didn’t know anything substantial about God until I was 27 years old. I only knew there was a God and there was a guy named Jesus. Yes, I thought he “was” and God would show me He “Is”.

As I said before, the reason I got saved was selfish on my part – I did not want to go to hell. Period. I didn’t know if there was life after death or not but if there was, I did not want to go to Hell. I wanted to go to heaven. And if God’s word said I needed to do something to go to heaven, I would do it.

Critical thinking is not a strong point of mine. I am a book person. I use books to tell me what to do and how to do them. I always believed there was a God and if he loved mankind he would not leave man on this earth without some form of direction or instruction. So I settled it in my heart and mind that the scriptures were indeed God’s instruction book to mankind. And because God created me as a book person, if I needed answers about a matter, all I need to do is look to God’s book for my answers. Which brings me to 7 questions for you to answer and think about.

We know from the scriptures, God speaks of judgment. We know God set up judges and even has a book in his volume of books titled Judges. We know there is a final judgment. We also know God not only judges mankind but he also judges angels. We know man judges people, things and events. So let me encourage you to use a pad and pencil and answer these 7 questions.

1 – What does judgment mean?
2 – Is judgment a process of the spirit, soul or body?
3 – What are judgments based upon?
4 – In a court of law, when a judge passes judgment on a matter, how does the judge and jury pass judgment on a matter or person?
5 – In life, how do people pass judgment on issues, on people, on events?
6 – And what about believers who were taught, ‘we are not suppose to judge anyone’?
7 – Is a decision a judgement?

I am not one for comic books but this fellow named Jack Chick, a believer, wrote many comic books based on Biblical teachings. One of his most popular mini comic books is This Was Your Life. I don’t know if Jack is still alive or if his website is still Chick Publications but as I reread a comic book titled The Warning it made me ask a question.

The gist of the story is about 4 young boys who hear of a swimming hole on a farmer’s land. They rush to the land and see No Trespassing signs. They ignore the signs and go through the barbed wire fence. One boy, the youngest, gets his pants hung up in the barbed wire and the other three run to the swimming hole. Signs were posted, No Swimming. The three jump in the water ignoring the signs. Finally, the youngest one comes to the swimming hole only to see his three friends yell, Tommy, no stay away, don’t jump in, the water is loaded with snakes.

The three boys died and Tommy ended up turning to God and getting saved. In considering the above 7 questions – did God kill the three boys? The choice the three boys made, was it a decision or a judgment call? So when someone decides to ignore God and his plan of salvation, is that a decision or a judgment call? Until next time.

Loaded Or Liberty

In our last post titled  ”  2  ”  we said, ”
This new contract would be how people could restore their spirit man. How people could have a relationship with God again, something Adam and Eve lost. This new contract was based not on the laws, rules and regulations the flesh had to perform but based on Jesus and his perfect blood payment on the cross to pay for all of mankind’s sin. And to prove it, Jesus rose from the dead, fulfilling the law. Matthew 5:17 KJV. “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.”

So if the first contract, the first covenant, the Old Testament, was based on the flesh performing specific rules, specific laws, following specific regulations – all flesh based, why read the Old Testament?  Lots of reasons why we should read and study the Old Testament and just to name a few:

~ We learn about God, his character and personality

~ We learn about prophecy. God’s word is the only one who can tell the future 100% accurately.

~ 1 Corinthians 10:10-11 KJV  ” Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.
[11] Now all these things happened unto them for examples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.”

~ 2 Peter 2:6 KJV  “And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly;”

There are many answers to questions for living a good life in the Old Testament. Answers like health and dietary answers. How to handle money and prosper financially. How to conduct business. How specializing in a field is better than a ” Jack of all trades”. There are a lot of answers to our “how” questions.

And if the new contract, the New Testament focuses not on the laws, rules and regulations but focuses on our spirit man, why do some denominations, some churches, set up their rules? If the New Testament is dealing with our spirit man as we explained in our post ” 2 “, why do some churches tell us we can not have long hair and be in “their” church? Why do some separate the men from the women and force them to sit on different sides? Why do some say women can not wear slacks? Why do some say you can not eat meat between certain dates? Why do some say you can not go to a movie (godly movie or not)?

Why do churches or denominations or even religions load their followers down with a list of dos and don’ts? Rules and regulations?  There is an answer, do you know why? 2 Peter 2:3 KJV  “And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you:….” ( Feigned words are invented words, imagined words).

And people who do not understand saved by grace through faith put people in bondage to their rules, their denomination, their religion so they can control you and your life. They set themselves up as judge and jury when God is the judge and jury.

The whole book of Galatians explains our liberty in Christ, our freedom and we are warned by Paul Galatians 5:13 KJV
” For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.”  Our life as believers under the new contract is all about our spirit man, not our flesh. If you live in the spirit, walk in the spirit and are led by the Holy Spirit, you will not be focusing on what your flesh wants, your flesh desires or how your flesh wants to sin.

Believers, true believers, have liberty in Christ. We do not seek the desires of the flesh but are more spirit man focused. And that is why some believers end up martyrs willingly. Friends, it is not about your job, your house, your money, your circumstances,  it is about growing up spiritually – your spirit man taking control of your flesh, not your flesh controlling you or your mind.

Galatians 5:16-25 KJV  “This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
[17] For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
[18] But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.
[19] Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these ; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
[20] Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
[21] Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, 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.
[22] But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
[23] Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
[24] And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
[25] If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.”

Until next time.

2

Two is a number of unity. Two unite as one. When we think of Scripture we see two testaments, old and new. Testament means covenant and covenant means a formal agreement. Another words, it is a contract laying out the terms of an agreement. And the parties in the agreement,  the contract, bind themselves to the agreement. When it comes to the scriptures, God Almighty made a contract with man, mankind.

We have God’s contract with Israel in the Old Covenant, the Old Testament and we have God’s contract with the world, everyone, in the New Testament. Because this blog tries to focus on the triune nature of man, spirit, soul and body, we will consider man’s nature when looking at the contracts God made with man.

Old Testament people had flesh – their physical body. They had a soul – their mind, will and emotions. And they had a spirit – the breath of life and praise and  worship towards God. When God created Adam and Eve he created them with a live spirit. Another words, their spirit man had fellowship with God. But when Adam and Eve sinned, they died – their spirit man died towards God. They still had the breath of life but their fellowship with God was broken because of their sin.

That means everyone in the Old Testament born after Adam and Eve was born with the breath of life but a dead spirit man towards God. So God makes a contract with the people. First, God calls out a group of people to be the chosen people to teach the world about himself. God chooses Israel to write down the contract, the testament in books.

Then God sets up a bunch of laws, rules and regulations and he tells Israel they are to keep these rules, laws and regulations to find favor with God. And Israel was to teach the world these laws, rules and regulations. The world would see, by watching God deal with Israel, the blessings of God on Israel when they obeyed and kept the contract with God. The world would also see when Israel failed, the chastisement from God.

God called out prophets to teach Israel and the people and the prophets would report to Israel what God said about specific issues at that time. God called out prophets like Samuel, Jeremiah, Isaiah, Ezekiel, Daniel and many, many others to help the people understand.

God made the contract with Israel and he gave his rules, regulations and laws to Moses to teach the people. God was promising, in writing, if you will do this, then I will do that. It was promised to Israel and delivered to the people through the prophets God chose as his messengers. The promises were all based on the flesh doing specific things at specific times. Their spirit man was still dead towards God. Their contract was all based on their flesh.

Move forward. Jesus comes. Jesus is a Jew from King David’s lineage. The prophets in the Old Testament foretold of a time when Messiah would come. A Deliverer. But unlike Moses who delivered Israel from physical bondage in Egypt, this prophesied Messiah would deliver Israel from spiritual bondage. Another words, not only would he rule and deliver Israel physically but he would deliver them from a dead spirit towards God. Jesus would fix the dead spirit issue so man could be restored to spirit life with God.

God had set a time when man would no longer have to serve laws, rules and regulations to have favor with God. That time was when Jesus came and established the new covenant, the new contract God was making with Israel. So God sends a Jew, born under the law, from the seed of David according to the flesh, to Israel to proclaim that he is the Messiah they had been waiting for.

And because the Jews require proof of things, signs, Jesus did all kinds of miracles including raising the dead (Lazarus). But the Jews rejected him. Oh some believed, but most rejected him. Think about it for a minute. You have thousands of years of doing rules, laws and regulations and now this guy shows up saying he is who they have been looking for and he is going to set them free. Jesus was speaking of restoring their spirit man and the Jews claimed they had never been in bondage in John 8:31-33 KJV
” Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
[32] And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
[33] They answered him, We be Abraham’s seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?”

As we know, the religious leaders rejected Jesus and told the Romans to crucify him but many of the people believed. Now put yourself in God’s shoes. Here you send Jesus to your chosen people to set them free and restore the dead spirit that Adam and Eve caused through their sin. What would you do? God told them you are stiff necked.

So God calls out a Jew named Saul who knew the law, knew the scriptures and knew the God of the Jews. God calls Saul, appears to him, changes his name to Paul and sends him to Gentiles, Jews and kings ( Acts 9:15 ) to make the Jews jealous that Gentiles were taking their God. Then God establishes a new contract, contract number 2, the New Testament.

This new contract would be how people could restore their spirit man. How people could have a relationship with God again, something Adam and Eve lost. This new contract was based not on the laws, rules and regulations the flesh had to perform but based on Jesus and his perfect blood payment on the cross to pay for all of mankind’s sin. And to prove it, Jesus rose from the dead, fulfilling the law. Matthew 5:17 KJV. “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.”

Jesus, as God manifest in the flesh (according to John chapter 1 and 1 Timothy 3:16 and many other scriptures) knew the Jews would reject him. Jesus knew what he had to do and it was Jesus who introduced the Holy Ghost, the Holy Spirit to us in John chapters 14, 15 and 16. Jesus was laying the ground work for mankind being restored unto God.

And when God saved and called Saul / Paul, Paul’s message and teachings  focus on our spirit man, the spirit life, growing in the spirit.

Ephesians 2:1-22 KJV  ” And you hath he quickened , who were dead in trespasses and sins;
[2] Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
[3] Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
[4] But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
[5] Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
[6] And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
[7] That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
[8] For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
[9] Not of works, lest any man should boast.
[10] For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
[11] Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;
[12] That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:
[13] But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
[14] For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us ;
[15] Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;
[16] And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:
[17] And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.
[18] For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
[19] Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
[20] And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone ;
[21] In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:
[22] In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.”

God handled Israel’s rejection of Jesus by offering Gentiles salvation. Why? To provoke Israel to jealousy. And now, with the 2nd contract, Jews and Gentiles are saved the same way, grace through faith. And this new contract is all about living in the spirit and not the flesh. Until next time.

Out Of Your Hand

Let me preface this with two scriptures.
Proverbs 3:5-6 KJV  “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
[6] In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”

Psalm 32:8 KJV  “I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.”

If you believe God and his word, and I do, then although we may not understand things or what is going on in our life, we have to trust God will work things out and guide us.

Romans 8:28 KJV  “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”

I have never been the kind of person that could figure things out. I am a book person. Give me a book and tell me to follow the directions and I will receive the outcome the book teaches. I don’t need to know the whys. But there are times I struggle with the hows. How do I do this or how do I do what the book tells me.

An example is my own salvation. When Jack asked me if I wanted to get saved, I told him yes but I don’t know how. As a believer, I ask God how questions often. How do I live in the spirit as Galatians 5:25 tells me. How do I be led by the Spirit or how do I walk in the spirit. I can’t tell you how many times I have looked things up in scripture to learn how to do things God’s way. Hundreds!

So when God promises to guide us, teach us, and direct our paths, naturally I ask how will I recognize your leading and direction Lord? Especially when things don’t make sense.

Being raised in the country with no running water and an outhouse, I am not a fan of country living. As soon as I could I was off to the city. Ahh  civilization I thought. ( We won’t go there.) Later in my life God put me back in the country. I cried out to God, this is a desert Lord. How do I know it was God? The decision was out of my control, out of my hands.

Throughout life we make decisions, some good and some bad. When we make bad decisions as believers, we confess it to God and ask for his forgiveness and help. But what about when the decision is taken out of our hands? And that is what life throwing us curves is all about.

We have things planned and working smoothly and something happens in our life that throws us a curve. It could be anything. You could get married and your spouse leaves you, abandons you. You are forced to move from an area you love. Or a parent gets sick or dies. A child turns to the dark side. You loose your job or are replaced by a computer.

Events happen in your life and you did not see them coming and you are thrown a curve. All of a sudden your life is tossed upside down. A lot of people, including Christians, tend to focus on the event and why the event happened. They focus on what did they do wrong that caused that spouse to leave. Or where did you go wrong that your child turned to the dark side. Or my parents have been a rock, a stabilizer and now they are sick or died, now what.

That is when those beginning scriptures come into play. When events happen that we have no control over, God is at work. God puts people in our life that we might reach the lost by sharing the gospel of salvation. So when events happen that are out of our control and people are placed in our path, God has a plan.

Often, people get mad at God or quit the walk of faith when life changing events happen. They tend to look inward and not upward. And telling people to bloom where they are planted is not helpful at all. Proverbs 16:9 KJV  “A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the Lord directeth his steps.”

When life throws us a curve, we have to trust the Lord is at work and we will learn and grow in Christ through the event. That is when we need to ask God to make clear to us what we can do to help, to further His plan. Why? Because we know ALL THINGS work together for good, Romans 8:28 and we know God loves us very much.

When life changing curves are out of our hands, God must be changing things. We may not like some of the changes but we have to trust the Lord and lean on him. If we do this willingly, God blesses us, teaches us and later when we look back, we see what God was up to. Until next time.

Assignments

A lot of people start projects but few finish the projects. A lot of people claim to be saved but few finish walking with God. Jesus explained this principle in the parable of the sower –  Luke 8:14 KJV  “And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.”

Life is not about getting a good education so you can get a good paying job so you can have a comfy life. And becoming a Christian is not about saying a prayer and going to church. When you think about it, what does the unbeliever have? The unbeliever does go to school to get an education so they can have a good paying job to live a life with comfort and “things”. They work all their life to get a pension or save money so when they retire or get old, they can do what they want. Then they die and leave everything they worked for to their heirs.

But there are many believers who do the same thing. And it does not matter if one is rich or poor, lost or saved, people for the most part, do the same thing. So we see believers have the same pitfalls as the heathen. Why? I suspect many believers today think it is all about them, their dreams and aspirations. There are a lot of preachers out there preaching God wants to bless you, prosper you, enlarge your borders and generally speaking, that is true. But that is not what the Christian life is about.

Believers are ambassadors for Christ. Ambassadors are sent to foreign countries as a representative of their country. 2 Corinthians 5:20 KJV “Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.”

Instead of looking at yourself, your situation, your desires, your prosperity, have you considered you are on an assignment?  Did you ever wonder why you were born into the family you have? God may have put you there to be a light and salt to your family. It is not about what job,  but the assignment God has us on, a specific job. Being salt and light to the people we work with is part of our mission.

Yes, we have people who come against us or falsely accuse us of things based on their perceptions of what they think we mean with our words or actions. Some of these who come against us can even be believers. And others who come against us can be demonic. Even Jesus had a Judas. And Jesus did not kick Judas out. Jesus could discern Judas was a devil and Jesus commented on Judas in John 6:70-71 KJV  “Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil?
[71] He spake of Judas Iscariot the son of Simon: for he it was that should betray him, being one of the twelve.”

Believers get bit, stung and mocked and there are many examples of the venom biting  believers. Remember Acts 28:3-6 KJV  “And when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks, and laid them on the fire, there came a viper out of the heat, and fastened on his hand.
[4] And when the barbarians saw the venomous beast hang on his hand, they said among themselves, No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he hath escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffereth not to live.
[5] And he shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no harm.
[6] Howbeit they looked when he should have swollen, or fallen down dead suddenly: but after they had looked a great while, and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds, and said that he was a god.”

These people first thought Paul was a murderer but when the venom did not kill Paul, they thought Paul was a god.

Friends, life throws venom at us and believers are bitten with many venomous attacks – the question is, are you going to let the venom kill you or, like Paul, will you shake it off?

As ambassadors for Christ we are on a mission. Our mission is not for things of this world but we represent Christ and his kingdom. Along our path through life we are thrown curves, setbacks, venom, detours and sometimes loss and hardships. The question is have you let these things of this world stop you from the mission God set before you that only you are uniquely qualified to accomplish?

One of the saddest things is to see  believers who think saying a prayer and going to church is the Christian life. Or those who think the Christian life is all about God blessing them, giving them, helping them. Friends, we are not our own. We, as believers, belong to God. We were bought with a price. The precious blood of Christ. And God put us on as ambassadors to represent him and his kingdom. To do good and teach others about his kingdom. Not to build up ourselves.

Let me encourage you to ask God to show you what he wants you to do for him, in your family, in your job, with the people he has brought into your circle. Time is short and the field is ripe but the laborers are few. Until next time.