01/27/2017 – Kingdom Life Principles

John provides seven clear-cut proofs of salvation, and today we look at Evidence #4.

If you are born again, life-changing evidence of salvation will remove doubts and fears about your relationship with God.

Remember, the Bible teaches us there are no do-overs. When we die we enter heaven or hell. Therefore if you want to spend eternity in heaven you must make sure you know and do what Jesus Christ commands. In fact, even Paul warned the Christians at Corinth to examine themselves to make sure they were really in the faith so they would not find out they were deceived and lost at Judgment Day. (2 Corinthians 13:19)

So how do we do examine ourselves? The apostle John wrote the letter, we call 1 John and tells us how and why. He says, “These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, …” [1 John 5:13]

So it is clear, the purpose of the first letter of John is the “assurance of salvation.” John wrote to give proof to the people who claim to be Christians that they actually were saved by offering evidence. These truths will prove whether we are alive in God, or as we say, born again. Please make sure you sit down and read the entire letter of 1 John!

And also please read the first three articles if you have not already because this one is based on them, as we work through John’s letter.

Now consider this, John will not let go of the idea that complete and total lifestyle change is the proof of salvation. First, he demanded a new love for other Christians in our local church. Next, he said if we do not turn away from sin we are not in a relationship with God. And also, he demanded a commitment to the mission of Jesus that He commanded His followers to fulfill, as proof of a real salvation experience.

Next, he forces us to answer this very powerful question.

Do You Love the World or Love God?

Here is how. He makes this statement. “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the father is not in him.” [1 John 2:15;5:19]

John first demanded that we love the church, God’s people. But this is much deeper because it deals with the motive and affection of our hearts toward God Himself. It cuts deeply to the way we think about the world around us. This means a Christian must make a complete change of allegiance from loving the things here in this world and exchange his heart’s passion to God.

We must completely turn upside down and think like Jesus. Our hearts must feel like He did and become strangers in a strange land. True believers love God and what He loves. They focus on God and cling to His Kingdom, feeling like odd ducks, away from home and missing their heavenly Father.

Christ taught these concepts to the apostles and John recorded this part of a prayer of the Lord Jesus in John 17:14-19 (NLT), “I have given them your word. And the world hates them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. I’m not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one. ”

“They do not belong to this world any more than I do. Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth. Just as you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world. And I give myself as a holy sacrifice for them so they can be made holy by your truth.”

With the believer’s passion and focus pointing to God, his heart grows in an ever-increasing love toward God. And understand, this love causes the Christian to joyfully walk in holiness and work for His Kingdom.

Let me clarify this idea for you. In Matthew 22:37-40 the Lord commands, “‘You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment.”

You see, love not fear motivates the true follower of Jesus.

But You Must Also Understand That The World Is Not Your Friend!

James warns everyone in James 4:4 (NLT), “…Don’t you realize that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? I say it again: If you want to be a friend of the world, you make yourself an enemy of God.”

A true Christian changes sides in his heart! This means breaking from rugged individualism and self-centered living, and instead, the Christian embraces the ways of God Almighty.

And we are not just talking about obeying God’s commands by force or fear, BUT by love. They love God’s culture or social structure which is carefully designed and described in the New Testament. It is the opposite of the world’s way of life.

John reveals this truth by saying, “Do not love the world or the things in the world.” [1 John 2:15;5:19]

Look around you! He is talking about the world you are living in. The world is full of voices calling everyone to love whatever you want except God. It encourages you to please yourself. It beckons everyone to disregard God’s commands. The world demands freedom from the true God telling everyone what to do and preaches “pursue peace and happiness for yourself because that is the supreme way of life. You are your own god. Make up your own mind what your truth is!”

Our Lord Jesus reveals this conflict between the world and God in John 15:18-19 (NLT) “If the world hates you, remember that it hated me first. The world would love you as one of its own if you belonged to it, but you are no longer part of the world. I chose you to come out of the world, so it hates you.“

This makes the world God’s enemy. The voice of evil seeps through all the media, music, movies, video games, and television. The strong pulling voice of pride, greed, and selfish indulgence echoes through the minds of everyone in this world.

But this world is not free and did not create these ideas. Everyone is enslaved to a dark master.

What is so Evil About the World?

“For all that is in the world – the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life – is not of the Father but is of the world.” [1 John 2:16; 5:19]

Lust is simply strong desires. What the body calls out for and demands is lust. What your eyes see and your heart agrees is the next thing you cannot live without, is lust. The self-sufficient pride that rules the hearts of men to do what they want, when they want to, is NOT from the Father!

The world is so evil because Satan controls the world. Satan is full of hate, murder, and lies and does everything to defy God and destroy the people God loves.

1/ Satan’s darkness rules this world. “Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God.” [2 Corinthians 4:4 (NLT)]

2/ He is a tyrant ruling over the world and controlling nations. “For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.” [Ephesians 6:12 (NLT)]

3/ These wicked and invisible beings deceive the whole world. “The angel threw him into the bottomless pit, which he then shut and locked so Satan could not deceive the nations anymore until the thousand years were finished. Afterward he must be released for a little while.” [Revelation 20:3 (NLT)]

4/ People the world over have their minds controlled by these dark forces. “So I tell you and encourage you in the Lord’s name not to live any longer like other people in the world. Their minds are set on worthless things. They can’t understand because they are in the dark. They are excluded from the life that God approves of because of their ignorance and stubbornness. Since they no longer have any sense of shame, they have become promiscuous. They practice every kind of sexual perversion with a constant desire for more.” [Ephesians 4:17-19 (GW)]

The Devil’s powerful army of supernatural beings works at keeping mankind confused and disconnected from their loving Creator. In this type of bondage, people are enslaved by the “normal” things of life and driven by strong delusion and selfish desires [lust] for what they see to buy and own, by the fleshly desires of uncontrolled pleasure and partying, and their opinion is that they are doing fine apart from God telling them what to do.

This is why God calls them the “sons of disobedience.“

This overwhelming force of darkness leaves mankind stuck in a science fiction type of existence oblivious to what is real and eternal. Humanity is cursed by sin, blinded by Satan, and broken inside and out. It reminds me of the movie trilogy, The Matrix. People are locked inside a container as slaves, and living in a dream world. This type of mask of delusion is really happening to mankind today.

But God our creator loves mankind, and will not try and make people love Him. Instead, He offers eternal life to all who will follow Him.

His way is available to all. “…as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” [2 Peter 1:3-4]

Our God has always been involved in mankind’s business. He sent His Son and lived among men, taught His ways, and then paid for all our rebellious hatred and crimes by taking the death penalty in our place. He supernaturally acted in human history from the beginning and will continue until the end of time.

He has given us promises as recorded in His Word. He has provided freedom from the things that destroy us through Jesus. And He has given His Spirit to allow people to escape the corruption that destroys humanity.

This dark force and it influences is like a flood that forces humanity to drown in hatred, selfishness, immorality, drunkenness, drugs, war, greed, depression and endless desires for things that never satisfy. The “world or the things in the world” are tainted and poisoned by the vicious enemy of God. The smell of hell is on everything. Nothing of the world drew Jesus to love our broken world the way it was corrupted and ruined, except humanity. He loved us!

And the whole point is, our loving God frees us from self-destruction. That is why Paul could write, “…in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience,” [Ephesians 2:2]

This Miracle is Evidence of Salvation!

1 John 5:18 (NLT)
We know that God’s children do not make a practice of sinning, for God’s Son holds them securely, and the evil one cannot touch them.

Breaking free from this tremendous force of slavery is only possible through the miracle of salvation. Only God can rescue the drowning people of this world swept away in the flood of sin and death to a new life of freedom. New Year’s resolutions will never work.

But everyone must answer the question, “Do you love the world or God”?

John says, “And the world is passing away, and the lust of it [strong desire for it], but HE WHO DOES THE WILL OF GOD abides forever.” [1 John 2:17; 5:19]

Only Christians have God’s power to do right and consistently obey God. “But you are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you. (And remember that those who do not have the Spirit of Christ living in them do not belong to him at all.)” [Romans 8:9 (NLT)]

And only the saint that loves God and proves His salvation in this way will live forever in heaven.

So let’s be clear, removing your heart from the crooked culture of the world that you once loved, to fully love God, is non-optional.

The world is not the believer’s friend in anything, anymore. The narrow road Christian is counter-cultural. The world is in conflict with the saint in almost every area. Jesus Christ is absolute in authority, and master of all of the Christian’s life.

All the world’s ideas are examined and everything of the world that contradicts the Bible is rejected. The life of holiness demands thinking in harmony with Jesus. Paul makes it clear in Galatians 6:14 (TLB) “As for me, God forbid that I should boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of that cross, my interest in all the attractive things of the world was killed long ago, and the world’s interest in me is also long dead.”

Instead of living life in pleasure, the follower of Jesus abandons the ways of the world and volunteers to be Christ’s slave. He loves Christ. He loves His Word and it is his only guide. He embraces a new way of life as a refugee and narrow road follower of Jesus in a world going the opposite direction.

They kiss the world goodbye. This is easily understood in marriage. Out of love, the couple kisses their old love interests goodbye and forever live life together. So it is with loving God, those who love God abandon the things that God hates. They join Him!

And this was clearly understood by the followers of Jesus who knew Him personally in the very first century. When Peter spoke to Jewish crowd in Jerusalem, he clearly got to them. So he answered them on what they should do to obey God…

“Peter’s words pierced their hearts, and they said to him and to the other apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?”

38 Peter replied, “Each of you must repent of your sins, turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ to show that you have received forgiveness for your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.39 This promise is to you, and to your children, and even to the Gentiles —all who have been called by the Lord our God.”40 Then Peter continued preaching for a long time, strongly urging all his listeners, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation!”

41 Those who believed what Peter said were baptized and added to the church that day—about 3,000 in all. [Acts 2:38-41]

The first Christians paid close attention to the fact that heaven was their home, and they were just passing through this world. Peter reminds all born again believers to be alert because we are just refugees, “Dear friends, I warn you as “temporary residents and foreigners” to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls. Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when he judges the world.” [1 Peter 2:11-12 (NLT)]

So let’s make Evidence #4 clear with these final statements from John’s letter…

1/ The World Rejects True Christians!

“Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.” [1 John 3:1b]

Christ warned His disciples from the very beginning of His ministry what living for Him would be like in this sinful, lost world. He explained it like this…

Matthew 5:10-16 (NLT)

10 God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.

11 “God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers.

12 Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted in the same way.

13 “You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless.

14 “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden.

15 No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house.

16 In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.

The world is greatly influenced by the devil and they show it. They reject God, His Word, His Son, and His people. There is always conflict between the world and God in every aspect. They clash in their ideas of good and evil. Jesus stated, John 7:7 (NLT) “The world … does hate me because I accuse it of doing evil.” They will demand evil is good, while God says evil is horrible and all those who follow their lusts must be punished forever.

They will disagree about creation and the future. They will not understand God or His people. They hate God and resent everyone associated with Him.

2/ Overcoming the World Is Evidence of Salvation!

John wrote, “For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith. And who can win this battle against the world? Only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God.” [1 John 5:4-5 (NLT)]

A child of God is a child of obedience. Like a mighty river of life, the grace of God explodes from within the true believer and he defeats the influence of the world that tries to darken His soul. Paul explains this victory of salvation, “Dear friends, you always followed my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away, it is even more important. Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.” [Philippians 2:12-13 (NLT)]

By faith, which is the strong clinging to and relying upon Jesus Christ, anyone can receive victory over this suffocating force of sin and darkness. Paul explains that “Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.” [Galatians 5:24-25 (NLT)] It does not say should, ought to, supposed, etc. Christians have nailed their sinful desires and they were killed.

Remember the “passions and desires of their sinful nature” is the strong lust that everyone was born with and controlled by until saved from sin by Jesus Christ.

3/ Only True Christians Overcome the World

John says, “Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.” [1 John 5:5]

The evidence that you have eternal life is that you really are saved from the overwhelming power of the world. Only God can break this power that destroys humanity. Only Jesus, the Son of God, broke the power of sin at the cross 2000 years ago. All are welcome, but most refuse to believe and follow Jesus.

Only a born again real believer can experience the mighty power of God to pull them from the strong addicting force of the world and all it offers. The natural world we know can only be left behind through the supernatural power of Jesus Christ. The step from being “a son of disobedience” to “a son of obedience” takes one of the most unpopular choices.

Jesus explains this through a farming story.

13 Then Jesus said to them, “If you can’t understand the meaning of this parable, how will you understand all the other parables?

14 The farmer plants seed by taking God’s word to others.15 The seed that fell on the footpath represents those who hear the message, only to have Satan come at once and take it away.

16 The seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy. 17 But since they don’t have deep roots, they don’t last long. They fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing God’s word.

18 The seed that fell among the thorns represents others who hear God’s word,19 but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life, the lure of wealth, and the desire for other things, so no fruit is produced.

20 And the seed that fell on good soil represents those who hear and accept God’s word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted!” [Mark 4:13-20 (NLT)]

Nothing in this world can stop a true believer because he loves God and God loves him. Not the devil, sin, people, problems, persecution, worries, wealth, lust for things or circumstances. He does overcome, win the battle, change allegiance, work for God’s Kingdom and experience a total change of life through the Good News of Jesus.

“For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith. And who can win this battle against the world? Only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God.” [1 John 5:4-5 (NLT)]

Whose side are you really on? God or the devil? The Kingdom of God or the world and all it offers?

1 John 5:18-21 (NLT)
¹⁸ We know that God’s children do not make a practice of sinning, for God’s Son holds them securely, and the evil one cannot touch them.
¹⁹ We know that we are children of God and that the world around us is under the control of the evil one.
²⁰ And we know that the Son of God has come, and he has given us understanding so that we can know the true God. And now we live in fellowship with the true God because we live in fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ. He is the only true God, and he is eternal life.
²¹ Dear children, keep away from anything that might take God’s place in your hearts.

So I must ask, do you pass this test? If not, please stop right now and make a change. Repentance starts with getting real with God and yourself.

AN EXAMPLE PRAYER WOULD BE LIKE THIS

Dear God,

Just like I am subject to the laws of my nation, I realize you are my Almighty Creator and ruler of the universe. You are the only one who is all powerful, good and fair. Because of this, you have the right to establish the law of the world and I now bow to your authority. I have broken your law _________ [fill in the blanks], and I am filled with sadness in how I have acted. Please forgive me! I accept your offer of forgiveness through Jesus dying in the place of my judgment. I turn from all the crimes I am practicing, I have no excuses, And I now am grateful for your mercy. I choose to follow my Lord Jesus by obedience to His commands all my days. AMEN.

Now remember, there are things we can disagree on, but you cannot disagree with the Bible over your salvation and eternal life. Unless you allow God through the Bible to direct your faith and beliefs you will be lost forever. God so loves you He gave His Word to be clear and concise to prevent you from being confused and miss His gift of eternal life.

If you do not know how to repent and follow Jesus contact us immediately through our website.

We want to get to know you now and also see you in heaven someday.

27 Jan 2017

Be Sure You Are Going To Heaven

Evidence of Salvation 5: Are You Indwelt By God’s Spirit?

Paul warned the Christians at Corinth to examine themselves to make sure they were really in the faith so they would not find out they were deceived and lost at Judgment Day. [2 Corinthians 13:5-9]

So how do we do examine ourselves? The apostle John wrote the letter, we call 1 John and tells us how and why. He says, “These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, …” [1 John 5:13]

So today we look at Evidence #5 and ask, Is God the Holy Spirit living inside you? John says you will know if He is, and everyone around will see it too!

So here is our statement: A radical change of life into a holy life is non-optional because the Holy Spirit actually lives inside the believer.

1 John 3:24 (NLT) “Those who obey God’s commandments remain in fellowship with him, and he with them. And we know he lives in us because the Spirit he gave us lives in us.”

John states a clear and supernatural change happens only to true believers. They receive God’s Holy Spirit at salvation. His Spirit is not just a mystical or symbolic description, but a real event that happens when the believer is born again and the Holy Spirit enters a person.

The apostle Paul also reveals this truth in Galatians 6:15-16 (NLT) when he explains the old ceremonies of the Old Testament do not matter now. “It doesn’t matter whether we have been circumcised or not. What counts is whether we have been transformed into a new creation. May God’s peace and mercy be upon all who live by this principle; they are the new people of God.”

Believers have God’s Spirit, but the world is flooded by evil spirits and satanic influence. The regular person is not able to see or connect with God. Only when a person repents and follows Jesus does God enter and change everything! Again Paul agrees and says this in 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NKJV) “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”

This evidence centers around the word holiness and is a non-optional change of allegiance by leaving the influence of God’s enemy and dwelling fully under God’s powerful grace. This is a revolutionary change of the mind. It is a new way to think, a new way to see things, and a new freedom from the satanic blindness that rules the world. God makes all things new!

So first understand this, God is holy and anything close to Him becomes holy. So if anyone is born again, the Holy Spirit comes inside that person making them holy. His holy presence cannot be hidden!

According to Strong’s Concordance, The Greek word for grace means “the divine influence upon the heart” which is the opposite of the world’s pull upon your heart. As the Holy Spirit miraculously influences your soul He floods you with new divine desires replacing the lusts that once controlled you. And the Holy Spirit does not stop there but gives increasing strength to please God by fulfilling His will.

Holiness is living fully under the influence of God’s divine presence. This affects all areas of life.

God’s holy presence is pulsating new life inside you and it changes you! Paul describes this in depth in the book of Philippians.

And remember Paul also says, “But now you are free from the power of sin and have become slaves of God. Now you do those things that lead to holiness and result in eternal life.” [Romans 6:22 (NLT)]

So let’s look closer at John’s word by first reading 1 John 4:13-16 (NLT),

13 And God has given us his Spirit as proof that we live in him and he in us.

14 Furthermore, we have seen with our own eyes and now testify that the Father sent his Son to be the Savior of the world.

15 All who confess that Jesus is the Son of God have God living in them, and they live in God.

16 We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them.

1/ What Does it Mean to Have the Holy Spirit?

Christians are altered and “live in love”! They are driven and changed to act in love, not selfishness and hate. The evidence of God’s nature bleeds out of their lives because they are now possessed by the Holy Spirit.

But religious people can have a spirit of Antichrist in them, instead of the Holy Spirit. This is why John makes it clear, the actions of that person are all it takes to expose them as wicked disciples of darkness. The child of disobedience is not the same as a child obedience. A child of obedience is born again by the miraculous power of God. Change, real change happens to the believer.

I know I keep repeating this precious promise from Ezekiel 36:26-27 (NLT), but remember God says, “And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart. And I will put my Spirit in you so that you will follow my decrees and be careful to obey my regulations.”

The Bible is also clear to explain when you are born again a new heart and spirit are put inside you. The evidence of the Spirit shows through the Christian because they have a change of heart and the new ability to obey His commands. The new Spirit overwhelms the old life with brand new impulses and strength to carefully obey all God’s decrees and applications. Real and deliberate change happens by God’s grace flowing from within their new heart.

The Word declares these changes are bubbling up from within. The spiritual revolution of the heart shows up in changing desires, attitudes, and actions. Repentance from sin and the fruit of the Spirit manifest themselves with great impact. The Lord Jesus said, “The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.“ [John 3:8 (NKJ)]

Our Lord proclaimed this rebirth would be explosive and life-changing. Floods of new spiritual life from God would radically redirect every aspect of a Christian’s life. The flow would not cease, nor slow down, but instead, floods and floods of God’s power would gush from within your new heart and spirit. John describes the scene…

John 7:37-39 (NLT)

37 On the last day, the climax of the festival, Jesus stood and shouted to the crowds, “Anyone who is thirsty may come to me!

38 Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.’”

39 (When he said “living water,” he was speaking of the Spirit, who would be given to everyone believing in him. But the Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus had not yet entered into his glory.)

If you look at the end of the Gospel of John, you see this did happen to Christ’s main disciples soon after He was resurrected from the dead. Christ entered the room they were hiding in and here is what happened. It says,

John 20:19-23 (NLT)

19 That Sunday evening the disciples were meeting behind locked doors because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders. Suddenly, Jesus was standing there among them! “Peace be with you,” he said.

20 As he spoke, he showed them the wounds in his hands and his side. They were filled with joy when they saw the Lord!

21 Again he said, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you.”

22 Then he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.

23 If you forgive anyone’s sins, they are forgiven. If you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”

Immediately they received a new spirit and a new heart! They were immediately changed by becoming new creatures in Christ. They all looked the same, but their doubting, sinful hearts were renewed by the miraculous power of God. The new responsive heart kicked in, and the old resistant heart was neutralized. Their spirits were electrified by the presence of the living water of God through the Holy Spirit now dwelling in them.

And it was not just those special disciples but every new follower of Jesus that repented was given the same promise, including all believers then, today and in the future.

2/ So what will we see if the Holy Spirit is in you?

Paul the apostle explains, “When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division,21 envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.”

First, everyone naturally is enslaved by sin. Our nature is unholy. Our sin flows from within our hearts and floods our thinking with selfishness, lust, and greed. Our actions are the normal result of our human nature! But Paul says the normal way of life leaves everyone on the road to hell and destruction.

Some people call it drama. Others hate their lives and think the consequences of it are unfair. Still, others love this type of life and embrace it. It is who they are!

But our creator sees this unloving lifestyle as an affront to Him because He never created us to live this way. He created us to love and enjoy Him forever. So Paul explains the life the Holy Spirit of God brings into a true follower of Jesus.

“But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!

24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. 25 Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives. 26 Let us not become conceited, or provoke one another, or be jealous of one another.” [Galatians 5:22-26 (NLT)]

This invasion of the Holy Spirit inside a new believer and changes everything! Floods and floods of love, joy, peace, kindness, etc pour forth from within as the Holy Spirit’s character and life flood his new creations. Starting with new loving desires, new powerful joy, new desires for goodness, and new desires for self-control, they all permeate your soul influencing your mind, will and emotions.

So let’s make Evidence #5 clear with these statements…

This Means the Holy Spirit Dwelling in You Changes What You Want “For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.” [Philippians 2:13 (NLT)]

This Means the Holy Spirit Changes What You Love “Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” [Romans 5:5 (NKJ)]

This Means the Holy Spirit Changes What You Are Focused On “For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.” [Romans 8:5 (NKJ)]

It Means He Changes What You Hate “But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.” [Romans 8:9 (NKJ)]

It Also Means He Changes What You Do “Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else. But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus.

So This means God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus.” [Ephesians 2:1-7 (NLT)]

The rest of mankind and even believers who are not born again have not changed. This includes the devil, the demons, and people just like Judas Iscariot who are believers in God. They have not changed because they are not indwelt by the Holy Spirit. They do not have a new heart, or spirit. They do not really love God or obey Him. In fact, false preachers, teachers, and believers have their old sins ruling their lives just like everyone else, in spite of their profession of faith.

What Does It Mean If A Believer Does Not Have The Holy Spirit Dwelling Inside You?

1/ They are hypocrites [actors or imposters without the Spirit] because they do not have fruit “…test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets [preachers] have gone out into the world.” [1 John 4:1]

Some are false preachers and do not have the [Holy] Spirit living inside them but a [deceiving] spirit guides them.They cannot create the fruit of obedience and selfless agape love that only comes from the Holy Spirit. This was clearly taught by Jesus. “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. “You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles?” [Matt 7:15-16 (NKJ)]

2/ Hypocrites are mixed Into the churches “And this occurred because of false brethren secretly brought in (who came in by stealth to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage)..” [Galatians 2:4 AMP]

“For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ.” [Jude 1:4 (NKJ)]

3/ The world [hypocrites included] loves the unsaved preachers “Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for so did their fathers to the false prophets.” [Luke 6:26 (NKJ)]

So I must ask, do you pass this test? If not, please stop right now and make a change. Repentance starts with getting real with God and yourself. Here is how to be born again.

Acts 2:38-39 (NLT) “Peter replied, “Each of you must repent of your sins, turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ to show that you have received forgiveness for your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. This promise is to you, and to your children, and even to the Gentiles—all who have been called by the Lord our God.”

AN EXAMPLE PRAYER WOULD BE LIKE THIS

Dear Almighty God,

Please forgive me! I believe and accept your offer of forgiveness through Jesus dying in the place of my judgment. I turn from all the crimes I am practicing, I have no excuses, And I now am grateful for your mercy. I choose to follow my Lord Jesus by obedience to His commands all my days. AMEN

If you still do not know or understand how to repent and follow Jesus contact us immediately through our website.

Read What Happens When You Are Born Again? for a detailed description of what the Holy Spirit actually does and how He changes the follower of Jesus. “A born again person is someone who has a direct connection with Almighty God by receiving the Holy Spirit inside their human spirit …”

27 Jan 2017

Be Sure You Are Going To Heaven

What Happens To You When You Are Born Again?

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” [2 Corinthians 5:17]

“Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” [1 Thessalonians 5:23]

A born again person is someone who has a direct connection with Almighty God by receiving the Holy Spirit inside their human spirit through faith in Jesus Christ. They are new creatures by the revolutionary change that takes place inside them when the Holy Spirit enters their spirit, and this permanent transformation establishes them as adopted children of God.

Before new birth, the conscience of the human is clouded and dark without God’s presence emblazing the holy standards of His Law upon it. This is revealed in Acts 2:37 as Peter presses the Jews with the criminal charge of breaking God’s Law by murdering the Messiah. “Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, ‘Men and brethren, what shall we do?’” This event verifies that from outside of an unbelieving person the dynamic power of the Holy Spirit slams the Law into the human spirit, and cuts into the conscience!

God’s Word explains this in Hebrews 4:12,13. “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.”

This means that God’s Law proves the case against you is true, and yes, you are guilty of the crimes God holds against you. The Holy Spirit mercifully influences your heart by pressing the truth of your sin into your conscience which brings guilt. The convicted sinner that is grieved over their sin and repents, seeks God’s forgiveness and receives the gift of salvation. New birth happens under this amazing grace through the nudges of God’s mercy and grace.

So what happens when you are born again? God promised, “I’ll give you a new heart, put a new spirit in you. I’ll remove the stone heart from your body and replace it with a heart that’s God-willed, not self-willed. 27 I’ll put my Spirit in you and make it possible for you to do what I tell you and live by my commands.” [Ezekiel 36:26-27 (MSG)]

First and foremost the miracle is real because the Holy Spirit enters the repentant sinner and makes him a new creation with a new spiritual heart and change begins.

Next, a river of life as Jesus promised in John 7:38 gushes into you, causing a chain reaction of events inside your spirit. This is the flood of grace that is His divine influence upon the heart that the Bible promises us. And God’s Word guarantees “The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God…” [Romans 8:16 NKJV]

To grasp the impact and miraculous result of this event it is necessary that you understand some important things about the human spirit. First, under the old life, your spirit is dead to any connection to God because of your sin. Since faith operates from inside the human spirit, when the Spirit of God enters, the very first thing that happens is faith ignites causing you to believe [trust in, rely upon, and cling to] Jesus Christ as the one who died in your place for all the spiritual crimes you committed.

In real faith, not blind faith, He opens your eyes and you make a clear examination of the facts that Christ lived, died, and was resurrected from the dead; and He did it to pay for your crimes. It is by God’s divine influence on your spirit, and your response of faith alone, that you are even able to see and admit you broke the moral standards of God’s Law and turn to Him for forgiveness. Your dead and blind spirit needed God’s grace to spiritually awaken you and give you eternal life.

But once accomplished, how does He prove you are born again? How does He “bear witness with our spirit” so that we know we are Christians? Well, remember, a witness in a courtroom gives testimony and evidence. So when the Holy Spirit invades your spirit He brings life-changing evidence! This corroborating evidence is the divine grace that immediately flows from the All-Powerful God now inside the human spirit, flooding the born again Christian with new holy desires, energy, and strength to please God.

Like plugging a pinball machine into the electrical wall socket, new spiritual life ignites and activates all kinds of new things once dormant or non-existent in the human spirit without God. Yes, the Holy Spirit activates or gives life to the dead spirit of the sinner. His grace rushes into you and connects you directly to Him which makes you a brand new, supernatural creature. And immediately “Everything that goes into a life of pleasing God has been miraculously given to us by getting to know, personally and intimately, the One who invited us to God.” [2 Peter 1:3 from THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language © 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. All rights reserved.]

This grace of God…

1/ surges into the human spirit lighting up the conscience,

2/ establishes and stretches real faith,

3/ starts cravings for fellowship with God and other Christians,

4/ activates spiritual gifts,

5/ initiates a hunger for worship,

6/ kickstarts new ideas of creativity,

7/ stirs up new thoughts and ideas for discernment,

8/ and enlightens the heart with new wisdom.

All these functions of the human spirit were turned off or fully corrupted because you were dead in trespasses and sin, but immediately at salvation, spring to life by His mighty power! This flow of supernatural energy never ceases, because God’s grace has no end. And these new godly desires are the evidence of being a new creature in Christ. “It is God who produces in you the desires and actions that please him.” [Philip. 2:13 GW]

The Holy Spirit begins immediately to influence you to give the Father true worth-ship. Jesus promised, “A time will come, however, indeed it is already here, when the true (genuine) worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth (reality); for the Father is seeking just such people as these as His worshipers. 24 God is a Spirit (a spiritual Being) and those who worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth (reality). [John 4:23-24 (AMP)] This is the time, and you are the one that God wants to have a deep and close relationship with. The more you see God’s love for you, the greater your awe and worship will explode inside your spirit.

Spiritual worship is different than just singing some songs and attending church gatherings. Paul explains the difference “…make a decisive dedication of your bodies [presenting all your members and faculties] as a living sacrifice, holy (devoted, consecrated) and well pleasing to God, which is your reasonable (rational, intelligent) service and spiritual worship.” [Romans 12:1 (AMP)] Giving of your self to the Lord as His faithful servant and then pouring out yourself to love others pleases Him and proves the true worth you hold for Him. He is so valuable to you that you hang on his every Word and follow His lead.

Another thing, your spirit quickly experiences the Holy Spirit’s whispers to protect you and inspire you. Our Lord warned His first followers, “Stay alert. This is hazardous work I’m assigning you. You’re going to be like sheep running through a wolf pack, so don’t call attention to yourselves. Be as cunning as a snake, inoffensive as a dove.” [Matt 10:16 (MSG)]

To be cunning and inoffensive you need fresh creative ideas from above to live your new life, and withstand difficult times in your life. “No test or temptation that comes your way is beyond the course of what others have had to face. All you need to remember is that God will never let you down; he’ll never let you be pushed past your limit; he’ll always be there to help you come through it.” [1 Cor 10:13 (MSG)] He will always kick start fresh and creative ideas for you to succeed through problems and impossible situations.

Never forget, your mentor is inside you, and the Holy Spirit is constantly there to guide you. Learn to think creatively and outside of your norm when you are facing temptation, trials, and difficult situations. Looking forward to the future, Jesus gave this promise. “If you love Me, keep My commandments. 16 And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.” [John 14:15-17 (NKJV)] Today we look back and rejoice because when you are born again, you experience this amazing promise.

And grace causes a longing, a craving for friendship with other Christians. When the church started about 2000 years ago the Book of Acts reported this force and fabric of the church. Acts 2 states, “And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.”

One of the four main pillars of the Holy Spirit’s design for your life is fellowship. You are not saved to live life alone, but to join together with other believers. The Greek word used for fellowship is koinoônia and it means partnership, close social union, deep communication, and common distribution.

This is far beyond friendship, which is a product of your soul, but an experience from your spirit that is filled with God’s presence. Like a piece of plywood, God wants you involved in a local church and to be glued together in such a union that the pulling apart of any one Christian will hurt and scar the group. The Holy Spirit formed “original church” exemplifies this love bond.

This is clearly presented in the language of Acts 2, “All who believed were together;” “all things in common;” “continued daily with one accord;” and “breaking bread from house to house.” God deeply influences His new saints with this bonding cement of love for each other. Fellowship is the life practice of Christians loving and helping one another.

Plus a spiritual gift is infused with your spirit when you are born again to deepen this bond of love. “Each of you as a good manager must use the gift that God has given you to serve others.” [1 Peter 4:10 (GW)] God’s desire is that you are strongly bonded to other Christians and investing into their lives by caring and serving them.

The Bible explains there are seven grace gifts that the Holy Spirit picks from to strengthen you to serve. “So we, numerous as we are, are one body in Christ (the Messiah) and individually we are parts one of another [mutually dependent on one another]. 6 Having gifts (faculties, talents, qualities) that differ according to the grace given us, let us use them: [He whose gift is] prophecy, [let him prophesy] according to the proportion of his faith; 7 [He whose gift is] practical service, let him give himself to serving; he who teaches, to his teaching; 8 He who exhorts (encourages), to his exhortation; he who contributes, let him do it in simplicity and liberality; he who gives aid and superintends, with zeal and singleness of mind; he who does acts of mercy, with genuine cheerfulness and joyful eagerness.” [Romans 12:3-8 AMP]

God’s grace bubbles through your soul impacting how you look at the world around you. Yes, your one grace gift creates a deep passion to serve fellow believers from a very specific, godly perspective. It is like putting on one of seven different color sunglasses. The longer you are a born again Christian the more you see from one of these seven God-given perspectives, judge everything from that perspective, and live and are driven by that specific passion of holiness. Your spiritual gift is your strength and it feels like it comes naturally, even though it really flows supernaturally from the Holy Spirit.

Also, remember this, grace gives you new desires. “Desire God’s pure word as newborn babies desire milk. Then you will grow in your salvation.” [1 Peter 2:2 GW] Because your spirit is the home of wisdom, God causes a new hunger for His Word to gnaw at your heart. His will is to turn you from a simple foolish child into a wise and strong spiritual adult. “Behold, You desire truth in the inner being; make me therefore to know wisdom in my inmost heart.” [Psalm 51:6 AMP]

What is wisdom? It is seeing life from God’s perspective! So as you begin to read God’s Word and satisfy the hunger growing inside you for God’s truth, you will grow in wisdom, establishing the foundations in your soul [mind, will, emotions] to identify the foolishness of all sin, and the wisdom of following Jesus Christ and all His commands.

And along with the new source of wisdom coming from God’s truth, your conscience is also receiving divine impulses from God’s Holy Spirit, as conviction presses your mind when you are about to do something morally wrong, or gives assurance when you are about to do something morally right. Your new spirit now senses good and evil by the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

In time, as you grow in understanding the Bible, stronger convictions multiply, and new power is experienced to keep you from constantly doing wrong. The spirit of the born again creature quickly becomes stronger because over time it becomes mighty “by reason of use” they “have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.” [Hebrews 5:14 NKJV]

As you mature, you learn to use your knowledge of God’s Word to recognize good and evil. Discernment is different than judgment in the same way the duty of a jury is different than the judge in a court of law. The jury studies the facts, testimonies, and evidence presented in the courtroom so that they can come to a clear conclusion of the truth or falsehood of the parties entangled in a trial.

The judge, however, is an expert in the truth of the law, takes this information with authority and makes binding decisions. Your judge is God and truth is revealed to you by God’s Spirit. As you grow in the faith you are enabled to understand the way God wants you to make decisions and how to take steps to protect yourself from bad choices and evil people.

For “God has unveiled and revealed them by and through His Spirit, for the [Holy] Spirit searches diligently, exploring and examining everything, even sounding the profound and bottomless things of God [the divine counsels and things hidden and beyond man’s scrutiny]. For what person perceives (knows and understands) what passes through a man’s thoughts except the man’s own spirit within him? Just so no one discerns (comes to know and comprehend) the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.”

Because the Holy Spirit lives in you, He influences your thoughts and reveals the truth to you that the “normal” person cannot understand.

Be confident in this, God loves you very much and has given you everything you need to experience new life, godly character change, and relief from the burden of sin. The more you read His Word and understand His Biblical principles the easier it is to trust Him. When you seem alone or overwhelmed, remember His promise, that He will never leave you, nor forsake you.

And believe me, it makes it even easier when you understand what is going on inside of you as a new creation in Christ Jesus. It is easier when you recognize the Holy Spirit is really at work inside you, by first constantly changing your desires, and then consistently giving you new strength through grace to please your Lord.

Now, if you are ready, let’s move forward together with The Seven Steps To Spiritual Maturity.

Kingdom Life Principles

Daily Archives: 01/27/2017

Evidence of Salvation 4: Do You Love the World… or God?