In this weeks lesson we talked about Tools for Transformation. As with any identity or acumen we have a set of tools we use for survival and contribution. For example, as humans we utilize such tools as; language, structure, organization, rules, laws, civility, agreements, others, etc., to help us through life. So, what do we do as Believers?
As a Believer, what are our tools? Free-will, the Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ, the Bible, Prayer/Meditation and Self-Care (i.e., rest, nutrition and exercise), Church, free-will (to choose good or evil), other believers as well as the non-believers.
8 Things You Must Know
Nugget #1 - You have a Free-will (to choose eternal life with God)
God says in order to go to Heaven to be with him, you must be born again (spiritually). You see, God doesn’t force His will upon mankind or we’d be puppets at His will. In John 3:7, Jesus said to Nicodemus, “Ye must be born again.” God’s word gives us the “plan” (a tool) of how to be born again, which means to be saved from our sin. It is a once in a life-time INVITATION.
Why Must I have to choose or accept this invitation?
Honestly you don’t have to do anything. However, just like in life, you don’t have to choose anything. But if you don’t, others will choose for you or assume your choice. Neutral is not a choice nor a position. We see it with politics a lot. People choose to avoid the topic or NOT VOTE but often complain about the consequences when they don’t. We live in a world of duality (night and day, good and evil, etc.), therefore, heaven and hell. The choice is yours. You can deny it but it doesn’t make the choice go away. Just like we can deny the world and universe weren’t created. You see, mankind cannot say they do not know about God. From the beginning of time, mankind could see what God is like through the things He has made. We build greater telescopes to reach the end of the universe, yet can’t. We attempt to prove how reason and thought come about, but can’t. So where does the wind come from? No one knows.
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him, and without him was not anything made that was made.” - John 1:1
“For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities - his eternal power and divine nature - have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.” - Romans 1:20-21
“The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” - John 3:8.
“The fool says in his heart, there is no God.” - Psalm 14:1, 53:1
Nugget #2 - the Bible is the Word of God
How we listen to God is through His Word. Over 66 men wrote the Bible by God imparting to them what to write. This is truly a miracle in itself, because the Bible geographically, historically and scientifically has never been proven wrong. It has been tried, tested and proven to be accurate. To include the eye witnesses of Jesus after his resurrection from the dead. Yet, the irony is you can’t even barely get 5 men to agree on one topic alone, let alone 66 books of the Bible. Think about that for a minute. [ Look up 2 Peter 1:21 ].
“All scripture (every word) is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” - 2 Timothy 3:16.
Nugget #3 - Jesus is the God of the Bible
There is no other name under heaven in which mankind can and will be saved. He is the truth, way and the life. No man comes to the Father but by him. You cannot legitimately call yourself a believer if you believe Jesus is anything other than Lord. Therefore, is Jesus a liar, lunatic or lord is the question? If Jesus is anything other than Lord than the Bible and Christianity is all a farce. However, even the Koran from the Muslim religion says it is true while mentioning Jesus more times than Mohammed himself. And isn’t it peculiar, the only name we curse in vain is the name of Jesus. It’s NOT Muhammed. It’s NOT Buddha. It’s NOT Joseph Smith, etc., it's Jesus Christ!
Isaiah 9:6, Isaiah 7:14, John 1:1, John 14:9, Acts 2:38 and Rev 1:8.
“The one who hears you (God) hears me (Christ), and the one who rejects you (God) rejects me (Christ), and the one who rejects me (Christ) rejects him (God) who sent me.” - Luke 10:16.
Nugget #4 - the Holy Spirit is a real person
The Holy Spirit is God embodied inside of us when we accept his free gift of Salvation through the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The moment you accept Christ as your Lord and Savior the Holy Spirit comes to live inside you and your name is written in the Lambs Book of Life, not to be open until Jesus returns. And if your name is NOT found to be written in the Lamb's Book of Life you will be cast into the Lake of Fire, separated from God for eternity (Rev 20:15). This should make you think twice, if not three times. Here are some helpful verses to reinforce the severity of this warning. Luke 3:22, Romans 15:13, Judges 3:10-14 for examples.
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere - in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” - Acts 1:8.
Nugget #5 - We are ALL Sinners (who fall short of God’s glory)
We are ALL in the same boat. There is no one on this earth that is better or more perfect than another. God sees ALL sin as sin equally. Nothing more, nothing less. I know that’s hard for us to wrap our minds around, but His ways are NOT our ways. It’s our disobedience which causes separation from God. It’s anything we say, do or think that displeases God. And in order to understand what that is, you can simply start by looking at the 10 Commandments. I know for me, I’ve been guilty of all of them. Next, go deeper by reading the Word of God (the Bible) to discover God’s desires for you. For example, you are to love your enemies. Say what? How? By putting on the mind of Christ by forgiving others as you have been forgiven. Not how you want to forgive. In addition, God said that if you have hate in your heart it’s like committing murder in God’s eyes. This definitely breaks the mold of our loose understanding and reasoning (Matt 5:21-22). For further understanding you can review Romans 3:10, 23, 5:12 and 6:23.
“For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” - Romans 3:23.
Everyone can agree that our bodies will die. But according to the Bible, “death” is a spiritual death that separates us eternally from God in a place called Hell. Therefore, only Jesus can and will save us, if we choose his free gift (Romans 6:23).
Nugget #6 - God will NOT force you into Heaven
It’s our sin that separates us from God. So if we reject God’s gift of Salvation we deny the ability of eternal life in heaven with God.
“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” - Romans 6:23.
“Wherefore, as by one man’s sin (Adam) entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon ALL men, for that ALL have sinned.”
- Romans 5:12.
Jesus Christ suffered and died on the cross to pay for your sin, was buried and rose from the dead. After that, he was seen by over five hundred eye witnesses. This is exactly what the Old Testament said would happen.
“But God commended his love towards us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” - Romans 5:8.
“And as it appointed unto men once to die, but after that the Judgment.”
- Hebrews 9:27.
Nugget #7 - Prayer / Meditation
Prayer is how we talk to God. It allows us to get into relationship with him. When you close your eyes, it is a subconscious decision to tap into the superconscious (Spiritual realm) by calling on God or Jesus to have a conversation. There no right or wrong way of doing prayer / mediation.
Nugget #8 - Self-Care (rest, nutrition and exercise)
God was the greatest example of Leadership through Self-Care. In Genesis 2 after the earth was created, God rested from all his work on the seventh day. We can experience true rest when we spend time in God’s presence, praying or meditating on His Word. When we take time from our busy schedules by being still, silent and present allowing Him to work in us. And with nutrition and exercise the Bible encourages us to care for our bodies, and healthy nutrition is a natural part of it. God wants us to be good stewards of His creation; therefore, the body is the temple of the Holy Spirit inside of each believer. Good nutrition can help support our service for the Lord. “
“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” - 1 Corinthians 10:31.
“Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the surface of all the earth, and every tree which has fruit yielding seed; it shall be food for you; and to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the sky and to every thing that moves on the earth which has life, I have given every plant for food; and it was so.” - Genesis 1:29-30.
1 Thing You Must Do
“Confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.” - Romans 10:9-10.
“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” - Romans 10:13.
If you are willing to admit and confess out loud with you mouth that you are a (sinner) an imperfect person who falls short of God’s glory (standards), and believe in your heart that Jesus Christ is Lord, the Bible is True and that Jesus Christ died on the cross in your place, to pay for your sin, and that he rose from the dead proving He is God, the Holy Spirit will come and live inside of you. And your name will be written in the Lamb’s Book of Life guaranteeing your eternal salvation with Him. And there’s nothing you have to do to earn this gift. Your good works aren’t going to earn you an eternal life, only accepting God’s free gift of salvation will do that. Remember, God isn’t going to force anyone into Heaven to be with him.
Why we speak things out loud?
[ Angels and demons hear your words and are ministering spirits carrying out what you say from the physical to the spiritual realm. Therefore, when you rebuke negative thoughts or demonic oppressions with the power of the Holy Spirit or Jesus Christ the thoughts or oppressions must flee. In order to do it properly, we recommend saying things like: “Away from me (devil, demon or negative thoughts) in the name of Jesus!” Or Away from me, Satan!” Or In the name of Jesus, take these negative thoughts away from me!”]
#lesson35 #toolsfortransformation