Life -

Newness in Life

“Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” Romans 6:4

We all need the newness of life in this world. A moment to renew ourselves. Transformation and renewal through the manifestation of the Spirit of God. Newness in life is needed as we age in our bodies. I confess that it is a little harder at age 68. It requires more faith to continue walking in the newness of life. I love the Lord, and I’m thankful for all the miracles He has done in my life. The Lord reminds me that we are buried with Christ unto death, but we have been raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father. Because of this, we should walk in newness of life. We must believe that this renewal is factual even when it has not manifested itself.

What is the apostle Paul conveying to the Romans about this newness in life? How are we placed as a seed in the ground to grow? Paul states, “we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of His resurrection,” [Romans 6:5]. Likeness in the fact of being like Christ in character. We know that sin is ever-present with us, for Paul reveals this in chapter 7 of Romans. Paul comments about the struggle of two natures within the believer. This is the old man through Adams’ nature. Through Christ’s death and resurrection, we are now delivered from sin to a newness of life.

The old man is crucified with Christ that the body of sin may be destroyed, [see Romans 6:6]. This is so we may not serve sin. To what are we yielding ourselves, or what are we following after? We have the Ten Commandments, but we also have laws made by man to have civil peace in the land. Yet,man does not always follow these laws. Some use the excuse that we are only human. Being human is not an excuse, but a weakness in our nature. Life is meant to be lived in love. With the love of God, we can care for each other. We can learn the meaning of the sacrifice of love that Christ made on the cross. Learning about love will take a lifetime.

Christ’s sacrifice on the cross gives us victory over sin. We no longer serve sin, but we serve the Lord in newness of life. Listen to what Paul said to the Romans.

Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God. Romans 6:12-13

Newness of life involves us in yielding ourselves to God. In essence, every day we can receive newness in life as we give God our bodies and mind to live that new life that flows from the Father to us through the Holy Spirit. Whatever we may lack, He becomes our strength and gives us what we need in our physical bodies. We must live under the power of God through the Holy Spirit. We must believe in faith that He will manifest His divine nature within us.

We must be aware of to whom we yield ourselves. Whether it is of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness, [see Romans 6:16]. Paul is pleading with the Romans not to yield themselves to become servants to uncleanliness and iniquity, but to yield their bodies as servants of righteousness unto holiness. As we do this, a change will begin to manifest within our bodies. This change may take time, or it may happen instantly. Just remember to ask for what you need in prayer, believing you will receive. Ask in faith and believe it to be so, and you will walk in newness of Life every day.

Love Not The World

“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.”
1 John 2:15

Love not the world nor the things that is in the world, yet that is exactly what we do. If we love the world, then the love of the Father is not in us. Some are taken aback by this reading in the word of God, and mostly we just ignore it and its meaning. Some would say if God created the world why should we not love it. We should not love it, for Satan as the prince of the air, is using it for his own purpose. The fall of Adam has corrupted man’s mind to turn away from God. There is a certain amount of chaos in the world and people are fighting against themselves to defeat certain circumstances. However, the first thing I thought about was vanities. The pursuit of happiness such as in purchasing items is short lived. Being vain in who you are is having excessive pride in yourself and your appearance. Just thing about the obsession in plastic surgery that many people partake in just to make themselves look good. Today, it has become an addiction that has been named “Body Dysmorphic Disorder.” This is no joke, for surgeons are now to screen patients for this disorder before operating. We have gone so far as to label what is acceptable in looks and appearances. Is there any wisdom in changing one’s appearances? Was it necessary? Maybe we should take another look at the definition of the word vanity. I found this definition on the internet from learn2pronounce.com.

Want of substance to satisfy desire. What desire are you trying to satisfy today? That is a question we must ask ourselves daily. What was the apostle John trying to convey in chapter two of the First Epistle of John. Let’s look at verse 16, where John states that “all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of this world.”

The lust of the flesh consists of envy, jealousy, hatred, drunkenness, idolatry, sorcery, heresies, strife, and fornications to name a few [see Galatians 5:19-21]. The lust of the eyes is what you see with your own eyes such as the appearances of your body and material possessions. The pride of life is being boastful about who you are and your accomplishments. Anything that consumes you is in reality taking you away from God and is moving you out of the love of God. Any kind of vanity is in itself emptiness, for it is short term and not lasting. Only God’s love is eternal and long lasting. That is why the apostle John states in the following verse:

And the world passeth away, and the lust of it; but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever.”
1 John 2:17

The will of God is for Christians to be led by the Holy Spirit and to walk in the Spirit. Our sanctification is through the Holy Spirit and not in the flesh or the works of the flesh. As Christians we struggle against two natures, the Adamic nature, and the divine nature. The struggle continues when it comes to not living in the flesh and trying to live in the Spirit. The flesh lusted against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to each other [see Galatians 5:17]. We just cannot achieve the goal of living in the Spirit of God. The point is, if we try in our own strength, it is impossible. It must be done only in faith through Christ Jesus. It must become the work of God and not us. This is where we allow God to work in us through what Christ has done on the cross. Without God in our life, there will be an emptiness, or a voidness as if something is missing. Your soul is sitting in darkness and there is no light. We need God’s light of love to be in our heart in order to see more clearly our state and the state of other human beings. It is the crisis we see in our world that is spiraling down to nothingness. The Chinese missionary Watchman Nee wrote about the same subject and you can download his book titled “Love not the World.”

Watchman Nee defines the world as this age and rightly so for it speaks to a world system in the age we are living in at this very moment. How Satan, who is the prince of air, uses this world to organize his rule among mankind in the principles of force, greed, selfishness, and ambitions. Control over man’s desires to force certain conditions upon humanity as a political rule or agendas. Even good missionary work that was spiritual can soon be driven into the world’s focus rather than God’s focus by becoming part of the world’s system. I have personally witnessed this change in Christian organizations. Saint Teresa of Calcutta, spoke about the change in her own ministry when it was changed into an institution/organization. She dropped the organization and went back to doing what God called her to do and that was to care for the sick and poor. As a child of God, we should consider carefully what we are partnering ourselves with when it comes to organizations.

Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher; all is VANITY.”
Ecclesiastes 12:8

Let us read on to the next verse in Ecclesiastes chapter 12, verse 9, where Soloman states, “and moreover, because the Preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge; yea, he gave good heed, and sought out and set in order many proverbs.” Preacher, teach us the words of the Lord and how we should live. Read on and you will be surprised to read about the making of many books and how it can become the weariness of the flesh in studying. What was the conclusion? It was to fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man [see Ecclesiastes 12:12-13]. The vanity of worldly things counts as nothing in life, but the commandments of God and believing in faith in the son of God brings the fulfillment of life. It is by grace that we are saved through faith, and not by any individual’s personal work. Faith in Christ Jesus alone, for this is the gift of God [see Ephesians 2:8-9].

The world passeth away, and the lust of it; but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever.”
1 John 2:17

Consider your position in your own life, and examine if it is profitable, or just a vain pursuit. Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world, instead follow Christ and have the love of God within your heart, for this is everlasting and it is profitable.

For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” Mark 8:36

The Spirit Gives Life

It is the Spirit that giveth life; the flesh profited nothing. The words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.
John 6:63

The “Spirit” gives life, stated Jesus. In the scriptures the Holy Spirit is linked to the living waters. How long do you think you would survive without water? The general consensus is that humans would not survive 3 days without water. 60 to 74 percent of the human body is made up of water. A lack of water brings dehydration which causes headaches and fatigue. Organs and cells within the body start to break down and the end result is death. Even when a person is fasting, they are to drink water to ward of dehydration, so important is water to all human beings. No water means death. Have you ever considered the importance of water? Every living thing on earth needs water. With climate changing around the world, harvesting water will become a priority.

Recent dry spells in certain areas of the world have caused drought conditions. California is one state listed that is known as a drought state, but recent snowfall and rain have lifted some areas out of drought conditions. When it rains in Botswana, Africa it is a joyous occasion for the rain waters bring new life to the environment. Seeds that are locked into the dry sandy dirt begin to grow. I always look forward to Spring when after the rain has come, it brings new growth of flowers such as the crocus and daffodils. I turn to look at the Camilla tree for its beautiful pink blossoms. This reminds me how important it is to have water, for it gives us life. Jesus was adamant when he made the following statement.

If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his heart shall flow rivers of living water.”
John 7:37-38

Out of an individual’s heart shall flow rivers of living water. What does it mean to have rivers of living water flowing out of a person’s heart? Remember the women at the well who Jesus spoke with in John, chapter 4? Jesus said, “whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst, but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water, springing up into everlasting life,” [John 4:14]. This is every believer’s current possession as well as the future. That living water is the Holy Spirit. It means continuous life.

The Holy Spirit is the spirit that gives us life. The truth is that many churches are dead because they deny the Holy Spirit to come and minister to the needs of the people. Man cannot fulfill individual’s needs like the Holy Spirit of God can. It is the Spirit that gives us life. The Spirit comes and renews our weak body, mind, and soul. The Spirit comes to bring healing to our physical bodies. The Spirit comes to bring repentance and forgiveness. This is why today Jesus continues to pray and intercede on our behalf [ see Hebrews 7:25] as well as the Holy Spirit when we are so troubled that we cannot pray [see Romans 8:26]. If you are dry and thirsty, in need of a drink, then come to Jesus who will send you the Holy Spirit as your comforter. Break with tradition and allow the Holy Spirit to come and bring renewal to your own life. Do not deny him access into your life, ask and you will receive.

At the beginning of this year, there has been a word for Christians to return to the Lord. Return to your first love which is Christ. Remember when you have first received the love of Christ, the forgiveness of sin, and became a new person in Christ. There are those who have fallen away from their first love, [see Revelation 2:4]. Remember where you have fallen and repent. Remember that whatever is not done in love is nothing, and it is not profitable according to 1 Corinthians chapter 13. We should check ourselves to see what spirit we are in when doing things for the Lord and reconsider our position.

Before there is any movement of the Holy Spirit, there first must be repentance. The Holy Spirit is gentle and pleading within the heart of man to come to Jesus and repent. Repentance is having a sincere regret or remorse about a behavior that has followed a different path other than the path of Christ. Have you heard about the Asbury revival? It was stated that students have come to the alter repenting. A renewal is happening in the hearts of these young people thus they are experiencing the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. As we come to the Lord and repent and worship him renewal begins. So precious is this renewal that one will experience His presence and know that through His Spirit we experience the Spirit that gives us life. When we lift up Jesus in worship, He will be present in our midst, and this allows the Spirit to move among the people. Wonderful healing and forgiveness will flow like rivers of living water. Are you thirsty for the living water? Come to Jesus who will give you a well of living water springing up into everlasting life. Bow down before him, for He is Lord of all. Let us have the freedom of worship in our hearts and in churches around the world that we may see Jesus and begin revival again by the Spirit of God who gives us life eternal.

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The hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth; for the father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit; and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.”
John 4:23-24

Let us bow down and worship Christ the Lord. Let us ask for forgiveness for our sins and allow His Spirit to flow within our heart with rivers of living water, for this is the Spirit that gives us life. Spent time everyday giving him praise and begin to see the glory of the Lord within your own life.