"Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with The Spirit have their minds set on what The Spirit desires." Romans 8:5 (NIV)
These are the words of the Apostle Paul, which were written under the direction, guidance, and influence of The Holy Spirit of God, to the believers in Rome. He told them that those who live to please themselves, cannot please God. (Romans 8:8) Those who have their minds set on that which The Spirit desires live in peace. (Romans 8:6)
We cannot please God and please man at the same time. (Matthew 6:24 and Luke 16:13) If we live in such a way as to please ourselves, and our earthly desires, then we are not pleasing God. Our sinful nature is in direct conflict with our spiritual nature. (Romans 8:7) We have to choose to follow the direction of The Spirit. Believers are not controlled by their sinful nature because they yield the control of their lives to The Spirit of God which indwells them. (Romans 8:9) We choose to live in accordance with The Spirit, and we endeavor to keep our minds set on the things which please The Lord. The Christian walk is a choice. We must all choose who we will follow, obey, and serve. (Joshua 24:15)
Showing posts with label spiritual life. Show all posts
Showing posts with label spiritual life. Show all posts
Saturday, March 1, 2014
Wednesday, December 4, 2013
Death Is A Temporary Process Life Is Eternal
"So then, death is at work in us, but ... because we know that The One who raised The Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus ... Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day ... For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." 2 Corinthians 4:12-18 (NIV)
This message was written by the Apostle Paul to the believers in The Church in Corinth to encourage them to keep the faith and not be led astray by false prophets. (2 Corinthians 4:13) He told them that although they were dying a little each day, and would eventually see physical death, their spirit was being renewed each day, and it is eternal.
From the day that we are born we began to die. It is just that, while we are young, we were growing at a faster rate than we were dying, so the net result was that we grew. However, at some point in our life the rate at which we were dying exceeded the rate of growth and we began to notice that we were aging, decaying, wasting away, and slowing dying. As Paul put it, "...death is at work in us..." from the very beginning. But when the process is complete and death overtakes us, as believers we know that The God who raised up our Lord and Savior Jesus, The Christ, will also raise us up from the dead. Christ said that, "he that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live." (John 11:25) We know that when the body dies physically, the spirit returns to God, for when we are absent from the body, we are present with The Lord. (2 Corinthians 5:6-8) We know that the dead in Christ shall rise, and they will meet The Lord God first. (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17) Our spiritual selves will live throughout eternity. (Matthew 25:46, John 3:15, Romans 6:23, and 1 John 5:11) Death and dying is a temporary process, but spiritual life is eternal. In this we can find comfort at the death of a loved one.
This message was written by the Apostle Paul to the believers in The Church in Corinth to encourage them to keep the faith and not be led astray by false prophets. (2 Corinthians 4:13) He told them that although they were dying a little each day, and would eventually see physical death, their spirit was being renewed each day, and it is eternal.
From the day that we are born we began to die. It is just that, while we are young, we were growing at a faster rate than we were dying, so the net result was that we grew. However, at some point in our life the rate at which we were dying exceeded the rate of growth and we began to notice that we were aging, decaying, wasting away, and slowing dying. As Paul put it, "...death is at work in us..." from the very beginning. But when the process is complete and death overtakes us, as believers we know that The God who raised up our Lord and Savior Jesus, The Christ, will also raise us up from the dead. Christ said that, "he that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live." (John 11:25) We know that when the body dies physically, the spirit returns to God, for when we are absent from the body, we are present with The Lord. (2 Corinthians 5:6-8) We know that the dead in Christ shall rise, and they will meet The Lord God first. (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17) Our spiritual selves will live throughout eternity. (Matthew 25:46, John 3:15, Romans 6:23, and 1 John 5:11) Death and dying is a temporary process, but spiritual life is eternal. In this we can find comfort at the death of a loved one.
Thursday, July 12, 2012
A Prayer For My Christian Friends
To all of my friends, "Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well." 3 John 1:2 (NIV)
The Apostle John here was praying for his friend Gaius. Not much is known about Gaius, but he is obviously a very good Christian because John prayed that his physical health and his life may go as well as his soul and spiritual life is going.
So, to those of my friends who believe, and are saved, and are walking with Christ, I pray this prayer. May you enjoy good health, a good long and happy life, and may your life and physical health match your spiritual health and life. And, to those of my friends who are not saved, may something be said, written, read, prayed, preached, or sung to you that The Holy Spirit can use to convict, convince, and convert you so that you too will believe.
The Apostle John here was praying for his friend Gaius. Not much is known about Gaius, but he is obviously a very good Christian because John prayed that his physical health and his life may go as well as his soul and spiritual life is going.
So, to those of my friends who believe, and are saved, and are walking with Christ, I pray this prayer. May you enjoy good health, a good long and happy life, and may your life and physical health match your spiritual health and life. And, to those of my friends who are not saved, may something be said, written, read, prayed, preached, or sung to you that The Holy Spirit can use to convict, convince, and convert you so that you too will believe.
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