Live Free For Jesus
WELCOME TO MY BLOG (PREVIOUSLY Called To Be Free) WHICH IS ONE OF A FEW CHRISTIAN BLOGS I RUN. THERE ARE 60+ POSTS HERE. MANY OF YOU HAVE BEEN REGULAR READERS (2-3k Views Monthly) AND THE BLOG CAME TO A HALT BECAUSE THE WEBHOSTING COMPANY HAD PLANS TO CHANGE SITE BUILDERS. SO NOW WE ARE BACK ON TRACK WITH LIVE FREE FOR JESUS (PREVIOUSLY Called To Be Free) I have a different website with that name now HERE
INVITE THE LORD TO SPEAK TO YOU AS YOU READ.
Janet's Blog
Janet's Blog
Blog
Living for Jesus – Did you Know?
| Posted on 13 October, 2015 at 6:30 |
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If Jesus is your Lord and Savior this post is addressing some things that are important in
the Believer’s life and to The Lord “who has called us
out of the kingdom of darkness into His wonderful Light”. “Let those of us who
are called by His Name walk how He walked” We all want to rule and reign with Him in Heaven? It
starts here. Ruling over our enemies - there is much we do not have to put up
with and the Holy Spirit wants to teach us how to Reign in life through Christ Jesus. The
Lord desires for us not to walk as victims (under the burdens of our
adversaries) but as Victors with Him (aware of our Position with Him and the Power of His Name
in our mouths). "Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for
us" the NIV says. It takes perseverance to keep casting aside hindrances that
come our way sometimes does'nt it? SOME THINGS WE ENDURE FOR A TIME AND OUR FAITH IS REFINED. LORD, GIVE US WISDOM TO KNOW THE DIFFERENCE IN EACH CIRCUMSTANCE. The apostle Paul says to "Fight the Good fight"
(1 Tim 1:18) it does not have to be toilsome and depressing when we have a spiritual temperament of
throwing things off. It's only when we stop and think about situations and fail
to look to The Lord as Victors that those things become oppressive or burdensome. In the world, people fight against setbacks in business,
work and universities. In business for independence and ownership, in work to have
employment, promotion, in university it is to have their diploma and a purpose in
life. Multi-level Marketing is a good example - they will leap
hurdles and cross boundaries and go from level to level to seize that position, that prize
that is waiting for them! Are we not concerned about our ownership - reigning in
life and exercising our rights? Do we not want to be listed in His Army and go from strength
to strength? Do we not want to live with purpose and hear from Jesus the
words "well done?" Do we not want to progress to the 30 fold the 60 fold the 100 fold and receive the Prize that is waiting for us at the end of
this Race? 2 Timothy 2:19-21 says these words The firm foundation of God stands, having this seal, "The Lord knows those who are His," and, "Everyone who names the name of the Lord is to abstain from wickedness." Now in a large house there are not only gold and silver vessels, but also vessels of wood and of earthenware, and some to honor and some to dishonor. Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from these things, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work.…" Do you want to do great things for Jesus......see Him do wonderful things in your life...... bring the miraculous to people when He starts moving in power? THIS IS A GOOD START Remember the parable
of Jesus? He said: “Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants, so that they did not bear grain. Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up, grew and produced a crop, some multiplying thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times.” (Mark 4:3-8) People were ignorant and did not understand this story and
sometimes we as Christians can lack understanding too (thinking it only has to do with
unbelievers) when so often there are times in our lives this can relate with
us__ The enemy has a temporary victory over us with temptation; our hearts are
hardened against a brother or sister; maybe even The Lord in a certain
situation? Let us have good soil in our hearts when we hear and read
and study His Word.....hey? Then we can yield 30, 60 and 100 fold - our lives can be
fruitful. And I am not speaking about money here (that some Televangelists have
reduced this verse to). Let's live fruitful, purposeful lives for Jesus, aye? Even if you are a mum at home, you can do that - think of
those lives you are investing in that God gave you to train and look after. Even
if you are not a parent, you may have Christian friends you can encourage and partner in prayer with. And we all have people around us
we can be the best example to in lifestyle evangelism (whatever that best may be). Many of
us will see people we have shared the good news about Jesus with or influenced
by the way we live. In Heaven, there will be Great Rejoicing! IT'S A GOOD FIGHT BECAUSE "WE ARE MORE THAN CONQUERORS
THROUGH HIM WHO LOVED US AND GAVE HIMSELF FOR US" _______
YES, HE WON OUR TRIUMPHS FOR US AND WE HAVE THE AWESOME PRIVILEGE OF APPLYING THEM IN LIFE'S SITUATIONS. I will share a principle here. In the Gospel of
Matthew. There is a Centurion who comes to Jesus. He gives orders to this one and that one - and they obey. He submitted himself to Jesus' Authority and his daughter
was healed that same hour. It was not only his faith that moved Jesus, he was acknowledging His authority and he came in the right manner. How carelessly we approach His presence often. We storm in or speak loudly......He told me to tip-toe once.....to come in quietly. And sometimes He wants us to listen instead of speaking. YES, I DO BELIEVE IN PRAISES AND CALLING ON GOD. I DO ALSO THINK WE TELL HIM WHAT TO DO A LOT AND HOW TO DO IT. I CAN JUST HEAR HIM SAY, "IF THEY STOP TELLING ME WHAT TO DO AND LET THEIR FAITH LOOSE, THEN I CAN MOVE!" So the above principles are often the way to Healing......the way to Victory. Our enemies laugh when we use the Name of Jesus and fail to
submit to Him. The principle is that our victory over our enemies can be as
strong as our appreciation of the Lordship of Christ in our hearts and
lives. THEN IT IS THE GOOD FIGHT INSTEAD OF BATTLING. THEN
WE HAVE MORE COURAGE BECAUSE WE CAN PICTURE HIM AT OUR SIDE. TRY IT AND FIND IT
TRUE. The Holy Spirit wants
me to tell you something here and it is this: It's much easier to fight when you have good soil in your
heart with plenty of seed - that is His Words on a regular basis. In order to fight the Good Fight, we need to have Good Soil. Otherwise, it is "a battle to get by".
Remember, your spiritual diet needs to be a good one; it needs to be balanced. In the natural, you cannot fight on
a junk diet, a skimpy diet or all desserts (just those things we like). We then need to find their application in our experience. So
as you can see, we need a well-rounded diet - not general - but quality. Many
of us don't invest time in devotions in our daily lives with The Lord but leave
things to 'a sermon' on a Sunday. Friends, how do we expect to win a war (life's
situations) with a skimpy diet like that? Grace and Perseverance "Be strong through the grace that God gives you in Christ Jesus…….endure hardships as a
good soldier of Christ Jesus". (2 Tim1-3) No
soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so
that he may please the one who enlisted him as a soldier. Also if anyone competes as an
athlete, he does not win the prize unless he competes according to the rules. (2
Tim 4:4,5) New Living
Translation Soldiers don't get tied up in the affairs of civilian life, for then they cannot please the one who enlisted them. The Aramaic Bible says that "He chose us" Matters of the world in civilian life here involve things
like arguments and envy, squabbles and strife. They involve making offenses and taking offenses – most of
them start with unkind words; failing to show understanding and consideration; not
appreciating someone’s views; thinking we’re better than someone; not showing forgiveness as Christ did
with us. "This
is a trustworthy saying: If we die with Him, we will also live with Him. If
we endure hardship, we will Reign with Him. If we deny Him, he will deny us. If
we are unfaithful, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny who He is". (2 Tim 2:11) Christ will not deny you as His own but you will miss out on
certain privileges because they are rewards. So many of us sin (when we know
better) we expect The Lord to give us a slap on the wrist and then bless us. Let’s be honest, we sin
and later the same day we present a prayer-list. For some, there’s no
repentance……with others,the repentance is not genuine (we say we’re sorry to God but there is no change of heart). This is often true with the way we treat others or
communicate with them. Yes, a true soldier of Christ will take those things
seriously, just like people in the forces do not get involved in fist fights or get intoxicated when
off duty – they’re always on duty in that sense of speaking – but not so with Christians often
aye? Do we concern ourselves with what the Pastor sees maybe and
not Jesus or an unbeliever often? That’s very sad, because He has taken us all on in this Army
of His, just like King David took the rejected and dropouts into his care. Scripture says
that “not many of us were wise or noble in the world” 1 Co 1:26
and “God is no respecter of persons (giving preference to one over the other) Acts 19:34 The difference is that the men David took
on appreciated the opportunity and took David’s training very seriously. They
looked to him as a master and king…….yet how many of us look to Jesus as such in our experiences of day to day
life? These four men are the “Mighty Men of War” recorded in
scripture – they became “Men of Valor!” In the gospels, Jesus did what David did. He called everyday
living people to Himself, 12 of them – to train them in the things of God AND
their temperaments, if you look closely. One is not good without the other. The way we speak and act sometimes, one would
think anything will do for Jesus, forgetting He is our Master and our King of Kings. He has redeemed us with a price we are all related to royalty and should act accordingly. The Aramaic Bible says “Is not a Soldier bound in matters of
the world to please him who has chosen him?” We need the Holy Spirit to enlighten
our eyes and maybe also to wash them with tears. Then we can see clearly. Some of us are sinning like troopers……..whose troop are we
in? That’s trampling the Work of the Cross with our feet. We cannot do this with
the CROSS and expect VICTORY. The devil and his schemes are supposed to be
under our feet……not the LOVE of CHRIST. To truly love Him is not to take His Grace in vain…….He paid
a very high Price to give us our Victories! We need those words to leap off this page – so to speak – so
we don’t leave them here. As the Son of Man, it cost Him everything to bring us
Salvation. If that is theory (scripture in print to you) ask the Holy Spirit to
make it Real. That’s why so many lack faith for Healing and Provision. It can only be as strong as our walk most times. The other
reason is that we Limit the Grace of God to forgiveness – the day we were
Saved. It is interesting to note that when there was sin in the
camp of Israel God treated it seriously. He revealed to Joshua that sin is the reason that God
did not fight for Israel against Ai. (Joshua 7-9) And we assume things are different for us because “We are
Saved by Grace”. But those things are recorded in scripture for our benefit
to instruct us in the Ways of God. Did you know there is Old Testament recorded in the New
Testament and even New Testament (things from the gospels) in the Old
Testament? Now, the apostle Paul refers to us being enlisted by Christ in
His Army. And Joshua records that God with-held His Blessing until sin
was dealt with. How does this sit with us?
In 2 Tim 3:6 Paul went on to say “and hardworking farmers
should be the first to enjoy the fruit of their labor. Think about what I am
saying. The Lord will help you understand all these things”. Friends, we expect everything to be laid on the table with
all the trimmings, for no effort on our part often to live a true Christian
life. How can I say this? See how you score, one of these should speak to you? We need to look at the soil of our heart. The spiritual Diet we are on. Look for balance. How often we apply it. Reflect on today, this week. What our temperament is like with family and Christians. How seriously we look on sin and a healthy Fear of The Lord. Some of us love the blessings but complain like Israel. We are not prepared to suffer with Christ but want the Power
of God. Some live for the Pastor with church commitments but fail to live for Christ when it matters. We need to consider our example to family and onlookers. Myself included, who do we think we are kidding? Forgotten Principles There is a sowing and reaping principle found in His Word
that has also been reduced to money-messages by some Televangelists. Scripture tells us that “if we walk in the Spirit (or with
Him) we will reap Life and if we walk in the flesh (sinning and not repenting) we
will reap destruction (the judgement of God) for He is not mocked, let us not
deceive ourselves”. So many of us hear sermons and talk about the things of God
but still need Light shed on
how to live them in our personal walk. The apostle Paul told us that “the Kingdom of God does not
consist of talk but of Power” that is to live a Godly life and have the Power of
God in our lives – this is not speaking about the Pastor and Evangelist. Jesus said “you shall do the works I do” but first we need
to be like Him. Paul also told us that “the Kingdom is not a matter of what
we should eat and drink (church attendance, rules and regulations) but PEACE and JOY
in the Holy Spirit”. These do not accompany sin (unaccounted for) because He can
be grieved. Ephesians 4:30 says “do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by
whom you were sealed for the Day of Redemption” New Living Translation says “Do not bring sorrow to God's Holy Spirit by the way you
live. Remember, he has identified you as His own”. GOD'S WORD Translation says “Don't give God's Holy Spirit any reason to be upset with
you. He has put his seal on you for the day you will be set free from the world
of sin”. So God’s Holy Spirit in us is sensitive to the way we think
and speak, act (respond and react to Him and others) and live (our way
of life and our interests. Much of our living has do with relating. We read what a Christlike temperament is about and is not about in Galatians 5. Verse 22:23 says “the spiritual nature produces love, joy,
peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and
self-control. There are no laws against things like that”. How many of us conduct ourselves with this Fruit of the
Spirit? We can take a quick observation of those we know (for this
exercise) then include ourselves in the equation. "All of Moses' Teachings are summarized in a single statement, "Love your neighbor as you love yourself." But if you criticize and attack each other, be careful that you don't destroy each-other". (Gal 5:14,15) God's Word Translation. In the church-system, many Christians learn to be men-pleasers - impressing the Pastor and making a good impression in the services. Jesus called us to Follow Him and please Him 7 days a week. YES! The world is waiting to See Jesus and He is waiting for that also! “He has called us out
of the kingdom of darkness into His wonderful Light”. (Col 1:13) “Let those of us who
are called by His Name walk how He walked” (2 Tim 2:19) "My Son/Daughter, do you Love Me?" |