Month: August 2020

Why are you a Christian?

Posted on by jakirkgasser10439

Where will you spend eternity? Are you sure? 

 

Eternity is a long time. Where will you spend it:  Heaven or hell? Are you sure? 

Are you saved?  Is it enough to just believe in Jesus resurrection and say a prayer of confession ala Romans 10:9?

Have you been baptized? in water?  in the spirit? under who’s name?  Does it matter?

Have you sinned?  Do you still sin? Does it matter?

Do you belong to a church? Do you go to church? Does it matter?

Have you lived a good life? Do good things for people? Does it matter? 

Why are you a Christian?  Is it so you can get into heaven someday?  OR is it so you can help bring heaven to earth now for all of God’s children? If both, which is more important to you personally?…be honest. 

I believe the last question is the most important and may turn out to be the only one that really matters. 

Over the centuries, Man has built different religious doctrines and entire church empires on the different ways to answer various doctrine questions. I have come to appreciate that most of it is a work of the devil to distract us and divide us and keep us from uniting agaisnt him.  

Many people become Christians just so they can get into heaven when it is time.  This is encouraged by a common sales pitch:

You’re a sinner..you are going to hell…say this prayer and be saved…do it now…you may die tonight in your sleep and you need to be ready!

There is nothing wrong with wanting to go to heaven, and that may be an awesome first step, but if that remains the main reason we are Christians we have missed the mark. What is the true motivation of this person to sign up to become a Christian. It is a desire to save themself from an undesirable future. It is actually selfish at its root when you think about it. It is all about ME. One thing I have learned about God and His Kingdom is it is never just about ME, it is all about HIM and His Kingdom.

“‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:37-29)

If folks only have the one initial motivation, and never work through the transformation to actually Love God with all your heart and to love your neighbor as yourself we have a problem. 

He needs you to become focused on Him and to put His love into action for others.

“Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves” (Philippians 2:3).

You can begin to see how we can have people who believe they are Christians because they said a prayer, or because they believe in Jesus.  They often behave poorly,  just going through the motions on Sunday to claim forgiveness for their inappropriate actions every other day, or sometimes even worse they attack each other with their version of doctrine and righteous indignation.

The reason HE wants us to be a Christians is so we can be a good example for others, to model his principles in action, to flow the love he has invested in each of us to others.

“My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth” (1 John 3:18).

Why is this important?  Because He needs his followers to become bright beacons for Him and the kingdom. If all Christians are not good role models, it gets hard to attract others to the message.

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).

These reasons are all about living life HERE and NOW, not having the special code to get into heaven some day in the future.

But what about Romans 10:9? The heart and the mouth are a big deal. What you hold dear in your heart is the root of your motivation; It is the WHY you do things.  Your WHY begins to become evident in WHAT you choose to express in speech or through actions.  Subtle nuances of the WHY can be sensed in HOW you express yourself. For example: You can often tell if someone is genuine as soon as they start to speak, or in their attitude as they do things.

So what is in your heart? Why are you a Chrisitian?

Are you DOing Christianinty… going through the motions? Practicing the rituals?  Or have you become a committed Christian and submitted yourself to Him to be of service to others?  

Can people see God when they look at you? How you speak?  How do you choose to spend your time? What do you choose to do? How do oyu choose to it?

A couple of tests:

The last time someone cut you off in traffic: Did you get upset and mad at that person? Or did you pause and consider they may be having a bad day..and ask God to help them get through it and for His help to get them home safely.

The last time you were feeling stressed and in a hurry in a store: Were you terse and short with the clerk? Or did you greet them with a positive attitude and wish them a great day,  knowing they have probably been dealing with upset people all day, or that they might be stressing about something at home.

The last time you saw someone living out life in a way you believe is not desirable or correct: Did you think less of them and condemn them? Or did you think of them as one of Gods children who is lost, and pray that God helps them find the truth and His love.  Did you offer yourself to God to help in any way?   

He wants us to transform during this life. To stop being self-centered and selfish the way the world teaches you to be.

“…do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God” (Romans 12:2).

Eternity is not just about calling out the name of Jesus in prayer.  How you choose to live your life on this earth will determine how you live eternity! 

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. (Matthew 7:21)

Get to know the will of God.  Get to know Jesus. Jesus is the model.

“He (Jesus) is the image of the invisible God” (Colossians 1:15).

“If you had known Me (Jesus), you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him” (John 14:7)

Be like Jesus; Be God’s love in action! That is how you will have confidence in your final destination.

“God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him. Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. (1 John 4:16-17)

Have a great day. I’m happy to discuss any and all of these points.

 

Come together…Right now…over ME

Posted on by jakirkgasser10439

Come together… Right now! …over ME!

 

The Beatles had the right song lyric.. and we need to do it now.  

The world is a mess:  There is a pandemic, People are struggling, Families are struggling, There is rioting in cities, Politics has become entirely divisive, People choose to destroy rather than discuss,  We have lousy diets and face more serious illnesses than ever. There is little trust in any organized system or structure that was originally put in place to help us.  Society has moved away from Judeo/Chrisitan values.  Everything is a about me and the people like me.  Most religious denominations are more focused on the differences between their doctrine than they are in coming together on the primary mission…defeating the devil. Things will only get worse until something changes. I believe it will only change if believers step up and intervene in a cohesive non-partisan way.

Many people mis-attribute the source of all the bad stuff that happens.  Sometimes it is:  “There is no God.  How can there be a loving God if HE lets xxx happen”,  or  “God is bringing his wrath on us…” ,  or on a more perosnal level “God made me sick to teach me something…”. Each of these misses the mark. 

God is Love (1 John 4:8).  He loves us so much he sent his only begotten son to die for us (John 3:16). Jesus came to give us life and live in abundance; The devil is the one who comes to lie, steal, and destroy (John 10:10). We do not struggle against flesh and blood in this world, we struggle against organized forces of evil (Ephesians 6:12). 

The world fell into the consequences of sin through the original sin of Adam eating of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Romans 5:12).  We are born with a sinful nature (Psalm 51-5), and all of the bad stuff that happens is a consequence of generations of sin and rebelion agaisnt God (Exodus 20:5, Deauteronomy 30:15-20). 

Jesus defeated the devil through his innocent sacrifice and resurrection in the flesh (Hebrews 2:14). He took back the keys to the kingdom and holds them in heaven (Revelation 1:18).  He gladly gives them to all those who believe and follow him. He is the way, the truth,and the light (John 14:6).

The devil works hard to blind unbelievers so they don’t ever see or understand the life of Jesus who is the expressed image of God (2 Corinthians 4:4).  If we know Him, we know the Father (John 14:7). Jesus never brought sickness to anyone, he never brought wrath on anyone, he healed all that were aflicted and joined people to the kingdom of heaven through love.  He is the image of God, so if Jesus didn’t cause bad things to happen, then God would not.  

The bible is crystal clear on how to get out of our mess.  We need to humble ourselves, turn to the Lord and away from wicked or self centered ways, Focus on Him, Learn about Him, and Pray for His help:

“If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land” (2 Chronicals 7:14).

We need to transform ourselves away from sinful nature we are born with and the self-centred thinking conditioned into us by this physical world ( Romans 12:2). He wansts us to become God’s love in action (1 John 3:18). Loving Him with all our heart, and Loving others as ourselves.

We are in a high stakes battle. If you stand and separate yourself as a believer, you will face persecution, but you will be doing your part to bring the light of the Lord to others. Separate yourself by your choice of words and by your actions. (2 Corinthians 6:17) Have nothing to do with unfruitful activities, and expose them when you find them (Ephesians 5:11)  

We need to take an active part if the course of history is to change. We need to vote both in heaven and on earth.  I encourage you to pray this prayer daily until you see the world operating in a better way.

Prayer for each of us, this country, and the world:

Heavenly father please grant each of us revelation, wisdom, and a knowledge of you. May the eyes of our heart be flooded with your light, let us feel your love, let us understand the hope to which we are called, the glorious inheritance of your promises and the power that raised Jesus from the dead that now lives inside us.

I pray for people to see and understand the purity of your love, and to not confuse the ugly circumstances of this fallen world with anything you are doing. You tolerate this mess only because it will allow believers to shine and it will eventually show unbelievers the only true solution is thorugh you..

Thank you for being pure love, for loving us no matter what we have done, and for never giving up on us no matter how far we have strayed. You remain ready willing and able to rescue us once we are willing to call your name.

I pray that every believer will hear your voice. That the spirit of truth will fill them and guide them.  I pray that each of us will listen to your voice to lead us was we shed the self-centered ways of the world and focus on you and your kingdom.  I pray each of us can find the path to loving you with all our heart, and then love their neighbors as themselves. Lord, help each of us see the part we can play to bring your love into action on this earth. May each of us be a beacon for you and your kingdom and help the lost find you through us.

Lord, we are in difficult and confusing times. The devils works are all around us. I pray for your will to be done on Earth as it is in Heaven. May righteousness reign and may all evil works be exposed. Lord, please pull your sword and bring Evil to justice.

Lord, you commission each of us to continue your work and defeat the works of the devil. With the authority you grant me as a believer, I hereby bind the roots of evil and cut them off in your name. They will not go unchallenged on my watch.

I pray all leaders, both elected and unelected, find the true love of God in their heart and begin to act recognizing eternal consequences for their words and actions.

I pray we as believers set aside our differences and come together to defeat the evil at work in this country and this world. I look forward to the day when we can join together in agreement and open the door for you to heal this precious land. Divided we will all continue to suffer, only together will we prosper united through our faith in You..

I pray this in Jesus name. AMEN

 

Who are you? Who, Who?.. Who Who?

Posted on by jakirkgasser10439

Who are you?  Who,Who?.. Who, Who?

 

Who are you?

There are some deep questions in life worth pondering. One of the most important questions is “Who are you?”. How you answer that question profoundly affects both how you choose to live your life, and it how and where you will spend eternity.

What defines who you are?

If someone walked up to you right now and asked “Who are you?”  how would you answer? The short answer comes quickly.  ex: Hi I’m John, I’m a retired Aeospace engineer based in Florida and we are traveling in this RV during summers. The deeper answer is more complicated and is more revealing.

Most people build a story line in their head using elements from a historic timeline? Who are your parents? Where did they come from? What was your childhood like? Where did you live? What was your family like? Was there a lot of love? Where did you go to school?  What did you do well at? What were your struggles? How do you spend your time? What do you enjoy doing? How do you make money? How do you choose to spend your money?  What kind of relationships do you have? What did you inherit from your parents? What will you give to your kids?

Along with this historical timeline, they also build a self-image based on how they believe others view them:  Pretty/Handsome or plain/homely, Smart or dumb, Fit or fat, Coordinated or awkward, Hardworking or lazy, Capable or useless, Successful or unsuccessful, Worthy or worthless, Victor or Victim.

This story line of “who you are” shapes your outlook on life and has a great influence on how you approach things.  If you view yourself as worthless or a victim, it will be unlikely you will ever recognize an opportunity in front of you, take the initiative to pursue it,  and rise above whatever obstacle you are currently facing.

So far, we have focused on the physical and mental aspects of your story line, lets add the spiritual.  How do you view your spiritual self? Do you accept there is a higher authority? What will happen when you die? Do you have a soul that might live on if you say or do the right things?  Will your life be judged? How will you make out with that? Where will you spend eternity? Given that. .how should I spend my remaining time in this life? 

How you view yourself spiritually has a great influence on how you live your life and what choices you make.  Just recognizing a couple of spiritual aspects could shift the behavior of an entire society: 1) God is everywhere and knows everything, and 2) You will pay the price in judgement for whatever you say or do in this life.  That is the threat/punitive side,  but there is also the promise/incentive side: God is love, He loves you, He wants you to prosper, and He will help you if you let Him.

You must invest some time and energy if you want to develop the spiritual aspects of life as they cannot be discerned through observation in the world. Spiritual laws are counter intuitive, they work the opposite of physical laws.  The physical world teaches you to take to get ahead, the spirit world teaches you to give;  the physical world teaches you live until you die, the spirit world teaches you to die so you can live.

You are composed of mind, body and spirit. If you define yourself only in physical / earthly terms,  I  encourage you to spend some time on the spiritual side, it will change the course of your life, now and for eternity.

If you already include a spiritual aspect in your self-image, I encourage you to explore the following extension or evolution:   

  • God loves you unconditionally
    • “But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)
  • When you invite Him as your lord and savior, You are born again.
    • “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” (2 Corinthians 5:17)
  • You are now a child of God, HE is your father.
    • “But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God” (John 1:12)
  • Everything from your past is wiped away, you are free from it.
    • “We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.” (Romans 6:6)
  • He helps you transform, from being self-centered to becoming love in action like him.
    • “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind…”(Romans 12:3)
    • “To put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.” (Ephesians 4:22-24)
    • “Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.” (Philippians 2:3)
  • You are part of the body of Christ…He is the Head, You are his “arms and legs”.
    • “Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.”(1 Corinthians 12:27)
  • He wants you to: be like him, Think like Him, and Act like him
    • “Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” (Ephesians 5:1-2)
    • “For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.” (Romans 8:29)
    • The Holy Spirit is in us and teaches us ” ..we have the mind of Christ.” (1 Corinthians 2:16)
  • He wants you to continue His work
    • “Jesus said… As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” (John 20:21)
    • “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. (John 14-12)

Why is this important? Why should you care? It is all about perspective, and faith.  If you view yourself as anything less than a child of God, striving to be Christ-like in thought and actions, forgiven of sins, and standing righteous In front of the father,  you will be vulnerable to attack in this world.  The things people say about you will matter more than God’s love for you, The things that happen day to day will matter more than your purpose for being on this earth…to become love in action.    

In a prior blog post i described the power of positive confirmtion, where you turn your understanding and beliefs into a positive statement of declaration. It is a very effective approavh to building confidence and growing your faith into actions. 

So if you have a spiritual identity and believe the scriptual statements above, consider the following answer to the question of who you are – it can be powerful and liberating

  • I am a born-again son of God,
  • I am not be defined by things of this earth,
  • I am defined by my creator, my heavenly father, who loves me deeply.
  • He loves me so much he sent His son to Die for me.
  • He created me for a reason, and He has never given up on me
  • He forgives my past so I can focus on going forward
  • I have the Holy Spirit inside me, guiding me, and helping me transform
  • I am a member of the body of Christ – his arms and legs on this earth
  • As the Father sent Him, He sends Me, I will do His work.
  • My father is pure love, I feel His love in me
  • I am His love in action, His love flows through me into every situation.
  • I view others as He views them – as his children needing love
  • My inheritance is the kingdom of God and I am proud member

My favorite speaker on this topic is Dan Mohler.  Here is a video where he explores the topic of Your Identity

I hope you find this discussion helpful. Leave me a comment.