Author: jakirkgasser10439

God Is Trustworthy

Posted on by jakirkgasser10439

God Is Worthy Of Our Trust – Just Look At Jesus

Why Trust Is the Battle Line

Most people do not reject God because they lack information—they resist because they do not trust Him.

At the moment of decision, the question is rarely “Is God real?” but “Is God good, and will He come through?”

Jesus did not merely tell us to trust God. He demonstrated—publicly, consistently, and at personal cost—that God is worthy of trust.

Trust is not blind optimism. Biblical trust is confidence in God’s character that produces obedience—even when outcomes are not yet visible.

The life of Jesus gives us tangible reasons to place that confidence.

“He who has seen Me has seen the Father.”  – John 14:9

What It Means to Trust God

To trust God is to treat His character as reliable and His words as true. It means choosing alignment with Him when your feelings, circumstances, or fears argue the opposite. Trust shows up in decisions: what you obey, what you surrender, what you refuse, and what you keep doing when you do not yet see results.

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.” – Proverbs 3:5–6

Jesus Shows Us God Is Worthy of Our Trust

Below is a summary of the various ways Jesus demonstrates that God is trustworthy. 

How Verse
He reveals the Father’s heart and character John 14:9
He tells the truth—even when it costs Him John 18:37
His life matches His words (integrity) John 8:46
He keeps His promises (fulfilled words) John 14:29
He uses power to serve, not exploit Matthew 20:28
He loves sacrificially—even while we were sinners Romans 5:8
He submits fully to the Father’s will Luke 22:42
He entrusts Himself to God through suffering and death Luke 23:46
God vindicates Him through resurrection power Acts 2:32
His way produces fruit that confirms reality Matthew 7:20

A Deeper Look, One By One

1) Jesus reveals the Father’s heart

If your picture of God is distorted, trust will always be fragile. Jesus answers this by making God visible. He does not merely speak about God—He embodies God’s heart toward people. To look at Jesus is to see what the Father is like: compassionate, truthful, holy, patient, and willing to rescue.

“He who has seen Me has seen the Father.” – John 14:9

“The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” – John 10:10

2) Jesus bears witness to the truth—even under pressure

Trustworthy leaders do not manipulate. Jesus consistently speaks truth even when it provokes opposition. He refuses to soften reality to win approval. This matters because trust grows where truth is steady. Jesus’ leadership is not based on persuasion tactics; it is anchored in reality.

“For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth.” – John 18:37

“Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.” – Matthew 24:35

3) His life matches His words (integrity without hypocrisy)

Jesus’ credibility is not theoretical. He teaches humility and lives humbly. He teaches enemy-love and practices it. He teaches prayer and depends on the Father. Scripture records Jesus inviting scrutiny: if He were merely a religious teacher with hidden corruption, that invitation would collapse. Integrity makes trust rational.

“Which of you convicts Me of sin?” – John 8:46

“Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: “Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth.”” – 1 Peter 2:21–22

4) He keeps His promises (fulfilled words)

Jesus repeatedly told His disciples what would happen before it happened—so that fulfilled events would not merely astonish them, but strengthen faith. Trust deepens when words prove reliable over time. Jesus does not ask for blind faith; He provides grounds for belief by speaking clearly and then fulfilling what He said.

“And now I have told you before it comes, that when it does come to pass, you may believe.” – John 14:29

“The Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.” – Mark 8:31

5) He uses power to serve, not exploit

Power often creates distrust because power is frequently used for self-interest. Jesus is different. He heals, restores, delivers, feeds, teaches, and protects—and then refuses to leverage His power for selfish gain or public spectacle. This is trustworthy authority: strength governed by love.

“The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” – Matthew 20:28

“A bruised reed He will not break, And smoking flax He will not quench; He will bring forth justice for truth.” – Isaiah 42:3

6) He loves sacrificially—even when we are undeserving

Jesus’ love is not sentimental; it is costly. He moves toward sinners, betrayers, and enemies—not because they earned it, but because God’s love initiates rescue. This is decisive evidence that God is not waiting to punish you for weakness; He is calling you to come home. When love is proven under pressure, trust becomes possible.

“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” – Romans 5:8

“Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.” – John 15:13

7) He submits fully to the Father’s will

Trust increases when you see that Jesus is not self-serving. He repeatedly declares that He came to do the Father’s will—not to build His own agenda. In the garden, when obedience became extremely costly, He chose submission rather than escape. That submission is a window into God’s reliability: the Father is not leading Jesus into meaningless suffering, but into redeeming purpose.

“Not My will, but Yours, be done.” – Luke 22:42

“For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.” – John 6:38

8) He entrusts Himself to God through suffering and death

Trust is proven when circumstances are worst. Jesus entrusts Himself to the Father in the moment when the path looks most costly. This shows that faith is not an accessory; it is the backbone of obedience. Jesus trusts the Father beyond pain, shame, and death.

“Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit.” – Luke 23:46

“Who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame…” – Hebrews 12:2

9) God vindicates Jesus through resurrection power

The resurrection is God’s public confirmation that Jesus is who He claimed to be and that His promises are reliable. If Jesus is risen, then His words about sin, forgiveness, eternity, and the Kingdom are not mere philosophy—they are reality. The resurrection anchors trust in a historical act of God.

“This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses.” – Acts 2:32

“I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death.” – Revelation 1:18

10) His way produces fruit that confirms reality

Jesus invites a test: examine outcomes. Over time, His leadership produces a different kind of life—peace that holds under pressure, love that forgives, integrity that endures, and usefulness that blesses others. Fruit does not earn salvation, but it confirms what is truly ruling the heart. Trust grows as you see His way consistently produce life.

“Therefore by their fruits you will know them.” – Matthew 7:20

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.” – Galatians 5:22–23

Key Ways to Trust God in Your Life (Even Starting Small)

Trust is strengthened through practiced obedience. You do not have to begin with heroic faith. Begin with small, concrete acts that align with Jesus’ leadership. Over time, repeated trust reshapes your inner narrative and produces fruit.

1) Trust God with your next decision

Ask: “What would obedience look like in the next right step?” Then do that step. Trust grows as you experience God’s faithfulness in ordinary choices.

“In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.” – Proverbs 3:6

2) Trust God with your anxious thoughts

Instead of rehearsing fear, hand your concerns to God in prayer. Peace is not denial; it is the result of trusting a faithful Father.

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God… will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 4:6–7

3) Trust God with surrender (where you want control most)

Identify the area where you insist on control—reputation, finances, relationships, outcomes—and consciously submit it to God. Surrender is not passivity; it is placing authority in the right hands.

“Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass.” – Psalm 37:5

4) Trust God with obedience before you feel ready

Feelings often lag behind obedience. When you obey what you already know to be true, understanding and assurance tend to follow.

“If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine…” – John 7:17

5) Trust God by forgiving when it’s costly

Forgiveness is one of the clearest demonstrations of trust, because it places justice in God’s hands and frees your heart from bondage.

“And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.” – Ephesians 4:32

6) Trust God by serving—especially when no one applauds

Service is trust in action. It declares that God’s reward is real and that your life is not measured by human recognition.

“But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant.” – Matthew 23:11

Call to Action: Dig into Jesus—Then Emulate Him

If you want to trust God, begin where God begins: with Jesus. Study His words, His actions, His motives, His compassion, His courage, and His obedience. Let the Gospels rebuild your picture of God. Trust grows when you see who Jesus truly is.
Then emulate Him—not as performance, but as response. Start small: obey the next right step, tell the truth, forgive, serve, pray, and surrender control. As you walk His path, you will discover what countless believers have found: God is not only real—He is faithful.

“He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.” – 1 John 2:6

“Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith…” – Hebrews 12:1–2

 

 

Take Up Your Cross

Posted on by jakirkgasser10439

What Does It Mean to Pick Up Your Cross? Learn from Jesus

Why Jesus Calls Us to the Cross

Jesus did not invite people into comfort, self-fulfillment, or religious status. He invited them into life—and He made clear that the path to that life runs through the cross. The call to “pick up your cross” is not metaphorical decoration; it is a defining mark of discipleship.
Understanding what Jesus meant by this call—and how He lived it Himself—transforms how we interpret suffering, obedience, and what it means to follow Him faithfully.

“If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.”  Matthew 16:24

What Is Sacrificial Suffering?

Sacrificial suffering is the willing acceptance of loss, pain, or disadvantage in obedience to God and for the good of others. It is not suffering for suffering’s sake, nor is it the result of foolishness or wrongdoing. It is faithfulness chosen when obedience costs something real.
Jesus’ call to the cross teaches us that Kingdom life is built on trust in God rather than self-preservation.

Picking up your cross rarely looks dramatic. More often, it looks like forgiving when you would rather withdraw, holding to the truth when it costs you, remaining faithful when obedience feels unrewarded, and trusting God when outcomes are uncertain. It looks like serving without recognition, loving those who misunderstand you, refusing compromise when it would make life easier, and continuing to follow Jesus when comfort or pleasure would suggest another path. These quiet acts of faithfulness are the everyday shape of sacrificial suffering in the Kingdom of God.

Relational and Emotional Examples

    • Choosing forgiveness when you have every justification to withhold it
    • Loving someone who misunderstands, misrepresents, or rejects you
    • Remaining faithful in a marriage or relationship when it requires patience, humility, and restraint
    • Absorbing offense rather than escalating conflict
    • Speaking truth in love when silence would be safer

Integrity and Obedience Examples

    • Refusing dishonest gain even when it costs you financially or professionally
    • Telling the truth when it risks damage to your reputation or advancement
    • Obeying God privately when no one else will know or applaud
    • Saying no to temptation when indulging would bring immediate relief or pleasure

Trust and Surrender Examples

    • Letting go of control over outcomes, timing, or recognition
    • Staying obedient when obedience leads to inconvenience or loss
    • Continuing to trust God when prayers are unanswered or delayed
    • Choosing faithfulness when circumstances feel unfair

Service and Love Examples

    • Serving others without expectation of recognition or return
    • Giving time, energy, or resources when you feel stretched thin
    • Caring for someone in weakness, sickness, or need over a long period
    • Putting another person’s good ahead of personal comfort

Mission and Calling Examples

    • Answering God’s call when it disrupts your plans or security
    • Remaining faithful to your calling when results are slow or unseen
    • Standing for truth in a culture that pressures compromise

Why Picking Up Your Cross Matters

The cross reveals how different God’s Kingdom is from the world’s systems.

    • The world seeks and rewards comfort, control, recognition, and safety.
    • The Kingdom advances through humility, surrender, obedience, and love.

“For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.” Matthew 16:25

Jesus Showed Us What Picking Up the Cross Looks Like

For Jesus, “picking up the cross” was not a single moment at Calvary. It was a lifelong posture of trust, surrender, obedience, and love, expressed in many forms of sacrificial suffering. Together, these reveal what cross-bearing truly looks like.

1. He Left Glory Willingly

Jesus’ suffering began before pain or rejection—it began with humility. He willingly laid aside the privileges of divine glory to enter human limitation. This was not loss imposed on Him; it was loss chosen for love.

“Who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant.” – Philippians 2:6–7

“In The Beginning Was The Word,… and the Word was God.” – John 1:1

“The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” – John 1:14

2. He Became Fully Human and Embraced Weakness

Jesus entered the full vulnerability of human life—hunger, fatigue, grief, dependence. He did not shield Himself from weakness; He embraced it so He could redeem it.

“For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses.” – Hebrews 4:15

“Jesus therefore, being wearied from His journey, sat thus by the well.” – John 4:6

3. He Lived in Poverty and Obscurity

Jesus accepted a life without wealth, status, or security. He trusted the Father daily for provision rather than building earthly safety nets.

“The Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.” – Matthew 8:20

“Though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor.” – 2 Corinthians 8:9

4. He Endured Temptation Without Sin

Jesus faced real temptation—pressure to satisfy Himself, seize power, and avoid suffering. Picking up the cross meant resisting shortcuts and trusting God’s way.

“Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted.” – Matthew 4:1

“He was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.” – Hebrews 4:15

5. He Was Misunderstood and Rejected

Jesus was repeatedly misunderstood—even by those closest to Him. Faithfulness did not bring approval; it often brought rejection.

“He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.” – John 1:11

“Even His brothers did not believe in Him.” – John 7:5

6. He Was Betrayed by a Close Friend

Jesus suffered relationally. Betrayal came not from enemies, but from one He trusted and loved.

“He who eats bread with Me has lifted up his heel against Me.” – John 13:18

“Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests.” – Matthew 26:14

7. He Was Abandoned by His Followers

At His darkest hour, Jesus stood alone. Those who pledged loyalty fled. Picking up the cross meant continuing obedience without human support.

“Then all the disciples forsook Him and fled.” – Matthew 26:56

“I am alone, because the Father is with Me.” – John 16:32

8. He Endured False Accusation and Injustice Without Retaliation

Jesus suffered unjust systems without retaliation. He trusted the Father to judge rightly.

“False witnesses came forward.” – Matthew 26:60

“Who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return.” – 1 Peter 2:23

9. He Accepted Mockery and Public Humiliation

Jesus absorbed shame rather than avoiding it. The cross included social and emotional suffering, not just physical pain.

“They mocked Him, saying, ‘Hail, King of the Jews!’” – Matthew 27:29

“He endured the cross, despising the shame.” – Hebrews 12:2

 10. He Suffered Extreme Physical Violence, And Then Forgave Them

Jesus’ body bore real pain. Love was not symbolic; it was costly.

“Then he released Barabbas to them; and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered Him to be crucified.” – Matthew 27:26

“They pierced My hands and My feet.” – Psalm 22:16

“And Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.’” – Luke 23:34

11. He Bore Sin and Guilt Not His Own

The deepest suffering of the cross was spiritual. Jesus carried the weight of humanity’s sin so reconciliation could occur.

“He Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree.” – 1 Peter 2:24

“The LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.” – Isaiah 53:6

12. He Experienced Spiritual Agony While Trusting the Father

Jesus felt the darkness of abandonment yet did not abandon faith. This shows that faithfulness is possible even without felt comfort.

“My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” – Matthew 27:46

“Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit.” – Luke 23:46

13. He Trusted God To The Point of Death and Beyond, in Faith Waiting for Vindication

Jesus entrusted the outcome fully to the Father. Resurrection was not forced—it was trusted.

“You will not leave My soul in Hades.” – Acts 2:27

“This Jesus God has raised up.” – Acts 2:32

Jesus picked up His cross by choosing trust over control, obedience over comfort, love over self-preservation, and faith over fear—at every stage of life, not only at death.

What Can We Learn from Jesus and His Cross

Picking up the cross teaches us that obedience precedes understanding, trust often comes before relief, and life emerges only after surrender.

“Though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered.” – Hebrews 5:8

The Following table summarizes the various ways Jesus suffered in faith, why each matters, and how we should apply that learning to our lives.

 

How Jesus Suffered What This Involved Why It Matters Appropriate Response
Leaving Glory Leaving heaven to become human Shows God’s humility and nearness Trust God’s humility; reject pride
Becoming Human Weakness, limitation, hunger, fatigue God fully understands human life Bring your weakness to God honestly
Poverty and Obscurity Living without wealth, status, or security God values faithfulness over success Detach worth from material success
Temptation Experiencing real temptation without sin Jesus understands moral struggle Trust Him for help in temptation
Rejection Rejected by crowds, leaders, even family Faithful doesn’t guarantee approval Obey God without needing validation
Betrayal Judas’ betrayal for money Love does not prevent betrayal Love without controlling outcomes
Abandoned Disciples fled at His arrest God’s plan does not depend on loyalty Stay faithful even when alone
Accusation / Injustice Unjust trial, false witness God sees truth even when systems fail Entrust justice to God
Mockery / Humiliation Spitting, beating, ridicule, public shame God absorbs shame to restore us Release shame; value humility
Physical Suffering Scourging, exhaustion, crucifixion Love is costly, not theoretical Take sin and love seriously
Bearing Sin Taking upon Himself the guilt of others Sin has real weight and consequence Receive forgiveness; reject self-justification
Spiritual Agony Feeling forsaken while trusting the Father Faith persists even without felt comfort Trust God in emotional darkness
Death Willingly surrendering His life God’s love goes to the uttermost Die to self-rule; trust eternity

How Do We Pick Up Our Cross Today?

We do not seek suffering, but we do not avoid obedience when suffering comes.

Picking up your cross means choosing faithfulness over comfort in real, everyday decisions.

1) Humble Yourself

Like it or not, You are completely dependent on God; You can do nothing without Him. 

“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.” – John 15-5

2) Submit Yourself To God – Put Him First – Make Jesus Lord of Your Life

You have free will. God gives you the choice and your choice has consequences. God promises blessings and protection if we put Him first and follow His instructions and He make it clear there are consequences if we chose not to follow Him.

“See, I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse: the blessing, if you obey the commandments of the Lord your God, which I command you today, and the curse, if you do not obey the commandments of the Lord your God, but turn aside from the way that I am commanding you today, to go after other gods that you have not known. – Deuteronomy 11:26-28

“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” – James 4:7

“…if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” – Romans 10:9

3) Release Control and Entrust Outcomes to God

“Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass.” – Psalm 37:5

4) Love and Serve Without Needing Recognition

“By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us.” 1 John 3:16

5) Absorb the bad crap that happens to you and do not retaliate

One of the best ways I have learned to understand the cross came from Dan Mohler. 

His quote is “Don’t let sin against you become sin in you.” 

You need to absorb the bad stuff that people say or do and let it fall off you without you taking it to heart or adversely impacting your attitude.

 Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” – Romans 12:17-19

6) Obey God Even When It Costs You

“Be doers of the word, and not hearers only.” James 1:22

Are We Walking in Fellowship with Jesus and the Cross?

Use this table as a self-test.

“That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings.” – Philippians 3:10

 

Aspect of Life Carrying My Cross (Following Jesus) Living for Myself
Core Motivation “I want God’s will more than my comfort.” “I want what feels best or benefits me most.”
Decision-Making Choose obedience even when costly Choose convenience, safety, or advantage
Response to Suffering Trust God; seeks meaning and faithfulness Resist, resent, or escape discomfort
View of Control Surrender outcomes to God Try to manage, manipulate, or protect
Use of Power or Position Serve others humbly Use power for self-protection or status
Handling of Offense Forgive; release vengeance Hold grudges; rehearses wrongs
Approach to Truth Embrace truth even when uncomfortable Avoid or redefines truth to feel justified
Relationship with Sin Actively resist and repent Rationalize, hides, or accommodates
Attitude Toward Recognition Content to be unseen by people Need validation, praise, or approval
Stewardship of Resources Use time, energy, and money for God’s purposes Use resources primarily for self
Love for Others Give sacrificially without return Love when it is convenient or reciprocal
Prayer Life Seek alignment with God’s will Seek relief, control, or outcomes
Faith Under Delay Remain faithful when results are slow Grow discouraged or disengaged
Fruit Over Time Peace, humility, endurance, usefulness Anxiety, frustration, emptiness
Eternal Perspective Live with eternity in view Live mainly for the present moment

Ask Yourself:

Which column most honestly describes my current posture?

Where do I most resist surrendering control?

What is one concrete way I can pick up my cross today?

Picking up the cross daily means choosing trust, obedience, and love over comfort, control, and self-preservation—again and again.

Where to Learn More

• Isaiah 52–53
• Matthew 16, 26–27
• Hebrews 2, 5, 12
• 1 Peter 2–4

Call to Action

Look closely at Jesus. Study how He trusted, obeyed, and loved through suffering.

Then begin to emulate Him—not perfectly, but faithfully.

“He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.”  – 1 John 2:6

Follow Jesus Teachings and Enter The Kingdom

Posted on by jakirkgasser10439

Jesus Teaches Us How to Enter the Kingdom

Introduction: Understanding how God’s Kingdom works — and how our lives must align with it.

Jesus did not come merely to offer moral guidance or spiritual inspiration. He came announcing the arrival of God’s Kingdom — and teaching people how to enter it. From His very first public words, Jesus made it clear that entry into the Kingdom requires a decisive response, a transfer of authority, and a transformation that reaches the heart.

“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” — Matthew 4:17 (NKJV)

Jesus’ teachings are not random sayings or abstract ideals. They are a coherent explanation of how God’s Kingdom operates and what must change in us for that Kingdom to become real. The Kingdom is not assumed, inherited, or accidental — it is entered.

What Are Jesus’ Teachings, Really?

Jesus’ teachings form a unified Kingdom framework. They address authority, the inner life, relationships, dependence on God, and the fruit a life produces. They are not merely informational — they are formational.

“If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” — John 8:31–32 (NKJV)

Why Jesus’ Teachings Are So Important

They Describe Reality, Not Opinion

Jesus does not argue for truth; He reveals it. His teachings describe how life actually works under God’s rule. Resistance fractures life; alignment stabilizes it.

“I am the way, the truth, and the life.” — John 14:6

They Address the Heart, Not Just Behavior

Jesus consistently went beneath outward behavior to the inner drivers of sin and righteousness. Lasting change occurs at the root.

“Whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” — Matthew 5:28

They Rewire How We Think

Jesus overturns worldly logic: losing life to find it, serving to lead, humbling oneself to be exalted. These are Kingdom mechanics.

“Be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” — Romans 12:2

They Expose False Faith

Jesus’ teachings function diagnostically. They reveal whether God truly rules a life.

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven…” — Matthew 7:21

What Did Jesus Teach Us About Entering the Kingdom?

Authority & Allegiance — Who Rules?

Jesus begins with authority. Repentance is a transfer of rule from self to God. Calling Him Lord without obedience is rejected.

 

Lesson What Jesus Is Teaching Scripture
Repentance Turn from self-rule to God’s rule Matthew 4:17 — “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
Follow Me Submit your direction to Jesus Matthew 4:19 — “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.”
Kingdom First God’s reign takes priority over all else Matthew 6:33 — “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness…”
Lordship vs Lip Service True allegiance is proven by obedience Luke 6:46 — “Why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?”

Heart & Inner Life — Who You Are Becoming?

Jesus insists that intentions matter as much as actions. The Kingdom is sustained by internal alignment, not external compliance.

Lesson What Jesus Is Teaching Scripture
Heart Intentions Matter Inner motives matter as much as outward actions Matthew 5:28 — “Has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”
Anger as the Seed of Murder Unchecked anger destroys from within Matthew 5:22 — “Whoever is angry with his brother… in danger of judgment.”
Purity of Heart Inner cleanliness enables spiritual sight Matthew 5:8 — “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.”
Single-Minded Devotion Divided allegiance is impossible in the Kingdom Matthew 6:24 — “No one can serve two masters.”

Character & Relationships — How Love Operates

Love is the operating currency of the Kingdom. Forgiveness, mercy, and enemy-love reflect God’s own governance.

Lesson What Jesus Is Teaching Scripture
Love God Fully Total devotion is the greatest command Matthew 22:37 — “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart…”
Love Your Neighbor Kingdom love flows outward to others Matthew 22:39 — “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
Love Your Enemies Kingdom love overcomes hostility Matthew 5:44 — “Love your enemies… pray for those who spitefully use you.”
Forgiveness & Mercy Forgiven people must forgive Matthew 18:21–22 — “Seventy times seven.”

Faith, Trust & Dependence — What You Rely On?

The Kingdom runs on trust in God, not self-reliance. Prayer and abiding keep us connected to the true source of life.

Lesson What Jesus Is Teaching Scripture Anchor (NKJV)
Faith Over Fear Trust replaces anxiety Matthew 6:25 — “Do not worry about your life…”
Trust God for Provision The Father knows and provides Matthew 6:32–33 — “Your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.”
Prayer as Relationship Prayer flows from intimacy, not performance Matthew 6:6 — “Pray to your Father who is in the secret place.”
Abiding in Christ Life flows from union with Jesus John 15:4–5 — “Abide in Me… without Me you can do nothing.”

Obedience, Fruit & Accountability — What Does Your Life Produce?

Jesus ties truth to outcome. Fruit reveals alignment. Eternity gives weight to every choice.

 

Lesson What Jesus Is Teaching Scripture Anchor (NKJV)
Obedience Over Knowledge Love is demonstrated through obedience John 14:15 — “If you love Me, keep My commandments.”
Bearing Fruit True life produces visible fruit Matthew 7:17 — “A good tree bears good fruit.”
Cost of Discipleship Following Jesus requires surrender Luke 14:27 — “Whoever does not bear his cross… cannot be My disciple.”
Judgment & Eternity Choices have eternal consequences Matthew 7:21 — “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter…”

How Do You Embrace Jesus’ Teachings?

Jesus never intended His teachings to be admired from a distance. They must be lived.

Following are the best practice steps to embrace them

  1. Treat Them as Truth, Not Suggestions

“Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.” — Matthew 24:35 (NKJV)

  1. Let Obedience Precede Clarity

“If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine.” — John 7:17 (NKJV)

  1. Apply Them at the Heart Level

Ask what desire, fear, or self-centered love Jesus is confronting in each teaching.

  1. Practice Them in Small, Concrete Ways

Transformation accumulates through consistent obedience in ordinary life.

  1. Return to Them Repeatedly

Jesus revisited the same teachings because formation requires repetition.

Where Can You Learn More?

Scripture Study Paths

Matthew 4–7 (Kingdom foundations)

Matthew 5–7 (Sermon on the Mount)

John 13–17 (Love, abiding, obedience)

Romans 6–8 (New life in the Spirit)

Galatians 2–5 (Crucified life, freedom)

Hebrews 12 (Endurance and discipline)

Key Themes to Study

Repentance vs self-rule

Heart motives vs external behavior

Obedience vs knowledge alone

Abiding vs striving

Call to Action

Jesus did not merely describe the Kingdom — He calls people to enter it.

Entry requires repentance, surrender, and obedience from the heart.

Do not assume entry.

Respond to Jesus’ teachings as instructions for alignment with reality. Lay down self-rule. Trust His words. Obey what you already know.

The Kingdom of God becomes visible wherever people take Jesus seriously enough to follow Him.

Follow Jesus And Become The Person He Intended

Posted on by jakirkgasser10439

Follow Jesus and Become The Person He Intended

Introduction: 

Jesus did not merely call people to believe true things about Him. He called them to follow Him — to enter His Kingdom, live under His leadership, and be transformed into the people God intended them to be.

“Follow Me.” — Matthew 4:19

This post lays out a full picture of how Jesus leads: through His Word, His teaching, His authority, His character of love, His example, His voice, and personal fellowship with Him.

It then provides a practical guide to what it means to follow Jesus, why it matters, and how to do it in a repeatable, concrete way—so your life progressively reflects His truth, His character, and His fruit.

What Does It Mean to Follow Jesus?

To follow Jesus means to submit your life to His leadership:

    • Your thinking,
    • Your priorities,
    • Your decisions,
    • Your relationships,
    • Your money,
    • Your time,
    • Your identity, and
    • Your direction.

Following is not merely learning information about Christ; it is living in alignment with Him.

Following Jesus has three core elements:

• Direction: You intentionally move where He leads, not where impulse or culture pulls.
• Transformation: You learn His ways and are formed into His likeness.
• Obedience: You respond to His words, even when it costs you comfort or reputation.

“If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.”  — Matthew 16:24

Following Jesus is not about losing your true self. It is about being rescued from counterfeit identities and destructive loops so you can live the life you were created for. You only loose the things you were never intended to have.

“I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” — John 10:10

Why Is Following Jesus So Important?

Everyone is being formed by something. Jesus calls us to be formed intentionally by truth, love, and life shared with Him.

The stakes are not merely a religious exercise. Following Jesus determines how you interpret reality, how you love others, how you respond to suffering, and what kind of person you become.

Jesus is the only reliable guide to life, truth, and reconciliation with God.

1) Jesus Is The Way, The Truth, And The Life

Jesus does not does not offer a personal perspective, cultural insight, or spiritual philosophy—He reveals reality as it truly is, a spiritual world operating under God’s rule. When Jesus speaks, He is not suggesting a better way to think; He is unveiling how life actually works. That is why His teachings confront us rather than merely encourage us. They expose false assumptions we hold about success, control, identity, and security, replacing them with truth.

“Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.’”  — John 14:6

Resisting Jesus’ leadership does not merely result in moral failure; it results in misalignment with reality, which inevitably produces confusion and instability. Alignment with Him, however, brings coherence. Life begins to make sense because it is finally ordered around truth rather than self-centered impulse or fear.

2) Self-Direction Quietly Produces Confusion And Loss, Jesus brings us back to Life.

One of the most dangerous illusions Jesus confronts is the belief that we can successfully direct our own lives without consequence. Self-direction rarely looks rebellious at first. It often appears reasonable, responsible, or even virtuous. But Jesus make it clear that that paths that seem right can still lead to destruction because they are built on self-rule rather than God’s rule.

“There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.” – Proverbs 14:12

Following Jesus rescues us from this slow, subtle drift. He interrupts patterns of self-centered love—where comfort, control, approval, or advantage quietly become governing values in our life—and He replaces them with trust in God. Without His leadership, people tend to cycle into a spiral of striving, justification, comparison, resentment, and eventual bitterness.

Jesus rescues us from those cycles as soon as we are willing to let Him lead us.

3) Transformation Requires Leadership, Not Willpower

Many people sincerely want to change and become better people. They want peace, patience, self-control, and love. What Jesus exposes is that desire alone is insufficient. Transformation does not occur through moral effort or self-discipline in isolation; it requires submission to a living leader who can reshape the inner life.

Jesus does not merely instruct from a distance—He leads from within. As we submit to His authority, His life begins to form in us. Old patterns lose their grip, not because we tried harder, but because a new governing power has taken root. Without leadership, people oscillate between brief improvement and repeated failure. With Jesus as leader, transformation becomes progressive and durable.

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”  — 2 Corinthians 5:17

4) Following Jesus Produces Fruit That Confirms Reality

Jesus consistently tied authentic following to observable fruit. This is not about perfection, but about direction and outcome. Over time, what truly governs a life becomes visible—peace or anxiety, humility or defensiveness, love or self-protection, stability or chaos.

The frit of our effort bears witness to the truth even when words cannot. A life submitted to Jesus increasingly produces endurance under pressure, clarity in decision-making, restored relationships, and usefulness to others. A life governed by self—even when outwardly religious—tends to produce strain, division, and exhaustion.

Jesus invites us to observe our outcomes and connect the dots back to our intentions. The fruit of our lives reveals which kingdom is actually ruling.

“Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit… Therefore by their fruits you will know them.” – Matthew 7:17, 20

How Jesus Leads Us

Scripture presents multiple, complementary ways Jesus leads His people.

These are not competing options; these modes interact to provide a robust recipe for our growth.

Primary channels:

    • His Word (Scripture and Commands)
    • His Teaching (Kingdom understanding and Wisdom)
    • His Authority (Lordship – Submission and Obedience)
    • His Character (Humility, love, obedience)
    • His Works (Modeling Sacrificial Love in Action)
    • His Voice (Relational guidance by the Spirit, aligned with God’s will, confirming goodness of God)
    • Personal Fellowship (Abiding presence) 

A practical way to remember the interaction is a repeating loop:

Word → Understanding → Perspective → Imitation → Obedience → Fruit → Deeper Hearing (and back again).

“If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.”  — John 15:7

How Do You Follow Jesus?

Following Jesus becomes sustainable only when it is built into your daily operating system

    • Your choice of inputs,
    • Your rhythms,
    • Your decision process,
    • Your relationships, and
    • Your response patterns.

The goal is not religious busyness; it is faithful alignment. 

The following are some best practice approaches to follow Jesus:

1) Let His Word Lead You More Strongly Than Your Feelings

Your emotions are very real, but they are often misleading.

Scripture functions as a lamp—exposing hidden hazards and revealing the proper next step.

The habit that changes everything is letting Scripture set the narrative before your feelings set the agenda.

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”  — Psalm 119:105

Best practices:

2) Learn How Jesus Thinks, Not Just What He Commands

Jesus’ teaching is not merely a list of rules; it is a worldview.

As you absorb His teaching, your perspective changes—what you value changes—and your decisions start to look different.

“Then He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures.” — Luke 24:45

Best practices:

• Spend sustained time in the Gospels: read Matthew, Mark, Luke, John repeatedly.
• Observe patterns: What does Jesus praise? What does He confront? What does He refuse?
• Replace assumptions: where culture says “self first,” ask what the Kingdom says instead.
• Study in context: avoid extracting verses to support what you already want.

3) Pursue Renewed Thinking and Discernment

Following Jesus requires a renovated mind.

Many people stall because they keep operating with old assumptions—then wonder why they keep getting old results.

Renewal is where truth replaces lies and discernment increases.

“And 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

Best practices:

• Name the lie: write the recurring belief that drives your fear, anger, pride, or despair.
• Replace with truth: pair each lie with an explicit Scripture truth and rehearse it daily.
• Watch your inputs: reduce content that trains cynicism, lust, outrage, or envy.
• Ask for counsel: invite mature believers to challenge your blind spots.

4) Imitate His Nature (Character Before Outcomes)

Jesus leads not only with instruction but by example. You can pursue ‘Christian activities’ and still miss His character.

Following means becoming the kind of person who responds the way Jesus responds.

“Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” – Matthew 11:29

Best practices:

• Practice humility: slow down before defending yourself; ask, “What can I learn here?”
• Practice love in small decisions: choose patience, honesty, generosity, and service when nobody is watching.
• Confess quickly: repentance keeps the channel clear and prevents hardening.
• Measure growth by resemblance to Christ, not by status, platform, or performance.

5) Obey Promptly—Especially Where It Costs

Obedience is the bridge between knowing and becoming. Many people accumulate knowledge and call it maturity. But Scripture treats disobedience as a leadership problem: calling Him ‘Lord’ while keeping control.

“But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do the things which I say?”  — Luke 6:46

Best practices:

• Act on the next step: do not wait for a complete five-year plan.
• Close partial obedience: identify the one area you keep exempting and bring it under Christ.
• Build accountability: follow-through is easier with structure and support.
• Expect resistance: obedience often collides with comfort, reputation, or control—plan for that friction.

6) Accept the Cross as Part of the Path

Jesus leads through surrender, not self-preservation. The cross is not an accessory; it is the path where the old self loses its grip and true life emerges. This is where self-centered love is confronted and displaced.

“For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.” — Matthew 16:25

Best practices:

• Identify self-protection: where do you demand control, comfort, or vindication?
• Practice surrender in prayer: “Lord, not my will—teach me Yours.”
• Reframe trials: treat pressure as formation, not proof that God left you.
• Choose faithfulness over image: follow Jesus when it is costly, not only when it is celebrated.

7) Cultivate A Relationship – Hear His Voice Through the Spirit, Tested by Scripture

Jesus leads His sheep relationally. Over time, the more you obey what you already know, the more clearly you tend to recognize His guidance. However, Scripture remains the objective guardrail.

“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.” –  John 10:27

Best practices:

• Create quiet: reduce noise so conviction is not drowned out by distraction.
• Be Led: Ask Him Questions, Listen for His answer, Write it down
• Test impressions: if a ‘prompting’ contradicts Scripture, it is not from Jesus.
• Look for Christlike outcomes: humility, love, truth, and peace—rather than ego and chaos.
• Practice obedience to small promptings: faithfulness increases sensitivity.

How Can I Tell If I Am Following Jesus?

Use the table below as a self test diagnostic. The goal is not condemnation; it is clarity—so you can identify where alignment is strong and where it needs to deepen.

 

Flow Stage Not Following Jesus Following Jesus Verse
Hear His Word Scripture is sporadic, optional, or used only in crisis. Scripture shapes decisions and self-talk; I obey what I read. Your word is a lamp to my feet – Psalm 119:105
Understand His Teaching Culture, fear, or self-interest dominates interpretation. Jesus’ worldview reframes priorities; truth corrects assumptions. If you abide in My word… you shall know the truth – John 8:31–32
Renewed Mind Repeated confusion, rationalization, or double-mindedness. Lies are identified and replaced; discernment increases over time. Be transformed by the renewing of your mind – Romans 12:2
Imitate His Nature Defensiveness, pride, comparison, self-protection. Growing humility, gentleness, love, and repentance. Learn from Me… for I am gentle and lowly – Matthew 11:29
Obedience Delayed obedience; negotiated obedience; selective obedience. Prompt obedience; I serve; I follow through even when costly. Why do you call Me ‘Lord’ and not do what I say  – Luke 6:46
Bear Fruit Striving, anxiety, stagnation, recurring relational damage. Peace, endurance, growing usefulness, and relational repair. By their fruits you will know them  – Matthew 7:20
Hear His Voice Spiritual numbness; impulsive ‘guidance’ untethered from Scripture. Clear conviction and guidance consistent with Scripture. My sheep hear My voice and follow Me  – John 10:27

Am I Following or Am I Stalled?

Many believers do not stop following Jesus entirely; they stall at a predictable point in the process.

This table helps you locate the stall and take the next faithful step.

 

Stall Point What It Often Feels Like Common Symptoms Likely Root Next Best Step
Word “I’m too busy / I’ll start later.” Low intake; shallow recall; reactive decisions. Self-directed authority; weak rhythms. Set a daily minimum;read + apply one action.
Teaching “I know a lot, but nothing changes.” Information without transformation. Hearing without doing. Study one Gospel section and obey one command immediately.
Renewal “I keep repeating the same loop.” Recurring lies; rationalization; confusion. Unchallenged beliefs driving emotions. Name the lie;replace with Scripture;
Rehearse daily.
Nature “I’m right; they’re wrong.” Defensiveness;
Pride;
Harshness.		 Identity rooted in self/ego. Repent quickly;Practice humility;Reconcile where possible.
Obedience “I’ll do it when it’s easier.” Delay;
Selective obedience;
Avoidance.		 Fear of loss;
Comfort/control.		 Do the costly next step; add accountability.
Fruit “I don’t see impact.” Little peace;
Little usefulness;
Ongoing drift.		 Misaligned priorities;
Divided focus.		 Realign time / money / relationships toward Kingdom priorities.
Voice “I can’t tell what God wants.” Noise, distraction;
Impulsive decisions.		 Weak abiding;
Low quiet;
Poor testing.		 Create quiet; Test with Scripture;Obey the last clear instruction.

“If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine.” — John 7:17 (NKJV)

Where Can I Learn More?

Scripture Study Paths:

• The Call to Follow and Kingdom Living: Matthew 4–7
• Hearing His Voice and Shepherding: John 10
• Love, Humility, and Example: John 13
• Abiding, the Spirit, and Fruit: John 14–17
• New Life, the Spirit-led Walk, and Freedom: Romans 6–8
• Crucified Life and the Fruit of the Spirit: Galatians 2–5
• Endurance, Discipline, and Maturity: Hebrews 12

Key Topics to Study:

• Abiding vs striving (John 15:1–8)
• Obedience vs knowledge-only religion (James 1:22–25)
• Renewing the mind (Romans 12:2)
• Putting off the old / putting on the new (Ephesians 4:22–24)
• Walking by the Spirit vs the flesh (Galatians 5:16–26)
• Hearing and following the Shepherd (John 10:1–30)
• Endurance under pressure (Hebrews 12:1–11)

A practical study method:

• Read: one short passage.
• Observe: what does it reveal about Jesus and the Kingdom?
• Apply: one concrete act of obedience.
• Pray: ask for power to do what you saw.
• Review: revisit the same passage across the week until it becomes practice.

Call to Action

Jesus is not merely offering forgiveness; He is offering leadership.

The life you were created for is not found by asking Jesus to endorse your plans. It is found by stepping behind Him—daily—and letting Him lead your mind, your heart, and your decisions.

Start with the next faithful step. Return to the Word. Obey what you already know. Practice humility. Surrender what you’ve kept in your own hands. And keep walking.

Over time, you will look back and realize you did not merely ‘try harder’—you were led into a different kind of life.

“Follow Me.” — Matthew 9:9 (NKJV)

Be Transformed By The Goodness Of God

Posted on by jakirkgasser10439

See The Goodness Of God and Be Transformed

Introduction: 

Many people obey God because they fear Him. Fewer are transformed because they truly know Him.

God is both perfectly just and abundantly good. Yet these two aspects of His character do not produce the same outcome in the human heart. Judgment can constrain behaviors.  Goodness changes desires. Judgment can force compliance. Goodness draws us into relationship—and relationship produces transformation.

If you want to live the life God intended, not merely conform to a set of rules, you must learn to see, trust, and respond to the goodness of God.

What Is the Goodness of God?

The goodness of God is His faithful, loving, merciful, covenant-keeping character, consistently expressed toward people who do not deserve it.  This is not to be confused with indulgence, tolerance, or permissiveness. 

“The LORD is good to all, And His tender mercies are over all His works.”   — Psalm 145:9

God’s goodness includes:

    • Love that initiates before repentance
    • Mercy that withholds deserved judgment
    • Grace that empowers change, and does not excuse sin
    • Faithfulness that keeps promises across generations
    • Patience that gives space for repentance

“Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?”   — Romans 2:4

This verse is decisive: repentance is not primarily produced by fear—it is produced by goodness rightly perceived.

How the Goodness of God Differs from the Judgment of God

God’s Goodness and God’s Judgment are two distinct Divine Tools.

God is both abundantly good and perfectly just at the same time. These attributes do not compete with one another, nor do they serve the same function. 

Confusion arises when judgment is expected to accomplish what only goodness can, or when goodness is mistaken for the absence of judgment.  God employs each tool according to its purpose—and transformation depends on understanding the difference.

Judgment establishes moral reality. Goodness invites us into a relationship.

“The LORD is righteous in all His ways,  Gracious in all His works.”  — Psalm 145:17

God’s judgment defines truth, consequence, and accountability. It sets boundaries in a fallen world where sin distorts judgment and desire.

“For the LORD is our Judge, The LORD is our Lawgiver, The LORD is our King; He will save us.” — Isaiah 33:22

Judgment answers the question: What is right, and what happens if I persist in rebellion?

Goodness answers a different question: Who is God, and can He be trusted with my life?

“Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good!  For His mercy endures forever.” — Psalm 136:1

Judgment restrains chaos and brings order. Goodness invites and builds relationship.

Both are necessary—but they are not the same and are not interchangeable.

How Humans Actually Respond to Each

God’s attributes interact with fallen human hearts, activating very different internal responses; judgment and goodness awaken different postures within us.

Judgment Activates the Mind

Judgment confronts sin through consequence and authority. Its primary internal effect is fear, which triggers self-protection and behavioral restraint.

Judgment primarily engages the mind by clarifying truth and consequences, authority and accountability. It removes ignorance and forces recognition of moral reality. The heart is affected through fear of consequences, this fear restrains behavior but does not inspire the submission necessary to shift our desires and enable transformation.

“Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men…” — 2 Corinthians 5:11

Fear is appropriate and necessary, particularly when a person is unaware of the seriousness of sin. A threat of consequences will get your attention and compel you to understand options to avoid those consequences.   Scripture calls this “the beginning of wisdom”.

“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” — Proverbs 9:10

Fear-based motivation tends to produce:

      • External conformity/compliance
      • Defensive obedience
      • Calculation of risk versus reward
      • Minimal compliance to avoid consequence

“For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh…” — Romans 8:3

Judgment can expose sin, but it cannot heal desire. It can restrain behavior, but it cannot transform the heart.

Goodness Activates the Heart

God’s goodness engages a different internal mechanism: Trust.

Where fear causes withdrawal, goodness creates safety. Where judgment confronts, goodness invites.

“Taste and see that the LORD is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!”  — Psalm 34:8

Trust allows the heart to open rather than defend itself. This openness makes repentance possible—not as forced submission, but as willing return to God.

“Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?”  — Romans 2:4

Goodness produces:

      • Willing surrender
      • Honest confession
      • Relational obedience
      • Engagement to change Desires

“I drew them with gentle cords, with bands of love…” — Hosea 11:4

Summary of the differences

Judgment warns the mind. Goodness wins the heart.

The distinction becomes even more clear in the output.

    • Compliance is behavior constrained by fear.
    • Transformation is identity reshaped by trust.

Judgment works from the outside in. It applies pressure to behavior.

Goodness works from the inside out. It reshapes desires.

“For the law made nothing perfect; on the other hand, there is the bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God.” — Hebrews 7:19

People can obey without surrender. They cannot be transformed without it.

Surrender requires trust. Trust requires perceived goodness.

“Your gentleness has made me great.”
— Psalm 18:35

Judgment can stop destructive behavior. That is a mercy. But stopping sin is not the same as becoming new.

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”
— 2 Corinthians 5:17

Transformation involves:

    • New desires
    • New motivations
    • New identity
    • New orientation toward God

These cannot be coerced. They must be chosen—and choice requires trust.

This is why Scripture consistently moves people from law to grace, from fear to love, from external control to internal renewal.

“For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.”
— John 1:17

Judgment awakens the conscience.
Goodness remakes the person.

God uses judgment to confront rebellion.
He uses goodness to draw us into relationship—and relationship is where transformation occurs.

If judgment shows us that we must change, the goodness of God convinces us that change is worth making—and that is why Jesus leads not with threats, but with invitation.

Here is a summary of the effects of  Judgement and Goodnes

Aspect

 Judgment of God Goodness of God
Primary Function Accountability Attraction
Motivation Produced Fear Trust
Typical Result Compliance Surrender
Effect on the Heart Restrains behavior Changes desires
Longevity Often temporary Enduring
Relationship Outcome Distance Intimacy

“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom…” — Proverbs 9:10

“There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear…” — 1 John 4:18

Fear may start the journey. Love must complete it.

Why Jesus Leads with Love

Judgment says: “Change or else.”
Goodness says: “Come and live.”

Jesus never built His kingdom through intimidation. He described Himself as a shepherd, not a warden.

“I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own…
My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.” — John 10:14, 27

Sheep are not driven by fear. They are drawn by trust. They follow because they recognize the shepherd’s voice and character.

Judgment can stop outward rebellion.
Goodness awakens inward allegiance.

Why Transformation Matters

Transformation is not optional. It is central to God’s purpose.

1. We Are Co-Workers in Creation

God does not merely save us from sin; He restores us to purpose.

“For we are God’s fellow workers…” — 1 Corinthians 3:9

An untransformed life cannot steward divine responsibility.

2. We Are Ambassadors and Representatives

“Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ…” — 2 Corinthians 5:20

Fear-based obedience produces brittle ambassadors.
Goodness-formed hearts reflect God accurately.

3. We Exist to Bring God Glory in All We Do

“Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”
— 1 Corinthians 10:31

Only a transformed heart glorifies God consistently—especially when no one is watching.

4. Transformation Prepares Us for Heaven

Heaven is not merely a destination; it is a culture. Those who resist transformation now would find heaven unbearable later.

“But we all… are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory…”  — 2 Corinthians 3:18

How the Goodness of God Transforms

Transformation follows a discernible internal progression:

    • Goodness is perceived
    • Trust is formed
    • Surrender becomes possible
    • Obedience flows willingly
    • Character is reshaped

“Taste and see that the LORD is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!” — Psalm 34:8

You cannot surrender to someone you do not trust.
You cannot trust someone whose goodness you do not believe.

How God’s Goodness Has Manifested

God’s goodness is not abstract. It is historical, personal, and observable.

Supremely in Christ

“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” — Romans 5:8

Jesus is not merely the solution to judgment; He is the revelation of God’s goodness in flesh.

Personally in Your Life

Protection you did not recognize

Provision you did not earn

Patience you abused but were still given

Conviction that prevented worse destruction

“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life…”  — Psalm 23:6

How to See, Embrace, and Be Transformed by God’s Goodness

Seeing the goodness of God is not automatic. It must be learned, practiced, and protected.

Many people are surrounded by evidence of God’s goodness yet remain blind to it—not because God is absent, but because fear, wounds, self-reliance, and distorted beliefs filter what they see. Transformation begins when those filters are removed and replaced with truth.

1. Re-frame God Correctly

You cannot embrace the goodness of God if you are relating to a false version of Him.

For many, God has been unconsciously recast as angry and distant:

      • A strict taskmaster
      • A distant authority figure
      • A transactional judge
      • A reluctant giver of grace

These are false images of God and must be rejected and replaced with the truth as revealed in God’s word:

“The LORD, the LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth.”
— Exodus 34:6

Practice:

Consciously replace false assumptions about God with Scripture-based truth.

When any negative thought about God arises (“God is disappointed with me,” “God is withholding good”), pause and ask: Where did I learn this, and does Scripture actually support it?

2. Practice Intentional Remembrance

Transformation accelerates when goodness is remembered.

Many people decide whether God is good based on how life is going. Scripture teaches the opposite: God’s character interprets circumstances, not circumstances interpreting God.

“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God…”
— Romans 8:28

Trials do not negate God’s goodness; they often reveal it later.

Practice:

When facing difficulty, intentionally ask:

What might God be protecting me from?

What might He be shaping in me?

How could this be an expression of long-term good rather than immediate comfort?

3. Train Yourself to Notice and Name God’s Goodness Daily

God’s goodness is often subtle, cumulative, and easily overlooked—especially by people trained by the world to focus on lack, threat, and control.

“Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits.”
— Psalm 103:2

Forgetting is not accidental; it is a default condition.

Practice:

Develop a daily practice of reflection and recognition:

Write down things your are grateful for – Goodness that you can see around your or in your life

Write down specific instances of provision, protection, patience, or guidance

Thank God for mercy you did not earn and consequences you were spared

Revisit past seasons and identify where God’s goodness was present but unrecognized at the time

This trains spiritual perception.

4. Spend Time In The Word with Jesus Until His Character Becomes Your Reference Point

Jesus is the clearest, safest, and fullest revelation of God’s goodness.

“He who has seen Me has seen the Father.” – John 14:9

If your view of God contradicts with the way Jesus treated sinners, strugglers, and the broken, your view is wrong.

Practice:

Read the 4 Gospels – Matthew, Mark, Luke, John one small section at a time and observe:

        • Who Jesus draws near to
        • How He responds to repentance versus pride
        • What He corrects
        • What He restores
        • Ask repeatedly:
          • What does this passage reveal about God’s heart toward people?
          • Is this how I expect God to treat me?

5. Respond to God’s Goodness with Surrender, Not Suspicion

Goodness invites trust, but many respond with guardedness:

“What will this cost me?”

“What if God asks too much?”

“What if I lose control?”

Trust is the bridge between seeing goodness and being transformed by it.

“Taste and see that the LORD is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!” — Psalm 34:8

Practice:

Identify one area of your life where you are resisting God and intentionally surrender it—not because you fully understand, but because you trust His character.

If you want help deciding, just ask him. 

“Lord, In what area am i resisting you, What should I surrender to you today.?” 

Write down what He tells you, then do it

Obedience in response to goodness strengthens trust exponentially.

6.  Allow God’s Kindness to Lead You into Repentance, Not Self-Condemnation

God’s goodness exposes sin, but it does so safely—without shame or rejection.

“The goodness of God leads you to repentance.”— Romans 2:4

If conviction produces despair, hiding, or self-hatred, it is not being interpreted through God’s goodness.

Practice:

When convicted:

        • Confess quickly
        • Receive forgiveness fully
        • Return to relationship immediately
        • Do not linger in guilt; linger in gratitude.

7. Reinforce Trust Through Repeated Obedience

Trust grows through experience.

Each time you obey and discover that God was faithful, your capacity to see His goodness increases.

“If anyone wants to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine…” — John 7:17

Understanding follows obedience, not the other way around.

Practice:

Start with small acts of obedience. Let lived experience confirm what Scripture declares about God’s goodness.

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice…” — Romans 12:1

Am I Seeing the Goodness of God?

Before transformation can occur, God must be seen accurately. Many people believe in God, obey God, or even fear God—but they do not truly know Him. If God is primarily perceived as distant, harsh, or easily disappointed, the heart will remain guarded, defensive, and self-protective. Repentance and surrender flow not from terror, but from rightly perceiving God’s goodness.

“Oh, how great is Your goodness, Which You have laid up for those who fear You…”  — Psalm 31:19

The following table is designed to help you discern whether you recognize God as He reveals Himself—or are you relating to a distorted image shaped by fear, wounds, or religion.

 

Area If I Do Not See God’s Goodness If I Recognize God’s Goodness
View of God God feels distant, stern, easily disappointed God is near, patient, and faithful
Default Expectation I expect correction before compassion I expect mercy alongside truth
Response to Failure Shame, hiding, self-punishment Confession, humility, return
Interpretation of Trials God is against me or punishing me God is refining, teaching, redirecting
Gratitude Rare or conditional Frequent and specific
Scripture Lens Verses feel demanding or threatening Verses feel instructive and hopeful
Prayer Tone Defensive or transactional Honest, relational, trusting

Reflection Questions

When I fail, do I move toward God or away from Him?

Do I believe God enjoys showing mercy?

Would I describe God as someone I want to be with?

Am I Applying the Goodness Of God To My Life?

Seeing God’s goodness is only the beginning; trust is the proving ground. Many acknowledge God’s goodness intellectually while continuing to rely on themselves in practice. Trust is revealed not by words, but by decisions—especially when obedience feels costly, unclear, or uncomfortable.

“In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God…” — 1 Thessalonians 5:18

The following table examines whether God’s goodness is actively shaping your choices, priorities, and responses, or whether fear, control, and self-reliance still dominate your day-to-day life.

 

Area Trust Is Weak Trust Is Growing
Obedience Delayed, negotiated, selective Prompt and willing
Motivation Fear of consequences Confidence in God’s wisdom
Decision-Making Heavy self-reliance Prayerful dependence
Control Difficulty releasing outcomes Peace after surrender
Risk Avoids obedience that feels costly Obeys even when uncomfortable
Prayer Content Mostly requests and complaints Praise, alignment, listening
Scripture Use Used for justification Used for correction and guidance

Reflection Questions

Do I obey only when I agree or understand?

Where am I still hedging instead of surrendering?

What would full trust look like in my current situation?

Am I Being Transformed?

Transformation is not measured by intention, knowledge, or religious activity—it is measured by change.

Behavioral improvement alone is not the goal; God calls for inward renewal that reshapes desires, identity, and character over time. Many people manage sin without being freed from it, restrain behavior without renewing the heart, or perform righteousness without intimacy with God.

The following table is meant to help you honestly assess whether the goodness of God is producing real, observable transformation in you—or whether you are still operating primarily in self-effort and compliance.

 

Evidence Behavior Constrained Heart Transformation
Desires Same desires, better restraint New desires emerging
Conviction Comes late and feels harsh Comes early and feels gentle
Sin Patterns Cyclical and recurring Interrupted and weakening
Humility Defensive when corrected Teachable and responsive
Love for Others Conditional and selective Expanding and sacrificial
Inner Dialogue Fear, self-justification Trust, surrender, hope
Fruit of the Spirit Inconsistent and forced Increasing and natural
Identity Still rooted in performance Rooted in sonship

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation…” — 2 Corinthians 5:17

Reflection Questions

Are my desires changing or just my behavior?

Do I recognize conviction sooner than I used to?

Are others experiencing God’s goodness through me?

So Where Are You?

Life is a journey and we all need to start somewhere. Which stage do you find yourself?

Stage Description
   
Blind / Oblivious Living Life, Ignoring God. Hoping for the best
Fear-Driven Compliance Obeying to avoid consequences
Mixed Motivation Obeying partly from fear, partly from trust
Goodness-Driven Obedience Obeying because I trust God’s heart
Transformed Living Desires, identity, and purpose reshaped

Where to Learn More

Scripture Themes to Study

God’s character and names (Exodus 34; Psalm 103)

Jesus as the Good Shepherd (John 10)

Grace and transformation (Romans 5–8; Titus 2)

Life in the Spirit (Galatians 5)

Key Questions for Study

How does God describe Himself?

How does Jesus treat sinners versus the self-righteous?

What does grace train me to do?

Call to Action

Stop obeying God merely to avoid consequences.

See His goodness. Trust His heart. Surrender fully.

Judgment may keep you from destruction.
Goodness will lead you into life.

“Taste and see that the LORD is good.” — Psalm 34:8

Do not settle for mere compliance when God is offering transformation and being set free.

Open Your Spiritual Eyes

Posted on by jakirkgasser10439

Open Your Spiritual Eyes and Walk in the Light

Introduction: 

Many people navigate life based on what they can see, measure, and control in the world around them. The physical world feels complete, self-explanatory, and authoritative. Success, loss, suffering, and meaning are interpreted through tangible material cause and effect.

Reality is much bigger than what you can see.

We live in a visible, natural world that is created, sustained, and influenced by an invisible spiritual realm. What we see through our physical eyes is very real real, but it is not the whole story; it is just the temporary visible tip of an eternal spiritual iceberg. The unseen spiritual world actually governs and controls this physical world we experience in this temporary earthly life, and when we complete this life we shift locations and live in that spiritual world.

People who only see the physical part of reality will misinterpret many aspects of their earthly life. They do not realize their earthly life is a journey intended to mold them and shape them for usefulness in an eternal kingdom. They will form a character with motives and beliefs and patterns of behavior optimized for life in this fallen world, rather being prepared for eternal life with God the creator.

Our calling is very clear: We are to look beyond what we can see in the temporary physical world in front of us and appreciate the invisible spiritual world with has eternal consequences.  

“While we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.”  — 2 Corinthians 4:18

What Are Spiritual Eyes vs. Natural Eyes?

Natural eyes are limited to the material dimension of life. They see people, events, resources, and outcomes—but only as physical phenomena. Life is interpreted through visible cause and effect.

Spiritual eyes are opened to recognize that the natural world exists within a larger spiritual reality. They perceive the unseen forces, purposes, and intentions that shape what happens in the visible world.

Jesus described this distinction clearly:

“The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness.”  — Matthew 6:22–23

Your “eye” represents what you recognize as most real and most authoritative. If your perception is limited to what can be seen, your inner life is filled with darkness—not because you are immoral, but because you are blind to the full reality governing your life.

Why Do Spiritual Eyes Matter?

Because vision determines priorities, and priorities determine direction, and direction determines destiny.

Those who live by natural sight:

    • Interpret life as primarily about comfort, security, and success
    • View suffering as meaningless or unfair
    • See people as obstacles, threats, or assets
    • Measure value by outcomes

Those who live by spiritual sight:

    • Understand life as preparation for eternity
    • Recognize suffering as formative and purposeful
    • See people as eternal souls
    • Measure value by faithfulness, obedience, and love

If a person believes the material world is the whole story, then eternal priorities feel abstract and silly.

“But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” – 1 Corinthians 2:14

Being ignorant of the spiritual world, and God, and His commandments will lead to problems 

“My children are destroyed for their lack of knowledge.” – Hosea 4:6

If a person focuses on their own interests and optimizing their temporary earthly life experience, it will generate adverse consequences now and for eternity

“For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.” Romans 8:5-8

Our calling is explicit:

“For we walk by faith, not by sight.” — 2 Corinthians 5:7

When spiritual eyes are opened, we can appreciate the redeeming work of Jesus, reorder our lives around God’s purpose for us, and come into alignment with His kingdom.

“I (Jesus) now send you (Paul), to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.” Acts 26:17-19

What Eyes Am I Currently Seeing With?

The Eyes you use to see things directly impacts your attitude and you approach to life.

    • Natural eyes focus on optimizing earthly life; control, outcomes, fear, and immediacy.
    • Spiritual eyes focus on aligning with God’s will; trust, obedience, eternity, and God’s promises.
    • If your peace rises and falls with circumstances, you are likely seeing naturally.
    • If God’s truth reframes your circumstances, you are learning to see spiritually.

The following is a list of earthly situations and how our natural eyes see them verses how they can be seen through mature spiritual eyes. 

Situation Natural Eyes Spiritual Eyes Reference
Death Loss and ending Gain and transition “To live is Christ, and to die is gain.” — Phil 1:21
Giving Loss of resources High-yield eternal investment “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” — Acts 20:35
Suffering Meaningless pain Formation and refinement “The trial of your faith… produces patience.” — Jas 1:3
Obedience Restriction Alignment with life “In keeping them there is great reward.” — Ps 19:11
Forgiveness Letting someone “win” Freedom and cleansing “If you forgive… your Father will forgive you.” — Matt 6:14
Humility Weakness Strength under God “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” — Jas 4:6
Wealth Security A Test Of Stewardship “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” — Matt 6:21
Time Scarcity and pressure Eternal opportunity “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” — Ps 90:12
Success Comfort and status Faithfulness and fruit “Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.” — 1 Cor 4:2
Earthly Life Something to protect Something to lay down “Whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.” — Matt 16:25

How Do I Open My Spiritual Eyes:

Spiritual eyes are opened by exposure to God’s Word.

“Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law.” Psalm 119:18

Spiritual eyes are developed through repeated exposure to God’s revealed truth, paired with humility, obedience, and prayer. The more we focus and learn, the more we begin to see the full reality God has revealed—the unseen causes behind the seen world, the purpose behind human life, and God’s long plan to restore creation.

The aspects below summarize the critical realities spiritual eyes must perceive, followed by Scripture paths for deeper development.

The themes are in sequenced from top to bottom as a logical build to help establish a complete, coherent worldview rather than isolated insights.

How To Use The Table:

Read through the full table and see which messages are familiar and comfortable, and which ones are new or unclear to you.

Starting from the top,  study the anchor and dig deeper verses for any areas that are unclear so you gain insight and build understanding.  

Review and meditate on each verse with the intention of understanding the spiritual reality going on and what it means for you.

Approach each passage by asking:

      • What unseen reality is being revealed here?
      • What does this change about how I see and interpret my life today?
      • What obedience is God inviting me into? What do i need to think or say or do differently to align with God’s intention.

Key Things to See With Spiritual Eyes

Theme Key Message Spiritual Eyes See Anchor Verse Where To Dig Deeper
Spiritual Nature Of Reality The visible world is real, but governed by unseen spiritual causes “The things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.” — Heb 11:3 Hebrews 11:1–3;

2 Corinthians 4:16–18;

Ephesians 6:12
Creator & Authority God created, owns, and sustains all things “It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves.” — Ps 100:3 Genesis 1:1–28;

Isa 45:5–7;

Rom 11:36
Human Purpose We were intentionally formed to bear God’s image, represent Him on earth, and partner with Him in continued creation.  “Let Us make man in Our image.” — Gen 1:26 1 Corinthians 3:9

Ps 139:13–16;

Jer 1:5;

Eph 2:10
The Fall Human nature and creation were corrupted by sin “Through one man sin entered the world.” — Rom 5:12 Gen 3;

Rom 5:12–19;

Jer 17:9
Spiritual Opposition The fallen world is actively trying to deceive us and distract us from God and our intended purpose “The god of this age has blinded the minds.” — 2 Cor 4:4 1 Peter 5:8-9

Revelation 12:9-11;

1 John 5:19;

John 10:10
 God’s Restoration Plan God has been working across generations to restore creation “Known to God from eternity are all His works.” — Acts 15:18 Ephesians 3:8-12

Gen 12:1–3;

Ps 78;

Heb 11
Alignment & Consequences Blessing flows from alignment; disorder flows from self-rule “I have set before you life and death…love the Lord your God,… obey His voice, and …cling to Him” — Deut 30:19-20 Ps 1;

Prov 3:5–10;

Gal 6:7–8
Submission & Rescue God responds when we surrender fully and seek Him “You will seek Me and find Me.” — Jer 29:13 Isa 55:6–7;

James 4:6–10
Jesus’ Incarnation God entered creation to rescue and restore what was lost through Adam “The Word became flesh.” — John 1:14 Phil 2:5–11;

Col 2:9–15

Heb 2:14–18
Fear of God Right relationship begins with reverence and humility “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom.” — Prov 9:10 Luke 12:4–5;

Eccl 12:13
Salvation & New Birth Eternal life is received, not earned “By grace you have been saved.” — Eph 2:8–9 John 3:3–8;

Titus 3:3–7
Life’s True Mission This life prepares us for eternity and draws others to God “Let your light so shine before men.”  – Matt 5:16 Matt 28:18–20;

2 Cor 5:17–20

How Can I Further Develop Spiritual Eyes?

Spiritual sight is trained through submission, not information.

1. Repent of Living by Natural Sight

Spiritual sight begins with acknowledging that human reasoning and self-reliance cannot lead a godly life.

Repentance includes turning from a material-only understanding of life.

“There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.” — Proverbs 14:12

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” says the LORD. — Isaiah 55:8 (NKJV)

2. Immerse Yourself in God’s Word

The Word of God is the primary lens through which spiritual reality is revealed and clarified.

“The entrance of Your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.”  — Psalm 119:130

“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.”  — 2 Timothy 3:16

Expose yourself to the word of God at least daily

“Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.” – Joshua 1:8:

3. Renew Your Mind Daily

Old patterns of seeing must be actively replaced with God’s truth through repetition, meditation, reflection and purposfull action.

“Be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” –  Romans 12:2

“Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.”  — Colossians 3:2

“For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ” – 2 Corinthians 10:4-5

4. Obey What God Has Already Shown You

Spiritual understanding increases through obedience, not argument or analysis.

“If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know…”  — John 7:17 

“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.”   — James 1:22

5. Pray for Further Illumination

Spiritual sight is ultimately a gift from God and must be sought intentionally..

“Open my eyes, that I may see wondrous things from Your law.”  –  Psalm 119:18

“The natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him.”  — 1 Corinthians 2:14

Closing Thought — A Call to Action

You were not placed in this world to extract comfort from a broken system. You were placed here to be formed for eternity and to reflect God in a world that cannot see Him.

“Awake, you who sleep, arise from the dead, and Christ will give you light.” — Ephesians 5:14

Choose today to shift your gaze from what is temporary to what is eternal. Train your vision through God’s Word. Walk forward in obedience. 

Open your spiritual eyes.
Walk in the light.
Live for the Kingdom that is already here and waiting for you.

Who Are You Living For

Posted on by jakirkgasser10439

Still Living for Yourself? Change Course Now — or Expect More Consequences

Introduction: 

Many people assume that as long as they believe in God, the direction of their life is secure. Scripture does not support that assumption. The Bible is relentlessly clear: the way you live reveals who you belong to, and the direction you choose now is shaping both your present life and your eternity.

“Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.” — Galatians 6:7

God does not force intimacy, obedience, or transformation. If you choose to live for yourself now—centered on your own desires, comfort, and control—you are training your heart to live apart from Him.

“If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.” — Matthew 16:24

Living separate from God does not begin at death; it begins now. When a person repeatedly resists God’s authority, love, and truth, their life gradually organizes itself around self—self-preservation, self-gratification, and self-justification. Over time, that separation becomes normal, even comfortable.

“There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.” — Proverbs 14:12

This trajectory has consequences: relational breakdown, inner emptiness, increasing deception, and ultimately an eternity consistent with the life a person chose to live.

“He who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.”
— Galatians 6:8

Because God is loving, He does not remain silent while someone drifts away from Him. He allows resistance, discomfort, and trials—not as punishment, but as mercy.

“For whom the LORD loves He chastens, And scourges every son whom He receives.” — Hebrews 12:6

These pressures are meant to interrupt self-centered living and call a person back to humility, truth, and repentance. Suffering alone does not transform anyone; repentance does.

Why Living for Self Feels Normal in a Fallen World

Living for yourself rarely begins with conscious rebellion. It begins with formation.

From birth, we are immersed in a fallen world system that trains us to center life on self. Scripture names this system clearly:

“For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world.”
— 1 John 2:16

Our fallen nature predisposes us in this direction.

Left unchecked, the flesh does not drift toward obedience or love—it drifts inward, toward control and comfort.

“For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another.” — Galatians 5:17

This is why Scripture never instructs us to manage the flesh, we must crucify it.

“And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” — Galatians 5:24

Life wounds accelerate this drift. Rejection, betrayal, injustice, and failure create pain that demands relief.

Instead of bringing wounds to God, many people turn to substitutes—pleasure, success, approval, power, distraction.

“My people have committed two evils:
They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters,
And hewn themselves cisterns—broken cisterns that can hold no water.”
— Jeremiah 2:13

Over time, coping mechanisms harden into patterns. Patterns become identities. What once felt like survival begins to feel like “who I am.”

“But exhort one another daily… lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.”
— Hebrews 3:13

This is how a life can organize itself around self without dramatic rebellion—only repeated choices to seek life apart from God.

Have You Already Experienced Trials?

 God often uses cycles of pressure to get attention when earlier correction is ignored.

“Yet you have not returned to Me,” says the LORD. — Amos 4:6–11 (repeated refrain)

Examples people recognize immediately:

    • Repeated relationship breakdowns despite changing partners
    • Career instability despite competence and effort
    • Chronic conflict with authority figures
    • Financial pressure despite increasing income

These are not automatic proof of sin—but they are often signals.

“Before I was afflicted I went astray, But now I keep Your word.” — Psalm 119:67

The danger does not come from experiencing trials—the danger is failing to learn from them.

“No chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.”  — Hebrews 12:11

Two Ways to Live: A Diagnostic Comparison

This contrast is not about intentions. It is about fruit.

“You will know them by their fruits.” — Matthew 7:16

The issue is not what you intend, but what your life is producing.

The contrast below is not theoretical—it is diagnostic.

Attribute

 Living for Me Living for God
Core Orientation Self-preservation, Self-advancement, Self-gratification

Love, Obedience, Glorifying God through service
Primary Question “What do I get?” “What honors God and blesses others?”
View of Resources Owned, Hoarded, Leveraged for advantage Entrusted, Stewarded, Intentionally flowed outward
Thinking Pattern Transactional, Comparative, Self-justifying, Worldly Truth-oriented, Surrendered, Spiritually Discerning
Emotional Driver Fear, Pride, Envy, Craving, Insecurity Love, Peace, Humility, Trust
Decision Filter Comfort, Pleasure, Status, Safety Truth, Obedience, Eternal value
Response to Pressure Protect self, Blame, Justify Die to self, Trust God, Respond in love
View of People Tools, Threats, Obstacles, Source of Validation Image-bearers to respect, love and serve
Use of Influence Control, Impress, Secure advantage Serve, Protect, Build, Restore
Fruit Produced Strife, Emptiness, Fractured relationships Peace, Unity, Visible Christlike love

Which Life Are You Actually Living? – A Self Test

Scripture consistently calls believers to examine themselves.

“Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves.”
— 2 Corinthians 13:5

Do not answer these based on intentions or beliefs. Answer them based on patterns.

Directional Questions

Where do your time, money, and emotional energy naturally flow?

What do you protect most fiercely when it is threatened?

When pressured, do you move toward trust and obedience—or control and self-defense?

Heart and Motivation

Do you make decisions primarily based on comfort, fear, or approval?

Are you more concerned with being right or being loving?

Do you quietly feel entitled to certain outcomes, recognition, or comforts?

Relationship Evidence

Do people around you feel used, managed, or neglected?

Or do they experience patience, generosity, and genuine care through you?

Response to Conviction

When God exposes something in you, do you justify, delay, or rationalize?

Or do you repent quickly and realign your life?

Fruit Test

Is your life producing peace, humility, and spiritual growth?

Or recurring conflict, bitterness, emptiness, and relational damage?

Fruit reveals allegiance. Patterns reveal who—or what—you are living for.

If these questions make you uncomfortable, that is not condemnation, it is an open door to God’s mercy.

God is ready, willing , and able to help you change.

How to Change Course: Repent, Crucify, Bury, Be Raised

Change does not come from trying harder. It comes from death and resurrection.

1. Repent — Change Direction, Not Just Behavior

Repentance is not regret. It is agreement with God that your old way is wrong and His way is right.

“Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out.” — Acts 3:19

It involves humility and ownership without excuse, then a decisive turn of the heart and will.

Practical actions:

      • Name your specific self-centered patterns without minimizing them
      • Confess them to God plainly
      • Stop blaming wounds, circumstances, or other people for your situations

Repentance realigns your authority structure. God becomes Lord again.

2. Crucify — Put the Flesh to Death

The flesh is at war with God and it does not negotiate. It must be denied authority and cut off.

“For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.”
— Romans 8:13

Crucifixion means:

      • Saying no to desires that contradict God’s will
      • Refusing to justify sin because it feels understandable
      • Actively dismantling habits that feed self-rule

This is daily, intentional, and uncomfortable.

That discomfort is not failure—it is evidence of real change.

3. Bury — Put Off The Old Patterns And Baggage From The Past

What you refuse to bury will continue to rule you.

“Put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts.”
— Ephesians 4:22

Burial means:

      • Removing access to the people, environments, and inputs that feed old patterns
      • Letting go of identities built on pain, success, pleasure, or control
      • Accepting that some losses are necessary for real freedom

You cannot carry your old life forward and expect a new one.

4. Be Raised — Walk in New Life, Live From a New Source

New life is not self-improvement; it is dependency.

“Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead… even so we also should walk in newness of life.” — Romans 6:4

Being raised into new life means:

      • Drawing identity, worth, and security from God alone
      • Practicing obedience even when it costs you
      • Allowing God’s love to flow through you to others visibly and consistently

This is where transformation becomes evident. God’s love is no longer an idea—it is made visible through your life.

This is where God’s love becomes visible:

“No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us.”
— 1 John 4:12

Final Warning and Final Hope

Living for yourself has a cost. Scripture is clear and direct about that.

A life trained in self-rule now is a life moving away from God—whether intended or not.

God will not force relationship on those who resist Him.

“Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve.” — Joshua 24:15

But the hope is just as real as the warning.

If you are willing to repent, to die to self, and to surrender fully, God responds immediately.

He heals, restores, reorders, and empowers. No matter how long you have lived for yourself, change is possible today.

“A broken and a contrite heart— These, O God, You will not despise.” — Psalm 51:17

The question is not whether you believe in God.

The question is: Do you live for God, Or are you still living for you?

Your Flesh Is At War With God

Posted on by jakirkgasser10439

Your Flesh Is At War With God – Crucify It Now

Introduction: 

Most people assume their biggest spiritual problem is a lack of effort, discipline, or knowledge. Scripture says otherwise.
Your greatest obstacle is not outside you — it is your flesh.

The Bible does not describe the flesh as weak, misguided, or neutral. It describes it as hostile, rebellious, and at war with God. And God’s solution is not improvement, therapy, or behavior management.

His solution is death.

What Does “The Flesh” Mean?

In Scripture, “the flesh” does not mean your physical body. It means your fallen, self-centered nature — the internal operating system you inherited from Adam that lives independent of God.

The flesh is the part of you that:

    • Wants control
    • Trusts self instead of God
    • Seeks comfort, pleasure, security, or significance apart from obedience
    • Justifies sin
    • Resists submission

Scripture defines the flesh with stark clarity:

“Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be.”
— Romans 8:7 

This is not indifference.
“Enmity” means active hostility.

“For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh…
For to be carnally minded is death.”  — Romans 8:5–6 

The flesh is not merely flawed.
It is incompatible with God.

What Does “Crucify the Flesh” Mean?

To crucify the flesh means to put it to death — not metaphorically, not gradually, and not partially.

Crucifixion is:

    • Final
    • Public
    • Irreversible
    • Non-negotiable

Scripture does not say manage the flesh.
It says execute it.

“And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” — Galatians 5:24 

Crucifying the flesh means:

    • Renouncing self-rule
    • Surrendering ownership of your life
    • Agreeing with God about your sin
    • Accepting that your old way of living must die

Jesus stated this without softening the language:

“If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.”— Luke 9:23

You do not carry a cross to improve yourself.
You carry a cross to die.

Why Is This So Important?

Because nothing of the flesh can please God.

“So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.”— Romans 8:8

Because the flesh produces death, deception, and destruction:

“Now the works of the flesh are evident…
…those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” — Galatians 5:19–21

And because transformation is impossible until the flesh is dealt with:

“For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells.”— Romans 7:18

God does not renovate the flesh.
He replaces it.

The Three-Step Regeneration Process

Scripture presents regeneration as a sequence, not a concept.

1. Crucify — Death to the Old Self

This is the decision point.

“Knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with.”
— Romans 6:6

You must agree with God that:

      • Your old life deserves death
      • Your old identity has no future
      • Self-rule must end

2. Bury — Separation From the Old Life

Crucifixion alone is not enough.
What dies must be buried.

“Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death.”— Romans 6:4

Burial means:

      • No resurrection of old habits
      • No nostalgia for the old identity
      • No keeping “backup options”

“Put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts.”
— Ephesians 4:22

3. Be Raised New — Life in the Spirit

God never leaves you empty.

“Just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.”
— Romans 6:4

This is where transformation happens:

“If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”
— 2 Corinthians 5:17 

New life is not self-improvement.
It is divine replacement.

How Do You Crucify the Flesh (Practically)?

1. Acknowledge the Truth

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us.”— 1 John 1:9

2. Submit Fully to God

“Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.”— James 4:7

3. Declare Death to Self

Declaration: Crucifying the Flesh

Father God,
I acknowledge that my flesh is hostile to You.
I renounce self-rule, self-reliance, and self-justification.
I choose to crucify my old nature with its desires and demands.
I bury my former way of life and release all claim to it.
I receive new life through Jesus Christ and submit fully to Your Spirit.
My life is no longer my own. I belong to You.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.

“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me.”
— Galatians 2:20

How Can You Tell If the Flesh Has Truly Been Crucified?

Evidence #1: New Desires

Before the flesh is crucified, the internal narrative is dominated by compulsion: “I don’t care, I want it”, “I deserve it”, “I can’t help myself,” “This is just who I am.” Desire leads, and conscience follows reluctantly. God’s commands feel restrictive, intrusive, or unrealistic because they oppose what the fallen heart wants.

After crucifixion, desire itself begins to change. The internal narrative shifts to: “I don’t want that anymore,” “That no longer fits who I am,” “Obedience actually makes sense”,  “This is a better choice.” While temptation may still appear, it no longer feels authoritative. Outwardly, this produces a noticeable reduction in habitual sin patterns—not because of increased willpower, but because the appeal of sin is weakening. You are not merely resisting evil; you are losing interest in it.

“For it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.”
— Philippians 2:13

Evidence #2: Submission Over Resistance

Before crucifixion, the flesh constantly negotiates with God. The internal dialogue sounds like: “I’ll obey if it makes sense,” “I’ll submit once I understand why,” “Surely God doesn’t expect this much.” Authority feels threatening because self-rule is still assumed. Correction triggers defensiveness, justification, or delay.

After crucifixion, resistance collapses. The internal narrative becomes: “If God says it, that settles it,” “His will is safer than mine,” “I trust Him even when I don’t understand.” Outwardly, this results in faster obedience, less argument, and a willingness to yield even when obedience is costly. Submission no longer feels like loss of freedom; it feels like relief from the burden of control.

“Not my will, but Yours, be done.”— Luke 22:42 

Evidence #3: Fruit of the Spirit Appears Even When Under Pressure

Before the flesh is crucified, pressure reveals what rules you. Stress exposes irritability, anger, fear, impatience, or withdrawal. The internal narrative is reactive: “I deserve better,” “They shouldn’t treat me this way,” “I need to protect myself.” When circumstances tighten, self resurfaces instinctively.

After crucifixion, pressure still exists, but the response changes. The internal narrative becomes anchored: “God is still in control,” “I don’t need to defend myself,” “Love is still the right response.” Outwardly, this produces supernatural consistency—peace under stress, patience when provoked, gentleness when wronged. These traits are not manufactured; they emerge naturally because self is no longer fighting for dominance.

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.”
— Galatians 5:22–23

Evidence #4: Sin Looses Power Over You

Before crucifixion, sin feels inevitable. The internal narrative assumes defeat: “I’ll try again next time,” “This always gets me,” “I’ll never really change.” Even repentance can become routine rather than transformational. Sin dictates terms, and you respond.

After crucifixion, sin loses its authority. Temptation still appears, but it no longer commands compliance. The internal dialogue shifts to: “That has no claim on me,” “I am free to choose obedience,” “This is not who I am anymore.” Outwardly, this produces increasing victory—not perfection, but a clear break in patterns. You recover faster, fall less often, and refuse to make peace with what God has condemned.

““For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.”— Romans 6:14 

Evidence #5: Your Identity Anchor Changes

Before crucifixion, identity is tied to performance, control, roles, wounds, or reputation. The internal narrative is self-referential: “I need to protect my image,” “I must prove my worth,” “If this fails, I fail.” Fear of loss or exposure drives many decisions.

After crucifixion, identity relocates into Christ. The internal narrative stabilizes: “I belong to Him,” “My life is not my own,” “My value is settled.” Outwardly, this produces humility, teachability, and resilience. You can be corrected without collapsing, serve without recognition, and suffer loss without losing peace—because your life is no longer centered on you.

“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me.”
— Galatians 2:20

Summary:

  If the flesh has been crucified:

      • Your desires are changing
      • Your resistance is weakening
      • Your reactions are transforming
      • Your sin patterns are breaking
      • Your identity is stabilizing in Christ

If these shifts are not present, Scripture does not call for more effort — it calls for deeper surrender.

Crucifixion is not symbolic.
It is experiential.
And its evidence is unmistakable.

If your flesh is still ruling, you will know it — because you will still be fighting God.

Where to Learn More

Key Scripture:

Romans 6–8 — Death to sin and life in the Spirit

Galatians 5 — Flesh vs. Spirit contrast

Colossians 3 — Putting off the old, putting on the new

Ephesians 4 — Identity transformation

John 15 — Abiding life and fruitfulness

Great Teachers/ Preachers

Dan Mohler – How to put on Christ and put off the flesh – <Video>

Final Thought

Jesus did not die so you could remain trapped in self-rule and all of its consequences in this fallen world.
He died so you could die to sin — and finally live.

“For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.”
— Matthew 16:25

The flesh is at war with God.
End the war today.
Crucify it — and step into the life you were always meant to live.

Find Jesus In The Old Testament

Posted on by jakirkgasser10439

Find Jesus in the Old Testament and Connect the Dots of God’s Plan

Introduction: The Bible Is One Story, Not Two

Many believers read the Bible as if it were divided into two unrelated parts:

    • The Old Testament as history, law, and prophecy
    • The New Testament as grace, salvation, and Jesus

Jesus Himself rejected that approach.

The Old Testament is not merely background material—it is the foundation. From Genesis to Malachi, God is steadily revealing His plan to redeem humanity through one Person, one work, and one coherent story. Jesus Christ does not appear suddenly in Matthew; He is anticipated, foreshadowed, promised, patterned, and prepared for across the entire Old Testament.

To truly know Christ, we must learn to recognize Him where God has already been revealing Him.

Why This Matters: You Cannot Fully Know Christ Without the Old Testament

Understanding how Jesus is revealed in the Old Testament accomplishes several critical things:

    • It anchors faith in God’s long-term plan, not emotional experience
    • It reveals the consistency of God’s character and purpose
    • It deepens worship, because salvation is seen as intentional, costly, and patient
    • It strengthens discernment, protecting against shallow or distorted gospel messages
    • It fuels obedience, because revelation always carries responsibility

Without this foundation, believers are vulnerable to:

    • selective Christianity
    • moralistic teaching
    • self-centered faith
    • confusion about suffering, obedience, and holiness

God did not give us the Old Testament as optional reading—it is how He trained His people to recognize His Son.

Jesus Taught This Way After the Resurrection

After His resurrection, Jesus could have simply declared, “I am the Messiah—believe it.”
Instead, He did something far more profound.

On the Road to Emmaus (Luke 24)

“And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.” (Luke 24:27)

Jesus walked His followers through the Old Testament, showing how:  the Law,  the Prophets, and the Psalms were all pointing to Him.

Later, speaking to the disciples:

“These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me.” (Luke 24:44)

Then:

“And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures.” (Luke 24:45)

Connecting the dots was essential to their transformation.

They did not merely learn that Jesus rose—they learned why it had to happen and how God had been preparing for it all along.

How God Reveals Christ in the Old Testament

God reveals Jesus in multiple, layered ways, not just direct prophecy. This is why the Old Testament is so rich—and why shallow reading misses so much.

Broadly, Christ is revealed through:

    • Direct appearances
    • Foreshadowing types
    • Objects and symbols
    • Events
    • Institutions
    • Covenant patterns

These layers train God’s people to recognize the Messiah not merely by name, but by nature, role, and mission.

Here are some examples of each:

 

Mode of Revelation Description Some Examples

Direct Appearance
(Theophany / Christophany)

 God appears in visible or personal form, often speaking as the LORD The Angel of the LORD (Genesis 16; Exodus 3),

the Man who wrestled Jacob (Genesis 32),

the Commander of the LORD’s Army (Joshua 5)
Messianic Titles Descriptive names that reveal identity and role Son of Man (Daniel 7),

Branch (Isaiah 11; Jeremiah 23),

Shepherd (Psalm 23; Ezekiel 34)
Foreshadowing Characters Real people whose lives pattern Christ’s mission Adam,

Joseph,

Moses,

David,

Boaz
Redemptive Objects Physical items that symbolize Christ’s work

Passover Lamb,

Bronze Serpent,

Ark, Manna, Veil
Saving Events Historical acts that prefigure salvation

Exodus,

Day of Atonement,

Crossing the Red Sea,

Jonah’s deliverance
Institutions God-ordained systems fulfilled in Christ

Priesthood,

Sacrificial System,

Temple,

Sabbath,

Jubilee

These are not coincidences. They are intentional training tools designed by God to prepare His people to recognize the Savior when He arrived.

Examples: Connecting the Dots from the Old Testament to Christ Jesus

Here are a few representative examples:

Joseph

Rejected by his brothers, sold for silver, falsely accused, then exalted to save many lives.
→ Christ is rejected, betrayed for silver, suffers unjustly, and is exalted to save the world.

The Passover Lamb

Blood applied to the doorposts protects from judgment.
→ Christ’s blood shields us from eternal death.

The Bronze Serpent

Lifted up so that those who looked in faith would live.
→ Christ is lifted up so that all who believe may have eternal life.

The High Priest

Enters God’s presence on behalf of the people with blood.
→ Christ enters once for all, eternally interceding for us.

Each example trains the heart and mind to recognize what kind of Savior God was sending.

Why God Chose This Method

God could have revealed Christ instantly and fully—but He did not.

Instead, He chose:

    • centuries of preparation
    • progressive revelation
    • layered symbolism
    • repeated patterns

Why?

Because God is not merely saving people from judgment—He is forming a people who know Him.

This process:

    • humbles human pride
    • exposes self-centered interpretations
    • requires patience, faith, and submission
    • produces spiritual maturity

The same God who took centuries to prepare for Christ often takes years to transform a heart.

How Should We Respond?

If this is how God revealed His Son, then our response is clear:

Read the Old Testament Christ-centered, not moral-centered

Stop treating it as optional or secondary

Ask what each passage reveals about God’s redemptive plan

Allow the patterns to shape how you understand suffering, obedience, and faith

Submit your life to the same God who patiently carried out His plan

Seeing Christ throughout Scripture should not merely increase knowledge—it should produce repentance, faith, trust, and obedience.

Where to Go To Dig Deeper

Find Jesus in every book of the Old Testament: < Link To PDF >

Christ revealed through old testament characters, objects, events, and institutions < Link To PDF >

Frank Turek – Jesus In The Old Testament, Look For These Clues… < Video >

Closing Thought

When Jesus opened the Scriptures for His disciples, their hearts burned—not because they heard something new, but because they finally saw what God had been saying all along.

The Old Testament is not about rules, rituals, or random stories.
It is about preparing the world to recognize the Son.

If you want to know Jesus deeply, you must learn to find Him where God first revealed Him.

Make Gods Word Come Alive In Your Flesh

Posted on by jakirkgasser10439

Make God’s Word Come Alive In Your Flesh

Introduction: 

Many people read the Bible, some study the Bible, and fewer still live the Bible.

The problem is not access to Scripture.
The problem is commitment to transformation.

God never intended His Word to remain ink on a page or ideas in your head. His design is that truth would enter you, reshape you, and come out of you—through how you think, choose, speak, and serve. When that happens, the Word is no longer merely known; it is alive in your flesh.

This post explains how that happens—clearly, practically, and step-by-step.

What Does It Mean to “Make God’s Word Alive in Your Flesh”?

To make God’s Word alive in your flesh means:

Scripture governs your thinking, not culture or emotion

God’s truth shapes your desires, not self-centered loves

Obedience flows from inner alignment, not forced discipline

Your life becomes a delivery mechanism for God’s love to others

This is not moral self-improvement.
This is spiritual transformation through cooperation with the Holy Spirit.

Why This Matters

God’s Word must become flesh in us because God’s intent has always been incarnation, not information.

The eternal Word became flesh in Jesus to reveal the Father and restore what was lost.

“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” — John 1:14

God now seeks to form that same life within those who believe. The Word, Christ, will form in you.

“My little children, for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you.”  — Galatians 4:19

Scripture is not merely meant to be understood or admired; it is meant to be embodied—so that Christ is expressed through our thoughts, choices, character, and actions and His glory will shine.

When God’s Word takes on flesh in us, His truth becomes visible, His love becomes tangible, and His glory is revealed through ordinary lives fully surrendered to Him.

“Christ in you, the hope of glory.” — Colossians 1:27

There Is An Intended Learning Process – How Truth Becomes Normal

Scripture assumes a progression:

Exposure / Awareness – I encounter truth

Review / Familiarity – I revisit and remember it

Study / Understanding – I grasp meaning and implications

Application / Wisdom – I act on it in real life

Adoption / New Normal – It becomes how I live

This process involves intention, focus, and discipline intention to pursue and draw near to God 

“My son, give attention to my words;
Incline your ear to my sayings.
Do not let them depart from your eyes;
Keep them in the midst of your heart;
For they are life to those who find them,
And health to all their flesh.” – Proverbs 4:20-22

Many people repeat steps 1–3 for years and wonder why nothing changes. Wisdom only forms when truth is applied, and transformation only stabilizes when obedience becomes habitual.

God’s Word Has To Overcome Your Established Beliefs and Motives.

Here is the full transformation flow from God’s word to execution in your flesh, expressed simply:

Written Word→ Understood Truth→ Convicted Heart→ Aligned Belief→ Changed Desire→ Empowered Obedience→ Visible Fruit

At every step, you must choose, and the Holy Spirit must act.

You cannot replace Him.
He will not override you. You must choose to yield your old ways and follow the Truth.

Why People Get Stalled At Some Point Along The Way

Most believers stop at one of these points:

Exposure without understanding

Understanding without conviction

Conviction without surrender

Surrender without consistent obedience

In other words, the learning process breaks before it becomes a new normal.

God’s Word becomes alive only when the entire transformation pipeline remains unbroken.

How Do I Make God’s Word Come Alive In My Flesh

Practical Steps To Make God’s Truth Becomes Your New Normal

1. Exposure & Awareness

I regularly encounter God’s truth.

Key Activities:

• Reading or hearing Scripture often and on a regular basis
• Placing myself intentionally where truth is taught
• Reducing distractions while engaging the Word

Key to Success: Consistency and intentionality.

“So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” — Romans 10:17
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” — Psalm 119:105

Self-Test Diagnostic Questions:

1. Am I consistently exposing myself to Scripture, or only sporadically?
2. Do I approach the Word with expectation of learning or with passivity?
3. Have I structured my life to regularly encounter God’s truth?

2. Review & Familiarity

I recognize and remember God’s truth.

Key Activities:

• Re-reading key passages
• Memorizing Key Scripture verses
• Journaling or summarizing insights
• Listening to repeated teaching on the same themes

Key to Success: Repetition that builds recall under pressure.

“This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night.” — Joshua 1:8
“I have hidden Your word in my heart, that I might not sin against You.” — Psalm 119:11

Self-Test Diagnostic Questions:

4. Can I recall God’s truth when I am stressed or tempted?
5. Am I revisiting Scripture, or constantly chasing something new?
6. Is God’s Word becoming familiar enough to interrupt my reactions?

3. Study & Understanding

I grasp what God means and why it matters.

Key Activities:

• Studying context, audience, and purpose of Scripture
• Comparing Scripture with Scripture
• Asking interpretive and application questions
• Discussing Scripture with mature believers

Key to Success: Humility and teachability.

“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” — 2 Timothy 2:15
“If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine.” — John 7:17

Self-Test Diagnostic Questions:

7. Am I willing to let Scripture challenge my assumptions?
8. Do I study to submit or to defend existing views?
9. Is my understanding increasing responsibility in my life?

4. Application & Wisdom

I act on God’s truth in real life.

Key Activities:

• Identifying specific obedience actions
• Repenting where truth exposes sin or misalignment
• Changing behaviors, priorities, or responses
• Acting before feelings fully align

Key to Success: Immediate, concrete obedience.

“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” — James 1:22
“Whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man.” — Matthew 7:24

Self-Test Diagnostic Questions:

10. What specific action has God’s Word called me to take recently?
11. Am I delaying obedience while claiming I need more clarity?
12. Is my life visibly changing as a result of Scripture?

5. Adoption & New Normal

This is how I live now.

Key Activities:

• Practicing obedience consistently
• Aligning routines and structures with truth
• Modeling truth to others
• Rejecting old identity patterns

Key to Success: Consistency reinforced by identity.

“If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” — 2 Corinthians 5:17
“He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.” — 1 John 2:6

Self-Test Diagnostic Questions:

13. Is obedience becoming more natural over time?
14. Do I still identify with my old patterns or excuses?
15. Are others benefiting from the fruit of my transformation?

How Can I Tell If I’m Doing This Correctly?

You are making God’s Word alive in your flesh if:

Your reactions are changing before your circumstances do

You notice conviction earlier and repentance faster

Obedience feels costly but peaceful

Others benefit from your transformation

You are less defensive and more teachable

Warning signs you are stuck:

You find excuses not to spend time in God’s word

Scripture increases knowledge but not humility

You justify delay instead of acting

You feel informed but unchanged

Where to Learn More (Specific, Practical Resources)

Bible Engagement

http://www.thebibleproject  – Effective insight into the messages and structure of the bible

Key Verses To Learn and Leverage By Topic   < Blog Post Reference>

Satan’s Top Lies and The Truth to Debunk Them

https://www.openbible.info/topics/  – Every Effective verse lookup tool

https://www.blueletterbible.org  – Original language tools and cross-references

https://www.biblegateway.com – Multiple translations for comparative study

Spiritual Formation

https://www.desiringgod.org  – Practical theology and obedience-focused teaching

https://www.thenarrowpath.com – Systematic biblical reasoning

Discipleship & Transformation

https://www.navigators.org – Scripture memory and life-on-life discipleship

https://www.foundationschurch.org/resources – Identity and transformation teaching

A Final Word of Encouragement

You were never meant to try harder.
You were meant to surrender deeper and become aligned with God’s will.

God’s Word becomes alive in your flesh not because you are strong, disciplined, or gifted—but because you are willing.

Every step of obedience creates space for the Holy Spirit to work powerfully within you.

Do not despise small beginnings.
Do not wait for perfect understanding.
Do not fear the cost of change.

If you keep saying yes—truth by truth, step by step—God will do what only He can do:
He will turn His Word into a living witness through your life.

 

Key Lessons To Learn Well To Avoid More Trials

Posted on by jakirkgasser10439

Key Lessons To Learn Well To Avoid More Trials

Introduction: Trials Are God’s Classroom, Not His Punishment

Trials and tribulations are unavoidable in a fallen world. Jesus promised that “in this world you will have tribulation” (John 16:33). The question is not whether trials will come, but what they will produce in us.

Trials are not accidents, interruptions, or signs that God has abandoned you.  God uses trials as one of His primary tools to shape us, refine us, and form Christ within us. Trials expose what we believe, what we love, what we trust, and where we are still clinging to self-centered control. When approached rightly, trials become a classroom of grace. When we resist or misunderstood the intended learning, trials often repeat —with greater and greater intensity.

God is gracious. He allows us to learn from:

    • His Word
    • The correction of the Holy Spirit
    • The trials of others

We can learn from the trials of others and from God’s Word, so we do not have to learn everything the hard way. The more quickly we recognize and apply the lessons God is teaching through trials—whether ours or someone else’s—the fewer corrective trials we may need to endure ourselves.

This post outlines some of the key lessons God teaches through trials, how to recognize them in yourself, and how to respond wisely.

What follows are key lessons God consistently teaches through trials, along with the Scriptures that anchor them. These are not theoretical truths; they are transformational realities meant to be lived.

Key Lessons To Lean As Soon As Possible

1. God Is in Control — You Are Not

Trials expose the illusion of control. Many of us feel secure as long as our plans are working, our resources are sufficient, and our competence is respected. God allows situations where control slips through our fingers so we can rediscover where true security lies—not in ourselves, but in Him.

“Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but the Lord’s purpose prevails.” — Proverbs 19:21

“I am God, and there is no other… My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all My purpose.” — Isaiah 46:9–10

“Our God is in heaven; He does whatever pleases Him.” — Psalm 115:3

Self-Test

Do I feel anxious or angry when plans fall apart?

Do I equate control with safety?

What to Do

Verbally acknowledge God’s sovereignty in prayer.

Surrender outcomes, not just intentions.

Replace control-based planning with trust-based obedience.

2. You Are Fully Dependent on God – You Can Do Nothing Yourself

Dependence is not a flaw—it is how humans were designed. Trials reveal how much we rely on strength, money, intelligence, or influence instead of God. When those supports fail, God invites us back to childlike dependence.

“Apart from Me you can do nothing.” — John 15:5

“In His hand is the life of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind.” — Job 12:10

“My God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” — Philippians 4:19

Self-Test

Do I pray first—or only after exhausting my own options?

Do I see dependence as weakness?

What to Do

Begin each day acknowledging your dependence on God.

Ask God for provision before taking action.

Thank Him explicitly for daily sustenance and strength.

3. Pressure Reveals What You Really Love — Love God First

Trials act like a heart-revealing mirror. Strong emotional reactions often indicate that something we love feels threatened—comfort, money, reputation, success, possessions, or control. God uses pressure to reorder our loves so that He is first.

“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” — Matthew 6:21

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.” — Mark 12:30

Self-Test

What loss or threat triggers the strongest emotional response in me?

If God removed a certain comfort, would my peace collapse?

What to Do

Identify what you fear losing most.

Confess misplaced loves honestly to God.

Reaffirm your commitment to love God above all else.

4. Choose Humble Learning Over Bitter Victimhood

Trials present a fork in the road: humility or bitterness. Victimhood says, “This shouldn’t be happening to me.” Humility says, “Lord, what are You teaching me?” One posture multiplies suffering; the other transforms it.

“Count it all joy when you fall into various trials… knowing that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.” — James 1:2–4

“Afterward it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.” — Hebrews 12:11

Self-Test

Do I blame others or circumstances for my pain?

Am I resistant to correction?

What to Do

Ask God what He wants to change in you.

Release blame and entitlement.

Practice gratitude during difficulty.

5. God Is Forming You, Not Just Fixing Circumstances

God’s primary concern is not your comfort but your character. Trials expose our demand for quick fixes and reveal God’s deeper work—shaping endurance, humility, faith, and love.

“Tribulation produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.” — Romans 5:3–5

“Though now for a little while… your faith… tested by fire…” — 1 Peter 1:6–7

Self-Test

Do I measure God’s goodness by how fast He removes discomfort?

Am I willing to grow even if circumstances remain hard?

What to Do

Shift prayers from “remove this” to “transform me.”

Track character growth, not just outcomes.

Trust God’s timeline.

6. This Life Is Temporary — Fear God, Not Man

Trials reveal misplaced priorities. Fear of losing money, status, approval, or comfort often drives compromise. God reminds us that earthly life is temporary and eternal faithfulness matters most.

“Do not fear those who kill the body… rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” — Matthew 10:28

“The things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.” — 2 Corinthians 4:18

Self-Test

Do I overwork or compromise to preserve security?

Am I more afraid of people’s opinions than God’s truth?

What to Do

Evaluate priorities honestly.

Choose obedience over comfort.

Invest more in eternal relationships than material gain.

7. Forgiveness Is Required, Not Optional

Trials often expose buried bitterness. Unforgiveness keeps wounds open and gives the enemy access. God commands forgiveness not to minimize injustice, but to free your heart.

“If you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” — Matthew 6:15

“Let all bitterness… be put away from you.” — Ephesians 4:31–32

Self-Test

Do I replay offenses mentally?

Do I justify withholding forgiveness?

What to Do

Forgive as an act of obedience, not emotion.

Pray blessing over those who hurt you.

Release the desire for personal vengeance.

8. Weakness Is the Gateway to God’s Power

Trials strip away self-confidence so God’s strength can be revealed. Weakness is not failure—it is an invitation for grace.

“My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” — 2 Corinthians 12:9

“He gives power to the weak.” — Isaiah 40:29

Self-Test

Do I feel ashamed of needing help?

Do I equate weakness with failure?

What to Do

Admit limitations openly before God.

Stop pretending to be strong.

Depend on grace daily.

9. Love Is Proven When It Costs You

Love becomes visible under pressure. Trials reveal whether our love is conditional or sacrificial. God calls us to love as Jesus loved—at personal cost.

“Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.” — John 15:13

“Let us not love in word or tongue, but in deed and in truth.” — 1 John 3:18

Self-Test

Do I withdraw when love becomes inconvenient?

Do I protect myself instead of serving others?

What to Do

Choose sacrificial obedience.

Serve even when unrecognized.

Ask God to love others through you.

10. God Uses Trials to Prepare You to Serve Others

God redeems suffering by transforming it into ministry. What He heals in you becomes hope for others.

“That we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble.” — 2 Corinthians 1:4

“All things work together for good to those who love God.” — Romans 8:28

Self-Test

Do I isolate when I suffer?

Do I believe my pain is meaningless?

What to Do

Allow God to heal you fully.

Share testimony at the right time.

Serve from compassion, not wounds.

How to Best Take Advantage of Trials

If trials are God’s classroom, here is how to learn well:

Ask “What?” and “How?” before “Why?”
“What are You teaching me, Lord?” “How do You want me to respond?”

Watch your emotions closely.
They often reveal ungodly loves or beliefs under pressure.

Invite God to expose lies and replace them with truth.
Renewing the mind shortens the trial.

Repent quickly and sincerely.
Correction embraced early prevents escalation.

Choose obedience even when it costs you.
Delayed obedience often prolongs trials.

Stay thankful and prayerful.
Gratitude keeps the heart soft and receptive.

Where to Learn More

On MyGodInMotion.org

Trials and Tribulations: What, Why, Who, How

Ungodly Beliefs Enable Undesired Behaviors

Ungodly Loves Provide Buttons to Be Pushed

Be Transformed by Grace

Key Lessons to Learn as Soon as Possible in Life

Trusted Teachers & Resources

Dan Mohler (Neck Ministries):
https://www.youtube.com/@DanMohlerOfficial

Charles Stanley – Trusting God:
https://www.intouch.org

Jerry Bridges – Trusting God:
https://www.navigators.org

Bible study and verse lookup:
https://www.biblegateway.com

Conclusion

God does not waste pain. Every trial is an invitation—to deeper trust, purer love, clearer vision, and greater freedom. When we learn these lessons well, we grow faster, suffer less, and become living reflections of Jesus in a world desperate for hope.

“Blessed is the man who endures trial; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life.” — James 1:12

If you are in a trial right now, ask this simple question today:
“Lord, which lesson are You teaching me—and how can I apply it now?”

That question alone can shorten the journey.

Lessons – I’m not in control, God Is

Posted on by jakirkgasser10439

Lessons From Trials – I am Not In Control, God Is

Introduction

Life is a journey, a learning experience. We all undergo difficult situations, trials and tribulations. We can learn many lessons from trials if we step back from the situation for a moment, humble ourselves and seek input and guidance from above.

There are common lessons folks learn as they work through trials and we can benefit from understanding those lessons. We can also learn lessons about the process of learning so we can get to the benefits of learning as soon as possible, and maybe avoid another cycle of trials because you did not learn the intended lesson.
The following testimony is from a wonderful friend who recently had a powerful learning experience. As you read this, look for any lessons you can learn and apply to your life. I encourage you to look at two levels… the specific learnings about living a life in true partnership with God, and also look for any lessons or helpful hints about the process of learning lessons from trials.

Testimony: 

Who: Emerson, 44, Mortgage Analyst, Western NY,  Fall/Winter 2025

There was a season in my life when things felt steady — work, health, routines — and I didn’t realize how much confidence I had placed in those things until they were suddenly disrupted.

Through an unexpected  debilitating health issue, hospital visits, medical testing, and time away from work, my life was brought to a sudden pause. It felt abrupt and unsettling, but Scripture reminds us that God sometimes uses interruption to bring clarity.

“Be still, and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10)

I went from feeling capable and dependable to feeling uncertain and vulnerable. I had questions without immediate answers and concerns I could not resolve on my own. 

I had learned that the Lord would help me if i asked Him, So I did.  I quieted myself and spoke to Jesus with all my heart.  I asked Him what was going on? Why was this happening? What am I supposed to learn? I got a very clear message from Him: “Stick with Me and I will show you”.  I thanked Him in advance for being with me, for helping me get through these issues, and for teaching me what ever I needed to learn. This interaction became a frequent occurrence; Multiple times a day, all hours of the day.  I would ask a question and listen for His response. The Holy Spirit would led me to specific scriptures or bible stories to read and meditate on.  I used bible study references to understand the context and intended message and how it relates to me.  I got new revelations every day,  about the motives in my heart,  about how I interact with people, how I function at work.  I took each input seriously, recognized the flaws in my old ways and repented.  Over the course of several weeks we became good buddies. One day when I was finally able to get out bed again, I invited the Lord to walk around my house with me and He joined me; It has been a wonderful experience and I will never be the same.

One thing the Lord revealed to me was something deeper than fear — a misplaced sense of control.

“The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps.” (Proverbs 16:9)

What I came to understand is that God was not absent in the disruption — He was present in it. Scripture shows us that the Lord, in His love, will sometimes slow or stop us when our direction needs correction.

“Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep your word.” (Psalm 119:67)

This season forced me to confront a truth I had known intellectually but not fully lived:

I am not in control — God is.

And more importantly, He is good and trustworthy.

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.” (Proverbs 3:5–6)

Waiting became a discipline rather than a punishment. Instead of striving to regain control, I was invited to daily dependence.

“It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD.” (Lamentations 3:26)

I also learned that God does not always explain the “why” immediately, but He promises His presence.

“My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”(Exodus 33:14)

This season didn’t instantly resolve my circumstances, but it reshaped my heart. I began to see that interruption can be instruction, and surrender can be a form of obedience.

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you.” (1 Peter 5:6)

I am still learning. I don’t have every answer, and some paths remain unclear. But I now understand that God is faithful in the pause, purposeful in the waiting, and near to those who rely on Him.

“The steps of a man are established by the LORD, when he delights in his way.” (Psalm 37:23)

If you are walking through a season where life feels suddenly halted — where plans have stalled and control has been stripped away — Scripture offers this assurance:

“The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.” (Psalm 34:18)

God can be trusted with what we cannot carry. Sometimes He brings us to stillness not to harm us, but to draw us closer to Himself.

How To Leverage This:

What Lesson(s) Did He Learn?

What Lie/Ungodly Belief was He Living From Before?

What Truth/Godly Belief replaced it and set Him free?

Do You Need To Learn The Same Lesson? 

What Can You Learn From His Learning Experience?

What Did He Do That Helped Him Learn This Lesson As Quickly As He Did?

Where to Learn More About Learning Lessons From Trials/Tribulations:

Trials Squeeze The Real You Out – See It And Fix It  <Blog Post>

Dan Mohler – How To Respond To Trials

Closing Thoughts:

Trials are inevitable.  Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you deal with it.

The closer you draw to God, the more He can help you work through what ever you face. 

“Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” – James 4:8 

Life is a journey and you are being formed and prepared for doing good works for the Lord.

Ephesians 2:10 – For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

He is the master potter and you are clay. The more you humble yourself and seek His guidance, the more quickly you can be molded into the desired shape.

“But now, O LORD, You are our Father; we are the clay, and You our Potter; we are all the work of Your hand” – Isaiah 64:8,

If you love Him and trust Him, All things will work out

“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” – Romans 8:28

Experience The Kingdom Here and Now

Posted on by jakirkgasser10439

Experience the Kingdom Here and Now — Don’t Wait for Heaven

Introduction

Many people think of the Kingdom of God as something you enter after death.
Scripture teaches something far more urgent—and far more powerful:

The Kingdom of God is meant to be experienced now.
Not someday. Not only in heaven.
Here. In you. Through you.

Jesus did not preach, “Wait for heaven.”
He preached, “The Kingdom of God is at hand.” (Mark 1:15)

If the Kingdom is available now, the real question becomes:
Are you living in it—or merely believing it exists?

What Is the Kingdom of God?

The Kingdom of God is God’s rule, authority, and order actively governing life.

It is not a location.
It is not a denomination.
It is not merely moral behavior.

The Kingdom is present where God is recognized as God and obeyed as King.

“For the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.”
— Romans 14:17

Where God reigns:

    • Truth governs thinking
    • Love governs action
    • The Spirit governs desires

This is why Jesus could say:

“The kingdom of God does not come with observation… For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you.”
— Luke 17:20–21

Where Is the Kingdom?

The Kingdom of God is not a place, it forms In You.

The Kingdom does not start with changing the world.
It starts with changing who rules the heart.

Scripture describes this as Christ being formed in us:

“My little children, for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you.”
— Galatians 4:19

This formation happens when:

    • Self-rule is surrendered
    • Jesus is acknowledged as Lord (not just Savior)
    • The Spirit renews the mind and reshapes desires

The Kingdom advances internally first, then externally.

Why the Kingdom Matters Now

The Kingdom you live from drives your entire life:

    • How you think
    • How you respond to pressure
    • How you treat people
    • How you interpret pain
    • What fruit you produce in the world

Everyone lives from a kingdom. There are only two options:

The fallen world system (Self at the center)

The Kingdom of God (God at the center)

Each produces very different fruit.

The Practical Difference: Life in the Fallen World vs Life in the Kingdom of God

Every person lives from a governing system, whether they realize it or not.

Scripture presents only two: the fallen world system, where life is ordered around self, and the Kingdom of God, where life is ordered around God as King and Christ formed within us. These two systems produce fundamentally different ways of thinking, deciding, relating, and responding to life.

The table below is not about religious labels or outward behavior—it reveals who is actually ruling the heart and therefore shaping the fruit of a person’s life. As you read, do not ask which column you agree with more; ask which one most accurately describes how you are living today.

 

Aspect

 Fallen World
(Self-Centered)		 Kingdom of God
(Christ-Centered)		 Scripture
Decision Center Self God Prov 16:25; Matt 6:33
Identity Source Performance / Approval Sonship in Christ Gal 2:20; Rom 8:15
Primary Love Love of self Love of God 2 Tim 3:2; Matt 22:37
Operating Nature Flesh (What We See/Feel) Spirit (Where God Leads) Gal 5:16–17
Internal Driver Fear / Pride Faith / Humility Prov 29:25; Heb 11:6
Authority Self-rule Lordship of Christ Judg 21:25; Rom 10:9
Mindset Worldly thinking Renewed mind Rom 12:2
Source of Wisdom Human reasoning God’s Word / Revelation 1 Cor 2:14; Ps 119:105
Motivation Gain, control Love, obedience Phil 2:21; John 14:15
View of Truth Relative Absolute John 8:44; John 14:6
View of Sin Ignorance / Justified Exposed / repented Isa 5:20; 1 John 1:7
Power Source Self-effort Grace / Spirit power Gal 3:3; Acts 1:8
Fruit Produced Works of flesh Fruit of the Spirit Gal 5:19–23
Relationships Transactional Sacrificial Luke 6:32–36; Eph 5:2
Response to Trials Anxiety / bitterness Trust / Refinement / Growth Matt 6:34; James 1:2–4
Direction of Life Temporary / Earthly Life Eternal 2 Cor 4:18; John 17:3
Outcome Death Life and Peace Rom 8:6
Final End Separation Union with God Matt 7:23; Rev 21:3

This table reveals a critical truth:

You do not drift into the Kingdom.
You live there intentionally—or not at all.

The world system forms people into:

    • Fear-based decision makers
    • Self-protectors
    • Image managers
    • Control seekers

The Kingdom forms people into:

    • Truth-governed thinkers
    • Trust-filled responders
    • Servants
    • Stewards

This difference shows up daily, not just spiritually.

How Life Is Actually Run Differently in the Kingdom

Belief alone does not change life. Operating systems do.

Below is a diagnostic version of the practical table, modified specifically to help readers identify how they are currently living.

Kingdom Diagnostic: How Am I Actually Living?

Daily Area World Pattern Kingdom Pattern Scripture
Decision Filter Comfort, fear, gain Truth, obedience Prov 14:12; John 14:21
Thinking Problem-centered Truth-centered Phil 4:6–8
Emotional Response Anxiety, offense Peace, humility Rom 8:6; James 4:6
Handling Conflict Defend self Seek peace & truth Matt 5:9; Prov 18:19
Response to Pressure Control Trust God Matt 6:33
Authority Resist Submit as unto God Rom 13:1
Correction Justify Repent & grow Prov 12:1
Work Source of Identity Stewardship Col 3:23–24
Relationships Transactional Sacrificial Luke 6:32–36
Outcome Striving & exhaustion Life & peace Rom 8:6

This table is not for condemnation.
It is for clarity.

“Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith.”— 2 Corinthians 13:5

How Do I Live in the Kingdom Now?

Living in the Kingdom involves two simultaneous actions:

1. Submitting to God

Submission is not weakness—it is alignment with reality.

Submission looks like:

      • Trusting God’s definition of good and evil
      • Yielding your right to be right
      • Obeying even when it costs comfort

“Submit yourselves therefore to God.”
— James 4:7

You cannot experience Kingdom power while insisting on self-rule.

2. Resisting the Devil, The World, The Flesh

Submission alone is incomplete without resistance.

“Resist the devil and he will flee from you.”
— James 4:7

Resistance means:

      • Taking thoughts captive
      • Rejecting self-centered loves
      • Saying no to lies even when they feel true
      • Refusing to let emotions lead

The Kingdom advances where truth is obeyed and we resist distraction.

Best Practices for Living in the Kingdom Here and Now

The Kingdom of God is sustained by truth received, believed, practiced, and spoken.

Jesus made this explicit:

“If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
— John 8:31–32

Kingdom living requires intentional immersion in God’s Word, coupled with daily practices that shape thinking, attitude, and response.

1. Immerse Yourself in the Word of God

The Word is not supplemental to Kingdom life—it is foundational.

“Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.”
— Matthew 4:4

Without consistent exposure to God’s Word:

      • Thinking reverts to the world
      • Emotions regain control
      • Self-rule quietly reasserts itself

Practical practices:

Daily Scripture intake (even brief, but consistent)

Verse of the day with intentional reflection

Reading Scripture as instruction, not inspiration

Ask while reading:

What does this reveal about God’s rule?

What response or obedience does this require of me?

2. Meditate on Truth, Not Problems

Biblical meditation is not emptying the mind—it is filling it with truth.

The world trains the mind to rehearse fear, offense, and worry.
The Kingdom retrains the mind to dwell on what God has said.

“This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night.”
— Joshua 1:8

Practical practices:

Choose a single theme for a week (trust, obedience, identity, humility)

Collect 3–5 verses on that theme

Revisit them throughout the day

Replace anxious or accusatory thoughts with those truths

Meditation is how truth moves from information to formation.

3. Build Kingdom Vocabulary (Truth Shapes Thought)

Your internal language shapes your reality.

The world’s vocabulary:

“I deserve”

“That’s just who I am”

“I can’t help it”

The Kingdom’s vocabulary:

“God is faithful”

“I submit to truth”

“I am being transformed”

“Death and life are in the power of the tongue.” — Proverbs 18:21

Practical practices:

Learn Scripture-based language for identity, authority, and purpose

Replace vague spirituality with specific biblical truth

Speak what God says, not what circumstances suggest

4. Cultivate an Attitude of Gratitude

Gratitude is not emotional—it is governmental.

It shifts focus from lack to provision, from fear to trust, from self to God.

“In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
— 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Practical practices:

Keep a gratitude journal

Write down daily evidences of God’s provision, protection, or guidance

Thank God before outcomes change

Gratitude strengthens faith because it trains the heart to recognize God’s hand.

5. Maintain a Prayer Journal to Track God’s Faithfulness

Prayer becomes powerful when it is remembered and reviewed.

Israel repeatedly forgot God’s works—and drifted.
Remembering builds confidence and trust.

“Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits.”
— Psalm 103:2

Practical practices:

Record prayers and requests

Note dates and outcomes

Write reflections on how God answered—or redirected

Over time, this builds a personal testimony of God’s faithfulness, reinforcing Kingdom trust.

6. Practice Declarations of Faith

Declarations are not about forcing outcomes; they are about aligning your heart, will, and mouth with God’s truth.

Jesus modeled this by speaking truth under pressure.

“It is written…”— Matthew 4

Core Kingdom declarations (examples):

Submission

“Father, You are God. I submit my will, thoughts, and desires to You.”

Resistance

“I resist the devil and every lie opposed to God’s truth.”

Denying Self

“I deny my flesh and choose obedience over comfort.”

Crucifying the Flesh

“I am dead to sin and alive to God in Christ.”

Putting Off / Putting On

“I put off the old self and put on the new, created in righteousness.”

New Identity

“I am a child of God, led by His Spirit.”

New Purpose

“I was created for God’s purposes and good works.”

Being Led

“The Lord directs my steps and orders my path.”

Speaking to Your Mountain

“I speak to this obstacle in faith, trusting God’s authority and timing.”

“Let the weak say, ‘I am strong.’”
— Joel 3:10

Declarations reinforce who is ruling—your emotions or God’s truth.

7. Live from Identity, Not Effort

The Kingdom is not sustained by striving but by abiding.

“As you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him.”
— Colossians 2:6

All practices above serve one goal:
Christ formed in you—not self-improvement, but transformation.

Summary: How Kingdom Life Is Built

Kingdom living is cultivated through:

    • Immersion in the Word
    • Meditation on truth
    • Gratitude and remembrance
    • Prayerful awareness of God’s activity
    • Spoken alignment with truth
    • Daily submission and resistance

None of these earn the Kingdom.
They position you to live in it.

Final Encouragement

Heaven is real.
Eternity matters.

Jesus did not tell us to wait to live in the kingdom.

The Kingdom is available now.
It forms within.
It transforms how you live.
And it impacts everyone around you.

The question is not:
Does the Kingdom exist?

The real question is:
Is it governing your life today?

Heart Wounds Shape Your Life

Posted on by jakirkgasser10439

Heart Wounds Shape Your Life: Heal the Wound, Change Your Life

Introduction

Every person carries a story. Within that story are moments of joy, growth, and meaning—but also moments of pain. Some of that pain heals naturally. Some does not.

Unhealed emotional pain—what Scripture would describe as a wounded heart—does not remain passive. It shapes how we see ourselves, how we relate to others, how we respond under pressure, and how we interpret God’s intentions toward us. Over time, these wounds create predictable cycles of dysfunction that ripple outward into our decisions, relationships, and long-term fruit.

God does not ignore these wounds. He names them. He exposes their effects. And He offers real healing—not by denial or self-management, but through humility, truth, and surrender.

What Are Heart Wounds and Dysfunction Cycles?

What Is a Heart Wound?

A heart wound forms when a painful experience is interpreted and internalized rather than healed. The wound is not merely the event itself, but the meaning we assign to it—often shaped by fear, rejection, shame, or self-protection.

Examples include:

Being abandoned and concluding, “I am on my own.”

Being rejected and concluding, “I am unlovable.”

Being betrayed and concluding, “I must stay in control.”

Being harmed and concluding, “I am unsafe.”

Scripture consistently locates these issues in the heart, not merely in behavior.

“Hope deferred makes the heart sick, But when the desire comes, it is a tree of life.” (Proverbs 13:12)

What Is a Dysfunction Cycle?

A dysfunction cycle is the repeating pattern that flows from an unhealed wound. While details vary, the logic is remarkably consistent:

Wound – Emotional pain or loss

Lie – A false conclusion about self, others, or God

Emotion – Fear, anger, shame, anxiety, bitterness

Coping Behavior – Control, withdrawal, performance, people-pleasing, aggression, escape

Consequences – Relational damage, exhaustion, sin, isolation

Reinforcement – Outcomes seem to confirm the original lie

Left unaddressed, the cycle repeats—and intensifies.

“Keep your heart with all diligence,
For out of it spring the issues of life.”
(Proverbs 4:23, NKJV)

Why Wounds and Cycles Matter

Heart wounds matter because they shape outcomes.

Jesus taught that life’s visible fruit—words, actions, and impact—flows from what is stored in the heart.

“A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good;
and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil.”
(Luke 6:45, NKJV)

Unhealed wounds:

Distort identity (how you see your worth and value)

Drive self-protective behavior

Fuel self-centered love rather than love rooted in truth

Damage relationships and perpetuate conflict

Continue operating even when a person becomes religious or outwardly moral

This is why behavior change alone rarely works. If the wound remains, the cycle will re-emerge—often in a new form.

How Heart Wounds Create Ripple Effects

Heart wounds do not stay contained. They ripple outward in predictable directions.

Internal Ripple

Chronic anxiety or emotional numbness

Overreactions to perceived threats

Persistent shame or self-criticism

Difficulty resting, trusting, or feeling safe

Relational Ripple

Repeating conflict patterns

Withdrawal, control, or people-pleasing

Passing pain to spouses, children, coworkers

Misinterpreting motives and intentions

Spiritual Ripple

Viewing God as distant, unsafe, or demanding

Struggling to trust authority or surrender control

Using religion as performance rather than relationship

Resisting conviction due to fear of exposure

Scripture explains this progression clearly:

“Each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.
Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin;
and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.”  (James 1:14–15)

Common Wound-Driven Cycles

Below are examples, not an exhaustive list:

Abandonment → Fear → Control or Clinging → Relational Strain

Rejection → Shame → Performance or Withdrawal → Exhaustion / Isolation

Betrayal → Distrust → Control → Conflict

Abuse → Fear → Hyper-vigilance or Anger → Broken Relationships

Neglect → Insecurity → People-pleasing → Loss of Identity

Shame → Self-hatred → Hiding or Addiction → Deeper Shame

Different wounds, same logic. Different behaviors, same type of root problem – a wound

          Here is a more complete reference of common wound cycles if interested  < Wound Cycle Reference>

How to Recognize If You Are in a Wound-Driven Cycle (Self-Test)

Scripture invites self examination, and tells us the Lord will help us if we approach Him humbly:

“Search me, O God, and know my heart;
Try me, and know my anxieties;
And see if there is any wicked way in me,
And lead me in the way everlasting.”  (Psalm 139:23–24)

Ask these questions honestly, without self-justification:

Do I experience strong emotional reactions that feel disproportionate / extreme?

Do the same conflicts or failure modes keep repeating in my life?

Do I often feel the need to control situations?

Do I often feel the need to withdraw from society and escape?

Do I feel driven to always perform at a high level?

Do I often feel the need to defend myself and my position?

Do certain situations trigger fear, anger, or shame automatically?

Do I struggle to trust God’s care, timing, or protection?

Do I try to explain or excuse or my reactions rather than examine their source?

Most people are operating from wounds and suffering as a result.

The sooner you recognize what is happening, the sooner you can seek healing, break the cycle, and start living the life you were intended to have. 

How to Heal the Wound and Break the Cycle

Healing does not begin with techniques. It begins with humility.

1. Ask God To Help You Identify The Initial Wound Before God

Healing starts when self-defense stops.

“God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.” (James 4:6)

Ask God for insight…. Lord what happened that opened the door to this issue?

Name the wound honestly.

2. Identify and Expose the Enabling Lie

The wound drives you to become defensive,  your hear and mind start to embrace a lie that ends up controlling your life.

Ask:   Lord, What ungodly belief did I come to embrace because of this pain?

      What is the truth to correct it?

Truth is not optional—it is the instrument of freedom.

“You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (John 8:32)

3. Confess Self-Protective Sin Where Present

Many coping behaviors feel justified—but still miss the mark.

Confess and repent of holding an ungodly belief

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins
and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
(1 John 1:9, NKJV)

4. Forgive Those Involved With Inflicting the Initial Wound

We are all children of God operating in a fallen world and reacting to the wounds we accumulate.

We need to get to a position where we forgive those who cause us pain in life,  pray for them to be saved and rescued from their struggles.

Forgiveness releases judgment to God and breaks bondage impacting us.

“Forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.” (Ephesians 4:32)

5. Receive God’s Healing and New Identity

God does not merely remove pain—He restores truth.

“He heals the brokenhearted And binds up their wounds.”  (Psalm 147:3)

When the wound is healed, the cycle loses its power.

Where to Learn More

Healing heart wounds is not a one-time event; it is a process of truth, humility, and cooperation with God.

Below are specific, grounded ways to go deeper—each aligned with Scripture and designed to avoid emotionalism or self-focus.

1. Study Scripture on the Heart, Renewal, and Transformation

Begin with Scripture that directly addresses the heart as the source of life and behavior, not just external actions.

Key passages to study in prayerful meditation:

Proverbs 4:20–27 – The heart as the wellspring of life

Jeremiah 17:5–10 – The deceitfulness and examination of the heart

Psalm 51 – Repentance that goes beneath behavior to the heart

Ezekiel 36:25–27 – God’s promise to heal, cleanse, and renew the heart

Romans 12:1–2 – Transformation through renewal of the mind

Galatians 5:16–26 – Flesh-driven cycles versus Spirit-produced fruit

James 1:13–25 – Desire, deception, and the path to maturity

Study these passages asking:

What does this reveal about my heart?

What does God say is possible?

Where do my patterns contradict His truth?

2. Practice Prayerful Journaling Anchored in God’s Word

Journaling is not about venting emotions—it is about bringing hidden thoughts and reactions into the light of truth.

A simple biblical journaling flow:

Describe a recurring emotional reaction or pattern

Ask God where it began

Identify the lie you have believed

Search Scripture for the truth that confronts it

Write a prayer of surrender and alignment

Helpful prompts:

What am I protecting myself from?

What am I afraid will happen if I let go?

What does God say is true instead?

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” (Psalm 119:105)

Interactive Journaling as a Diagnostic – < Link to step by step teaching> 

3. Learn Biblical Repentance and Identity Renewal

Many people equate repentance with behavior correction. Biblically, repentance means changing how you think, especially about God, yourself, and control.

Key concepts to study:

Repentance as turning from self-rule to God’s rule

Dying to self-protection, not just sinful acts

Putting off the old self and putting on the new (Ephesians 4:22–24)

Identity rooted in Christ rather than wounds or performance

Helpful Scriptures:

Romans 6 – Dead to sin, alive to God

Colossians 3:1–17 – Putting off and putting on

2 Corinthians 5:17 – New creation identity

Ask:  Where am I still living from my wound instead of from truth?

4. Seek Wise, Biblically Grounded Counsel

Healing often accelerates when wounds are processed in the presence of truth and accountability.

Look for counselors, pastors, or mentors who:

Anchor everything in Scripture

Address heart motives, not just symptoms

Understand repentance, forgiveness, and identity

Avoid affirming victimhood or self-centered narratives

Avoid approaches that:

Remove personal responsibility

Blame others exclusively

Focus endlessly on feelings without truth or change

“In the multitude of counselors there is safety.” (Proverbs 11:14)

5. Explore Inner Healing Prayer Rooted Firmly in Scripture

Biblical inner healing is not mystical memory chasing—it is inviting God’s truth into wounded places so lies lose their power.

Healthy inner healing prayer includes:

Humble surrender to God

Asking Jesus to reveal truth

Renouncing lies and self-protective vows

Forgiving others and releasing judgment

Receiving God’s truth and identity

Always test practices against Scripture:

“Test all things; hold fast what is good.” (1 Thessalonians 5:21)

When done biblically, inner healing prayer complements repentance and renewal—it does not replace them.

Best practice:  7 Prayers that Heal The Heart – from  Mark Virkler

Closing

Heart wounds shape your life—whether you acknowledge them or not. But they do not have to define your future.

God’s desire is not merely behavior improvement, but freedom, restoration, and fruit that lasts. When the wound is healed, the cycle breaks. When the cycle breaks, the ripple changes. And when the ripple changes, lives—including your own—are transformed.

“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you.” (Ezekiel 36:26)

God is not intimidated by your wounds, and He is not impatient with the healing process. What He requires is honesty, humility, and willingness to let truth replace self-protection.

Are You A Lukewarm Christian, Or Are You A Disciple…It Really Does Matter!

Posted on by jakirkgasser10439

Are You a Lukewarm Christian or Are You a Disciple?
– It Really Does Matter!

Introduction

Many Christians assume that believing in Jesus is enough.
But scripture is very clear and direct to the contrary:

    • Belief alone does not get you into the kingdom of heaven.
    • Belief without surrender does not transform.
    • Belief without obedience does not produce life.

Jesus Himself warns us:

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven,
but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.” — Matthew 7:21

A person who believes in Jesus, but has not declared Him Lord over their entire life is called a lukewarm Christian.

The difference between a Lukewarm Christian and a submitted disciple is not minor; It is dramatic in this life, and it has eternal consequences.

This blog is intended to help folks realize they may not be where they really think they are relative to Jesus and heaven..

God has given you a choice —  and your life, your destiny, the lives of your descendants, and all of your eternities depend on it.

Why It Is Not Enough to Just Believe

Many claim to believe, Few understand what it means to truly believe.
Belief means to act as if it were actually true…. 

    • Our fall from grace by the introduction of sin in the garden,
    • Our sinful nature, making us naturally self centered and rebellious against God.
    • The severe nature of our fallen nature and the impact i has on our life and the lifeof others
    • Our earning a sentence of eternity in hell for falling short of God’s perfect standard.
    • God choosing to come here in the flesh as a son Jesus to suffer and die in our place.
    • Our option to serve our sentence in hell ourselves or yield our earthly live to Jesus and spend eternity with Him. 
    • It is an easy trade but you have to actually make the trade to get the benefit 

True belief produces obedience, surrender, repentance, and transformation.
Anything else is mental argument, not a saving faith.

Let’s walk through the biblical declarations to be clear.

A. Old Testament Foundation: Deuteronomy 30

God makes His expectations very clear and explicit:

“I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life…” – Deut. 30:19 

But how does one choose life?
The next verse tells us:

“That you may love the Lord your God,
that you may obey His voice,
and that you may cling to Him…” –  Deut. 30:20

Three requirements:

      • Love Him
      • Obey Him
      • Cling to Him

Why?  the end of that verse:  “…For He is your life and the length of your days.” –  Deut. 30:20 

This is the pattern of God’s covenant relationship:

Hearing → Obeying → Clinging → Life

In trade for our submission in faith, God makes a promise to help us and provide for us and protect us and work all things for good, but it only works if we do our part.

Belief without hearing, obedience, or clinging is not executing your part of the deal – and you can expect consequences.

B. New Testament Agreement: Faith That Saves Always Transforms

True belief recognizes:

      • The seriousness of sin
      • The certainty of condemnation without a savior
      • The price Jesus paid on the cross
      • The necessity of surrender to receive the benefit

Paul says:

“The love of Christ compels us…
that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died for them.”  — 2 Cor. 5:14–15

If your belief does not compel you to stop living for yourself,
you have not achieved a saving faith.

James warns:

“Even the demons believe—and tremble!” — James 2:19

Demons believe in Jesus. They know who He is.
They acknowledge His authority. But they do not submit or obey.

A lukewarm Christian is dangerously close to the same condition.

C. You Only Enter Heaven If Jesus Knows You

Jesus does not say:

“You will enter heaven because you believed I existed.”

He says:

“Depart from Me; I never knew you.” — Matthew 7:23 

Knowing Jesus is not intellectual familiarity, It is not inviting him into my heart.
It is relationship based on complete surrender and a commitment to obedience.

Jesus says:

“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.”  – John 10:27

Three marks of a disciple:

      • Hear His voice
      • Are known by Him
      • Follow Him

A lukewarm believer may acknowledge Jesus –  but does not follow Him.

D. Jesus Calls Us to Die To Sin Before We Truly Live

Identity in Christ begins with death of the old you:

“If anyone desires to come after Me,
let him deny himself,
take up his cross,
and follow Me.”  –  Matthew 16:24 

And continues through transformation:

“Whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.” –  Matthew 16:25 

You cannot be “in Christ” while clinging to the old life.

You are covered by His blood only when you are united with His death.

This is biblical salvation—not American Christianity.

There Are Three Identity Paths: Which One Are You Living From?

There are three spiritual identity states:

A. Unbeliever (Rejecting)

    • Dead in sin
    • Blind to spiritual truth
    • Self-led
    • Without covenant protection

B. Lukewarm Christian (Convenient, Unsurrendered)

    • Believes but does not obey
    • Acknowledges Jesus but lives self-led
    • Selective obedience
    • Little transformation
    • Spiritually stagnant
    • Dangerously self-deceived

C. Disciple of Jesus (Submitted, Following)

    • Has denied self
    • Carries their cross
    • Walks in obedience
    • Lives by faith, not feelings
    • Experiences transformation
    • Knows Jesus and is known by Him

Only one of these is promised eternal life.
Not because of effort— but because knowing Jesus is eternal life (John 17:3).

Am I Lukewarm or a Disciple?

This is where honesty matters.
Let Scripture and the Spirit reveal your heart.

Indicator

 Lukewarm Christian

Disciple of Jesus
Relationship

Believes in Jesus

 Belongs to Jesus

Lordship

 Jesus is advisor Jesus is Master
Obedience When convenient

Even when costly
Priorities Self first God’s will first
Transformation Minimal, sporadic Increasing, visible
Fear of God Low High (reverence, honor)
Sin Excused or ignored Repented and resisted

Cost

 Avoids sacrifice

Embraces sacrifice

Guiding Questions

    • Do I obey Jesus only when it fits my preferences?
    • Do I fear God and understand what is at stake?
    • Am I pursuing comfort or obedience?
    • Has following Jesus cost me anything?
    • Do I cling to my old life instead of losing it for Christ?
    • Do I see real transformation in my thoughts, emotions, and choices?
    • If Jesus returned today, would He know me?

These questions cut through self-deception.

What’s at Stake? (The Eternal Reality)

The stakes are eternal and unavoidable.

Jesus warns the lukewarm:

“Because you are lukewarm…
I will vomit you out of My mouth.” –  Revelation 3:16 (NKJV)

This is not rejection. This is invitation.

“Be zealous and repent.” –  Revelation 3:19 

You must choose:

    • Comfort or calling.
    • Convenience or obedience.
    • Self-rule or surrender.
    • Belief about Jesus or discipleship under Jesus.

Anything less than surrender is being lukewarm.

How to Move From Lukewarm to Disciple

Here is the biblical path:

A. Repent of Self-Lordship

Confess where comfort, fear, pride, or convenience are ruling your decisions.

B. Surrender Your Life to Jesus

Salvation is not addition or loss.
It is exchange:  Your earthly life for Life Through Him .. now and for eternity.

C. Deny Yourself Daily

True discipleship requires daily choices, not a momentary prayer.

D. Take Up Your Cross

Embrace obedience even when inconvenient, costly, or difficult.

E. Follow Jesus

Read His words.
Hear His voice.
Obey His commands.
Walk in His steps.

F. Cling to Him (Deut. 30:20)

Trust in Him,
Have Faith,
Your life depends on it.

Identity Declaration for Discipleship

Lord Jesus, I renounce lukewarm belief.
I surrender my life fully to You.
I deny myself, take up my cross, and choose to follow You.
I cling to You as my life and my salvation.
Transform me into Your disciple.
Let my identity be rooted in Your truth,
my heart shaped by Your love,
and my steps led by Your Spirit.
I am Yours.
I will follow wherever You lead. Amen.

Final Thoughts

Lukewarm Christianity is the greatest spiritual deception of our time.
It produces the illusion of salvation without transformation.
The appearance of faith without obedience.
The vocabulary of Christianity without the life of Christ.

But God is inviting you into something far greater:

    • A transformed life.
    • A real relationship.
    • A surrendered heart.
    • A disciple’s identity.
    • An eternal purpose.

Jesus does not call you to be lukewarm.
He calls you to follow Him.
And when you do—your life, your relationships, your destiny, and your eternity will never be the same.

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