Tag: Image of God

What Is Your Why?

Posted on by jakirkgasser10439

What is Your Why?

What is the Why for your life? It matters.

You are called to live a life that brings glory to God

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

“Everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made….” Isaiah 43:7

“For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.” 1 Corinthians 6:20

The way to bring Him glory is to stop living for ourselves and live for HIM.

“For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.” 2 Corinthians 5:14-15

Let’s look at why this is a big deal, and see where we are in the process of making it happen.

What you love deep in your heart determines who you really are. It determines how you will experience life; It determines how you perceive and experience this temporary life and it determines where and how you will experience the eternal one that follows.

“Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life.” Proverbs 4:23

“But the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.’” 1 Samuel 16:7

You can tell what is in your heart by where your treasures lie, what comes out of your mouth, and what kind of fruit you produce with your actions.

“The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.” Luke 6:45

If your treasure is here on earth, your focus is on you and your earthly life: your body (how you look, physical capabilities),  your reputation (how others see you, how they treat you, getting recognition for your effort),  your position in life (education, job title, social status, salary), what you have (money, house, cars, things), and how to pursue pleasure (Alcohol, Drugs, Sex, Thrills, Luxury, Entertainment, Manipulation of others).

If your treasure is in heaven, you focus is on God, His kingdom and your eternity with Him: Getting to know Him, Understanding Him, Seeing from His perspective, Listening to Him, Doing His will. You are to be focused on flowing His love to others through your thoughts, words and actions. Denying your self, making you and your earthly life of less importance than serving God and His children.  Being of service to others rather than serving yourself. Generously reaching out to help those in need. Picking up your cross: sacrificing aspects of your earthly life as necessary to serve God, and forgiving those who sin against you. God promises that every person gets what they deserve in due time. He promises rewards in heaven for those who suffer in this life for His sake. When you are focused on God and His kingdom, you shine as a beacon for Him.

You know in your heart what is right and good. You just need to be honest with yourself.

“For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws into their minds, and write them on their hearts, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.” Hebrews 8:10

Do a self-test:

What is your why?  What drives you and your day-to-day actions

            Think through your day, your week,  What do you do and why do you do it?

Does each activity just serve you, or does it somehow serve others?

Can you connect each activity to serving God and His kingdom somehow?

Ex: I go to the gym 5x per week.

Why? To Look Good?  if so why?…keep asking why until you get to “to serve God and his children?” or “to serve ME” 

If the anwer is “To Be Healthy”…if so why?  “So I will live longer and not be sick”..that answer so far is all about ME.

Why is it important to you to live longer and not be sick? “So I don’t die young”…That is all about Me.

How about, “So I am not a burden to others as I age”…That is a little better.

How about, “So I am healthy and capable of serving God and others for many years to come.” Now you are on the right track

Or, How about, “So I can be healthy and serve God and others for many years to come, and be a positive influence on the folks at the gym and shine a beacon for the kingdom for anyone I may encounter along the way.  Now that is a worthy why.

Embracing a why like for yur activity will change the very nature of your gym visits…expecially your attitude towards others as you execute.        

Why do you say the things you do? Why do you say them the way you say them?

Are you building yourself up? Are you tearing yourself down?

Are you building someone else up? Are you tearing someone else down?

Are your communications positive and encouraging? Are they critical and condemning?

What fruit are you producing with your life?

Earthly fruit that perishes when you die?

or Fruit that lives on for eternity in someone else’s soul?  

If your treasures are still on earth and not in heaven, and your activities are not focused on serving others, and you are not producing fruit that is eternal, I encourage you to dig a bit into why God did what He did by sending His son in the Gospel message below. 

The Gospel

God is love. His love flows into you in several forms: He provides the raw energy of life, He formed you in your mothers’ womb, and He provides every breath you take. He provides people in your life to show you love and affection. He provides gifts and talents so you can be useful if you choose to nurture them. He provides every opportunity you have ever had to do something wonderful. He gives you free will to choose whether to acknowledge Him and align to His will, or ignore Him and suffer the consequences.

You love only because God loved you first. Every ounce of love in your heart came from God.  The love in your heart is God resident in you. When you pursue selfish agendas, that love reaches a dead end, the flow stops with you. When you get your own agendas out of the way and find a way to flow God’s love through you to someone else, the flow of His love has been perfected.

You are called to love God with all your heart. ALL is ALL, 100%.

“‘And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment.” Mark 12:30-31

If you love Him with all your heart, there is no room for loving you and your earthly life. You are to be a vessel for His use. He is the potter, you are the clay. You are to deny your “self”,  crucify the old you, and let Jesus form in you, and let His love flow through you.

“But now, O Lord, You are our Father; We are the clay, and You our potter; And all we are the work of Your hand.” Isaiah 64:8

“Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work.” 2 Timothy 2:21

“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” Galatians 2:20

We are at war with God when we are focused on ourselves. God set rules to guide our behavior so that we would not cause harm to each other. God is saddened when we choose to violate His guidance and cause harm to others.  

God knows what is in your heart, and He wants to help us fix it.

“For whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything.” 1 John 3:20

“The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” Genesis 6:5

He sent His son to restore that which was lost,  the image of God. He wants to come into you and help you transform into that image.

“For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost.” Matthew 18:11

“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.” Colossians 1:15

“Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him,” Colossians 3:9-10

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.  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 12:1-2

Our sins have consequences. He paid the price with His body, He shed innocent blood to forgive us, He bought us with a price. The least we can do is give Him our lives in return.

“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23

“He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By His stripes you have been healed.” 1 Peter 2:24

“For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.” 1 Corinthians 6:20

“In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,” Ephesians 1:7

“Knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.” 1 Peter 1:18-19

When you embrace Jesus, He will work in your heart.

“And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. Ezekiel 36:26

“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.” Psalm 51:10

God sent His son to restore us to the original image of God. He paid for our souls with His life.  His intention is to take up residence in each of us and help us transform from self-centered people to folks submitted to Him and focused on flowing love to others. When we do that we bring glory to the Father and His kingdom. That should be your purpose, your why.

We are created to bring God Glory

“Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.” Revelation 4:11

“Everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.” Isaiah 43:7

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

“For you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.” 1 Corinthians 6:20

Focus on receiving God’s love into you through embracing Jesus’ and His work on the cross. God loves you so much He sent His son to suffer and die for you. He did that even while you were working against Him via your own sins; you were acting as an enemy against Him and He still forgives you and even blesses you. He paid the price for you sins. You are righteous, and reconnected with the Father; no longer separated by sin but restored to perfect unity. Your past is erased; The Father sees you as innocent and beyond reproach when He sees you through Jesus blood. Once you repent of your sins and accept Jesus work for you, you are wiped clean, there is no room for guilt, shame, or condemnation. You focus forward.  As you deny your own self, and cast aside self centered agendas, Jesus can work inside you to help you see things differently, to think about things differently, to soften your heart, to shift your priorities from serving yourself, to serving others. This changes the why for your life. You begin to focus on flowing God’s love through you to others.  The changes accumulate and you start to become more and more like Jesus, seeking and doing the Fathers will.  

Take a snapshot of your heart: What portion of your heart is rooted in love of God and His kingdom with intentions to bring Him glory, either upwards to serve God or outwards to serve others/neighbors? What portion Is rooted in love for your own self or for your earthly life?   How close to loving God with ALL your heart are you?  Ask Jesus for help to move closer to 100%.

Prayer:

Lord, help me identify the remaining self-centered loves I still hold in my heart. Help me hate them the way you hate them. Help me to repent of any self-centered agendas and turn to follow you. Help me renew my mind and see things from your perspective. I wish to serve you and perfect your love as it flows through me. Lord, help me shine as a beacon for your kingdom and bring you glory.  I ask this in  Jesus’ name, to bring glory to the Father.

 

Become Like Jesus

Posted on by jakirkgasser10439

Don’t Miss the Point, Shed your old self and Become Like Jesus!

Don’t miss the point, the purpose of the Gospel, why Jesus came.

Contrary to popular opinion, Christianity is not all about you getting into heaven someday.  It is about transforming your life so heaven can form in you right here and right now. 

Modern western Christianity has become highly focused on speaking a “prayer of salvation” so if you die tonight you will go to heaven. Unfortunately, if this prayer is only superficial, and not accompanied with true repentance for your sins and a full committment to change and follow Jesus as Lord of your life, those folks will be severaly dissapointed when they knock at the pearly gates and Jesus does not know them and let them in.  The gospel message of repentance and transformaitonal change has become lost as churches seak to attract customers and avoid difficult conversations that might scare them away. This shortcut produces Christians in title only, folks who try to adapt selective Christian principles to thier life when it is convenient;  Christians who are complying with religious rituals but remain self-centered and unchanged; Christians who are pleasant for an hour on Sunday but are misserable the remainder of the week; Shristians that are happy when things are going well for them, but are devasteated and need prayer as soon as they encounter any of life’s inevitable challenges.. If you follow along with this write up, you will avoid this mistake;  You will get to know God and He will help you live the life He intended when he put you here, and He will know you very well when it comes time to knock on those pearly gates. 

Jesus came here to restore what was lost

The gospal message is much deeper and is much more powerful and compelling when you properly understand it. 

Look at the specific words used in Luke 19:10, they are very telling.  It doesn’t say Jesus came to save those who are lost, it says he came to save “That” which was lost. He came so save a thing not a person.  He came to restore the image of God in us, the image that was lost by Adam and Eve’s sin. This is a very big deal. 

“for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”Luke 19:10

Look at how the story line flows regarding the Image of God

Man was originally made in God’s image; Adam and Eve corrupted that image when they sinned in the garden. Each of us is born into Adam’s image, We each need to be born again to change it.  Jesus came here as the expressed image of God. Now that He has released the Holy Spirit, He will form in you if you invite Him and give Him room to work. You must cut off the old you and put the old you to death so that you can be restored into new life through Him. Jesus was the first born of many; you are to be one of the many. Jesus will restore the original image of God in you as He forms in you and lives through you.

In practical terms, God put us here for a purpose, Adam got us side tracked with sin, God sent His son to restore what was lost and to enable us to fulfill that original purpose. If we fully commit to follow Jesus, we will be transformed and be able to live the life He intended whern He put us here.

This is not a superficial prayer, this is not a casual engagement, this is not a limited applicaiton of selected principles if convenient, this is full emersion, this is a comittment to change.

You must shed your old self to make room for Jesus to form in you

The target of transformation is your inner nature, the thing deep down inside that drives you. We are born with a self-conscious and self-centered sinful nature that casues problems for us and those around us.  You can see this nature in little children, no one has to teach them to be needy, to be selfish with thier toys. That is thier inherited nature, thier instinct. That nature drives us to be self-consious; to focus on ME and my situation. It elevates our Ego and pushes self-centered agendas; what can i do to improve my situation, reputation, status, position, power in life. These self-focused emotions, thoughts, and actions are directly opposite of God’s intention for us to love Him with all our heart and to love others as ourselves. Left unchecked, they end up causing all sorts of problems for ourselves and others and are in fact the forcing functions behind all sin. 

Jesus came here to save us from sin, to allow us to move forward from our past, to come into us and change our nature, and empower us to live a better life through Him moving forward.  He lived a human life and forged a path for us to follow. A path where we transform and actually live the life God intended when He put us here.  After His ascension, He released the Holy Spirit so He could come and live inside each of us to teach us and guide us in person. 

We must repent of our sins. We must acknowledge our flaws and the consequences they produce. We must be committed to change; Be comitted to follow Jesus as lord of our lives and to follow His teacings; Be comitted to live a life worthy of the price Jesus paid. 

To make room for Him to live inside us and do His work we must get our old self out of the way.  We are called to:

1) Deny ourselves, (including our self-consicous emotions and our self-centered agendas),

2) Pick up our cross daily (including suffering what ever wrongs we encounter), and

3) Follow Jesus (including his teachings and lived example).   

If we are willing to set aside our old ways and actually follow Him, He will come inside us, teach us and guide us. He will form in us and flow through us. This is how we glorify God with our lives and become a beacon to others for His kingdom.

The idea is to crucify your old self and it’s sinful nature on the cross with Jesus.  If you put off your old self and start over, there is no past to be mired in.  

God actually wants to you become like Jesus

Invite Him to come and live in you; to tske up residence.

Offer yourself as a vessel for His use. Commit to transforming into His image and doing the work He calls you to.

As you listen and follow His lead,  He will form in you.

You will find more and more ways for His love to flow through you. His love is perfected when it flows through you to others. 

You will become more and more like Him.  You will be able to be bold on judgement day becasue you ended up like Him.

You know you have achieved success when you “know Him”.  When bad things happen to you and you respond in love. You are connected with Him in relationship, you see things from His perspective, you isten for His input, you understand His will, you speak His will into place, and He lfows through you to do the works He did. 

Scripture sets very clear expectations on you transforming and becoming like Jesus:

God originally made mankind in His own image, the perfect image of God.

“So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.” Genesis 1:27

Adam and Eve were changed when they chose to sin in the garden. Thier eyes were opened. They became self-conscious, they realized they were naked, became afraid, hid from God, and began denying responsiblity for thier actions.They had corrupted the perfect image of God. 

“Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves coverings.” Genesis 3:7

“Then the Lord God called to Adam and said to him, “Where are you?” So he said, “I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself.” Genesis 3:9-10

Adam passed on his flawed image to His children.

“…In the day that God created man, He made him in the likeness of God….And Adam lived one hundred and thirty years, and begot a son in his own likeness, after his image, and named him Seth.” Genesis 5:1-3

We inherited Adams sinful nature.  We are born into Adams sinful nature:

“Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned.” Romans 5:12

Jesus makes the kingdom of God available inside us:

“Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, ‘The kingdom of God does not come with observation; nor will they say, “See here!” or “See there!” For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you.” Luke 17:20-21

We must be born again to reset our flawed nature and experience the kingdom of God in us:

“Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.’” John 3:3

Jesus is the expressed image of God:

“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.” Colossians 1:15

You are to be conformed to His image:

“For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.” Romans 8:29

Deny yourself, crucify your self-centered agendas, and allow Jesus to live in you and through you:

“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” Galatians 2:20

We are to get to know Him; See things from His perspective, Understand His intentions, Align ourselves, and become more like Him, this releases eternal life in us and through us:

“This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.” John 17:3

Jesus is to form in you:

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

“To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” Colossians 1:27

We are to become like Him:

“Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world.” 1 John 4:17

You are to become the light of the world. Jeuss was the light of the world while He was here, and now He has handed the ball to you.

Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” John 8:12

“As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” John 9:5

“…that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,”  Philippians 2:15

“You (those who believe) are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.” Matthew 5:14

Speak This Positive Confession

Heavenly Father, thank you for creating me and putting me here.

You created mankind in your image, the perfect image of God.

That image was tarnished by Adam and Eve when they sinned in the Garden.

I inherited that tarnished image, I was a sinner, another child lost in this fallen world.

I was living for ME. My thoughts and emotions were centered on ME.

I was self-conscious and self-centered.

I saw events around me mostly through my own eyes, from my own earthly perspective.

What is MY earthly status? What do I look like? What nice things do I have? How much money do I have? What level of education have I achieved? What Job/Position do I hold? What have I accomplished? What kind of relationships/family have I built? What status do I hold in society? What do others think of me?  Do people love me? How are things going for me?

My ego had a strong voice in my emotions and my actions: What is happening around me? What is happening to me? What does that mean for me? How do I build up my situation? How to I protect my reputation?

Guilt, Shame and Condemnation have had a strong foothold: What have I done? What impact has it had? What do people think? What would other people think if they knew? What does God think?

This focus on self is the opposite of what you intended when you put us here. We are called to love you more than we love ourselves. We are called to love our neighbors more than ourselves.  We are called to forgive our enemies and love them; We are to see all others as your precious children in need of love and support. We are to use our skills and resources to serve you and your kingdom as you lead us. We are to become your agents to spread love.    

Instead of being love in action, I have lived my life in need of love.

God, thank you for loving me so much you sent your son.

Jesus, You came here to rescue me, and to restore what was lost through Adam.

Jesus, You paid the price for my sins with your suffering and death.

You gave Your life for me, I give my life to You. 

I used to live my life for me, I now live my life for You.

Jesus, You are now Lord of my life.

I hereby crucify the old me, I nail my sinful nature to Your cross.

I put my ego and self-conscious emotions to death.

I cancel all self-centered agendas and submit them all to you, Jesus.

I put off my old man and put on the new man, I put on Jesus

Your innocent blood covers my past so I can focus forward.

I am completely forgiven, My past is washed away.

I am born again. An adopted son of God.

I am a new person.

All old things pass away, behold all things are made new through Jesus.

There is no room for guilt, shame, or condemnation in my life. My past is behind me.

I am an official member of your flock, a member of the Body of Christ..

The Father sees me as innocent and Holy through Your precious blood.

I am committed to live a life worthy of the price You paid.

I invite you to come live inside Me, to take up residence.

I present my mind and body as a temple for your Holy Spirit.

I wake every day renewed in your spirit.

I am beginning to see things from your perspective.

As I get to know you, You are coming alive in me, transforming my thoughts and emotions.

You empower me to live the life you intended when you put me here.

With Your help, I will be more and more like You

The kingdom of God is forming in me.

I have a new purpose, I am no longer just trying to survive, I am living to bring you glory

There is no room for negativity in me, I now live in the hope of glory.

You are forming in me; It is no longer me that lives, but You through me.

You are restoring the original image of God in me; I am becoming love.

Your love will be perfected as it flows through me to others.

I offer my arms and legs to do your work on this earth.

I will walk in the light as you walked in the light.

I will be a bright light in this dark world.

I will shine as a beacon for your kingdom.

I will bring the Father glory through the Son.

 

Other Helpful Reference Materials:

Videos of Dan Mohler preaching this message:

Full Sermons – Very Powerful – Worth watching several times until the message sinks in:

“God sent His son to redeam Humanity not get You into heaven someday” Destiny Church Naples–Dec 2022

“Love not your life unto death” July 2018

“Deny Yourself” – May 2015

 “Live Life Transformed” – July 2018

Transforming is simple, It does not have to be a long process – May 2020

Your Goal vs Satans Goal – Dec 2023

Brief versions focused on this key message:

“Jesus said deny yourself and pick up your cross and follow me“ – Dec 2022  – 3 min

“What does it mean To Pick Up Your Cross”Aug 2019 – 6 Min

 “Deny Yourself Then Take Up Your Cross”  Aug 2016– 10 Min

                     

God Wants To Live Through You – Have You Cleared A Path?

Posted on by jakirkgasser10439

God Wants To Live Through You – Have You Cleared A Path?

God has High expectations for you – He wants to live through you – Have you done the work necessary to clear a path for Him? It is transformational!

The bible language can be a bit confusing but it is pretty amazing once you wrap your head around it.  The bible uses the term “image” to convey how we are wired internally – how our will, conscience and emotions connect to God’s intention for us. Follow along the biblical narrative and see how it works.

God created mankind in God’s image, in perfect harmony with God, and they experienced paradise on earth. The image was currupted when Adam became self-centered and chose to sin against God by eating of the forbidden tree. This caused seporation from God, struggles, suffering and death. We inherit the currupted nature from Adam, and experienc ethe same seporation and suffering. Jesus came to restore what was lost, to restore the image of God in us, and to reconnect us with the Father.  Jesus was the image of God in flesh. When we acknowledge our shortcomings and accept Him as Lord of our life, He can flow into us and begin to transfomr us into His image. We need to clear the path for Him to do that. We need to put aside our self-centered agendas and our self-conscious emotions so that He is able to do His work. As we make room for Him, He can come into us and take up reesidence.  The more we learn from Him, the more we can see things from His perspective. The more we focus on scripture the more we understand Him and his will. The more we reflect and listen to the Holy spirit, the more we transform our mind and adjust our actions to align with His will. As His image is formed in us, we become more and more like Him; We act in truth and become love in action. His love is perfected when it flows through us to others. We become a bright light in this dark world. As we shine, we become a beacon for the kingdom. It is remarkable how much we can change in a short time if we engage Him and give Him room to work.

Supporting Scriptures: 

God created mankind in His image:

“Then God said, ‘Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.’ So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.” Genesis 1:26–27

Adam corrupted the image by becoming self-centered and rebelling against God’s rules:

“but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’ But the serpent said to the woman, ‘You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.’ So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths.” Genesis 3:3-7

We inherit Adams image – the image corrupted by sin:

“And Adam lived one hundred and thirty years, and begot a son in his own likeness, after his image, and named him Seth.” Genesis 5:3

“Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, And in sin my mother conceived me.” Psalm 51:5

“Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned” Romans 5:12

Jesus came to restore the image – to save that which was lost:

“For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost.” Matthew 18:11

Jesus is the expressed image of God:

“God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person,” Hebrews 1:1-3

Jesus wants to come and live inside us – and put His life back in us:

“But when it pleased God, who set me apart from my mother’s womb and called by His grace, to reveal His Son in me.” Galatians 1:15-16

“Because the God who said, Out of darkness light shall shine, is the One who shined in our hearts to illuminate the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels that the excellency of the power may be of God and not out of us.” 2 Corinthians 4:6-7

“But if Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, the spirit is life because of righteousness.” Romans 8:10

The Holy Spirit is the change agent to help us make room:

“And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.” John 14:16-17

We are predestined to be conformed to the Image of the Son:

“For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.” Romans 8:29

We are to be renewed according to the image God:

“and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him,” Colossians 3:10
Be renewed by transformation of our mind – as Christ is formed in you

“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

You will need to pick up your cross and actively follow Jesus model – crucify the flesh, resist temptation, do not let sin against you become sin inside you.

“I am crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live in faith, the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself up for me.” Galatians 2:20

“For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps” 1 Peter 2:21

“And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.”Revelation 12:11

As you transform you are to become like Christ, act in love from a pure heart

“My children, with whom I travail again in birth until Christ is formed in you.” Galatians 4:19

“That Christ may make His home in your hearts through faith, that you, being rooted and grounded in love.” Ephesians 3:17

“Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world.”1 John 4:17

You are to become His glory in action, a beacon for the kingdom

“To whom God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” Colossians 1:27

“When He comes to be glorified in His saints and to be marveled at in all those who have believed.” 2 Thessalonians 1:10

It is all about transformation so that Jesus manifests in you and His Love flows through you. Deny yourself, Accept Him, Invite Him, Get to know Him, Listen to Him, Follow where He leads you, Become like Him. This approach will change your life. God wants you to be a beacon for His kingdom here and now. He does not want you just hanging out hoping to get into heaven someday.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, I thank you for creating me with a purpose, and for sending your son here to enable that purpose. I hereby deny my-self serving agendas and Invite Him in to be my lord of my life.  I yield my eyes to see things from your perspective. I yield my ears to hears and understand your words. I yeald my heart to love you and to love my neighbors as myself.  I yield my mouth to sing praises to you. I yield my hands to do your work. I yield my feet to go where you tell me. Lord, Help me to transform into the person you intended when you put me here. Help me form Jesus in me. Help me push my old self behind me and let the new self emerge. Help me flow your love out to others in all I do. I ask this in Jesus Holy name so that I can be a beacon for your kingdom..    

Hope this helps.
My two cents.

Become Love

Posted on by jakirkgasser10439

Your Mission Here Is To Become God’s Love In Action

Summary

He created this amazing place and put us here so that we could manifest His love, without humans, His love has no way to become useful. He gave us free will so that we could develop a conscience in this life,  discover Him, His Love and His Truth,  manifest His love on this earth, and live on with Him for eternity. Mankinds free will has gotten us into a lot of trouble over the years. The sinful nature we each now inherit keeps us self conscious and self centered and separates us from God and His agenda for us. He came here in person, in human form, to restore what was lost by Adam and to provide us a path out of the mess we made. We need to renounce our prior flawed ways and fully commit to follow Him going forward. He actually wants to come and live inside us to help us make this happen. This involves a complete transformation of your thinking, your words, and your behaviors. We need to shift from thinking about ourselves and our own interests in this world to thinking about God’s agenda for His kingdom and how we can be of service to Him through our lives here. The fancy words used in scripture are “Crucify” your flesh. Basically all of the temporary earthly interests of our physical being need to be subordinated to God’s interest in developing our eternal soul. Anything less than a full commitment to transformation will delay the benefits and continue to propagate undesired consequences for you and those around you.  

The following is my scriptural logic chain for what is going on.

  • God is love (1 john 4:8)
  • God made man in His image (Genesis 1:27)
  • The image of God was corrupted and died when Adam sinned and ate of the tree in the garden (Genesis 2:17)
    • Adam’s heart became self-centered (Genesis 3:3-6)
      • He wanted to be like a God and know Good and Evil
      • They listened to a lie – “You will not surely die if you eat of the tree”
      • They decided to ignore God’s one command and chose to eat of that tree
    • Adam’s nature changed, he became self-conscious as a result of that decision
      • He became conscious of his nakedness, hid himself, and became afraid (Genesis 3:7,10)
      • They deflected blame for their decision – Blamed Snake, Blamed Eve, Blamed God (Genesis 3:12-14)
    • Adam and Eve suffered consequences of separation from God (Genesis 3:13-16)
      • Exile form the garden
      • Labor, Suffering, Death
    • All have inherited that sinful nature and suffer in this fallen world (Romans 5:12)
  • God loves you
    • He loves you so much He sent His only son (John 3:16)
    • You know He loves you because He sent His son (1 John 4:9-10)
  • Jesus came to restore that which was lost, The image of God in us, our original purpose (Matthew 18:11)
    • Jesus came in the form of sinful flesh to take the burden of sin off of us (Romans 8:3-5)
    • Jesus’ blood covers that sinful nature and allows us to be born again (Romans 5:19)
  • His goal is for you to become love (1 Timothy 1:15), to be rooted and grounded in love (Ephesians 3:17)
  • Pure Love Is powerful when it is in you (1 Cor 13:4-7)
      • It suffers long
      • It is kind
      • It never seeks its own. ex, Never expect an I love you back…
      • It bears, believes, hopes, endures all things
  • His Love is perfected when it flows through you to others (1 John 4:12)
  • He wants to come and live in you to help you enable that flow
    • Youre body is God’s temple (1 Cor 3:16)
    • Your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit.  Glorify God with your body. (1 Cor 6:19-20)
    • We have this treasure (Christ Jesus) in earthen vessels (2 Corinthians 4:6-7)
    •  Christ in you, the Hope of Glory (Collosians 1:27)
    • “Christ is in you” (Romans 8:10)
  • You must get your ”self” out of the way so He can come in
    • Present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable ( Romans 12:1)
  • Deny Yourself, Pick Up Your Cross, and Follow Me (Matthew 16:24)
    • Deny your self, and your self-centered interests
      • Crucify your self-conscious interests / self-centered agendas
        • Give up your life to find it (Matthew 16:25)
        • Do not love the world or things in the world (1 John 2:15)
        • Be in the world, not of the world (John 17:16-18)
        • Get out of the carnal mind, Do not love the flesh (Romans 8:7-9)
        • Renounce ungoldliness and worldy passions, live self-contolled, uprght and godly lives (Titus 2:12)
      • Clues that you have not yet fully crucified your “self”
        • I deserve…
        • I want…
        • I feel…
        • I am offended by…
        • I am embarrassed by…
    • Pick up your Cross
      • Resist temptation 
        • Guart your heart, out of it flows the issues of life ( Proverbs 4:23)
        • Beware of your desires, they concieve sin ( James 1:14-15)
      • You will stand out when you refuse to participate in things of this world
      • You will suffer persecution at the hands of others in this world
      • Do not let sin against you become sin in you
        • Forgive them for they know not what they do (Luke 23:34)
    • Follow Jesus
      • Make Jesus Lord of your life
        • It is no longer ME that lives but Jesus through me (Galatians 2:20)
        • Submit your self to God. ( James 4:7)
        • Submit to God and be at peace with Him (Job 22:21)
      • Yield yourself fully to Him – 100% Committment – Not compliance
        • Your are not your own, you were bought with a price (1 Cor 6:20) 
        • He paid a high price for you (1 Cor 7:23)
        • “And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.” Matthew 10:38
      • Speak outloud your comittment to yield your self to Him 
        • My Eyes to see from His perspective
        • My Ears to Hear and understand His word
        • My Heart to love Him and His Kingdom
        • My Mouth to give Him praise
        • My Hands to do His work
        • My Feet to follow where He leads
        • My Resources to serve Him and His kingdom
        • My urges and desires to do His will
      • Follow Him
        • Become a Disciple
        • Get to know Him
        • Follow His commandments –  Love God with ALL your heart,  Love your neighbors more than yourself
        • Follow in His Steps (1 Peter 2:21)
        • Follow where He leads you
    • He is working to shape you, you need to submit and let Him
      • God is the potter, we are the clay. (Isaiah 64:8) 
      • Will the clay say to the potter, ‘What are you doing?’ (Isaiah 45:9)
    • Become Like Him, Become Love in Action
      • Speak the truth in love, Grow up into all things in Christ (Ephesians 4:15)
      • Walk in the light as He is in the light (1 John 1:7)
    • Shine as a bright light in the darkness to bring glory to the Father
      • You are the light of the world (Matthew 5:14)
      • Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:16)

  • Wait, I’m not ready to deny myself and submit to Him

If you are not willing to deny yourself and follow Jesus – it is a sign you love your earthly “self” more than you love God and His kingdom. You are more focused on satisfying the wants and desires of your temporary physical earthly body rather than investing to develop your spiritual body to fully optimize your life on earth and prepare yourself so you can spend eternity with God.

Maybe you don’t fully appreciate how much He loves you: All He has done to put you here, All He has invested in you with passions to help you find your true purpose and talents to help you be productive. Maybe you don’t appreciate all He does to support you every second of every day with food in your mouth, housing over your head, clothes on your back, and air in your lungs, All He has done to arrange people in your life to love you, to teach you and support you, Maybe you don’t appreciate how badly He wants to spend eternity with you in heaven, He loves you so much He sent His son so you could fulfil His plans for you.

Maybe you don’t fully appreciate the consequences of not submitting yourself to Him in this life. He knows you inside and out, and He knows your heart. He will give you exactly what you love in your heart; If you forget Him, He will forget you. Sin separates us from Him; If we do not love Him with all of our heart, we will remain separated from Him. If you leave this life loving yourself more than you love God, you will spend eternity with yourself and people just like you rather than spending it with God and with people who love God. The hells are filled with people who chose to focus on themselves and live separated from God.

Maybe deep down inside you are concerned that if you commit to follow Jesus, your earthly oriented activities will be exposed and you will need to stop.

Maybe you just don’t want to give up control; It is your life to live after all. He makes it clear that anyone who tries to save his earthly oriented life will lose it eventually, but anyone who gives up control of his earthly life will discover and awaken a spiritual based life that through Jesus that will transform the earthly life experience and extend into eternity.

The idea is to shift perspective on things: You are an eternal being in a temporary earthly body. You have a purpose here. The purpose can not be fulfilled as long as there are self-orienrted, self-conscious, self-centered agendas at play. He wants to come into you and help you identify those agendas, root them out, and help you transform so you can fulfill your purpose. He can only do that if you get yourself out of the way, invite Him in and listen to Him. He promises that the only things you will loose are the things you were not intended to have.

Ask Him to help you sort your agendas and your activities.

Are you drawing ever closer to God: searching, seeing, listening, learning, gaining understanding

Are you living in a thankful perspective: Continually recognizing what God has done, is doing, will do. Expressing praise and thanksgiving

Are you experiencing God’s love: He sent His son to die for you, so you could live life through Him. Raise Jesus up and Recieve Him as Lord. 

Are you finding more and more ways to flow His love to others through your thoughts, words, and actions.

Are you executing in alignment with His will, avoiding self-centered or self-serving agendas.

Are you living a life worthy of the price He paid?

Are you presenting yourself as a vessel worthy of His presence?

Are you using your passions and talents to serve God and others, or just yourself?

Are you using your resources to serve God and others, or just yourself? (Things, Money, Time)

Are you making yourself available for His use?

Are you reflecting and repenting on your thoughts words and actions as you strive to improve

Just some things to consider

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Supporting Scripture

God is love

“He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.” 1 John 4:8

God made man in His image

“So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.” Genesis 1:27

Adam annd Eve listened to the devil and His lies

“Then the serpent said to the woman, ‘You will not surely die. For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” Genesis 3:4-5.

Adam became self-centered, wanted to become like a god, and chose to ignore Gods rule

“So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate.” Genesis 3:6

Sin changed Adam’s very nature – His eyes were opened, he became self-conscious – fear, naked

“Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves coverings.” Geneiss3:7

“So he said, ‘I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself.’” Genesis 3:10

They each deflect blame for their error

“Then the man said, ‘The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I ate.’” Genesis 3:12

“The woman said, ‘The serpent deceived me, and I ate.’” Genesis 3:14

Adam and Eve suffer consequences of sin and the resulting separation from God

“To the woman He said: ‘I will greatly multiply your sorrow and your conception; In pain you shall bring forth children; Your desire shall be for your husband, And he shall rule over you.” Genesis 3:16

“Then to Adam He said, ‘Because you have heeded the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree of which I commanded you, saying, ‘You shall not eat of it’: ‘Cursed is the ground for your sake; In toil you shall eat of it All the days of your life. Both thorns and thistles it shall [b]bring forth for you, And you shall eat the herb of the field.  In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread Till you return to the ground, For out of it you were taken; For dust you are, And to dust you shall return.” Genesis 3:17-19

We all now inherit Adam’s sinful nature and suffer in this fallen world

“Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned.” Romans 5:12

God’s Loves You

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16

“In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him.  In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” 1 John 4:9-10

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

“What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?  He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?” Romans 8:31-32

“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

As it is written: ‘For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.’

“Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:33-39

Jesus redeemed that which was lost through Adam – to restore the image of God in us.

“For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost.” Matthew 18:11

“For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous.” Romans 5:19

“For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh” Romans 8:3

Our purpose is to be rooted and gounded in Love, to become love.

“For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ…that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” Ephesians 3:14-19

“Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith” 1 Timothy 1:5

Pure love is powerful when it is in us

“Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up;  does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil;  does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth;  bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” 1 Corinthians 13:4-8

His love is perfected when it flows through us

“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

He wants to come and live inside us to enable that flow of Love.

“Jesus answered him, ‘If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.'” John 14:23 

“But if Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, the spirit is life because of righteousness.”Romans 8:10

“For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.  But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.” 2 Corinthians 4:6-7

“To them (us,the saints) God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.”Colossians 1:27

We need to get ourselves out of the way and make a place for Him.

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

Crucify Your Flesh

“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, the things of the Spirit.” Romans 8:5

“Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.” Romans 8:7-9

“Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” 1 John 2:15

“Training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age,” Titus 2:12

“Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.” Colossians 3:5

And He was saying to them all, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me.” Luke 9:23. Matthew 16:24, Mark 8:34

“”knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin;” Romans 6:6

“Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” Galatians 5:24

Submit yourself completely to Jesus

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

“Submit to God and be at peace with him; in this way prosperity will come to you.” Job 22:21

“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” Galatians 2:20

He paid a high price for you

“You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men.” 1 Corinthians 7:23

Present Your Self as a Temple Worhty of His Presence

“Or do you not know that your body is a temSupportingple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.” 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

“I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship” Romans 12:1

Resiste Temptation – It starts in the heart

“Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.” Proverbs 4:23 

“But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.” James 1:14-15

Seporate yourself from the world

“They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world.” John 17:16-18

Pick up your cross.  Do not let sin agaisnt you become sin in you

“Then Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they’re doing…'” Luke 23:34 

Follow in His Steps

“For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.”1 Peter 2:21

He is trying to shape you, you need to submit and let Him

“But now, O Lord, You are our Father;
We are the clay, and You our potter;
And all we are the work of Your hand.” Isaiah 64:8

“Woe to the one who quarrels with his Maker—
An earthenware vessel among the vessels of earth!
Will the clay say to the potter, ‘What are you doing?’
Or the thing you are making say, ‘He has no hands’?” Isaiah 45:9

Become Love

“Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world.” 1 John 4:17

“speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ” Ephesians 4:15

Shine as a light in the darkness

“But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.” 1 John 1:7

“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.” Matthew 5:14

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

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Supporting Resources