FOR A DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORD AND NEW REVELATIONS
God has plans for everyone in this world and He knew some people in advance, some special characters to do special works. And He makes these to be like the image of His beloved Son Jesus. What a privilege to be like God’s Son? I believe all who responded to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, His son, are the ones God knew in advance. God is not stopping with just that, He chose them, called them, justified them and glorified them also!
Many know the story of Adam and Eve and how sin entered mankind. How many of us really know this is not a story but real life situation happened in Eden Garden which went on affecting generations to come till our time. But there is also another life changing situation God created which is greater than what Adam did to mankind, in which God gave eternal life to all those who believe in Jesus Christ, the second Adam, so that all can become righteous and have good relationship with God. “So just as sin ruled over all people and brought them to death, now God’s wonderful grace rules instead, giving us right standing with God and resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 5:21 (NLT)
The context here is of food, fasting and feasting. If we are not sure of what you eat is good to you and you have doubts; then it is not of faith, so it is sin to you. This will awaken many of us from walking in doubt and unbelief while having our food. What you determine in your mind is what you receive. Jesus said according to your faith let it be done to you. Matthew 9:29. So if you have faith in whatever you eat or observe fast or feast it is good for you. Because whatever is not from faith is sin. Romans 14:23.
Jesus after His resurrection from the dead appeared to the eleven disciples and He was scolding them for their lack of faith and unbelief. Then He explained to them the signs which would follow if you are a believer. This will help us also to test ourselves whether we are the true believers as Jesus wants us to be. Jesus said, “And these signs will accompany those who believe: In My name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.”Mark 16:17-18 (NIV)
We are not only supposed to grow and mature in our spiritual life but also should be disciplined by God to be perfect warriors for Him. As the word of God describes, God disciplines His children whom He loves like a Father. Without disciplining yourself you cannot study, work or do anything properly. So we must submit ourselves to God to allow Him to correct and discipline you. There are verses which refers to the discipline as to be like the discipline of the soldiers or athletes, who really do all things including diet, exercise and giving all their time to discipline themselves. How many of us are willing to be corrected?
We, who are born again, know that we have received Christ Jesus in our hearts by faith and Christ Jesus is living inside of us. But how many of us know that we must allow Christ to increase in us and we ourselves must decrease? John the Baptist understood his position in God’s Kingdom and made sure that he exalted Jesus above himself. We also must cut down our life to such an extent in our thoughts, words and deeds so that in the end only Christ Jesus lives His life and does work through us. In this way our work for God will be holy and perfect, powerful and pleasing to God.
Christian life is spiritual life and we should be able to discern the spirits of people around us. There are two groups of spirits still working among us. Some spirits in men work for God and they are from God and they think and plan for Godly purposes in whatever they do; these have spirit of truth. The spirit of truth, which confesses Jesus Christ is God in flesh, is the Spirit of God. But some spirits who do not believe the truth, try what may, they never understand the purposes of God and the things of God and reject God’s plans in their lives, these have spirit of error. This is the spirit of Antichrist which is now in the world.
All believers should live ‘Zoe’ Life; which means life that is real and genuine. Life that comes directly from God. We should not settle for anything less by not trying to attain that kind of anointed life to have abundance right here on earth, which will be a wonderful testimony to people around us too. Many are waiting for that kind of life, only when they die and go to heaven. But the Word of God says clearly, your mortal bodies should have health and all things around you should work together for your good, if you have God’s Spirit dwelling in you.
There are many attributes of God we discuss to exalt His Name. But one of them is overlooked by many are His forgetfulness. God is the only one who can forget bad happenings. God says, “For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.”” Hebrews 8:12 (NKJV) Is God forgetful, in the sense, He forgets all things? No, not at all, He remembers all good deeds done by people and makes sure He rewards them – in this world and the world to come. Revelation 22:12. But He forgets all the bad things of those who confess their sins and repent. Glory to God!
Many are walking in the way they think is right. After certain age we refuse to make corrections, even though people of our own households or those who are very close to us point that out. But the word of God says, “All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, But the Lord weighs the spirits.” Proverbs 16:2. God has designed a certain standard of life to all of us individually unique; which are definitely higher than the ways and thoughts of our own. We should meditate on the Word and find out to live that best life by putting into action the things we study. We should constantly apply all that we learnt in our lives.