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1.
Just saw a few snippets from the recent movie “The Jesus Revolution.” This movie chronicles a move of God from the late sixties to early seventies that began with the hippies on the west coast and spread across the country. I experienced this move of the Holy Spirit so I know somewhat of what I'm speaking. One movie reviewer accurately said “but after euphoria comes the laundry,” meaning after mountaintop experiences we still have to go back down to the oft-mundane reality of our normal lives. But what the reviewer missed was the true meaning of the movie, which wasn't “love, love, love” but “OMG, Jesus is real!” That changes everything. Yes, the laundry is still there, but it's not just that you no longer see it the same, you can't see it the same. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.
“Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”
2.
Every now and again Hollywood secular movies portray spiritual truths without meaning to. I feel such a movie is Polar Express. When the boy gets on the train in spite of his doubts, he sets in motion a sequence of events that will eventually allow him to know the truth. He was never forced to believe but when he stood face to face with The Truth, he could never again not believe. And while I don't think it will be exactly as seen in the movie, if it were that way, the scene where Santa comes out and the elves go wild is the best depiction of what I feel it would be like in Heaven with Jesus.
“Jesus answered, I am the way and THE TRUTH and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (CAPS mine)
“For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.”
3.
The first step towards God is the same as those in recovery instantly recognize: I am broken.
“And there were shepherds residing in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks by night. 9Just then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid! For behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people: 11Today in the city of David a Savior as been born to you. He is Christ the Lord.”
Jesus, our Great Physician.
4.
There's a lot of animosity against the church and Christians who are seen as acting unChrist-like. I won't argue that there is some merit to that view. What I will argue is that that view is not a valid excuse to reject Jesus. This may shock some but I don't believe God needs us in getting someone to Jesus, but He allows us to be a part if we let Him. God will reach anyone honestly seeking Him regardless of the church or Christians. If you reject Jesus then it's because you deliberately chose to do so. No excuses.
5.
Knowing you are going to die someday is like living with the elephant in the room that won't go away. You can either grapple with it or pretend it's not there or tell yourself it's really not that big. I recommend the first choice.
6.
We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. 2 Cor. 10:5
Mental imagery can be a powerful tool against attacks in our thoughts. I'm not sure how much ability Satan has to inject thoughts into our mind but I find myself all the time fighting against negative thoughts of various types.
The Bible uses imagery often. God is our strong tower. Our cleft in the rock. Jesus offers living water. But our imagery is to be centered on God and his ability. Positive thinking centers on our ability which I think will eventually fail because it relies on us too much.
One thing I find effective is to imagine God positioned between me and whatever thought is trying to trouble me. The most damaging thoughts are those that elicit negative emotions. Emotions of sadness, anger, shame and guilt. Picturing God in their path takes away their power I find. That's the way to take thoughts captive.
7.
God usually waits until asked before entering into your life. But it's better to ask for His help and guidance on the small things. Crisis time is not a good time. Practice by having quiet times of reflection and Bible study. Tell Him small things you can do on your own but you still want Him and His will that may be different than what you would have done. That will open your spirit to better discern the touch of the Holy Spirit in your spirit and mind. You will start discerning the Spirit if you are honestly seeking. I would also highly recommend getting involved with a group that believes in the moving of the Spirit in the world today. There's nothing in the Bible that says we don't need everything of the Spirit than they had in Acts.
8.
There is this viewpoint that there are universal truths that transcend religions. It believes Hell is only temporary and that all will eventually be saved and go to Heaven. Some form of this has believers in every major religion including Christianity. In America you may hear of them as Universal Unitarians. It's this kind of thing that could well be involved with a world religion that will come about in the End Times as prophesied in the Bible. It will deceive many.
Fortunately God is still God and has given us a way to discern and protect against false doctrine. Being born again through Jesus and Jesus only is a spiritual transaction. You can fake it but eventually truly born again Christians will detect the deception.
9.
A word on being saved and born again:
that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. Romans 10:9-10
The verses above lay out how to be saved and born again. It's by faith. One usually doesn't start out feeling saved. But eventually if you continue on in faith even through hard times, your feelings will come in line with your faith. Our faith will be tested by trials which the Bible calls sufferings.
Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; Phillipians 2:12
I believe in the verse above that Paul is saying we need to be diligent about our salvation. Do the things that reinforce our faith and don't do the things that don't reinforce our faith. Paul took nothing for granted. The Bible has multiple examples of faith being “shipwrecked” as one verse put it.
One needn't doubt their salvation if they follow the verses I've quoted.
10.
Use your emotions to help you spiritually. Your emotions don't lie. They reveal to you what is in your heart.
11.
Now faith is the assurance of what we hope for and the certainty of what we do not see. Hebrews 11:1
Different versions of this verse use words like confidence or substance instead of assurance. I like assurance because I believe it best explains what this verse is saying.
I believe if you are truly seeking God then you will have moments when you just know that it's going to be alright. You have a sense of assurance regardless of the circumstances. It's a sense in your spirit put there by God. That's what you want to shoot for. That is what brings faith.
12.
Street evangelism to me is not passing out flyers to people on the sidewalk. As an example of what I think it is, if you frequent a shop then you gradually get to know the workers. Nothing forced. Let them become a person to you first. Then should the opportunity come the Holy Spirit can prompt you on what to say. Same goes for your neighbors and who you work with. People first. But boldness second. As the saying goes, They have to know you care before they care what you know.
13.
Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. John 14:27
If you are struggling with having peace, then I guarantee you it is because you have not put every part of your life in God's hands. It is just that simple if you let it spur you to finding and meditating on verses like the verse above. If you give mental assent but take no action then it will fall in the simplistic category that I see a lot of on Facebook.
14.
My State of the Union to Christians:
Israel: regardless of what happens short-term, the Bible says they will still exist at End Times.
Social issues such as politics, immigration, gender identity, etc etc etc: God is looking at your motive for your stand on these issues more than the stand itself. That's what you will have to answer for some day when you stand before Him. It's just a thought, but if a social issue gets you hot and bothered, that might be a red flag. We are to have peace in the midst of the storm. We march to the beat of a different drum because we know it's God who is ultimately in charge. And a red flag for sure is if any social issue causes you hatred or dislike.
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