Post by 2fw8212a on Jun 11, 2018 9:47:23 GMT -5
Many people are not willing to cross the bridge and proceed further to spiritual birth and growth.
And false prophets would not encourage anyone to do this. Why?! Because it requires faith in Christ.
"But Jesus looked at them and said to them,
“With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”" - Matthew 19:26
"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
It requires true repentance that only God is able to give, and after that bridge is crossed a whole new life begins.
"If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which
are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God." - Colossians 3:1
Once the bridge is crossed, in faith, there is no way back to the old and sad life you had before.
"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
It is like going out of a place where there was only suffering and torment, to a place where righteousness, peace and joy reigns.
"for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking,
but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit." - Romans 14:17
As there is no way back, if you go back and try to cross it again the bridge will not be there and consequently: You will fall in the abyss.
This happens with the cowardly and unbelieving, whose trust and hope is not in Christ but in men.
"Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him." - Hebrews 10:38
"...one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead..." - Philippians 3:13
"Remember Lot's wife." - Luke 17:32
"But his wife looked back behind him, and she became a pillar of salt." - Genesis 19:26
"It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing.
The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life." - John 6:63
While you are crossing the bridge you may stop, you may fall, but if you believe, the Lord is always there to rescue back.
Do not let anything make you look back, trust in Him always... There is no better way.
"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
"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
"to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God." - Ephesians 3:19
Now, why so many people go in the opposed direction of spiritual growth?!
As we can see, hardly anyone will encourage you to live for Christ and become indeed a new creature.
In fact, those who do such and encourage others to do so are seen by many as workers of Satan.
"It is enough for a disciple that he be like his teacher, and a servant like his master.
If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more will they call those of his household!" - Matthew 10:25
Yes, they may try to hide it or do not confess it but that is the truth: They believe we are all condemned for trusting in Christ.
Just because we believe in what is written, and seek to forget indeed the old life and pursue, indeed, what is from above.
"As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father,
so he who feeds on Me will live because of Me." - John 6:57
Then the reason why they think those things is because they are not feeding on Him.
"And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it." - John 1:5
Do not be deceived, there is nothing better than to be in Christ and to pursue the things of the Spirit:
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness,
goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law." - Galatians 5:22-23
"For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace." - Romans 8:6
But those who have not tasted it will not believe in this, but it is the truth: There is nothing better!
And I can say that carnal pleasures are very, very deceitful and I understand it is very hard to believe there is something better.
It is the deceitfulness of sin at work, it deceives you in thinking that there is nothing better and you can't escape it.
"Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed." - John 8:36
But the truth is: In Christ, you can!
"But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you.
Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His." - Romans 8:9
"O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?
I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!..." - Romans 7:24-25
"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." - Philippians 4:13
The truth is that many people are not looking forward to know Christ and leave their old life of sins and all uncleanness behind.
Many people are just following other's faithless opinions and not having the courage to trust in Christ, to love Him, and enjoy the new life that waits for them.
Yes, we will die, we will suffer persecution, we will suffer tribulation, we will suffer pain, we will be hated for no reason...
"But all these things they will do to you for My name's sake,
because they do not know Him who sent Me." - John 15:21
But it is much better to suffer all these things in Christ, than to suffer all these things out of Him.
"Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord,
for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ..." - Philippians 3:8
Because I am sure that my life will indeed come to an end in this world, and without Christ I am hopeless and condemned.
"He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already,
because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." - John 3:18
But while I am in Christ, at the end of all things... Everlasting life will still be waiting for me.
"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
"For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God." - Colossians 3:3
Conclusion:
If we have to suffer, then let us suffer for what is indeed good and just!
"But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you are blessed.
“And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled.”" - 1 Peter 3:14
God bless you in Jesus' name! Amen.
And false prophets would not encourage anyone to do this. Why?! Because it requires faith in Christ.
"But Jesus looked at them and said to them,
“With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”" - Matthew 19:26
"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
It requires true repentance that only God is able to give, and after that bridge is crossed a whole new life begins.
"If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which
are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God." - Colossians 3:1
Once the bridge is crossed, in faith, there is no way back to the old and sad life you had before.
"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
It is like going out of a place where there was only suffering and torment, to a place where righteousness, peace and joy reigns.
"for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking,
but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit." - Romans 14:17
As there is no way back, if you go back and try to cross it again the bridge will not be there and consequently: You will fall in the abyss.
This happens with the cowardly and unbelieving, whose trust and hope is not in Christ but in men.
"Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him." - Hebrews 10:38
"...one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead..." - Philippians 3:13
"Remember Lot's wife." - Luke 17:32
"But his wife looked back behind him, and she became a pillar of salt." - Genesis 19:26
"It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing.
The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life." - John 6:63
While you are crossing the bridge you may stop, you may fall, but if you believe, the Lord is always there to rescue back.
Do not let anything make you look back, trust in Him always... There is no better way.
"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
"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
"to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God." - Ephesians 3:19
Now, why so many people go in the opposed direction of spiritual growth?!
As we can see, hardly anyone will encourage you to live for Christ and become indeed a new creature.
In fact, those who do such and encourage others to do so are seen by many as workers of Satan.
"It is enough for a disciple that he be like his teacher, and a servant like his master.
If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more will they call those of his household!" - Matthew 10:25
Yes, they may try to hide it or do not confess it but that is the truth: They believe we are all condemned for trusting in Christ.
Just because we believe in what is written, and seek to forget indeed the old life and pursue, indeed, what is from above.
"As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father,
so he who feeds on Me will live because of Me." - John 6:57
Then the reason why they think those things is because they are not feeding on Him.
"And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it." - John 1:5
Do not be deceived, there is nothing better than to be in Christ and to pursue the things of the Spirit:
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness,
goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law." - Galatians 5:22-23
"For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace." - Romans 8:6
But those who have not tasted it will not believe in this, but it is the truth: There is nothing better!
And I can say that carnal pleasures are very, very deceitful and I understand it is very hard to believe there is something better.
It is the deceitfulness of sin at work, it deceives you in thinking that there is nothing better and you can't escape it.
"Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed." - John 8:36
But the truth is: In Christ, you can!
"But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you.
Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His." - Romans 8:9
"O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?
I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!..." - Romans 7:24-25
"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." - Philippians 4:13
The truth is that many people are not looking forward to know Christ and leave their old life of sins and all uncleanness behind.
Many people are just following other's faithless opinions and not having the courage to trust in Christ, to love Him, and enjoy the new life that waits for them.
Yes, we will die, we will suffer persecution, we will suffer tribulation, we will suffer pain, we will be hated for no reason...
"But all these things they will do to you for My name's sake,
because they do not know Him who sent Me." - John 15:21
But it is much better to suffer all these things in Christ, than to suffer all these things out of Him.
"Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord,
for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ..." - Philippians 3:8
Because I am sure that my life will indeed come to an end in this world, and without Christ I am hopeless and condemned.
"He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already,
because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." - John 3:18
But while I am in Christ, at the end of all things... Everlasting life will still be waiting for me.
"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
"For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God." - Colossians 3:3
Conclusion:
If we have to suffer, then let us suffer for what is indeed good and just!
"But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you are blessed.
“And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled.”" - 1 Peter 3:14
God bless you in Jesus' name! Amen.