Born Again

 Something to think about 

Born Again 

“And Jehovah God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.”

Genesis 2:7 ASV

“Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except one be born anew, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

John 3:3 ASV

Have you ever envisioned Adam before God breathed into him? I see him as a full-scale sand castle. In Genesis, it tells us God created Adam out of the dust of the earth. Since there were no tables, no birthing rooms, no modern inventions, no archaic devises nothing other than the plants and trees I see Adam laying on the ground from which he was crafted. Notice I used the word crafted because at this point Adam is not alive. He may have been a perfect sculpture of a man. A perfectly designed representation of a man with all of the detail of a human but he was not existing. He had perfectly and meticulously design components of man. He had hair, teeth, face, eyes, eyelids, eyebrows, lips, cheeks, chin, neck, torso, genitals, legs, feet he was a complete facsimile of a man but he was lifeless.  He was inert with the color of sand. Why sand?   It’s my sandcastle you can see him in any color you want.

Then it says God breathed into his nostrils the breath of life. This moment of humanity, this moment is so pivotal to our existence, yet I have never heard anyone address it. The moment of creation is only time in recorded history that God is is directly physical with humanity. If you look at the story of creation, it is the only time this statement is made “lets Us make.” The “Us” that is referred to is God. It is referring to all that God is. It is referring to the triune God. This “Us” is made up of all that God is. Then it says “let us make man in our image in our likeness.” Genesis 1: 26 Now what does that mean? It means to make man in the likeness and image of God; it means we are created with similar attributes of God. We have a soul; we have a mind, we have a spirit, we have a body. 

Some may say wait just a minute God is a spirit. He does not have a body.  I don’t agree in Genesis it relates how God would walk with Adam and Eve in the cool of the day walking requires a body. You might argue that Adam and Eve walked but that God was there in spirit. How do you hear an approaching spirit? If that is so why did Adam hide from God when he heard God coming to him after he sinned. Did the spirit of God shake the branches in the garden to announce his coming? If he did, it requires a physical presence to shake the trees. What did Moses see when he looked at the back of God? A spiritual manifestation of something that did not exist? After the resurrection, Jesus told Thomas to touch His wounds. How could Thomas have touched Him if he had no body? I believe it is more accurate to say God is not bound by His physical body. He exists in different forms simultaneously. Another question if God we’re solely spirit why at the resurrection would we be given an incorruptible body? Why not just keep us in spiritual form and dispense with the body altogether? 

Why is the body important? Because it says God breathed into the nostrils of man and man became a living soul. I envision it this way. God has crafted a perfect man, but he is not alive. God got on His knees bent over and leaned over the lifeless body of Adam and physically breathes life into Adam. And man is born. Why do I believe that? Because every other creature God brought into existence He spoke into existence. Nowhere else does it say God breathed into anything. 

This breath of life was not simply blowing oxygen into His lifeless body. It was not a shot of electricity to jump start, Adam. It is the life of God Himself infused into Adams lifeless body. This breath is the cause of Adam living. It is the reason we still live today. It is the power that turned that sandcastle of man into a living breathing functioning person. It was that breath that turned some of the dust into blood. It is that breath that made the eyes see. It is that breath that turned the dust formed heart into the beating source of power. It is through that breath that the rest of humanity came into existence. It is because of that breath that we are immortal. It is the breath of the living God that sustains you today.  

“Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except one be born anew, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

John 3:3 ASV  “Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?” This question is the right question at the right time asked of the right person. Nicodemus is asking how can I do the impossible? 

If you look at what Jesus said he said: “you must be born again.” This phrase implies that there was a previous birth. He is saying you were born once before; now you must do it again. Born again means born again if he is not referring to a physical rebirth what is he talking about?

“And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.” Genesis 2:7 KJV Jesus was not speaking of being born again physically He was referring to a spiritual rebirth. Back in Genesis, we were born spiritually when God breathed in us His unquenchable breath of life. Jesus is talking about being born again spiritually. For me, this is a revelation because I was not taught when the first birth occurred. Now I understand I was born spiritually through the everlasting breath of life in the garden of Eden. One of the attributes of God is that He is a spirit. Part of His spirit was originally placed in me at the creation. That breath of life is the spirit of life that sustains us and empowers us to live.  Being born again is to receive another portion of the spirit of God. It is becoming a new creation because of another facet of the spirit of God. This new portion, in reality, replaces the old you and transforms you into a new creation. So much so that you are now called a child of God. You are born again.

Leia Mais…

God is Not Going to Roll Over and Play Dead

Something to think about.

God is Not Going to Roll Over and Play Dead

God is not going to roll over and play dead. Our society has all but declared war on Christendom. We have been slandered, threaten, shamed and forced into the four walls of our homes and churches. We have allowed the doctrine of separation of church and state to become the tool of suppression and oppression of our beliefs and our expression of them.  We have conceded our voice and position to those who thought it better for us to take a step back from society in the name of peace and tranquility. Because we were taught, it is better to live in peace with everyone. We were taught, convinced the quieting of our beliefs would make us more acceptable to society. We were convinced becoming non-confrontational would be in the best interest and image of Christianity. Is it because we may taken the verse that says, "If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone" Romans 12:18 to mean we are to suppress our beliefs?

I want you to look at what Jesus had to say about peace.

⁴⁹ “I came to cast fire on the earth, and would that it were already kindled! ⁵⁰ I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how great is my distress until it is accomplished! ⁵¹ Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. ⁵² For from now on in one house there will be five divided, three against two and two against three. ⁵³ They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.” Luke 12:49-53 Yes, we are to live in peace with everyone, if it is at all possible, but not at the cost of Christ. We are not to sacrifice Christ once again for the desire for peace. We are not to compromise the gospel for peace. We're not to intellectually, rationalize, away the truth of the word of God for the approval and acceptance of humanity.

Jesus himself said, ⁵¹ Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. We have to come to grips with this. If you are a follower of Jesus you do not belong to this world you cannot live by the precepts of this society. You cannot abide by a doctrine that says you must be silent. You cannot abide by the doctrine of non-offensiveness for the purposes of peace. Please understand I am not advocating open resistance against a society of sin. I am saying if you are obedient to the word of God you will be offensive to those who oppose God.  If you are a follower of Jesus, you already are offensive. Just because you are numbered with the beloved, you are hated.  

God is not going to abide by the idea or doctrine of separation of church and state. He does not recognize or has He given the state the authority to silence Him. He does not acknowledge the sovereignty of any government to silence His word. We are the ones that must recognize His sovereignty about His word. We must go forward to the acknowledgment of His immutable word. Whether we like it or not God's word will never be put under a bushel.  

God is not considering compromise, he is not acknowledging the intellectual rationalization of the secularist or theologian. All who corrupt the word of God regardless of where they come from are an offense to God.  We should not be concerned with offending humanity, we should be concerned with offending God.  

Through all the mistakes the purposeful distortion of the word of God and the open intentional assault on His people His plan is unaffected. His son will return there will be a judgment day, punishment will be meted out and justice will be upheld. Every anti-God sentiment, action, distortion and defiance will not change the plan. It will not inhibit the final destination of man. God is not going to say oh I made a mistake humanity is right I am wrong you can have it your way. He is not going to roll over and acquiesce to humanities morality or supremacy. 

35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. Rev 21:35

God will not roll over, after the world and the heavens cease to exist God's words will still prevail.

Leia Mais…

No Middle ground.

Something to think about.

No Middle Ground

¹⁴ “Now therefore fear the Lord and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. ¹⁵ And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:14-15

So many of us live our lives in the middle ground. We want to be safe but not too safe. We want to be inconspicuous while being noticed. We want to be warm but a little cold. We want to be comfortable but always seeking comfort. We want to sin and be righteousness. We want to honor God and enjoy the pleasure of immorality. We want to define what is right and force God to accept it.


I as realist have always understood that we as a people live in this untenable and illogical lifestyle. Yet, I always hoped that we would come to our senses and return to God. I always believed that deep down inside everyone would come to the obvious truth of God. I recently realized I was wrong. Not everyone will choose God. Some having known God will knowingly reject Him. It is a concept the is unimaginable to me. I now understand people reject God not out of ignorance but out of choice, they believe they have a better way.


Joshua is asking a question that is as on time as any question being asked today. Whom will you serve? Will you serve the god of social justice, the god of female empowerment, the god of fiscal victory, the god of political right? Will you serve the god of nationalism, the god of science, the god of personal pleasure? The god of power? There are literally gods of all kinds asking us to serve them.



We are being inundated with so much information so fast we don't have time to digest it.  Our lives are moving faster than ever, and we are being left behind. Only a few of us have the capacity to harness a small part of the information that is coming to us, and we turn those few into gods. Information is coming so fast we don't have time to question it. We don't have time to critically analyze it so we succumb to those that are gifted with charm or a strong will who can scream the loudest. The information the problems are coming so fast we can only run on a continual sprint to keep up. As a result, we have lost sight of God. He is but a blur just out of focus in our disintegrating society.


Though life is moving at a pace never before experienced the question Joshua is asking is still pertinent. Back in Joshua's day and today the same situation exists there is no middle ground. God does not live in the middle ground. The middle ground we have created and have become comfortable with does not exist. God is asking you this day, today, choose this day who you will serve. This really is not a question it is a command of choice. God has only given you two choices. Choose Him an live or reject him and die. Please do not think you can negotiate with Him about your righteousness or your worthiness to be accepted that argument has been had and decided. It will not be revisited.

The middle ground does not exist it is not safe. It will lead to your destruction.  Choose this day who will serve; the choice is not optional.

Leia Mais…

Destination

Something to think about.

Destination

14 I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us. Philippians 3:14 

One of the most famous inspiring verse in the entire Bible. Read in context this verse is about living through life's adversity and challenges to achieve the ultimate goal of living eternally with Jesus. I am not going to address this aspect of this verses. I want to talk about "the heavenly prize."   

I want to look at the goal, the heavenly prize. What is the heavenly prize? More than anything else it is a destination. It is not a mystical ideology or expression. It is not a metaphor for what our end result should look like. It is the end result. It is a real place it is a physical reality. It is something we will be able to touch, feel, smell and taste. Ok, so what? It is a place it has substance it has specific boundaries. It is something we can actually feel and interact with.  Again, so what? 

This verse is not just about the struggle it is more about the destination. Without the destination, we struggle in vain.  Without a clear result, why would you exert the effort? Our world right now is headed down an abyss of hopeless nothingness. Every move of society leads to where? No one is asking the question if we proceed on our present course what will it lead to.  Every path society is pursuing leads to an end of nothingness, and we are hopeless to stop it. The only path that offers hope is the path that leads to "the heavenly prize."

I have to ask you do you have a destination for your life?  If not, why not? We are famous for hearing and saying you can do anything you want. But no you can't. You can only do those things you define and have a destination. You have infinite choices, but you can only accomplish those things you can actually define. You are not going to become the leader in your industry or profession without somewhere along the line turning that dream into a destination.  

So you have a dream, so what? You've heard all of your life you must have a dream and you have one so what? Let me exclaim this as clearly as possible no one has ever accomplished a dream. You reach a destination. You do not accomplish a dream. I had a dream of becoming a professional baseball player, I never became one. Not because I didn't have the tools, I did but because it was never a destination. It was a pie in the sky dream that had no, landing strip. It never moved from the dream stage to the destination stage. What would have happened had I made it a concrete destination?  

What makes the destination so important is that it defines the course. Your dreams do not define the course that is why you can never accomplish a dream.  The destination defines the course that turns the dream into reality.

"The heavenly prize" do you want it? You must make it a destination.  The destination will determine the course. Then the dream becomes a reality.

Leia Mais…

A Good Steward

Something to think about.

A Good Steward


¹⁰ As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace. 1 Peter 4:10

The sermons I've heard concerning stewardship have always involved the proper use of money.  It is almost as if that is the only thing that stewardship applies to, but look at context of this verse.

⁷ The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers. ⁸ Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. ⁹ Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. ¹⁰ As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: ¹¹ whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 4:7-11

In this context, a reference to money is not made. It says "As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace. We are to use the gifts God has furnished us with as good stewards that God may be glorified.  It says "as good stewards of God's varied grace". Gods varied grace, could this mean that the gifts we were given are varied?

You have to ask what gifts has God given me? What has God endowed you with and how are you a good steward of that gift? Are you a teacher, an administrator, a  leader,  How many varied gifts has God bestowed on you and are you being a good steward of what he has given you.

We invest a lot of time in our businesses in our professions in our passions but what about the gifts God has given you? What effort are you investing in your gifts?  The strange then about your gifts is that your good at them without very much effort. For instance, I have the gift of writing. I don't possess good grammar or spelling skills, but yet it is almost effortless for me to sit and write. I've never had writer's block I feel there are more subjects I can write about than I will ever have time to complete.  But the truth is I have never spent very much time honing that skill. Maybe it is because it is a gift and is easy for me that I have not invested the effort in becoming outstanding at it.  But that confession in itself exposes my lack of stewardship in that area of my life.  Here is the question, if I pay more attention, more time more effort into my writing what are the possible benefits to my life to my wife's life to my children's lives. What benefit would my writing it be to the lives of people I don't know.

If you start to think about your gifts and you become good stewards of your gifts how much more alive would you be? The bible speaks of gifts with an "S" but if you are not a good steward of the obvious gifts Gods given you do you think God will give you another gift?

Stewardship is a wonderful thing not only in the financial realm but in every area of your life. A good steward of life will live an outstanding life. Because it will lead you to that place where you will be glorifying God with the fruits of your stewardship. And God will bestow on your life other gifts which will bring Him glory and you joy.

Leia Mais…

Blessed is The Man

Something to think about. 

Blessed is The Man

1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. Psalms 1:1
Proverbs 15:22 (ASV) Where there is no counsel, purposes are disappointed; But in the multitude of counselors they are established.
In Psalms one, one it says do not walk in the counsel of the ungodly. In Proverbs, it says plan succeed with the input of counselors.  So which is it do we have counselors or do we go it alone?

The difference lies not in the use of counselors but in the use of Godly verses ungodly counsel. 
Psalms one is very simple don't get advice from sinners. Whatever they have to say as good as it may be will not come with the favor of God it comes at best with the wisdom of man. And we know that the wisdom of man does not compare with the favor of God. 

Proverbs says, Where there is no counsel, purposes are disappointed. What he is saying is when you do it all on your own you are limiting yourself to what you can think. By yourself, you will lack the resources to accomplish that which you desire. There never has been anyone that has been able to accomplish anything without the help and counsel of others. If we think that we can do all on our own, we are fighting against the will and plan of God. 

But in the multitude of counselors, they are established. The purposes are established. Look at what is it saying if you accept, and seek out Godly counsel your plans will be established. The verse uses the word "multitude"  it means we are to use many counselors, but not at the same time. It means throughout our lives we must continually seek out wise counsel.  Why must it be continual because we need different counselors throughout our lives? Because as we change in the stages of life, we need people who have already been there to help us navigate that stage in life. And so also with our businesses, we need to constantly be looking out for people who can help us as well as people who we can help.  

Our primary desire when seeking out counsel should be a Godly source. We spend so much time in the secular world we sometimes end up "sitting in the seat of the scornful" without knowing it. We end up standing "in the way of sinners" before we realize where we are. We can get so caught up in the counsel of the wicked we begin to support and endorse their sin.  If we choose to walk in the counsel of the ungodly, we will eventually become the one giving ungodly counsel while thinking we are standing for God.  That is how evil has become good and good has become evil too many of us have decided to walk in the counsel of the wicked.  

To be true to ourselves and to reach the highest of our potential we need to find people who not only like us and support us. But we also need to find those people who will help us to reach the next level in life and business that God has established for us. God never intended for us to live in isolation. He never wanted us to work alone, we were made created for the community with a need to help and to be helped.  In our endeavors, we were created to walk hand in hand with our brothers and sisters. Sometimes together sometimes to give a hand up sometimes to take the hand up. 

We have the favor of God, but the favor of God is not something we can hoard it is something that must be shared. The favor of God flows through the child of God for the child of God and ultimately for the glory of God. Another of those inestimable values of God dispensed to those call by His name.

Leia Mais…

In the Cool of the Day

Something to think about.

In the Cool of the Day 


8 And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God amongst the trees of the garden. Genesis 3:8

This is the most idyllic of verse in the entire Bible.  It creates for me a vision of walking along a cliff admiring the awesomeness of the open ocean with majestic mountains behind me and a comforting cooling breeze coming off the clear blue ocean water below.  That's what I envision walking with God would be like. The beauty of both the ocean and the mountains.  You may envision it just like it is described in this verse but I prefer to envision it my way. Why? Because that is my understanding of what perfection would be. Walking with God at any time in any place would be the definition of perfection. 

The way it is written gives me the sense that this is not the first time they had walked with God. For me, it leaves me with the impression that they had done this various times before. Imagine walking with God. Talking to God as a man speaks to a man.  We all desire to be here; walking with God speaking with God spending time with God.  I know we have the Holy Spirit of God but to walk with God as Adam And Eve did. It is what we long for. 

It only happened before sin came into the world. This is the last instance in the entire Bible where man walks with God as we might walk with a friend. Though walking with God is only mentioned once it must have been Adams and Eve's greatest regret losing that intimacy with their creator. Having known God face to face and then never seeing Him again what must that have been like?  

The entirety of the Bible is designed to take all of us back to that place where we can for the first time take a walk with God.  Its purpose is to restore us to a place of Holiness where we can walk with God in total Righteousness. As simplistic as it may sound God wants us all back in the garden. Back too a place where we can be with God cleaned of sin and restore to life in God. Getting back to the garden is such a simple thing to do.  

We but have to accept what God has already done for us. Accept the price He paid for us. Accepting the sacrifice of His son for our return to the garden to spend some one on one time with God.  I look forward to spending some time with my father. How about you? Do you long to spend some time with Him?

Leia Mais…