Dear Readers: Greetings to you all in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Praise God that all is well with you and yours. This is to encourage and to remind you that to live for God is impossible without the Holy Spirit. We know that the Holy Spirit is one of the three persons of God. In the Old Testament we see the Holy Spirit active in the creation of the world. The Spirit also filled certain people with power at special times. It is the Holy Spirit who worked through men to produce the Scriptures. Because Jesus died and rose to a new life, the Holy Spirit now lives in all God's people. He is the One who makes us new; teaches us and gives us freedom for a new life.
Since Christ suffered in His body, we should arm ourselves with the same attitude, because if we suffer in our body, we're done with sin. As a result, we do not live the rest of our earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God. We spent enough time in the past doing what we chose to do---living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, wild parties, carousing and detestable idolatry.
Now that we're living for God; we must be clear minded, and self-controlled so that we can pray. Above all, let's love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Let's offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. We should use whatever gift we have received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms. When speaking, we should do it as speaking the very words of God; when serving, serve with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ.
If we're insulted because of the name of Christ, we are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on us. We must not be ashamed, but praise God that we bear that name. For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God? And, if it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner? So then, we who suffer according to God's will should commit ourselves to our Creator and continue to do good.
Supporting Scriptures: Genesis 1:1-2; Psalm 104:30; Numbers 11:16-17, 24-30; Judges 14:1-6; 2 Peter 1:19-21; John 14:15-31; Acts 2:1-21; Romans 8:1-27; 1 Corinthians 2:6-16; Galatians 5:16-26; 1 Peter 4:1-19.
Saturday, October 11, 2008
Sunday, October 5, 2008
Spiritual Blessings in Christ
Greetings to my dear sisters and brothers in Christ and to all who may read this article. The Holy Spirit has impressed upon me to share this message with you. Be assured that your reading this message is not by chance---but by the leading of the Holy Spirit. All the glory belongs to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ who is the 'only' true sacrifice of redemption. Read, believe and be blessed.
LIVING AS CHILDREN OF LIGHT
In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace that He lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. And He made known to us the mystery of His will according to His good pleasure, which He purposed in Christ to be put into effect when the times would have reached their fulfillment---to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ.*
We were dead in our trangressions and sins, in which we used to live when we followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in trangression---it is by grace we have been saved through faith---and this not from ourselves, it is the gift of God---not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.**
We must no longer live in the futility of our thinking. We were darkened in our understanding and separated from the life of God because of ignorance that was in us due to the hardening of our hearts. Having lost all sensitivity, we gave ourselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more.
We were taught, with regard to our former way of life, to put off our old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of our minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. Therefore, each of us must put off falsehood and speak truthfully of our neighbor, for we are all members of one body. We should not sin in anger and not let the sun go down while we are still angry, and DO NOT give the devil a foothold.
We should not let any unwholesome talk come out of our mouth, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
We must not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom we were sealed for the day of redemption. Let's get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Let's endeavor to be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave us. We should be imitators of God, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. Let's rid ourselves of sexual immorality, of any kind of impurity, or greed, because these are improper for God's holy people.
We must live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and seek for what pleases the Lord.***
___________________________________________________________________
Supporting Scriptures: *Ephesians 1:7-10; ** Ephesians 2:1-5; 8-10; ***Ephesians 4:17-32;
5:1-14.
LIVING AS CHILDREN OF LIGHT
In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace that He lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. And He made known to us the mystery of His will according to His good pleasure, which He purposed in Christ to be put into effect when the times would have reached their fulfillment---to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ.*
We were dead in our trangressions and sins, in which we used to live when we followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in trangression---it is by grace we have been saved through faith---and this not from ourselves, it is the gift of God---not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.**
We must no longer live in the futility of our thinking. We were darkened in our understanding and separated from the life of God because of ignorance that was in us due to the hardening of our hearts. Having lost all sensitivity, we gave ourselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more.
We were taught, with regard to our former way of life, to put off our old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of our minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. Therefore, each of us must put off falsehood and speak truthfully of our neighbor, for we are all members of one body. We should not sin in anger and not let the sun go down while we are still angry, and DO NOT give the devil a foothold.
We should not let any unwholesome talk come out of our mouth, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
We must not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom we were sealed for the day of redemption. Let's get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Let's endeavor to be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave us. We should be imitators of God, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. Let's rid ourselves of sexual immorality, of any kind of impurity, or greed, because these are improper for God's holy people.
We must live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and seek for what pleases the Lord.***
___________________________________________________________________
Supporting Scriptures: *Ephesians 1:7-10; ** Ephesians 2:1-5; 8-10; ***Ephesians 4:17-32;
5:1-14.
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