|
Are you following an imaginary Jesus, a Jesus of your own making? Billions around the world are as they call themselves Christians. No, I'm not necessarily talking about you, but I could be. Countless numbers of Christians are prisoners of their own thinking and don't even recognize the truth! They are firmly enslaved to the world. What is a Christian? What you are a disciple of depends on where you put your trust!
"Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is: His good, pleasing and perfect will." - Romans 12:2
"Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God. You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ." - Romans 8:5-9
The Bible says that Christians or disciples of Christ are different or set apart from the world around them. How? By the renewing of your mind through the Holy Spirit, through the understanding and practice of faith based on knowledge and God's Spirit. It all comes down to trusting God and putting His Kingdom first. (Matthew 6:33) He will not fail to care for you even in the worst of times and tribulation. He will provide for you even though there are times that His care may not be in the style to which you are accustomed or what you think you desire. You do have the victory when you press into His promises.
"And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith? “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need." - Matthew 6:30-33
"However, as it is written: "No eye has seen, no ear has heard,no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him" but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man's spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words.The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they [the things of God] are spiritually discerned." - 1 Corinthians 2:9-14
You can be part of the things of God! How important is this for anyone that professes Christianity? Disciples must have spiritual discernment gained through accurate knowledge, the active use of God's Word, the power of prayer and the assistance of God's Counselor, the Holy Spirit. Showing that you love God does not negate God's grace, but shows that you love God and bear His spiritual fruit in life. God wants you to be able to display His discernment and power in your life, a living sacrifice that dies to the sinful and broken old man. (Romans 12)
Bible Vision has been purposed to spotlight deception and distraction in the lives of Christians with the goal of renewing and refocusing lives for Christ. Whether you are a Christian or not, you can minimize and caste aside the effects of the dark kingdom on your life as you re-establish what God desires for you. That is what scripture is all about: life renewal through Jesus Christ while sharing His life renewal with others. This renewal is about the healing of old wounds, lifting up lives in the presence of the Lord, breaking the strongholds of the past, and taking new steps toward exercising the new personality that God gave with your salvation. Renewal of your life doesn't come without challenge and is not automatic. You must resist the devil every day and put down those old conditioned behaviors that you have become so comfortable with over the years. In fact, the devil assumes that you are content with your life exactly as it is. Disciples defeat the devil and glorify God one day at a time. This fresh air of renewal is about healing people, setting them free from strongholds of the dark kingdom in the power of Jesus Christ, keeping and continuing that freedom in Christ and sharing the message with others. The world seeks to place all manner of restraints on God and His people. God has no limits if you are willing to release the limits you have placed on Him. Remember that God makes it all possible!