Reversed Order Thinking

Reversed Order Thinking

5/25/21

How many of us would say that we have fallen victim to looking and then accepting only our way of thinking when a situation develops?  If we are honest, we have all wanted our names in the spotlight when matters such as these arise.  We must take into consideration that there are many ways to view a situation which means there are other means and explanations to such settings as well, there is nothing wrong with this as long as the core is kept true within the intended words.  In this case, the core of what is intended is the Word of God and when we speak of passages and verses we must never deviate from its Truth in meaning and standard.  This type of realization needs to be understood in order for us to witness to others when an opportunity comes along, for if we do not, then that opportunity will fade away without any seed planted or future fruit produced.  Another question now begs here and that is do we realize just how many opportunities have been missed due to this lack of knowledge?

There is not one of us who has kept every law in the books willingly and purposefully.  This does not mean that we are bad people but the ones who have done things wrong.  How many laws and rules have you broken?  I know that I would lose track if I began to think about those instances in my life.  It does not matter how big or small these breakings were/are, they represent a stat that none of us can be excluded.  While the majority of people do their best to keep the truth in place we have to admit that there are those who see nothing wrong with lying, stealing, and doing other no good deeds to people along with harm to others.  The younger generations seem to have these mischievous acts down pat and have no remorse about the acts they do nor do they display any emotions when caught.  It cannot be argued that many of today's younger people have total disregard for laws and respect, but how do we talk to these people and approach their needs in the correct manner?  It is only achieved if we understand how the people who do such activities see things and appropriately respond to them.

How do many people look at the Bible or the contents of the Bible?  In that light, how do people view God?  The responses would seem endless on both of those topics and should not come as any surprise.  You might be surprised that even a good number of Christians do not have a favorable view of God or how He operates within our lives.  Since this is the case, we cannot blame those who have no idea about God to also not have a favorable view about God.  Have you ever encountered such a person?  We should have, for it is these people who Jesus commanded us to witness.  One of the most effective lies Satan tells us is that God does not love us and that if He did why would He send His only Son to earth just to die.  Countless people are so lost and without love, in their lives, it is easy for them to believe such a lie; therefore, stay away from such a Being that would do such a horrid thing.

The passage that God uses for this article is probably one of the most famous ones if not the most famous and that is John 3:16-17.  Yet it is a passage that is used against God in many ways and forms and when it is presented to the Christian for explanation some of us cannot adequately explain why God had no choice but to send Jesus to earth, live, die, and rise again.  This is a sad thought to have to cross our hearts but it is true and as long as we cannot truthfully explain why Jesus came here, every effort that we do to try and reach the lost shall fall on the cemented ground and immediately burn up from the heat.  The passage goes as follows:

John 3:16-17

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.  For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved."

Greek

"For God so loved the world that He gave [His] one and only Son, that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.  For God {did} not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him."

The word "loved" used in verse 16 is the Greek word "egapesen" which means to love, to wish well, to take pleasure in, long for, the love of reason, and to esteem.  It has never been the intention of God to destroy the world, He has always tried His best to get people to understand why it is important for us to keep Him first and live under His Ways.  Take a look at this word's definition, do you see something of a pattern that was followed some time back at the beginning of the Bible?  It is the same affection God had after each Created day in Genesis.  It is this same love that God had for the Creation of the world that allowed Him to send His Son to the world for us.  Can we explain such love to a person who has never experienced such a state?  We better, because the world even though it was loved by God, cannot provide such a perfect condition and it is our job to know this passage well enough to find ways to explain such love to them.

In verses 17, we see the usage of the word "save" and it comes from the Greek word "sothe" which has the definition to save, heal, preserve, rescue, deliver, protect.  This word too is a powerful and strong word that has an eternal meaning for it responds to the reason God sent His Son to the world because God recognized that the world was in trouble and that mankind could not do it on its own.  God makes a brilliant move here that mankind could never do in such a capacity, the only one teste close enough was Abraham but God knew that a true human sacrifice would not be sufficient for all of eternity since animal sacrifices, created by earthly methods, were already not good enough for eternal sakes.  With all of the ones looking for the answer to life's questions, it would seem like these beautiful people would quickly follow God yet so many die each day in their sins have no clue about their Savior.

Now, given the fact for many churchgoers this passage is the core of the relationship that God wants with us and the single purpose Jesus came to this earth.  Even with this knowledge, it is still difficult for many to come to grips with such a Truth.  We have grown up with this passage etched into our minds and heart as one of faith and the Hope that we have in Christ in a relationship and in Covenant terms with God.  It is common knowledge for us to think about this passage and draw upon its love and security for what God allowed to occur simply because we failed Him way back in the Garden of Eden.  But this true and heavenly promotion is not shared by everyone and the promotion that has been provided to them is not a healthy one for no lie is healthy to anyone or to any part of the human being.

Let us take a look at how many people feel about this passage of Scripture in that they do not see what we know about these two verses.  Remember there are countless people who grew up in violent or broken-filled homes with no stability whatsoever to speak of.  When you take this point of value it changes things when it comes to giving and receiving, you know the same concept of sowing and reaping.  These people know nothing about what it means to properly give something to others strictly out of love, with no strings attached.  So, to be honest, when these people question why God would send His Son to the earth just to die they are only following the pattern that they have watched all throughout their lives, and that is selfish content based strictly on lies.  "How can you believe anyone who would give up their son to purposefully die" is usually the form of the question that is posed and through their experiences in life it is a valid question.

Have you ever thought about their side of the story and the reasoning they have such doubts about God?  What would expect from a person who has grown up with a lousy childhood, a violent upbringing, men and women in and out of their parents' bedrooms with no stability guaranteed for the next morning, or any one of the numerous other toxic conditions that humans can dream up?  How many of us would react according to what we have been taught to do by the methods of witnessing, that is to say, begin your arguments about these two verses in shock and awe that you would find out that someone differs from your opinion or beliefs.  This type of setting occurs on a regular basis and by the time the conversation ends, you are frustrated that your words were not heard and the people leave with deeper and deeper agitations concerning God.  Nothing solved with the exception that someone down the line will have a more difficult time correctly witnessing to them.

For someone who has not been subjected to a family that demonstrated real love to them, they cannot help but have different outlooks on what love is and how it is shown as stated above.  In like manner, for those of us who have not been in a predicament of lying love, it is difficult for us to understand what those hurting people have been through.  Thus, we need to be aware of what their feelings are in order to adequately speak to them in a way that they can know that the truth is out there and wants to be a part of their lives.  Yelling and screaming at them does not help anything, in fact, it deepens their commitment to their beliefs and thickens their course of freedom from the lies they have been told.  This is where we need to have the knowledge of being in the world because we live in it but not be of the world, for when we live this life we can know how to relate with these people and witness to them properly.

We have been so busy mucking about with the dissertations of our own religiosity that we have totally forgotten what it means to witness or to be a witness for Jesus Christ.  We shall never win one person to Christ with a continued attitude of "holier than thou" toward people who do not know God, the only position with unbelievers when we present this attitude is that of what the Pharisees, Sadducees, and Scribes did.  Until we understand Jesus' message to the people of His day and to the command of what He gave His Church to complete, our numbers and influence upon the world shall decrease.  Jesus taught in parables, which meant that even though He was the Son of God He still knew how to relate to those who were listening to Him.  Jesus never chastised the people for their lack of understanding of God, He told them about it but He never was angry at them, even as He was dying on the cross.

Do we know how to really grab the attention of those who do not believe that God really and truly sent His Son to die for our sins and to rise again in order to provide an eternal Sacrifice for every bad deed we have ever done or will do?  Do we know the Word of God well enough to reach these people in the same manner as Jesus did, or can we only quote verses of Scripture that we cannot explain to them when they ask?  This ineptness goes back to the lack of knowledge that is talked about throughout the New Testament and referred to in the Old Testament.  We have conceded that knowing famous verses in the Bible and then just quoting them when in time of need is sufficient enough to win over those who do not believe, or enough to bring us out of a jam when all of a sudden we need God.  I bet you that many of those who read this article have no clue what kind of love this passage of Scripture refers to and since this is the case how can we even claim to be an adequate source for God.

We should hang our heads sharply down in shame for we have produced and sold a sham of a Way to God simply because we ourselves have no clue about what should live within our hearts.  It is time that we dive back into the Word of God and study its true meaning for life and for survival.  In no manner whatsoever should we be focused on our own survival first fro we should have already been confident enough to advance past this Foundation, we need to be out talking with those who do not know God and showing them through the Word of God from their point of view.  Jesus taught in parables so that everyone would think about what He was teaching and telling the people.  Jesus always said that there was much more to life than just the physical aspects of our existence, that the spiritual was far greater than what we see with our eyes and the method by which He taught people this is brilliant.

This method of Jesus' teaching is exactly what God is trying to say to us today through this topic, He wants us to relate to the people that are lost and are suffering.  God understands that He cannot force anyone to accept Him and His Son but it is only their choice to do so.  Jesus knew this as well when He was on the earth, He always stated the facts and as to what was occurring around the people they were acquainted with.  Jesus knew that these people would have a difficulty in believing why God would do such a thing, not because they were stupid or dumb but because the enemy of all eternal humanity had been able to run roughshod over their lives from all angles.  This cannot be more specified as to why God stated in verse 17 that He did not send His Son into the world to condemn it; well, for a person who has been witness to everything pain and hurt for their entire life, I would have a hard time accepting this verse as well.  Can we say that we have enough faith in these two verses to counteract the reversed order thinking that so many people have?  Are we prepared enough to lovingly receive such words from hurting people and have the understanding of where they are coming from to help them hear and accept the Truth?

I look at many people who I have known for a long time and who call themselves Christians and through their actions, it is obvious that they could not defend such a powerful passage if it ever came to the point of its challenge.  This is a sad state, especially when a great number of Christians fail to recognize that they live in the exact same condition that those who question this passage live.  We have become spiritually blind to our own teachings, and it breaks God's heart.  Defending God's Word does not just lie within one side, Jesus understood how to reach the folks of His day and it is our responsibility to reach the people of our day in the same manner.  That takes studying the Bible on a daily basis, and seeing, really seeing that people do not know God and if they do not know Him that there is a place that they will be sent that is not pretty at all, in fact, it is Hell.

It is this same complacency from our hearts that will lead many of us into separation from God when He says that it is time for His shaking to occur.  Many will not understand why these things will be happening, and once again we shall be placed into a position of questioning and we shall not know how to answer them correctly.  In no way is God referring to the rapture of the Church here, He is talking about getting us ready for a return to Him and His Ways.  It is coming and we need to be prepared on all levels for there will be a bunch of angry people running around doing their best to seek out unsuspecting folks and groups wanting to have some type of sustenance.  Actually, all of those mishandled questions and answers for all the past years shall be commencing to expose themselves in a physical manner, think about that for a while Church.  God wants our hearts back to Him and the time for repentance is now and immediately after repentance we need to study, study, pray, pray and pray some more.

God asks you this question: are you prepared well enough to handle people who have a reversed order thought process concerning God and His Son?  It is vital not only for those who absolutely have no idea about God but for you and your eternal position too.  Stop and think about things for a while, if people knowing the Word of God and then just going out and speaking its content on a regular basis worked, then the majority of conversions to God would occur in the church building alone, but they do not.  For as long as I can remember, and way further back, people witnessing to their friends, families, coworkers, and other acquaintances brought in the majority of people who accepted Christ as their Savior.  Today, hardly anyone is coming to Christ in any manner of witnessing which shows us exactly that we do not have enough knowledge about the Bible to answer simple questions from others.  There are a few days left folks before things drastically change and our command from Jesus becomes harder to complete.  Let us do our part by repenting ourselves and then daily be a witness to those who need Him and reverse the reversed order thinking that has so many far away from God.

DLB

Which Is Greater?

Which Is Greater?

5/2/21

There is no shortage of tragedies in our world today, it seems like it is an endless supply of something that angers our hearts.  While these instances are of great concern to all of us, there is a higher issue that is being ignored or better yet, not even thought about.  This issue is of the eternal manners in which these people face as soon as they take their last human breath.  It is easy to quote Scripture to support such a stance and truth, but God does not need our support, He needs us out on the streets and in communities witnessing and telling the ones who do not know HIm that they need a Savior for their time could be short.  It is not any desire from God that anyone perish and live eternity from Him, but tragically it seems like we wish to keep these eternal issues superficial.  This belief of ours shall not only cost other people their lives but ours as well.

For quite some time now, years in fact this nation along with other modern nations have witnessed their share of informative settings that target certain groups of people.  Inevitably, some type of ugly event occurs and that part of the specific nation is set ablaze with a hotbed of violence, anger, and vitriol on display.  It seems like it is one thing after another that our eyes and ears see and listen for countless hours just to see what the current results will be.  What is disturbing is that this watching and listening process continues on a distance course that lasts for weeks, months, or as in one place for over a year.  In no manner of speaking, this type of anxiousness on a continuing basis is not healthy for any sized community, and the longer its uneasy presence present the more likely deeper violent attitudes will arise and prevail.

Unfortunately, these types of settings usually involve at least one death, with the issue of race, coming into question.  While most of the time this is the case, there are other conditions that warrant such outcries but in our modern nations, the race is the catalyst that starts the raging.  Even though the majority of rural areas are not subject to such animosity conditions, we do see what has transpired and therefore cannot ignore the graphics of our surroundings.  What it boils down to is that humans have become a very selfish occupant of these lands and we harbor an indefinite amount of bitterness within our hearts and we are itching to release these growth patterns whenever we feel like necessity brings them forward.  Yes, these instances are mortifying and totally sad and disgusting, there is the most important fact that has been left out of this process and examinations, God.

As I have studied these events over the past few years, I have noticed two constant things about the end results.  First off, is that at least one person is dead or severely beaten to the point of them being left unrecognizable.  Secondly, when the results are handed down, it is all superficial manifestations that are noted and proclaimed.  These two factors when used in combination alone, present a deeper misunderstanding of how to end such ridiculous issues, and yet, this lack of knowledge fuels more and deeper results upon humanity.  As this latest issue has unfolded, the responses of many of the onlookers have been atrocious, everything from never being satisfied to using foul language and hoping the person rots in hell and that they will hate this person for the rest of their lives.  ALL of these responses have produced superficial satisfaction and do not deal with the real issue of combating these types of settings.  In every time that I have studied concerning these events, no one, including the Church, has made the Truth known about how to avoid such confrontations in the future.

Galatians 5:24-25

"And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit."

Luke 23:34

"Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots."

After everything the ruling party of the world did to Jesus He still had the knowledge and strength to pray for the children that He loved so much.  But the meaning of such prayer was much deeper than they understood and to what level we understand today.  For these simple words gave notice to all humanity that there is a physical aspect of our lives that will pass away but there is our spiritual aspect which shall live forever, but where it lives is strictly up to our acceptance of the Truth that is placed before us.  The people who had allowed this type of action to pass had no inkling that they were fulfilling thousands of prophecies foretold long before that day.  They had no idea that as soon as Jesus drew His final breath that He was still at work but on a spiritual aspect, not a physical one and it is this aspect that the majority of the people walking on this earth today do not understand.  

Many believe that is the physical part of our bodies that matters and that there is no other part of life as we draw this last breath.  But just as Jesus immediately went into the spirit realm up His last breath, we do the exact same and it is THIS aspect of our lives that deems us worthy of eternal life or eternal death.  In almost every high-powered social instance, when the person takes their last breath it is treated as a sacred moment even if they never stepped foot into a church building.  I cannot help but sit in amazement when this type of death occurs and people fall out from out of nowhere in order to get their name in lights over a person who has died.  It is one of the most self-centered acts a human being can do to glorify themselves at a time of mourning.  When the so-called ministers land at these events, it is a photo op gig that steals the show.  Recently, at one of the more tragic courtroom scenes in this nation a self-styled minister made sure it was known that he was going to attend the final proceedings.  He showed up in his private jet along with his entourage and all the media possible, just to ensure his agenda was met, not God's.

While this type of show draws attention, ratings, and money it shows no respect for the eternal placement of the person that has passed away; it is this aspect of life that God wants us to understand today for it is not the physical that is the greater good but the spirit that counts.  When there is a death warrant already hanging over your physical existence what good does it do to cultivate this entity?  It is meaningless and empty at best when the glorification of the flesh (body physical) is subjected to all things edified even after we draw our last breath.  Having an awesome-looking body, or being known for a great working being, or the one who walked their dog each morning at 0700 means absolutely nothing when the destination of the eternal portion is not woven into the very fabric of the eternal Being that created you.  Yet, we spend so much time trying to convince others of what a great person this dead lump of flesh was and how much they would have meant to the world if only they were not snuffed out at an early age.  Physical death can only glorify one being and that is the god of this world, who is a loser at best and one that cares nothing for you.

Why do we not see any people speaking at these funeral events telling the audience present that they need Jesus?  The reason we do not see this is because it would take away the ambiance of what is trying to be presented to the on-looking eyes that my physical resistance far outweighs my spiritual resistance.  We do not care about what the afterlife might tell, so we make sure that our physical life is projected as loudly as possible even after our last breaths are taken.  Pacification in the physical life does not give a pass into Heaven or eternal rest in the spiritual.  Until we realize that our spiritual setting is far greater than our physical one not much is going to change for the positive in our lives. It is this portion of life God wants us to understand, that it is not the physical that lives forever but it is the spirit and since spirit is eternal it is greater, far greater than the physical.  Of course, the world shall never tell you this nor will it even broach the subject for only death (physical) can reveal itself in the world.

There are many ways to say what Jesus said when He was about to die on the cross.  This famous phrase of His says it all and reinforces the fact that eternity relies on His blood in order to live forever in liberty and freedom.  The physical should never direct what the spirit has to live for, for when it does it means that the order in which we should live is out-of-order and thus subject to ridicule, pain, agony, death, and eternal damnation.  When my father died last year it was a tremendous loss for our family.  Yes, it was a sad day and it has been a struggle that all of us have approached with difficulty; however, I am so glad that he did not have to face all of this junk that has transpired over the last year.  This experience would have included the medical side of things but more importantly, his heart would have been broken to see how the Church has responded, or not responded.  Every day of his adult life, pop dedicated his every breath to preach the Gospel and to ensure that the Church understood the importance of spiritual warfare.  While his words were not in vain, it seems like that as soon as many left the building so did the Word of God that he shared.  

How have we allowed such physicalness to invade and conquer our spiritual lives with such methodical ease?  That is an easy question to answer and once again it stems from the actions or lack thereof from the Church.  Contrary to many beliefs, the Church is supposed to be in control of the spiritual aspect of our lives and NOT the physical.  We have become so concerned about offending people and being placed into the spotlight of newspapers, groups, and other organizations than to teach the truth about what people need to hear.  See, the word "offend" or to be offended has become an offensive weapon to silence people of truth. Do you realize that this word and its usage is of a physical nature?  It has nothing to do with the spiritual aspect of our lives; however, we treat it as such because we have bought into the lie that we should not tell the entire truth to those who need God.  Satan's plan has worked to perfection and since we refuse to muddy the waters anymore, that "offensive" condition now rules the way.  We have forgotten that the spiritual realm is at war with each other, and that war includes us.  Spirit recognizes spirit and fights accordingly, the physical cannot withstand such battles which is why we are not supposed to fight physically.  Neither spirit realm backs down from the other but if one does not know how to fight correctly, then the other automatically gains the high ground, and that my friends, is exactly the place where we are at today.

Church, we have lost the edge that Jesus gave us, and we have turned the advantage over to the enemy and he has run with it.  We no longer know how to fight in the spirit or do we even have the stamina to do such a fight.  We have become lazy and have allowed ourselves to take off the armor of God and put it on the ground.  A while back, God gave us the article about fighting a fight with the wrong weapon, a weaker and an inadequate one to what the enemy carries.  This is exactly what Jesus meant when He made this statement on the cross, for even though the life of Jesus on earth was ordained as such we still had no idea about what fight was going on during those moments, we were all focused on what was transpiring in the physical.

There have been many prophecies over the past few years about a great reset and how things are going to be different.  The physical aspect of these prophecies is going to rock our lives and shake them to the core of our existence, the Church INCLUDED.  In fact, the Church shall be hit hard for lack of living up to her responsibility as the standard by which all humanity should strive.  We are the standard and God cannot shake others and leave His Standard-bearers alone; God did not allow Israel off the hook when they lived in such wimpy lifestyles with no intentions of returning back to Him.  Therefore, when God does begin His shaking, the Church or the majority of the Church will not have a clue as to how to defend herself, or how to survive what is coming.  People shall leave the Church after their eyes behold what God will do, this is a fact not a whimsical idea.  Why?  Because we have no idea what we have done or what we are allowing to occur.

For those who stand on the promises of God and have hidden the Word of God within their hearts, continue to stand firm and tall.  Things shall become tense and tight but your spiritual eyes shall see what is occurring and shall know exactly how to pray for strength and encouragement.  God shall provide for those who have kept His Word, for they shall understand and be wise to listen to His instructions.  So, the question's answer that is posed in the title of this article should be crystal clear by this time.  Spirit is always greater than the physical, it always has been and it shall always be for spirit lives for eternity.  Let us get back into the Word of God, the ENTIRE Word of God and once again teach and preach the Truth about our lives and what God has for us to do.

DLB