Daily Devotional Day & Night

HAPPY TUESDAY!

Today’s scriptures are about being part man and part Spirit. We are like Jesus in so many ways, after all, we were made in His imagine. After God molded Adam from the dirt, He breathed the breath of life into Him (Gen. 2:7). From that point on, we were a part of Him. He took a part of the earth, and a part of His spirit, and created mankind. From the beginning of time, we were precious, royal, and ruler of all of the earth, because we specially made. When Adam and Eve was told to be fruitful and multiply, it took two parts to make another human being; one cannot work without the other. It’s been that way since we were created, we have a special bond with God.

Then there was Adam, and how He fell from God’s good graces. It was a test of His will, and He failed, but God wouldn’t totally forget about His people. He continued to be with us, and when He saw fit, as it’s written: The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth (John 1:14). God sent His Son, to not only save us from the pits of hell, but He sent Him to teach us how to live like His children. It’s written: God was manifested in the flesh, Justified in the Spirit, Seen by angels, Preached among the Gentiles, Believed on in the world, Received up in glory. (1 Tim. 3:16) Jesus taught us the laws of God in its natural form, love. He helped us understand, the reality of our flesh, but the potential of our Spirit. He gave us precious knowledge, which helps us break free of the hold of the enemy, through our flesh. Although we’re part flesh, we’re more than a “creation” to God. God so loved us that He gave His only Son to die for our sins.

I think of all of the stories I’ve read about Jesus, in the Gospels, and how many times He corrected His followers regarding their faith in the power that’s within. What a lot of us don’t understand is that we’re predestined to be powerful vessels for God, that’s the reason we’re here. It’s more important for us to ask God what we can do for Him, then for us to constantly ask Him for things. Granted, there’s nothing we can do without God, and He encourages our continuous prayers. However, it delights His heart when we’re willing to do things for Him. Jesus’ entire life was a testimony, and a lesson to each believer, on How to please God. Jesus knew His rightful place in the Kingdom, and He encouraged us to learn, and respect ours. He was here in the flesh, but surrendered to His Spirit, which was one with God. He’s given each of us the ability to do the same.

What does it take to abandon our dependence upon the flesh, and rely on our Spirit to take us to the “promised land”? We can still experience our own “land of milk and honey”, but it takes us to die to the flesh. It takes us to want to transform our worldly thinking into Christ-like thinking. It takes us to follow Jesus out of the wilderness. The people of Israel didn’t have Jesus to show them the way, so just imagine how much more of an advantage we have. When we realize that Jesus hasn’t left us, He’s still very much a part of us. When we accept Him as Lord and Savior, He awakens that Spiritual side that we were born with. He has made it possible for us to be joined with Him, complete and whole, when we leave this earth.

I urge you not to spend another day wasting time on your flesh, but focus more on your Spirit. John the Baptist declared the good news to all those who would hear: Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known. (John 1:16-18) Sing praise to the Lord, because Jesus Christ lives!!! He lived and He died to allow us to be whole in the Spirit. Don’t ever forget that He still lives now and forever more, in order to allow us to tap into our Spiritual side, and live through Him. Moses gave us the Law’s of the flesh, but Jesus gives us authority to overcome those laws, through the Spirit.

If you don’t know Jesus as Lord, don’t be alarmed it’s not too late to get to know Him. If you’re reading this right now, God has a calling on your life, and is waiting on you to answer. Everything happens for a reason, and there are no mistakes in life. So take this opportunity to tap into your Spiritual side. Ask Jesus to come into your life as Lord and Savior. He knows that you’re a sinner, but He still requires you to confess, and ask for forgiveness. If you’re not sure what to believe right now, take a few moments to take the God Quiz today! My favorite verses today are: The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven. As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. (1 Cor. 15:47-48)

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daily Devotional Day & Night

HAPPY TUESDAY!

Today's scriptures are about living in the midst of evil. Yesterday I started to write about the nature of the flesh, which is very pertinent to today's message. The “flesh”, which was created from the dust that comes from the earth, is the body’s natural form. Adam and Eve are responsible for mankind’s free will, and the knowledge of “good and evil”. Consequently, we're born into a sinful nature, and our flesh wants whatever it wants, when it wants it. In the flesh we are of a carnal mind, so we often give in to our every want and desire, without hindsight.

As we know, everything we do has a consequence, good or bad, so living by the flesh has proven to be very dangerous, to say the least. It's written: As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you 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. (Eph 2:1-3) Wow! Paul describes us as "objects [or children] of wrath" when operating in the flesh. Wrath is a really strong word, but now that I think about it, before I surrendered my life to Christ, I can remember the wrath that was caused by me, or was brought to my life. It came because of the poor decisions I made in the flesh. I am proud to say that Jesus Christ is the best thing that has ever happened to me!

When we accept Jesus as Lord and Savior, we're anointed with the Holy Spirit. Our spirit is being transformed, and we begin to take on the heart and mind of Christ. We begin to thirst for the Lord, and to quench that thirst we must learn who He is, and pray for the strength and wisdom to overcome the world, and the things of it. At the same time, we have to live on this earth, and mix and mingle with unbelievers, and the flesh heavily influences us. The enemy glamorizes everything, to make it seem more than it really is. As we grow in our spirit, we'll begin to realize just how empty the ways of the world are, because God will reveal the truth. It's written: 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. (Romans 8:5-8)

You may be asking, "How can I live above the world, but still be very much in it?" The answer lies in one word, "surrender". When we come to a realization that we cannot do anything without Christ, we'll begin to surrender to His will. Surrendering means to live on purpose, and with a purpose, as well as looking to Christ for guidance. Our main goal is fellowship with God, so we must do just that. We must spend quality time with Him, by studying His word, praying without ceasing, and meditating. Those things seem so simple, but because we're in constant battle with our flesh, it's harder than you may think. The enemy will throw so many things in our way to keep us separated from God. It's up to us to recognize what’s of the Spirit and what's of the flesh, and quickly avoid or lay down the things not of the Spirit. You must understand that it's not all about you, just as Jesus did right before the time of His crucifixion, when He told God "not My will, but Yours, be done". (Luke 22:42)

When we're continuously focused on God, we don't have time to focus on the world. Constantly thinking about how we can please Him, will give us an inner peace, which surpasses all human understanding. He'll give us the strength to move a mountain, but keeps us meek and compassionate. I speak from personal experience, almost like the Apostle Paul. I've been extremely low in my life, and I've watched the wonder that is Christ flourish in my heart, mind, body, and Spirit. I still struggle in my flesh daily, but the struggle isn’t my main concern. I've experienced rewards for right choices, and punishments for wrong, so I'll choose God over anything else. I surrender each day, praying and asking Him to show me His way, and give me the wisdom to complete His will, and that He does. I sometimes fall short, because I'm a human being, but I try my best, and I love God with all of my heart, that's all He asks for.

If you haven't accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior, you're still in the flesh. You must confess to God the fact that you're a sinner, and ask Jesus to be Lord of your life. God will forgive you of your sins, and fill you with His Holy Spirit, and you will forever be changed, once you surrender. Jesus prayed, ” Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil", so ask God to help you over come the world, and surrender to His Spirit. If you're not sure of your Salvation, or want more information, check out Dr. Stanley’s God Quiz. My favorite verse today is: The Lord is faithful, who shall establish you, and keep you from evil. (2 Thessalonians 3:3)

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