It's Alive and Growing

Hebrews‬ ‭4:12‬ ‭- For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

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...where believers are deeply committed to practicing their faith and passing it on to the next generation in a living way, there will be life and multiplication. As the saying goes, if it's alive, it grows. - Michael Brown

I read an article recently about the old fashioned way of Christianity and a progressive way that is taking shape. The quote above is in the article. People today want a Christianity that suits their lifestyle rather than the way God intended it to be...by the biblical standards set up for us in the Bible. 

If we do things the way God intended we are not oppressed but made alive. Like the scripture says, the Word of God is alive. It is life to those who have been touched by God, filled with His Spirit and who are rooted and grounded in His Word. 

Again, God never changes; therefore, neither does His Word. What sort of God would He be if He changed to suit our needs? He is infallible; we are not. Times change, but He never will. It's why the road to destruction grows larger while the road to eternal life grows narrower. We want to do life our way, not the way God suggests...um, commands.

But then we don't like being commanded. We are pride-filled, stubborn individuals until He opens our eyes. We want things our way and we want them now. I've been known to be impatient when the microwave isn't fast enough! 

God has only wanted to give us the best. Receiving the best starts with receiving Christ, the greatest treasure we can receive. He offers us the greatest gift possible, eternal life, in and only through Christ. If we are serious about Him and His Word, all His promises are, the Bible says, yes and amen. We are also taught that we live by faith, not by sight. (2Corinthians 5:7) And Without faith, it is impossible to please God. (Hebrews 11:6) It's important to have faith...not in self or a church or a pastor or our job or government or money, but God. People can say they have faith, but it must be in God or it is not faith at all. 

The promises of eternal life with Christ and in Christ far outweigh the alternative. We may not see in the here and now all the promises (that's the faith without sight), but some promises are for us today. These bring life; they keep us motivated in our faith and trust, even if we don't see what tomorrow brings. There is the peace that passes all understanding with no fear of the future. Contentment. Knowing that the trials we face today are small considering the glory that lies ahead for us in heaven. The book of Revelation tells us about this. It's that end result that keeps me going. The very big promise of eternal LIFE.

I just had to see if there was a count for the number of promises in the Bible. Bible Gateway came up with over 5400. It also stated this: The promises of God reveal his particular and eternal purposes to which he is unchangeably committed and upon which believers can totally depend. These promises are, however, conditional upon obedience on the part of believers.

There is always this condition. Hah, as I wrote that, it came to mind that it is our condition that causes us to need God! It is the very reason God sent His Son. Our sinful condition. But God...gave us a way out, through the unconditional love of Christ and His death on that cross. And here comes that word again...God gave us His Son in death...that we might have life. When we give in to that condition of God, that we receive Christ to secure eternal life, then those promises are for us. 

As I have said many times, it's not just about knowing who He is or what church we go to (or don't go to) or the amount of good we think we do. We must know that we have Him living in us through His Holy Spirit. And that can only happen if we truly desire Him and seek Him with our whole heart. 

How do we know we know Him? Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. (‭‭1John‬ ‭2:3-4)  That's a pretty hard statement. It means believing the Bible is true, for today as much as it was yesterday. When God says something is wrong, it is wrong. Whatever He says, He means. We still can never be perfect but if we are in Christ we are covered by His blood, being perfected and will attain perfection when He returns. 

So back to the beginning...we cannot want a Christianity that suits our lifestyle rather than by the Bible, the very Word of God. This world is doing this and this nation is also. If we as individuals or a nation fail, and we all do, we seek God's forgiveness. So often in the Bible God has forgiven if forgiveness was asked for. Do you see the stubbornness, the rebelliousness being played out today?

...where believers are deeply committed to practicing their faith and passing it on to the next generation in a living way, there will be life and multiplication. As the saying goes, if it's alive, it grows. - Michael Brown  It's why I am committed.

For those who believe and have faith in God, whose Word is in them, both Jesus the Word of God and the written Word, it is alive and growing. Hallelujah. Is that Word in you? 

2Corinthians 1:20-22 - For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us. Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God, who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.