Dear friends everything I say is in my humble opinion and from what I believe that Jesus and the Holy Spirit has taught me. Now, when you look in the mirror and you can honestly say to yourself that this is you, then you need a new approach in your walk with Christ. Like a bodybuilder who needs to shock their muscles into growing, you my friends, need to shock your souls into growing. Are you not seeing the results from your efforts? Are you jealous of those that are making rapid progression? Are you pretty lukewarm and stagnant with your “faith, love, passion, courage, grit and determination?” If so, then friends, you are in a spiritual slump. I believe with all my spiritual, mental and physical fiber, you will see results from within your heart, your actions and your speech. Accept Jesus as the “Son Of Man”, who came to earth and died for our sins! Love God with your whole heart, mind and soul while loving your neighbors including your enemies. This means helping them, trying to get to know them. Do this more and more and watch how your spiritual muscles will grow. Friends, put God first, above your wives, your husbands, your family, your children, your jobs, your finances and yes even your health. Love Your enemies. How can you love your enemies when you are killing others, let alone killing those that you believe are trying to kill you? Come one, what’s up with that? Your logic has become twisted and your faith needs a jumpstart. You can hate many things about how man has ruined this planet, ruined each other and how they are ruining themselves, but never hate an individual. Remember, hate the sin-love the sinner. Now many of you might fool yourselves into thinking you’ve done that, but I assure you many of you are only fooling yourselves. If that were not the case, why would many Christians leave people with a sick feeling in their stomach? In addition, we would have many more Christians helping and befriending the sick, the elderly, orphans and in general the needy. What I have seen about many Christians is this, many say they want to be near God, but simply can’t take the servant’s approach to servitude, to take the low end of the stick, to do what is necessary to make a difference in at least one person’s life, let alone many people’s lives. Many want positions of power in this world only to look holy and righteous from an external perspective, or many want to sit on the sidelines judging others thinking their “you know what doesn’t stink.” This is wrong!
YOU MUST GET INVOLVED WITH HELPING AND BEFRIENDING THOSE THAT SOCIETY HAS DISCARDED, PUSHED TO THE SIDE AND GENERALLY KICKED IN THE FACE (SO TO SPEAK.) THERE ARE MANY A WAYS THIS CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED. GET TO KNOW AND HELP SOMEONE WITH AIDS, CANCER, FOR PETE SAKE-PICK A DISEASE, THERE ARE MANY FLAVORS TO CHOOSE FROM. GET TO KNOW A WIDOW, A WIDOWER, AN ORPHAN, A FELLOW CHRISTIAN WHO HAS NO CHRISTIAN FRIENDS, AN ATHEIST. HOW ABOUT HELPING GANG MEMBERS OR KIDS THAT ARE IN JEOPARDY OF JOINING A GANG BY SHOWING THEM THEY LOVE OF CHRIST IS REAL. WHAT IS THE PROBLEM? WHAT YOU HAVE NO TIME? COME ONE-TRY HARDER THAN THAT!
When you study the Bible, you have two primary approaches. The first approach is the Pharisee approach. You can try to master the “letter of the law” and you may or may not follow it closely, but I assure you no one follows everything perfectly. Or you can try to master the “spirit of the law” which is faith in Jesus and loving God and loving one another, read up above to see if you believe you are in fact living a life of love. Needless to say, however, no one masters this either.
IF YOU WANT TO DRAW NEAR TO GOD FAST, WORK ON THE SPIRIT AND NOT THE LETTER OF THE BIBLE. TO START WITH, LOSE YOUR ADDICTIONS, ANGER, ARROGANCE, FEAR, GREED, JEALOUSY, LUST, PREJUDICES (MEANING ALL JUDGMENTAL CONDITIONS OF THE HEART), PRIDE AND SELFISHNESS. ARE YOU ABLE TO ASK CHRIST TO REMOVE THESE FROM YOUR HEART? ARE YOU ABLE TO CONSTANTLY WORK THROUGH THE PAIN OF ASKING FOR FORGIVENESS AND TRYING HARDER AND HARDER EACH TIME YOU MESS UP? CAN YOU KEEP IT UP? REMEMBER, THE SPIRIT IS WILLING BUT HOW ABOUT YOUR FLESH? NOW MOVE ON TO LOVE-ESPECIALLY YOUR ENEMIES AND THOSE THAT SOCIETY HAS KICKED ASIDE.
The letter is not only about the rules, for the rules (in general) can be covered by loving God and your fellow man in your hearts, minds and souls (this is also the spirit.) The letter, from my point of view, is all about the details of the bible. Who did what to whom, where did whom do it, what were the dates that whom did it to? This is fine and dandy if you feel you want to know it, but I assure you, you will not draw any nearer to God, let alone in a rapid progression by taking this approach. If this were so, wouldn’t the Pharisees have been as close to God as a human could be? There are many classes on bible study, on sermons, and trying to out due each other like it’s a jeopardy game This is for show and this is ridiculous. You want results, but your not getting any. Ask yourselves why? What are you doing wrong? Why have you been a Christian your whole life, but some people have advanced beyond your comprehension in such a short amount of time? Come on, ask yourselves? In my humble opinion, I’m giving you the most valuable information about how to draw near to God in as short amount of time has possible. Take it or leave it, it is your choice, but don’t be jealous of those that are making the progress that you only dream. Instead of spending so much time studying God’s word, spend a good portion of that time looking for ways to put God’s word into action by loving and helping others. Why isn’t there “loving study classes.” Why aren’t there sermons about how to put things in action? Generally speaking, sermons seem to be based on the same thing over and over and over again, like a broken record that can’t get passed the scratch. It becomes very dull-very quick. Try a new approach. Shock your muscles into growing. Get out of your shell. You say you’ve trusted Jesus, then prove it, where are your good deeds? Is your cup filling over or is it barely full? Many like to talk the talk, perhaps you ought to let your actions speak instead of your tongues. The Pharisees thought they were masters of the “letter of the law” but in their hearts and their actions, they were just about has far away from Christ as on can get. Since they didn’t truly love one another, they had broken Law Number 2: and because they had seriously violated this law, they had broken Law Number 1: which according to Christ is equally as important. Law number one basically states to put God above all is, to love him with your whole heart, mind and soul. The moral of this story is other than the most important commandments, the Pharisees were followers of the “letter of the law.” However, they had fallen way short even at the ”letter’s level.” Regarding the “spirit of the law,” come on, they killed Christ out of fear, jealousy and ignorance. How much more of a broken spirit need I chant about? Now for the bad news! If you take my advise and help and befriend those that really need it out of human appraisal and false motives, than God will undoubtedly know it, and that will probably be the only reward you will receive. My friends, don’t kid yourselves into taking this approach, help others, and befriend others because it is simply the right thing to do. Do it to bring a smile to that person’s face and I believe God will shine his divine countenance upon your souls. This doesn’t mean to start working so hard that you burn yourselves out, but start small and see if what I tell you come to fruition.
Now if this message offends any of you, ask yourself this all important question. Are you one of the “modern day pharisees?” If so, what are you going to do to redirect the path you are on? Dear friends, as time marches on, your approval of me both favorable and otherwise means less and less. I have one force in the universe that I serve and that I am frightened of. Seek out the lord with fear and trembling before it is too late.
Peace and love in Christ Jesus, who always has been the “Good and Faithful Shepherd.”
Start Slide Show with PicLens Lite
Wide Awake [5:51m]: 