How Are We Tempted?

 How Are We Tempted?

 It’s important to understand.

 

 

In order to resist temptation, we must understand what is going on. If we miss an aspect of it, we cannot really resist it. We just shift it around or suffer through.

“Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:

 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.

Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.”— James 1:13-15

God does not lead us into temptation or use temptation. Temptation comes from demons who speak into our mind or lives and uses the flesh and our own lust to get us to sin. If we live our lives never being washed in the Blood of Jesus, being cleansed of sin, we face eternal death. Which is separation from God in hell and the Lake of Fire.

How does this work?

First, you must consider your family and surroundings from birth. All of it has impacted you. Demons have impacted family members who have impacted you. This is a fact. We do not live in a vacuum. It is not an excuse for our behavior or failure, but it is a fact.

Consider a parent who was terrible to you, or did bad things around you. They got it from someone when they were young, and have spread it to you. These are generational curses. They destroy families and keep them in bondage. Again, it’s not an excuse for our sinful actions but it is a fact.

Do you spread it to your kids?

Probably.

Second, you are born with corruption within you that came from your parents, and lineage. I will say DNA, because we understand that term, but it is deeper than that. It is a spiritual plague which infects us.

Next come the demons that are around us everywhere, all the time.

They start working on you the minute you are born. They desire to create habits and beliefs that they can poke at for the rest of your life.

Consider fear.

Kids can see into the spirit world, I believe.

So, when kids speak of monsters under the bed. Maybe it is.

Maybe the demons are seeking to create fear in you as a child, so it can be used by them later in life for all kinds of purposes.

These are buttons, put into place which can be used to tempt us later and keep us enslaved.

We have fear and it leads to lying to protect ourselves.

We get exposed to things and are tempted, and give in. This opens doors for more temptation and more sin.

As we grow we are enslaved by what the demons have tempted us with, and what we have allowed.

Can you think of the first time you lusted? The first time you lied? The first time you were jealous or envious or desired to have what was not yours? The first time you hated someone and got revenge? The first time you stole candy from the store?

All of it started a path way in your life. It opened doors and set buttons to trigger it again.

The more you did it, the more those doors opened.

This is why its important to discipline kids. So, they stop opening doors of evil that demonic entities can use later.

If they will listen.

Kids grow into adults with the same problems. The same sins and demons riding on their back.

Demons who know how to trigger their human slaves.

God seeks to turn us to Him and get us saved, while those demons keep fighting to keep us from turning and knowing God.

If we get saved, Christ forgives us of all sin. past, present and future. We are washed. we are clean. We will be with Him forever.

But, those demons keep working on our flesh. They keep hitting those buttons.

When we get saved, Christ sets us free from those attachments. But sometimes we open doors again, knowingly or unknowingly.

Those demons no longer control us, we have power over them if we exercise the authority we have in Jesus name.

Sometimes we do. Sometimes we don’t. Sometimes we don’t realize what we are doing. We don’t see what we are saying or doing until the Holy Spirit points it out.

James says,

“My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;

Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.”— James 1:2-3

When we are tempted we can actually rejoice in it. Because it shows that we are saved and free. Before we got saved, we never noticed the temptation. We never noticed the way demons manipulated our lives to lead us into temptation.

But, when we get saved and set free, we see the truth and have power to resist. We see how hard the enemy works to get us and it gives us faith. Because we see the truth, and the truth sets us free. (John 8:32)

Whether we succeed or fail, the attempts of the enemy to tempt us works to grow us and build our faith and patience. We will face temptations our whole lives and we will get stronger as we resist and endure and fail and try again.

It is the battle between the spirit and the flesh. It is spiritual warfare. (Gal 5:16-17)

“ Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.”—James 1:12

We are blessed by God as we endure these temptations. Whether we fail or succeed. We grow closer to God because we are His and “ALL things work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose.” (Rom. 8:28)

This is not about succeeding in resisting temptation. Jesus already did that. He already lived the perfect life for us. The temptation is to continue to abide and endure in Christ. The devil wants you to give up if you are saved.

Because if you give up, you are no longer serving God. You are no longer fighting in the war.

Not that you lose or win your salvation. That’s already settled when you confess Jesus as your Lord. You are saved, but not fighting or doing your job. That is just as good to the devil, as having you enslaved. If you are not serving God in the gifts God has given you. If you are not following the Holy Spirit, then you are not waging war. The devil wins.

When you are tempted and fail. Because you will fail. You will sin. It is a fact.

Turn to the Lord. Never run away. That is the devil tempting you. He wants you to feel alone and in shame or fear, so he can devour you like a roaring lion. (1 Peter 5:8)

James says,

“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.

Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.

Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.“—James 4:7-10

Turn to The Lord. Confess your sin to Him. We are tempted by demons and we fail. We sin. Confess it to the Lord. Every time. No matter how many times. Ask the Lord to help you overcome. It will eventually work itself out of you.

“If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.”— 1 John 1:8-10

Do not believe the lie that you will lose your salvation. God does not cast us aside. He died for us and worked hard to get us to turn to Him. If you are saved. It is forever.

Turn to Him and confess. He will help and continue to work with you.

God will correct you. He does not cast you out.

“My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord; neither be weary of his correction:

 For whom the Lord loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.“— Prov. 3:11-12

Do not believe this has to be some kind of bad thing. God is able to correct us, and bless us at the same time.

But, He does not cast us out. He corrects. He grows. He teaches. He heals.

Remember, we have demons, wounds, trauma, buttons, doors and pathways that have been a problem for us since childhood.

God heals those things. God closes those doors when we are ready to hold on. He helps us.

Turn to God and cast out those demons in Jesus name. Draw more into God. Resist the devil and he will flee. Eventually.

Do not listen to the lies from preachers who never mention spiritual things. They tell you to resist the flesh. But, never mention demons or your past traumas, or the buttons that get pushed.

The scripture clearly speaks of demonic entities. That preacher cannot help you because he doesn’t believe. You can do battle in the flesh, but it is only half the battle.

Turn to God always.

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How Do I Turn To God?

 How Do I Turn To God?

 What does that look like?

 

 

It’s so simple anyone can do it. That is how God designed it.

I’m going to avoid magical theological words and just give it straight.

As we go through life things happen to us. Good things and bad.

We have excitement over good things. We celebrate victories and enjoy time with family or friends.

We also suffer through hard times. Terrible tragedies, that destroy our lives or lead us into dark places.

If it’s good, we might feel led to thank God.

If it’s bad, we might feel led to call out to God for help.

No matter what it is, if we feel or think about God at all, it is because He is calling us.

Humans in our natural flesh filled state do not seek God. We seek food, sex, money and freedom from pain. We do not seek spiritual things. (Rom. 3:10-18)

So if we start to wonder about God, or get interested in spiritual things, or find ourselves in trouble, and God is our only hope. He is calling us. You might hear a preacher preaching and it speaks to you. You might read a Gospel Tract and it opens your eyes. If you are reading this, God brought you here to read it. He is calling you.

It’s like when Jesus called to the disciples. He just said “Follow me” and they turned and followed Him

When you realize God is calling you. Just pray and talk to Him plain. He knows you and loves you. (Rom. 1:6, Rom. 8:30, Rom. 9:24, 1 Cor. 1:9)

Just ask Him to save you. (Matt. 7:7, Acts 2:38, John 5:24, Acts 2:21, Acts 16:30-31)

“Lord, please save me and help me. I make Jesus the Lord of my life and I believe in Him. Please change me and show me what to do. For it’s in Jesus name I pray. Amen.” (Rom 10:9-10)

These aren’t magic words. Try the best you can to mean them. He is real and He is listening and He will move. Trust Him.

Believe He hears you. Watch Him move.

The same guidance you got that led you to pray will guide you in other ways. You’ll be led to start reading your Bible. You will be led to certain people or church. You will see your life changing. Things will be removed and other things brought into your life.

Keep believing and keep praying. Turn to God in everything. It’s not just one prayer. It becomes a relationship. He becomes your life.

This is salvation. God has saved you, if you turned to Him and called out to Him. The Holy Spirit will come to dwell in you, and change you and grow you. He will lead you in Sanctification. (Acts 2:38, John 14:26, Luke 11:13)

That is the work God does on us throughout our life.

You have to understand. We are saved the instant we turn to Him and ask. But because of the fall and our own sins, we are so corrupt, that it takes time to fix us in this life. God does it in the proper way so it does not ruin us. He is a master builder. He is The Great Physician, and He is healing us. (Gal. 5:16-18, Prov. 3:11-12)

Read the Word of God, and believe it. No matter how crazy it makes you look to the world, friends, family or co-workers. Believe the Word. God takes this belief and makes us righteous. Nothing else can happen if we do not first believe. Nothing. We can hear the call and turn to Him, but if we do not believe what He tells us it will die on the vine. (Rom. 4:3, Matt. 13, )

Our belief or faith leads us to seek more of Him and to serve Him, as the Holy Spirit leads us. We learn that we should love God and others. We learn about baptism and communion. We learn about giving and helping others. We desire to tell people about Jesus, so they can be saved. We want other people to experience the great things God has done for us. (Mark 5:1-20, Matt. 10:32-33, Mark 16:15-20)

We pray to the Lord in Jesus name, and bring everything to Him. We see Him move in our lives and our faith grows with the relationship. (John 14:13-14, Prov. 3:5-6)

We find our life is changing. We find that we are changing. The things we used to struggle with are gone, and we have new things we struggle with. We have stories of how God has helped us and those stories encourage us and others.

God works to break us and correct us and change us as we confess our sins to him and let Him cleanse us. We walk in the spirit as we confess our sin and work these things out. He heals us of our trauma and destroyed lives. He brings us new hope and abundant life.

All of this is part of knowing Him. Knowing Him is the most important thing in our life. That relationship is really all that matters. He becomes our first love. (Mark 12:30-31, Matt. 10:37)

That doesn’t mean we don’t get angry, or hurt or question, or say things we shouldn’t. But, we turn back to Him. All relationships have friction. As He helps us get lined up with what He desires for us, we will face friction. We will endure trouble. We will face an enemy who seeks to drive us from God. (1 Pet. 5:8)

But, we abide. We keep turning to Him and letting Him grow us. We seek to build the Kingdom and get others saved. We let God work through us and love others and love Him.

It seems hard. But, its not because He is with us the whole way, and actually does it all Himself, if we let Him. (Heb. 13:5)

Just turn to God and ask. He will save you, grow you, teach you and open your eyes to things you never knew.

Then, you will be with Him forever.

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Cover photo by pexels. 

The God Who Answers

 The God Who Answers

 He is there and will answer.

 

 

We live our lives in this world, where we seem to have no control. Where we look every where for answers. Everything seems hard and we have sorrow, working our selves to death.

We seek answers from gods, idols and wisemen. We seek answers from deep within ourselves. We seek solutions from doctors,sorcerers, experts, scientists and alchemists. We seek to join pop culture and the knowledge of our world. But we continue to flounder in the dark.

In the Bible, there’s a story of Elijah and the prophets of Baal. (1 Kings Chapter 18)

Evil had taken over the land. The government was corrupt. The religion had become corrupt and wicked. There was drought and famine in the land and all the people were corrupted as well.

But God called Elijah to challenge the enemy. And Elijah went. He told the prophets of Baal.

“Let us pray over the alter of sacrifice and the God who sends fire is the real true God.”

The prophets of Baal cried out to their god. They tried everything they could but nothing happened.

Then Elijah told them to pour water on the altar. Then more water. Then Elijah prayed, and fire fell from heaven consuming the sacrifice, altar and even the water.

The Lord, is the one true God, and He is the one who answers.

Our lives are broken and we’ve tried everything; and nothing has helped. Everything has failed. We mess up again and again and it just seems to get worse.

God is calling you to turn to Him and ask Him for help. You’ve tried everything else, why not God?

It doesn’t matter how evil, how corrupt, or how much water you have poured on the troubles of your life. God will come as a consuming fire and save you. Then, He will change your life, if you give yourself to Him. (Acts 2:21 KJV)

Just call on Him. He is waiting. He is seeking you. Just ask Him to save you and confess that Jesus is the Lord, and you want Him to be your Lord. (Romans 10:9-10 KJV)

Believe in Him. Learn of Him, and trust Him and His promises.

The Word says that He will never leave you nor forsake you. (Heb. 13:5)

He is with us always even until the end of the earth. (Matt. 28:20)

And if God is with us, then who can hurt us? Who can remove us from His hand? Who can get Him to stop loving us?

No one.

God hears our every word and thought. Believe it.

He hears your prayers and is moving. Trust Him.

No matter what happens, He is seeking our good. (Rom. 8:28)

Remind yourself of this.

Do not let the enemy get you to think God doesn’t care or is not listening or is punishing you.

God is with you.

Trust Him.

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photo by pexels 

All Things

 All Things

All means all

 

 

Speak the truth of God’s Word into your life. Believe Him. Trust Him, learn of Him and know He is with you where ever you go. Make Him the focus of your life and grow in relationship with Him.

“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”—Phil. 4:13

Believe it. Speak it to yourself in faith.

When you are facing something that is causing you to fear, or doubt. Turn to God. Trust Him and speak the truth into your life. Tell yourself out loud.

“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”

He is with you. He is working in you and through you if you know Him.

If you are trying to accomplish something; know that he is with you. Trust the Word.

Are you concerned with having your needs met? Trust God. Stand on the Word. Speak this verse to yourself and believe it.

“But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.’—Phil. 4:19

What does it say? Does it say “Some”? No it says “All”. God will take care of you. Say it. and trust Him.

“So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God”— Rom. 10:17

Speak the Word of God out loud to yourself and others. Believe it.

Say

“My God shall supply all my need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”

Say it out loud and trust it. It is a fact.

Speaking the Word out loud builds faith.

Is something making you think you lost your salvation? Turn to God and ask Him to save you through Jesus Christ and speak these words over your fear.

 “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.:—John 6:37

If you know Jesus, He will not cast you out. You might stumble. You might drift away, but He is with you still. Just turn to Him and ask.

“I am in Christ, and He will not cast me out.” Say it and believe it.

“And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.”—John 6:39

If we know Him, we will be with Him on that day.

Are you confused? Are demons whispering into your mind trying to get you to think God is out to get you?

Trust God.

“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”—Rom. 8:28

Say it out loud.

“All things work together for my good. I love God and He has called me to Him and His purpose for my life. He is with me.”

Believe it. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. Your faith expands when you hear God’s truth and you trust Him.

It’s sort of like stirring yourself up, except that it is spirit. His words are spirit and truth. They impact your soul and spirit and the things beyond the veil. They build up faith, and when you see Him move, your faith grows as well.

Are you facing something you cannot overcome, like addiction or some task?

“Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.”—Rom. 8:37

Say it.

“I am a conqueror in Jesus name. I will overcome through Him.”

Speak it and believe it.

Do not let the devil, beat you down with fear and doubt. Stand on God’s Word. Believe His promises and speak them into your life and the life of others.

The enemy comes to steal, kill and destroy.

But, Jesus came to give us life, and to give it more abundantly. (John 10:10)

“I have an abundant life in Jesus name. He has saved me and is blessing me.”

If the enemy can get you to stop trusting God, then you have no where to turn. You can believe the Word.

Even if God is causing you problems or allowing it. It is for your good, and you can trust Him. Pray the Word. Speak the promises.

Stand on it.

(Do you have prayer requests or praises? Tell me in the comments or message me.)

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Bio: Chris Bunton is a writer, poet and blogger.

Follow Him on Medium: https://chris-bunton.medium.com/

Follow Him on Free Life Blog: https://myfreelifeblog.com/

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Standing On Faith

 Standing on Faith

What does it mean to wait upon the Lord?

 

 

There’s a verse in Isaiah that people like to quote.

“But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”—Isa. 40:31

Tough times come into our lives.

It doesn’t matter what kind of tough times, because it all does the same thing to us. It brings us to a place where we are faced with trusting God or not.

When you look at the temptations of Christ, you will find that they all end in the same basic question.

Do you trust God?

Do you trust God to provide?

Do you trust God to protect?

Do you trust God to answer?

Do you trust God to guide?

I am in the same boat. Destroyed and abandoned by people I called friends. People who claimed to be friends. People who call themselves believers in Christ, but do not love the brethren, like He commands.

I’m waiting upon the Lord.

What does that mean?

Well, it means to continue doing the things you know for a fact He called you to do. It means doing what is right and abiding in Him; keeping the relationship with Him.

 He called Abram to follow Him out into the wilderness and Abram went. “Come unto a land that I will show you.”

And Abram followed as God led. It was a daily walk. But, God led him to a place where Abram was fulfilling his purpose.

Abram listen to God’s leading, as frustrating as it is to not know the whole plan. But, the following and the waiting and the learning the voice of the Lord was the real plan. That was the relationship.

And Abram, became Abraham, the father of nations. A powerful prophet in the land where God led him.

As sheep we follow the shepherd. We know his voice because God teaches it to us. We see Him moving and we remember what He tells us. We trust in the things He has shown us and confirmed in His Word.

He leads us by the still waters. His rod and staff comfort us. Not because of where we are, but because of Who is with us. Nothing can harm us for real. He is there.

Our faith grows in the relationship. It grows when we hear God’s Word and we put our faith in it and stand on it despite all odds. His promises are true and no matter what happens He is with us. He will never leave us nor forsake us. We can stand on the Rock of Christ, the Rock of His Word.

Turn to Him and He comes running. Seek and you shall find. Ask and it shall be given to you. Knock and it will be opened. We have not, because we ask not. We are his children, we can come boldly to the throne and seek Him in our despair.

While we wait on the Lord to show us the next step, we stand on faith. We stand on His Word, and the things He has shown us in our lives, which is our testimony. The testimony of the great things He has done for us.

We can trust Him. He is coming fast.

Like the Israelite’s in the desert waiting on the pillar of smoke and fire to move. He will move.

Faith comes by hearing the Word. Speak it to yourself.

“Whatsoever I ask in His name He will do.”

Believe it.

Trust it.

Drive the doubt out of your mind with it.

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”

Say it.

Believe it.

Stand on it.

Let the promises fill you with faith and drive the demons of doubt and fear and infirmity away.

“By His stripes I am healed”

Believe it.

“Take up your mat and walk”

 Believe it.

Get up and get busy.

Do what you can do.

Grab that promise and run with it.

Dance before the Lord and trust that He has your back.

He is coming. He promises.

You will run and not be weary.

Believe it.

Our relationship with Him forever is being built.

We know Him, through the relationship He is building. We know Him as we walk with Him through the desert. We know Him as we wait upon Him and continue in well doing till he comes.

And He is coming.

You will hear His voice and see Him move to help you.

Trust Him.

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Bio: Chris Bunton is a writer, poet and blogger.

Follow Him on Medium: https://chris-bunton.medium.com/

Follow Him on Free Life Blog: https://myfreelifeblog.com/

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Read His Bible Studies on Blogger: https://chrisbunton.blogspot.com/

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God Will Come Running

 

 God Will Come Running

 When we turn to Him

 

 

 

 Jesus tells us a story about a young man who left home and went to make a name for himself. (Luke 15:11-32)

It could be a kid going to college with his parents credit card.

Or a kid chasing a dream with his fathers support and blessing.

We know this guy. We have seen him or her in our families or neighbors. We have seen them in ourselves.

We are free. We don’t have to answer to anyone.

We are trying to make it. We are chasing a dream or forced to take care of ourselves.

But we get pulled off the path.

Like the man in Jesus’ story.

He started riotous living. He started making friends in low places. He was meeting all the best guys or best girls. He was getting drunk and using drugs of all kinds. He was down at the club, or local bar. He woke up next to all kinds of people.

And all the dreams died.

We’ve been there, or seen people there. We can smell the smells, taste the tastes and hear the sound of the music thumping. We’ve done the beer runs, and smoked the things that make us wanna go get some more.

They are living for the party. Living for friends. Maybe living the dream. But, it’s not the real dream. It’s not real hopes and dreams.

Jesus says that trouble comes. A famine in the land.

 And trouble always comes. The party always ends.

It could be an accident that causes it. Maybe a divorce or break up. The loss of income and friends. Illness.

But, the party ends.

This causes us to get desperate. These times of trouble can lead us to draw more into the party life, trying to hold on. Drinking and drugging more to try to numb the fear and pain. Chasing things that is not good for us. Trusting people we should not trust. Waking up in places we do not want to wake up in. As our friends abandon us.

And we break. We have no choice. We are ruined.

Jesus said, the man went and got the worst job possible. The lowest of the low, just to keep himself from starving.

But, even that wasn’t working. He wanted to eat the pigs food.

We might end up homeless, digging in the dumpsters. We might even consider a life of crime. Stealing, selling drugs, stripping and prostitution to survive.

We hit rock bottom. We are as low as we think we can go.

Do not be deceived. There are always worst things that can happen. Rock bottom has a basement.

Jesus said, that the man woke up. He was willing to be a slave in His fathers house.

How desperate are you? Are you desperate enough to turn to God and say “I can’t do it! I don’t know what to do! But, I need you! Do whatever you want but please save me and help me.”

Are you so desperate to be free from your troubles and addictions and life, that you just give it all to God, and even if He kills you or throws you in prison or cripples you, it’s ok.

How desperate are you?

Jesus said the man went to see his father. He was desperate. He had ruined his life and was not worthy for anything good.

But, the father saw his child a long way off, and ran to him. And hugged him and held him.

That’s God.

 He sees our broken and desperate heart, long before we even get to Him. And He comes running. He comes running to save us and help us.

He wraps His arms around us and makes us His child. He brings us a robe and a ring and we are with the father forever.

And our life changes. We see things happening. Good or bad, but it’s ok because the Father is with us. He shakes it out and gives us hope. He grows our faith as we draw closer to Him. And we see him move. And more faith grows.

The dreams come back to life and we see them growing in Him. We see good things coming into our life, and it comes even more abundantly.

God himself is working in our life and everything is fine.

He blesses us where we are because we are His. We are His child and we turn to Him and know Him.

And He always comes running when we turn to Him. He always moves to help us, even when we can’t see it. He is working and it will work out. He is with us.

And we will be with Him

Forever.

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 Bio: Chris Bunton is a writer, poet and blogger.

Follow Him on Medium: https://chris-bunton.medium.com/

Follow Him on Free Life Blog: https://myfreelifeblog.com/

Subscribe on Substack: https://substack.com/@chrisbunton

Read His Bible Studies on Blogger: https://chrisbunton.blogspot.com/

Support the work for the cost of a Coffee

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Elder Brother, Younger Brother

 Elder Brother, Younger Brother

A Word on Acceptance

In the parable of the prodigal son, we see many truths about our spiritual lives. But, there is one aspect that I would like to point out here. (Luke 15:11-32) First we have the prodigal son who goes into the world and lives for himself. He lives a riotous life, that mirrors what a rock star might live. You get the picture. He took the blessings of the father and went into the world and partied with it.
      

We also see in the parable that there is an elder brother, who stays at home with the father. He obeys everything the father tells him to obey. He lives a humble, austere life at home. He never ventures out into the world very far. He grows bitter, resentful, and judgmental. He feels he is owed a blessing for obedience.
      

We can see these two characters played out today in our churches. You have the person who grew up living in the world and went full tilt in it. Then trouble comes into his life and God uses that time of trouble to draw him to be saved. Then, the person starts trying to live right and do what they are being led by God to do. But, they are still very rough around the edges, and know it. They then come to church where they encounter the elder brother.
      

This is the person who grew up in church. The elder brother never strayed too far from the laws of God. Oh sure they “sinned”.  They missed church that Sunday, and kissed a boy behind the woodshed. They went to that party and got drunk and had to call their parents from jail that one time. “Never again!” they promised God, and they kept it. But, they did other things secretly, or unknowingly, or unadmittedly.
      

The Elder Brother thinks, whether they know it or not, “This guy comes to the church, because he’s in trouble. He took the life, and the gifts, and the image of God and then wallowed in the mud with the pigs. He’s not well churched. He doesn’t talk right. He’s rough, and he doesn’t fit in. He will never totally fit in. He still smokes, he cusses, he has a woman he meets, he drinks, and he just tries to hide it all. He won’t last long.”
      

The younger brother feels it. He can feel that some people in the church will never accept him because of who he was. He can tell by how they look at him and exclude him, that he is not one of them. Oh sure they invite him. But, it feels like charity or pity. He hears the sermons and listens to the teachings and knows he doesn’t measure up. He knows that he never will. But, they all seem to. They seem to be perfect, even though he knows they aren’t. Next Sunday he’ll just sleep in.
      

This scenario plays out in churches all across this land. Someone wants to change their lives, but the perfect people become a stumbling block to them. The person who has been involved in church their whole life cannot understand that the person who has been in the world, has many layers of things that God must remove over time. It doesn’t happen overnight.  A person gets saved the minute they confess Jesus as their Lord, but it takes a life time to get totally healed of the damage that has been done to them.

      

Don’t let the elder brother drive you away from God or from church. Church is a place to learn, and to grow. It is a place to serve and reach out to others. It has great value in your spiritual walk. Seek people in your church who have a similar background, or who are more understanding. They are there. Pray and ask God to show you. Likewise, Elder brothers need to realize this occurs and figure out ways to make it easier for folks to integrate into the Body.   

 

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Bio: Chris Bunton is a writer, poet and blogger from Southern Illinois. He has published in several magazines, and has written a poetry eBook called “Against the Man” and an Addiction Recovery eBook called “Made Free: Overcoming Addiction“ His newest book is called “The Future is Coming” and is a collection of dystopian short stories.

Follow Him on Medium: https://chris-bunton.medium.com/

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Photo by the writer. A Creepy Alley

A Higher Power

 A Higher Power

 

In 12 step programs they speak of a higher power.

I know this works for some people in thier effort to get clean.

But, I cannot speak in terms of a higher power about someone who has saved me.

He is a person and He walks with me. He was there before my birth. He was there as I grew and failed and failed again. He protected me and cheered for me to succeed.

He was there when I became an addict and wept through the pain with me.

He was there as I chose to do the things I did, and He protected me in my bad decisions.

Then, when it was time. He destroyed my life. He broke up my failure of a life. And began to create a new one.

He allowed me to destroy myself so I could be in a better place. He allowed my marriage to fail, and protected them.

He walked with me through prison. Protecting me and blessing me.

He restored my life and has given me more than I could ever hope for. He promises a hope and a future. An abundant life and He has delivered, and is delivering.

His yoke is easy and His burden light. He helps me with all my struggles.

He is always there. And will always be there no matter what.

He us not just a higher power. He is the Lord. He is God. He is Jesus. The Great I Am. The Alpha and Omega. Yesterday, today. And Forever.

 

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Bio: Chris Bunton is a writer, poet and blogger from Southern Illinois. He has published in several magazines, and has written a poetry eBook called “Against the Man” and an Addiction Recovery eBook called “Made Free: Overcoming Addiction“ His newest book is called "The Future is Coming" and is a collection of dystopian short stories.

Follow Him on Medium: https://chris-bunton.medium.com/

Read His Spiritual Writings on Blogspot: https://chrisbunton.blogspot.com/

Buy a cup of Coffee

Support the work on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=13514235&fan_landing=true&view_as=public