The Lamb Slain

 

The Lamb Slain

A Word on God's Eternal Plan

I do not believe in Dispensationalism. I believe that God is all knowing and does not change. I believe that we should look at history according to what we can understand about God's power, goodness and character.

Dispensationalism is the basic belief that God has treated mankind differently, at different times in history. It also puts forth the idea that God's treatment of mankind was different before Christ died, and before the Holy Spirit came. 

I disagree.

My view of these things comes from the Bible, and biblical concepts. The foundational view is the all powerfulness of God, and the fact that He changes not.(Mal. 3:6)

He does not change, therefore His treatment of man has not changed, despite what we see or believe. In Malachi chapter 3 referenced above He plainly states that His promises and His workings do not change. We change. We suffer consequences or blessings but His plan does not change.

The scriptures imply that God is a master builder. That means that He has a blue print of what He is building. But, unlike a human builder, the structure is already completed in heaven. It is already done in God's eyes.

Things have occurred "in the fullness of time" on this Earth. You cannot have a roof until the foundation is built. That is a process. This is what dispensationalists see. The process. But, by faith and the power of God, it is already "finished". (Eph. 1:10) Nothing can stop it. Ephesians chapter 1 explains this.

It's like your salvation. When you got saved, you are so saved that according to God, you are already seated in the heavenly places with Christ Jesus. (Eph. 2:6)

History is like that. It's already done. The kingdom is already built. But, it is coming to pass in the flesh, which shall pass away.

Pray on this verse.

" ...book of life of the lamb slain at the foundation of the Earth" (Rev. 13:8)

In the last days the Anti-Christ will make war against the Saints. The saints are the true believers in The Book of Life. 

The next section says "the Lamb SLAIN FROM THE FOUNDATION OF THE EARTH."

That means Jesus was killed as our sacrifice in the eyes and plans of God, before He created the Earth. (Gen.1:1) as Ephesians chapter one explains, in regards to our salvation.

So, what does that mean?

It means that God has been working the same plan from the beginning. This can be seen in Cain slaying Able. That is a picture of the Jews slaying Christ. Brother killing brother. When we see Cain slaying Able, Cain is then sent to wander. Just like Israel was sent to wander in the Diaspora which began in 70 AD. after Christ was slain.

So, from the point that Death and Sin entered the world, God already had the problem solved.

It means that every person who has turned to God by faith, since time began are saved the same way we are today.

As Paul and James said, "it was imputed righteousness unto Abraham  that He believed God."( Romans chapter 4, James 2:23) (James does not preach works, despite what some would have you believe. The works he speaks of are belief, confession, baptism, communion, and service, among other things. Confessing Jesus is the Lord, is a work. See Romans 10:9-10))

When Abraham believed the word given to him, God put him in Christ, the lamb slain from the foundation of the Earth. He was written in the Lambs Book of Life.

How does the book work?

When we are born, we are in the book. Babies do not go to hell. This is explained in Romans chapter 5. When Paul says " For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law." (Romans 5:13) Babies have no understanding of right and wrong. Therefore, the guilt of sin is not imputed upon them till they have an understanding. Do babies sin? Well, if you watch babies you can clearly see deception, by how they hide things they do wrong, or selfishness in how they claim things as their own, and hold it. (I'm referring to toddlers.). This is a reflection of our corrupt nature, but that sin is not imputed on them, until they understand. 

There comes a point in our lives when God has determined that we understand enough. Then, we are tempted and if we choose to sin, then guilt is imputed upon us. We are covered in Sin and facing the consequences. We know in our heart that whatever it is is wrong. Our conscience warns us. Something tells us. Do not steal that thing. Do not have that sexual action. Do not hurt that person.  Whatever it is. We know it's wrong, and we do it anyway.  Boom. We die spiritually. This moment is the same as Adam and Eve at the Fall.

When we sin the first time, knowing it's a sin, we are blotted out of the Book of Life.. We then abide in Eternal Death, which is separation. We are headed to hell when we die because we are not washed in the Blood of Jesus to be cleaned. We cannot enter Paradise, or else heaven would be tainted with Sin forever.  Think of a quarantine, and a virus. The Blood of Jesus washes us clean of it.

When we hear God's call and turn to Him, with faith, believing in Him and confessing Jesus as our Lord, we are saved. (Rom. 10:9-10)

We receive a new name and are written in the Book of Life, never to be removed again. (Rev. 2:17)

Just like Abraham. All the saints from Adam till the last one are saved the same way. Because it was already finished at the Foundation.

The Holy Spirit, comes to live in a clean vessel, washed in the Blood. There is nothing that says this changed from days of old. There is nothing in the Word that says Abraham or David, did not have the Holy Spirit. The verses used to try to teach that the Holy Spirit only abides with New Testament believers, is not really proven. We see the Holy Spirit came upon people in the days of old, as He does today. God changes not. 

Jesus tells us that when He leaves, the Comforter comes to be with us and in us. He doesn't say that this is different from the past. The Holy Spirit has worked with and dwelt in people from the beginning, when they are saved.

That's why the scriptures are "God Breathed". By inspiration. The scriptures tell the life of Saints. If they didn't have the Spirit then how could their lives be special enough to put in the Word? It's not just the words, it is the person's life and events described in the Word. Their lives were Spirit-led, in order to show what God wanted us to see.

The Holy Spirit has always dwelt with the Saints. Sometimes there's a greater infilling, but He is there, from the Foundation of the Earth.

Paradise is heaven. That is where saved people go when they die to be with Christ. Paradise will come down to Earth. The City of God which is in Paradise will come to Earth when God creates a New Sky (heaven) and New Earth, after it is cleansed. (Luke 23:43, 2 Cor. 12:4, Rev. 2:7, Revelation Chapter 21)

The Saints of Old are in Paradise along with saints who die today, and have been since they died. 

God technically defeated Death, Sin and Satan, before anything was created. We are just watching the building being built. We are seeing it come to pass in this world. Can anything stop what God has decreed?

It was already finished. Long before.

 

Remember, a day with the Lord is as a thousand years, and thousand years as a day. It has only been 6 days since God created, and 2 days since the Lord went to Paradise. (Jude 1:14-15, 2 Pet. 3:8)

 

Remember, He comes soon, and we will be with Him. 

 

-----

picture by the author.

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.

---

photo by pexels 

As if By Fire

 As If By Fire

Do you have rewards?

 

 

 

“Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.”—1 Cor. 3:13-15 (Chapter 3)

When God saves us. He saves us forever. I do not believe we can lose our salvation, and the scriptures do not teach that, despite any man made argument to the contrary.

If you know Him. If you are His. If you have turned to Him and asked Him to save you and confessed Him as your Lord. Then, He will not cast you away. He chastens us. He grows us. He breaks us and molds us. He refines us.

He does not cast us aside, because we broke one too many rules. Even if we reject Him. Still He is faithful and continues to keep His Word and do His work. (Romans 8:37-39. 1 Thess. 5: 20-24, 2 Thess. 3:3)

If we really know Him. If we have really given ourselves to Him. If we really confess Him as Lord. He accepts us and saves us forever. (Romans 10:9-10)

He saves us and starts working in us and through us. The law and any other rule becomes a guide for growth and confession. We are washed. We are clean. But, sometimes our feet get dirty in this world and need washed by confession to the Lord of sin. The laws help us to know what to clean and pray about for growth and healing. The Law shows us our sin, and we know what to confess to the Lord.

As we live in Christ, we are to be Spirit led. We are to turn to the Lord (repent) and let Him save us and grow us. We are to acknowledge Him in ALL our ways and He shall direct our paths. (Proverbs 3:5-6, Romans chapter 8)

This means that we are to listen to His Spirit, and when we do this He works in us and through us. So, our work and our life, and our following Him; is done by His power, not ours. It’s Him doing it, not us. If we allow it.

Our works of righteousness are as filthy rags. (Isa. Chapter 64, Romans Chapter 1)

We cannot please Him in our own flesh. We are fallen. We have a corrupted nature. Even when we are saved, we still fail and sin. We cannot please Him in our own obedience or desire. No matter how great it is. If He didn’t do it, or call for it, or lead us in it. Then, it’s flesh. It’s hay, wheat and stubble. You can build a million orphanages and ministries but if He’s not in it or led you to do it, then it’s nothing.

When He returns, all of our work and all of our life will be tried in the all consuming fire of who He is. (Hebrews Chapter 12, Deut. 4:24, Deut 9:3, Matthew Chapter 25, 2 Peter Chapter 3)

Like in the days of Noah, the water fell and broke up from below swallowing the world and destroying it. Only 8 souls saved on the Ark.

Likewise, when He returns the Earth will be burned up in fire, and those in Christ will be saved as if by fire, receiving the rewards. He shall judge the quick (saved, living) and the dead (unsaved) at His appearing. (2 Tim. 4:1)

All that will remain will be that which can survive the fire. Gold, silver, and precious stones through God’s work in us.

But, all flesh. All hay, wheat and stubble will be burned up. Those things that were not from God, by God or commanded by God, will perish. All things not of your relationship with God. Burned.

We will be left with what God has done. Not what we did in our flesh. No matter how good. No matter how much we obey the Bible in our flesh.

Did we know Him and follow His Spirit? Did we abide? (John Chapter 15)

But, we ourselves shall be saved as if by fire. Only having the things God has done. And we shall cast them at His feet. Because He has done it all, not us. (1 Cor 3:10-15, 1 Cor Chapter 3, Rev. 4:10-11,)

He is worthy.

And there shall be a new Heaven and new Earth, where He dwells with us. A new Creation where there is no death, corruption, curse or sin.(Isa 66:22-24, Isa Chapter 66, Isa Chapter 65, 2 Peter Chapter 3, Rev. Chapter 21)

Now, several points need to be made. There seems to be different judgements. The Judgement of the Believers which is where our rewards are decided. The Great White Throne judgement, which refers to the lost, and the judgement of nations. We do not know exactly how these things will happen and when or in what order.

When He comes there will be Judgement. When He comes there will be rewards. We know there will be a fire judgement. We know there will be a millennium, and a thousand year kingdom. But, exactly how this works we are not told. (2 Peter 3)

But, if you are a believer then we are called to serve the Kingdom. We are called to abide in Him and endure the attacks of the enemy.

When Jesus returns, our works as saints will be judged. And the work that God has done in us and through us will remain as a reward.

But, Paul warns us that if we are saved and we have done nothing. If we have not let the Holy Spirit work in us, on us and through us. If we have lived as Carnal Christians. We will face that fire, and will have nothing to show for it. God, will keep His Word and save you. But, you will go into eternity with nothing. Like a man who ran out of his burning house naked in the middle of the night. Everything burned up.

You never stored treasures in heaven. You stored them all on Earth, and when its burned. It’s burned.

But, you yourself will be saved as if by fire.

Smelling of smoke. By the skin of your teeth, so to speak.

God keeps His Word.

Learn to listen to His voice and serve the Kingdom. There is no better place to be, than with Him.

---

Photo by pexels/edited by author 

What Is Hell?

 What Is Hell?

What do the scriptures say? 

 

 

When we study the scriptures on a subject, we go by what the entire Word says, based upon the guiding of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit will lead us into ALL truth. That’s how it works. (John 16:13, Jas 1:5)

We are surrounded by lots of false teachings, and it is going to get worse as the last days move forward. This is why being taught by the Holy Spirit is most important. (1 John 2:27)

Hell and/or the Lake of Fire according to scripture seems to be two different places. There is a current holding place called Hell, and a final destination which is the Lake of Fire.

Why two? Because after all is said and done there will be a final judgement, and at some point God will create a new Heaven and new Earth. Hell seems to be the containment for this current creation, and the Lake of Fire is the containment for eternity, after the last judgement and new creation.

The current containment of Hell along with death will be cast into the Lake of Fire, so nothing escapes. (Rev. 20:14)

This containment system seems to have been created for Satan and his angels.

At some point in the distant past, when Satan fell and led a rebellion against God, which included angels and all sort of spiritual beings, God created or “prepared” it for them. (Matt. 25:41)

According to scripture, Satan and his angels are not currently bound in Hell. We have verses showing Satan visiting God’s throne room in Heaven and the angels battling each other. We also have verses speaking of the demonic forces ruling and influencing things on Earth. (The book of Job, The book of Zechariah, 2 Cor. 4:4, Eph. 2:2, Rev. 20:1-3, Dan. 10 )

There are also scriptures that show that some fallen angels or beings are bound in other places. We see that there is a place called the Bottomless Pit. So, it seems that the true spiritual cosmology, involves more than Heaven, Hell and Earth. The Bible doesn’t give us a lot of info on these places and on the cosmology. I have my beliefs on them, but let’s stick to Hell. (Rev. 20:1-3, Rev. 9:14)

Hell is eternal death. Death is separation, not an end as we suppose. Hell/Lake of Fire is a place that is separated from God for all eternity. It is a holding place for all that is filthy, corrupt and wicked. It is a place for those who refuse to be washed clean of Sin and Evil in the Blood of Jesus. Hell exists as a containment for Sin. It is like a plague that corrupts us. God cannot let Sin into Heaven or Paradise, or else death and pain and suffering would contaminate all of eternity. (Rev. 1:5, Rev. 7:14, 1 John 1:7, Eph 2:13, Heb. 10:19)

Hell is best viewed as the garbage dump outside of an ancient walled city. This image gives the best picture.

Hell/The Lake of Fire is the garbage dump outside the City of God. Outside of Paradise.

When you read in the Old Testament about lepers. This is a picture of the unsaved in Hell. They were living corpses rotting away and stinking. They were contagious, and had to stay away from others. They were forced to cover their face and yell “Unclean!” any time an uninfected person approached. (Lev. 13:45) Separation.

They were poor, and no one helped them much. They dwelt in the garbage dump because they could get scraps, and scavenge things thrown away, and people would leave stuff for them.

The dump stinks. It is where the dogs dwelt eating scraps and fighting lepers. It’s the same in Hell/Lake of Fire (Revelation 22:15) (Dogs in the ancient world were vermin and tormentors. They were scavengers and thieves, who roamed in packs and might even attack a child, or solitary person. It is not the view we have of family pets. Course those family pets can turn feral.)

Jesus described Hell as a place where “the fire is not quenched and the worm dieth not.” He was quoting Isaiah. (Isa 66:22-24, Mark 9)

The fires of trash burning with filthy smoke, choking the lungs and blocking the light. A place of darkness and misery, without the love and joy and peace of God. A place where the worms live forever eating the flesh, filth and corruption. (Matt. 25:30)

This is the basic picture of Hell. A garbage dump separated from God and all that is clean.

Jesus gives us a parable of the torment of Hell. He speaks of the poor man Lazarus who basically was a homeless man who lived outside a nameless rich man’s gate. The rich man ignored Lazarus. He could have loved Him and helped Him. If the rich man really knew God, he would have done what He could do to help the homeless man. But, He did not. (Luke 16)

Both of them die.

The rich man is in Hell. Again, not because he could earn His way into heaven by doing good deeds, but because He never knew God. He never had a relationship with God. If He had, then He would have had compassion. He would have felt conviction to help Lazarus.

The rich man is thirsty in Hell and says “Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.”

There is no water in Hell, it’s hot. He sees Lazarus in Heaven/Paradise leaning against Abraham’s chest, and makes this request. (There are teachings about Abraham’s Bosom and all of that, which the Bible doesn’t really teach. In this parable it is clear that Lazarus is leaning against Abraham the person, because Abraham speaks. It is not a place. Locations do not speak. Any doctrines on a place called Abraham’s Bosom are actually referring to Paradise or Heaven. The place of the the righteous dead, where the saints go to be with the Lord, and the other members of their family and saints who were saved as well. Abraham and all the saints are there. The phrase “Abraham’s Bosom” is actually poetic language for Heaven/Paradise.)

Abraham tells the rich man that Lazarus cannot give him a drink because there is a gulf between Hell and Paradise. They can see each other, but cannot go there. Again separation and containment. Many ancient cultures had a similar cosmology, because it is true. God told Adam, and the truth went to Noah, and was taught to the people. Then it was confused at the Tower of Babel, when people scattered globally with different languages and different names for past events. But, the basic idea remains. Because it’s true.

The rich man begs Abraham to send Lazarus to warn his family, so they won’t go to Hell. But, Abraham says “They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.”

Abraham basically says, “They have God’s Word.” But, the rich man knows his family won’t read it or learn of it. He assumes his family would be shocked into turning to God if Lazarus rose from the dead.

But, Abraham says, “If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.”

Basically, if they won’t believe the Word, they won’t believe anything, even if someone rose from the dead.

In case you missed it, this is a reference to Jesus rising from the dead; and people still refuse to believe. Just to be clear, a man named Lazarus also rose from the dead, and people still refused to believe. (John 11, John 20)

So, that is Hell. But, what about the Lake of Fire?

In my best understanding, Hell is a current spiritual place in the cosmology. It rests separated by a gulf from Heaven/Paradise. (Luke 23:43, 2 Cor. 12:4, Rev. 2:7)

It is Spiritual. It is out there beyond the veil that separates us from spiritual things.

But, the Lake of Fire is material. It exists in the material world forever.

It seems that at some point, God creates a new heaven and new earth. The city of God, and Paradise itself seems to come to Earth and joins with Earth. There is no more Separation. Sin has been contained. Death has been defeated. Everything is created new and seems to go back to how it was before the fall of man and the rebellion of Satan. (Heb. 11;16, Isa 65:17, Isa 66, Rev. 21, Rev. 22 )

The Lake of Fire is a place on Earth at this future time. A material location, not a spiritual one. It rests outside the City of God. It is the garbage dump, and containment place for everything and everyone who refused to washed in the Blood and be cleansed and healed of the Plague of Sin. Understand that sometime before the final judgement everyone who is dead will be raised into bodies that can never die. The dead currently have spiritual bodies. These future bodies will allow us to either live forever in Paradise, or live forever in Hell/Lake of Fire. (Rev. 20:12)

Why do I say this? Because it’s what God says, “ For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the Lord, so shall your seed and your name remain. And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the Lord. And they shall go forth, and look upon the carcases of the men that have transgressed against me: for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh.” (Isa 66:22-24)

After God creates a new heaven and new earth. When His city comes to Earth and Paradise is here. The saints who the Lord has saved, will gather together on a regular basis to worship God. And part of that celebration, or after the worship service; people will be able to go out and look at the Lake of Fire and see Satan, His angels, and those who followed them in the Lake of Fire.

Now, a Lake of Fire implies liquid fire. So, I personally believe that it is like a volcano or magma. The City of God and Paradise Earth is near enough to see it, but there is a separation or gulf. People will come from all over the new Earth to worship, and see it.

So, let me tell you that our words and current understanding cannot really explain this. There are gaps in what the scriptures say and our ability to explain it. We have tried to give a time line. But, from what I can tell, no timeline or explanation of the events to come is totally perfect.

We are not supposed to “Intrude into things we have not seen.” (Col. 2:18)

That means that as humans who have never traveled to spiritual realms, or seen glimpses of the future new creation, we can only give limited knowledge and understanding.

I’ve tried to connect some dots. and clear things up in order to get people to understand and get saved or have a hope of the future. I am not going to say I have it all figured out in such a way that I can teach it or prove it. I don’t.

This is a simple explanation of what I have learned so far. I hope it helps you in your studies.

---

Photo by Pexels/Eyez Heaven. Edited by Author

Evil Is With Me

 Evil Is With Me

We have a corrupted nature 

 

“I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.”—Rom. 7:21

Romans chapter 7 explains to us the purpose of God’s Law.

It’s purpose is to reveal sin in us, so that it can be dealt with.

Paul describes the struggle between law and flesh. He says that when he saw the law “Though shalt not covet” it was revealed that he had covetousness in his life.

He sinfully wanted what others had. The law revealed this and since he realized he had broken the law, he was slain by it. The law killed him, because the punishment for sin is death. He died in God’s eyes the moment he knew He had sinned. That’s the law.

But, he did not want to commit the sin. You can plug any sin into this box. Paul used covetousness, but it could apply to any sin. It was revealed to him that he sinned, and he was slain by it. He agreed with the law, because it is good. So, he did not want this sin in his life any more.

But, he discovered that he could not quit. The evil thoughts continued. The lusting or fear or doubt or whatever sins continued in his mind and heart; even though he did not want it anymore because he saw it was wrong in the Word of God.

Now, God revealed to Him a massive truth that opened his eyes. A truth that many people miss.

If he did not want to do it any more, then it was not really him doing it. He hated the sin, but yet still did it. He still thought the thoughts and did the deeds. He could not escape.

This showed him that there was something wrong with him. That he had a corrupted nature, beyond his control. Something in himself that he did not want or desire. He hated the sin, but still did it anyway. Therefore it was not him, but SIN in him.

This is important because when we think about obeying God’s law and put burdens on ourselves and others; we ignore the truth that we cannot obey it ourselves because of our corrupted nature. We are fallen. We are plagued with sin from Adam.

Our sins we commit are like symptoms of a deeper plague in us.

We don’t see how wicked we are until the light of God’s Word reveals it to us. Our flesh is totally corrupt and we are incapable of stopping it, in such a way that is true. If we stop one thing, we sin somewhere else. Trying to quit sinning is a torturous never ending hell, full of fear that God is watching and wants to destroy you.

When we have a works based doctrine, that’s where we are. We believe we must quit sinning, but we cannot. We want to please God, but fail constantly.

But, the law actually is supposed to reveal that you cannot quit and that it is not even really you committing the sins, it is something in you. The corrupted nature.

God’s law is far more than just the ten commandments. We can’t even obey the ten, let alone the rest. And don’t even start on the sins of thoughts. The sins of omission. or sins of Pride, Doubt, Fear, and other things we do, that we do not even realize we are doing.

The law reveals it. This is why the law is good, as Paul says.

It is like a mirror.

But, our response is to change. We cannot. It won’t work. A sinful being cannot change his sinful nature, he needs God to do it.

Now, ask yourself, why would God provide a means to have your sins covered through the sacrificial system?

Because He knows we cannot obey. He wants it. He demands it. But we cannot, because of the corrupted nature in us from Adam. He knows this.

God is not ignorant of our sins and failures. We try to hide these things and try to quit or deal with it ourselves but it doesn’t work. It gets worse.

Have you ever seen a child who plays with magic markers? They color themselves, they color the walls, they color everything. But, there often comes a point where they realize they messed up. Sometimes they realize it on their own (Spirit or Conscience), or sometimes it’s when the parent reveals it to them (law).

The child tries to fix it and might get a wet rag to wash it with. But it just smears it on themselves and the wall. They cannot fix it, and it’s there before them all the time. They need an adult to help them.

That is what happens with us. Even if a person doesn’t believe in God or has some other belief system, it doesn’t matter. God created us and this is what happens. This is what ALL religions deal with. This is why people go to therapy or drink to escape.

This thing in us torments us, because we know we are wrong and cannot get right. We try to fix it by fleshly means because that is all we know. But, it won’t work for eternity. It is a fleshly band aid at best, or makes things worse.

Look at Adam and Eve. When they fell from God, they saw they were naked and tried to cover themselves with fig leaves. That is religion, and every other thing we do to fix our problem in us. It’s nothing but fig leaves.

But, God showed up and revealed the sin in them and fixed it Himself. That’s Jesus.

We cannot fix it ourselves.

Paul says “O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?”—Rom. 7:24.

In the very next verse He thanks God.

“I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.”

He thanks God that the law has revealed to him that there is something wrong, and it is not him doing it. He serves God, but there is also the corrupted nature and he realizes that it is not him that does it but sin in him.

 The very next verse is Romans 8:1, a new chapter and he reveals why he is thankful.

“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”

He reveals the solution. God came in the flesh to die for us, because of our sins and corrupted nature. He washes us clean in the Blood of Jesus when we turn to Him.

Our eyes are opened to the truth and we believe it. We turn to God, and ask Him to save us, confessing Jesus is the Lord, and we make Him our Lord.

God washes us clean of all sin. Past, present and future. He fills us with His Holy Spirit, and we grow in relationship with Him. We are no longer condemned. We are friends of God. We are righteous. Not because of what we do or don’t do. But, because of what Jesus did for us.

Our growth in Christ works to reveal and purge the things that we do in the flesh, as we confess our sins to Him. But, it is Him that does the work in us, not us. Even in our saved state, if we get in the habit of living a life trying to not sin, we are not really living in faith that Jesus has washed us. We think we must obey and do it ourselves. We forget that we cannot. This is why Paul says there is power in weakness. We admit our failure and give it to God and let Him do it.

If we go a few verses more in Romans chapter 8 we see this struggle continues in us even though we are saved. The flesh battles with the Spirit. We walk in the Spirit, by abiding in Christ, growing the relationship, turning to Him and confessing our sins, being in prayer, loving God and others. We realize that the sinful nature is not us anymore. We are dead to it. We died with Christ and rose with Him to new life. Those fleshly things no longer impact our spirit or salvation. They can cause trouble in this world, by opening the doors for demonic forces to attack us, but not our souls. Not our eternal spirits.

Here’s the verses

“For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.”

It’s about knowing Him, and He works to heal us and change us.

Walking in the Spirit is walking with Him. It is letting Him take care of it. because if we try to do it ourselves, or ignore it, we are walking in the flesh, and that leads to death.

What is death? Death is separation. It is not an end, as we suppose. When someone dies, they do not end, they are separated from us and from this fleshly world, and that body of flesh stays behind.

Eternal death is also separation. Nothing really dies or ends. it just changes form and continues on. We will all get a spiritual body that can never die. A vessel for our souls and spirits to dwell forever.

But, if we are not washed, that spiritual body will become corrupted by the corrupted soul, and dead spirit. It must then be separated to another place where nothing good dwells, because all good things are wrapped up in God. God is love. There is no love in separation. There is not love in that quarantine place of separation called Hell and the Lake of Fire. It is darkness and no light. It is separation from God.

If God allowed the corrupted nature into Paradise or Heaven, then all of eternity would be full of pain and evil just like this world. Separation occurs to protect God’s eternal kingdom and creation.

If we know Him we shall be with Him forever in Paradise. That’s the promise. Just like He told the thief on the cross.

All we have to do is turn to Him and ask, and believe. He will take care of the rest. We cannot change ourselves, He will do it, if we trust Him. And that is the difficulty of walking in the Spirit. Trusting and believing He’s got you. It builds patience. It builds meekness. We submit to Him and grow. Not by works, lest any should boast.

 We can trust Him.

---- 

Picture by pexels

---

The Coming Storm

 The Coming Storm

Signs of the Times 

 

Meteorologists warn us about coming storms. Whether it’s a freezing rain and snow or a summer tornado. Folks believe them. They stock up on bread and milk. They buy icy melt. They break out the snow gear and the shovels or flash lights. They check on family. They stay home to keep roads clear and safe. They close businesses to keep people safe.

Because they believe what they are told.

The Word of God tells us that there will come a time in the future when the world will face great trouble.

The Word tells us that we will face trouble in our own lives.

The Word tells us that we will face death someday.

A storm is coming.

Are we going to believe it? Are you prepared?

When an ice storm is coming, we listen to the experts. We listen to the people who have seen it before, and we rest in the experiences we have had in the past. This helps us to prepare for the coming storm.

Likewise, we can turn to God to save us and see us through the future storms of life and death. He can save us for eternity. We can trust Him. We can trust His Word.

When we believe the warnings of the ice storm we respond.

When we believe the Word of God we can respond also.

Belief leads to response. Faith leads to action.

Jesus told the paraplegic man to take up his bed and walk. (John 5)

But, what if the man had not done it. Would he have been healed?

He was healed because He believed and responded to the Word given him.

We are told “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”— Rom. 10:9-10

When we read this verse do we believe it? Or do we doubt?

Do we say “Yeah but there has to be more to it than that. How can a person just say some magic words and get saved? Don’t they have to love God and obey Gods law?”

We make up all kinds of excuses because we cannot believe the simplicity of salvation and the love of God.

Satan is more than happy to give us excuses to get us to doubt God’s goodness and Word. It’s the same thing He did to Eve in the Garden. (Gen.3)

Our belief leads to a response. The response is to turn to God (repent) and confess Jesus is the Lord and He is our Lord, and believe that He rose from the dead. Which is believing the Word we have been given.

Do you believe it? Do you believe He died for you, and rose from the dead? Do you believe He is God?

Yeah but… “Faith without works is dead.” Some will say. — (James 2)

Belief or faith requires a response, and the response is confessing Jesus as our Lord. Confessing is a work. Baptism is a work. Communion is a work.

What did the thief on the cross do?

He confessed Jesus as Lord, then he told the other thief about Jesus.

That’s it. And Jesus said “Today you will be with me in Paradise”–Luke 23

Likewise, when we confess Jesus as Lord, and tell others about Him, we will be with Him in Paradise, when we die or He returns.

That’s it. Jesus said, “Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.”—Matt. 10:32

We confess because we believe. Belief leads to a response.

God’s grace and our belief and confession is how we are saved. That salvation leads to a relationship with God as we see Him moving in our life. Our faith and belief grows in Him.

We trust that He forgives us. We trust that He is with us and will never leave us. We trust that He loves and cares for us and will take care of us, and we see Him moving and doing it. This leads to praise and thanksgiving which helps grow the relationship, faith and trust.

That is belief. That is faith. Our response is to confess Him as Lord, love others and build the kingdom. We are saved and healed so we lead others to be saved and healed in Jesus name.

But, there’s a storm coming.

Storms in our lives and in the world.

Trouble comes, and we can turn to Him and He will move. Stand on the promises of God in His Word. Trust Him. And when you see Him move it will build your faith and relationship.

But, the coming storm will be of darkness without hope. Some say believers will escape, but that has not been proven. God will be with us through the storm. Just like He was with the disciples on the boat, and with Israel through the plagues.—(Luke 8, Exodus)

He will be with us as this world gets worse and worse. As terrible things fall upon the Earth preparing for Christ’s return.

Do you believe it? Are you preparing for the times of trouble and His return? Are you getting people saved, and preparing your own self?

The scriptures are clear that when He returns there will be church people who thought they were saved but were not. People who prayed a prayer, or people who sat in church every week. But, never believed. They never really confessed Him as Lord. They never fully trusted Him to save them but instead trusted their own works. They never had a relationship with Him.

The storm is coming.

But, many do not believe.

These false brethren will fall away when the trouble comes. They will say “Where is the promise of His coming.”. They will wonder why He has delayed His return. —(2 Peter 3:4, Luke 12:45-46)

Then, they will form the apostate church and help the Anti-Christ persecute the saints. They will beat the men servants and maid servants. They will go back to living for the world. They will be like Judas the betrayer. —(Luke 12:45-46, Rev. 6, Matt. 24, )

Why? Because they never believed. They never put their faith in Christ. They never had a relationship with Him.

And when He returns they will be foolish virgins without oil. (Matt. 25)

They will have taken the gifts and talents and salvation the Lord gave them, and buried it in the sand instead of responding in belief and serving the Lord. (Matt. 25)

They will stand before Him saying “when did we see you naked?” Because they never believed and turned and let the Holy Spirit lead them to serve others and love people and help them. (Matt. 25)

They will say “Did we not do many works in your name?” Because they trusted in works, not the Blood of Jesus. (Matt 7:21-23)

They will not be clothed in the wedding garment because they never knew the King. (Matt. 22)

They never had a relationship with Him or confessed Him as Lord.

They just went to church every week, judged others, and tried to obey rules.

And He said “Depart from Me, I never knew you.”

The storm is coming. Do you really know Him.

Can you trust Him when they are killing your church? Can you trust Him when they threaten to fire you from your job if you won’t take the Mark of the Beast? Can you trust Him, when people who call themselves Christians lie to you, attack you, betray you and destroy your life, or lead you to death? Can you trust Him when you face homelessness and starvation? or will you turn back like Lot’s wife, desiring the comforts of the world?. (Gen. 19)

The storm is coming, the Word says.

Turn to Him, and ask Him to save you. Confess Jesus as your Lord. Believe He rose from the dead. Believe the Word, given to you. Tell others about Jesus, building the kingdom.

The Holy Spirit will come and teach you and lead you into all truth. (1 John 2:27)

And you will know Him and have a relationship with Him.

And when the storm comes you will be safe in the Ark, that is His salvation and care.

When the waters rise and beat upon you, you will stand firm because you’ve built your house on the Rock of Jesus Christ, who is the living Word. Not on the sand of your own works and power. (Matt.7)

The storm is coming …soon.

---

Photo by pexels 

Thanking God

 Thanking God

 We owe Him everything

 

 

God gave us life. He gives us the things we need and the joys of this world.

When we get saved and know Him, we see that He gives us so much more. We realize that everything comes from Him and all of it works together for our good.

Our thankfulness is a reflection of our faith. Do we really believe His Word? Do we really trust Him? Do we believe He protects us and provides for us?

When we thank Him in prayer before He even moves it shows we trust Him and believe He is moving. When we thank Him after He moves and blesses us, it shows our appreciation for all He does. When we thank Him for even the tough times. The hurtful times. It shows that we trust Him, and know He is working somewhere for our good.

God has blessed me so many times in my life. He has protected me and answered prayers. He moves and does things that are just amazing. I honestly cannot recount it all. Praise God.

When Jesus cast the demons out of the Gadarene demoniac, He told the man, “Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee.”— Mark 5:19

That is what we are to do when we are thankful. We tell people what God has done for us. This leads people to want to know the Lord as well.

When we are thankful we give to others. Our giving to the Lord’s work is a sign of our thankfulness.

God sees these things and the blessings flow back and forth. You cannot out give God.

Are you truly thankful God has blessed you? Bless others also.

Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.––Luke 6:38

This is a promise. Giving is a response to what God has done for us. We want to bless and help others. Bitter, angry, fearful people refuse to give. But, those who love and trust will help others.

Thankfulness is spiritual warfare. When you are thankful about everything, and praise God about everything, even the bad, the devil can’t hurt you. He can’t hurt you because you just turn it into praise and thankfulness to God.

Its hard.

We forget these things. The devil distracts our mind and we forget God is good and that He is with us and we can trust Him.

When the Holy Spirit reminds us, we can thank Him and praise God for all He has done.

Thanking God and praising Him shows that we know Him and that we are walking with Him in the Spirit.

Shows who?

Shows ourselves, and others if they see.

Unsaved people do not thank God. They do not see Him moving or consider Him at all. It reminds us that we really do know Him, and are known of Him.

The enemy will try to get us to think we do not really know Him, but our praise and thankfulness show us otherwise. It’s like being convicted and confessing sins. Unsaved people don’t feel conviction or confess sin to God. They don’t seek Him at all.

We are not showing God.

Understand this.

God knows our heart. When God sees us He sees Christ, not us. Our sin is washed away. He sees Christ. He sees faith. He sees love.

This is hard to remember, but its important because we can end up on a hamster wheel where we think God is disappointed in us or that we must prove things to God, or that we must somehow behave in a certain way to help earn our salvation or keep it.

We think going to church and singing songs of praise is somehow required, and expected. So, if we don’t do it we think we have sinned and that we are in danger of eternal hell.

That is utterly false. Do not let the devil get you to believe that or let other people tell you that.

True praise and thankfulness comes from a realization of what God has done for you. Our flesh does not realize this. It comes from the Holy Spirit revealing it, and from our desire to express it when we see it.

Everywhere in the scriptures that praise and thankfulness is expressed it is done in response to what God has done or is going to do.

That is our model.

Praise and thankfulness loses its meaning if it is done as part of a routine. It becomes part of a works based doctrine.

God delights in doing good. He often blesses us even when we know we do not deserve it. It is God’s goodness, that leads us to repentance, not threats of punishment or fear. We know He is good and we know we can trust Him.

He has broken my heart with His goodness. I have sinned and not been worthy. But, He has come and blessed me in ways beyond explanation and I know I do not deserve it.

That’s His love and grace.

That leads to a flow of thankfulness and praise. That leads to correction and a response to His goodness.

This is great victory in the Lord! We see Him move and we are blessed and thank Him!

The enemy hates this, and like he did to Elijah will often bring an attack.

But, can we praise Him and thank Him through this dark time as well?

That is our faith. It grows our faith.

This is Walking in the Spirit. The Holy Spirit uses this to express the Fruit of the Spirit in us.

If you are facing trouble, try thanking God and praising Him. Look for the blessing and thank Him and praise Him. Give to others and bless them. Give to the Kingdom and express your thankfulness.

Not because we earn our salvation, but because we want to be like Him. Because we are thankful and led by His Spirit to respond, and are blessed even more by it.

Turn to God. Ask Him to save you. He is real and desires to know you.

---

Photo by pexels

The Demons Come Back

 The Demons Come Back

Spiritual warfare and repentance 

 

 

When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he saith, I will return unto my house whence I came out.

²⁵ And when he cometh, he findeth it swept and garnished.

²⁶ Then goeth he, and taketh to him seven other spirits more wicked than himself; and they enter in, and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first.— Luke 11:24-26 (Matt 12:43-45)

This verse speaks of repentance and spiritual warfare.

You must believe that there is a spiritual war, and that we do have spiritual enemies for this verse to have its full meaning for you.

I have said it before and must say it again because it is true.

All humans are sinners. We are totally depraved. There is no good thing in us. This comes from the book of Romans.

When Adam fell. Death entered the world, and Satan took over. Also, evil entered into humanity and corrupted us. Because of this evil, we commit the sins we commit. There is something wrong with us.

Because of Adam’s sin, we have all been handed over to Satan and his forces of evil. They rule this corrupt world. They control and tempt and enslave humanity, through our depravity and sin. They use our lusts and desires to keep us in bondage.

Jesus Christ came to die and rise from the dead to set the captives free. (Luke 4:16-21)

ALL of us have been manipulated and harassed by demonic entities tempting us and directing us. Those evil thoughts and actions did not ALL come from your own mind or desire. A lot of those great ideas were given to you by demons.

That wicked thought about adultery with the co-worker, and how the world seems to move to make it a reality. Demons. The mistake you made that you cannot figure out how you made it, but now you feel like you must lie to get out of it or hide it. Demons. The desire to get drunk because it was a great day, or a bad day, or a Tuesday, or a Friday night. Demons.

We try to explain these things with psychology, and the fact is that these things do come through the mind. But, the Bible teaches that there is something outside of our vision or world, that has access to us and tempts us to sin.

We can see people who have completely fallen prey to SOMETHING. We cannot see it or explain it. We call it addiction or say they are crazy, but something is not right.

We find ourselves arguing with loved ones over silly things, and we cannot get it stopped. It just goes off the rails and pride and rage increases. We see loved ones and spouses who become totally different people, like they are possessed. We see them do things to us and others that is totally outside of what we have come to believe is their character. Demons.

There are two camps. The saved and the unsaved. The clean and unclean. The washed and unwashed. Those who are with the Lord, and those who are in the camp of Satan.

If you are not saved, you are under the control of Satan. If you have not turned to Jesus and confessed Him as your Lord, getting saved, washed and filled with the Holy Spirit. Then, you are under the banner of the devil.

There is no middle ground.

If you are with Satan then the demons have total access to you. I am no talking possession. That is rarely the case, because it is too easily noticed. But, those demons have great power in your life, and you and others do not realize it.

Take a child who is outside playing. When he gets a thought that he should be mean to the neighbors cat. A child doesn’t have the ability to understand it. So, he grabs the cat and throws it into the ditch. The cat gets wet and freaks out, and for some reason the kid laughs at this. The laughter is a good feeling.

Where did the idea come from?

A few days later he calls the dog over to play with it, but an idea comes into his head to trick the dog and beat it with a stick.

So he does.

It’s just a child. The kid doesn’t know what is going on. But demons are getting the child to open a door, so they have more access and the child loses more self control. At the same time, there is some pleasure that comes with hurting the animals.

Time goes on, and the ideas in his head tell him to kill the animals.

The kid never questions whether it’s his own thoughts or something else. He has no idea of such a thing. he just goes through life thinking it’s his own mind. He learns early to hide these things.

Eventually a kid in the neighborhood disappears.

So, this child who has been led around by demons grows up to be a serial killer.

This same process happens to all of us, but in different ways. We do not all become serial killers. But, we might become a liar, or an adulterer. We might become a thief or an addict. We are controlled by pride or lust. We have rage and become violent. Because often from a young age we have listened to ideas that have not been our own.

We think the ideas or thoughts are our own. But, the ideas come from outside. Eventually we might help the demons, and make it easier to be manipulated or controlled, but there are demonic entities who tempt us and have power over us. ALL of us.

We can see in Genesis chapter three that God tells the Serpent/Dragon that he will eat dust. Then, two verses later God calls man, Dust.

Part of the curse, is that we have been handed over to Satan. Adam opened the door for Satan to enter, and God let him have us.

The hope being that we will wake up and realize something is wrong and turn to the Lord for salvation, when He calls us.

Now, all of this has been written to show that there are demons and they have power. They do attack us, harass us and manipulate us.

When a person gets saved, we are washed clean, and all those connections to the enemy are broken by Jesus Christ.

We are set free.

The truth shall make you free.

We are saved.

We now have the power to resist things the devil brings to us in temptation.

We have the Holy Spirit who comes in to us and dwells with us and teaches us.

We have a desire to know the Word and to learn of Him.

But, we still sin. It’s a fact.

We have been set free spiritually, but there are still things we struggle with. That is part of our sanctification and growth in Christ. He keeps working to renew our mind. To grow us. to correct us and pull us out of the miry pit.

BUT… we are already saved, the minute we asked Him and put our trust in Him and confessed Him as our Lord.

The demons work to get the saint to sin, in order to get those doors open again and let them have access to us again, like before we were saved. They do this to keep us distracted and not serving the Lord.

If you are saved,then you are saved. You cannot lose it, but the demons will make you think you have.

Understand that when the Lord sets us free we are clean, swept and garnished. The demons are gone. The torment and all the stuff is gone. But, they come back and try to get access to us again. If we open the door, it will come in and bring seven others with it.

We all open doors, because we do not realize what we are doing. When we are saved we are clean, but the enemy comes back, again and again, and if we let him in we are worse than before.

But, we are still saved.

A good picture of this is the addict who quits drugs and then starts using again. They are worse than they were before.

 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,

⁵ And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,

⁶ If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.— Heb. 6:4-6

Many saints want to use this verse as proof that we can lose our salvation. But, the verse does not say salvation. It says “repentance”.

It means that we have opened those doors and let the demons back in and we are worse than before. Our struggle is worse than before. Our state of repentance is harder than it was, because the demons have more access, and we must fight to resist the temptations.

BUT… with God ALL things are possible.

The answer to this problem is to turn to the Lord.

The demons will try to get you or someone else to run from God and hide. To give up walking with the Lord, or trying.

See? Refusing to turn to the Lord and asking Him to forgive you is the worst thing you or anyone can do. Turn to Him and keep Walking in the Spirit.

The demons will come back and keep trying. But, just keep turning to the Lord, and confessing sin. (1 John 1:8-10)

James says, Submit to the Lord, resist the devil and he will flee from you. (James 4:7)

Since we are saved, we have been set free. Even though we are tempted or harassed or manipulated, by demons and our flesh we have the power to resist.

We resist by turning to the Lord and drawing closer to Him. We give ourselves to Him.

Let’s say you are saved. But, you are tempted to commit a sin and you do it. You are led into the house of adultery and you run full throttle in. You are just full of it.

But, after it’s done a feeling of dread and self-loathing falls upon you. You hate yourself. You have betrayed Jesus who saved you.

The demons led you in and then use it to destroy you. They get you to feel shame and guilt and hatred and fear. They get you to hide like Adam and Eve hid from the Lord. They tell you that God forsakes you. They try to get you to not turn to the Lord.

But, God calls you. He knows what happened and the Holy Spirit calls you to turn to Him to be cleansed and restored.

God does not cast you out, He saves and fixes. He corrects. He breaks and remolds.

The minute you turn to Him He comes running.

In the Garden, we see God cast Adam and Eve out. But, we see that He did not leave them there or forsake them. He comes to us and walks with us and restores and saves us. That is the story of history. He brings us back to Himself.

Look at the big picture. God does not leave us in sin or failure, He comes to save us and set us free every time. Like a sheep gone astray, who gets caught in the brambles. Or like Israel, in the Book of Judges who fell away over and over, but when they turn to Him He comes and delivers them.

God saved us the minute we turned to Him. But, there is a lifetime of struggle and battles as we grow and He sanctifies us and heals us and breaks us again and again to mold us into the likeness of His son, Jesus Christ.

Not by our works but by His.

He gets the glory.

The struggles you are facing are normal and are the result of the demonic forces arrayed against us.

Turn to the Lord. Draw closer to Him.

He is the answer.

---

Picture by pexels.