Our Peace

 Our Peace

Our Peace Comes Through Knowing Him

 

“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”—Phil. 4:6-7

You’ve seen the slogan

“Know Jesus. Know Peace.
No Jesus. No Peace.”

But, what does it really mean and how do you obtain it?

It’s about having a relationship with Him.

It’s not about Faith, or Trust or Believing.

These things matter and are the first steps needed. They are important.

But, you can put your faith, trust and belief in a rock, and it won’t save you. It won’t bring you real peace.

You must have a relationship with Him. A relationship is give and take.

Faith, Belief and Trust is not. It is one way.

“O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.”—Psalm 34:8

You are “Blessed” when you trust, believe and have faith in Him. That blessing is the relationship that comes from it. All the treasures in the world is nothing compared to the relationship.

“But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”—Heb. 11:6

When we put our faith in Him He rewards us when we diligently seek Him.

That’s relationship. We don’t stop at faith. We don’t stop at trust or belief, we move forward into knowing Him and having a relationship with Him. Our faith must lead to relationship.

We believe God’s Word, and stand on it in times of trouble. Then we see God move and we grow in faith and relationship with Him. This brings peace as we remember how He has been with us in the past. We have seen Him move.

Remember, the demons of hell believe and tremble, because they do not confess Him as Lord, they are in rebellion. They do not have a relationship with Him. Many people pray to receive Christ, but never really know Him. They never grow in Faith or have a relationship with Him. (James 2:19)

God calls us. When we hear. When we believe, and turn to Him. Putting our faith and trust in Him, confessing Jesus as our Lord. Trusting Him alone for salvation. God places us IN Christ Jesus. (Romans 10:9-10)

Jesus died for us. When we ask to be saved and confess Him as Lord, God places us within that salvation. He puts us on that Ark of protection. He washes us with His Blood. We die with Christ, and are born again with Him. That’s what it means to be IN Christ Jesus. Our peace comes by being IN Him. It comes through Him, not us.

But, if you do not have a relationship, can you really say you are in Him? Can you really expect to get anything like peace, through Him?

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God. Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”—Eph. 2:8-10

We are saved by God’s Grace. Not works. We are saved through faith so we can do good works IN Christ Jesus. The good works are based in our relationship with Him. We are yoked together with Him in relationship and service to God and others.

Ok, so what about Peace?

Well, when we are saved we receive the Holy Spirit.

God’s Spirit comes to dwell with us and in us. He comforts us and teaches us.

He helps us in our relationship with God (Himself).

He brings us gifts and develops fruit in our life.

If we do not quench His work. (1 Thess. 5:19)

“…the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”—Gal. 5:22-23

When the Holy Spirit works in us He develops this fruit if we do not fight Him, or do things to stop it.

Remember, we are fallen beings. So we must develop the fruit because it is not natural for us.

Think of an adult who suffers an injury and must go to rehab to relearn the most basic things. How to walk. How to eat. How to use their hands.

It’s tough. It’s painful. It takes time. This is how the Holy Spirit develops His fruit in us.

This develops the relationship.

Understand that the Fruit is the Fruit of the Spirit. It’s not ours. It’s not our flesh. It’s Him in us. This is why we fail at times. We fall back into our old self. Our flesh.

So, if we are really saved, and really seeking Him. Then, things will come into our lives that will cause us to turn to Him, and the Holy Spirit will use it to grow fruit in us.

We learn to love because God has shown us that He loves us.

We have peace because God has shown us a thousand times that He is there with us and everything will be fine.

We have joy because we see Him again.

We have patience because we know Him and can wait on Him forever, because he has taught us to.

We know goodness, gentleness and faith because we have learned it by seeing Him working in our lives, and how he treats us and others.

We have temperance, because we need nothing but Him.

We learn Meekness through brokenness and being rebuilt by Him.

All of this is the relationship, and because of the relationship.

We confess our sins to Him and trust Him. (1 John 1:9)

We pray to Him and trust Him.

We see Him move, over and over again. And know Him.

Now we look at the verse in Philippians, and rightly divide it based upon relationship.

“Be careful for nothing; “…Because we know Him. We know He is with us and loves us.

“but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.”…We can discuss anything with our Father. He is on our side. He is with us and knows how best to help us. We give thanksgiving because we believe His promise “Whatsoever you ask in my name I will do.” (John 14:14) So we thank Him, knowing He is moving.

“And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”… We have peace because we know Him and we have his Holy Spirit. That peace is greater than anything in this world, because God is greater, and we know Him and are known of Him. He is with us and in us. Remind yourself of this. But, remember it’s because we are IN Christ Jesus. It’s because we pray in His name. It’s through Him that we have life, salvation and everything. This is our peace.

We trust that whatever God does with our prayer to Him will be fine. He loves us, “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.” —-(Romans 8:28)

If you are saved, then you are called. If you have the Holy Spirit then you have love for God, and it is being developed in you.

So, why do I not have peace? You might ask.

When you exercise or lift weights you come to a point of muscle failure. A point where you can’t lift anymore. A point where you strain. But if you keep working you will eventually lift that weight with ease.

The Holy Spirit is developing fruit in you. It is like exercise. You will be pushed and grow from it.

We turn to God and He helps us, and we see Him moving and our faith grows, our peace grows, our love for Him grows. See?

That’s relationship. He is with us and nothing else matters.

Always turn to God, and He will be there and comfort you and help you, and you will grow from it. Like a spotter in the Gym who puts his hands on the bar. He’s got you. He shouts encouragement. You are ok, just tough it out and trust the one who has your back.

And you will have more peace.

Remind yourself of His promises as you watch Him move in your life.

We encounter something in our life. We lean on the promises God has given. We speak them out loud and faith grows. We see God move and we grow to trust Him more, and this brings peace.

Trust Him. Study His Word. Trust His Word.

He’s got you. And that brings peace.

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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“  a collection of dystopian short stories.“The Future is Coming” and his latest book “The Latter Days‘ is a book on Bible Prophecy and avoiding the deceptions to come.

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

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

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

Support the work for the cost of a Coffee

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

Photos by the author

What is Predestination?

 What is Predestination?

Don't be Confused.

 

There are some verses in the Bible which speak of predestination and have led to many false and confusing beliefs in regards to it.

“Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,”—Eph 1:5

“In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:”—Eph. 1:11

There are folks who have used these verses to justify and teach the belief that God; being sovereign allows people to be born, who are predestinated to be thrown into hell. There is nothing to be done by them to change it.

Likewise some people are born to be saved, they claim.

I have never believed this. Something in this doctrine causes my spirit to reject it. It makes the idea of preaching and spreading the Gospel, or trying to follow God, pointless.

I know those people who believe in predestination have their arguments and verses.

But, I’d like to show what I perceive to be true, from the Word. Of course we cannot prove for a fact any of these things. But, I’d like to get as close to God’s character and the Word as I can.

ALL humans are predestinated before and at birth to be saved. They just don’t all make it through. Don’t fly off the handle, I’m not speaking of a general salvation here. keep reading.

“The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” (2 Pet. 3:9)

This is Peter talking. He walked with the Lord. If everyone is predestinated at birth to Heaven or Hell, then whats the point of this verse? What’s the point of God desiring for all humans to turn to Him, if they are already doomed or saved from birth?

What I’m going to teach here will probably be different than what you’ve heard or been taught. But, we are called to avoid false teaching. This subject has a lot of false doctrine around it.

Look in the Bible. When God created the Earth He predestinated that all humans would be with Him. He made everything “Good”. All humans would be in the Garden of God with God forever. But, the fall came and corrupted humans. It destroyed the original plan. God’s original intent is that we would be with Him.

Now apply this same concept to each of our lives. We are created in the womb and born in a right standing with God until we fall personally. We are all subject to death because of Adam, but we are only subject to Hell because of our own personal fall. Just like the creation story. It is a picture of our own spiritual life.

Adam and Eve, and all of creation has Free Will, but God made everything as though humans would never fall. He still treats us as though we will be with Him. Even though He knows the future. That’s love.

Even though God knows the future and knew Adam and Eve would fall. And He knows each of us will fall. He does the good, loving thing anyway.

God is Love. He does Good, no matter what. All things work for the good of those who love God. But, His good turns to bad in those who are opposed to Him.(1 John 4:8, Romans 8:28)

Have you ever heard of the Book of Life? (Phil. 4:3, Rev. 3:5, Rev. 13:8, Rev. 17:8, Rev. 20:12-15, 21:27, 22:19)

This is a book that holds the names of all the people who are saved.

It’s my belief that God put every humans name in the Book of Life.

All humans are predestinated for salvation.

Do babies go to hell?

No. They have a right standing with God. 

They face death because of Adam’s fall, but they do not face eternal separation until they reach the age of accountability and willfully, knowingly choose to Sin. They do not understand law and consequences. (Rom. 5:13)

When a person reaches the age of accountability and chooses to willfully sin, their name is blotted out of the book. They die spiritually and are headed for hell and the lake of fire. This is eternal separation from God, because they have become corrupt and defiled by Sin. That’s what death is. Separation. Eternal death is a quarantine. (Ex 32:32-33, Psa. 69:28, Rev. 3:5)

All humans sin, fall and face Hell. Until they hear God’s call and turn to Him, for salvation, confessing Jesus is The Lord. (Romans 10:9-10, Romans 1:6-7, Rom. 2:4, )

The moment a person’s name is blotted out of the Book of Life, God immediately starts to pursue them in Love. Seeking to save them. Calling them to turn to Him.

If they hear, and turn, God saves them. Then, they can see the predestination. They can see that God originally had them, then pursued them and woke them up.

Once saved a person can see this. They can see how God worked in their life and that He was always with them and trying. Then God, guides them into the life He predestinated for them. (Eph 1:5, Eph. 1:11)

They receive a new life. They are a new person. They are born again. They have a new name written in the Lambs Book of Life. (John 3:3-5, 2 Cor. 5:17, Isa 66:2, Rev. 2:17. Rev. 3:12, Throughout scripture the Lord has given the Saints new names.)

BUT…

Many people refuse to accept God’s call. All people hear it. But, not everyone turns to God. (Matt. 13:3-23)

God keeps trying. But, not everyone makes it. Not everyone turns to Him. (repent)

God predestinates everyone to salvation. But not everyone accepts it.

Why does this matter?

Because people need to know that they have free will.

They have a choice and can choose God and be saved and set free.

Many of the teachings of predestination, lead people to believe that there’s no way to change things. They are just doomed, or a loved one was just condemned, with no hope.

That is not the case.

God calls everyone to turn to Him and be saved.(2 Pet. 3:9)

Have you called on Him? (Rom. 10:13)

What I’ve told you here is what the Bible seems to teach on Predestination. It is based in God’s character. He loves us and acts in such a way to assume we will not fail and will be with Him. He pursues us and works to save us. Then, when we turn to Him we can see how He has worked in our lives and we know He was always there, trying. That is what Paul means by predestination. That is what I’m speaking of here. (Eph 1:5, Eph. 1:11)

Turn to God. He is there.

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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“  a collection of dystopian short stories.“The Future is Coming” and his latest book “The Latter Days‘ is a book on Bible Prophecy and avoiding the deceptions to come.

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

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

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

Support the work for the cost of a Coffee

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

Photos by the author

You Are Not Cast Out

 You Are Not Cast Out

God is working, even when it doesn’t seem like it.

 

Verse:  ^“All that the father gives me shall come to me; and him that comes to me I will in no wise cast out. —John 6:37

I failed in my life; and like so many others I had asked God to save me when I was young.  I went to church and I asked God to save me as a child, but then life happened, and I got worse and worse. I’m not the only one. I have spoken to so many people who have asked God to save them, and help them. But, then they failed; and they could not keep right, not even for a day. They could not measure up to the standards the church people or family or friends put them under.  I was the same.

We start going to church and we see the people who pretend to be perfect, and we don’t measure up. Our life is rough. We don’t have all the church boxes marked, so we feel judged. We feel that we cannot do what God wants us to do. We hear sermons, where we are constantly beat down and fail. So, we quit. We just give up and go back to living. We can't do the church thing.

But, God did not give up on me. Every tough time in my life, was God working in me trying to get me to listen to Him. Every good time, was God showing me He cared. He was with me, even though I ignored Him until I really needed Him. There are so many people walking around who think God has cast them out. He hasn’t. If you asked Him to save you, He has, and He is working.

Now, imagine you hired a contractor to save your crumbling house, and make it great. But, you forgot you hired someone. Yet, you come home and trip over boards lying around. You step in wet concrete. You get mad because of the noise, and cannot figure out what’s going on. Your roof is gone one day, and some unexpected rain gets in the house. Another day, you feel nice and warm because all the drafts have been sealed, and you have new windows, and new insulation.  You never see someone working, but something is up.

You can’t figure out what’s going on because you forgot that you made a contract with a Master Builder. He comes and works every day. But, even when he leaves the project to sit for a while, it’s for a purpose. The concrete is drying. The drywall mud is drying. The landscaping is growing. But, the Contractor is still working.

This happened to me, I prayed to receive Christ when I was young, and I got worse. I never realized the truth of it. But, I knew that He answered my prayers. Finally, He woke me up, through life’s breaking power, and I threw myself on Him. Then I started to learn of Him, and grow in Him. Now I see the boards on the ground, and the wet concrete. I enjoy seeing the landscape grow; because I’ve let Him teach me, and wake me up. I’ve studied The Builders Manual. I’ve been taught by the Spirit.

Now I can look back at my life and see that He was there, and working all along. No matter what family said, no matter what the church said, no matter what friends and enemies said. God was there working, and He never abandoned me. No matter how bad I am, He is there working as He promised. Even still today, He is there. Everything that happens to me is Him working in some way. Turn to Him, and learn of Him. Ask Him to save you and teach you His ways. Listen to His still small voice and follow Him. I know it’s hard. Tell Him it’s hard, and that you need Him to do it. Then, watch Him move.

He works on us. He grows us. He does not cast us aside.

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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“  a collection of dystopian short stories.“The Future is Coming” and his latest book “The Latter Days‘ is a book on Bible Prophecy and avoiding the deceptions to come.

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

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

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

Support the work for the cost of a Coffee

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

Photos by the author

New eBook: The Latter Days

 The Latter Days

An eBook on Bible Prophecy

 

New Prophecy eBook Available

I have released my latest eBook “The Latter Days“.

It is available at Barnes and Noble, Apple Books, Kobo, Wal-Mart, and other major outlets. It is only available as an eBook at this time. Purchase HERE

It’s a collection of articles on Bible Prophecy. It speaks of the spirit of antichrist, the ancient past and how it has moved forward to building the New World Order today.

The book also leans toward helping people to get saved and avoid the deceptions that are coming upon the Earth, in these latter days.

Get your copy at most eBook sellers. (Except Amazon)

You can get my other eBooks online as well.

Made Free: Overcoming Addiction is a free ebook for addicts and family members or friends suffering with the addict. It gives new insight into addiction and ways to help overcome it, from someone who has been there. I have an addiction recovery Facebook page as well. Recover Freedom.

The Future is Coming, is a book of dystopian short stories I wrote about about the future and where we are heading. It is a warning in story form.

Against the Man, is a collection of poems that speaks of the plight and slavery of the worker in a beast system that seeks to devour the poor.

You can also support my work and ministry through PayPal, or through the links below.

Buy me a cup of Coffee:

Through Patreon

Thank you for your support.

(photos and covers are created by the author)

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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“  a collection of dystopian short stories.“The Future is Coming” and his latest book “The Latter Days‘ is a book on Bible Prophecy and avoiding the deceptions to come.

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

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

Read His Spiritual Writings on Blogger: 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

True Stewardship

 True Stewardship

A Word on using God's Money

 

 

I often get told by Christians that the church needs to be good stewards with the money the people of the church have given them. This comes when I start talking about how we should be doing more to help the poor in our community. Yes, we are called to be good stewards of the things God has given us, and the things that other people have put under our control.

 However, we are called to answer to God and Him only. It is paramount that our “Good Stewardship” is done according to His standards not ours. We are to operate under spiritual standards, not worldly standards. The things of God are foolishness with men. It’s God’s money. When people give, they give to God.

 Jesus said “Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away” And again, “If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell what thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.” (Matt. 19:21, Matt. 5:22) These are not earthly methods of good stewardship. Jesus spoke of “the widow’s mite”. He talked about loving God, and loving your neighbors. He talked about laying down your life for your friends. (John 15:13, Mark 12:41-44,)

 This is good stewardship, in the eyes of God. This is True Stewardship. God is not going to say “Well done thy good and faithful servant” to people who have done things according to the worlds standards while ignoring His standards. When we get saved the Holy Spirit works in our life to mold us into the likeness of Christ. That means that we learn to walk in the Spirit and not the fleshly ways of this world. Our fleshly ways are based in fear and a desire to fit in or impress or to try to earn God's favor.

This is why we as Christians often build massive mansions called "Churches" to please God. We pour hundreds of thousands of dollars into building and maintaining massive structures while our neighbor goes hungry, can't help his family, or goes to hell. This does not please God.

The excuse is made that we need a place to worship. That doesn't mean we need a giant mansion of a building.

 The goal in God’s Kingdom, is to get people saved. It is to glorify God. It is to wage war against the enemy. If our stewardship, doesn’t move in that direction then it cannot be labeled “good”. We get people saved by telling them about Jesus and lifting Him up. We glorify God, by letting our light shine, so the world can see our good works. We wage war against the enemy, by snatching people out of his hands and by alleviating suffering, which is our good works and glorifies God.

 Glorifying God is done through our good works. We are to be like superheroes in our community, in Jesus name. We often think it brings God glory, when we spend money on buildings, and that it brings shame to Him when we let a building go into disrepair. But, what does God say? What does He say brings Him glory? Our light shines, when we help a family make ends meet in Jesus name. Our light shines when we stop and help the man on the side of the road whom Satan has robbed of everything.

 Too many Christians use the phrase ‘Good Stewardship” and have no idea what it really means. It’s not about this life, or this world, it’s about God and the life He has given us. It’s about His Kingdom.

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 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“  a collection of dystopian short stories.“The Future is Coming” and his latest book "The Latter Days' is a book on Bible Prophecy and avoiding the deceptions to come.

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

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

Read His Spiritual Writings on Blogger: 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

Photo by Writer

Money Insulates

 Money Insulates

Can Wealth Harm Our Spiritual Walk?

 

 

As we read the Bible, we will gain a certain view of money. We will come to the conclusion that we are not supposed to stock pile money, and that we are not supposed to be tricked by the deceitfulness of riches. We will find that money is transitory and doesn’t satisfy.  We will see that our money is God’s money, and that it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to get into heaven. We see that the love of money is the root of all evil. We see that we cannot serve two masters, it’s profit or God. James says that the wealthy heap treasures against themselves and will be broken in the last days. (1 Tim. 6:10, Matt. 6:19-21, Matt 13:22, Matt 22:21, Matt. 19:24, Matt. 6:24, Jam. 5:1-6)

There are many verses that teach us about the dangers of wealth, and there are just as many justifications, that humans will give for choosing to be wealthy. Such as, we need money to give to God’s kingdom, so my wealth helps God. Or we say the eye of the needle was not a real needle; it was a door in a wall of a fortress. We will tell ourselves, God looks at our heart. He knows I don’t love money. We will also compare ourselves to biblical people who were rich and God used.  “Lydia in the Bible was wealthy. Abraham was wealthy.” And on and on we go. We love money and the things it provides for us. Let’s be honest. 

Look I’m not saying we should live in poverty. Most Americans are barely scraping to get by. One injury or job loss would destroy them. A lot of us are poor within this culture we live in. But, our culture and our beliefs are based in wealthy thoughts. We have a philosophy that leads us to worship and love money because money keeps us from the bread lines. It’s freedom in this world we think.

So, what is so bad about money? Wouldn’t it be better if the whole world had wealth? If there was no poverty, and everyone had their needs met? Of course, and that day is coming. But, in the mean time we are stuck in this broken degenerate world. Depraved sinners, separated from a loving God. We abide in Death, waiting to be cast into eternal fire; because we refuse to turn to Him to be saved, and washed in the blood of Jesus Christ.

And that is what is so bad about money. Sin, Death, and Satan have dominion over this world. It is a fallen place filled with fallen humans. Our only salvation lies in turning to God. So, God placed a curse, upon this world that causes us to struggle. That struggle is supposed to cause us to cry out to Him. Mothers pray for their children, and worry about them. Fathers scrape the earth to provide. Everything around us dies, and works to stop us or fight against us.

Money insulates us from the trials and tribulations of this life. A mother doesn’t need to just place her trust in God; she can take her sick child to the doctor and afford treatment. A man can hire an attorney to get out of trouble, he doesn’t need to weep over his sin and beg God for mercy. A family can go to the store and purchase food, they don’t need to pray and trust God for rain, or for the hunt. They have plenty of clothes; they don’t need to trust God for rags.

Money insulates us from needing to cry out to God for the basic things in life, or to help us when we have need. Our needs are met through our money. I’m not saying that poverty is a guarantee of salvation, or that there is some kind of purity in poverty. But, what I am saying is that money keeps people from really needing God, and it keeps us from seeing His movements in our lives. How can we see God miraculously heal a neighbor, when the neighbor uses money to get medicine? We like to say “But, God provided the money, and the medicine and the knowledge of doctors to heal. There are millions of poor people around the world who die daily from things our over the counter drugs could heal.”

This is true. But, is dying the worst that can happen? This world is a place of death. All of us are dying second by second. We are all going to go meet our maker. It is our wealth, and His mercy that slows that process. But, our wealth that keeps us alive longer, also works to keep us from drawing closer to Him. We horde our wealth and worry about being taken advantage of by the poor around us. What we do to the least of these we do to Him. See how our wealth or our love of our wealth keeps us from Him? I’m guilty too. Our money insulates.

That insulation extends to our entire culture. We have no idea how insulated we are. I’m currently reading a book written by an evangelist from India. He is a native of India, and lived there his whole life. He got saved, and God called him to go to the north of India and preach the Gospel. He has lived in, and experienced extreme poverty his whole life.

In the book, he speaks of a visit to the United States, and he is appalled by the amount of wealth we have, and we do not even know we have it. But, God knows. The evangelist speaks of every church gathering in America having food. How ashamed he was to eat there, while evangelists in India sit under trees and eat a few scoops of cooked rice, once a day, if that. He tells that Americans have closets full of clothes, while people around the world wear rags. That Americans waste enough money and water daily, that it could save the lives and souls of thousands around the world.

Our money insulates us. It keeps us from seeking God when He calls us through our need. It insulates us from suffering with others, and having real compassion on them. It insulates us from needing to draw together with others, and lean on each other. It insulates us from the trials of this world through which we learn and grow in spirit.

Oh sure, our wealth can allow us to do great things for Jesus, but do we do it? Does He want us to use our wealth, or His Spirit and His power? Are the great things we do really what He wants?  Can a rich person serve God? Can a rich person get saved? The fact is that every person in America is richer than the whole rest of the world and God loves us and wants us saved as well. So, yes; God saves rich people and works on them and through them. But, our wealth is a dangerous trap that we need to wake up to. And I think we will be awakened shortly. When He cleanses His temple before His return. He drives out the money changers.

Money is not evil. But, be aware of what wealth can do to you. Fight to resist it. Remember, it not only insulates you, but also your children. What is growing up in wealth doing to them?

We do not need half the things we think we need.

We need more Jesus.

Turn to God, Let Him grow you. Have a relationship with Him.

Live simply. Give with a joyful heart. Look for ways to give and serve.

He is coming soon.

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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/

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

Read His Spiritual Writings on Blogger: 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

Photos by the author

Spies In A Promised Land

 Spies In A Promised Land

 Are You Wondering What To Do?

 

This is going to be some deep spiritual stuff.

Things that impact our lives.

Things that impact our walk with God and our future and service.

I want you to recall the story of the Exodus. (Book of Exodus)

The Israelites were in bondage to Pharaoh in Egypt. They did not know God at the time. They had forgotten. But, God had not forgotten them or the promise He made to Abraham.

God made a promise to Moses and the Israelites about a promised land. A home.

God delivered them out of slavery with a mighty hand. He showed himself to them. He proved He was with them and they could trust Him. He proved it.

He brought them through tough times and battles. This was not a love fest. This was war. He loved them, and was with them.

He brought them to the land He had promised them. To the very banks. They sent spies out into the land to see what was there. That’s what a leader does in a military conquest.

God already knew what was there and had already given it to them. It was all done except the dirty work.

Do you think God sat on His throne and said, “Boy I sure hope we can defeat these bad dudes?”

No.

All the spies except for Caleb and Joshua brought back a report filled with fear and doubt that ignored how God had delivered them so many times. They had no faith in God. They did not know him.

The people listened to the faithless report and believed it. They feared. They refused to take the promised land, God had given them because they did not know Him or trust Him.

God could not take them into the Promised land with that lack of faith. They needed to trust Him to get through.

So, He sent them to wander until they learned to have faith. Till the old generation died off and the new was ready. To strip off that old flesh and bring out the spirit full of faith and trust in God.

Then, they went and conquered.

God fought beside them and before them, with His might hand and put them in the promised land.

They did not go there to farm. That was later. They went there for battle.

We find ourselves in situations where we must trust God. We come to places in our lives when it’s a choice of faith in God and His promises, or to run away in fear.

Understand that God is with you, no matter which way you go. You cannot escape God.

But, it’s better to trust God to deliver his promises.

I’m not telling you to let your kid die from some easily curable disease because you’re praying for God to heal. Remember, the Israelites drew swords and went to battle. Yes, God went before them. Yes, God fought among them. He even stopped the sun in the sky.

But, they had to go to battle, and not just on their knees in prayer.

That brings us to the spies. The spies are fear.

We face something, and our mind starts spinning. We start thinking scary thoughts. We lay in our bed agonizing. We struggle with what is happening.

But, God has promised us. He has been with us. He will lead us through. It might not look the way we think. But, He has given us a vision. He has given us a dream. He has promised, and He is with us where ever we go.

Those spies in our head keep beating us. Do we quit? Do we turn away from the promised land? Those spies in our head make a lot of sense.

But, are we listening to the still small voice of God? Are we listening to the Spirit and the love and the peace that defies all understanding? (1 Kings 19:11-14, John 16:13, Phil. 4:6-7)

Then like Job, things start happening around us. Great friends come and give us faithless council full of fear. They give us wise advise that excludes our Lord. (Book of Job)

Problems come. The car breaks down. A family member gets sick. We lose a job.

And the spies in our head, with those “friends” by our side tell us, we can’t trust God. All the troubles scream that we can’t trust God.

But, this is battle.

The chaos rolls around you as you struggle and see God fighting beside you and delivering you through even more of the devil’s attacks.

God has promised you and He is bringing you there with a mighty hand.

Unless you quit. Unless you let fear control you.

Pray to God. Talk to Him. He is not a slave driver. Remember Lot? God told Him to go to the mountain to escape the destruction of Sodom. (Genesis 19:15-30)

But, Lot said, “I’ll never make it! Can’t I just go to this little city Zoar?”

The spies in his mind had calculated all the angles and he was not strong enough, they told him.

And God said “Ok”

It got Lot moving. It got his family moving.

Lot watched the destruction of Sodom from Zoar.

Then the very next scene, we see Lot on the mountain.

The Bible doesn’t say this, but I will bet you that by the time Lot reached Zoar. God had filled him with strength, courage and faith to reach that mountain.

Just pray and get moving. Do what you know to do and trust God. He has promised things to you. He will do it. Whether it looks like what you envisioned or not. He has promised.

I have faced things in my life many times. I have come to the very edge and listened to the spies and turned back. I failed instead of trusting God. And I lost everything. I was sent to wander where God broke me and taught me and showed me who He was and let me know Him. He taught me to trust Him.

Not all situations are as clean and clear cut as this makes it seem. Sometimes there are very hard choices. Things that make us sick. Learn to listen to God. Then do the best we can and stand in the promises of God. ( Eph 6:10-18)

These times of trouble, come into our life. I’m facing one now.

The spies are screaming. The battle is swirling. But, my God is moving and He is with me.

He is with you too.

Do not let fear keep you from what God has promised.

Listen to Him.

Trust Him.

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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/

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

Read His Spiritual Writings on Blogger: 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