Transformed.

Have you conformed to this world?

con·form

 1.a. To be or act in accord with a set of standards, expectations, or specifications

b. To act, often unquestioningly, in accordance with traditional customs or prevailing standards

from <https://www.thefreedictionary.com/conformed>

Do you act in accord with the WORLD'S standards, expectations, specifications, traditions, customs? 

Another dictionary worded it this way- to act in accordance or harmony, comply, conform to the rules.

We are told not to conform to this world, but this doesn't mean we are to take up arms and become law breakers. We are to conform to our God and His ways, which are NOT in any way calling us to hurt anyone in any way whatsoever.

Rom 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 

Rom 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

In order for us not to be conformed to this world's acceptable behaviors we must be transformed by the renewing of our minds.

We can have daily renewing through our Lord and Savior, through prayers and study. We can have weekly renewing through a day of rest on the Sabbath- the seventh day God personally set aside for us to worship Him on.  Our minds need a constant renewing in order to keep us transformed and not conformed to this world.

The world has trapped so many people in its awful deceptions. If anyone has read a Pilgrim's Progress by Bunyan you would find he brings to life in a very allegorical manner how the world enslaves so many people in so many ways.  C.S. Lewis also has a lot of very good reading about this world and it's corrupted views. We overlook so much, when we bear the name Christian we have a duty to truly be Christ's. However if we live a life conformed to this world and it's many practices what does that reveal? We hush and shush it all away, making excuses for our conformity. We tell ourselves GOD knows my heart and understands, but what we don't tell ourselves is God is an exacting God, an all-consuming fire and the God of the Old Testament is the God of the New Testament. While no longer encouraging any who follow Him to rise up physically against non-believers, pagans, blasphemers etc, that doesn't mean the God who called His chosen to war against so many unbelievers has changed. What changed was His manner of doing things. The war is still on, but it's a war waged on a spiritual battlefield not a physical battlefield. God did NOT change His standards, His morals, His ten commandments.

Can we take Jesus with us in all we do every day? Can Jesus sit beside us, join us on our daily walk or are there parts of it He might choose to skip over?

We've conformed to the world if we can't take Jesus with us everywhere, every moment of our day.

God, please help us NOT to be conformed to this world!!!!!!! Please, save us from our terribly selves!

All through the Love of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!!!!! Now and forever!

Spirit Manifestations.

The manifestation of the Spirit.

The manifestation of something is what?

The definition is-

'…an event, action, or object that clearly shows or embodies something, especially a theory or an abstract idea.'

From <https://www.google.com/search?q=manifestation+definition&oq=manifestation+definition&aqs=chrome..69i57j0l5.4917j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8>

The manifestation of the Spirit will CLEARLY show in all who are His, all who have been given the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.

These manifestations are given to us, as we talked about yesterday, to profit the LORD'S work through us.

We can never use the manifestations of the Spirit in us for evil, never. The Spirit would cease to be manifested in us if we do evil. The manifestation of the Spirit in us can only ever be used for the good of our Lord's work.

Are you concerned the Holy Spirit isn't working in you then you need to examine your life for any unrepentant sin, any cherished sin. So many of our cherished sins have turned into sins we don't recognize as sins any longer. We've cherished these sins into acceptance. Once we've worn down and reshaped sins into acceptability we allow them to live on in us and Satan will let us believe we are still being used by God. However, if we are NOT manifesting the Spirit in us then we really need to tear apart our lives bit by bit laying it open bear before God's revealing light of truth.  If we can't find any willful sin in ourselves we need to pray that God bless us with the Spirit so He may use us through the manifestation only the Spirit can give.

1Co 12:7  But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. 

1Co 12:8  For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; 

1Co 12:9  To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; 

1Co 12:10  To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: 

1Co 12:11  But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will. 

Wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, miracles, prophecy, discerning spirits, foreign language, interpreting foreign language- all can be manifestations of the Spirit.

We can be blessed with one of these manifestations or several as the Lord needs to us to have to profit Him. We will never be given a single one of the Spirit manifestations to use selfishly. So while we may believe it would be wonderful to have any of those gifts, that isn't something we can even minutely gloat about even to ourselves. The wonder of these gifts is our Savior's gospel being heard, the message of salvation being given as He desires. Humbly we need to live, by the grace of God we need to exist.

Please, Lord, we know and we submit to You. Please, Lord, forgive us, cleanse us, use us for Your will, Your purpose.

All in YOUR love!

Holy Spirit Gifts.

The Spirit will give us spiritual gifts to profit with.  What is this profit? Is it for the recipients profit, or another's?

 Clearly, anyone who knows Christ as their Savior would know the answer to that question. Christ lived and died to serve others. We are entreated to live with Christ in us, living as He lived- serving others. The Holy Spirit will gift us with His gifts SEVERALLY as He wills.

The gifts of the Holy Spirit are not like tangible gifts that are given, held, and even kept for as long as the person desires to keep them. The gifts of the Spirit are given as NEEDED.

We need not despair that we won't have the faith we need from the Holy Spirit, we will have that faith as it is needed. We will have wisdom, knowledge and all that are necessary for us to be USED BY GOD.

We need to be used by God and He will use us if we are receptive to the Holy Spirit, truly desiring to be used by God in any way HE reveals to us.

You may never need to speak in a foreign language. You may never need to interpret a foreign language, you might not need to have a gift of healing, or work a single miracle, you may only ever be given faith as you needed it, or wisdom that you need. God will give us WHAT we need, WHEN we need it and there is no reason to give us any gift of the Spirit otherwise.  His gifts will not be squandered, His gifts are not given to us to be useless. The power of the Holy Spirit is so incredible that it is not something to even speak of frivolously.

More on this tomorrow by the GRACE and WILL, the LOVE and MERCY of our LORD and SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST!

1Co 12:7  But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. 

1Co 12:8  For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; 

1Co 12:9  To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; 

1Co 12:10  To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: 

1Co 12:11  But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will. 

Wisdom from Above.

Meekness of wisdom.

No strife in our hearts, glorying not, lying not against the truth.

This is wisdom that is earthly, sensual, devilish-

Where there is envying in our hearts-

Where there is strife in our hearts-

-there is confusion and every evil work.

The wisdom that is from above is-

Pure, peaceable, gentle, easy to give, full of mercy, full of good results.

The wisdom that is from above is-

-without partiality, without hypocrisy.

The results of righteousness is given in peace--- of those that make peace.

What's all this mean? There is an earthly wisdom and earthly wisdom is filled with envying, strife, confusion and evil.

When our lives are fill with envy, strife and confusion we have to ask ourselves where it is coming from. It's EARTHLY wisdom. We may believe we are right to feel these things envy, strife, confusion and even evil because they come so naturally, they fill our lives and the world all around us. Truly, with some people these things are DAILY occurrences and while troublesome they are very commonplace. Strife, confusion, envying, evil all are devilish and if we would allow ourselves to recognize them for what they are- maybe, just maybe we could pray for wisdom from above. We need pureness, peace, gentleness, mercy…we need God's wisdom! We need to desire Gods wisdom. We need to shun the wisdom of the world, the wisdom that is devilish. Please LORD, please, please we want to be YOURS and have YOUR wisdom!

Jas 3:13  Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. 

Jas 3:14  But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. 

Jas 3:15  This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. 

Jas 3:16  For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. 

Jas 3:17  But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. 

Jas 3:18  And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace. 

God is Witness.

1Th 2:4  But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts. 

1Th 2:5  For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloke of covetousness; God is witness: 

1Th 2:6  Nor of men sought we glory, neither of you, nor yet of others, when we might have been burdensome, as the apostles of Christ. 

1Th 2:7  But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children

Allowed of God----- to be put IN trust with the gospel.

NOT pleasing men, but GOD.

No flattering words, no covetousness-  GOD IS WITNESS.

Gentle among others- as a NURSE CHERISHETH HER CHILDREN.

We too are allowed of God to be put in trust with the good news of the gospel- the salvation through JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD.

We too must be more concerned with PLEASING GOD not others.

We have no need to use flattering words- no covetousness.

God is our WITNESS- God is for us!

Just as a good nurse cherishes those in her care - we too must be as gentle with all we come in contact with. We must care for them from our heart as how special they are in God's sight. Gentle…. not forceful!

All through JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD!

Mortify your members-- keep your focus on heaven!

Col 3:1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 

Col 3:2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 

Col 3:3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 

Col 3:4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. 

Col 3:5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth

Mortify ourselves here and now.

When we set our affections on things above we are not setting them down here on earth. If our affections are not being set here on earth we have a lot less chance of getting caught up in the sins prevalent here and now. Mortifying our members- keeping ourselves from sin BY setting our affections on things above and not on earth is very important.

How much harder is it to give into temptation when you know by waiting longer you have a reward that is not sinful.

When we take our minds- our affections- off the things above we open ourselves up to temptation.

How attached are we to our sins? Seriously, how attached are we to things that bring us pleasure, happiness, joy, contentment, laughter, and so on? We believe that being happy is an excuse to ignore things that are sinful. We change sinful things into good things in our minds so we can do them without feeling guilt. We need to set our affection on things above!

God wants to protect us from the things on earth and He gives us means to do this. We have to mortify ourselves not give in to the sins that so easily corrupt us. We can do this by HIS grace in looking to things above, making our affections heaven bound NOT earth bound!

Let us examine ourselves--

2Co_13:5  Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you…

Let us set our affections on things above!

All through Jesus Christ our LORD and SAVIOR, now and forever!!!!!!!

Set your affection on things above.

Col 3:1  If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 

Col 3:2  Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 

How much of our agonizing in this life is spent over things on earth? Seriously, how much do we worry about things here and now? We do, we are miserable with worry over so much in our lives. Are we SEEKING things that are above, really…are we?  How actively are we seeking things which are above where Christ sits on the right hand of God? How do you actively seek for things above? How do you set your affections on things above not here on earth?

We have to ask ourselves these questions when we are face to face with so much brutal heartache over our living conditions here and now. And we need to ask ourselves this even more when we are complacent in our lives, happy in our circumstances because we are living in a life of luxury, and if not luxury than a life we are very comfortable in.  I'm not saying we can't be comfortable in our lives but if we do experience a comfortableness here, do we continue to seek those things which are above and if so, how?

Yes, HOW?! What constitutes seeking things above where Christ sits next to God?

If we are risen with Christ, if we believe in His resurrection we truly need to seek those things which are above where Christ and our Heavenly Father dwell.

If heaven has our affection nothing can take that from us, nothing.  Everything tangible here on earth, everything emotional here on earth can be taken from us- everything. There isn't a single tangible thing that can't be taken from us on earth. Our affection for heaven cannot be taken from us! If we live our lives with heaven as our central focus, all else around us can totally crumble leaving us with nothing but our affection for heaven, and we would still be content in that surety. We spend way too much of our lives living for things that can be taken from us.

We are told to set our affection on things above not on earth…

Col 3:2  Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 

…for a reason. 

This isn't to say we won't find affection for our loved ones, our children, our spouses, our family and friends but that affection has to come secondary to the affection we have for the things above.  We can't allow losing the things on earth we have affection for destroy our affection for heaven.

Satan will try that tactic, he did with Job and countless others since. It didn't work with Job, but how many has that ploy worked with? By the grace of God I pray it never works with me, I am so weak in so many ways. I need to truly set my affections on things above and not on the things on earth.  All here is temporary to eternity even though it doesn't feel that way especially where our affections are concerned.

May we be blessed in Christ and seek things above! All through His love now and forever!!!!!!!