What should be our focus and how should we live as Christians? I have often heard it said that we can be so heavenly minded as to be no earthly good or so earthly focused to be no heavenly good.

Colossians is a good place to start for some answers: “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth” (KJV; Col 3:1-3). Well, that’s pretty clear. In second Corinthians chapter 6 and verse 17 we are told to come out from the non-Christians in the world and be separate; that basically means not to follow the same life style.

But we are not told to leave the world (1Cor 5:10), God directs us to go where the non-Christians are  to be Light to them (Matt 5:14). If we are to be light, the non-Christians need to see us, need to see our Godly life style, our good works and especially our love. The word says that God will show his manifold wisdom to the world through us (Ex 34:14), in other words, we don’t hide in our homes and churches.

So, can we have stuff or are we to focus on ministry and have nothing? God says he will provide all of our need (not our greed) if we seek him first (Matt 6:33). God is a jealous God, he wants us and wants to be our focus; as we keep or eyes on him he will bless us with an abundant life. (John 10:10). That word life is the kind of life that God lives and enjoys; wow, that sounds good to me.

Please pass this on. All rights reserved.

A BLOG by Norman and Jean Rawlings, authors of the book: “On the Way: Basic Christian Training”. Check out our web site for information on our book and more encouraging Bible based blogs. Fill out the: “contact us page” on our website and in the comments section REQUEST A FREE COPY OF A CHAPTER FROM OUR BOOK, click here: www.onthewayinlove.com     

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of Go: not of works, lest any man should boast” (Eph 2:8-10; KJV). Here we are told that we don’t earn salvation by our works, it is purely a gift by God’s grace that we receive freely by faith.

When Paul struggled with his thorn in the flesh he pleaded with God to take it away but God replied: “My grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is made perfect in weakness” (2 Cor 12:9). In other words, whatever the thorn was, God said his grace would get Paul through the difficulty.

God’s grace enables us to receive of his strength (power) for salvation and for every need that we have. The power word used here is Dunamis in the Greek; this is where we get the English word dynamite. We have God’s dynamite power in us by grace. The power that raised Christ from the dead is that dynamite power and we contain it by God’s grace (Rom 8:11; Acts 1:8). As we humble ourselves and come to the end of our own strength as Paul did, then God’s grace can get us through. If we think we can make it on our own and tough it out, in our own strength, we are on our own and life gets hard. Let’s humble ourselves before God and seek his help; His grace is sufficient.

Please pass this on. All rights reserved.

  A BLOG by Norman and Jean Rawlings, authors of the book: “On the Way: Basic Christian Training”. Check out our web site for information on our book and more encouraging Bible based blogs. Fill out the: “contact us page” on our website and in the comments section REQUEST A FREE COPY OF A CHAPTER FROM OUR BOOK, click here: www.onthewayinlove.com    

Do you agonize over decisions and wish you could see God’s direction clearly? Jesus called us his sheep and said we would hear his voice (John 10:27). So how do we hear from God? Well you need to remember that we are made in God’s image, we are spirit beings (1Thess 5:23). Our spirit is our spiritual heart or conscience. God contacts us largely Spirit to spirit. God can communicate in other ways but by way of his Holy Spirit to our spirit is the most important way.

How does the Holy Spirit guide us? He reveals God’s word to us (John 16:13-14), brings us understanding (revelation) and if we read the word prayerfully he will bring guidance through the verses we read. How often we read and reread a section of the Bible and suddenly a verse jumps out at us, that’s the Holy Spirit.

The other main way that the Spirit speaks to us is by the still small voice that Elijah heard (1 Kings 19:11-12). That still small voice may bring a scripture, an idea, a word or a sense of conviction. How do we know this is God? Well, that still small voice, that sense in our spirit, comes with a presence of peace and assurance that it is God. God’s wisdom is peaceable and lines up with his word (James 3:17).

To hear from God, we need to still our minds and learn to recognize the voice of his Spirit (Rom 12:2). It’s a bit like the offence in a football team trying to get directions from the Quarter back in the face of a noisy opposing crowd of supporters. Talk to God and spend time in his word; allow the word and time with him, to quiet your mind (Isa 26:3).

He doesn’t always answer right away but often when we least expect it. My wife and I had a major decision to make and we both agreed to pray independently and seek God for several months. When we eventually compared notes, we had heard almost identically from God.

God is good and he wants you to walk in his peace and assurance knowing you are in his will (Prov 3:5-6).

Please pass this on. All rights reserved. 

A BLOG by Norman and Jean Rawlings, authors of the book: “On the Way: Basic Christian Training”. Check out our web site for information on our book and more encouraging Bible based blogs. Fill out the: “contact us page” on our website and in the comments section REQUEST A FREE COPY OF A CHAPTER FROM OUR BOOK, click here: www.onthewayinlove.com    

I was studying the Holy Spirit and was reminded that he is called the helper (John 14:26). This is the Greek parakletos; which also means comforter, assistant, supporter, intercessor, advocate and one who is just there to help out and support.

He gives us a prayer language called tongues (Acts 2:4) so he can help us pray when we don’t know how to pray for a situation (Rom 8:26-27). Tongues also edify us and build up our faith (1 Cor 14:4; Jude 20).

The Holy Spirit guides us and directs (Acts 16:6-7) us and reveals Gods word to us (John 14:26). He is the power of God that changes us ever closer to God’s image (2 Cor 3:17-18) and brings life to our mortal bodies (Rom 8:11). The Holy Spirit enables us to be the witnesses God desires us to be (Acts 1:8) and enables us to do even greater works than Jesus did (John 14:12). He spreads Gods love abroad in our hearts (Rom 5:5).

Wow, do we ever need the fullness of Gods Spirit in our lives; and we only have to ask God to fill us with the Spirit and he will.

Please pass this on to someone. All rights reserved.

A BLOG by Norman and Jean Rawlings, authors of the book: “On the Way: Basic Christian Training”. Check out our web site for information on our book and more encouraging Bible based blogs. Fill out the: “contact us page” on our website and in the comments section REQUEST A FREE COPY OF A CHAPTER FROM OUR BOOK, click here: www.onthewayinlove.com    

 “Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins” (Col 1:13-14; KJV).

Jesus told Nicodemus the Pharisee that he needed to be born again; he needed a spiritual rebirth or salvation as we often refer to it (John 3:3-5). Salvation only comes through Jesus (Acts 3:12). We know that if we believe in Christ and ask him into our life as Lord and Savior; confess him as Lord with our mouths, we will be saved (Rom 10:9-10).

However, going back to our text above, we need to get into the bible and see just what happened when we were saved. We need to be discipled in a bible believing church and grow in all God has for us. Our text gives us a small glimpse of what God has for us as Christians. It says we have been taken out from under the devil’s power and control and placed in Gods kingdom of light. Satan may still try to tempt and trip us but as we keep our eyes on Jesus, on the word of God, we can walk in the victory we have in Christ.

In our verse above we are also told that we have redemption. The bible says we have been redeemed from the curse of the law (Gal 3:13). Redeemed means to be bought at a price; the price was Jesus’ death on that cross. The curses of the law are listed in Deuteronomy 28 and can be summarized as poverty, sickness and spiritual death.

In Galatians 3:13 we are told that we are redeemed to receive the blessings of God. Our original text above also tells us that we have been forgiven. We are forgiven freely by God’s grace from sins past present and future. In fact, our sins have been cast as far from us as the east in from the west (Ps 103:12). Satan may try to remind you of bad things you have done but you need to remind him of God’s love and forgiveness for you.

There is so much we have in salvation; we have just mentioned a few points. Dig into your bible and discover God’s love and blessings for you. His promises are all yes and amen (2 Cor 1:20).

If this helped you send it to a friend. All rights reserved.

A BLOG by Norman and Jean Rawlings, authors of the book: “On the Way: Basic Christian Training”. Check out our web site for information on our book and more encouraging Bible based blogs. Fill out the: “contact us page” on our website and in the comments section REQUEST A FREE COPY OF A CHAPTER FROM OUR BOOK, click here: www.onthewayinlove.com