I recently had an echocardiogram for my heart and started wearing a monitor to check out how my heart is doing. I don't know if there is anything wrong, but the Doctor wanted me too. So will do and "so far so good"!

 

Which made me think about our spiritual life as well. Do we need a heart monitor? I think we do and thankfully we have one! Oh, Yes in fact we have a few! 

 

Well, we have the Word of God which tells us how our heart should work and along with the Holy Spirit if it is working correctly.

 

We also have the Body of Christ which can minister to us too.

 

 And lastly, we have a conscience which can help us see our heart situation and motives.

 

Just like my heart monitor checks out my physical heart, we all have a monitor that checks out our Soul!!! 

As I just found out about another Christian couple that was in ministry have divorced. This happens way to often and mostly because they don't seek help! Because they are "IN" ministry they don't reach out until it is really bad and by then many things are hard to recover from BUT not impossible.

 

They preach the word but miss so much of it! Like all the one another verses. Here is one that is good for all of us to remember.

 

The Body can minister to those going through things. The Body can teach, counsel and pray for one another. So often as in this case the man and folks like to teach and that's a good thing, but they can't see their own sin. They can't understand their pain or their wife's frustrations. Often the wife has her own standards or problems but feels she can't share with her husband. They both miss their own insecurities, fears and weaknesses!

 

There are those who can teach and communicate from the pulpit, but there are those who can understand the emotional struggles of others that the teacher can't. A good biblical Christian counselor can see things that others can't, and not because they have schooling or training but because that's how they are made to minister. They are patient and want to help build up the believer in a right way.

 

I always say to pastors, "do you know more about the bible than your wife"? And usually they say "YES"! Then I say but can your wife see and tell you when something is wrong before you say anything"? "Can she tell you what you're feeling or what's going on with you even before you do"? OF COURSE SHE CAN! She's made that way and so are counselors.

 

A counselor understands and knows how to help that struggling person. They do one on one ministry, the same as a pastor will do from the pulpit but more personal and direct. A pastor/teacher may be like a general physician teaching the bible in a general sense, but a counselor is more like a surgeon, cutting away and removing the cancer within.

 

If you need Help or know someone who does, reach out to me or someone in your church and get help before your marriage becomes another statistic! 

 

YES, YOU have risen with Christ, and you are a New Creature and therefore we are to seek all things above in Christ! By receiving all things that Christ has given us we can then turn our minds and body toward the right things in our natural earth suits.

 

We can Put Off our sinful fleshly tendences and PUT ON the Righteous, Godly and Spiritual things of Christ! We can put off the lust filled heart and mind and PUT ON the perfect loving heart and mind of Christ! Let us stop lying to one another and acting like nothing is wrong and start being honest and truthful with one another. When you're hurting tell someone. When your grieving tell someone. This does not take away from going to Christ, but it opens us up to being real and one with each other as we minister to one another. 

 

We also can forbear, forgive and love one another. The Body of Christ is not just a Sunday service gathering but a hospital for the hurting as well as an educational, edifying and exhorting ministry. Put off and PUT ON!

 

And above ALL, we can always in all situations give Thanks to God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!!!! 

Have you ever said to yourself or to someone else or even heard someone else say, "is it wrong too...."? or "is it sin..." I have heard this 1000 times and I always think but never or rarely say "your living under law and legalism"! 

 

You see if you don't know thats its sin then your already in a pickle and if you have to ask your probably tring to justify something you know your not suppose to do to begin with!... YET are we able to do it, YES! 

 

What I means is this,as a beleiever is it sin to steal, murder or committ adultry... of course, but are you forgiven, YES! Didn't Christ die for all sins, YES! COULD YOU steal, murder and commit adultry and still be a saved, secure saint, SURE, But is it "BEST" NO!!!

 

The question shouldn't be "Can I do it" or "is it sin" but does it edify the Body or is it necassary for me or am I feeding my flesh...! Does it go against my conscience? Also think about this, you could NOT do something "GOOD" and it still be sin! WOW! Did I just say that????

 

You see when a person ask "IF" something is sin or not, they are living in legalism, not Grace! Their not living by nor walking in the Spirit but by their flesh. There trying to justify, get by or work around the LAW or some standard they have instead of just giving "it" up, Oh My!

 

Walk by grace and by the Spirit which is always in the best intrest of Jesus and His body which you belong too! 

 

As I have said over and over lately, "we are complete in Christ alone"! ...and that everything else is just shadows of Christ but not Christ! Paul continues in Colossians 2 talking about missing the mark and false humility that so many believers walk after.

 

 

Thinking that if they worship angels and idols and can touch or see some religious thing or walk after the law that they are showing their faith, but what they are actually doing is showing fear! Because of fear of rejection, they perform and if they perform hard, long and good enough, they will be acceptable by God! This is why the Catholic and Orthodoxy doctrine does not work! It is based on man's abilities and not Christ cross work!

 

Paul tells us in the next chapter what we are to "DO"! 

 

Don't focus on earthly things or laws or works or "doing something" rather seek those things that are eternal in Christ! Keep your mind, and eyes on the heavenly things! No, you can't see them because they are spiritual and by faith, so Stop and renew, receive and rest in Christ! Paul says it best here, 

2Co 4:18 "While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal." 

 

I once heard a story about a farmer who had a huge tree, and it had grown so big, and so close to the house that he needed to cut it down. The neighbor needed some firewood so he said he would buy the tree from the farmer. The farmer said Well Ok, I'll sale it to you for $1000.00! The neighbor said that's kind of high, so the farmer pointed to the trees shadow and said I'll sale that for $100! The neighbor said OK and gave him $100.

 

That is the way the church thinks today! If they just give a little or do something or do some work, then they think they're getting it all but they're really getting NOTHING! 

 

Most churches push some type of ordinance! It may be as many 7+ as do the Catholics and Orthodox churches or as little as two like water baptism and communion as so many protestant churches teach.

 

BUT as you read and see that ALL the ordinances were nailed to the cross! These ordinances and laws, such as the dietary and feasts as well as the new moon and sabbaths are ALL SHADOWS of Christ, but they are NOT CHRIST!!! You don't need cleansed physically because you are cleansed Spiritually! There is no longer a need to DO these things for we have CHRIST! We are COMPLETE IN CHRIST!

 

There is no need for these things anymore. Those that continue to practice these things are following the philosophy of men! Col 2:8 "Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ." 

and NOT OF CHRIST!

 

The natural thing is for man to "DO" something! To work or perform some act that "shows" our faith BUT Christ has done all the work needed and we simply receive, renew and rest in Him!!!  

 

STOP "doing" these ordinances and START thanking our Lord Jesus for ALL He has done for you! 

 

 

 

By the operation meaning by the work of God, we are circumcised with the circumcision of God! This is not a work of man nor in the flesh, but it is God's doing by the Holy Spirit. Circumcision means to cut and bleed, and while the Jews did the fleshly circumcision as it was the old covenant between God and Israel, we gentiles were not part of the old covenant and therefore not circumcised and this is why we were called the Uncircumcision. Now Christ was cut, bled and died for us and by faith we believe and by that our old man or that which was in Adam is considered crucified and dead!  

Rom 6:6 "Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin." 

By faith we believe and trust in Christ death, burial and resurrection and made alive in Him. We are then saved, and a New creature in Christ! Our spirit is Alive in Christ! 

 

By the operation of God, we were buried with Him in baptism.

Now baptism means to be immersed in and identified with! We have been immersed by the Spirit into His death and identified in His resurrection Spiritually! There is no water here, it is a spiritual baptism by God otherwise it would be by man!!!! There is only One baptism today and it is Spiritual!

 

Finally, by God's operation He has completely forgiven ALL our sins! ALL means ALL and can only be forgiven by God the one and only judge! So, we are completely forgiven and therefore be confident we will be with Him eternally. This is not a do whatever you want card nor is it an arrogant way of thinking it simply the secure and reconciling details of Christ work. When we realize who we were as sinners and realize the price that was paid, we are eternally grateful and thankful and humbled by Christ work on the cross and the complete operation of God in our lives!!!

Give God the Glory! 

 

This chapter and especially starting at verse 8 of Colossians 2 we find one of the greatest chapters in the bible! This chapter is why I wanted to repeat the book of Colossians in our devotions. It is SO powerful that it changes everything that was once and still practiced in 99.9999% of most churches. It should bring the Catholic, Orthodox, and Anglican churches to their knees but also all the protestant denominations that follow many of the same things!

 

So, let's begin in verse 8  

 

First of all, Paul says to beware of the philosophy and vain deceit of the world! The worlds thinking has nothing that will help you in your spiritual life. They have no answers that can bring eternal life nor freedom to your soul. BUT this does not just include the world only but also the "Christian" churches that have ADOPTED man's thinking which includes most churches. Both Catholic/Orthodox AND protestant churches have taken in man's traditions and philosophies! Some even brag about being above the Word of God and that THEY (man) know more than the Word of God! Many pastors and churches send their people to psychologist instead of helping them with scripture. In fact, I once knew a Baptist pastor who asked me if I counseled from a biblical viewpoint or a psychological one and I said a biblical view and he said he didn't, and that he counseled from a psychological one! NOW If that isn't worldly, I don't know what is!!! Another example of this would be when the state psychologist came to us for help with her child. She had no answers for herself or her child! 

 

As we go through this chapter I will tie more to this thinking but let's move on for now.  

WE ARE COMPLETE IN CHRIST!!!! DO YOU HEAR THAT! COMPLETE!!!! YOU are made WHOLE and HOLY! You no longer need to "DO" anything or need anyone to give you LIFE! WE have ETERNAL LIFE and it is through Christ alone! Your spirit was once dead but now it is FULL and PERFECT because the God of the Universe lives within it! Complete means filled, full, and perfect! It is like a cup running over with water and continues to refill over and over and over! It never ever runs out because it is full, Full, FULL! It is a finished work not an ongoing type of thing that needs to be adding to it. YOU ARE COMPLETE IN CHRIST!!!! 

OH MY, tell yourself this truth over and over and over!!! "I am complete in Christ, and I don't need to "do" anything to be accepted or approved by anyone else even myself"! AMEN!! 

 

Teaching and teachers teach information but that doesn't mean that the information is always right, nor if right does it mean that it always edifies the hearer. Edify means to build up or to grow in wisdom and to encourage the believer and while it builds up in wisdom, they should ALSO become even more humble. It should bring a refreshed and renewed heart and mind. Teaching alone, Sadly, and way to often it seems makes the believer to be puffed up or prideful! It can make the believer a "know it all" and arrogant person. 

 

Sadly, I see this in the Pauline, Grace and rightly dividing group of saints. Because it is True doctrine and goes against the traditional church thinking, there seems to be an element of pride along with an over whelming rejection by the traditional church that drives this. I have fallen into this thinking many times and it actually hurts the understanding of love and grace that our Lord wants us to share.

 

 

This is why just teaching alone, and knowledge is not enough for the body of Christ. We need all believers not just the pastors, teachers and counselors to help correct this bad behavior. While we do need the pastors, teachers, leaders and counselors to teach how to minister to others and gently rebuke and admonish one another., we also need more one on one discipleship as well as small group interaction. This is why the 12 step or "Celebrate Recovery" groups are so popular in churches. Even if they teach bad doctrine, they are reaching people in their struggles and deepest needs...

 

Don't be a believer who just wants pulpit teaching or listen to or watch T.V preachers and then regurgitate with an attitude! Reach out and minister to the ones who need and desire to grow in the grace and love our Lord Jesus! This is the Body ministering to the Body in the way Christ intended the church to grow.

Be humble, grow in wisdom and then show and grow others in that same grace.  

 

Have you ever noticed how babies have a hard time walking at first! They tip over and look so cute, but they don't walk very good. Then as we get into our later years, we have problems walking too, Ha! We are weak in our early years and our elderly years but in the middle, we are strong and walk and walk and walk! 

 

Our daily faith walk is similar. When we first come to Christ, we are like babes, struggling but as we mature, we get stronger, but when we get nearer to death, we CAN get weaker. This is why Paul encourages us to be rooted and built up in Him. If we stay immature, we will be in deep trouble and fear death as we are older but if we stay grounded and grow deeper, we will walk faithfully looking forward to physical death because we know we will be with Christ! 

 

We can be content and give thanks with growing older because we know it is one step closer to being eternally with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!!! 

 

Be thankful today and every day and give Jesus the glory! Amen!

 

 

Mourn!

There are times when we mourn! I lost a special friend of my past this week. It is always hard when someone dies but she was a believer and I am so grateful for that.

 

The greater loss is when we lose a loved one that is NOT a believer. One that will spend the rest of their life in hell. One that shunned and rejected our Lord Jesus! This is hard to understand but it happens, and we have to grieve for those too.

 

Let is never get so hard that we don't hurt and grieve for the lost, unsaved people of this world. 

 

Please join me in prayer for them and always pray for us to share this great gospel and eternal life in Christ! 

 

The mystery was not known to the old prophets, everything revolved around Israel. But after Israel rejected the risen Messiah God sent the salvation message through the cross of Christ called the gospel of grace to the gentiles. Part of this mystery is that Christ is in You! Can you get that!!! UNBELIEVABLE! The Lord Jesus LIVES IN YOU!!! And WE LIVE IN HIM!

 

Paul says in Gal 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

 

 

I think we often think that God is mad or really doesn't want to be around us, but really, He is pleased with us! WHY? Because all the completeness, fullness and Power of God is in Christ and Christ is in us! He is pleased with us because He is pleased with His Son Jesus! Jesus lives in us and therefore God is pleased and desires to spend time with us. Jesus paid the price on the cross and has done all the work that is necessary to reconcile and make peace for us.  

 

And so, we who were once enemies, now belong to Him and are reconciled to God through Christ! Spiritually we are made holy and innocent to God through Christ! We are spiritually whole and complete in Christ!

 

We no longer need to fear God's wrath or that He might punish us rather instead we can enjoy spending time with Him and receiving His Love and approval! We can also run to Him and pour out our thoughts and sins and worries! We can share our fears and anxiety! We now can walk with confidence and boldly share life with our Father and He will comfort us with His Spirit and Love!

Oh dear saint in Christ be thankful, grateful and spend time with your heavenly "Daddy"!!!