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Things Are True
by Dan Coburn Pastor, Emmanuel Baptist Church pastordan@mtida.net Where do You Live? The Bible speaks of three realms available for us to live in. The first realm is a sorry, dysfunctional place we will call “The World”. Remember, when the New Testament speaks of the World, it is talking about a World System, with moral standards and values Established by Satan. - 2nd Cor 4:4. He is the “god” of this world. Don’t think so? Turn on the news. Or, you could just take God at His word. Anyway, we are all born into this world, and then in varying degrees, we try to avoid it, evolve from it, navigate it, rise above it, or some just swim in it, thinking that’s all there is. The second realm is what we will call the Law. It was/is the Old Testament law for the Jews; we call it the Ten Commandments, and many think it is just conscience. For those who try to rise above the World, The law is literally the goal or target, or destination. Have I lost you? Here is an example. There is a man who is a thief. He has struggled with this as long as he can remember. His friends, as well as those pesky Christians keep telling him if he can just give that up, - (not steal anymore), he will be OK. Even get to Heaven. 95% of the worldly people believe this, and about 75% of the “Christians”. So what is God’s intention for You in all of this? His plan, principal if you will, for your life is woven all through Scripture, but let’s look at just one verse. Eph. 4:28. “Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth”. Before we go any further, we need to make this Applicable to Your life. So keep this verse, but feel free to exchange “stealing” for what ever in your life you are struggling with. That which you are ashamed of. That which you can’t do in front of your momma. The World will tell you if you just give it up, you are Okie Dokie. But God wants you to move into the Third Realm. The Realm of Enabling Grace we have been discussing. The Thief moves from stealing, beyond “not stealing”, to Supernaturally obeying God to the degree that he can begin to be a blessing to others. Folks say “I can't tithe till God improves my financial situation”. God is saying “I’ll improve your situation as soon as you are faithful with what you have”. Remember? “If you are faithful with little, you will be given much”. This is true in Every area of your life. It is not “name it and claim it”, it is Submitting to God. Whatever area of Your life you are struggling with; relationships, addictions, finances, If you can turn it over to Him, you will never lack in that area. Hard lesson. Easier said than done. God Bless. |
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