God will and does reveal Himself in ALL of creation and of course in His Word. The most someone who does NOT have The Holy Spirit living inside of them, so NOT a true believer and follower of Christ, will glean from reading The Bible, is conviction of sin and their need for a Savior/Redeemer and their need for repentance/salvation.
Paul explains this in 1 Corinthians 2:14 AMP--But the natural [unbelieving] man does not accept the things [the teachings and revelations] of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness [absurd and illogical] to him; and he is incapable of understanding them, because they are spiritually discerned and appreciated, [and he is unqualified to judge spiritual matters].
Jesus tells us in John 3:3 AMP exactly how we can see and experience God’s Kingdom-Jesus answered him, “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, unless a person is born again [reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, sanctified], he cannot [ever] see and experience the kingdom of God.”.
Paul tells us how we can receive The Holy Spirit into our lives in Ephesians 1:13-14 NASBS--In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation-having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God's own possession, to the praise of His glory.
And then Paul clarifies once again what happens when we have a TRUE relationship with Jesus and when we don’t, in Romans 8:9 NASBS--However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him.
If we have The Holy Spirit living in us, then He will help us to understand God’s Word when we read it ourselves and when we’re listening to it by reading devos like this, sitting in teachings such as church and discipleship groups, etc. As we read and study God’s Word more and more and we learn to listen to The Holy Spirit inside of us, He will help us to discern if what we’re hearing or reading is being rightly divided/interpreted. Then when we apply God’s Word, His Biblical Principles to our lives, we’ll be able to know beyond a shadow of a doubt whether the choice we’re about to make, the things we’re doing, etc., is what God wants is to do or not.
Those of us who teach God’s Word and disciple/counsel others must study and do our best to accurately teach, explain and disciple other’s with only God’s Word as Paul tells us in 2 Timothy 2:15 AMP--Study and do your best to present yourself to God approved, a workman [tested by trial] who has no reason to be ashamed, accurately handling and skillfully teaching the word of truth. Jesus told us that we’re to disciple by teaching them what He taught us, so from The Bible in Matthew 28:19-20. Paul also told us that we’re to avoid the world’s thinking, philosophies, and wisdom in Colossians 2:8. Nothing trumps God's Word, NOTHING!!
Then those of us who are reading God’s Word ourselves and listening/reading it being taught by others need to decide if we will apply (do) God’s Word to our lives or choose not to.
James tells us in James 1:22 AMP--But prove yourselves doers of the word [actively and continually obeying God’s precepts], and not merely listeners [who hear the word but fail to internalize its meaning], deluding yourselves [by unsound reasoning contrary to the truth].
Another world for deluding is deceiving ourselves. If we don’t do what God’s Word is telling us to do, or we do what God’s Word tells us not to do, then either The Holy Spirit does NOT live inside of us so we have no spiritual understanding, or we simply ignore The Holy Spirit and what He’s telling us because we refuse to die to flesh.
The deception in regard to a person who doesn’t obey or not do what God’s Word tells us to do or not do, is that they are deceiving themselves about what their relationship to God is, if they have a relationship at all. Reading James, it’s impossible to come up with any other meaning.
Jesus told us in John 14:15 NLT--"If you love me, obey my commandments. It doesn’t get any plainer than this!
When I teach, I often have folks come up to me and say, thanks that was good, which I also hear folks tell other pastors after they've heard their teachings.
It’s hard to not get “big” headed with the well-meaning comments and I try to still point people to Jesus and thanking Him for what He gave me to share with others as it all comes from Him!
I oftentimes teach at churches where I don’t live/attend, so what folks are actively changing and doing with their lives because of what The Holy Spirit is teaching them is hard to determine.
What I’d rather hear is something like this, “Let me tell you what The Lord was speaking to me about today during your teaching.” And then they can share with me what The Lord was saying and hopefully it was something that was from Him! And then I should say something like, “That’s great! What changes in your life do think you need to make to accomplish what The Lord is saying to you?”
For those who teach/disciple those they are consistently around, it’s not hard to hold each other accountable to do or not do those things The Lord is wanting each of us to change in our lives. They’ll more than likely know if what you’re saying as you leave the teaching about it is true or not as they watch your life the rest of the week! Another reason why “body life” is necessary!
As true believers, followers, and flesh deniers, we’re all on the same narrow path. Jesus tells us in Matthew 7:13-14 NASBS--"Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.
Note that He doesn’t say the path is short, easy to follow, etc. There are boundaries on the narrow path that don’t exist on the wide path. God’s Word clearly defines those boundaries. We don’t get to dictate them to The Lord, nor does our country, government, culture, etc.
Nowhere in The Bible are we promised an easy life/path. We’re told the opposite. Jesus encouraged us with these words in John 16:33 AMP--I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace. In the world you have tribulation and distress and suffering, but be courageous [be confident, be undaunted, be filled with joy]; I have overcome the world.” [My conquest is accomplished, My victory abiding.]
If we’re looking for an easy life now, we won’t find it actively serving The Lord and becoming more like Jesus. Jesus did NOT have an easy life on earth what could possibly lead us to think that we will?
Don’t misunderstand me, we’ve been blessed with many amenities, especially here in America. But so have many who don’t follow Jesus. On the flip side, there are many who live for Christ that I can’t even begin to fathom what they go through. Some have next to nothing. Some are jailed, tortured, and even killed for their active faith in Christ.
But we must get on and stay on the narrow road that Jesus talked about. It won’t be all uphill, but what if it is? Who are we to dictate to The Lord what we deserve? I know the only thing I deserve is hell so while I complain and disobey, I’m reminded daily that a life with The Lord in heaven awaits me and I usually quickly change my tune!
The thing that Jesus has promised us is that we will have God’s peace, God’s joy, God’s rest, etc., while we’re on the narrow road The Lord has laid out for us to walk! God’s peace, joy, rest, etc. that we receive is true and complete and will never end, as long as we don’t stray from the path and decide we know best and do what our flesh wants instead of what The Lord wants.
Satan is the master of deception. (2 Corinthians 11:14, Revelation 12:9, and many more!) He will convince us that what we want is better than what God wants for us. (2 Corinthians 11:3, Genesis 3:4-5) He’ll convince us that there are many shortcuts on the path. (Matthew 4:1-11-Jesus was tempted this way so we should expect the same). He’ll convince us that as we’re going our own way that we’ve got a “peace” about it, that we’ve got joy in our lives, etc. (Romans 16:20, Daniel 8:25)
None of satan’s deceptions change the fact that God really did say what He’s told us in His Word and if we want to walk on the narrow path we must obey what The Lord has told us!
I want to be a “Spiritual” man who discerns what The Lord says via The Bible (His Word) and The Holy Spirit. I want to actively pursue The Lord and become more like Christ all the rest of the days of my life on this earth. (1 John 2:6, Galatians 2:20) I want to continue to press on towards the prize that God has promised me in heaven. (Philippians 3:14) I want to hear well done My good and faithful servant. (Matthew 25:14-30)
TThe only way I’ll be able to do this is to stay on the narrow path that The Lord has laid out in front of me by loving and obeying Him. I’ll accomplish this when I allow The Holy Spirit to lead, guide, and direct me through God’s Word, die to my fleshly desires and rely on His strength do what He’s telling me to do! (John 14:15, Romans 8:14, Psalm 119:11, Luke 9:23, Philippians 4:13)
What about you? Do you have The Holy Spirit living in you and are you on the narrow path if you do? If not, please reach out to us. We’ll do all we can to help you become more like Christ while you’re still on this earth. It’s what we as Christians are here to do, and then we get to go out and be Jesus with His Light in our dark world! (Matthew 28:19-20, Matthew 5:16)
Please don't hesitate to reach out to us with any questions, prayer requests, etc. We'd love to pray with and for you and to the best of our ability answer any questions you may have soley using God's Word!
Here to serve and disciple until He calls us home,
Curt & Mary Jo
Note-all Scripture references in parenthesis are direct links God's Word so that you can easily click and read what The LORD has to say about the section before the reference. I encourage you to click, read, study and even memorize these passages for yourself and NOT to just not just take my word for it. (Psalm 119). Also the links take you to Blue Letter Bible's website and mostly take you to the AMP version, which is a great tool for reading and understanding God's Word, https://www.blueletterbible.org/.
