We Must Have God Present When we Discuss His Creation

We Must Have God Present When we Discuss His Creation

Plainly and clearly the divisions in our society are the work of the enemy.  Satan is happy when we have disharmony in society.   Divided communities offer entry points for hatred and bitterness to influence our interactions with one another.  The enemy prefers us to use a human approach, a fleshly approach.  The enemy knows that without God included in the discussion he can continue to keep the divisions and deceive us.

Genesis 1:27 and 31 (NIV) describes the creation of man and woman. 27 So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. And verse 31 God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day.

His plan is that we are all made in His image.  His plan is that we are all important and have worth.  We all have a part to play.  It is only after the fall that divisions enter humanity.  It is only when people think that their way is best that we corrupt creation and place bondage and oppression on each other.

Creation is God’s.  It is presumptuous to think that we know better than God does about His creation.  We were given the task of stewardship over His creation.  You may think your ways are better but when you decide to trust God, you realize that His ways are much greater.

All of Creation - Mercy Me

It’s time to end the judging and the divisions that permeate society.  We're called to be united in Christ.   In Ephesians 4 we are reminded about the instructions for living in community with one another.

Specifically in Ephesians 4:22-23 (NLT) we are told to…

22throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. 23Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes.

Over the years the more we have removed God from the dialog less of the goal has been achieved of having a more inclusive society.  Perhaps our minds have been filled with a human perspective theory perpetuated by atheists and those who have turned away from God that leaves souls empty because God is not in the discussion.  But so many discussions centering on diversity and inclusion intentionally leave God out. 

So many people in this debate say that there is no room for Jesus Christ in the debate, citing that often the division is caused by religion.  This is precisely the deception by the enemy we need to be vigilant to rebuke.

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12:2 (NIV)).

We cannot be pitiful and powerful at the same time.  You cannot be both victim and master.  So many people choose to live as a powerless victim and be offended by the actions of others.  Living offended by the actions and words of others consumes a great amount of your energy leaving you in a vulnerable place for continued attack by the enemy.  Forgive people quickly regardless of whether or not they ask for it because unforgiveness is poisonous to you, not to them!

13Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. 14Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. (Colossians 3: 13-14 (NLT)).

God calls us to have compassion for others – even those whose lives do not follow God’s ways.  We need to continue to pray for wisdom and guidance.  God changes the hearts of people.  Your life as a Christian should make unbelievers question their disbelief.

A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. (John 13:34 (NIV)).

26So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, 27for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. (Galatians 3: 26-28 (NIV)).

Until we bring God back to the discussion we will not achieve the intended goals of a just society.  Our God is an awesome God of love.  He is a just God.  We must all repent and turn to God.  The social movements many often reference were born in our American churches.  However, so many efforts are made to remove the faith aspect.  We need to have hearts open to embrace the Gospel and once we bring God back into the discussion we will have peace and unity among all peoples.

Freedom - Nicole C. Mullen

I've Got the Victory

Re-creation Focus

Re-creation Focus

The start of a new year is often filled with empty resolutions about how this year is going to be better than last year.  That a change we will make this week will carry us throughout the year.  But we cannot do it alone.  We need to recognize that God is with us.

It is true that we all need recreation in our lives.  We need to take time to allow for rest and diversion from the pressures of the daily grind.  We've heard the adage about all work and no play.  We've even heard that in the creation story in Genesis that on the 7^th day God rested.   But I would say to go a step further we don’t need recreation we need re-creation. 

Because God is always at work in you to make you willing and able to obey his own purpose. Philippians 2:13 (GNB).

Re-creation allows God to continue creation’s story in us.  Creation has not stopped it is a continuous process.  Re-creation calls for us to submit to God’s will for our lives.  Re-creation allows us to refocus on God’s plan.

Too many people feel that they can simply rely on themselves for recreation, happiness, and joy.  These people have been caught up in the philosophies that the only one that they can rely on is themselves.  Willpower is not enough to change us.  Focusing in on self-centered ways and ideologies cannot revive us and can be akin to idolatry.  People subscribe to these approaches because God has been moved out of the center space that He should occupy. 

The only way to properly recharge and re-create is to plug into a source greater than yourself.  And that source is God alone.  When God changes you, it's going to hurt. You're going to have to let go of a few things, but it will make you stronger in Him.

Each of us will change. Life will not allow us to stay the same.  God is right, I am wrong, and he has the authority to shape and change me into whomever he wants me to be. 

22You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. (Ephesians 4: 22-24 (NIV)).

We need to take time to allow God to work with us and re-create us.  Sometimes we need to have just a moment of silence and stillness to re-create.  Other ways to allow God to engage you in re-creation is through fasting.  The church my family and I attend has started today with a 21 day period of fasting and prayer.  The title “Awakening” has been given to this period.  Through fasting and prayer we allow God re-create us.  Re-creation challenges spiritual complacency.  “Fasting is a powerful way to let your flesh know that you are a Spirit-dominated person and your flesh must be submitted to God” (Pastor Alvin Thomas, 2014).

Through re-creation we do not settle for the status quo and we allow God’s revival to awaken us.  Creation was never to be a once and done event.  Through Christ we have been redeemed, recreated, renewed, revived, and given a future in a new life.   We need to pray for continued re-creation by God in our lives.  “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”  (2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV)).

Burn for You -- Toby Mac

Jesus is Life -- Stephen Curtis Chapman