In today’s thoughts, there are benefits as followers of Christ Jesus. We are to do our part in maintaining our Christian walk with Christ. This is to say, we are to consecrate ourselves unto God and His ways for this will become our lifestyle for living.
I have noticed throughout America today, it seems as though some new believers look at “Christianity” in this manner; they now belong to a “club, or group” and they have paid their dues, that of coming to Jesus, and accepted Him as their Savior. They now go on expecting all the benefits that come with their “club membership”, that of the spiritual things of God. But just as they receive the benefits from their membership into a “club” through paid dues, they have to maintain their membership with obedience to the rules laid out.
Salvation (the born-again experience), namely the “Christian” is not a club. It is the very life-style of Christ in us that will draw all men to God. Everything we receive from God is simply given to us by faith and God’s grace. There is nothing we can do to earn His blessings but to open our mind, heart, soul, and spirit to Him and His ways. Simply put, we must surrender to our Creator to the Almighty God of this universe. When we received our Salvation, it was through the grace of God, believing by faith, the plan of salvation. As a “Christian” we are sealed (an earnest pledge) secured by the Holy Spirit of our eternity with God forever.
You might say the born-again believer who continues in the faith has a lifetime membership into heaven. Just as to continue to receive the benefits of the membership of a “club” there is a price to pay, and that is to read the membership instructions and comply with the rules. The Bible is of the utmost importance to every believer. In like manner as followers of Christ, born-again believers, we must comply with God’s written instructions, the Bible. If we do not read the instructions for our life membership or hear the instructions of the Bible and comply with them, we may lack the full benefits, spiritually and physically, during our lifetime. With that said, as we read and hear God’s Word, there will become an understanding of what it says, and we will be guided and taught by the Holy Spirit and lead into all truth. As we comply with (obey) His instructions, we will begin to conform (imitate) Christ like characters, the fruit of the Spirit.
Let’s look at the possibility that maybe some Christian people aren’t ready or at the point of understanding the things of God spiritually. This got me thinking, and I bring you this question: Why aren’t “Christian” people seeing the necessity, or the need of the spiritual things of God?
The fruit and gifts of the Holy Spirit are given to those who desire and are walking in Him. These “fruit” are to help us understand some of the products of the Holy Spirit. In Greek, the word “fruit” refers to the natural product of a living thing. These “fruit” are not produced by the Christian but are produced by the Holy Spirit in the spirit filled believer. These characteristics are called the fruit of the Spirit, which are listed in Galatians chapter 5.
We must always be hungry and thirsty for God and His Word. After salvation and water baptism, we are to desire the infilling of the Holy Spirit, with the evidence of speaking in tongues. This precious gift is for all believers and a must to walk in boldness and be a living testimony of Christ in the believer. This second experience will lead the believer into all truth with signs and wonders following.
We are not of this world. John 8:23, 15:19, 17:14, 18:36; Romans 12:2; 1 John 2:15; Colossians 3:2; James 4:4. As we maintain our relationship with God, through our times of praying in the spirit, reading His Word, and prayer (simply communicating) to Him, we will continue to receive the benefits listed through His Word. As we begin to understand and see the necessity of these benefits, (Gifts) that God has provided for us and has given to us; then we will begin to desire and become a willing vessel through which the Holy Spirit can flow and distributing these benefits to the people/ the church.
When we accept Jesus as our Savior, His love, mercy, and grace are what we are accepting, and that is what a “Christian” is to be. God is gracious to forgive us of our sins. As we hear the Word of God, we begin to see the need and necessity of Jesus in our lives and Gods plan of salvation for all mankind. As we come into this realization of the need for salvation, a Savior in our lives; we ask Jesus to come into our lives, our hearts. We repent of our sins, turn from our wicked ways, and begin a new life in Him, in Christ. Because of God’s love, mercy, and grace, He is always ready to forgive us from our sins. As we turn to Him with a repentant heart; He is merciful and willing to forgive us of our unrighteousness, our sin. God is faithful, ready, and willing to accept all who turns to Him for help; for He desires to have a relationship with His creation. When our body; mind, heart, and spirit is open to the ways of God; we can not comprehend what God has in-store for the believer.
As stated in 1 Corinthians 2:9, But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him (KJV). Another translation says it this way, but—to use the words of Scripture—we speak of THINGS WHICH EYE HAS NOT SEEN NOR EAR HEARD, and which have never entered the heart of man: ALL THAT GOD HAS IN READINESS FOR THEM THAT LOVE HIM.
Let’s go forward in the faith, believing God’s word and receiving all that he has today for us! Yes, there are benefits waiting for the believer.
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