Knowing the word of God.

The growth in Christ happens when a Christian mind is renewed in the Word of God. This allows a Christian to yield to the Holy Spirit. The renewed mind gives the character of Christ. This helps us to grow in faith. Growth is understanding our identiy in Christ and leads the way to the  destiny which is God's will. A mind in Christ is free from the precepts of the world and is stable on the things that are of God. Growing in grace teaches a life of obedience and trust. Growth in a Christian must demonstrate the living epistle that we were called to be. Our actions must be  of our thoughts which is the Word of God. "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law" (Galatians 5:22-23).

Salvation is the gift of God; a life that came through Jesus Christ, the son of God. Jesus the hope for the world made it possible for everyone to be free from hell. Yes, there is a hell as sure as there is a Heaven. If a person refuse Christ as Lord and Savior, he or she would choose hell. I encourage everyone who have not receive Christ to accept him today as your Lord and Savior. Christ is the only way to heaven. "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved" (Acts 4:12). Everyone needs this gift, it's the only way to understand the true meaning of life. In Christ, we are made as God is. " Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world" (1 John 4:17).

The splendor of his heart; his care for us and his never-ending love. Before the foundation of the world, God loved us and will forever. His love will conquer every situation. Through his love, we became new a men. "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new" (2 Corinthians 5:17). His love set us free from all that was against us. " For God so loved the world, that he gave him only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16). We all need his love it gives peace, joy, and righteousness. 

Do we need obedience to receive the blessings of the Lord? We are born again in Christ therefore our blessings come through him not from our doings. We will learn to be obedient because the grace of God teaches us to be so. "Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world" (Titus 2:12). None of us can be obedient by our own self-effort. Obedience comes from surrendering to the Holy Spirit so that he may work in us as it is the will of God. It is an amazing feeling to surrender to God. When we surrender unto him we get to grow in grace and mature in his ways. "But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever. Amen" (2 Peter 3:18). Let us focus on the will of God by meditating on his words daily. "And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, ...

Contentment is great gain; it signifies rest in Christ. He gave us peace in the midst of war, joy in the midst of sadness, hope in despair, and a love that will endure all things. Are you resting in Christ today? He is the only way out of it all. Are you tired of trying to make it on your own? Trust in Christ today he already made a way for you. Resting means being at ease; knowing that all his well. "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me" (Philippians 4:13). The promise of rest was given unto us by God. We as his children witness this at firsthand being in Christ. That rest is the faith as it is trust, believing, and knowing. The confidence in resting in Christ is the only contentment that we need. The world is filled with confusion but in Christ is rest as it is our peace. "These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world" (John 16:33).

The disciples of Christ are those of the Church (his body). We were called to share the good news and to live the life that he had ordained before the beginning of the world. Sharing the good news is teaching the principles of God, his foundational truth. The good news of God leads many to freedom. "The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;" (Isaiah 61:1). The good news is the ministry of reconciliation that God gave to us through Christ Jesus.  "And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;" (2 Corinthians 5:18). Sharing the good news gives hope to the world; the world needs Jesus which is the hope for all things. The great hope is the expected end of God's promises. The prov...

Knowing God is able makes one stand in the faith. He is faithful and will establish all his words by bringing them to pass. God delivered us from everything that was against us and the darkness that fights against us every day are experiences that will help us grow in the faith. " Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:" (Colossians 1:13).   We must understand that the battle has been won through the blood of Christ. He made us overconers of the world and nothing can defeat who we are in him. "For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?   This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth" (1 John 5:4-6).

Our bodies are the temple of the Lord. We yield our members no more to the flesh but to God. Our bodies signify a Holy place because the Holy Spirit lives within us. We are now his possession bought with the blood of Christ. Living unto God is now the purpose we serve. Surrendering to the Holy Spirit will lead you from the temptations of the flesh such as fornication, deceit, drunkenness, and adultery. "But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.   Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,   Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,   Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God" (Galatians 5: 18-21).

The spiritual life in Christ is the newness of life that was given by God's grace. This life is eternity as there is no ending to God. To live a full spiritual life one needs to renew the mind of the spirit. This process his daily and it's the medication of the Word of God. "And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God" (Romans 12:2). If the mind is not focused on Christ then it will be conformed to the world. There is a war between the flesh and the spirit and for a Christian to walk as the overcome the mind must understand how to fight spiritually. " For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would" (Galatians 5:17). We can only mature by living by the Word of God; "As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the wo...

The courage of hope is essential for everyone's life. Christ is the great hope and in him, all things are made possible. "Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth" (Mark 9:23). Life is only built on Christ, and all that we hope to achieve can only be possible through him. Do you believe in the faithful promises of God? Hope is having faith, it's knowing that you trust in God for all things. "Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost. (Romans 15:13). Hope restores, are you feeling lost and worried? Do you feel as if your situation is getting the best of you? Do you faint in your tribulations? Why should we be worried when we trust in God? Let's continue to reassure ourselves of the faithful God we serve by standing on his promises. His Words are sure and they will never fail. "Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; c...

When we were baptized into Christ we became new; the character of Christ is the cloak of righteousness that the sons of God wear. The newness of life made us who God had created us to be. "Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things become new" (2 Corinthians 5:17). Our daily lives must display the character of holiness. We are the living epistles of God, we live to testify of the goodness of his love. Through his love, we were reborn and allowed to live through him in Christ. "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" (Galatians 2:20). Where would we be without Christ that answer is simple as this on our way to hell. He redeemed us from a sinful nature which was the path to death. However, many still walk this path with knowing and not knowing. T...

Christ has set us free from brokenness through his blood. All that was against us he took away. "Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;" (Colossians 2:14). He took it all on himself that we would be free; he made us whole in him. Nothing missing, lacking or broken. "But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes, we are healed" (Isaiah 53:3). In every situation we face that opposes the promises of God we must remember that "it is finished" "When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost" (John 19:30).

The goodness of God gave us life and hope. Where would we be without the goodness of God? His goodness place us before him; he took no thought for his life when he laid it done to death for us. "Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren" (1 John 3:16). The goodness of our God is the only reason we are here on this day; his unmerited favor of love towards us was before we entered this world. "According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:" (Ephesians 1:4). God's goodness will never run out, it is everlasting as he is. Let's focus on his goodness always and give thanks.

Emotions of the spirit are what govern our character. Are you walking in the spirit daily? Self-control is a gift from God and living by the Word of God will help us to control our emotions. Negative emotions will arise in situations but the peace of God which is a positive emotion will govern the situation. "And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:7). The world is filled with sorrows and sadness but in Christ, there is peace and joy. "These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world" (John 16:33). God is our peace and is always with us; it's up to us to embrace his promises of truth. "Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you" (2 Corinthians 13:11).

Victory can only be in Christ Jesus; we have won through his blood. He defeated death, sickness, hate, poverty, and sadness. We have victory over all these and more. For death, he gave us life, for sickness, he gave us healing, for hate, he gave us love, for poverty, he gave us wealth, and for sadness, he gave us joy. We must believe that we are overcomes in Christ Jesus. "For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth" (1 John 5:4-6).

There isn't anything that God can't do; he is the great restorer as he restored our hearts through the Holy Spirit. Our hearts were hardened towards God because of our sinful nature but now we are redeemed through the blood of the lamb. God made a promise unto us that he would send his son to take away all sin and he did. "The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world" (John 1:29). Jesus was born for one reason and it was to restore human nature. Sin was defeated through death and victory came through the resurrection. "Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 6:11).

How to stand in faith; many might say it's hard and some find it easy. What do you have to say about your faith? Faith is of Christ and has believers we must learn how to stand in the Word of God. Faith gives us the promises that God had made unto us. As a believer, there is nothing we can't do when we stand in faith. This is knowing that God is faithful who promises. Do you believe that with God all things are possible? God never failed on the cross and he won't fail now. As his words declare the truth so they will manifest when faith arises and doubt is defeated in your heart. One must believe in Christ completely in order to work faith. "It Is Finished".

The redemption plan; is the birth, death, and resurrection of Christ. The great salvation package that was given unto us by God through Christ. The love of God gave us eternal faith in Christ. With Jesus all things are possible; in him we are everlasting. The gift of life through the blood of Jesus made us whole. Our souls have been redeemed and our spirits renewed. Jesus, the only way, life, and truth. The redemption plan gave us a divine life and it's the only way to live. This life gave us all we need here on earth and beyond. "According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:" (2 Peter 1:3). 

Jesus the Lord thy God; where would we be without saving grace? Grace is the reason why we are here, God's unmerited favor of love that has no end. Do you believe that God's promises will come true? Do you believe that he loves you? Do you want to know him as you should? Grace is the reason why we have the opportunity to live in God. Lets' rest in this truth; what Jesus did on the cross made us free from the bondage of the flesh. He was crucified in the flesh to justify the sinner through his spirit. (He died in the flesh and rose in the spirit). "For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:" (1 Peter 3:18). If you would love to receive Christ as your Lord and Savior, pray this prayer. Jesus, I thank you for taking my place on the cross. I believe in the finished works of the cross and I accept you in my heart today as my Lord and Savior.