Spiritual Growth is from Heart to Mind to Heart (Part 3)

Spiritual Growth is from Heart to Mind to Heart (Part 3)

Paul's 9-church epistles, Romans to 2-Thessalonians, is a curriculum of spiritual growth and transformation for the grace believer. By studying the doctrine progressively, and in the appointed order as presented in our King James bible, it takes one from being a babe in Christ to an adopted and mature son of God, from being carnal, yielding to the flesh, to being spiritual, yielding to the Spirit of life, and from being ignorant of God to having knowledge and wisdom in spiritual things. In addition, there is one more thing the curriculum does when it starts to take effect in one's life. It slowly changes the heart. It starts with a work of faith, renewing the mind to trust in God and trust in the doctrine, but as a believer grows in faith, the curriculum starts to work a labour of love. 

What the labour of love is not!

Well, simply put, it is not your own good works. It is not even your love. It is a work of God that comes into operation as you become less, and the Word of God starts to take preeminence. So, forget about earning favour and credits by helping the elderly across the street (for example). The labour of love is not something you do by your own reasoning mind and good will. Doesn't Isaiah bluntly say, 

"But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away." Isaiah 64:6. 

I'm not saying that kind acts are fruitless, but I am saying that they are not the definition of the 'labour of love' which we are dealing with in this post.

Understanding the Significance of Time in God's Eternal Plan

Understanding the Significance of Time in God's Eternal Plan

The passage from Ecclesiastes 3:11, "He hath made everything beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end," emphasizes the intricate process of God's work across the expanse of time—from the beginning to the end. Many people, however, live unaware of this divine timeline and view time only within the confines of their brief earthly existence, from birth to death. They labour under the sun, often to no avail, chasing pursuits that ultimately result in vanity. The vast majority return to dust with no understanding of God's purpose and how He works through time. This ignorance leads them to spend their lives seeking meaning through temporary pleasures, material possessions, indulgences, or useless philosophies, rather than aligning with God's eternal will.

A wise individual, by contrast, is someone who understands the true significance of time and chooses to live in accordance with God's purpose, not setting their will against His. Romans 8:28 speaks to this, stating, "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." Take note that God’s timeline and intent extends beyond the fleeting details of our life, and in truth, encompasses all things—past, present, and future—working towards God's ultimate purpose. From before the foundation of the world to the death of Christ on Calvary, God has been shaping His plan for the good of those who love Him.

Paul further affirms this in Ephesians 1:11, where he writes that believers are predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things after the counsel of His own will. Through time, God orchestrates all things toward a unified purpose in Jesus Christ, bringing all of history into alignment with His divine plan. Having this understanding emphasises the importance of how we should spend our time. It encourages us to live wisely, using the time we have in alignment with God's will.

Walking Worthy: Understanding God's Will and Our Calling in Christ

Understanding God's Will and Our Calling in Christ

Interpreting Scripture based on personal understanding alone often limits its depth and distorts its message. Paul’s epistles, in particular, illuminate a calling far greater than individual pursuits or subjective experiences. They reveal God’s eternal purpose in Christ and the glorious vocation of the Body of Christ, which extends into the ages to come. Walking worthy of this calling requires us to align with God’s will as revealed in His Word—not according to our imaginations or personal definitions but according to His purpose for His Son and His Church.

To walk worthy, we must first understand what we have been called to. Paul makes it clear that this calling is not about fulfilling a vague or mystical idea of God’s will. Instead, the will of God is an objective truth revealed in Scripture, centered in Christ. Ephesians 1:9 declares that God has made known the mystery of His will—a purpose set before the foundation of the world and destined for fulfillment in the ages to come when Christ will fill all things. Our role in this plan is not about personal ambition or subjective experiences but about fulfilling our collective vocation as the Body of Christ.

Unfortunately, religion often distorts this truth. Terms like "the will of God" and "the calling of God" are frequently misused, stripped of their biblical context, and reduced to personal quests or emotional experiences. Believers are urged to seek God’s will in signs, feelings, or circumstances while neglecting the clear and objective revelation of His will in Scripture. This misunderstanding leads many to engage in religious activities and rituals that have no foundation in God’s eternal purpose, creating a form of paganism rooted in human superstition rather than biblical truth.

He who delights in the Word of the Lord shall be blessed in all of his ways

He who delights in the Word of the Lord shall be blessed in all of his ways

Paul's 9-church epistles make up our grace curriculum which lays a foundation and then increases the grace believer, who commits to studying the curriculum, in knowledge, in spiritual growth, and in faith. I have been studying and writing a lot of material concerning this topic for bible study messages, for blog posts, and for YouTube videos, but the other day I came across this Maranatha song that inspired me tremendously in my labour in the word of God. This post is simply to share this song with you. 

Take a moment of time to get quiet and let this song just utterly bless your socks off. The words are so perfect for what I am studying, and I hope it will bless you as much as it did me.

God bless.

Click the link below for the song on YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vNYvKtEziuI

Exercising choices according to knowledge of God's word in us

Exercising choices according to knowledge of God's word in us

1Tim.2:3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; [4] Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

Many people ask daily what God's will for them is, whether it be for the day, for certain events, or for their life. God has already revealed his will in his word. He wants all men to be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth. It's really as simple as that. If you are saved, God desires that you get into his word and study it so that you can grow in knowledge of it. The word of God fills you with his Spirit (Jn.6:63) and will bring you to a deeper understanding of his will, his ways, his judgements, and his great plan of redemption for all of creation.

But what about my questions, like should I take that job, or should I marry that person, or should I invest that money? Well, as you grow in faith and mature in God's word, you will start to make your own decisions as you grow in understanding and judgement. The word of God gives you wisdom and embeds in you the reasoning and judgements of God so that you can make your own choices in the issues of life. Children need adults to reason, judge, and decide for them, but as we mature in spirit and become more like the image of Jesus Christ, like sons, we can start to make judgements and reasoning for ourselves. God wants us to grow up and he desires us to make our own choices based on our knowledge of him and his ways.

The Words and the Spirit in the written Word

The Words and the Spirit in the written Word

Rom 2:25-29  For circumcision verily profiteth, if thou keep the law: but if thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision.  (26)  Therefore if the uncircumcision keep the righteousness of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision?  (27)  And shall not uncircumcision which is by nature, if it fulfil the law, judge thee, who by the letter and circumcision dost transgress the law?  (28)  For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:  (29)  But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.

Studying the written Word is more than just reading scripture to learn about the message in the words themselves. Yes, there is important truth in the message delivered by the words, but one should also learn and partake of the spirit of God in the passage, which is found behind the words.

Let’s have a look at the above passage and, as an example, extract a basic learning and understanding from the words in the passage, but also learn something about God’s character and will from the spirit behind the words.

If our future is determined for us by God, then how do we have free will like the Bible says?

If our future is determined for us by God, then how do we have free will like the Bible says?

QUESTION:

If our future is determined for us by God, then how do we have free will like the Bible says?

ANSWER:

Isaiah confirms the following,

Isa 46:10 Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:

This scripture tells us that God has planned and determined the beginning and the end of everything in existence. It tells us that God is outside of the realm of time which He has created. This means that God is omnipresent and can be present in the beginning of time as well as at the end of time, or anywhere in between, simultaneously. In addition, God is omniscient and is not limited in knowledge, knowing the end from the beginning, knowing how all things work out and align up, as these verses prove,

Heb 4:13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do. 

1Jn 3:20 For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. 

With this in mind, let's get back to the details of the question, “Is our future really determined for us by God?”

Can man's free will control or affect the eternal plan of God?

Can man's free will control or affect the eternal plan of God?

QUESTION:

Does our free will in this temporary earth have control over God’s eternal purpose or will?

ANSWER:

From God’s point of view, his eternal purpose is set. Nothing will ever be able to change the outcome of God’s plan because the Word says, “for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name”, Ps 138:2, and, “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.”, Mat 24:35. Thus, God’s word is settled, and from its pages we know that at the end of God’s plan there is a new heaven and a new earth, and we know there is an eternal lake of fire. The plan ends with two final outcomes, salvation and restoration or wrath and destruction. 

God’s greatest desires for us

God’s greatest desires for us

If one removes all preconceived notions of Christianity, all religious traditions, all ordinances, and all rituals, the essence of one's faith would be reduced to what God truly desires from us; to believe in Him, and to learn of Him. How can we know this? Well, the Word of God tells us,

1Ti 2:4  Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

The bare essential of this scripture is like two other passages where God reveals the simplicity of His love and desire for us.

In Isa 1:11-14, God expresses that He is not interested in sacrifices of animals or blood offerings. He questions why the people feel the need to worship Him in this way and states that these ceremonies hold no meaning for Him. Additionally, God expresses His dislike for assemblies, festivals, and holidays, finding them burdensome and tiresome. All God wanted is the hearts of His people to believe in Him, turn from their evil ways, find His heart, and love Him.

Redeeming the time on things of eternal value

Redeeming the time on things of eternal value

Do you realize that the vast majority of what happens in time is irrelevant. If it has nothing to do with God’s Son and living by His Word, it counts very little in the utter vastness of eternity. This small vapour of a life we have in this body is NOTHING compared to the eternity we will spend in one of two places. If you believe in Jesus Christ and His cross work, then you are called to an eternal, heavenly vocation, Eph 4:1, and you should be giving serious consideration to that life and purpose in the ages to come, which is being affected by what we do today. Read 1Co 3:10-15 for some details.

In the Book of Ecclesiastes Solomon says,

Ecc 2:11 Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun.

Christian Living in Lockdown

Christian Living in Lockdown

See video of this article here.

The Big Picture (TBP) is all about understanding God's 'segmented' PLAN of redemption. It's about understanding how God has revealed Himself in the different stages of this PLAN, and what He expects of the people living in these stages of His PLAN. It is therefore important for us to know where we are positioned in this PLAN in order to determine how God is working today, and what He is expecting of us today!

Q-A: Are you waiting for God's will to be revealed?

Back in the day, I can recall praying and asking God to reveal His will to me; to reveal His will in my job, to show me the way to go in my Christian walk and in my ministry. I don't doubt that God led me and guided me in His own way, and I certainly do not doubt where I am today in my relationship with Him and my family, but I have also learned over time that the options in life and the decisions you face is ultimately your will and in your control. God is not going to tell you what job to choose, or if you must marry or not. He is not going to tell you to buy a house or in what stocks to invest. He is not going to reply to those fleeces you put out or use booming billboards to answer your prayers. This is YOUR life and the decisions you make are your own, and the direction you choose is yours to make. God entrusts you with the power to choose your path, but where your path ends up will be by how much of that power you choose to entrust back to God.