Are we truly children of God?

What’s up good people? It has been a good minute since we have touched basis. I pray you all have been doing amazing. I’ve been doing pretty fantastic (If I do say so myself).

Today I wanted to come and touch basis on how our lies destroy our liberty.

As children of the most high Jesus Christ we are to walk in truth. The word highlights how we are liars when we claim to be believers of Christ whom we can’t see, yet hate our brother whom we can see (1 John 4:20). It also states in Isaiah 63:8 “For he said, Surely they are my people, children that will not lie: so he was their Saviour”. When I read that it made me sit and think on how many times I have told a lie. Intentionally or unintentionally and I just shook my head in silence.

Think about it…how can God save us if we are not honest with him and ourselves? How can God be moved when we cry out if we are not even laying the total truth down at his feet? Wow. John 8:32 reminds us that the truth shall set us free. How can the spirit of the Lord reside with us in our lies (2 Corinthians 3:17)? Can you count the number of times you have lied intentionally or unintentionally? After you do so, think about that being the same number of times you have put yourself at risk by being outside of the liberty that we have in Christ Jesus.

How about counting the number of times you have hated your brother/sister in Christ. Maybe even your true brothers and sisters you share parents with. When we do the inner inventory we realize that we all come short of the glory of God daily. It is up to us to try to maintain the liberty he gives us in the sacrifice his life gave us. In James 1:25 it highlights the importance of us not being forgetful hearers, but doers of the work. I believe the work that this scripture is highlighting is our daily need to die to our flesh and be ye separate from the world.

What better way to do that than by being honest with ourselves and loving our neighbors? Remember, “If we say we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness we lie, and do not the truth:” (1 John 1:6). Shine your light. Tell the truth and shame the devil. Love your neighbor as you love yourself. Children of God love. We have no time for hate.

Love you, later.

Stay prayed up. Continue to overcome.

Who is Teaching You?

Hey beautiful people! Whew, do I have a word today…

This is truly just a check-in to see how you have been managing the keys to your freedoms in Christ. There are so many things that can keep us in bondage & oddly one of those things is the shepherd we choose to sit under or the teacher we choose to mentor us. Turn with me to Gal 2:4! (I like the ESV of this scripture)

This scripture highlights how there are those who pretend to be followers of Christ just to spy on true believers to take away the liberties that Christ has given them. Did you know that sitting under leadership that is tainted taints your access to the doors God has for you? See not only are there teachers, mentors and etc. pretending to be followers of Christ; their intent attached to it is devious in nature. They are doing so to intentionally keep their flocks in bondage. That makes them a danger to you! A danger to your walk! A danger to your destination! You are essentially a danger to yourself when you are unable to discern the leadership you sit under.

In James 1:25, we are reminded that we should be doers of the word and not just hearers. This is vital because it provides guidance on how to check the leadership we are under, as well as provides us with direction on how we can also check our walk as we grow in our knowledge of the word.

Having leadership that walks what they talk is important. It helps us to trust that they are feeding us from a plate they would also digest. I’m not sure about you, but for me, I won’t eat anyone’s food who won’t eat what they are serving. We need to be able to sit-down and eat together. When God provided us with the word, we were given the recipe book to success in life. The word gives us guidance on how we can secure a good meal. If your leadership is providing you food that has been prepared differently from the guidance of the word, they might not be serving you from Christ recipe book. They might need to be addressed by the elders of the church. They might need to mature in their understanding of the word. You might need to find a new teacher. But in all of these options grace should be given while still being mindful that your freedom is in the mix.

We have to test the spirit (1 John 4:1). Our leadership is not absent from that. There is a proper order in which we should go about it and it should be used appropriately because it impacts the body as a whole (Ref 1 Tim for more context). We can’t remain free if we allow ourselves to be tied up in false doctrine.

Stay prayed up. Stay vigilant. Your keys are yours to properly steward. In Christ, we are free indeed (John 8:36). You matter to him. Don’t allow just anybody to teach you falsely.

Gotta dash. I’ll talk to you soon.