The Word of God is the absolute Truth, or it is not.  People either believe that the entire body of scripture is God breathed or they believe it is a collection of writings by man. Christians are to be unashamed as they proclaim the good news. As students of His Word we are approved as we handle the Word of Truth. Our Father does not approve of those who mishandle, or misrepresent His Word. Christians are to know what they believe, and why they walk in obedience.  God set us apart to not be like the world.  Based on the Word of God, we are to forgive quickly, listen intently and offer grace  We either trust God at His Word, or we do not. Saying “I am a Christian” means that you have been supernaturally reborn, and that who you WERE…no longer lives. Dead to our sinful nature, we take on the Christ-in-me nature, and by our daily surrender, we ask “Lord what would You have me do today? Help me, guide me, that I may obey and be a blessing today.” When we ask to receive, we do, and we can walk confidently “in the Spirit”. If a person says that they believe in the Word of God, but they do not ask to be led in His ways, is that enough to secure their eternity in heaven?  According to the brother of Jesus; “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” James 1:22  Hmmm, it does seem that it is NOT enough to simply believe God’s Word, we must forgive others, issue mercy, and love our enemies. While we live “in Him” and He is “in us” our God has a mission to accomplish through us.  His plan and His purpose on earth will frustrate the mind of man, but in the end,  His thoughts and ways are above ours.  We are to look intently into the perfect law and claim our freedom “in Him”, not for ourselves, but for His namesake, because we have been chosen to be His ambassadors. Everybody wants to be known and be accepted for who they are. Well, God’s Word says that He knew us before we were born. When folks hear the salvation message and reject it, they are missing the blessing of being known from the inside out by the One who created them.  A person’s choice to reject God, does not dilute or change the Truth, but it does change their eternal destiny. People begin their Christian life ‘in the Spirit’ as our spirit is quickened to embrace the Truth. “For the Word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow: it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12-13. There is a difference between soul and spirit. While the truth slices between the activity and the affections of the soul, the Truth is the Spirit acting in us to convict us. Truth penetrates deep into our mind as it sharply separates us from our ways and leads us into His ways. The Holy Spirit judges what we hold in our minds, and also the silent attitudes of our hearts; pride, self-sufficiency, arrogance, and the costly resistance to surrender all to God.  Who knows our thoughts better than we do? Who knows the mind of God? God’s wisdom is revealed by the Holy Spirit alone!   “However, as it is written: “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived” the things God has prepared for those who love Him— these are the things God has revealed to us by His Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who knows a person’s thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.” 1 Corinthians 2:10-16  A person who has not accepted Jesus as Lord, cannot know God or understand spiritual matters in his unregenerated state of mind.  Guess what? Neither can the born again person! None of us can discern spiritual matters with our intellect, with our mind, or through our acquired knowledge. Spiritual matters can only be discerned through the Spirit of God. That is why the educated, scripture savvy Paul wrote:  “For me to live is Christ, to die is gain.” Believing the Word of God means that we surrender our thoughts, our ways, our souls to Him so that He can direct our path. “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.” Galatians 2:20  People are bewildered about how they can stay faithful to the Spirit within? “Even when we are unfaithful, God is faithful.”  We attend Bible studies and we learn that we are to love our enemies, be patient, be kind etc. With each new commitment to be as good as we can, when we stumble, mess up, or get out of step with the Spirit, we must accept His mercy and not doubt that the Holy Spirit is continually working in us, to change our thoughts, ways, and actions to reflect more of the Christ-nature in us. We experience the underserved grace of God as we simply RECEIVE and WALK in the VICTORY that God has so graciously provided.  As we “walk this way”, we are being sanctified, purified and made holy as He is Holy.  When we consciously crucify our preferences, our ways….THEN, more of His love, His patience, and His kindness is released through us to others. Have you ever been around someone who just oozes the Spirit of God? They are highly attractive to our spirit and we just want to be in their presence, because it is His love, His wisdom, His kindness we are receiving through them. “The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” Philippians 1:21. Our sinful nature was inherited from the first Adam and it cannot be dressed up, refined, tamed, trained or even transformed. Our sinful-selfish-nature was buried in our baptism. It is impossible, on our own to change ourselves to be more like Jesus. “For nothing good lives in my sinful nature.” We can only surrender ourselves so that He can change us.  The miraculous truth is: “For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ.” Colossians 3:3.  Upon His last breath on the cross Jesus cried out “it is finished”.  At that moment, our salvation was purchased and the power of sin was defeated. Jesus provided all that we need to live a victorious life “in Him” and through Him. Our job is to ACCEPT the truth that Jesus finished the work He came to do.  Because the sinful nature was crucified through the work on the cross, His Life is now free to rule and reign in us. We must simply BELIEVE the TRUTH and RECEIVE the TRUTH. Why would anyone listen in fear and trembling to a defeated liar? It is wise to know that the enemy of our souls is out to destroy us, he accuses us night and day. The Truth sets us free as our Advocate Jesus intervenes and prays for us.  Satan is the devil and God is God, and we have been chosen, sanctified and given new life “in Him” so that we can speak with authority and know that the devil flees!  Through our baptism God says; “For in baptism you see how your old, evil nature died with Him and was buried with Him; and then you came up out of death with Him into a new life.” Colossians 2:12  Let us be wise and not foolish, and choose to believe the absolute Truth. “How foolish! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies.” 1 Corinthians 15:36  Our selfish, devilish nature is indeed far inferior to the Christ-nature.  Know this with certainty; because we believers have the Christ-nature in us, the devil is inferior to us!  AMEN! The truth is that Jesus disarmed the power and authority of Satan over death. There are many Christians who fight a battle that has already been won! Jesus said “it is finished” and it is up to us to BELIEVE what He says. Praise You Lord Jesus for the victory we have in Christ. “For God took the sinless Christ and poured into Him our sins. Then, in exchange, He poured God’s goodness into us. God in His goodness, fives to us an entirely new disposition, a new nature, the nature of Christ.” 11 Corinthians 5:21 TLB — Remember what Jesus said about John the Baptist, an unpolished man who ate bugs and wore camel hair.  John never performed a miracle, but he consistently pointed to Jesus. Above Moses, Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Daniel, Jesus uplifts John: “Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.” Matt 11:11 – When those who had been following John the Baptist warned John that people were now following Jesus, humbly John replied. “The friend who attends the Bridegroom waits and listens for Him, and is full of joy when he hears the Bridegroom’s voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete. He must become greater; I must become less….For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit.  The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in His hands. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life.” John chapter 3  PRAYER: Oh Father God, thank You for the truth and the power of Your Word. I praise You for the victory that is mine by simply believing and receiving what the Word says is true for me. Forgive me when I hinder my availability for service by listening to the lies of Satan. This day I choose to walk in the truth and trust that the Holy Spirit will never leave me, and that He will finish the work that You intend. I have chosen Jesus as my Master and I gladly surrender so that He can operate in me that I may bring honor to the only One who deserves all GLORY!   Lord increase my faith as I gladly  become less and less, that people will recognize His light in me. “Victory over the flesh is NOT something to be attained, however, it is something marvelous to receive.” Ian Thomas 

A short summary of the New Testament is available in a book on Amazon entitled “Behind the Curtain”. Each page points you to Jesus and His love and plan for you.  A sample: PHILLIPIANS  The New Testament was condensed to 100 pages so that people are NOT overwhelmed by the length of the Bible.  Jonah    It is just enough to taste and see that the Lord is good, and that He loves us like no man can. What is Behind the Curtain, what is God’s message to you? Investigate with a tiny peek at what God has in store for those who BELIEVE.  May this one hour read entice you to read more, and dig a little deeper into God’s Word. AMEN