My first thought, from ur original question is: God is Love. . . After reading ur article, I believe u have a spot-on belief of ‘what it means to be a Christian’!! 👍🇺🇸💞🙏✝️
You have a very good message but you leave out a very very important Person of the Triune God and that is the Holy Spirit It is this part of the Godhead that allows us and actually brings us to believe in Christ crucified Without Him it is impossible to accept Christ or be accepted We are sinful and simply incapable of accepting Jesus Christ on our own
Apologies brother. That wasn't my intention. The Holy Spirit is who makes Christ alive in and to us so of course the Spirit is there too. The main role of the Spirit is to reveal Christ. Thank you. God bless.
Christ crucified, and me along with him. Every single moment of our physical life. Pleasing God, not man. Heady stuff. I don't have a word or phrase that is the spiritual equivalent. Our only hope!
Mike, u have given us a better understanding of Who our Jesus Is, and it’s profound. My finite brain has a hard time grasping it, but I know it’s true. The scripture, “Be still, and know that I Am God” makes more sense all the time. I have a hard time holding still so He can do His work in me.❣️🍒
Thank you sister. I greatly appreciate that. I'm just started to see Him myself but I know there is so much more. In fact, we can never get to the end of Him but, I will pursue Him for the rest of my days with all my heart. I love that verse. It was one of the inspirations behind this Substack. God bless.
I agree. It’s easy to hear and believe but the practical handles or the how are always so obvious. Are you familiar with Frank Viola? A lot of his work deals with “the how” to live by the indwelling life of Christ.
Amen sister. Nothing less than full surrender. Yet, it doesn't feel like a loss because He is all things and in Him are all things, including unsearchable riches.
Simply Good News by N.T. Wright really helped me reconceive my understanding of the final heaven as a restored Creation, not some faraway place with harps and clouds. I agree with you that our duty as Christians is to do our part to usher in the Kingdom, even while recognizing we cannot do any of it without God's help, and that He will have to take us the final step over the finish line when Christ returns.
Thank you sister. I've heard about that book and I think Wright was spot on, although I didn't always think that way. It's a wonderful thing that we can give our lives here and now to Him and help to bring forth His Kingdom. We don't have to wait around until we die. He wants us, all of us, now. Praise God.
AMEN AMEN! Truly Brother Mike you just told my story but for the fact I did not grow up in a Christian household; my sister & I took ourselves to church because that’s what good people do! I was sprinkle baptized at 12 & lived my life professing to be a Christian for the next 50 yrs not knowing what the Gospel was but regular attendance in the Anglican Church I was feeling quite righteous & holy. Fast forward at 62 all the chix came home to roost & I didn’t have a church or a saving Faith. I got a Bible ( not needed in the Episcopal church we have a Book of Common Prayer- Liturgy) Well I began to read & study hours a day devouring the Bible to satiate a desire & hunger for GOD! In two years at 62 I knew I’d been Saved & I got Baptized by immersion in my non-denom assembly. Since then Christ is the LORD OF MY LIFE. I had a lot of opportunity to repent & the Sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit still transforming me growing to be a Light Bearer of Jesus. But it is not by my works that I came & are changed it’s solely that By GRACE I am Saved given the Faith in the Rock of my Salvation Christ - Messiah. Now my life has purpose to Honor & Glorify GOD by being in the Will of my KING -JESUS! I had to be broken of pride and living to store up earthly material things to realize I was truly Bankrupt spiritually and needs my Savior Jesus to Free me from Bondage to sin & the world system. I will be 76 this month GOD wiling. PRAISE the LORD HE IS GRACIOUS & JUST TO FORGIVE!
Thank you sister. I appreciate your comment. It's good to know that we are not alone. What a life it is when you truly see the Lord Jesus Christ! All you can do is give yourself to Him. What a Christ. God bless you.
My privilege and yes it gives me great hope for the lost & my own children & grandchildren. When I know GOD can quicken a heart like mine to seen my need for His Son & Him & be SAVED; I known there is HOPE BECAUSE HE LIVES!
I did an AI song on Romans 8:28 that came out pretty well about this. Feel free to listen, personally I resonate with music and lyrics that are meaningful, reason it was made mainly as well as to share with others that may get some usefulness from it :) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=banOGDaOCag
In the past, I thought Christianity was all about going to Heaven and I wasn't sure I wanted to go to heaven because the pictures I saw depicting heaven seemed like an endless church service. Not until I looked into the Bible deeper and read the Book : "Heaven" by Randy Acorn did I realize that it's going to be like a new Eden. Prophet Isaiah paints pictures of that beautiful Paradise.
I also thought God was waiting for me to do something wrong so he could punish me and he was only concerned about my soul. But in my walk with the Lord, I've felt his love and peace. It's so deep that it's hard to explain. Being a Christian to me, is about friendship with the Holy Spirit.
If this post blessed you I would be grateful if you would share it.
For that matter let’s share any and all posts that seek to glorify the Lord.
May His name be known throughout the world!
Mike, I recognize your love for our Lord Jesus Christ and your commitment to him.
Your writing style is impressive and I truly am blessed when I read your work.
Very good and true. We should know that Jesus meant what he said. All of it. Including that he is the truth.
My first thought, from ur original question is: God is Love. . . After reading ur article, I believe u have a spot-on belief of ‘what it means to be a Christian’!! 👍🇺🇸💞🙏✝️
Thank you sister. I really appreciate that. God bless.
I’m so thankful that ‘His burden is light’ in comparison to the worldly burdens that can stack up… Our work is this: to believe The One He has sent!
Me too sister. His burden is so much lighter than what the world puts on us. What a Christ! God bless.
Amen. Going to read this again!!
Thank you 🙏
I hope it blesses you.
You have a very good message but you leave out a very very important Person of the Triune God and that is the Holy Spirit It is this part of the Godhead that allows us and actually brings us to believe in Christ crucified Without Him it is impossible to accept Christ or be accepted We are sinful and simply incapable of accepting Jesus Christ on our own
Apologies brother. That wasn't my intention. The Holy Spirit is who makes Christ alive in and to us so of course the Spirit is there too. The main role of the Spirit is to reveal Christ. Thank you. God bless.
Christ crucified, and me along with him. Every single moment of our physical life. Pleasing God, not man. Heady stuff. I don't have a word or phrase that is the spiritual equivalent. Our only hope!
Amen brother. I was crucified with Christ too. What an incredible thing God did for us. God bless you.
Mike, u have given us a better understanding of Who our Jesus Is, and it’s profound. My finite brain has a hard time grasping it, but I know it’s true. The scripture, “Be still, and know that I Am God” makes more sense all the time. I have a hard time holding still so He can do His work in me.❣️🍒
Keep pursuing, Mike! Therein lies a great blessing❣️🍒
Thank you sister. I greatly appreciate that. I'm just started to see Him myself but I know there is so much more. In fact, we can never get to the end of Him but, I will pursue Him for the rest of my days with all my heart. I love that verse. It was one of the inspirations behind this Substack. God bless.
You nailed the who, what & why; my struggle is mostly with the how.
I agree. It’s easy to hear and believe but the practical handles or the how are always so obvious. Are you familiar with Frank Viola? A lot of his work deals with “the how” to live by the indwelling life of Christ.
The former MLB pitcher?
Nope, the Christian author.
Thanks…
Absolute Surrender! He says “Follow Me” ♥️🙏🏼🕊🙌🔥
Amen sister. Nothing less than full surrender. Yet, it doesn't feel like a loss because He is all things and in Him are all things, including unsearchable riches.
The "how" is to be found in Romans chapters 6-8. Cap it off with Galatians 5:16-18.
I would say these passages are the foundation for the how; the actual how consists of specific actions that we must take every day.
Amen brother Keith. I agree. Thank you and God bless.
I agree with this completely
Simply Good News by N.T. Wright really helped me reconceive my understanding of the final heaven as a restored Creation, not some faraway place with harps and clouds. I agree with you that our duty as Christians is to do our part to usher in the Kingdom, even while recognizing we cannot do any of it without God's help, and that He will have to take us the final step over the finish line when Christ returns.
Thank you sister. I've heard about that book and I think Wright was spot on, although I didn't always think that way. It's a wonderful thing that we can give our lives here and now to Him and help to bring forth His Kingdom. We don't have to wait around until we die. He wants us, all of us, now. Praise God.
Mike, are you a Calvinist/Reformed person?
Nope.
AMEN AMEN! Truly Brother Mike you just told my story but for the fact I did not grow up in a Christian household; my sister & I took ourselves to church because that’s what good people do! I was sprinkle baptized at 12 & lived my life professing to be a Christian for the next 50 yrs not knowing what the Gospel was but regular attendance in the Anglican Church I was feeling quite righteous & holy. Fast forward at 62 all the chix came home to roost & I didn’t have a church or a saving Faith. I got a Bible ( not needed in the Episcopal church we have a Book of Common Prayer- Liturgy) Well I began to read & study hours a day devouring the Bible to satiate a desire & hunger for GOD! In two years at 62 I knew I’d been Saved & I got Baptized by immersion in my non-denom assembly. Since then Christ is the LORD OF MY LIFE. I had a lot of opportunity to repent & the Sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit still transforming me growing to be a Light Bearer of Jesus. But it is not by my works that I came & are changed it’s solely that By GRACE I am Saved given the Faith in the Rock of my Salvation Christ - Messiah. Now my life has purpose to Honor & Glorify GOD by being in the Will of my KING -JESUS! I had to be broken of pride and living to store up earthly material things to realize I was truly Bankrupt spiritually and needs my Savior Jesus to Free me from Bondage to sin & the world system. I will be 76 this month GOD wiling. PRAISE the LORD HE IS GRACIOUS & JUST TO FORGIVE!
Amen 🙏🏼🕊🙌🔥 Worthy is the LAMB❣️
🛡🙏🏼🗡🕊📖
Thank you sister. I appreciate your comment. It's good to know that we are not alone. What a life it is when you truly see the Lord Jesus Christ! All you can do is give yourself to Him. What a Christ. God bless you.
Thank you for sharing your HIStory. It gives me great hope for others!!
Thank you sister. I'm so glad to hear that.
My privilege and yes it gives me great hope for the lost & my own children & grandchildren. When I know GOD can quicken a heart like mine to seen my need for His Son & Him & be SAVED; I known there is HOPE BECAUSE HE LIVES!
I Never give up praying for anyone!
🙏🏼🕊🙌🔥
I did an AI song on Romans 8:28 that came out pretty well about this. Feel free to listen, personally I resonate with music and lyrics that are meaningful, reason it was made mainly as well as to share with others that may get some usefulness from it :) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=banOGDaOCag
Thank you for sharing that brother.
Beautiful! Are you doing the Vocals? Nice very nice! Praise the LORD! It’s a beautiful thing to Glorify GOD! ♥️🙏🏼🕊🙌🔥
No just the lyrics on these. I did other verses to songs here: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4e49SQC29BxDZgjRT5pnqy?si=ke0lS1kBQPmJnas5_xS2dA This is my way to praise the Lord!
Awesome! 😇To GOD be the Glory! I love to do the singing part myself.
In the past, I thought Christianity was all about going to Heaven and I wasn't sure I wanted to go to heaven because the pictures I saw depicting heaven seemed like an endless church service. Not until I looked into the Bible deeper and read the Book : "Heaven" by Randy Acorn did I realize that it's going to be like a new Eden. Prophet Isaiah paints pictures of that beautiful Paradise.
I also thought God was waiting for me to do something wrong so he could punish me and he was only concerned about my soul. But in my walk with the Lord, I've felt his love and peace. It's so deep that it's hard to explain. Being a Christian to me, is about friendship with the Holy Spirit.
Red Letter Words of Christ His prayer just hours before His arrest in Gesthemane🙌🕊
John 17:2 As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.
🕊John 17:3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
John 17:4 I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.
*Randy Alcorn