NMB Day 9

Honestly, this is probably the most important entry I’ve ever written on my blog.  Even if you fully agree with everything I’m saying, (and even if you don’t)  please read through every point!  It’s life changing!

I woke up in time for Discipleship with my Bible Study leader, Marcis Davidson.  We went to the beach together to try and share Jesus with some people, but the only people we had the chance to talk to either were busy or already believed.  I was encouraged when one woman we talked to not only shared that she believed in Jesus, but that she also understood how to become saved.

Most people simply say we have to “believe” and that’s it.  They usually leave out that we are wretched sinners and it takes God’s grace in conjunction with our acceptance of that grace in order for us to be moved into right standing with God.  They don’t understand the four main points of starting to follow Jesus:

1.  God loves us!  We are his creation, his children!  how could he NOT love us!?!  Because of this love, he also has a plan for us, like any parent has for their children.  But because he loves us so much, he will not force us into that plan, he wants us to understand that it’s a perfect plan, and accept it on our own.

2.  We are sinful.  We all know this!  Have you ever lied?  I sure hope you answered “yes” to that question, because if you didn’t I’m sure that you’ve just told another lie.  Have you ever stolen something?  Ever lusted?  Ever murdered (hated) someone?  Ever coveted something that belongs to another?  Ever dis-honored your parents?  Ever put God any lower than first in your life?  If the answer is “yes” to ANY of these questions, you are not worthy to get into heaven.  God ONLY accepts those who are blameless… unfortunately, I have answered yes to many of these questions.  I am in the same boat as you!  No possible action I can do will let me get into heaven.  I may live the REST of my life perfectly… but it’s already too late.  Thank God for the next point!

3.  God’s response.  He responds to our sinfulness.  He sent Jesus to take our sin.  The question remains, “why did Jesus have to DIE?”  Couldn’t he have just done 1,000 push-ups or something to burn off the sin?  The answer lies in Romans 6:23:  ’For the wages of sin is death.’  DEATH!!! The punishment for having sin in your life is to die, be separated from God forever!  Instead of making us die because of our sin, he sent Jesus to take that punishment of death.  Jesus dying was (and is) the ONLY way that we could possibly be forgiven of our sins and have hope to spend eternity with God!  Unfortunately, many people KNOW these truths.  They understand that Jesus came to die for us and to save us… the sad part is that so many people stop there.  They don’t move on to the fourth point.

4.  Our response.  We must RECEIVE Christ through faith.  Ephesians 2:8-9 ‘For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith- and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God- not by works, so that no one may boast.’  this means that although it is necessary for us to accept the gift… it’s God who saves us.  We aren’t saving ourselves.  What does it mean to actually receive Christ?  It is us choosing to disown our sinful nature and live for God’s purpose.  By accepting Jesus, we are giving our lives over to his purpose.  Many people are holding on to things.  They say “God, I’ll follow you BUT I still want to be able to go out and party on the weekends.” or “BUT I want to go to a specific college” or “BUT I wanted to do something specific with my life!”  These need to be dedicated to God!  He has a perfect plan and will use you where you’re most beneficial!  Submit to his plan!  Take yourself off the throne of your life and put Jesus in your place!  He’s the only one who loves you enough to truly do what’s best for you in your life!

…but the lady we talked to understood this, and that was encouraging!

Continuing on with discipleship with Marcis… We discussed what it meant to be filled with the spirit and how the Bible sometimes equated being filled with the spirit as being drunk.  It sounds really weird, but a study by Rick James clarified it very well.  Someone who is intoxicated may not be able to use discretion in what they say… in the same way, someone who is filled with the Holy Spirit may not be able to help proclaiming the name of Jesus and what he can do in our lives!  The article listed several ways to stay available and sensing of the spirit.  These include continually submitting our lives to God’s will, not just small bits and pieces of it, Confessing our sin the very instant we recognize it as sin, Relying on God throughout the tough and easy times in our lives, and cultivating our hearts with praise, thanksgiving, and spiritual songs.

We discussed the idea of “Spiritual Breathing” which I had never really heard before.  It’s all about “breathing out” by confessing sins and repenting from our sinful ways, then “breathing in” by surrendering my life to Christ again and relying on him to continually forgive me, give me grace, and lead me.

Thank God for the sweet worship tonight with the new band!  I’m excited for worship every week now!

Pray that I may continue being thirsty for God and that I can learn to fully rely on him and walk in the spirit!

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