Living In Christ

Religion

The general idea of religion is to have a Master possess you which would obviously be seen as gods or goddesses. There are thousands of religions in the world today that individuals have chosen to serve their Master under. Religions are found in a family, a tribe, in regions, etc which they come together in unity to worship the god they chose to serve either secretly or publicly.

The most largest religions in the world would include; Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, Christianity and Atheism. Animism would fall into this category, but I have a feel that it is dying out as Christianity is reaching out into the places that have practiced animistic worship. For instance, Papua New Guinea. Cargo Cult is also seen a wide spread religion globally but minority group of people still practicing it. Out of the major religions Christianity is the largest religion in the world today. Christian religions in the world yet knowing the truth, but they practice worships outside of the (Bible) book that the faith is founded on. Therefore, not all Christian denominations are Bible oriented faith builders but distinct doctrines in their denominations base their faith on the doctrines as a path leading to the eternal destiny.

Other religions are contrary to Christianity and don't believe in the Bible. However, I wish to challenge the Christians, what really does Christianity means? Is it just a religion? Christianity and or Christian is a word derived from Christ. Therefore, Christianity would definitely mean "Christlike" living like Christ lived. Jesus lived without compromising with the world, but He displayed a humble and loving character. Jesus loved everyone regardless of their status, nationality, culture and race. One significant and unique status Christ had "He hated Sin" He refrained from sin although He was tempted. (Mathew 4:1-11). Jesus taught and preached on heart purity, "Happy are those who are pure in heart, they shall see the Lord" Matt. 5:8.

Christianity is a live lived in Christ. It is a live radically abstaining self from what the Bible commands not to do. Living a renewed life that is transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit. Apostle Paul, a chosen servant of God has urged us to live our lives as Christ lived. Romans 12: 1-2, "Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. ² Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will".
I get challenged about how people desperately disobey the scripture and claim themselves Christians. I personally do that myself too, but my hearts desire has been to yield my life to Christ and live obediently unto God. I don't want to willfully disobey God this time but yield myself to God by drawing closer to Him and set my desires and wishes on things that are above. King David's prayer is my prayer today "search me or Lord and try me, see if there is any wicked ways, thoughts and desires in me and blot them all out and lead me to the light and lead me in the paths of righteousness". Romans 12:1&2 is my scripture now. I believe this is what God wants from us all as Christians, and this is living in Christ. We ought to live a life that is radically changed from our past, its not religion but Christ!
Some people do define the word "BIBLE" as Basic Information Before Leaving Earth" and I love that. This a wonderful way of defining it but people still don't understand it. One specific example that people don't take the Bible as a standard information to live the life Christ lived and God wants us to live is modesty; but this has been seen in confusion or deliberately disobeying the scripture. The Bible says, men shall not wear women's clothes and women shall not do likewise. Let's get things in order and live according to the Book of Basic Information.
To sum up, I believe all that said depends on your personal relationship with Jesus Christ. This brings down to " Heart Purity" changed in the heart and doing the things correctly what the Bible teaches.

Christianity is serving Christ as brothers in arms.                           

This picture was taken in our College Chapel, Spring 2011, Mid Winter Revival. Rev. Timothy Keep was the preacher. Rev. Keep was a Missionary to the Philippines for (13) thirteen years. He preached on Beseting Sin found in Hebrews 12: 1. Many of the students found help from the

 Holy Spirit in this revival meeting. This was an amazing revival service, a man of God who lowely speaks and speaks right on points according to the scriptures.   

In this picture (far top) is my buddy (Josh Atkinson) and I. These two other (bottom) Christian brothers in Christ are Ben Agu  and Daniel Kilgore from New York. Friends are friends for ever so long as we are bonded together by the blood of the Lamb. Many of us got help from this Mid-Winter Revival. God's been working greatly in the hearts of the College Students, including Staff and Faculty. The last message on Friday Morning was on conditioning our spiritual walk with God. In addition he connected the sermon with Fasting. Fasting is a way of conditioning our lives towards spiritual aspects. In his experience, people outside USA fast and pray. Pastors fast and pray over the sermon but people in the States do "Dieting".  Dieting is for physical conditioning and 'Fasting' is to get connected with God.

iLife that is surrendered to Christ is the sweetest life ever. There will be needs, problems and struggles in life but the good news is that you are in the hands of the Almighty God. HE cares for you. Amen! Some times we fail God but God still loves us and forgives us of our sins when we take them under the feet of Jesus Christ. The Bible says, The Spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.Matt. 26:41. We fail God because of our weakness of praying. Jesus spoke to HIS disciples to watch and pray with HIM so that they may not enter into temptations. Prayer is the power to give us strength in our weakness. When we keep up with our prayers and submit ourselves to God everyday we sense the presence of God in our lives. When the presence of God is felt in our hearts, minds and souls life in Christ becomes sweeter. If we are not keeping up with our prayers we will become lukewarm as the Bible says in Revelation 3:16. The Spirit truely is willing but the flesh is weak. LORD help me in this area so I maintain my prayer life and Bible reading, otherwise I will be spued out in the last days.