transformation – Steps 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions

Following Jesus [And Staying] On the Path of Righteousness

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13)

I thought about individuals who are in the military; their discipline and self-control, but most importantly, their desire to obey their superiors, and the punitive Rules of Conduct and War.

In the United States, we no longer draft individuals for military service; they willingly enlist. Even though their choice to become soldiers may result in severe injury or death, they never lose their desire to serve their country.

Question: If humans can use their mental strength to willingly obey other humans and pledge allegiance to a country, then why is it so difficult for Christian believers to faithfully surrender and obey God, who is the Source of Life?

Answer: People who enlist in the military possess a strong desire to become soldiers, which includes non-negotiable obedience. Consider this: Maybe we did not understand God’s requirements for Total Surrender and Faithful Obedience when we accepted Christ as our personal Savior.

Disobedience to God resulted in Adam and Eve losing everything perfect, and the Israelites, whom God emancipated from Egyptian bondage, journeyed in the wilderness for forty years; Canaan was only an eleven-day journey from Egypt.

At the end of Joshua’s life, he addressed the nation of Israel with a challenge: “Serve the Lord! And if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve.” ( Joshua 24:14-15).

Matthew 22:37-39: “Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.'”

Genuine love is the driving force that motivates us to worship God with heartfelt loyalty. Because of our love and appreciation for God, the Father’s Gift of Jesus Christ, it is not a burden for us to worship God through a sacrificial life of self-denial, expressed by humility, surrender, and faithful obedience.

No Room for Disloyalty: “Why do you call me Lord Lord and not do as I say?” (Luke 6:46). Our love relationship with Christ is All or Nothing. There is no middle-of-the-road, compromised version of Christianity that allows us to disobey God.

The Deceptor: One of Satan’s most powerful deceptions is, “we can live as we please…” He told Eve, “You will not, surely die.” Yet, the consequences did include death; not only did they lose immortality, but Cain killed Abel, his brother, and every human being is born with a heart filled with selfishness and the desire to disobey God.

The Powerful Deception: We make the assumption that we can follow our thoughts and pursuits and still inherit Eternal Life, but Satan knows [from personal experience, he is the fallen angel, Lucifer] that disobedience to God separates us from God.

We were bought at a price; Jesus’ Sacrificial Offering of His life on Calvary’s Cross redeemed us from the only possible outcome of sin, and that is death (Romans 6:23).

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5).

The Believer’s Life Journey consists of following Jesus Christ, our Shepherd. To stay on the Narrow Path of Righteousness, we must be led moment by moment by the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Our Spiritual Journey is comparable to the life of an enlisted soldier. We pray, wait for God’s instructions, given to us through the Holy Spirit, and we obey.

Our Spiritual Instructions are in the Holy Bible: Micah 6:8; Romans 12:1-2; Galatians 5:22-24; Matthew 22:37-39; John 15:4; and 1 Corinthians 13. These are some of the Foundational Scriptures, which every enlisted soldier in the Army of God is expected to know and obey.

Divine Intervention Empowers the Human Effort of Obedience: Through the Holy Spirit, we receive Jesus’ Divine Strength to carry out and complete our daily Spiritual Orders.

Through our obedience, the Holy Spirit guides the daily process of Spiritual growth and transformation, shaping our minds, characters, and personalities into the likeness of Christ’s Righteous Character.

We are Temporary Travelers on a Temporary Earth, who are waiting for the return of King Jesus, our Mighty Warrior and the Commander of Angel Armies. [John 14:1-3]. Yes and Amen!

Lord God, we pray for those who committed their lives to You, but have deserted You for the pursuit of earthly treasures, pleasures, and relationships with bad company. Lord, we do not judge them, because You tell us, “All have sinned and come short of Your glory.” Lord, we also pray for ourselves, asking You to cleanse us from all unrighteousness and to transform our stubborn, selfish hearts into hearts that desire to follow You. We also ask for the strength to persevere and remain loyal, serving You until the end. In faith, we ask this prayer in Jesus’ Righteous Name, Amen.

“How Do I Know If It My Thoughts, Or God Speaking To Me?”

“Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.” (Psalm 119:105).

“The Word of the living God is not merely written, but spoken. It is God’s voice speaking to us, just as surely as if we could hear it with our ears. If we realized this, with what awe we would open God’s Word, and with what earnestness we would search its pages.”

“How do we distinguish it [God’s Voice] from the voice of a false shepherd? God reveals His will to us in His word, the Holy Scriptures. His voice is also revealed in His providential workings…”

God’s Providence is manifested daily in our lives. The impossible situation you faced was not resolved by using your own power, with love, God intervened.

[God’s Providence]…will be recognized if we do not separate our souls from Him by walking in our own ways, doing according to our own wills, and following the promptings of an unsanctified heart…”

The Consequences of Compromise

God’s Warning: “Do not be wise in your own eyes…” (Proverbs 3:7).

Self-reliance always blocks the Holy Spirit from giving us spiritual clarity. Following our thoughts not only distorts our perception, but also prevents us from receiving God’s gifts of wisdom and discernment.

Those who live according to their thoughts will always be in a state of confusion. “…the senses become so confused that eternal things are not discerned, and the voice of Satan is so disguised that it is accepted as the Voice of God.”

Practical Ways to Recognize God’s Voice

How do we know God is speaking and directing us?

“If you know that He is righteous, you may be sure that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of him.” (1 John 2:29, ESV).

Reflect on God’s Righteous Character: He is Holy. We recognize God’s Voice because His guidance always brings glory and honor to His Holy Name.

God never blends righteousness with the worldliness of success or prosperity. Because God brings honor to himself, His blessings never exalt human beings.
God never coerces us to make immediate decisions. If we are confronted with, “this deal is only good for today, or do it now,” then we know it is not of God. Instant gratification always reveals that Satan is involved.
We know it is our thoughts if the outcome satisfies our innermost desires, or exalts us, instead of God.

“Be still, and know that I am God!” (Psalm 46:10).

Before making decisions, always pray for God’s direction. Pray and Wait! Patience is a righteous characteristic that reveals faith in God and our willingness to obey.

“Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord!” (Psalm 27:14).

Do not follow your anxious thoughts, which will only bring unwanted consequences to your life, and result in the separation of your life-sustaining relationship with Christ.

If we wait on the Lord then we can expect God to perform supernatural miracles that reveal His overwhelming Love and Sovereign Power.

From spending intentional time with Christ in personal worship, we learn to recognize God’s Voice speaking to us. The Holy Spirit conveys God’s will and plans through the Holy Scriptures and our thoughts.

“If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.” (James 4:17, NIV).

“In this verse, James gives an example of a sin of omission. When believers know the right thing to do yet fail to do it, God holds them accountable for not doing it. So, it is not only what we do that matters to God; it is also what we fail to do.”

“But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?” (Luke 6:46).

When we accept Christ as our personal Savior, our lives are not our own. With humility and surrender, we pray, ask, and acquiesce to God’s perfect plans for our lives.

Our prayers should always focus on asking God what we need to do to have a closer relationship with Jesus Christ. Placing ourselves in alignment with God requires total obedience to His will and plans.

We are living in the last days of Earth’s history, our priorities must align with God’s priorities of receiving daily spiritual growth, character transformation, and godly wisdom.

“Pray continuously.” (1 Thessalonians 5:17). Everyday pray, ask God to search your heart, and reveal anything that would prevent you from hearing His Voice.

The Holy Spirit guides us in our daily decisions, and keeps us on the Path of Righteousness when we consecrate ourselves to serve God through surrender and faithful obedience.

“The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, ‘Samuel! Samuel!’ Then Samuel said, ‘Speak, for your servant is listening.’ “(1 Samuel 3:10).

Bible Study: 1 Samuel 3

Lord God, teach us how to recognize Your Voice. We ask for the blessings of spiritual wisdom, discernment, and the strength to do Your will. In faith, we ask this prayer in the Worthy Name of Jesus, Amen.

The Potter and the Clay

But now, O Lord you are our Father, we are the clay, and you our Potter; And all of us are the work of your hand. Isaiah 64:8

Timothy constantly sought Paul’s advice and instruction. He exercised consideration and calm thought, inquiring at every step, Is this the way of the Lord? The Holy Spirit found in him one who could be molded and fashioned as a temple for the indwelling of the divine Presence. TT 109.1

The question is, Are we surrendering to the power of the Holy Spirit and allowing Jesus Christ to transform our character? God is not intrusive. He does not force us to change into His image. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come into him and dine with him, and he with me. Revelation 3:20

Prayer: God, we desire to be molded in the Character of Christ. We pray for forgiveness of our sins. We ask to be molded in your hands. As we prepare for your soon coming, we pray for guidance in every aspect of our lives. In the powerful name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.