Hal’s Blog

Seeing Christ for who He is!

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and today, and forever.” Hebrews 13:8

The Word of God for today is gullible. This is the mindset of a person who is easily persuaded to believe something which will lead to an ill advised course of action. It is a sense of being tricked or manipulated.

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Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.” Matthew 18:35

In the context of Christ, you have adopted a course of action or a belief system contrary to God. And, this will cause misery, destruction, and death.

Satan has been very successful in denigrating the Word of Christ. You and I have been duped by the lies of Satan.

The Word of Christ has been compromised by religion to conform to our changing culture and to make Christ more appealing to all.

Many in our society have adopted a “crowd mentality” instead of staying grounded in Christ through the Holy Spirit.

You cannot follow Christ through your emotions or the sentiments of others. Don’t make a decision because it feels good or is acceptable by a majority of others.

The Word of God cannot be modified or interpreted differently to satisfy the needs of society.

As soon as you compromise an oracle of God, you have contaminated the values of Christ. Jesus reminds us that a little yeast ruins all the dough.

At this point, nothing is sacrosanct and all is open to the influences of Satan working through the religious establishment and contemporary attitudes.

Most of society (including many believers) have agreed to accepting a watered down version of Christ.

This action has caused the worldwide pandemic and will bring other tribulations.

Christ does not change! He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. You have to accept Christ for who He is without compromise or change.

The simplicity of Christ is to walk by faith yielding to the authority of the Holy Spirit. Nothing else really matters!

 

The Word of Christ lives forever!

For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12

The Word from God today is live in My Word. I never change!

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The Word of God is alive and powerful through the efficacy of the Holy Spirit. Before you open a Bible, ask the Holy Spirit to teach you the living truths of Christ.

The Word brings to life the character of God—Christ is greatness, power, glory, victory, and majesty.

The Word of Christ is perfect.

The Word instills the values of Christ within you.

The Word is the source of the resurrected power of Christ crucified. The life of Christ lives within you.

The Word convicts you of sin and exposes your inner being.

The Word knows you better than yourself.

The Word is omniscient and knows every detail of your life.

The Word crucifies your old nature and creates a new person in Christ Jesus.

The Word gives you the mind of Christ.

The Word leads you into the world of the transfigured Christ.

Christ keeps His Word and never changes. You have to approach Him through His Word. This is your safe haven.

The Word is your nourishment for life.

The simplicity of Christ!

The Lord is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my pathway.” Psalm 119:105

The word from God today is living in the simplicity of Christ.

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Sometimes we get consumed with trying to figure out the mysteries of Christ.

Jesus is about simplicity. Ask God to be your Keeper today and preserve your going out and your coming in.

Let God be God! He has a mind of His own and will do as He pleases. All we can do today is ask for wisdom and protection and walk by faith trusting in the promises of Christ.

God wants to be a light unto your pathway today. Ask Him to go before you!

Jesus loves you. He died so you can have life and have it more abundantly!

Knowing Christ….breaking down the walls of independence!

I and the Father are one.” John 10:30

If you want to be one with Christ you must give up your independence. We were born to live for self with a preconceived belief we have the ability to be successful in life.

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The essence of Christ is centering your life on the Cross and seeking Him out for your every need. Your independence grieves the Holy Spirit and restricts you from knowing Christ.

Christ wants all of you. The moment you “let go” the Spirit of Christ merges with your personality and you become united in oneness with Christ.

The individual with the personality of Christ has one purpose; “How can I please you today?”

Don’t think about doing something for Christ. Think about living in the will of God with an open heart to obey Christ.

You will find the will of Christ by prayer with a heart of abandonment to Christ.

The priority of Christ always begins with resting in Him and walking by faith. The rest of Christ is sufficient to meet you every need. If you let Him!

 

Prejudicial thinking…an anathema to Christ!

Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of the heart.” 1 Corinthians 4:5

The word from God today is a warning about prejudicial thinking. The definition of prejudicial is an attitude of premature thinking or unfounded opinion.

 

In the context of Christ, this refers to accepting worldly influences or making judgments in life which do not reflect the heart of Christ.

We develop an opinion on a controversial subject without the full disclosure of Christ. Or, we make a superficial judgment about someone without the eyes of Christ.

In essence, we fail to inquire of God for His wisdom concerning the issues in our life. We jump to conclusions lacking the counsel of God.

The novice follower of Christ accepts whatever feels good and tends to conform to the prevailing attitudes of society.

Making emotional judgments without the full disclosure of Christ will bring troubles into your life and distance you from the heart of Christ.

The solution to avoid prejudicial thinking is to have an open mind and wait until the Lord comes with wisdom.

He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and expose evil motives and the insidious efforts of Satan.

God examines all things through the work of the Holy Spirit. He reveals light and darkness.

The Holy Spirit has given you the mind of Christ which is free from all worldly influences and the opinions of others. This allows you to judge all things through the eyes of Christ.

The spiritual person judges all things but is judged by no one. Christ gives you clarity and wisdom about life.

Wait on Christ!

The value system of a Christ follower!

“I am responsible to make you into a new creature in Christ. Your role is live in obedience to Me through the Holy Spirit.”

Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be added unto you.” Matthew 6:33

The value system of Jesus was built on obedience to God. Jesus lived in the perfect will of God. And, Jesus preached the most important purpose of a believer is to do unto others as you would want them to do unto you.

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You and I are human beings engineered to live for self. We can never live up to the standards of Christ.

The challenge is understanding how to live with the value system of Jesus. This can only happen by developing a loyalty and obedience to Christ.

The starting point is to make a decision by faith to accept Jesus. If you are serious about knowing the Living Christ you have to abandon yourself completely to Christ without any limitations. In essence, you agree to live for Jesus above all else.

As a new creature in Christ Jesus you are instructed to live by faith trusting God for your every need. Notice there are no rules attached to this relationship. Simply trust Christ for your every need.

Faith is a living discipline of believing in the promises of God. Your faith in Christ will instill His value system into your life. You cannot attain the values of Christ by practicing religion, abiding in laws, or doing works.

Everyone knows the basics of right from wrong. So the challenge is how you can comply with God’s moral compass.

It’s a waste of time to tell you what not to do. The spiritual approach is to learn how you can live a life pleasing to God.

Walking by faith requires you to worship Christ in Spirit and Truth. This entails prayer, meditating on scripture, and abiding in the Holy Spirit. Still no rules just some guidelines for living.

Next, God wants you to live under the authority of the Holy Spirit who dwells within you. He is the life of Christ and will teach you about the values of Jesus.

The Holy Spirit will provide you with wisdom and protection. He will fill you with the love, joy, peace, and patience of Christ. And, He will convict you of sin.

The Holy Spirit will instill the values of Christ in you through the reality of life. He will examine your motives in your thoughts, words, and decision making and guide you into the values of Christ.

The values of Christ will come to you by living in oneness with the God through the Holy Spirit. When you deviate from living under the authority of the Holy Spirit your value system will become corrupted by self interests.

This conflict can only be resolved by coming back to the authority of Christ through the Holy Spirit. There is no other way.

The Holy Spirit will embed the laws of Christ into your heart and you will be able to walk unconsciously in harmony with Christ.

Don’t try to be holy. Try to be obedient to Christ!

 

Taking Christ at His Word!

I never change! My promises come to you by faith and are everlasting!

For all the promises of God in Him are Yes and Amen” 2 Corinthians 1:20

The word from God today is supposition. This is an uncertain belief. You suppose something is true but you are uncertain.

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In the context of Christ, you accept a promise of God but then waiver with fear and doubt.

You and I hear the truth of God but it is not accepted by faith. It is an intellectual concept you hope will come true.

Or, you accept the truth by faith but the trials of life weaken your faith and you panic. Your faith disappears and you strive to find worldly solutions.

At times, the reality of your life will not line up with the promises of Christ. This happens to everyone and we tend to give up on God.

What we forget is God orchestrates the trials in life and has a perfect plan to deliver us. The plan will always come by faith and waiting on Christ.

The suppositions about Christ have to become a living truth in your heart. They have to be built on the foundation of Christ and not what you see with your eyes.

The challenge is how can you make the promises of Christ alive in your heart without wavering in unbelief.

The response is to take Christ at His Word. Submit your every need before Christ. Don’t take shortcuts or bail out on Christ because of a crisis in your life.

You can have an unequivocal faith by following the example of Christ in every detail of your life.

Man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.

God keeps His Word!

The vulnerabilities of a Christ follower!

The law of God is in his heart and none of his steps shall slide.” Psalm 37:31

The word from God today is redemption from sin comes through Christ Jesus. He is the only way you can escape the vulnerabilities of humanity and walk successfully with God.

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The Holy Spirit brought this topic to my mind along with His thoughts concerning how you and I can become dead to sin and alive to God through Christ Jesus.

You and I are very vulnerable to sin. We were born with a disposition for sin and live in a world not under the authority of Christ. And, Satan is at work to destroy all believers.

Accept you have been sold under sin. All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Your inner nature is opposed to God and wants to live for self. This is the starting point with God.

Seek God first above all else. Find your help from God who created the heavens and earth. Man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.

Acting out of your emotions will draw you away from God. Recognize your feelings of fear or doubt and cast them upon the shoulders of Christ. Stay grounded in Christ. Be anxious for nothing!

Understand the threat of sin coming through your family tree. Put on the armor of Christ to guard against the genetic disposition of sin.

Trying to control your life will cause stress and anger and distance you from God. Commit your works to Christ and let go. He controls your destiny.

You cannot appease God through laws or works. Walk by faith believing in the promises of Christ.

Don’t look for predictability in Christ. He thinks and acts differently than you.

Don’t try to control sin through self efforts. The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus will set you free from the law of sin and death. There is no other way.

The biggest fallacy in a believer is denying the power of the Holy Spirit. He lives in you and is the life of Christ. The Spirit allows you to encounter the Living Christ and live a pleasing life to God.

You cannot replace abandonment to God with a works ethic. Christ wants your loyalty above all else. He wants all of you!

Most believers try to accomplish their plans through self determination. This approach will never work with God. It is not by might nor by power but by My Spirit. Cease from your works as God did from His and enter into the rest of Christ.

Neglecting the importance of the mind of Christ will lead you astray from God. How can you answer the question “What would Christ do?” without the Holy Spirit? He wants to fill you with His thoughts. Be still and listen for the voice of God.

Understand the righteousness of God comes by faith and has nothing to do with your own efforts. The holiness of God comes from the indwelling Holy Spirit.

Do not dismiss the power of Satan. He is a work to destroy you. Put on the full armor of God and be alert!

God never changes! Do not allow any teaching which deviates from the Word of Christ to enter your mind or heart.

Reject all secular views of society and the attempts of religion to compromise the Word of Christ. Build your foundation on Christ alone and nothing else.

He lives so you can live!

The freedom of Christ is to be the person God created!

They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.” John 17:16

The word from God today is to accept the freedom of Christ.

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You might think you lose all your freedom living with Christ and will become encumbered under laws and works. Nothing can be further from the truth. Christ sets you free to experience an abundant life.

Here are some of the attributes of Christ for those who walk by faith living under the authority of Christ:

Delight yourself in Christ and He promises to give you the desires of your heart. His ways are perfect!

You have a freedom to rest in Christ knowing He will provide for your every need. There is no striving in those who walk with Christ.

The spiritual person has the mind of Christ through the efficacy of Holy Spirit. He provides wisdom, direction, and the ability to judge all things.

Worship Christ in Spirit and Truth without becoming entangled in laws, works, or religion.

The peace of Christ will be with you regardless of the adversities of life.

You can live in the world and enjoy the luxuries of life without becoming tarnished by evil.

You become filled with the life of Christ and develop a thirst for more of Him.

The freedom of Christ brings accountability. Christ will always point you back to the ordinary and sometimes unpleasant duties of life. He calls you to be accountable in all your actions.

Your unyielding faith in God will bring the rewards of Christ. He delights in giving you more than you ask or think.

Cast your burdens upon Christ and He will give you freedom from the worries of life and sustain you with His strength.

The Spirit filled believer is a light for Christ. This happens through the freedom and spontaneity of the Holy Spirit.

The freedom of Christ is the gift of salvation for all who come to Him by faith!

 

Finding the symmetry of Christ for today!

There is a way that seems right to a man but it leads to destruction. This is why you need the Spirit of Christ at work in your life!

Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” Matthew 7:12

This sounds kind of simple but it is impossible to do without the Spirit of Christ.

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You and I have been engineered to live for self. There is unending conflict within you between living for self and walking with God.

You will never be able to please God unless you learn to yield to the Holy Spirit. He is like a seeing eye dog guiding the blind.

The Holy Spirit checks your motives and purifies your thoughts and words. This is how you can fulfill this precious oracle of God.

Each day you and I have to make a decision to live by the Spirit of Christ or live for self. And, sometimes you have to make this decision numerous times during the course of a day.

Are you satisfying a desire of the flesh or walking with God? This is a difficult question and the answer comes from the depth of your heart and soul.

The revelation will not come to you through human wisdom or logic but by yielding to the Holy Spirit. He knows you better than you know yourself.

God wants to bless your desires and give you a rewarding day. He also wants you to be a light for Christ.

How do you create this perfect symmetry with Christ?

Commit your works each day to Christ and ask Him to fill you with His thoughts. Pray for wisdom and the order of Christ to prevail in your day.

Invite the Holy Spirit to have authority over your life and keep you on track with Christ.

These actions will allow you to be a light for Christ and treat others like you want to be treated.

The ways of Christ are perfect!