Life in Christ

His Purpose

Dr. Mike Life in Christ
“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28 ESV

purpose 1

When I initially read this scripture, my emphasis was always placed on the first part. All things work for good. Now when I read this, I fully accept both sides. That all things work for good with those who are called to HIS purpose.

The emphasis is HIS purpose. Not your goals, dreams, or desires. Not my plans, projects, or preferences. But HIS.

How do you know something is HIS purpose and not just yours? A good question without a simple answer.

Most often before we even consider something new, don’t we seek confirmation from HIM? How HE and you communicate with each other though is a personal matter. But when you finally receive an answer, you can pursue confidently that HE has your back because you have aligned yourself with HIM.

If you are still unsure, than pray that HE either opens doors for you with favor or closes all the doors shut. Either way can be your confirmation. As you ask HIM and seek an answer, keep knocking on the doors that are presented to you. If they open with very little effort on your part, than you know something is happening outside your influence. Most the time it is HIM assuring you HE is with you.

When you know the dream you have is from HIM . When you know it is a part of HIS purpose. You will have the assurance and faith to pursue with HIM as your confident and mentor.

For most of us, HIS purpose is simply walking with HIM each day in humility and awesome respect, loving our mates, parenting our children, mutually submitting to each other, sharing our testimony, and living-out HIS word via HIS Spirit in exercising HIS gifts bestowed on us for the sake of others.

Over the years I have seen this mind-set and above scripture come alive in the lives of others and myself. The emphasis though is to know HIS purpose in your life. When you lose yourself in HIM, HE will lead you.

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Executive Director & Founder
Marketplace Bible Institute
& Resource Center, Inc
Author of e-Books:
 *  Great Business Emulates a Good God
 *  Be Radical…Follow Christ!
 *  Simply The Messenger
 *  Unequally Married

Encourage your Friends…Share Today’s Message!

Spiritual Stupor

Dr. Mike Life in Christ ,
“…as it is written, “God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that would not see and ears that would not hear, down to this very day.” Romans 11:8 ESV

 stupor3

Last week, an unwanted virus found itself into my body. I didn’t choose it. I had no desire to share in its response. It simply found its way into my metabolism and began to wreck havoc.

Fever, coughs, nose drippings, ear clogs, tight breathing, and a mental fog are a few of the symptoms that blinded me during the week. There were times I wondered if this is how it feels to be like the living dead.

Over the next 10 days, the fever disappeared and the other unwanted hosts slowly were replaced by their healthy opponents. For a person who rarely gets sick (me),good health is taken for granted. When one loses it, one is quickly challenged too restore functionality under normal conditions. Life during this period was like walking through a dense fog with dark eyeglasses and no sound.

Isn’t that the condition of some people we meet during the day? They look with their eyes but don’t see. They listen with their ears but don’t hear. They cough words without logical meaning. They have caught the virus of this world and have accepted their condition as normal.

They have not yet experience the with-God life. They have no knowledge-base to compare living in a spiritual stupor against the with-God life. If they did, they would move heaven and earth at whatever price to restore its functionality. Until one realizes they have a problem, they will never search for a solution.

Jesus came to save the sick(Mark 2:17). I for one am thankful, grateful, and worshipful. How about you?

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Executive Director & Founder
Marketplace Bible Institute
& Resource Center, Inc
Author of e-Books:
 *  Great Business Emulates a Good God
 *  Be Radical…Follow Christ!
 *  Simply The Messenger
 *  Unequally Married

Encourage your Friends…Share Today’s Message!

Overcomer

Dr. Mike Life in Christ , ,
“They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption. For whatever overcomes a person, to that he is enslaved.” 2 Peter 2:19 ESV

 overcomer 2

Want to know how free you are as a person? Ask yourself, what enslaves you?

Are you a slave to your hunger? Do you have a constant appetite for sweets, salt, or chocolate? Are you enslaved by your thirst for beer, wine, or a strong alcoholic drink?

Are you a slave to your hobby? work? or family? Maybe you are enslaved by the culture around you? Or your government, employer, or client? Or are you simply a slave to either money, power, status, or fame?

The fact is before becoming a heir with Jesus Christ, we were all slaves to our emotional plugs. Sin reign in us without us even choosing to follow it. Yet, because Christ lived a free life for you and I, we now enjoy the same heavenly perks He manifested throughout His life. By submitting ourselves to the righteousness of Jesus Christ, we are given the freedom from all the addictions thrown our way.

It is not easy, but it is simple. As we abide in Christ, the Holy Spirit disarms the old man and allows the new man ample room to grow. By abiding in Christ our boundaries are eternally established and serve as a defensive shield. By obediently living in Christ, the Spirit breaks down the spiritual strongholds that unleashes the true you.As a branch feeds itself from the vine, so do we. As long as we continue to abide in Him, we begin to experience real freedom built on eternal values.

Unlike the world that teaches oneself to indulged yourself and pick-up yourself by the bootstraps, we deny ourselves. We overcome because He who lives in us has already overcome the world (Jn. 16:33) and His strength manifests itself in our lives. We overcome because we choose to follow Him. We overcome because our heart, mind, and soul is totally trustful in Him. We overcome because He does the work as we respond to His Will. We overcome not because of our character development, self-discipline, or sacrificial effort. Instead we acknowledge Jesus Christ lives in us, strengthens us, and creates within us His attributes. So that at the end of day, He receives the glory as we harvest the benefit. That is what makes a Christ-follower an Overcomer.

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Executive Director & Founder
Marketplace Bible Institute
& Resource Center, Inc
Author of e-Books:
 *  Great Business Emulates a Good God
 *  Be Radical…Follow Christ!
 *  Simply The Messenger
 *  Unequally Married

Encourage your Friends…Share Today’s Message!