THE WAY YOU THINK CAN CHANGE YOUR LIFE... PART 2

THE WAY YOU THINK CAN CHANGE YOUR LIFE

PART 2

In our last lesson we learned the importance of our soul. We will finish that teaching at this time.

Mark 8:34-37   ³⁴ And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

³⁵ For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it.

³⁶ For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?

³⁷ Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

Salvation is not just a one-time prayer and life becomes back as usual. It is a permanent exchange. We give up our lives (our rights). This enables us to follow what God desires for our lives.

It empowers us to obey God and it is evidence that we have truly received grace and is shown in our lifestyle.

Churches have taught grace as Gods blanket of protection. You are hearing this more and more. This is a mindset from many believers in the church who make comments such as I know I’m not always living the way I should but I thank God for His grace.

This is a serious deception to think this way. Scripture does not teach grace as a big band aid. Rather as His empowering presence within us to do what truth demands of us.

Grace is simply his unmerited favor. It cannot be bought or earned. God who is rich in mercy and love, even though we were dead in our sins, quickened us to become more alive together with Christ Jesus. It is by grace alone that we were saved.

2 Corinthians 12:9   ⁹ And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Gods grace is not an insurance plan. It’s the assurance by faith that if you get lost grace will hunt you down and bring you back.

God has enough grace to pardon every sin, solve every dilemma, wipe every tear and answer every question. It is more than we deserve and greater than we can ever imagine.

Matthew 16:24-26   ²⁴ Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

²⁵ For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.

²⁶ For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

According to the words of Jesus himself it is possible to lose your soul. At the time of rebirth or born again our spirit was saved and sealed by the Holy Spirit.

Then and only then starts the process of saving our soul, which is made up of our mind, our will and our emotions. The only way of saving our soul is being transformed by the word of God, and our obedience to it.

James 1:20-21   ²⁰ For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.

²¹ Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.

James is speaking to the believers not the unbelievers regarding their soul’s salvation. He is saying here both hearing and obedience to the word of God must be applied to our lives.

The soul of man is the only part whose rate of salvation we help determine.  The transformation of our souls is crucial to our finishing well as believers.

3 John 1: 2   ² Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.

It is an amazing statement for John to make when he says, above all things, above all things covers a tremendous amount of word: that you be in health as your soul prospers.

John makes it very clear that there is a direct need for Christians to renew their minds daily, the mind is a part of the soul.

Finally, there is one last part of us that must consider very carefully what Paul writes on this matter.

2 Corinthians 5:9-11   ⁹ Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.

¹⁰ For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

¹¹ Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.

We must all stand before Christ Jesus to be judged. We will each receive whatever we deserve for the good or evil we have done in our bodies.

This is why the soul is so important. The soul which is the mind, will and emotion working together will and can control the body.

Your body doesn’t and can’t make decisions on its own. It will only do what it is programed to so by and through the soul.

If you are an unbeliever your soul will send messages to your body using your five senses or the carnal mind. That is why people who are unsaved do things contrary to Gods word.

If you are born again your soul should be direction your body in a Christian manner. Your born again body is led by the Holy Spirit with wisdom and knowledge and discernment to know the difference between good and evil.

1 Corinthians 3:12-14   ¹² Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;

¹³ Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.

¹⁴ If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.

This part of being judged is for the believers. This is absolutely not the white throne judgment which is for the unbelievers. Believers need not worry about the white throne Judgement; it is the one that decides whether your name is in the book of life.

There is still going to be an inspection where you will be on the works done in your body. If you do well on this inspection great.

If your works are burned up it will not mean that you don’t go to heaven. It means you will be very sad that you had no crowns to lay at Jesus’ feet.

I don’t know about you but I don’t want to just barely survive the judgment seat of Christ, we are speaking about our eternal destiny.

Matthew 7:13-14   ¹³ Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:

¹⁴ Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

The two gates here represent every persons choice of following Jesus or following any other path. Only the more difficult less chosen gate that follows Christ leads to life eternal.

John 14:6   ⁶ Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Jesus is the only way for the believer and without faith it is impossible to please him. Faith is not the product of reason; it is born in the human spirit at the time of conversion.

Ephesians 2:5-8   ⁵ Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

⁶ And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

⁷ That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

⁸ For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

God is so rich in his mercy. We were dead in our spirit and doomed by our sinful nature, but he gave us our lives back again when he raised Jesus from the dead.

Now God can point to us and show us just how rich his kindness really is. Salvation is not a reward for the good we have done, before the new birth we were separated and enemies of God. Only at the cross did Jesus bridge the gap between us and God. Now we can have a relationship with the Father.

Romans 8:6-9   ⁶ For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

⁷ Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.

⁸ So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

⁹ But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

To be carnally minded is death to the reborn spirit, once you are saved your spirit is sealed by the Holy Spirit and your spiritual life is after the things of the spirit.

The new spirit no longer wants to do the things of the flesh. As it says, they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

This is why the new spirit must be sealed and the soul trained in the things of God. the flesh must start being obedient for us to be without spot or wrinkle to stand before Jesus and hear him say, welcome home good and faithful servant.

Your soul is where Satan will attack you. He will do everything he can to steal what you just learned.

Satan can’t handle the truth, and he knows when we know the truth. If he can’t steal the word from you, he can’t control the flesh.

If he can’t control the flesh, he is absolutely helpless. This is why James 4:7 says submit yourselves to God, resist the devil and he will flee from you.

James 4:7   ⁷ Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.