Secrets And Prerequisites

​Love you all, praying for you. 
 
I just love God’s Word.  It is truth and life.  I pray you never tire of the basics.  Super Bowls come down to blocking and tackling.  Whoever does it wins, whoever doesn’t loses.   Championships come down to defense, and boxing out.  No one makes every shot, make it difficult for them, and be sure you get the rebound, and every loose ball.  The World Series comes down staying ahead on the pitch count, not chasing bad pitches, smart base running, keeping your eye on the ball, and your glove on the ground, otherwise it’s a passed ball, and the series is lost.  In life, Four Foundational Principles you must know.  But first, two pre-requisites.  Have you ever been in a movie theatre showing a 3D movie.  If you don’t have the glasses, you don’t get the same experience.  You just don’t get it.  The movie requires a set of glasses – to discern what is happening.  Your natural eyes cannot see it, you need the glasses.  That’s why they give them out when you walk in the movie theatre.  That’s how it is with these four foundational principles, and all the truths of God’s kingdom.  You need the glasses.  Nicodemus just couldn’t understand, how can a man get back in his mother’s womb to be born again…  Jesus said, “You are a teacher of Israel and don’t understand this?  I’m not talking about physical birth, this is spiritual birth.” Believe in the LORD Jesus Christ and you will be saved.  You must be born again (in your spirit, not your body).  Nicodemus didn’t have the glasses on, so he couldn’t understand the movie.  Pre-requisites - you must be Saved, and then, you must be filled with the Holy Spirit – its how you are led into all truth, and receive power to do what you cannot do in your own nature or power.  If you don’t believe in Jesus – it will seem like foolishness to you every time someone talks of Spiritual things.  If you do believe in Jesus for your Salvation – you become a new creation.  Old things are passed away, look! All things are become new.   Your eyes are opened, because you are a new creature now, you see differently.  You have the glasses…  I’m always puzzed at the people who believe that Jesus died for them, and by believing in Him, they will be saved – just like God promised.  But then, they refuse to believe his first instruction and promise to be baptized in the Holy Spirit, to pray in their heavenly language and to get the power they need to understand and live this new life.  How can you have faith for the first, but not have faith for the second?  The first is much harder for God to do, (remove their old heart and give them a new one).  The second is easy – just fill them and give them a new language.  The Holy Spirit is the One who leads you into all truth, it’s how you get spiritual discernment – He’s the glasses… so you can see the movie in 3D.  God said, these things are spiritually discerned.   So Salvation First, then be Filled with the Holy Spirit – so He can lead you into all truth, and give you power to live the life you can’t in your own power.  Then, you’re ready for these four foundational principles.  #1  God has good for you – He promised.  (See the PRISM Topic – God Has Good For You).  If you don’t know this foundational truth - why would you follow him? Why would you if you can’t trust Him?   #2 God’s way or man’s way – (See the PRISM Topic - God's Way or man's way– to get His words not mine.  In everything in life – big or small – there’s a way that seems right, but isn’t right – it leads to death.  God’s way is way better than man’s way – like heavens are higher than the earth.  Foundational Principle #3 Love is Obey – (See the PRISM Topic – Love is Obey and Love is Obey Verses).  You’ll be shocked at how many there are.  Love isn’t only obey, some things you obey out of fear, not love.  You drive the speed limit because the cop is hiding behind the bridge with his radar… You don’t obey because you love him, you obey because you don’t want to get a speeding ticket.  But when it comes to God - Love is affection and obedience.  Affection - with your whole heart, and obedience – what He tells you to do…  Affection only won’t cut it - without obedience, it’s not love for God.  Jesus said, if you love me, you’ll obey my commands.  And obedience without affection isn’t love either – you just obey to avoid punishment.  Love takes both – but obedience is required.  The secret?  Obedience is a path not a list.  It’s not do’s and don’ts its getting to new places!    Principle #4  Time, Thoughts, and Money – it’s what makes you, you.  It’s how to obey, Let God make your time, thought and money decisions.  It’s how you live your life as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to Him, which is your reasonable act of worship and service.  It’s only fitting.  He gave His life for you, so you are glad to give your life to him.   And why wouldn’t you!  He has plans for your good to prosper you not to harm you – to give you hope and a future.  Praying that you will be saved and filled, that you will walk in the Spirit and never tire of – or forget these foundational principles:  God has Good for you, God’s Way or man’s way, Love is Obey, and Time, Thoughts, and Money – it’s what you obey with…  So you can walk in the victory He has in store for you, and the good that He has stored up for those who fear Him.   See Salvation First, the Holy Spirit Packet, and the Foundations Packet.  Soak in God’s Word – He is the way, the truth, and the life, so your faith will grow, and you can walk in everything that He has planned for you.  It’s good! 
 
Love you all,
dad