We live in a topsy turvy world, and but one example of this is it is misogynistic one moment, feminist the next. The former treat women with disdain, the latter hail the glory of women at times to the derision of men. Both situations are overreactions, and I see them weekly if not daily.

Being prone to being more feminist than misogynist, I favor the closing of the gap in inequality between women and men, but not to the extent that men are significantly disadvantaged in the process – that itself is the inequality borne of overreaction.

Let's extend the discussion and focus on marriage. Here is what I think is theologically true:

Christ died

so that we may live,

Without burdens put on us

He'd never give,

We bear our cross

But let's be aware,

Of the devil's plan

Because perfection's his snare.

The apostle Paul instructed husbands to love their wives just as Christ loved the church (Ephesians 5:25). Remember though who Christ is – perfect and sinless in every way. Husbands are exhorted to strive for the standard, daily, but not to be beholden to it. It is too much for anyone to attain perfection. But certainly this is what repentance is for; when we fail to live up to biblical standards.

I know I have made the error in the past of suggesting that husbands in weak marriages do what is impossible even for husbands in strong marriages. No husband can attain to perfection, nor can any wife, so why would we hold either partner accountable for failing to reach an impossible standard.

No, it is for husbands to strive for the standard and simply repent when they inevitably fall short. That, there, is the glory of the relational gospel – that a husband might confess his wrong to his wife, so he may be forgiven, and that reconciliation might take place.

There is nothing of the gospel in a wife saying to her husband, 'Hey, listen buddy, you are not exactly loving me as you should, as Christ loves His church.' The husband would be well within his rights to say back to his wife, 'So if I could love you as Christ loves His church, then Christ died for nothing.'

The way the gospel peace works is through individual revelation of sin, confession, and repentance. It is getting the log out of our own eye. The gospel of peace has nothing to do with pointing out others' faults, but dealing with our own, in faith that the other person will do the same, but for which we really don't have a say or a responsibility.

So, husbands and wives relax. Expect no level of perfection from one another. Expect to mutually submit in the ways of confession and repentance, that's all, in holding only yourself to account. Then your partner is free to love you without fear of your judgment.

Christ died

so that we may live,

Without burdens put on us

He'd never give,

We bear our cross

But let's be aware,

Of the devil's plan

Because perfection's his snare.

Christ's call for both men and women in marriage is to bear their respective cross. It would only help marriage if we threw out all the complicated theologies about gender roles that only add the pressure of expectation. We only sustain these precious methodologies because human beings like designing systems. Don't forget God has made it possible that we can achieve the same result in different ways.

Let's not be held to a teaching that seems particularly difficult to achieve when mutual submission meets the gospel aim.

I think marriages are best blessed when husbands arrive at the balance between striving for and aspiring to love their wives as Christ loved the church. They strive for that standard, realizing it is aspirational, knowing it is unattainable, accepting they are fallen, yet they are always trying, and always committed to reconciling their relational realities.

Often leaders of a religion or movement lose control over its progress and development. When Jesus proclaimed his teachings, he was a Jew. Although he was aware of the revolutionary content of his messages, I doubt he was consciously wishing to create a new religion. He wanted to reform a religion that, in his view, had lost touch with human nature. In other words, he was redefining and refining his own religion, and it is mainly through the influence of myth and interpretation that Christianity as we know it today came into being.

Christianity and the Importance of Myth

Christianity has relied on myth from its very beginning. Now I do not consider myths wrong, misleading, nor a lie. I just claim that myths are not grounded in facts but that they go beyond them, the same way a symbol transcends the object represented.

That said, I doubt Jesus actually believed that he was begotten from the Holy Spirit and his virgin mother. Jesus may have seen himself as the Son of God, but I do not think he took it literally. He claimed that he was speaking with God’s authority, that he was sent by Him, and he called Him his Heavenly Father, but so does everyone else in prayers and we do not necessarily consider ourselves God’s begotten or genetic children.

Although Jesus saw the necessity and the relevance of his own death for humanity, he did not state that his death occurred for and because of our sins. Christianity, in fact, looks at the death of Jesus less as his own sacrifice of life, but rather as a sacrifice on God’s part, giving up His own begotten son. Then again, this argument may be thin as Jesus would be at God’s side after his death, so, in my view, it would be more a reunion than a separation.

The myths around Jesus were created long after his existence, and he had little part or influence on their content. The gospels were based on oral accounts written a long time after the incidents. As any story changes from source to source and over time, so other information may have been added to the retelling of the Gospels.

It is a human tendency to embellish and exaggerate, and this might have been an implicit part of the gospels. Also, one should keep in mind that in order to recruit an unbelieving and suspicious crowd, it worked best to appeal to their imagination and to overemphasize the miraculous aspects of the incidents. As a result, myth must have been added to make the story more appealing but not necessarily more credible.

The Role of Interpretation in the Christian Belief System

Interpretation served as a means of active commentary and an explanation of Christ’s actions. By putting his deeds and his beliefs in perspective, people gained more access to the religion. The actions of St. Paul made this new religion universal and open to everyone, since it became accessible to the Gentiles and was not limited to members of the Jewish population only.

Through the continuous interpretation of events and the establishment of official Christian doctrine, Christianity was born. Yet it seems an inherent contradiction that Jesus who resisted doctrines in the first place should have his teachings framed in dogma.

To what extent does this new Christianity accept the poor and the rejected, such as prostitutes? If all are children of God, then why would the Church separate the believers from the non-believers? And what about redemption, eternal paradise and burning hell? Did Christ subscribe to these views? Did he believe them? Was he, after all, a Christian in the modern sense?

These questions are open to debate. To think about them in a critical manner does not mean that one is not Christian. If Christianity is nothing but given dogma and a regurgitation of what others think and believe, then we can safely claim that Jesus was not a Christian in that respect. If we approach issues with open minds and hearts beyond religious creeds or belief systems, then we are closer to the message of love and acceptance that Jesus wanted to teach us in the first place.

Ever try to succeed at a number things, but fail at most of them? That was my testimony. I mean the success just wasn’t there no matter how hard I tried. Ever try selling life insurance door to door? I did. Talk about failure. Talk about pathetic. How I mustered up the courage to go door to door selling life insurance to total strangers is hard to believe. However, there was one thing I did have going for me, persistence. That persistence paid off because eventually I discovered the key to unlocking an unlimited source of wisdom, power, and ability to fulfill God’s purpose for my life and to succeed in every thing I do. I will share with you my discovery.

One day my friend in college came up to me at the outside eating area of the school’s cafeteria and asked me if I would like to go to a bible study. From one to ten, my desire to go to a bible study was probably close to zero. I didn’t go to the bible study. A few years later another Christian friend didn’t ask me to go to a bible study, but instead he walked up to me and showed me his bible and told me that was the way to go. When he said that, it was like a light went on inside me and I knew what he said was true.

Some time later I received Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. Correction. At the time I received Him as my Savior, but not my Lord. Making Him my Lord, surrendering to His will, would come later. Anyway, I started reading the bible on a daily basis and developed a prayer life. One afternoon while I was waiting for a bus, a sweet old lady named Betty invited me to her church. I went to the church, became a member and started sharing the gospel with people.

Eventually I started listening to Christian television ministers teaching on how to live by faith and not by sight. I learned the importance of reprogramming your mind with the Word of God. The unrenewed mind can have destructive thought patterns based on past knowledge and experiences that are contrary to the Word of God. We must renew our minds with God’s Word to set our minds free from the slavery of wrong thinking. Using the power of God’s Word, you tear down destructive mental strongholds of unbelief, selfishness, unforgiveness, lust, poverty, inferiority and any other crippling, oppressive stronghold.

Then it happened. While reading and listening to God’s Word I discovered the key that unlocks God’s unlimited wisdom, power and ability to succeed. What is the key? The key is to enter into Christ’s rest. A rest where you cease from your own carnal works and allow the Creator of the Universe, Jesus Christ, to live through you unhindered by the flesh to do His works of righteousness. “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10).

How do you enter that rest to allow Christ’s provisional grace to flow through you to be successful in everything you do? By faith. What is faith? Faith is putting your trust in what God has promised you. He promised you His rest in Hebrews 4:9-11. “There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief” (Hebrews 4:9-11).

If God said He has given you rest, which He has, then you need to get that truth down into your heart by meditating on it. When I say heart, I don’t mean the muscle in your chest that pumps blood. I mean that part of you that trusts God. Once that truth gets into your heart, your home free. You’ve entered His rest. To get you started, I have created for you below a scripture-based declaration you can meditate (think on, dwell on and speak and declare) until that truth gets into your heart and becomes a reality.

“By faith I have put on the light and easy yoke of Christ and I have ceased from my own works and entered into His rest. In that rest, His wisdom, power, ability and love flow through me unhindered by the flesh and things that were difficult or impossible have become easy. Therefore I can do all things through Christ Jesus who strengthens, enables and empowers me to succeed in every area of my life” (Matthew 11:28-30, Hebrews 4:9-11, Philippians 4:13).

So meditate (think on, dwell on and speak and declare) the above scripture-based declaration until you experience the glorious rest God has promised you in Christ. The more time you spend meditating on this scripture-based declaration, the quicker the results. Just be patient and the results will be forthcoming. Enter His rest and experience Christ’s life flowing through you to catapult you to success in every area of your life. He lives in you and His spirit is one with your spirit. “But he that is joined unto Lord is one spirit” (1 Corinthians 6:17).

Christ’s wisdom, power, ability and love flowing through you unhindered by the flesh will take you to levels of success and joy beyond your wildest dreams. Enter and enjoy His rest.

Financial three step plans, money making formulas and sowing and reaping scriptures can all be well and good, but if you have a poverty stronghold lodged and hidden in your mind, you may never enter your earthly wealthy place. If you feel you might have a poverty mental stronghold keeping you from your wealthy place and you want to be set free, then click on “Free from a Poverty Mental Stronghold” below.

Jesus said, “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” We are commanded by Him in Mark 16:15 to witness to the lost. Please don’t be a disobedient Christian and lose your soul winner’s crown awaiting you in heaven. Click “Soul Winner’s Crown” below to receive free online teaching on how to be a successful soul winner for God.

Does Christianity prove the actual existence of Christ as depicted in Christianity’s holy texts? Does Christ prove the tenants of Christianity? My short answer is “no”. Read on.

There are many, including no doubt 100% of Christians, who note that the very establishment and rise of Christianity in and of itself requires, even must prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that the Biblical, especially the New Testament texts must be true and foundational to the rise and rise and rise of Christianity. However, because humans are, well human and fallible, and because are first and foremost tellers of tall tales (i.e. – humans are hardwired innate storytellers), one of the easiest things for a charismatic human (the usual case) or a group of humans to do is establish the existence of an invisible magic man in the sky or any one of hundreds of variations on the theme of deities and the supernatural. Miracles abound in religions (plural) galore. In principle the establishment and the rise of Christianity is no different than all of the other theologies on offer – past and present.

To repeat, one of the easiest things to do in your lifetime is to establish and start up a brand new religion. Even just in the United States, in the 1880’s you had charismatic individuals like Joseph Smith (Mormonism). More recently L. Ron Hubbard (Scientology), Jim Jones (The People’s Temple), David Koresh (The Branch Davidians) and Marshall Applewhite (Heaven’s Gate). The latter three all suicided along with their flock followers. Then too there was Sun Myung Moon (The Moonies) and (Li Hongzhi) Falun Gong. You had Anton LaVey (Satanism) and Gerald Gardner (Wicca) and Luc Jouret & Joseph di Mambro (the Order of the Solar Temple). And how can we forget the theology behind the Flying Spaghetti Monster! You’ll also get a lot of people claiming “Jedi” as their religion although how seriously they really are is open to question. I’m sure Christians tend to give the thumbs down to these theologies and no doubt the feelings are mutual from the other sides.

But just because a religion becomes established and rises and thrives doesn’t mean the tenants behind the religion are true. Religions can have negative consequences for their True Believers as in the case of Heaven’s Gate, the Branch Davidians and the People’s Temple. One should probably include Scientology in that negative category judging from all of the negative PR Scientology has received by ex-members.

As another example of a religion that could parallel Christianity, in say the establishment of miracles and salvation and a return to the Promised Land / Paradise all with the following of a charismatic leader, look no further than the establishment and rise of the Ghost Dance theology among the Native American Indians. The Ghost Dance theology was a concept that Native American Indians could rid their land of the white settlers if they just danced the Ghost Dance. It would be a return to their own Eden; the return of the buffalo; the return to the status quo before 1492.

The Ghost Dance theology was originally established in the late 1860’s and early 1870’s with little impact but was revived in 1888-1889 by the charismatic Paiute Chief Wovoka who had a vision(s) that would restore the pre-white man status quo for the Native American Indians. Wovoka was a Christ-like figure, a shaman, a prophet, even a messiah who some though was the actual second coming of Christ dressed in Native American Indian costume. Wovoka was seen to be the savior that would address the plight of the Native American Indians, endorsed no less than by the legendary Sitting Bull.

Part of the Ghost Dance theology was that their special, sacred ghost shirts / garments would protect them from the White Man’s bullets. Of course the Ghost Dance craze didn’t go over very well with the white folks. Minority uprisings usually don’t. The irresistible force ultimately had to meet the immovable object, and so the Ghost Dance theology all came unstuck in a violent ending when in late December 1890 things came to a head at Wounded Knee Creek. The Native American Indians faced off against the American Army in what’s called the Battle of Wounded Knee. Alas, those sacred indestructible garments worn by the Native Americans didn’t stop those Army bullets and when the shooting stopped roughly 200 Native American Indians – men, women and children – were dead as were roughly 60 Army soldiers / troopers. And that event for all practical purposes was the end to Native American Indians as a viable entity and a force to be reconciled with in U.S. history.

There are of course parallels between the Ghost Dance theology and Christianity. The Ghost Dance participants wanted an immediate reversal of their world order. Think of the Ghost Dance movement as the Native American Indian version of the Book of Revelation which was also a visionary experience. In Revelation it was out with the contemporary (Roman) landscape and in with the New (Jerusalem) order. The Ghost Dance was the Native American equivalent of liberating Israel and restoring her to former glory via the establishment of God’s Kingdom. But instead of the Roman Empire substitute the White Man; instead of Israel substitute the Indian Territories. Further, the Ghost Dance itself (and associated chanting) is akin to all of the rituals and prayers and musical hymns, etc. associated with Christianity, especially Catholicism. The sacred bullet-proof shirts are akin to the Crosses and Bibles and other religious artefacts and icons associated with Christianity and carried around by the faithful.

So, in conclusion, there was indeed an establishment and rise of Christianity. But that doesn’t mean any of the foundations are based on anything other than quicksand. Christianity is just composed of a long strings of claims none of which have any supporting historical and independently verifiable evidence. Christ no more proves Christianity and Christianity no more proves Christ than Allah proves Islam or that Islam proves Allah or that Brahma proves Hinduism or that Hinduism proves the existence of Brahma. Wovoka failed to prove that the Ghost Dance theology did what he said it would do. Unlike Jesus, Allah and Brahma, we of course know that Wovoka was an actual historical figure who really existed, but the Ghost Dance debacle certainly didn’t show Wovoka to be any sort of prophet, far less even a messiah figure.

People who suffer mostly in life, both mentally and physically, are souls in complete ignorance of their Higher Self nature. This Higher Self realm, while lying beyond phenomenal existence, is present within each of us. In other words, being eternally Now or transcendental, Higher Nature never encounters time, space and causation. Remaining always transcendental, therefore, nothing of an imperfect lower nature can ever be a part of Its Pure state. By means of the human soul, the purpose-journey of individual life is encountering and establishing this state of Perfection within, to be termed faith-consciousness.

The obvious question is: how do we attain a conscious connection with Perfection. The answer is simple, by transformation of our lower nature. Although innately present within each person, attaining direct contact with Perfection is a matter of first understanding what is causing blockage of this heavenly state into consciousness.

How we remove blockage in more detail is revealed in the second part of this article.

First, let us add context to more general cause of blockage. For generations, through the various religions with their non-cognizable dogmas, this natural potential within has been shrouded in mystery and confusion by controlling the mind-sets of people: that heaven is not attainable here on earth, but later. Soul-clogging statements as these are totally misleading and utterly incorrect. Consequent of religious indoctrination such as this, many then deny their inner Christ. By not cognizing Reality through a clear non-indoctrinated mind, people remain ignorant of their true faith potential. Many cannot relate intellectually to others’ non-religious terms, like Christ within, and other such terms, even though developing this state within is what all the scriptures are alluding to, albeit in codified format. This coded format, sadly, was seized upon by the early church to control the masses in one’s beliefs. The reality is, there is a simultaneous dimension to human existence already in place. But that this Higher state has to be uncovered, come upon from within at individual level and lived NOW as awakening soul, and not in some future time space. ‘Future-time’ does not exist in the eternal transcendental Now.

Of course, ignorance of divine nature within, at physical birth, is normal. But carrying such throughout our lives indefinitely is not the intention of the Creator. Ignorance of Higher nature is present only that we may grow out of it, consciously, by means of crucifying the lower conditioned ego.

Refusing or ignoring to grow out of spiritual ignorance amounts to repetitive suffering by choice. Which suffering amounts to sin.

The opposite of suffering is healing and spiritual well-being. Spiritual healing – of ignorance – is carried-out by divine authority, by the ever-perfecting life-force residing within each of us. Such healing, being of divine standard, requires purification of the body’s inner faculties. When free-flowing through the mind, body and spirit, this divine energy validates faith-consciousness tangibly, no conditioning, no dogma required. In fact, union with this universal life-force is what the Bible is actually alluding to. Sadly, literal interpretation of Scripture, I feel, is causal of so much apathy in this whole area of Christ within, and, Heaven now. Is it not said, ‘the kingdom of heaven is within’? Therefore, by means of going within, this ever-perfecting life-force stirs the human soul — the inner faculties — into awakening, resulting in transformation into Higher Self. Think caterpillar becoming the butterfly: the caterpillar has performed the required work of consuming itself for the purpose of forming butterfly status. Similarly, our own past, stemming over many lifetimes, is consumed by this inner life force in order that our Higher Eternal Self, or Christ-nature, be formed in consciousness.

Difference between Faith and Belief

So, the question arises, is faith required in order to receive healing to allow for transformation? The answer is, No, but, let me expand.

Because faith is consequent of spiritual awakening, thus faith is revealed unto consciousness initially as gentle peaceful silence, after which, by living it, faith grows to become full-grown. This revealing of faith unto consciousness is by way of culturing the nervous system into withstanding the pure Present Moment, or, Promised Land awareness, which awareness, when rooted, transmutes to unconditional love, compassion, fulfilment, or, Faith. Faith then is an extension of active deep meditational silence which, when lived through the nervous system, consciousness becomes established permanently AS every-moment faith, now and eternally, not at some later time.

When — through the mind’s constant exposure to inner silence — faith becomes maturely established, then all aspects of practical life reflect faith in action. Then is God, Life, our Higher Self experienced as One. No longer is God perceived as separate, as somewhere ‘out there, up there’. Consequent of our daily spiritual work, ‘out there’ God becomes localized as ‘in there’ Presence. When ‘in there’ is no longer confined to the limited human body, rather as universal consciousness – everywhere simultaneously. The question of separation – pertaining through original ignorance – is no longer valid as now there is Union. The tombstone of ignorance has been rolled back as inner and outer — Cain and Abel — become harmoniously integrated as God-consciousness.

Faith at this level of course has nothing whatever to do with formal religious faith, respectfully. The reality is, because faith is the eternal nature of every soul, we’re not dependent on being given it by any religious denomination through persuasion or otherwise. And, although the faith seed is present within each from physical birth, it has to be sprouted, then nourished by means of our daily spiritual development practice.

Again, faith is not the same as belief. What many call belief is really selective mental acceptance. In other words, selective belief by means of conditioning regards specific geographical locations or, in particular people. Such belief, while positive, of course, is man-made, conditional, usually associated with previously installed belief systems; in what others have instructed or indoctrinated us in, or, what we’ve been emotionally exposed to by friends, even family, or preached to while in attentive silence. This can also be termed programming. In this context, I’m sure many of us remember – prior to spiritual awakening — periods in our life when we were as adults flapping around like children in the river of life. In other words, before Self-realization we were each inner functioning between good and bad, tears and laughter, suffering and happiness through previously installed or inherited understanding. A capacity of unwitting deviation from divine nature, due to conditioned false belief systems dominating subconsciously in our lives.

Let us look more specifically at what may be blocking personal experiencing of unconditional faith.

Sadhana and Awakening unto Faith-Consciousness

Spiritual nature is experienced when the inner faculties responsible for such are activated to maximum functionality, enabling Higher Self assimilate through consciousness tangibly. These faculties are aspects of the soul or human personality and known as the 12 Cranial nerves in the brain, plus the seven energy or Chakra centres along the spinal column. These centres are means of spiritual growth and are specifically set up by the Creator with the sole purpose of the human soul migrating from lower earth-bound life into experiencing eternal Higher Soul status.

On the way to this eternal state, many fine books can be read and which can be of enormous benefit– including my own. But, alas, such readings can only ever act as sign posts – including the Bible and other Scriptures. Nothing we read actually provides direct experience of what we’re intuitively seeking, direct experiencing of our Higher Nature, now. Eventually we must put the books down and begin the required practical work of daily participation in deep mental silence, and, if necessary, dealing with other situations to be covered shortly.

Personal spiritual work is also known as our Sadhana, a Hindi word meaning ‘devotion’. By means of meditation, yoga and chant, and for some, contemplation, Sadhana is a disciplined approach to spiritual awakening. Such work, in the main, commits to a decision of complete transformation of old into new. A renewal of present and historic mind-sets leading to a totally different, yet natural, ‘new spiritual you’. Where mind, body, spirit function in harmony with the cosmos. The Sadhana of achieving ‘new you’ is our regular daily exposure to inner mental stillness and silence, and the resulting discipline. Seek council of which practice may best be suited to you. My own Sadhana is seated meditation for about half an hour twice daily. Seated meditation is also known as Raja Yoga, meaning Royal Union. But all Sadhana practices are set at achieving Union.

For some, in the beginning, depending how rooted the present mind-set lifestyle, change can prove challenging and even uncomfortable. Meaning, if there is a dragon lurking in our subconscious pantry, then this dragon will have to be faced consciously and defeated, totally – which it will be, for you will not be alone in the quest.

By way of divine encouragement, let us reflect the biblical story of David and Goliath. When David – symbolizing Mind of God — slew the giant, the dragon, with a white marble which he took from his breast pocket. This biblical giant of course represents the personal Goliath, our dragon, and the stone representing the new-found spiritual strength and determination aback of decision to victory over this dragon.

This suppressed Goliath exists because habitually it’s been nourished instead of our squaring up to the demon. And, it’s this automatically recurring sub-mental activity — of nourishing the dragon — which is responsible for preventing experiential faith-consciousness and unconditional love into our lives for living.

So, let’s call this dragon by its name-nature, ADDICTION.

Once we remain single-mindedly committed to our quest of overcoming addiction, then nothing whatsoever can defeat the Higher Power, the white stone within. When put into action, the white stone then represents our soul awakening unto itself, consciously. When unwaveringly directed, it will follow through utterly conquering whatsoever is blocking divine connection unto Wholeness: of freeing totally our soul from the prison clutches of addiction, similar to biblical Peter being freed from his / her ego-nature denial of Christ within to becoming established in faith or, Christ-consciousness. As part of a maintenance programme, during and post recovery, meditation twice daily is the vital key.

Achieving single-mindedness requires action from both the invisible higher dimension and from ourselves practically. Praying to God, while positive, then sitting back and doing nothing, will also achieve nothing. Belief alone is not sufficient, rather a combination of faith development (meditation) followed through with zoned awareness, with single-minded thought-action toward our goal. Addiction is by far the single culprit in blocking overall spiritual wellbeing. That is why we need to stay mentally focused, emotionally anchored, getting deep enough within consciousness to affect steadiness of mind and commitment to our desired freedom. Without steadiness of intellect, inner change remains aspirational only; never starting, never progressing, never achieving. Thus continuing our life experiencing through the same colour procrastination glasses. But, now, it’s time for action.

First Steps to Victory

Prayerful intentions without action remain illusory, ineffective. It’s only after taking that first courageous infant step toward our goal that prayer begins vibrating, materializing. Such is when divine assistance comes from all quarters of Life to our rescue. Without hesitation, take that all-important first step now, today. For, in Truth, in the spiritual realm, prayers become answered the moment we take that first heart-committed step; moving from a crystalized vision to a defined outcome. For it’s a universal law, that, action and reaction are equal to the same force. Therefore, that first step, aback of a victory-charged intention, can lead to leaps of amazing faith, beyond the limited lower ego effort. Thus each tiny enthusiasm-filled step, taken with a made-up mind — regarding intended outcome — is already successful in the Higher realm. It just now requires to be worked out in time.

We remember in the Bible when Jesus shouted in a loud voice: “Lazarus come forth” – Lazarus in this case is you, me: we’re to bring forth our basic spiritual nature that it may be Glorified. ‘Shouted’ means, with commitment, conviction.

Once moving forward step by step enthusiastically, and never looking back, then without fail the next divinely-nuanced step is revealed intuitively. Progressing in this manor represents the guiding flow of the inner life-force assisting with our every activity. Thus, action purifies.

A quick story may help crystalize the necessity of taking action. A woman was stranded on a sheer mountain cliff edge. She could not move in any direction from her present position. She immediately prayed to God to rescue her. A few minutes later, a passing helicopter pilot spotted her and, realizing her dilemma, dropped a rope ladder, with shouts: climb up! climb up! She waved and shouted back, no thanks, I’m waiting for God to save me!

The moral of this story: God works through us and through other people. Regards slaying the dragon, it translates, taking professional help when appropriate.

Summing up

When the conscious mind begins encountering profound inner peace by means deep silence, away from excessive thinking then soul awakening is noticeably taking place: biblically put: “be still and Know” Psalm 46–10. At the practical level, mental stillness creates a Gap in our repetitive thought cycle. Because it’s the Great Purifier, with practice, stillness expands sonically into deeper mind developing a bliss-wave through which ‘knowing’ is appreciated on the nervous system, reassuring that our spiritual growth season is right on harvest. This growth further Initiates a dynamic of ‘mental weeding’, a process which integrates (crucifies) the unconscious content — the lower ego — causal of all repetitive human suffering.

Surly it’s time to gather our spiritual harvest and live ‘be still and know’ consciously through the Awakening soul.

This was quite a revelation to me when I first saw its truth – and it has also been such a blessing as I have shared and testified to what has become part of my spiritual experience.

Jesus Christ, having been crucified, but now risen from the dead, ministers to three people with seriously deep needs – to sad and sorrowing Mary – to Thomas who questioned the disciples’ authentic testimony – and to Peter who was ashamed, or broken, by past unfaithfulness and failure.

You may read of these encounters in John’s Gospel in Chapter 20 and 21. There was and is much more.

When Jesus Christ was hanging on the Cross, Jesus showed a specific and special concern for his mother. It is assumed Mary was now a widow, and although she had other sons, Jesus asks John to look after her.

Such understanding care and compassion – does it not melt your heart? There is a profound challenge here which we must not run from or avoid.

What Jesus Christ started he wants to continue and perfect.

What Jesus started in you, he wants to complete. He is not finished yet!

Jesus is not finished saving and rescuing people from their sin and sins.

Jesus is not finished exchanging sorrow for joy.

Jesus is not finished giving peace that passes all understanding.

Jesus is not finished making a way, where there is no way.

Jesus is not finished loving you and me.

Jesus is not finished healing the sick and delivering the captives from whatever might be restricting and limiting them – from alcohol or drug addiction.

Jesus is not finished mending broken hearts, or lifting heavy burdens.

Jesus is not finished opening doors which no man can close, and closing doors which no man can open.

Jesus is not finished being our light and hope for tomorrow – providing guidance and direction and leadership.

Jesus came that we might have life, and have it to the full.

Although we may not see him physically, his resurrection power informs that he is not finished giving life to those who are open to receive whatever he generously gives.

What baffles me and puzzles me at times is why there are not queues of men and women seeking a touch and assurance and reassurance and blessing from the risen and living Lord Jesus Christ.

“Dear God – Hear those of us, as in Jesus Name, we humbly bow and pray. Lord God, we are aware that there is so much more you wish to in our lives and through our lives. There is a needy waiting world out there. As we read Your Word and as we pray make the future clearer – as to where and how we are to serve and shine and witness. Amen”

What is Christmas to you? Many people have different reasons for celebrating Christmas; including time for holiday, feasting, traveling, shopping and reunions. However, the main reason for the celebration is normally not remembered, it is now Christmas without Christ. This is very unfortunate and should be corrected in the minds and lives of Christians. This article encourages believers in Christ to focus more on Jesus during Christmas season since He is the reason for the celebration.

For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given… – Isaiah 9:6 (NKJV).

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem,… and when they had come into the house… And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh – Matthew 2:1, 11 (NKJV).

Christmas has been turned to different celebrations other than the celebration of the birth of Jesus. What is Christmas without Christ? Unbelievers celebrate it without knowing the reason for the season. The children are more after “Father Christmas”, the Christmas gifts, lights and decorations. People prepare so much for this celebration, yet, most people don’t have encounter with Christ as part of the preparation.

Christmas is the accepted birthday for Jesus Christ, so the celebration should be all centered on Him. When you are celebrating your birthday, the celebration is centered on you. People gather because of you, the preparations are for the people coming because of you, the prayers are said for you and the gifts are for you. Sometimes, people may even ask you what you want for your birthday and they will be ready to do exactly what you desire. But during Christ’s birthday, the highest thing done most of the time is for churches to dramatize the birth of Jesus Christ and preach about His birth. This is good, but we need to do more than that.

What are you going to do this Christmas for and because of Jesus? Jesus was given by God the Father to save us because of His love for us. One important thing you can do is to give God heart-felt thanks for giving Christ to us. Also thank God for Jesus and for all He had done in your life. It should be a season of thanksgiving unto God. The birth of the Lord gave birth to so many blessings from God, including the salvation of our souls.

Furthermore, the celebration of Christ’s birth is a celebration of the love of God, which goes with giving. You need to ask the Lord what He wants you to do for Him and do exactly that. That will be a great gift from you that He would really appreciate and reward you for. Jesus is still accepting gifts. This gift could be in cash or in kind for the spread of the gospel. It could be in sharing the love of Jesus with others by meeting their needs, both spiritual and physical needs, emphasizing that Jesus loves them and that they are part of the reason why He was born. Christmas celebration should be centered on Christ.

What more can I say? The best Christmas is one spent at the feet of Jesus. Decide to spend time with Christ this season and you will be glad you did for you will never be the same again. There is no true Christmas without Christ!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

For the last 1900+ years, more has been written about him than any other person. Who is Jesus?

He never taught at or established an institution of higher learning, yet all the schools of all times could never measure even close to his number of students. Who is Jesus?

All the rulers who ever reigned, all the government bodies that ever sat, and all the military campaigns ever engaged, have not affected the life of mankind as powerfully and dynamically as Jesus of Nazareth.

Jesus was the most unique human being who ever walked the face of the earth. His birth and death are both singularly unique to him and to him alone.

God’s first mention in Genesis 3 of the seed of the woman came to fruition some 4,000 years later when Jesus was born in Bethlehem to a woman named Mary. Her conception was something God never did before and hasn’t done since. God miraculously created seed in her body that united with her egg. Jesus was literally the Son of God Almighty, the Creator of the heavens and earth.

And this also sets him apart from all human beings

The death of Jesus is also singularly unique to him and to him alone. After his brutal beatings and subsequent crucifixion and death, he remained dead and buried for three days and three nights. Then, his Father, God Almighty, raised him from the dead, to die no more, to live eternally in his new resurrected physical body.

There have been and continue to be people who have been raised from the dead. But no human being has ever been raised from the dead to die no more and to live eternally in a new resurrected body except one: Jesus of Nazareth.

The Bible makes this crystal clear. Scripture points it out for all mankind to take note, that Jesus is indeed the savior of mankind because God raised him from the dead to die no more.

Through the ages there have been people who walked with and for God. But none of them has the unique distinction of being raised from the dead to die no more. This is why Jesus alone holds the title of lord – he is lord of all human beings who have ever lived or will ever live. That’s why when one reads the New Testament, the great focal point of the preaching in the first century was the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

Jesus is the long awaited Messiah, the Christ; he is the savior of mankind! It is he and he alone who laid down his life in payment for the sins of the whole world. And Scripture makes it abundantly clear he truly is the savior, for God marked him out by raising him from the dead, to die no more.

Welcome to the family!

The good news is that God Almighty now freely gives eternal life to those who believe in Jesus. Romans 10 declares if anyone confesses, or acknowledges, Jesus is indeed lord of all mankind, and believes God raised him from the dead, he shall be saved! And those who are saved become children of God, receiving eternal life, as well as all the benefits detailed in the Scriptures.

And here’s some more good news! For those of us who accept Jesus Christ as lord, and believe God raised him from the dead, the Bible says that Jesus is not ashamed to call us his brothers and sisters! We are now a part of God’s family, and Jesus Christ is our brother.

How grateful we are as we celebrate the resurrected Jesus Christ! God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him shall not perish, but have everlasting life!

He is risen! And, he IS coming back!

Is the resurrection of Jesus Christ worth celebrating this Easter celebration? Yes, more than you can imagine. It was a spiritual victory that affects everything that happens to you as a Christian spiritually, physically, emotionally and mentally. It is your victory over all oppressions of the devil. This article enlightens you more on this victory.

For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ – Romans 5:17 (NKJV).

I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death – Revelation 1:18 (NKJV).

Easter season comes and goes without many people realizing the effect of the price Jesus paid and they end up not exercising their faith in the finished work of Christ in order to reap the benefits. All that Adam lost to the devil were fully restored at the resurrection of Christ.

Adam was made to be in charge of the earth but he disobeyed God and obeyed the devil and in the process handed over all the power and authority given to him by God to the devil, thereby making the devil the god of this world. Adam’s action led to his spiritual death. It stripped him naked and chased him out of abundance. He was totally defeated. However, God immediately planned for his restoration, such that all that the enemy took from man were to be fully restored back.

Only a man was qualified to take back all from the devil (Romans 8:3-4) because Adam (man) willingly sold out and the tenure of man had not run out. During temptation of Jesus, the devil stated that it was given to him legally, so he had right to it. But when Jesus, in form of man got to hell He legally took them all back (Matthew 28:18) because He paid fully with His righteous blood.

Jesus came as man and had a mission to get to the cross for our redemption from all the curses. On the way, he took the stripes that released our healings. He had to die so that we may live again. Jesus carried the sins of the world and so died because the wages of sin is death. He was among the dead but death could not hold him back. He went and took the keys of hell and of death, that we will not be held bound again by the fear of death. Then He resurrected from the dead so that we too would live. Through Christ we are resurrected from the dead and free from our sins. Christ’s resurrection is the foundation of our Christian Faith.

Therefore, spiritual death has no power over you anymore if you have accepted Jesus as your Lord. You are now clothe back with God’s glory and you have access to the abundance of heaven. Through Christ’s victory over the devil, you have your victory over him too. You are free at last. Rejoice for Christ’s resurrection is the end of any defeat from the enemy. Now, you are seated in heavenly places in Christ Jesus, far above principalities and powers, and every name that is named.

So, arise take your place in Christ by giving your life to Jesus if you have not, make Him your Lord and Saviour, follow all His instructions as written in the word and you will find your way to your place of glory and abundance. Celebrate Jesus Christ this season, it’s worth celebrating the victory that He purchased for us with His blood. Jesus is Lord! He is alive, victory is yours! Hallelujah!

HAPPY EASTER CELEBRATION

Do you know Jesus as Christ and are you enjoying His blessedness? A personal understanding of Jesus as your Christ is the beginning of great blessings from God. Accepting Jesus as your Christ enables you to exercise your faith so that He can offer you all He can as Christ. This article helps you to reach out and enjoy all the blessedness of Christ.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made – John 1:1-3 (NKJV).

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth – John 1:14 (NKJV).

Names signify what the bearer is empowered to do or achieve, it defines his or her purpose. In Jesus Christ’s case, He is to save us from our sins and their consequences. Receiving Him as your Saviour is to enjoy salvation from sin and its consequences afflicting your life and destiny.

When Peter declared Jesus as the Christ, the Lord told him that this was a revelation from His Father who is in heaven (Matthew 16:17). There is more to just calling the Lord “Jesus Christ”. You need a personal revelation of Jesus as Christ. It is the beginning of the access into divine interventions. You can pray for God to reveal Him as Christ to you, which He will as you study the word. Receiving Jesus as the Word of God helps you to build your faith in His salvation as you study the word.

Jesus Christ is able to save because as the Word, He was in the beginning; all things were made through Him and are upheld by the word of His power. The word of God gives you access to the blessings of Christ. As you study and meditate on God’s word you are embracing and putting on Christ, thereby allowing Him to manifest as your Saviour when the need arises.

Christ is not far from you when you have His word in you. When you are faced with any challenge, bring forth the word you have in you and use it and it shall be done for you. You need to understand that using the word of God in faith is putting Christ to work, and so enjoying His blessedness.

Christ in and among you is the hope of you realizing glory. This is a mystery that has been revealed to the saints. When you get the revelation of Christ in you, you are set for great blessings. Christ is the solution to whatever challenge you may be facing now. He is the way, the truth and the life.

In conclusion, Jesus Christ came for you and me to have freedom from the oppressions of the enemy and enjoy blessings from God. These become real as you truly receive Jesus as your Christ and walk in the consciousness of it.