LIFE AS A WHOLE

As we all know, this world is not the way it used be. It has become a toughened, curious, pressurized, depressed, devastating, cruel and wicked world, all these came about from the Spiritual and Physical realm.

The spiritual realm-the main character of life being in existence alongside the Physical realm. The Spiritual being the driving force of the physical, controls everything in the physical realm, everything we see today in the physical has already been ordered to be from the Spiritual, many people get sacred about their dooms approach. But what matters are

The physical realm on the other hand, is a world we humans dominate, a world  enslaved to the spiritual realm; it accepts anything that is loaded into it with no resistance to the force. Its’ been enslaved is a very important fact we-the inhabitants must overcome, so as to be able to cope with life as it comes, a life without Christ, Is as living in hell. So therefore,

1.    The history or the origin of materials we see in the physical realm.

2.    Where were the materials in the physical created?

3.    Why were they created and sent to the physical?

4.    Who ordered or gave a confirmation for the things in the physical to be in the physical?

5.    Of what use are the materials to us Believers?  

6.    What are the positive and negative effects of such materials in the physical?

7.    If negative, how do we-occupants of the physical make the best out of it and for the works of our God?

8.    What are the consequences of not making it better?

9.    How do we-believers, gain power to control and make the physical realm better for Gods’ work in everyday of our lives?

These are some of the questions we ought to ask ourselves when we need guidance or when we think things aren’t right.

 The best solution to all sorts of problems is found in CHRIST, THE ALPHA AND OMEGA, THE BEGINNING AND THE END, THE BRIGHT AND MORNING STAR, THE LILY OF THE VALLEY, THE ROCK OF AGES,-He alone is worthy of our praises.

In this world, there are three kinds of persons,

Natural Person (Self-Directed Life)

1. (Someone who has not received Christ.)
   Self is on the throne, directing decisions and actions (represented by the dots), often resulting in frustration. Jesus is outside the life.
   “A natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised” (1 Corinthians 2:14)

2. Spiritual Person (Christ-Directed Life)

   (One who is directed and empowered by the Holy Spirit.)
   Jesus is in the life and on the throne. Self is yielding to Jesus. The person sees Jesus' influence and direction in their life.
   “He who is spiritual appraises all things...We have the mind of Christ” (1 Corinthians 2:15).

3. Carnal Person (Self-Directed Life)

   (One who has received Christ, but who lives in defeat because he is trying to live the Christian life in his own strength.)
   Jesus is in the life but not on the throne. Self is on the throne, directing decisions and actions (represented by the dots), often resulting in frustration.
   “And I brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual men, but as to carnal men, as to babes in Christ. I gave you milk to drink, not solid food; for you were not yet able to receive it. Indeed, even now you are not yet able, for you are still carnal. For since there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshy, and are you not walking like mere men?” (1 Corinthians 3:1-3).

                    

God has promised and provided for us an abundant and fruitful Christian life.

Jesus said, “I came that they might have life, and might have it abundantly” (John 10:10).

“I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me, and I in him, he bears much fruit; for apart from Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5).

“But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law” (Galatians 5:22, 23).

“But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Sam

The Spiritual Person

Some spiritual traits which result from trusting God:

• Christ-centered
• Empowered by the Holy Spirit
• Introduces others to Christ
• Effective prayer life
• Understands God's Word
• Trusts & obeys God
• Experiences love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, faithfulness, gentleness, goodness & self-control

The degree to which these traits are manifested in the life depends upon the extent to which the Christian trusts the Lord with every detail of his life, and upon his maturity in Christ. One who is only beginning to understand the ministry of the Holy Spirit should not be discouraged if he is not as fruitful as more mature Christians who have known and experienced this truth for a longer period.

Why is it that most Christians are not experiencing the abundant life?

Carnal Christians cannot experience the abundant and fruitful Christian life. The carnal person trusts in his own efforts to live the Christian life:

1. He is either uninformed about, or has forgotten, God's love, forgiveness, and power (Romans 5:8-10; Hebrews 10:1-25; 1 John 1; 2:1-3; 2 Peter 1:9; Acts 1:8).
2. He has an up-and-down spiritual experience.
3. He cannot understand himself - he wants to do what is right, but cannot.
4. He fails to draw upon the power of the Holy Spirit to live the Christian life.
   (1 Corinthians 3:1-3; Romans 7:15-24; 8:7; Galatians 5:16-18)

The Carnal Person

Some or all of the following traits may characterize the Christian who does not fully trust God:

• Unbelief
• Disobedience
• Poor prayer life
• No desire for Bible study
• Legalistic attitude or critical spirit
• Impure thoughts, jealousy, guilt
• Frustration, aimlessness
• Worry, discouragement
• Loss of love for God and others

(The individual who professes to be a Christian but who continues to practice sin should realize that he may not be a Christian at all, according to 1 John 2:3; 3:6, 9; Ephesians 5:5).

NOW LETS TALK ABOUT THE SOLUTIONS

Jesus promised the abundant and fruitful life as the result of being filled (directed and empowered) by the Holy Spirit.The Spirit-filled life is the Christ-directed life by which Christ lives His life in and through us in the power of the Holy Spirit (John 15).

1. One becomes a Christian through the ministry of the Holy Spirit, according to John 3:1-8. From the moment of spiritual birth, the Christian is indwelt by the Holy Spirit at all times (John 1:12; Colossians 2:9, 10; John 14:16, 17). Though all Christians are indwelt by the Holy Spirit, not all Christians are filled (directed and empowered) by the Holy Spirit.
2. The Holy Spirit is the source of the overflowing life (John 7:37-39).
3. The Holy Spirit came to glorify Christ (John 16:1-15). When one is filled with the Holy Spirit, he is a true disciple of Christ.
4. In His last command before His ascension, Christ promised the power of the Holy Spirit to enable us to be witnesses for Him (Acts 1:1-9).

   How, then, can one be filled with the Holy Spirit?

   We are filled by the Holy Spirit by faith; then we can experience the abundant and fruitful life which Christ promised to each Christian.
   You can appropriate the filling of the Holy Spirit right now if you:
   1. Sincerely desire to be directed and empowered by the Holy Spirit (Matthew 5:6; John 7:37-39).
   2. Confess your sins. By faith thank God that He has forgiven all of your sins – past, present and future – because Christ died for you (Colossians 2:13-15; 1 John 1; 2:1-3; Hebrews 10:1-17).
   3. Present every area of your life to God (Romans 12:1, 2).
   4. By faith claim the fullness of the Holy Spirit, according to:
      • His Command: Be filled with the Spirit. “And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18).
      • His Promise: He will always answer when we pray according to His will. “And this is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked of Him” (1 John 5:14, 15).
   Faith can be expressed through prayer..