Tuesday, August 21, 2012

DUALITY... Our inner struggle between the sprit and the flesh.


Galatians 5: 18 -23

But when you are directed by the Spirit, you are not under obligation to the law of Moses. When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures,  idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God. But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!



Today's topic is about "duality"

Duality is defined as "a classification into two subclasses or opposed parts."

Opposition is simply a conflict or battle...or even struggle.


Paul in the book of Galatians talks about the two halves which consists of our spiritual and fleshly natures. In this life there is simply a sinful side that we have all partaken in and also a spiritual side too. A perfect visual description of this battle that every person is a participant in; is the album cover of Marvin Gaye's "In Our Lifetime?" (This is to only be used as an visual aid to for the sake of this discussion)






We have a good side (spiritual) and an evil (fleshly) side.  The twenty-second verse states the Holy Spirit produces the fruit of love, joy, and peace; and that is the good person who chooses to revere and serve our God with faithfulness and not giving into our fleshly desires. The opposition is our fleshly side and as verse nineteen mentions we subject ourselves to the following sinful desires: immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures,  idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, and jealousy to name a few.

Remember this universal truth... "For the wages of sin is death but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our." - Romans 6:23

As with any conflict there will be some battles that it looks bleak and the enemy has compromised your perimeter; remember God has your back and will call an air strike to eradicate your adversaries.
The battle will wage on till the war is won and we are in paradise with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. If you are struggling with anything in your life; whether it be in secret or openly... there is NOTHING TO HARD FOR GOD and stop giving into your fleshly side (easier said than done...I know this!) but as the previously mentioned proclamation declares you can be the victor over the devil. Paul before his conversion to Christianity was an expert in sinful nature... until his Damascus moment; he then become a slave to not sin... but of the Holy Spirit! FIGHT ON SAINTS!!


I pray for everyone to receive the blessings, knowledge, and wisdom of the Holy Spirit!!!


Sunday, August 5, 2012

To Tell The Truth Nothing But The Truth...!

Today's reading focuses properly on ministering the word of God.

(II Corinthians 4: 2-3, 8-9) 

We reject all shameful and underhanded methods. We do not try to trick anyone, and we do not distort the word of God. We tell the truth before God, and all who are honest know that. 3 If the Good News we preach is veiled from anyone, it is a sign that they are perishing." 8 We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed and broken. We are perplexed, but we don't give up and quit. 9 We are hunted down, but God never abandons us. We get knocked down, but we get up again and keep going. 



Today's world is full of perplexity and deceit and the universal truth is... God has NOT changed... it is today's world that has changed and it tries to change God !!! Satan is on his job and there are many new idealogies such as 'The Gospel of Inclusion" this example is a clear distortion of the word of God. He (God) has said that everyone who are practitioners of the many types of sin; will NOT inherit the kingdom of God. (Romans 1 is my source)


The issue is that everyone is afraid to offend those that are living in sin. Sin is sin and God hates sin and therefore he is intolerable of it! What is paramount is if we are living right and sin free it is up for us to lead by example and when we are asked by an unbeliever; what is the truth; it is our responsibility to not distort or water down God's word in order to NOT offend someone or to please someone who is in the bondage of sin. If they continue to live in sin; then they will perish; if they do not repent and accept Christ as his or her Savior. 


The Gospel which is good news is so good that we cannot conceal or hide it as verse 3 mentions.
We will be held accountable by God if we don't share the gospel and help those that are in distress. Since we are of truth (honesty) we will give the word to the unbeliever... "straight with no chaser!"


 Being a Christian can be hard as the world and sometimes our very own friends and family are at odds with us; because of our allegiance to Christ. But, verses 8 and 9 gives us reassurance that we will have obstacles that attempt to impede our growth and our walk of faith; but we must keep enduring and if we are knocked down; we must get back up! God has never abandoned us! Think of David in the lions den and Christ on the cross... all sides were pressed but God was in the midst and the end result was triumph and not tragedy! If he did that for those Jesus and David... imagine what he can and will do for us. 




Brothers' and Sisters' in Christ continue to exemplify Christ in all of your actions as there are souls to be won for the glory of God! Be Blessed!!




Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Solomon was imparted great wisdom from the Lord and was the author of several books of the Bible. (Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and the Song of Solomon)

Today is the inaugural post of this blog and I pray this blog will be a source of spiritual nourishment hence the name 'Manna'; for believers and non-believers who are searching for answers and most importantly are seeking salvation through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Without further a due... here is the scripture.

Proverbs 30:7 - 30:9 - "Two things I ask of you, O LORD; do not refuse me before I die: Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, 'Who is the LORD?' Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God.


The above word from God; what does it mean?


Its context is speaking in the 1st person (you the reader); It is a prayer for comfortability and contentment.  It asks our Lord to not make us 'rich nor poor' but to make us satisfied as if we become
rich (winning the lottery or something else) or poor (becoming jobless and/or homeless) these events can lead us astray from the divine presence and guidance God has over our lives.

Have you ever went out to eat at a buffet? Sometimes we get very greedy and over indulge in the consumption of the food till we become miserable (too full) and simply because we are overwhelmed and forget that if we eat a good portion of food and conclude our meal without over indulging we will be both satisfied and content. 

Have you ever had a job that was just a job and then you get another job with better pay? Traditionally, most people give his or her two weeks notice; they come to work but have already checked out.  They are only there physically but their mind is somewhere else. The old job (God) doesn't appeal to that person anymore and therefore... the proverbial 'I don't need you' syndrome is on proud display.

This prayer's purpose is to prevent from never needing God; because we get to full ourselves and therefore will dishonor him; which is sin and is frowned upon by God. We need God in our lives 100% x 24/7 x 365 x infinity. (you get the point)

So when you ask (pray to) God for something pray for the best; but pray sensibly and pray for contentment and to only be satisfied.

I pray that ye are blessed and have gained perspective and truth from this post. I will seek God for another topic and will be back soon to provide you ... my brothers' and sisters' in Christ  more 'Manna from Up Above!'