Tag: new man

IS THIS INGREDIENT MISSING IN YOUR RECIPE?

What goes into a dessert or dish determines its deliciousness. So, it’s important to use the purest ingredients and leave out those that ruin it. This can be applied to the ingredients of the New Man (or new nature) that a believer is given when they trust in the Lord Jesus Christ as their Redeemer and Savior (Eph. 1:13-14, 2:8-10).

“Oh, taste and see the Lord is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!”  (Psalm 34:8)

                WHAT TO LEAVE IN        

                The recipe of the New Man is from God alone, as well as the ingredients (tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering, forbearance, forgiveness, and love) for they are Divinely-sourced—making them 100% pure, and fresh from above. These ingredients bring life and bear fruit (James 1:17, Gal. 5:22-23, Col. 3:10, Eph. 4:24). 

                WHAT TO LEAVE OUT

                The ingredients that come from the original recipe, Old Man (fallen, sin-filled man/woman) are MAN-ufactured, processed, dead, full of contaminants that corrupt (Rom. 3:23, 5:12, 19, 6:23). As they are impure in nature, they’ll ruin the recipe of the New Man so they must be set aside and not put in (Eph. 4:22, Col. 3:8-9). Some of the effects of using these contaminated ingredients can be seen in Galatians 5:19-21 and Colossians 3:5-9. The illustration of leaven in the Bible is similar because it’s also something that must be ’put away’ as it permeates everything it’s mixed with (Matt. 13:33, Luke 13:21, 1 Cor. 5:6, Gal. 5:9, Hos. 7:4). In every instance in the Scriptures leaven is associated with (and symbolical of) only that which is evil. It’s used as sacrifices never to be rendered to God with any offering made by fire (Lev. 2:11, 6:17, 10:12). It’s also used as a metaphor for doctrine, as the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees (Matt. 16:6, 12, Gal. 5:9). Lastly, it’s used of the effects of evildoers (1 Cor. 5:6-8, 15:33).  So, in order to have a delicious outcome in either cooking, baking, or as a Christian walking in this world, attention needs to be placed on what’s put in (or on) and what should be put away or left out. 

                EACH INGREDIENT SERVES A FUNCTION (AND FOLLOWING DIRECTIONS MATTERS)

                In a cookie recipe each ingredient plays a role. Fat is added for flavor and controls how chewy or crunchy the cookie will be. Sugar is obviously a sweetener, but it’s also a tenderizer and controls how much the cookie will spread. There’s usually some type of rising agent that will determine how flat or puffy the cookie will turn out as well as a binding agent that will hold the cookie together. Following a recipe’s directions, including the order that each item is put in is equally important.

                THE CHRISTIAN’S VITAL INGREDIENT

                It’s the same in the recipe for the ingredients of the New Man: “Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another… But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection” (Colossians 3:10, 12-14). You may notice the ingredient that’s most important is listed last, but it’s listed first in the Fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22).  Love is the bonding agency as well as the strengthening component in a Christian’s make-up. When you ‘put on’ the above list minus Divine love, it may look good on the outside, but without this fundamental ingredient, the recipe of the New Man will be tasteless and flop (1 Cor. 1-3). It’s the inner ingredients that are most important and love is the greatest (1 Cor. 13:13, 1 Sam. 16:7). Following directions is important and so daily time in God’s Word is a must for the New Man recipe to succeed (2 Tim. 3:16-17). A Christian is fortified by God’s Spirit in their inner man where Christ dwells in their hearts by faith. The more you are rooted and grounded in Divine love, the more you’ll be able to comprehend (to some degree) the vast dimensions of the love of Christ so that your inner filling is fruitful with the fulness of God (Eph. 3:16-19). So don’t be tempted to substitute imitation ingredients for the real Divine ones or go back to the old recipe and follow your own will and ways (Col. 2:17-21). Rather empty out the old and fill up with the new and you’ll have no problem walking in the love of Christ and filling up the atmosphere around you with a sweet-smelling aroma (Eph. 5:1-2, 17-21).

Laura

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Best Plan Ever

john-3-16-web-print-horiz“The heart is deceitful (crooked) above all things, and desperately sick with an incurable disease”

(Jer. 17:9).  Even a reformed healthcare system can’t fix it.

But we’ve been offered a new plan that works from the inside out and ultimately promises a total transformation (Phil. 3:20-21, 1 Cor. 15:49, 53-57). Partakers of this new plan will experience powerful renewal & strength internally as their mind is transformed to a superior way of thinking (Eph. 3:16, 19; Col. 3:10).

                You see we’ve been offered an amazing gift from a beneficent God in the form of His only begotten Son. For those who accept this precious, indescribable, free offer they will receive (1) irrevocable eternal life assurance (Eph. 1:13) and (2) bonus benefit of a new nature that can be redeemed & utilized immediately (2 Cor. 9:15, Eph. 2:8, John 3:16, 1 Tim. 4:8, Rom. 5:18-19, 6:23). This is a free deal! A universal plan (no exclusions) open to all who accept the offer (John 3:16). There are no premiums or deductibles and no need to be concerned about a pre-existing condition as it’s waived upon acceptance (2 Cor. 5:21, Rom. 7:24, Col. 2:14, Rom. 3:19-26)!

Read on for more details regarding the plan.

 New Nature portion of the Plan (Follow for optimal results):

By accepting this new winning plan the member immediately receives the flawless designed New Nature (Eph. 4:24, 2 Cor. 5:17). As the instructions in the manual are followed correctly the member will be able to deal with everything this life throws their way (Refer to sections: John 16:33, 1 John 5:4, 2 Tim. 2:15, 3:15-17, 1 Cor. 2:16, Phil. 4:9).

  • DETOXIFICATION IS A MUST. Members of the new plan must rid the body of toxins from the old diseased nature (Eph. 4:22). (It isn’t profitable to leave in the system-John 6:63, Rom. 7:18.) Purge: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, conceit, provocations, envying, evil desire, covetousness, anger, malice, blasphemy, filthy language, lying… (Ga. 5:19-21, Col. 3:1-9). Repeat detox as necessary to eliminate toxins as they re-emerge.
  • DAILY MIND RENEWAL VITAL. After the old is purged, the member will want to renew their mind to be in accordance with the new plan (Rom. 12:2, Col. 3:10, 1 Cor. 2:16). Full coverage will take effect as all the required items of protection are put on (See Eph. 6:13-17). These will act as antigens and protection against the onslaught of unseen elements in the present fallen environment (Eph. 6:11-12, 2 Cor. 10:3-5). Full & fruitful benefits of: love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, & self-control along with tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering, forbearance & forgiveness will be reaped (Gal. 5:22-23, Col. 3:12-13) enabling the member to effectively cope in the new man mode.
  • PREVENTIVE CARE: The outward is dying so physical training will be of some value, but spiritual training for the inner man will have value for all things in this life & the life to come (1 Tim. 4:8, 2 Cor. 4:16)–so don’t waste too much time at the gym.
  • AVOID ADDED STRESS & STEER CLEAR of exposure to profane & idle chatter as well as divisive disputes & arguments over words which come from toxic sources that try to entangle members into worldly affairs (1 Tim. 6:4-5, 20, 2 Tim. 2:4, Rom. 16:17).
  • MAINTAIN FOCUS on things above (Col. 3:2) and what is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, praiseworthy (Phil 4:8). This will keep the mind at peace.
  • IF FEAR & ANXIETY SET IN refer to these sections of the manual: 1 Pet. 5:7, Phil. 4:6-7, 1 John 4:8, 2 Tim. 1:7, Rom. 8:6, Col. 3:15 and it will subside.
  • 24/7 CARE: See sections: Romans 8:26-27, 34 & Jeremiah 33:3.

A loving, merciful God has offered an amazing plan.

What are you waiting for? Act today and reap the benefits now & eternally! 

Laura

 

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