About Holy GhostTheEvangel

The Christian Social Lifestyle

We call ourselves Christians because we have the joy of eternal salvation in Christ Jesus. The reality of that comes into practical account when eventually we meet Him. We meet Jesus either from dying before the rapture, join Him at the Rapture of the saints or if we miss the rapture by any chance, at the end of time when he reinstates His rulership over the earth and the heavens.

By implication therefore, the joy of eternal salvation bubbles in us while we are still here on earth. But how do we express that identity in our routine terrestrial interactions? We owe it to ourselves to keep that treasured possession as our identification for entering His presence when the time comes, but how do we reflect that while we bid the time here on earth. I mean living life with that joy inside us of us. The clue that Apostle Paul gives us goes this way:

“For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again” (2 Corinthians 5:1, 14-15, KJV).

We have testimonies of dead people who rose from the dead after men of God prayed for them, both in biblical times and today. However, no man other than Jesus Christ ever died and woke himself up from the dead. Then, He told us that this is the evidence that after the forgiveness of our sins, we live again. That is, once we become born-again, it’s a new deal altogether. We have life because He overthrew our uncleanliness. And this is our bond, to ensure that whatever we do or wherever we go reflects our appreciation of His suffering. This marked our reconciliation to God’s kingdom and joint heirs of His promise. Hence, when faced with challenges, we commonly hear Christians ask the question, “what will Jesus do?” While it sounds arrogant to try to match man’s opinion to Jesus Christ’s, we must also remember God clearly says, “Be ye holy; for I am holy” (1 Peter 1:16, KJV).

To attempt some clarification, let us review the guidelines for a desirable lifestyle from these perspectives. The Christian life in pandemonium such as the Corona virus plague has forced on us, the Christian life within the Church of God, the Christian life within the community in normal time and in special circumstances, and the Christian life in dealing the authorities, that is carnal (especially governments) and spiritual authorities.

You may relate this to life’s situation whose interaction includes when you must face your landlord or, praying for a colleague at work without letting them know about it or, something abnormal that happens on your flight back home after a tiring business meeting. How can you be on guard all this time and not let out some humanity against that airline staff for mistreating that person sitting near you. The point that I am trying to make is that it is not you or by your alertness. You have help. Jesus the standard has not left us helpless.

Therefore, the challenge to remain holy all the time is not by your power, but Jesus has provided the enablement to make it happen. Apostle Paul says, “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20, KJV). So, you have support if you understand it and, are ready to tap into it all the time. It is an inexhaustible source.

The bottom-line basis for Jesus to accept the disgraceful death of the accursed through the crucifixion is to transfer us into the realm of God’s holiness by taking responsibility for our sins, excuses for our ungodliness and doubt in our qualification. Essentially, a crossover from an outcast to a crown prince with the authority of state. The scriptures clarify:

"Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high" (Hebrews 1:3, KJV)

What’s The Challenge?

The challenge is that character called Satan. Yeah, he’s got the blame once again. But it’s true. Everyone wishes they could be all that good mummy taught them to be. However, occasionally we drift against our own will into doing something that will not make mom proud. And that is not because we are rebellious, we just want to express our anger or right or show that we are smart enough to discern the agenda of the other guy or guys against us. And it may be that simple, a provocation.

That Satan will do anything to get us into trouble with God is no understatement. We may not realize is that Satan believes that he is in competition with God over who should be in charge. I am not sure that the last statement is correct, though. The encounter with Jesus after the forty days fast shows that Satan clearly understands who has the final say (Matthew 4). Yet, Satan wants us to believe that he is very powerful and smart enough to pull us to his side of the divide. In this argument, my challenge has always been this. If Satan could not destroy Job, and Jesus disgraced him, what was he doing in heaven trying to take over? (Revelations 12:7-9). Yet, that is proof of how desperate he can get. And that people don’t blame him for causing horrible incidents without a reason.

If you have you read Galatians 5 recently, and looked closely at verses 19 to 21 (Galatians 5:19-21). Please google the meaning of each challenge of the flesh mentioned, meditate on it and see if you run clear enough to qualify as being holy as God. Remember that is the standard that we established earlier (1 Peter 1:16)? In relation to the authorities, do you despise government officials and insult leaders. That includes from your boss to your pastor to the president. We are told that because they are installations of God for a purpose, even angels dare not accuse them before God (2 Peter 2: 10-12). That is Christian lifestyle. It is folly to others, but it is based on scriptural principles, respect, and the fear of God. Principles like these require deeper understanding and we will attempt to break them down in this channel.

So How Does One Approach a Respectable Christian Lifestyle?

As we go about our daily lives even on earth, God’s eyes are also upon us watching our every move. It is rare to imagine anything happening without God approving it, despite the arrogance of the deception commonly bandied about that Satan, say, the ruler of the universe. We refer to his interaction with Jesus at the end of Christ’s forty fast to prove that. However, if he was the ruler and in-charge, why did he not have his way, why did Jesus throw him away with a single scripture?

That is our hint that Satan will try all sorts of games on us if he can to challenge heaven. Yet, it is our duty to remember that so long as we belong to God, we have not only protection, but we also have guidance. Nothing slips by Him unless He allows it for a specific purpose (Psalms 91). For example, why did Jesus had to die so mercilessly if He no guilt was found in Him? What was it about Job that he had to go through so much.

God guides us through His Word, the scriptures. The point is to decode those words and simplify the mysteries embedded in God’s manual. He also guides us through spiritual leaders called prophets. The scriptures say that He does nothing without letting the prophets know about it. However, you need to separate what originates from Him from what originates from hell, but God allows irrespective. A plague such as the corona virus pandemic is from hell, but He permitted it to prove His Almightiness according to the prophets. He gave us several warnings but even the prophets who knew the name of the plague did not understand its nature or origin. This is how we know that He permitted it.

He identified the office of the prophets clearly for us in Numbers 12:4-8. Specifically, verse 6 says, “And he said, Hear now my words: If there be a prophet among you, I the Lord will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream.” So, we get guidance from God through His Word and His prophets. Additionally, in this dispensation, He released the Holy Ghost on earth to guide each one of us as well according to His promise. Peter confirmed the fulfillment of Joel 2: 27-32 in his response to the people immediately following the Pentecost. Verse 28 of Joel 2 reads, “And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions.” In other words, we are all open to God’s communications particularly in this Holy Ghost dispensation, but God has anointed some men to provide leadership, even in that realm.

The wise king Solomon in his old age admonished us to be careful with authorities because they are powerful people. Yet, with all their might, as we respect them, we must understand that the will of God supersedes the opinion of the physical king. In other words, even if the king is mistaken, so long as we do not disrespect the king’s authority, God is still available to protect and to deliver us (Ecclesiastes 8:2-5). Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego are worthy examples of this admonition.

Therefore, as you go about your daily routine, trusting in God as your shield and buckler, His promises that no evil shall befall you reigns (Psalms 91). Remember the words of Solomon, don’t argue too much about the reasoning of the authorities over you, even if they are short on intelligence or evil, just lay them in God’s hands, He knows how to deal with the situation (Jude 1:8-10). Show love to everyone, shake out fear because you have God on your side, trust in the authority if ordained guidance. He will be with you always.

"Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed" (1 Peter 2:24, KJV).

Remember, there was a purpose for the above sacrifice, it is you. He will go through anything to keep you, so long as you look up to Him.