We live in the culture of our times. What we see, hear, smell, taste and touch mold the lives we live. Our five senses sets the stage of how we function.
These lifestyle influences dictate so much of how we act. It seems in our times we are more intrigued by what
is happening with media personalities than with more important life issues, such as family, and spiritual matters.
For example: We are more concerned about what is happening with the Kardashinans than other people that really affect our lives. In a recent editorial article in the newspaper, it indicated we live in a “Celebrity Obsessed Culture.” influenced by entertainment celebrities.
As every Psychologist will declare, we are a product of our surroundings and what we feed on mentally. Our culture is loaded with an amazing amount of influences. These are what makes us who we are.
Thankfully there is another influence that we can allow to affect our lives that can change everything. The greatest celebrity of all time is the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the one we want to focus on. There is nothing more spectacular than what Jesus Christ did for us and who we are as sons of God with Christ in us.
God knew what He was saying when He said, “Man cannot live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4). Incorporating the Word of God in our lives as the dominating influence is one of the most challenging tasks man can take on. Few allow themselves to break away from the worldly influences to bask in the light of God’s glorious Word.
What we believe determines who we are and who we will become in the future. If we want to live as a Son of God, with incorruptible seed, filled with the spirit of God, having eternal life, we must start with God’s Word.
I Peter 1:23:
Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
Abideth means to have residence within.
Realizing that God is Spirit, we must adjust our thinking to be spiritually minded not five senses minded.
Romans 8:6 & 8:
For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
Thankfully God has given us His word which is spiritual food, that can
sustain us, regardless of the onslaughts of the worldly influences.
Hebrews 4:12:
For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
God wants us to know the depth of His love. He wants us to live a fulfilling and fruitful life. The world’s way soon gets frustrating and self serving. Those who have the most things tend to be the most stressed.
People tend to seek an exciting life as portrayed in the movies and on TV. “ I want to experience the thrill of great relationships and adventures with meaningful accomplishments,” many will cry out.
When you look at what is available for the born again son of God in living this way, the world is no better than a B-rated movie filled with more commercials than content!
Look at what the Christian lifestyle consists of:
God has truly called us to live a marvelous life for Him. Our challenge is to control what lifestyle influences enter in our brains and incorporate the ones that allows us to function as sons of God with power and love.
God’s Word is loaded with an abundance of resources to tap into to live a purposed filled life that is a glory to God and a blessing to others.
One section I would like to recommend for your reading pleasure is II Corinthians 3:17 & 18 to II Corinthians 5:21. Here is the first and last Scriptures in this section to stir your spiritual appetite:
II Corinthians 3:18 & 5:20:
But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
For he hath made him to be sin [sin offering] for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
Let the truth of God’s Word be the only dominating influence in your life.
Bob Lindfelt
Jeanie and I were praying and reading the Word of God this morning and she pointed out a recent letter sent to us from the Joyce Meyer Ministries. She shared it with me and had a big smile on her face in light of what I have been working on and what she has been proof reading.
First, what she has been proof reading was the sharing in this newsletter on pages one and two, titled “Lifestyle Influences.” The letter she shared with me from the Joyce Meyer Ministries was very similar. Of course it reflected her dynamic style of presentation and ability to hit the mark on subjects.
Here are some excerpts from it:
You see, God didn’t create you to look or act like everyone else. You don’t have to conform to the world by doing what the rest of society is doing. In fact, the very opposite is true.
You’re not called to be a people pleaser. You weren’t created to just fit in with the crowd. No, God has destined you for something greater...something different!
The world is broken and dysfunctional...but you are different!
The world is dark and depressed ... but you are different!
The world is full of fear and frustration ... but you are different!
God didn’t want me to constantly be focused on myself and my problems. He wanted me to be different. As He started changing my heart, I began to see there were hurting, broken, confused people all around me ... and this is why my passion in life is to share the love of Christ with as many people as I possibly can.
In an ungodly world, you can stand out and be different no matter where you are or what you do. Your life can encourage others by showing them the love of God, not just by what you say, but by how you live.
Above all else, we walk as sons of God, with God in Christ in us! Walk boldly!
- Bob Lindfelt
Language allows us to communicate effectively. It behooves us to recognize what words mean, so we can articulate accurately. God uses language with great precision.
Proper use of language is of utmost importance when it comes to understanding what God has so graciously given us, so that we can utilize it properly.
Two important words used by God to communicate the operation of a vital prayer tool that He has purposed ALL Christians to benefit from are: “gift” and ”manifestation or operation.” (I include “operation” with manifestation because many are not sure what “manifestation” means).
A vast majority of Christians use the word “gift” when talking about speaking in tongues. They say that it is a gift from God as are all nine spiritual items listed in I Corinthians 12:7. The word “gift” connotes something special given to certain deserving people. As a result huge numbers of believers think that speaking in tongues is given only to selected people at God’s choosing. This is a sad commentary because speaking in tongues is designed for every believer to operate and enjoy.
Many outstanding Christians who want to speak in tongues believe that God has not selected them to operate it. A simple look at the Greek word phanerosis describing the listing of the nine items of I Corinthians 12:7-11, including speaking in tongues, means “manifestation” or “operation”. The following translations have accurately translated the listing of these nine spiritual items as manifestations which means, the operation of something: KJV, ASV, ESV, ISV, and Amplified to name a few.
The simple truth here is that all nine spiritual items are manifestations or operations of the gift of holy spirit. Every person who is born again with the gift of holy spirit can potentially operate all nine. It is like having the battery in your car. It is the power source or the holy spirit of your car. With that resource you can honk the horn, turn on the lights, start the car, turn on the radio etc. All you have to do is learn how to honk the horn, turn on the lights, start the car, turn on the radio etc. and you can manifest it or operate it because of the battery source.
What all this means is that speaking in tongues is an operation or manifestation of holy spirit. Once a person learns how to speak in tongues, they can do it. God is no respecter of persons (Acts 10:34 and Romans 2:11). He has given every born again believer the same gift of holy spirit with the capabilities of doing all nine operations of the spirit.
If you are one of the many Christians who thought that speaking in tongues was a gift and that you were waiting on God to give it to you, please realize you can do it now. Check out the Greek and look and see if you can find anywhere that speaking in tongues is called a gift (Some of the new translations unfortunately have added the word “gift” in their work, but there are no Greek translations that support it).
My prayer is that many Christians who have not spoken in tongues and want to, can now be taught the simple lesson on how to do it. Our Heavenly Father is no respecter of persons. He wants every born again believer to walk by the spirit utilizing speaking in tongues as well as the other operations of the spirit.
Agape,
Bob
PS: If I may be of service in helping you speak in tongues or understand it better, please contact me.
One of the most important holy days the children of Israel celebrated was Pentecost. Followers would come from around the known world to Jerusalem to recognize this special time.
During this significant gathering, attendees would hear many different languages being spoken. An example of this is indicated in Acts 2:8-11: “And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born? Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes, Cretes and Arabians,…”
What exactly was going on, as recorded in this section of Acts? God was pouring out for the first time the gift of holy spirit that He promised in the Gospel records. This was the culmination of what our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ made available through His redemptive work of dying and God raising Him from the dead. Really, this was the birth of true Christianity.
God introduced this landmark event with a whole new manifestation of the spirit – speaking in tongues. As this outpouring was saturating the hearts of the visitors from these varied nations, they were hearing their own language being spoken by Galileans. Act 2:7: “And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans?” Galileans at that time in history were considered “backwoods” folks that were ignorant and unlearned. It blew their mind that they could speak perfectly their languages! What was going on here that these “country” folks could speak so eloquently all these foreign languages?
Jesus Christ’s last spoken words before ascending up to the right hand of the Father, was: “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you…” (Acts 1:8). God blessed all these people in a miraculous way by working in the 12 apostles via speaking in tongues. The speaking in tongues, the people heard, was in the different languages of the many people present. The Apostles spoke perfectly these languages, “as the Spirit gave them utterance” (Acts 2:4).
On the first day of the Christian Church, God introduced a whole new, never-before-used manifestation: Speaking in tongues. How magnificent is this unique manifestation?
Enjoy the richest gift man has ever received while celebrating this upcoming Pentecost day and speak the perfect language God loves to hear: Speaking in tongues.
Agape,
Bob
I need to realize something as I live my life day by day, moment by moment, second by second: His presence and thoughts of me are always there.
Psalms 139:2-4 (ESV):
You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar.
You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways.
Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O LORD, you know it altogether.
Where are my thoughts? Are they totally about Him? No, not by a long shot!
Sometimes hours go by before I conscientiously think of my Heavenly Father. Obviously, many of us have secular jobs that occupy our time and thoughts, but I am finding out that there are many times I could be speaking in tongues, or praising Him and thanking Him for His Son.
He is always everywhere having us in His thoughts.
Psalms 139:17-18 (KJV):
How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!
If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee.
There is one thing I am not going to do and one thing I am going to do. First, I am not going to allow the devil to influence me to feel condemned in what I am not doing. Next, I am going to recognize His presence more by speaking in tongues more, praising Him and being thankful for His Son more. My life can now only get better!
God is good... all the time!
Agape,
Bob