April 2015
Happy Easter! The true Easter view is all about celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ. We see ourselves raised up out of past failures into the victory of Christ. Nothing else, not philosophy or any of man’s ideas or concepts can trump God’s plan for man’s salvation by faith in His Son’s finished work. “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.” 1
A Letter From Abroad…
“I’m an author and documentary film maker from Scotland, United Kingdom. I found your website and read it with interest, and thought I’d write to offer support.
My interest is not to ask you about your past history with Charles Manson. I am very interested in learning how people overcome their inner demons and move forward with their lives after the judge passes sentence and the dust settles. I can only imagine that you, spiritually, emotionally and in body are a million miles away from the man you once were. As a Christian, I believe in forgiveness and the prospect of hope. It’s so important never to give up on that.
I’ve often wondered how easy it would be to fall under the spell of someone who has presence and commands obedience from others. I’m fascinated by what attracts people to be sucked into a cult and more so the people who manage to come out the other side and shake off the grip of the cult. I’ve read the literature on your site and believe it is very true.
I’ve spoken to people who have been involved in satanic cults where they suffered abuse and witnessed horrors including murder. It’s a part of society that it real, and I think more should be done to highlight the problem. I would love to discuss your thoughts on cults and learn how you managed to move forward with your life and find a positive route. Best regards, Steve.”
Living By Faith…
Steve asked, “…how do people overcome and move forward in life?” According to God’s word, we overcome the struggle of life by faith in God’s love, something many do not understand. The apostle Paul prayed,
“And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is.” 2
The more we understand God’s love for us, the greater our faith increases to overcome life’s struggles. As our relationship with God develops, so does our faith and trust in God. Listen to this promise,
“By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires.” 3
Sharing God’s Nature…
As born-again believers, we “…escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires,” because we share God’s divine nature. Love is the real nature of God, Who lives in the core of our being as Christians. The apostle John wrote,
“We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them.” 4
My book, “Our Identity: Spirit Soul and Body,” shows how we are a three part being created in the image of God. When we receive Christ into our heart, the Holy Spirit regenerates our corrupted spirit with God’s divine nature -- love. Our soul (mind, will and emotions) is still badly in need of renewal from the residue of our past. We’re to put off the old man and put on the new by allowing our new nature to renew our thoughts and attitudes. The apostle Paul puts it like this,
“…throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.” 5
By faith, we take authority over past lust and deception. Then, our new nature is freed to shape our behavior, manifesting the life of Christ in our mortal body.
Created To Love…
Love is the true character of God, Who created Adam and Eve in His image of love. Because of their fall in Genesis chapter 3, pride, unbelief, lust and deception ruled until we were regenerated by His love, grace, righteousness and power.
“For the sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of righteousness, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ.” 6
Love is now free to flow through our lives by faith in Christ’s finished work. Those who believe are made righteous in Christ. It may seem that I have lost my mind always expounding on God’s love, but I am in good company according to the apostle Paul, who wrote,
“If it seems we are crazy, it is to bring glory to God. And if we are in our right minds, it is for your benefit. Either way, Christ’s love controls us.[a] Since we believe that Christ died for all, we also believe that we have all died to our old life. He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them.” 7
May this year be your best Easter ever, celebrating you resurrection in Christ, walking in love and manifesting Jesus to everyone you see.
A Prayer For You…
“When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.” 8
Scripture References (NLT):
1) 1 John 5:4 NKJ
2) Eph. 3:18
3) 2 Peter 1:3,4
4) 1 John 4:16
5) Eph. 4:22-24
6) Rom. 5:17
7) 2 Cor. 5:13-15
8) Eph. 3:14-21A Letter