Marriage Alive Newsletter

Volume #2 Issue 10 January 04

Am I A Christian?

The Holy Spirit

The Temptations
To Sin

Christianity, the Holy Spirit and Temptations In Marriage

Am I a Christian?

Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who
believes that Jesus is the son of God. 1 John 5:5

Have you ever worried about whether or not you really are a Christian? A Christian is anyone who has the Spirit of God living in him or her. If you have trusted Jesus Christ for your salvation and have acknowledge him as Lord, then the Holy Spirit has come into your life, and you are a Christian.

But you will not know that the Holy Spirit has come into your life until you start applying His Spirit in your own life. We do that by employing the tools that God has given us, such as Trust and Faith. We should Trust and Love God with all our Heart, mind and soul. The Spirit of God is in us by Faith. Faith that we believe Jesus is God's Son, and that eternal life is through Him.

We cannot chop wood without an axe. It is a powerful tool for keeping us warm in the winter. We can try and use a different tool or go about chopping the wood differently, but would we want to? Likewise, we cannot be a Christian without the Holy Spirit. It is a tool a Christian must have to guide their lives according to God's will. We can try and use a different source other than the Holy Spirit or go about becoming a Christian differently, but would we want to. If the Holy Spirit isn't guiding the Christian's life, then what is?

Have you ever been asked? "How do I become a Christian?" Salvation is as close as your own mouth and heart. Some people think it is a complicated process to become a Christian, but it is not. If we believe in our hearts and confess with our mouth, we are saved.

This saving process all sounds so easy doesn't it? Well it is, but it isn't. We can all say we are saved because we think we believe in our hearts. But if we only think and not do then we are not saved. Our belief in our Faith that we have the Holy Spirit continues giving us the right thoughts to seek His wisdom. God's wisdom is the light. Continually learning from that wisdom keeps the Christian in the light. The light gives the Christian a righteous belief system to live by. The Christian's marriage, family, career, everything, is lived under the foundation of Jesus Christ.

Christian's never let their guard down. They continue to do and behave in a way that their thoughts from the Holy Spirit tell them to. Jesus is always with the Christian, through the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit guides the Christian's life. When troubles and sorrows come, scripture is there for the Christian. What he reads goes into his heart and he believes. What he believes, he does.

But what does it say? "The word is near you; it is in your mouth and it is in your heart." That is, the word of faith we are proclaiming. That if you confess with your mouth, Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10: 8

The Holy Spirit

Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. Roman 8:5

So if we trust in God with all our heart and mind we can certainly know that we can trust in the Holy Spirit within us. The Holy Spirit is what empowers us to be the person God made us to be. Our potential is to do right by others and ourselves and to always strive to do the will of God by listening to the Holy Spirit.

What do you think the Spirit of God desires from you? Are you leading your life according to the sinful nature or by the will of the Spirit? To answer that, we need to reflect on what is it that we have allowed into our heart and mind. What have we been doing that has given us spiritual truth and wisdom? What have we been doing in our lives that was directed not on a spiritual level? You see, in all things that we do, we need to trust that God will lead us according to His will. It might be our bodies doing the walking, but it is the Holy Spirit doing the talking.

I have to say it again, because it is so true! "What we spawn in our heart, comes back out in our actions. Those actions whether they are played out with a husband or wife, children or friends will display the character traits of our spiritual self in that moment of our lives.

If we are not trusting God with our life, who are we trusting? I know, it seems fearful giving up our self totally to God. It feels right just going to church and fellowshipping with friends on Wednesday and Sunday, but is that enough to keep us faithful and trusting in God?

What if we have an addiction and we feel we need a drink or a drug. It's not Wednesday or Sunday. What will we do? Call someone?

What if our marriage has been in the ruts for sometime and we meet someone else who we think can ease the pain and unhappiness we are feeling presently. What are we going to do? Call someone?

What if we are feeling lonely and unloved and we think getting on the internet to look at pornography will make us feel better. What are we going to do? Call someone?

What if we get pregnant and think we really do not want to take care of another child right now? Will we seek an abortion and kill the baby? What are we going to do?

What if we are depressed and feel like jumping off a bridge, a real tall bridge into icy cold water below? What are we going to do? Who do we call?

What if we have anger problems, health problems, marriage problems, a death in the family, are we justified to become sinful in our nature through those problems? Are we justified to following what is not true and seeking out worldly pleasure because of problems and conflicts. Where does this kind of thinking lead us? What we believe ultimately leads us to that belief until we are living that belief. If we believe in Jesus, why not call on Him?

If our source for comfort and solace comes from a different source other than the spirit of Jesus, we need to understand that this kind of self-seeking pleasure is only temporary. It will not last forever. Seeking out wrong sources to heal our inner being eventually kills our spirit and helps us to lose sight of the one REAL and TRUE thing that was meant for us. Calling on Jesus will last forever and He does not snub us, use us, abuse us and leave us. Do you know what else lasts forever and is waiting fro us? His Kingdom In Heaven.!

We can call on Jesus! He says to give our burdens to Him and He will make it right for us! What we do and who we interact with during problems and conflict in our lives will make a big difference upon the dealing of the situation and upon our whole outlook on life. If we cop the attitude that the spirit is only for those who do not sin, then you are wrong. Jesus loves us all, no matter what weakness we may have. He wants all of us to give up our failings to Him and allow His spirit into our hearts. That is our comfort and security blanket!

Why do you think God came to us in the image of Jesus? So we could see and understand Him better and so He could take away our sins through the blood of Jesus. God left us His book to read daily and His Spirit within our bodies for guidance in all that we do.

The source of ALL THAT IS GOOD comes from God.
If we believe certain sources to heal our sorrows and pains, we go to that source. God is the true source of our comfort.

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The Temptations To Sin

The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. What is your weakness. That is where your conflict will be. Do you want and long for peace in your life? Analyze your weakness, acknowledge it and then ask Jesus Christ our lord to help you get rid of it. Trust in him, wait for the answer and pray constantly for it. Search the scriptures and wait. You may not get the answer right away. It may take a while. What if it takes a couple of months or a year? Will you long deep enough in your heart for the truth to be patient enough to wait? If you do, rewards await you. Not as the world gives, but as Christ gives.

We know what earthly rewards are and maybe we focus too much on them. A new car, a pay raise, or new furniture etc. These things we understand, but if we trust in Christ we may come to know better rewards that we cannot comprehend until we step out on faith.

You don't want to put the cart before the horse do you? You don't expect what you long for without asking God for it do you? You know what the world has to offer, now lets see if we can find out what God has to offer.

Let's see what God's plan for you is. Our goal here at Heaven Ministries is to assist those that have come to understand that the world's rewards are not all there is to life and that living a Godly life is the reward.

If you're sick and tired of strife and "dog eat dog life" there is a better way. Knowledge is wisdom and wisdom is better than rubies and wisdom comes from God says Proverbs:

"When you find that you have built castles in the air, now is the time to put the foundations under them" Henry David Thoreau.

Scriptures on temptation:

All Christian's struggle with temptations. Sometimes it is so subtle that we don't even realize what is happening to us. God has promised that he will not allow us to be tempted beyond what we can bear. (Corinthian's 10:13). Ask God to give you the strength to overcome temptation.

And lead us not into temptations, but deliver us from evil. Matthew 6:13

Running from a tempting situation is our first step on the way to victory.

Flee from the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. 2 Timothy 2:22

Running away is sometimes considered cowardly and your friends might ask why you don't want to participate. But wise people realize that by removing themselves physically and spiritually is the most courageous action to take. Timothy, a young man, was warned to flee anything that produced evil thoughts. Do you have a recurring temptation that is hard to resist? Remove yourself physically from any situation that stimulates your desire to sin. Knowing when to run is as important in our spiritual battle as is knowing when and how to fight the temptation.

But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: While some coveted after, they have erred from the faith and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. 1 Timothy 6: 9-10

Temptation comes from wrong thinking within us and our belief system. Wrong thinking or misguided thoughts become sin when we dwell on that thought or belief and allow it to become an action. And like a snowball rolling down hill, wrong thinking and immorality of the heart become more destructive the more we let it have its way. This is why the culture of this world is becoming more and more depraved by the minute. The world is a big huge rolling snowball, rebellious to the Light of God's wisdom, growing more depraved and destructive by the day. But we do not need to participate in anything that is not of Truth, Light, Love, Hope and Peace. Jesus wants us to come to Him with our troubled heart.

Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love Him. Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God; for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither He tempteth any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away from his own lust, and enticed. Than when lust has conceived, it bring forth sin: and sin when it is finished bring forth death. James 1: 12-15

Christianity, the Holy Spirit and Temptations In Marriage

If you are married and your house is standing on the foundation of Jesus Christ, and if your heart is steadfast and faithful in the Lord, you have then made the choice to become what it is you are. That could be a Christian, spiritual individual who relies upon the wisdom of God rather then the understanding of self.

Self, which is of the flesh becomes selfish and wants to do all that it desires. And in so doing sees culture does culture. But if our beliefs are based upon the righteous foundation of God and all that He has taught us, culture will not phase the self. For A Christian realizes what His duties are and knows when to draw the line.

In marriage if and when problems arise and we take the path that basis desires on what is good and right, the marriage remains stable and growing in the Lord. The Holy Spirit, the Spirit that Jesus Christ left us after He ascended into the Heavens, is our guiding light, to steer our hearts appropriately.

The Holy Spirit teaches us to be humble and kind. We understand what our position is in the marriage and we take our responsibilities seriously. This Christian is happy and does not feel the need to sin for pleasure and for self-seeking desires. The Christian already has everything he needs. This kind of Christian does not participate in the culture of society.

A marriage that is Spiritually guided will never falter and is fulfilled and abundantly growing no matter what the consequences. For those with the Love of God in their hearts give REAL love onto others. This is what it is all about. Love is what we all seek, real genuine love. Jesus gives us that love through the Holy Spirit.

Those who rebel against Christ do not have the wisdom to discern between the light and the darkness. They don't care. Their sin has taken over the flesh and the heart has become diseased. They are in the snowball, rolling down the hill, all the while growing more into their sin, where it has taken over their heart, mind and soul. Homosexuality is a sin of a depraved heart and mind. It is not a condition or disease and people are not born homosexual.

A marriage cannot stand upon the grounds of this culture. The foundation of this culture is resting upon a rebellion and the darkness of death, which all come from Satan, the devil. This rebellious culture, lead by Satan is foolishly heading towards destruction all the while breaking up marriage and families and enticing the pure and innocent children into believing that all that they see around them, all the depravity and sexual lust is okay.

But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away from his own lust, and enticed. James 1: 12-15

Because the only perfect human being, without sin was Jesus Christ, the non- spiritual individual EASILY becomes enticed into the culture and becomes one with it. It is never too late to come out from hell and ask Jesus Christ for forgiveness of sins. Any sin great or small can be forgiven and can be taken from us, ANY SIN.