“Then God said, let us make man in Our image according to Our likeness, let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth. So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him, male and female He created them” (Genesis 1:26-27, NKJV).
Human beings are flesh and blood but God is a Spirit (John 4:24). God doesn’t have a physical body like we humans but He has a form. He has eyes (2 Chronicles 16:9), has feet (Isaiah 66:1), has hands (Deuteronomy 26:7-8), has a back part (Exodus 33:23), has ears (Isaiah 59:1-2),etc. After God formed man out of the dust of the earth, He breathed into his nostrils the breath of life thereby transfering a part of Himself into man. Human beings are the zenith of God’s creation, created in His image and likeness. Below are some vital truths of how we share in the divine order:
1) Ability to relate: Animals associate while humans relate. Mere associating is a superficial way of relating; a relating that is limited to the mind. God is a Spirit and to worship Him must be in Spirit and in truth. God is looking for relationships that transcend just body and mind hence He created man in His image to be able to relate with Him spiritually. It is only those whose spirits have been recreated in Christ that can truly worship God. God is a relational God, always coming daily to meet Adam( the first man) in the cool of the day for fellowship. He made an helper for Adam because He affirmed that it is not good for man to be alone.
2) Ability to create: It is true that God didn’t finish the work of creation in the six days of creation. God created the raw materials of the earth and left the finished products to man. He created the vegetation, the trees and left creation of furniture, buildings, etc to man to complete. In essence, man is co-creator with God. The ability to create resides in him. There is something every man and woman is wired to produce and contribute to creation. I pray you discover and deploy yours in Jesus name.
3) Ability to lead: After God created the earth, He gave man dominion over the works of His hands. He leased the earth to mankind to oversee and superintend and He gave him the capability to function as the ruler of the earth. “The heaven, even the heavens are the Lord’s but the earth He has given to the children of men” (Psalm 115:16). We are to rule over the earth and its elements in cooperation with God. Unfortunately, after the fall of man, he lost part of this rulership power which was restored back after Christ resurrected from the grave.
4) Ability to imagine: God gave a renewed, enlightened and supersonic mind to Adam (the first man) at creation. Adam named all the animals at creation. He had such a robust and fertile imagination. Whatever name Adam deemed fit to call animals, so be it. This fertile and robust imagination was contaminated when Adam disobeyed, and contaminated mankind with the virus of sin. It is true whatever you are able to conceive and believe and act upon will become a reality with time in your life (Mark 9:23).
5) Ability to choose: Man is the only creation in God’s order that has a free choice. When God touches the lion, he bows and roars. When He touches the sheep, they bow and bleat and the list goes on. Man is the only created being that has the right of free choices and can therefore say Yes or No to his maker. God does not force man to do anything because He created him in His image and likeness. It is man’s prerogative to determine his destiny. He is free to choose light or darkness, righteousness or sin, heaven or hell, a life of relevance or pleasure, etc.
God created us simply to reflect His glory. He created us to extend the atmosphere of Heaven to earth. He made us in His image so that we can love Him and worship Him wholeheartedly. He created us so that we will partake with Him the fulfillment and joy of creation. How are you reflecting your Maker to your world? Jesus is the express image of the glory of God (Colossians 1:15-18). Accepting Him as Lord and Savior is critical to manifesting the glory of God.
Have a blessed new month in Jesus name.
Ade(Gboyega) ESAN
http://gboyegae.blogspot.com
www.rccgpittsburgh.net
Thursday, November 1, 2012
Handling Temptation (October 2012).
“But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and sin when it is full-grown, brings forth death” (James 1:14-15)
The process of sin and death starts with temptation and enticement. For Satan to plunge the whole mankind into sin, he started with tempting Eve. It is true temptation in itself is not sin but tempting offers and situations must be avoided like a plague. The human flesh has cravings and desires, and Satan who is the mastermind behind temptation knows every individual’s tendencies. He knows those who are inclined and weak towards jealousy (King Saul), women (King Solomon), greed (Gehazi), pride (King Nebuchadnezzar), cheating and lying (Jacob), anger (Moses), etc. If temptation is not nipped in the bud, it produces sin and death. An African folktale tells about a hunter who went hunting and found a fancy lion cub. It appealed to him so much that he brought the cub to the village. When the villagers saw the little lion, they told the hunter to return it to the bush. But the hunter was adamant saying it is young, harmless and he can handle it. He kept the lion cub in a safe place and began to feed it with chicken. As the lion grew, he started feeding it with goats and still insisted on keeping it. As the lion was growing so was the lion’s appetite for blood and flesh. Long story made short, the lion eventually mauled the hunter and his entire family.
Temptation starts with an evil, ungodly desire. If succumbed to, it becomes sin. When sin is full grown like the lion cub, it kills. I pray you and I always find grace to stop the process of temptation becoming sin and producing death. Below are ways of overcoming temptations:
1) Acknowledge divine grace always: Grace is a lifter and also an upholder. None of us is a match to the cravings of the flesh and to Satan’s enticements, but the grace of God in us puts us over and above. “When its sin versus grace, grace wins hands down” (Romans 5:20, MSG). We are not alone during temptation, we must always realize our sufficiency is of God, and when temptation knocks on our door, we should remember divine grace.
2) Cultivating a habit of regular prayer: Jesus instructed His disciples to pray, “Lead us not into temptation and deliver us from evil” (Matthew 6:13). The truth is anyone can yield to temptation but prayer is a fortress that builds up our inner defenses and also provides us with spiritual covering and protection.
3) Exercise in Godliness: The word ‘exercise’ in 1 Timothy 4:7 where we are instructed to exercise ourselves in godliness is from the Greek word ‘gumnaze’ where the word gymnasium emanates. The Bible enjoins us to work out spiritually and become spiritually fit. Job’s way of working out spiritually is by compelling his eyes not to look lustfully at a woman not his wife (Job 31:1). David’s way of working out was to memorize and deliberately hide God’s Word in his heart (Psalm 119:9,11).
4) Have a strategy: Temptation always have a pattern. We all have vulnerable moments when we are most prone to yield to sin. Know your weak moments because the tempter knows it. The Bible says we must be mindful of Satan’s schemes so that he doesn’t outwit us (2 Corinthians 2:11). Be proactive when it comes to handling temptation.
5) Flee temptation: Undoubtedly, the best way to handle temptation is to flee from it. We should allow the fear of God permeate deep into us such that whenever we are tempted to sin, the only thing we should consider is the way out of it. You cannot bring fire into your bosom without having your clothes burnt, neither can you walk on hot coals without having your feet seared (Proverbs 6: 27-28).
CONCLUSION: Handling temptation successful starts from having a right heart. Genuine salvation in Christ gives the recipient a heart transplant. The heart of stone is removed and a heart of flesh that loves God is implanted. Receive Jesus today and allow Him to keep working on your heart.
Have a blessed new month.
Ade(Gboyega) ESAN
http://gboyegae.blogspot.com
www.rccgpittsburgh.net
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The process of sin and death starts with temptation and enticement. For Satan to plunge the whole mankind into sin, he started with tempting Eve. It is true temptation in itself is not sin but tempting offers and situations must be avoided like a plague. The human flesh has cravings and desires, and Satan who is the mastermind behind temptation knows every individual’s tendencies. He knows those who are inclined and weak towards jealousy (King Saul), women (King Solomon), greed (Gehazi), pride (King Nebuchadnezzar), cheating and lying (Jacob), anger (Moses), etc. If temptation is not nipped in the bud, it produces sin and death. An African folktale tells about a hunter who went hunting and found a fancy lion cub. It appealed to him so much that he brought the cub to the village. When the villagers saw the little lion, they told the hunter to return it to the bush. But the hunter was adamant saying it is young, harmless and he can handle it. He kept the lion cub in a safe place and began to feed it with chicken. As the lion grew, he started feeding it with goats and still insisted on keeping it. As the lion was growing so was the lion’s appetite for blood and flesh. Long story made short, the lion eventually mauled the hunter and his entire family.
Temptation starts with an evil, ungodly desire. If succumbed to, it becomes sin. When sin is full grown like the lion cub, it kills. I pray you and I always find grace to stop the process of temptation becoming sin and producing death. Below are ways of overcoming temptations:
1) Acknowledge divine grace always: Grace is a lifter and also an upholder. None of us is a match to the cravings of the flesh and to Satan’s enticements, but the grace of God in us puts us over and above. “When its sin versus grace, grace wins hands down” (Romans 5:20, MSG). We are not alone during temptation, we must always realize our sufficiency is of God, and when temptation knocks on our door, we should remember divine grace.
2) Cultivating a habit of regular prayer: Jesus instructed His disciples to pray, “Lead us not into temptation and deliver us from evil” (Matthew 6:13). The truth is anyone can yield to temptation but prayer is a fortress that builds up our inner defenses and also provides us with spiritual covering and protection.
3) Exercise in Godliness: The word ‘exercise’ in 1 Timothy 4:7 where we are instructed to exercise ourselves in godliness is from the Greek word ‘gumnaze’ where the word gymnasium emanates. The Bible enjoins us to work out spiritually and become spiritually fit. Job’s way of working out spiritually is by compelling his eyes not to look lustfully at a woman not his wife (Job 31:1). David’s way of working out was to memorize and deliberately hide God’s Word in his heart (Psalm 119:9,11).
4) Have a strategy: Temptation always have a pattern. We all have vulnerable moments when we are most prone to yield to sin. Know your weak moments because the tempter knows it. The Bible says we must be mindful of Satan’s schemes so that he doesn’t outwit us (2 Corinthians 2:11). Be proactive when it comes to handling temptation.
5) Flee temptation: Undoubtedly, the best way to handle temptation is to flee from it. We should allow the fear of God permeate deep into us such that whenever we are tempted to sin, the only thing we should consider is the way out of it. You cannot bring fire into your bosom without having your clothes burnt, neither can you walk on hot coals without having your feet seared (Proverbs 6: 27-28).
CONCLUSION: Handling temptation successful starts from having a right heart. Genuine salvation in Christ gives the recipient a heart transplant. The heart of stone is removed and a heart of flesh that loves God is implanted. Receive Jesus today and allow Him to keep working on your heart.
Have a blessed new month.
Ade(Gboyega) ESAN
http://gboyegae.blogspot.com
www.rccgpittsburgh.net
Delete ReplyReply ForwardSpamMovePrint Actions NextPrevious
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