PROLOGUE
Linda Gates
Spiritual Nourishment Book Two
30 further daily messages based on the ones I have written for my Facebook Page “Spiritual Nourishment”. If you enjoyed my first book, I hope these messages will bless you as much. My hope is to bless readers with these messages during the difficult times in which we are living and to bring them into a closer relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.
A CHANGE COMES OVER US WHEN WE MEET JESUS
2 Corinthians 1:21 “Now He which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.”
It is impossible for anyone to remain unchanged once he meets the Saviour, our Lord Jesus Christ. A change is inevitable. Regardless of whether the person has always been a “good” person, whether he was a murderer, a thief, a liar, or just a “bad” person, when he meets Christ, change is inevitable. It is impossible to remain the same after encountering Christ. It is impossible to remain the same once Christ has entered one’s heart, through the power of the Holy Spirit.
The old man must die. And the new man must come to life. Man does not accomplish this in his own strength.
2 Corinthians 5:17-18 “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to Himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation.”
This change in our hearts is accomplished through the power of the unction of the Holy Spirit. It is a prompting which glorifies God through Jesus Christ our Saviour. It will set our minds and hearts to look to Christ.
1 John 2:20 “But ye have an unction from the Holy One....”
Colossians 3:1-4 “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with Him in glory.”
We need only look at Saul’s life prior to his conversion. He was a Pharisee who belonged to the strictest sect. He did not believe that Jesus was the Messiah. He persecuted Christians, making a havoc of the Church, entering into every house and dragging men and women off to prison.
Acts 8:3 “As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and dragging off men and women, committed them to prison.”
He played a major role in the stoning of Stephen, the first Christian martyr:
Acts 7:55-60 “But he (Stephen), being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, and said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God. Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord, and cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul. And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.”
Still not satisfied, Saul continued his killing spree and went to the high priest to obtain letters to take to the synagogues of Damascus, giving him permission to arrest anyone belonging to “The Way” as the Church of Christ was called in those days:
Acts 9:1-2 “And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, and desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.”
Just as Saul was approaching Damascus, a light suddenly shone upon him from heaven and he heard a voice saying “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” Saul’s immediate reaction was one of shock as he called out “Who are You, Lord?” How afraid he must have been when next the voice said “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.” Trembling and astonished Saul asked: “What do You want me to do, Lord?” We see here that Saul’s unbelief in Christ, as the Messiah, instantly changed to belief. There was no hesitation, no reluctance. He was transformed from sinner to saint, from unbeliever to believer, in a split second! Jesus told him to go into the city and there receive his instructions. (Acts 9; Acts 22)
The men who were with Saul stood dumbstruck, hearing a voice, but seeing no-one. They had to lead Saul into Damascus, as he was blind for three days and neither ate nor drank. In the meantime, the Lord also appeared in a vision to Ananias, telling him to go and anoint Saul that he may receive his sight again and be filled with the Holy Spirit. Ananias was reluctant at first, as Saul’s reputation preceded him, however he obeyed the Lord and went to Saul. Upon his anointing, the scales fell from Saul’s eyes and he instantly received his sight again. He arose and was baptized, and immediately preached Christ as the Son of God in the synagogues. Instead of persecuting Christians, Saul himself became the persecuted.
After his conversion, the writers of the Gospel referred to him as the Apostle Paul. The significance in this name change is that “in Christ” we have a new nature. The old man has died and the new man is born. Wherever there is faith in Christ, there is a new nature, a new character. We all become disciples of Christ through the power and anointing of the Holy Spirit.
Just as in the case of Saul, it is impossible for a Christian to remain the same as we were prior to our conversion. Saul’s conversion brought about a radical change in his entire nature, in his heart, in his priorities, in his life forward. His entire focus was now on Christ and on spreading the Word of God and converting others to Christ, regardless of his many sufferings because of it. He did not continue to cling to any part of his old life. His road took a complete U-turn. He fully surrendered to Christ, asking “What do You want me to do, Lord?” The majority of the New Testament Books were written by the Apostle Paul, as God breathed the words upon Him and led him, through the power and anointing of the Holy Spirit.
Without this full surrender to Christ in every aspect of our lives, there can be no full conversion. The “I” in what do “I” want to do must inevitably change to “You” in “what do “You” want me to do Lord?” The self can no longer reign in our hearts. We need to be fully surrendered to Christ and what He desires of us. This is the will of God for every child of God.
Philippians 1:21 “For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”
Galatians 2:20 “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.”
ANSWER TO LONELINESS
John 7:37b “"If any man thirst, let him come unto Me, and drink.”
Loneliness is a spiritual problem. So many people are going through life lonely, yet they don't realize that this loneliness is actually a deep-rooted longing for more of God. Even if we are amongst a crowd of people, inbetween friends, with family, in a marriage, we can still feel terribly lonely if our lives lack a personal, intimate relationship with God. Only God is able to fill the empty void caused by loneliness.
Deuteronomy 31:8 “And the Lord, He it is that doth go before thee; He will be with thee, He will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.”
If you are feeling lonely today, draw closer to God, speak to God, invite Jesus into every aspect of your life. Every human being is only complete once he has allowed Christ into his life. Christ has provided us with the only cure for loneliness.
Our own deep-rooted loneliness first needs to be cured before we are able to have a successful relationship with another person. We will only be fully ready to be with that one life companion of God's choice for us, once we have firmly established our relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. Otherwise, we might find ourselves drifting restlessly from one relationship to the other, always seeking, never finding.
In the Old Testament we see Adam walking in the garden with God, speaking to God. He had a relationship with God. Only once this relationship was established, did God create a companion for Adam.
Genesis 2:18 “And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.”
Before we establish a relationship with the Lord, we may (like we will see with the woman at the well) have several relationships. But we will find that none of these relationships ever successfully quenches the thirst within our hearts. As soon as any human relationship falls apart, the loneliness inevitably returns. Having loved and lost, we may even start thinking that we will never be able to fill the void within, that we will never find anyone to love us, even that we are unworthy of love.
This is because we have neglected to seek and find that one true relationship which surpasses all others. First and foremost in our lives, is our personal and intimate relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. A relationship with Jesus is eternal. It outlasts all others. Jesus promises to never leave us, nor forsake us. Jesus invites us to drink from the living water of a relationship with Him.
Hebrews 13:5-6 “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, the Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.”
Jesus tells us that whosoever drinks (speaking also of human relationships) will always thirst again. A human relationship cannot quench the thirst we have for a relationship with Jesus. A human relationship cannot replace the relationship our hearts instinctively long for with the Lord Jesus Christ. A human relationship is no substitute for a relationship with Jesus.
John 4:13-14 “Jesus answered and said unto her, "Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life."
Jesus explains this in the case of the woman at the well, who had five past husbands and was in a current relationship with a man.
John 4:17-24 “The woman answered and said, I have no husband. Jesus said unto her, thou hast well said, I have no husband: For thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband: in that saidst thou truly.”
This woman went through relationship after relationship, searching yet never successfully filling the void in her life. None of her husbands, nor her present companion, were able to quench her spiritual thirst. There was always still something amiss. This is because only Jesus is able to quench our spiritual thirst.
John 4:13-15 “Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. The woman saith unto him, Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw.”
It is up to us to accept Jesus' invitation and be cured of our loneliness. He invites us to the living water. We need only reach out and take that first step towards Jesus, to commence an eternal relationship which promises everlasting joy which overcomes anything and everything.
John 4:23-24 "But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship Him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth.”
Take hold of God's promise today and worship Him in spirit and in truth. He is the living water.
Revelation 22:17 “And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.”
APPLE OF GOD’S EYE
Psalm 17:8 “Keep me as the apple of Thine eye, hide me under the shadow of Thy wings.”
We experience this with our own children. No matter how many times we tell them to do something a certain way, they want to follow their own stubborn heads. They don’t realize that we only have their best interests at heart. That we speak from experience. That we are simply advising them not to make the same mistakes we made, because we KNOW it will harm them – maybe not today, but somewhere, sometime, down the road.
1 Corinthians 13:11-13 “When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. And now abideth faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.”
Have you ever heard an unbeliever say “God is not my boss”? God doesn’t want to be your boss! He wants to be your Father! His only wish for you is that you are saved from evil, from harm, from damnation. He ALWAYS, as a good parent, wants what is best for every one of His children!
God is a Gentleman – a gentleman never forces someone to do something against his will. God gently guides us into the truth, He gently nudges us by His Holy Spirit when our feet begin to stumble. He gently leads us, like a shepherd the sheep. But, God will never force us to obey Him, to read His Word, to talk to Him, to pray, to worship, to do anything at all unless we want to. Because that is what a gentleman does and our God is the Gentleman above all gentlemen. He will stand at the door of your heart and gently knock, but He will never just break the door down and force you to eat with Him – the choice is always yours.
Revelation 3:20 “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me."
Nobody knows us as well as God knows us. He knows our past, our present and our future. Some people go to fortune tellers (who get their information from the wrong source – namely satan).
Isaiah 47:13-14 “Thou art wearied in the multitude of thy counsels. Let now the astrologers, the stargazers, the monthly prognosticators, stand up, and save thee from these things that shall come upon thee. Behold, they shall be as stubble; the fire shall burn them; they shall not deliver themselves from the power of the flame: there shall not be a coal to warm at, nor fire to sit before it.”
Leviticus 20:6-7 “And the soul that turneth after such as have familiar spirits, and after wizards, to go a whoring after them, I will even set My face against that soul, and will cut him off from among his people. Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye holy: for I am the Lord your God.”
Why waste time and lose your soul in the process?! Just trust God! Our Father knows more than any other person could ever know about your past, your present and your future. Be guided by His Holy Spirit in all the affairs of your life and you can rest assured that He will never misguide you as people often do.
Psalm 139:1-6 “O Lord, Thou hast searched me, and known me. Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, Thou understandest my thought afar off. Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O Lord, Thou knowest it altogether. Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid Thine hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.”
God loves His children more than any person could ever love us. We, His children (the born again) are the apple of our Father’s eye! He sacrificed the life of His very own Son to save ours. Can this be the selfish deed of someone who just wants to be your boss? No, it is the most unselfish deed ever! What man would sacrifice his life for another!?
John 15:13 "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down His life for His friends."
John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
God loves His children so much that His eye is always on us, making sure that we are safe, filled with joy, peace, hope, love. He tells us not to worry about tomorrow, because today is sufficient for the day. He will ensure that tomorrow is taken care of. He will ensure that we receive sufficient for today. Just trust in Him. He is our Father. He is our Provider. He is our Creator. He knew us before we were even conceived in our mother’s womb and He formed us in our mother’s womb. When we go for an ultra-scan and see a baby slowly being formed – THAT IS GOD! It is not our doing, nor nature, nor the ‘universe’ as some love to give credit to these days. IT IS OUR GOD! He forms the baby limb by limb, organ by organ, hair by hair.
Psalm 34:15 “The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and His ears are open unto their cry.
Luke 12:7 “But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.”
Isaiah 44:24 “Thus saith the Lord, thy redeemer, and He that formed thee from the womb.”
Jeremiah 1:5 “Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee...”
Psalm 139:13-16 “For Thou hast possessed my reins: Thou hast covered me in my mother's womb. I will praise Thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are Thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. My substance was not hid from Thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in Thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.”
It is impossible for us to be away from God’s presence at any given time. He is always there, always ready for when we need Him. What earthly father can ever ensure or promise this? But, God can and does!
Psalms 139:7-12 “Whither shall I go from Thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from Thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, Thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, Thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; Even there shall Thy hand lead me, and Thy right hand shall hold me. If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me. Yea, the darkness hideth not from Thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to Thee.”
God’s thoughts are never evil with regard to His children, but PRECIOUS! Think for a moment, ponder on it...let it take root in your heart and grow as a seed grows and blossoms! God (the Omnipotent, Omnipresent and Omniscient God) thinks about you – little you, little me – He THINKS about us! What a wonderful, marvelous, awesome concept! Right now, right there where you are, whatever you are busy with – God’s eye is on you because you are the apple of His eye!
Psalm 139:17-18 “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.”
Ask the Father to search your heart today, to know your heart, to try you, and to know your thoughts. Let these be good thoughts and not evil. Thoughts of God and not of the world as He leads you on the road to eternity, because you are the apple of His eye!
Psalm 139:23-24 “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”
And when we one day reach the gates of heaven, and meet our Lord Jesus Christ, our Saviour, the One who suffered for us to be able to stand at those gates and also enter those gates because we believed in Him, because we accepted Him as the Son of God, our Lord and Saviour, then He will welcome each and every one of His children, as the apple of His eye!
Matthew 25:21 "His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy Lord."
ARMAGEDDON
Sometimes when people express great fear, they compare what is taking place to Armageddon-like events. What is the actual Armageddon though? It
Impressum
Verlag: BookRix GmbH & Co. KG
Texte: Linda Gates
Cover: freelyphotos.com
Tag der Veröffentlichung: 05.12.2017
ISBN: 978-3-7438-4486-5
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