Native Nations Christian Assembly

Scripture Lessons

Our Motto

"Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth." 3 John 2 KJV

Two Visitors

Elder Michael Davis--6-20-03

Two life orientations will be disccussed today: expressive living and responsive living. These have as their basis, the way we act in or towards our environmental surroundings. In the first we are an extension of the love of God. We affect people and situations around us in a positive way. We become the body of Christ in this present world and function to bring about His Kingdom. In the latter, we only respond to environmental stimuli, whether people or situations, with a major portion of our life being controlled by such. This is like "cause and effect".

Consider John 10:10--

"The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly."

Two visitors mentioned in John 10:10-- a thief and a giver, have affected humankind concerning these life orientations. The thief, Satan, of course, first appeared to humankind at the onset of civilization to confront Eve. From Strong's, I found the following definition of the Greek "thief" word translated in this passage:

812 kleptes-- klep’-tace
AV-thief :
1) an embezzler, pilferer
1a) the name is transferred to false teachers, who do not care to instruct men, but abuse their confidence for their own gain.

The critical thing to glean from a study of "the Thief" is that he appeared to perpetuate his own agenda. The serpent wanted something internal; he wanted control of the perspectives of Adam and Eve- if he could change the way that man saw things, he could ultimately change the way man would live. His purpose was to control the thoughts of man and to divert them away from the knowledge of Who their source was, and also, away from the fact that everyman was created in the image of God to be expressive. Further, the thief, in his role as a deceiver, would have men to be predominantly responsive in character, being swayed by "every wind of doctrine" which may blow about. He would have men dependent on and activated by people, situations and surroundings.

Conversely, the giver( Jesus, the Christ) who just happens to be speaking in John 10, has as His purpose, the implementation of Creators plan to restore and reconcile mankind to Himself. He states that His specific mission is to give "life....and have it more abundantly".

The Greek word for "life", as used here, is most interesting.(Strong's)

222 zoe-- dzo-ay’
AV-life 133, lifetime 1; 134
1) life
1a) the state of one who is possessed of vitality or is animate
1b) every living soul
2) life
2a) of the absolute fulness of life, both essential and ethical, which belongs to God, and through him both to the hypostatic "logos" and to Christ in whom the "logos" put on human nature
2b) life real and genuine, a life active and vigorous, devoted to God, blessed, in the portion even in this world of those who put their trust in Christ, but after the resurrection to be consummated by new accessions (among them a more perfect body), and to last for ever.

The Lord did a great work in His sacrificial death, but more importantly, through His resurrection, He became victorious, and made us so, over the power of the enemy. Though we may be subject, at times, to the authority of the curse, we will one day see that He has placed all His enemies(and ours) under his feet(and ours). Through Christ we are able to live this life to it's fullest, with evangelism at our forefront, awaiting that Blessed Hope of the Redeemed.

Consider the use of carefully constructed external mental suggestions. The power of suggestion can have a most detrimental effect on the proper thought processes of man. In the garden, the deceiver began to plant subtle suggestions into Eve through verbal discussion. He undoubtedly played upon her need to have discourse. Her actions were repsonsive. Eve responded to the serpent, Adam responded to the Eve, and a new angle of living (responsiveness) was adopted. This incident began a new chapter in the book of human drama: mental spiritual warfare. Here is a scripture which was cited:

2 Corinthians 10:3-5
3 For though we walk in the flesh , we do not war after the flesh :
4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal , but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds {through God: or, to God}
5 Casting down imaginations , and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God , and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ ; {imaginations: or, reasonings} .

In conclusion, God intended man to be an expressive creature, but many live life in a responsive way. Man was intended to express God's glory, but we fall short of it. Our fundamental problem is sin. We must overcome it through the atonement and begin to walk as a new, regenerated creature. Creator's blessings upon you and your house..Bro. Mike

copyright M.D.Davis, 2003

Hosted by www.Geocities.ws

1