Dads UNI- Imparting

One of the most wonderful things a father can do in life is to bestow a blessing upon his children. We all have a blessing to give, whether it’s a kind word, an encouraging smile or something that can be defined as a spiritual endowment. We can only give to others that which we have ourselves, and so it is with our blessing, as a father we have the ability to share a part of our life with our child. As we conclude our short series on the foundational principles of our Dadsuni organisation that are found within our acronym UNI, we arrive at the final word Imparting.

Dads UNI is based upon the three foundational precepts of Understanding, Nurturing and Imparting. These three areas address the needs of the mind, the emotions and the spirit of man and seek to bring them into a position where they can receive the fullness of God’s blessing and abundant life.

Dads UNI – Imparting

impart

verb

• To make known. (information)

to communicate, to pass on or convey, to disseminate or circulate

• To bestow (a quality)

to give, to confer, to grant, to bestow, to provide, to supply or contribute

As a father we have all received authority from God our Heavenly Father. Our authority is to be the head of our home and the person most responsible before God for the raising of our children. Although in modern times many men seem to have delegated much of their parental responsibilities to their wife, this is a short-sighted solution that is destined to failure. Children need their father to be fully involved in every area of their life if they are to prosper and mature physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually.

The spiritual blessing that fathers have to give their children is powerful and has far-reaching effects in their children’s lives. Like the roots that spread out from a tree, so a father’s blessing reaches far beyond the initial impartation. What follows is a short list of some of the most common ways a father can impart a blessing to his children.

Baby Dedication

Matthew 19:14  But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.”

One of the most traditional opportunities that fathers have to impart a blessing to their child is through baby dedication. In baby dedication a child is presented before God for His blessing and God is petitioned to watch over and protect the life of the child. The parents are often requested also to make a commitment before God to bring the child up in the fear and love of God, and the child is either prayed over by the minister and parents or in some churches the child receives a baptism of water. Whatever the process in your particular church the important thing is that it is done, because having God Himself watching over and protecting your child is incredibly powerful.

Fathers should take advantage of this wonderful time to begin the process of imparting spiritual blessing to their child by dedicating them to the Lord as a baby. This is often the first in a marvellous series of opportunities we have to strengthen our bond with our child through connecting spiritually with our Heavenly Father and His blessing.

Reading Bible Stories

Psalm 78:3-4  Which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us. We will not hide them from their children, telling to the generation to come the praises of the Lord, and His strength and His wonderful works that He has done.

The bible is filled with amazing stories of how God has moved powerfully in the lives of real people like ourselves in times past. As we as their father read these stories to our children their hearts are opened up to the impartation of faith, which comes by hearing God’s word. The miracles in the bible are meant to be retold from generation to generation so that each new era in history has an opportunity to rise up and see God’s hand move in their times as well.

Reading the Bible stories to our  children reinforces our beliefs, standards and values in their young hearts and inspires them to live a life that will bring honour to themselves and their family.

Praying For Our Child

Numbers 6:23-26  “Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, ‘This is the way you shall bless the children of Israel. Say to them: “The Lord bless you and keep you, The Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you;  The Lord lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace.”’

It is a fathers role to be the protector of the family, and one of the most important ways to safeguard our marriage and children is through the vehicle of believing prayer. God has stated that if you come to Him in humility and ask for His forgiveness and His help that He will indeed begin to move in your life, and to watch over you and your family as you pray daily.

The prayer above is a wonderful way to impart blessing to your child and can either be sung or spoken quietly while they sleep at night. It can also be added to your daily prayers for God’s grace and mercy to be upon your child’s life, and spoken with thanksgiving that God is indeed accomplishing it faithfully.

Praying Over Our Child

Mark 10:15-16  Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.” ¹⁶ And He took them up in His arms, laid His hands on them, and blessed them.

The blessing that comes with the laying on of hands is often powerful and life changing for a child. When a believing father prays over his child through laying on of hands the Spirit Of God is imparted to the child and a blessing comes with it. Because it is spiritual in nature the blessing is not always fully understood, it is however a transference of some of the very best things that God has established in you throughout your life into the heart and spirit of your child.

As I said before we as a man can usually only give those things that we ourselves possess away to others in a blessing, there is however an exception to this rule. When a father who is filled with the Holy Spirit prays over his child, there are occasions when God Himself will reveal something by His Holy Spirit and impart a word of encouragement and faith through revelation or prophecy. I have personally experienced this many times and although we as men may only understand a minute portion of God’s plans for our child’s life, yet even that knowledge can impart vision and faith into our child’s heart.

Leading Your Child To Christ

2 Timothy 3:14-15  But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them,  and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

The ultimate goal of every father should be to ensure that his child has every opportunity to find salvation through Christ Jesus. In a million years time the only decision that really counts, will be whether or not we believe in Christ’s death, burial and resurrection from the dead. As a man we need to ensure that our own faith is strengthened and encouraged daily through prayer and study of God’s word in the Bible and through fellowship with other believers, so that we have an abundance of spiritual blessing and wisdom to impart into the life of our child.

In my experience there is nothing more important in life than preparing our child both for life here on earth and in eternity. There are many challenges that we will face throughout life as a father and in every one of them it is advantageous to have the blessing and favour of God over our life and over the lives of our children. Spiritual Impartation is the key to opening up the doors of faith and hope in the hearts of our children and every father is called by God to take up this all important role.

Warm Regards

John

Dadsuni

http://www.dadsuni.com

You may also find these teachings helpful:

http://dadsuni.com/the-element-of-faith.html

http://dadsuni.com/head-of-the-home.html

http://dadsuni.com/pray-daily-for-your-children.html

10 Things That Great Dads Do (No.8)

As we have progressed through our series on “10 Things That Great Dads Do” we have been identifying areas that separate and elevate ‘Great Dads’ beyond other men in their role as a father. ‘Great Dads’ have the ability to relate at a deeper level with their children than most men, and today I’m going to share one of the keys of how they do it. Life is all about relationships, our marriage, our children and then there is the most important one of all, the primary relationship of life from which all other relationships grow, our relationship with God. Today I will be talking about how Great Dads Commit Their Children Into God’s Care.

Great Dads Commit Their Children Into God’s Care

The Dad and God 

Matthew 6:9  In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name…

In all areas of family life men are called to take up the leadership role, and to show by their own life example the way for their children to live. This is a great responsibility for us as men, but thankfully we don’t have to carry the weight of this obligation alone. For many men there are times in their role as a father when they may feel out of their depth and floundering. It is for this very reason that I have developed a daily relationship with God, our Heavenly Father, so I can ask for and receive His guidance and wisdom for being a dad.

Jesus revealed through what we commonly know as ‘The Lord’s Prayer’ that God is in truth the Father of us all, and cares about every aspect of our lives. It is through the development of a firm abiding trust in God that we are able to access wisdom and knowledge that we can use daily in our role as a father.

It is important to know that God Himself loves our children even more than we do, and His desire is to see their life blessed both now and eternally. With God’s help we as fathers do not need to not fall into the trap of fearing the worst in our child’s life, but can enjoy the freedom of trusting and hoping for the best.

Baby Dedication

Matthew 19:14  But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.”

So many children these days are disadvantaged by their parents not allowing or hindering them coming to Jesus for His blessing. A child’s precious life is shaped early by the contacts they have or don’t have with either good or bad influences. God’s great love is available for all and especially for children who are particularly open to His Holy Spirit’s guidance and positive influence. When God speaks to a child their whole life can be blessed by His impact upon their heart and life direction, and they can avoid many of the pitfalls that we as men know are out there in the world.

From the moment my children were born and even when they were in the womb, I prayed for God’s blessing and protection upon their lives daily. I committed them into His safe-keeping spiritually that they would be spared from the evils of this world and would find an eternal home with Jesus Christ. I dedicated my family and especially my children into God’s protection and blessing and enjoy the peace that commitment gives me as a father.

Daily Prayer For Your Child

2 Samuel 12:16  David therefore pleaded with God for the child, and David fasted and went in and lay all night on the ground.

Numbers 6:22-26  And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: ²³ “Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, ‘This is the way you shall bless the children of Israel. Say to them: ²⁴ “The Lord bless you and keep you; ²⁵ The Lord make His face shine upon you,And be gracious to you; ²⁶ The Lord lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace.”’

The lives of our children are precious in our sight as fathers, and even more so in the sight of our Loving Heavenly Father. As we stand in our role as their father and pray for them we are building a hedge of protection and God’s favour around their young lives. Their innocence and purity must be protected and thankfully we as fathers can go to God daily for His help and wisdom in how to achieve this. Developing a habit of spending time daily thanking God for His blessing and favour upon our children can bring tremendous changes for the better in their future.

Guidance Through Scriptures

Ephesians 6:4  And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.

A life without faith is a life without hope. Children that are brought up without the comfort and encouragement of the scriptures in the bible are like pieces of driftwood upon the sea of life, they have no choice or ability to change where they are going. The foundations of faith, hope and love that are found in the Bible set up a young life for success, both here on earth and ultimately in eternity. By daily study of the scriptures we as fathers build up a storehouse of wisdom and insight into our role as a parent, and can guide our children in life with confidence.

Releasing The Apron Strings

As our children continue to grow it is our role as their father to prepare them for life as an adult, and this involves allowing them incrementally more authority in their own life when we believe that they are ready for it. By initially giving them charge over little areas in their life, like choosing what they will wear etc. we are helping them become aware of the benefits and responsibilities of having a free will. When they are adults they will be able to do and say what they choose in life, so now is the time when we have the opportunity to teach them the wisdom that will enable them to make better choices.

‘Great Dads’ continually entrust their child’s life into the hands and protection of the ‘Almighty’ and let go our own control of their lives one piece at a time. I have never found this easy personally, for as a dad I always want to protect and shelter them from life’s storms. But as the wise proverb says “If we give a man a fish we feed him for a day, but if we teach him to fish we will feed him for life”. We will not always be there for them, our own lives on this earth will come to an end, and we must ensure that they are ready and trained to continue on when we are gone.

God is better able to protect them than we ever can be, even as a loving dad. By committing our children’s lives into His care we are freed from many of the cares and fears that would emotionally restrict us. Our firm abiding trust in God as a father frees us to be better able to enjoy the experience and honour of being a ‘Great Dad’.

Warm Regards

John

Dadsuni

http://www.dadsuni.com

You may also find this teaching helpful:

http://dadsuni.com/committing-your-children-to-god.html

Is It Possible To Know God?

Is it possible for a man to know God? Is this a realistically achievable goal or is it a belief only shared by ‘religious fanatics’ and ‘spiritual gurus’? Some would say they know God, others that it is merely a fanciful pursuit. Some speak God’s name but their heart is far from Him, while others continue to quietly persist in showing God’s love to the people they meet through their actions. Is there only one way to know God or do all paths lead to the same destination? These questions are valid and deserve to be answered, read below for more…..

After writing last week on the title “Impressions Of Heaven” I have decided to take the heavenly theme one step further, and to introduce you to some concepts that may assist you in knowing God personally. Ultimately it will come down to a personal choice and decision as to whether or not you get to know God personally. If you are adamant that God can NOT be known then there is a very good chance that you won’t meet Him, at least not while you are alive. But if you open up your heart to the POSSIBILITY that God can be known, then you have taken an important step forward to achieving that goal.

Please consider the following reasons from scripture why God may be known:

Seeing God Through His Creation

Romans 1:18-21  For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,¹⁹ because what may be known of God is manifest in them,  for God has shown it to them. ²⁰ For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, ²¹ because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.

You Already Have A Knowledge Of God

The knowledge of God’s reality is hard-wired into every human being, when we are born on this earth we arrive with the knowledge that we are a created being and we owe our lives to our Creator. This is both a wonderful encouragement and an awesome responsibility because we have to get through our lifetime both protecting that knowledge and fulfilling the destiny we have been given to achieve.

John 1:9  That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world

You Have Already Seen God At Some Level

God is clearly seen through the things that He has made. The divine order that holds our world in place is proof of His creative hand. Every day the sun comes up and goes down, every day the tides come in and go out again, gravity holds everything down on the earth so it doesn’t fly away into space, clouds form that they may release life-giving water upon the earth, millions of different creatures flow together as part of a complex biological system of life. If we only took the time to ask Him to show us the truth of His reality we may begin to see His Hand in much of our daily life.

Matthew 5:45  for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.

You Have Already Understood About God

The understanding of God’s ways is perceived by the heart and not merely by the mind. Man however then has the responsibility to continue in that understanding and not allow it to be pushed out of our mind because of our propensity to live independently from God. If we allow this to happen then we will start to justify our actions through mentally discounting God’s reality and the certainty of our lives and actions being judged by Him. The end result of this process is often a complete mental denial of God’s existence, when man’s thoughts become futile and hearts become darkened from the truth that surrounds them everywhere.

Luke 10:16  He who hears you hears Me, he who rejects you rejects Me, and he who rejects Me rejects Him who sent Me.”

You Have A Choice To Make

We see from these scriptures that evidence for God’s reality surrounds us everyday and yet many in the world continue to miss out on actually getting to know Him personally. For many it is because they refuse to open their hearts to even the possibility of His existence, and because God is a gentleman and will not force Himself upon anyone He allows them to exercise the free will that He gave them to reject Him.

 Hebrews 11:6  But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

God’s Ultimate Revelation Of Himself

If the hints that we find within creation and within our own hearts are pointers toward God’s reality and the fact that He can be known, then the life of His Son Jesus Christ is the undeniable proof of His existence. Jesus came to earth and worked incredible miracles and spoke with amazing wisdom revealing God’s purposes and plans for us. But all His lifetime achievements were over-shadowed by His resurrection from the dead after He allowed Himself to be crucified for the sins of all mankind.  Jesus laid down His own life for us that we might find new life in Him as our saviour.

John 14:9  Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?

My main aim today is to open your mind to the possibility that maybe God is closer to you than you think. I encourage you to consider that the greatness of God’s love as revealed through His Son is worthy to be trusted. Can God be known and is Jesus Christ the only way to achieve that goal of truly finding Him?

In my experience after many years of seeking truth in many different ways I have found that meeting Jesus Christ personally was the fulfillment of my greatest dreams and hopes, and knowing Him more each day is my motivation and passion. It is for this reason that I share my faith with you my readers that you also may share in the joy of knowing God personally.

John 14:6  Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

Warm Regards

John

Dadsuni

http://www.dadsuni.com

You may also find encouragement in this teaching:

http://dadsuni.com/to-know-him.html

Impressions Of Heaven

Throughout the ages there has probably never been a more important yet elusive question as that about the existence of Heaven. Is Heaven real, what happens after we die, do we merely cease to be or is there an after-life? These are the very real questions that I believe every person born asks themselves sometime throughout their life. The evidence for the reality of Heaven is available everywhere but must be perceived by the heart and not merely understood by the mind alone. Even the fact that every member of humanity asks themselves questions about Heaven is a clue we should not discount lightly.

What follows is a short list containing some specific insights into what the Bible teaches about Heaven. There are however far more biblical insights about Heaven available for those who would like to study them in scripture.

Many Mansions

John 14:2  In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

This is a wonderfully comforting scripture which reveals that God has room for everyone and Jesus has ensured us that there is a place for every believer, no matter how many come seeking entrance into this place of eternal peace and joy. The kingdom of God is open to every nationality and ethnic group, all are welcome in God’s house.

Heaven is both inclusive and exclusive, inclusive in the way it welcomes every person as an honoured member and exclusive in the fact that it is a place for believers only. Those who have mocked God and Heavens reality and lived their lives apart from Him have already made their choice and excluded themselves from the eternal joys found in Heaven. Although even those unbelievers have the opportunity while they still live to change their mind about God and their eternal destination will also change accordingly.

Angelic Life

Matthew 22:30  For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels of God in heaven.

I have previously been informed about comments on this scripture that it in some way lessens the value of Heaven in people’s eyes, because they would not be able to enjoy the physical pleasures associated with our humanity. It is however important to understand that our sexuality was given to us as a means of procreation when we were told to “Be fruitful and multiply, fill the earth and subdue it” (Genesis 1:28) Once we have left this world behind and stepped into the joys of Heaven, the ties to our natural bodies are broken and the physical desires that dwelt within them are also broken. Heavens unending joy will supersede any and all desires we previously had for the things of this world,

Gate of Heaven

Genesis 28:10-12  Now Jacob went out from Beersheba and went toward Haran. ¹¹ So he came to a certain place and stayed there all night, because the sun had set. And he took one of the stones of that place and put it at his head, and he lay down in that place to sleep. ¹² Then he dreamed, and behold, a ladder was set up on the earth, and its top reached to heaven; and there the angels of God were ascending and descending on it.

Genesis 28:17  And he was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven!”

Our life upon the earth is our God-given opportunity to decide whether or not we desire to live in God’s presence forever in Heaven. We stand at the threshold of Heaven everyday and by our beliefs and actions we choose our eternal path and influence others in their choices also. God’s angels are busy in this world trying to protect us along our life’s journey and to thwart the plans that the evil one, the Devil has for you. We are however given a free will by God to make our own choices and we alone are responsible for those choices.

God’s Breath In Man

Genesis 2:7  And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.

God is spirit, and as spirit is not bound by the constraints of natural life as we know it here on earth, for it is He who made us and the world we live in. God is also eternal and lives outside of what we understand as ‘time’ and when He breathed into man we became a spiritual and eternal being as well. It is for this reason that it is vitally important for each of us to ensure that we choose wisely when we are deciding our eternal home, for where ever we choose to spend it, it will be forever.

All Sorrow Gone

Revelation 21:4   And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”

The joys of heaven are realised not only its location and the glorious splendour seen with our eyes but in truth Heaven is internally experienced. The greatest joy will be found in our release from every pain and suffering we have endured upon the earth and in the eternal thrill of meeting our Creator in person.

Eternity Already In Our Hearts

Ecclesiastes 3:11  He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end.

This is clearly one of the greatest clues we can acknowledge when looking for insights into Heaven. This fact alone deserves serious consideration, that throughout the history of man there has always been an understanding of and a pursuit of Heaven. In every place and at every time Mankind has been aware of Heaven’s existence, and in that awareness has sought to know God.

The Lord’s Prayer

Matthew 6:9-13

 In this manner, therefore, pray:

Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
Your kingdom come.
Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
As we forgive our debtors.
And do not lead us into temptation,
But deliver us from the evil one.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever Amen

The Lord’s Prayer above is one of the most well-known verses of scripture and clearly articulates 4 specific aspects of Heaven for us to understand.

• The first is that God dwells in Heaven, it is His Throne Room
• Secondly we see that God’s will is done in Heaven and He desires for His will to be done here on earth as well, especially in the lives of every believer.
• Thirdly we see that God’s kingdom is coming here to earth
• Fourthly we see that God’s kingdom (which we will share with Him) will last forever.

Jesus Opens The Door

John 14:6  Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

When God sent His beloved Son Jesus into the earth to pay the price for our sins, it was so that we as a fallen creation could be brought back into God’s eternal blessing and enjoy the joys of walking with Him eternally in Heaven. Jesus victory on the cross (paying for our sins) and overcoming death itself (in His resurrection) opened the door for everyone who believes in Him to follow Him into Heaven as His beloved children.

Heaven itself, that greatest of human questions, is glimpsed in many different snapshots in the scriptures of the Bible. The short list that I have mentioned is like placing only the tip of a toe into the great sea of eternity. Of one thing we can be sure, Heaven is a wonderful place and each and every one of us has a personal invitation from God to come and make our eternal home with Him.

Warm Regards

John

Dadsuni

http://www.dadsuni.com

You may also find this teaching informative:

http://dadsuni.com/how-does-heaven-see-you.html

Meant For More

There are times especially when we are young and still forming many of the beliefs that we will carry throughout our lives, that we may experience sensations or impressions of what our life could be. I believe that God speaks to us all at times in our life and it is how we respond to Him when He speaks that either opens up the door for more interaction or closes it. We have the gift of a free will either to choose our own way in life or to choose to honour and follow God’s choices and path for our life. Our lives are meant for more than just what we can achieve here on earth, there is an eternal purpose that calls us all to greatness.

One of the things that motivates me in the building of Dadsuni is the tremendous potential that lies within each and every human being. Within each precious life there is the possibility of great acts of kindness or terrible acts of depravity and often those choices are in some way influenced by a loving family or the lack of it. So many children these days are being brought up without the hope and joy that comes through a life within a loving family, where they experience acceptance and encouragement.

When children grow up without the influence of a loving and caring family they are often left with the belief that the world is a hard place where its ‘every man for himself‘. This basic core belief often inspires a life of selfish pursuits devoid of compassion toward our fellow-man. Although these individuals are often single-minded and focussed toward their goals of getting everything they can out of life they miss out on many of the very things that will give them lasting satisfaction.

Matthew 16:26 For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?

Many men get caught up with ‘gaining the whole world’ and neglect the all important area of the state of their own soul. A life that is not lived for God and for others is ultimately a wasted life, and a waste that many will have all eternity to regret. There is nothing we can do once our life is ended to put things right with God, there is no fine we can pay or riches we can exchange to avert the judgement that comes from a life that has rejected God’s will and ways.

Mark 12:30-31 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment.³¹ And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’There is no other commandment greater than these.”

Many of those who are now honoured as ‘rich men’ on the earth will be revealed as ‘spiritual bankrupts’ on Judgement Day when we all stand before God and give an account of our lives. Those who have focussed solely upon themselves and natural pursuits have missed out on the greatness that only comes through a life that is yielded to God’s purposes and calling. The call of God brings a greatness that will last for all eternity where we will live in the light of His great love and mercy and have the appreciation of many of those whom we have helped to find life in Christ.

A life that is not lived for God and for others is ultimately a wasted life, and a waste that many will have all eternity to regret

If you are reading this there is still time for you to make the changes you need to avoid your life being totally wasted on things that are passing away and to refocus upon things that are eternal. The best way to find God’s mercy is to humble yourself before Him and seek Him with all your heart, asking for His forgiveness and believing in His Son Jesus Christ. You were meant to live a life that has eternal value, a big life, a great life, a life worth living, you were meant for more!

Warm Regards

John

Dadsuni

http://www.dadsuni.com

You may also find this teaching helpful:

http://dadsuni.com/the-element-of-faith.html

 

Pursuing Heaven

When a child is born into the world they arrive with a perception of God’s reality, but it is often in the midst of life’s difficulties that some people choose to reject that knowledge. This process involves a subtle decision being made, a decision whether or not to believe in God and to pursue Heaven, or to mentally allocate ‘spiritual’ things as unreal or unknowable. These decisions once made will either validate our choice to believe or attempt to justify our choice Not to believe.

 

In the Gospel Of Mark (4:3-20) Jesus spoke a parable revealing how the truth of God’s Word reaches every person in the world in some way, and shows that it is their own responses to that truth that ultimately determine whether or not they attain eternal life. In the Parable of the Sower Jesus lists 4 different heart responses and reactions to hearing the Word of God.

The Seeds That Fell By The Wayside

The good news of the salvation that is available through Jesus Christ (God’s Son), is spoken of throughout the whole world. For some people the gospel merely seems like a ‘fairy story’ or a ‘religious legend’ and it does not resonate within their heart, this is because they have already made an unconscious decision and compartmentalized the gospel as ‘not being true’ and have therefore rejected it. The Bible states in Mark’s Gospel that the devil comes immediately to steal the truth away from those people, lest they be saved.

The Seeds That Fell On Stony Ground

For others the story of Jesus Christ and salvation seems like a pretty good idea, so they immediately say: ‘I’ll give it a go!’ But because these people don’t take the time to consider the importance and implications of such a decision, they lack the inner strength or commitment required for their faith to survive through times of adversity. The Bible states that these people stumble immediately when any adversity arises and reject their faith. These people often become those who say “Been there,done that” when they are approached by someone trying to encourage them to believe and be saved.

The Seeds That Fell Among Thorns

The third heart response we see Jesus speak of is those who hear the message of salvation and accept it, but they maintain a degree of independence. The ability to live for God successfully is stifled, because the room required in their heart to love God fully is cluttered with other things. The cares of the world, the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things entering into their hearts actually choke out the effectiveness of the word. By not choosing to put God first in their lives they are unable to bear fruit for the kingdom of God and eventually they fall away from the faith.

The Seeds That Fell On Good Ground

The last heart response that Jesus spoke about identified the group of people who are able to succeed in this most important area of life. They are those who fully accept the truth of God’s word, allowing His will and purposes in their hearts and lifestyle. Loving God becomes their daily desire, and because they have made room for Him in their hearts they experience the joy of bearing fruit that will remain into eternity. To these people the pursuit of heaven becomes a passion which is outworked joyfully in their daily lives. To them the difficulties we all face are merely hurdles to be jumped because they have ‘an eternal perspective‘ on life. Eternity holds no terrors for them for the Holy Spirit has given them an assurance of God’s goodness and mercy awaiting them in heaven.

I’m often saddened by the number of people who say they believe in God and yet by their own admission are living a lifestyle that they know does not match that belief. Some I’m sure secretly have the thought that they will live the life they choose here on earth, and then get right with God when they are on their death-bed. The trouble with this strategy of getting into heaven, is that sin has a way of constantly hardening our hearts against God, and eventually we become unable to change and choose the Christian life we know we should.

Life is full of choices, and making the right choices leads to right outcomes, while making wrong choices takes us into areas that we may very well regret. As fathers we have a huge amount of influence upon the lives of our children, and it is for this reason that I encourage all men to teach their children the Bible stories at a young age. Ultimately they, like us, will have to make their own decision whether or not to believe in and follow Jesus Christ but by teaching them God’s word we give them the best chance of enjoying eternity with us.

As someone said recently ‘Eternity is a long time to be wrong!’.

Warm Regards

John

Dadsuni

http://www.dadsuni.com

5 Things The Bible Reveals About Evil

You have only to turn on the television any day of the week and watch the news, to realise that we live in a world where ‘Evil’ is present. The subject of ‘Evil’ in the world is often discussed but its’ true causes are rarely identified. Some even go as far as blaming God for every evil thing that happens on the earth by saying “If God is such a good God why does He allow all these terrible things to happen?”. But where does ‘Evil’ really come from and who is really to blame? This is the second blog in a short series on what the bible really reveals.

5 Things The Bible Reveals About Evil

1)The Origin Of Evil

(Ezekiel 28:15)

You were perfect in your ways from the day you were created,
Till iniquity was found in you.

‘Evil’ is not just a mystical form without substance or without origin. The Bible reveals that ‘Evil’ actually proceeds from and is centred around the being called the Devil/Satan, and that he has many minions called demons serving him. Satan used to be called Lucifer when he was originally one of God’s Archangels in Heaven, but when he formed sin and rebellion within himself he was judged by God and was cast out of Heaven.

2)The Influence Of Evil

(1 John 3:8) 

He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.

When Satan fell to the earth because of his rebellion against God he devised a scheme to corrupt the purity of God’s creation, and in particular Mankind. Man had been made in God’s image and likeness, and given authority to rule the world by God. After deceiving man into disobeying God in the Paradise of Eden, Satan took the rulership of the earth from man, and began to distort men into his own perverted image spiritually. Satan’s sin nature came into man when we disobeyed God and now all men are influenced at times by desires to do evil.

3)The Responsibility For Evil

(2 Corinthians 5:10) 

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.

Although Satan originally deceived man to fall into sin, man is not without fault before God. Man was given a free will and the ability to make his own choices when God breathed life into him. These choices were meant to be made within the safe boundaries of the will of God, but when man fell into disobedience he became estranged from God because of sin. Man was free to make his own choices, but was not free from the consequences of those choices and therefore we also carry responsibility for our own sins before God.

4)The Judgement Of Evil

(John 12:31)

Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out.

Through the Death, Burial and Resurrection of Jesus Christ God accomplished an exchange and brought man back legally from under the rulership and influence of Satan’s kingdom. The perfect Son of God willingly paid the penalty for mankind by allowing Himself to be crucified as a sacrifice and sin offering before God. The ‘sinless Christ‘ paid the price for sinful man, and because He was sinless He was also able to conquer the ultimate result of sin, namely death. Now all men who accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour are forgiven of their sins before God and released from the dominating power of evil.

5)The Conclusion Of Evil

(Revelation 20:10)

 The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

The Bible reveals that just as Evil had a moment of beginning in the heart of Satan so it will ultimately have an end. Throughout many places in the Bible the downfall of Satan’s kingdom is spoken about and foretold. Although all men are offered the possibility of eternal salvation in Christ, still many choose to live apart from God’s saving grace. Satan has already been found guilty before the Throne of God but his final sentence is carried out when he and his demons are cast into The Lake Of Fire for eternity. It is important to realise that for man there are only two possible destinations in eternity, Heaven or Hell/Lake of Fire. The Bible is very clear in stating that sinful men who reject the salvation found only in Jesus Christ will join Satan in the Lake of Fire.

This important subject has been portrayed to you clearly stating what the Bible says, not to scare you but to inform you of the current reality that you and all mankind face together. The choice is still yours, but understand that your children will often follow you into your eternal destination, where ever that may be.

Warm Regards

John

Dadsuni

http://www.dadsuni.com