Are we the product of our ENVIRONMENT? Is it true that our SURROUNDINGS MOULD AND SHAPE US.? THE ANSWER IS MOST DEFINITELY YES. Millions of God’s wonderful creation have succumbed to the immoral, wicked and negative influences that permeate our modern day society.
It is clearly evident that The Church is being seduced by the standards of the modern day world? It is vital that we do break free from worldly standards for we are called by God to impact this world with a GODLY ENVIRONMENT: “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you (2 Corinthians 6:17).” “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God (Romans 12;2).”
Just like Israel was ordained of God to influence the Nations, in like manner has God called and ordained The Church to do likewise. Sadly instead of Israel influencing the nations, the nations influenced Israel and that not for the better. Is The Church falling into the same trap? Are we falling far short of our purpose? WE are called to change the world and not put on the world.
How are we, The Called Ones of God to break the strangle hold of our worldly permissive society. God has given us the wherewithal to live above and beyond all evil influences. Our five senses need not be conditioned and manipulated by the evil we see, hear, touch, smell and taste.
God has made a wonderful way of escape for His Church. He has created A NEW ENVIRONMENT. This new environment is based on three spiritual truths and by the way this THREE FOLD CORD OF TRUTH CAN NEVER EVER BE BROKEN (SEE Ecclesiastes 4:12).
As Christians wanting to break free from all worldly impediments, we must secure ourselves with this Threefold Cord and that being:
RELATIONSHIP
FAITH
VISION
FOR US TO INFLUENCE THE WORLD FOR THE BETTER WE MUST FIRST CHANGE OUR OWN ENVIRONMENT. There is only way to do just that, we must bind THE THREEFOLD CORD OF RELATIONSHIP, FAITH AND VISION IN THE INNER CHAMBER OF OUR SPIRIT AND MIND.
WE MUST SEVER OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE WORLD. WE MUST SEPARATE OURSELVES FROM THE WORLD AND FORGE AN INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD AS NEVER BEFORE. WE MUST NO MORE PLACE OUR FAITH IN THE STANDARDS OF THE WORLD AND IN THE PEOPLE OF THE WORLD. WE MUST NO MORE LEAN ON THE ARM OF FLESH, WE MUST LOOK UP FROM WHENCE COMETH OUR HELP AND PRAISE GOD OUR HELP COMES FROM THE LORD, THE CREATOR OF HEAVEN AND EARTH (SEE 2 CHRONICLES 3:28).
AS WE BIND THE THREEFOLD CORD IN OUR SOUL AND IN OUR SPIRIT OUR BODIES WILL LIVE AND EXPRESS A NEW AND A GODLY ENVIRONMENT THAT SECURES JOY, PEACE AND HARMONY, NO MATTER WHAT CONDITIONS PREVAIL.
RELATIONSHIPS are vital to our well being. RELATIONSHIPS develop character and an ongoing lifestyle. IT IS CALLED THE LAW OF ASSOCIATION. Who you associate with, you become like. It is a law that cannot be denied. Our heavenly Father is more aware of it than what we are and no wonder He invites all of His wonderful creation into a RELATIONSHIP with Him: “COME UNTO ME ALL THAT LABOUR AND ARE HEAVY LADEN AND I WILL GIVE YOU REST (MATTHEW 11:28).”
In this RELATIONSHIP with God we have REST FROM EVIL DOMINANCE. In this RELATIONSHIP with God we have LIBERTY of Soul and Spirit. The Peace of God that passes all human understanding floods our souls and spirits. Through this ongoing Relationship we are made brand new and we grow from glory to glory (SEE 2 CORINTHIANS 5:17). This RELATIONSHIP gives us an ENVIRONMENT that is far removed from the standards of the world. This new ENVIRONMENT IS A GODLY, HEAVENLY ENVIRONMENT FOR AS WE ASSOCIATE WITH GOD IN OUR NEW FOUND AND ONGOING RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD HE SHEDS ABROAD IN OUR HEARTS HIS LOVING NATURE: “And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us (ROMANS 5:5).”
Because of this RELATIONSHIP our thought life takes on that which is Godly and THEREFORE leads to actions that are GODLY AS WELL: “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he (Proverbs 23:7).”
THIS NEW FOUND RELATIONSHIP now enables us to influence the world positively. No more are we controlled by the world and its standards, rather we are now influencing the world and that for the better.
This RELATIONSHIP with our Creator excites us to the extent that we want more and more of God. The Word of God, THE BREAD OF LIFE, becomes our daily diet. As we feast on the Word day after day, moment after moment it produces FAITH, WHICH GIVES US THE GODLY EMPOWERMENT TO LIVE OUT OUR NEW FOUND LIFE.
FAITH is the key that unlocks a new lifestyle that pleases God: “WITHOUT FAITH IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO PLEASE GOD (HEBREWS 11:1).” There was a time we were without FAITH AND HOPE. In fact we were HOPELESS. BUT NOW BECAUSE OF OUR NEW FOUND RELATIONSHIP that has led us to feast on THE BREAD OF LIFE: “WE THE JUST LIVE ONLY BY FAITH (ROMANS 1:17).” WE ARE NOT WITHOUT HOPE, IN FACT THE FAITH THAT THE WORD OF GOD PRODUCES NOW IN TURN PRODUCES OUR NOW NEW FOUND HOPE: “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1). There is a cycle that a RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD PRODUCES; FAITH AND THEN HOPE:
H…. HOPE
O … ON
P…. PROMISES
E…. ETERNAL
The Word of God teaches: “WHERE THERE IS NO VISION THE PEOPLE PERISH (Proverbs 29:18).” This in no way teaches that the worldly are without vision. They have visions and goals that motivate them as well; however their goals and visions are not God centered.
Whilst we were unsaved and controlled by worldly desires our visions were of a worldly nature and therefore our minds must be renewed (See Romans 12:1-3). AS we continue in our Godly RELATIONSHIP AND FEAST ON THE BREAD OF LIFE, WHICH PRODUCES FAITH AND HOPE AND RENEWAL OF OUR MINDS, GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT WILL IMPART A VISION FOR OUR LIFE. THIS VISION FROM GOD WILL HELP US DIE TO OUR ONCE SELFISH AMBITIONS, AND HELP RID US OF ALL NEGATIVITY IMPARTED TO US BY THE STANDARDS OF THE WORLD THAT WE ONCE WERE OVERPOWERED BY.
IT IS THE NEW FOUND VISION THAT NOW SEEKS TO HONOUR GOD BY LIVING OUT THE FOREORDAINED PURPOSES OF GOD FOR OUR LIFE. AND REGARDLESS OF ALL THE NEGATIVITY THAT HAS ROBBED US OF A GODLY LIFE AND A GODLY VISION IN THE PAST, WE WILL BRING GLORY TO OUR GOD AS WE LIVE OUT OUR VISION THAT HAS BEEN PRODUCED THROUGH A RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD THROUGH HIS SON, EMPOWERED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT:
V…. VISION
I ……INITIATES
S…..SPIRITUAL
I…… INSIGHTS
O…. OVER
N ……NEGATIVITY (AUTHOR DR JOSEPH D’ALLENDE)
LET US TIE THE THREEFOLD CORD TIGHTLY AND LET US LIVE OUT OUR NEW FOUND CHRISTIAN LIFE TO THE GLORY OF OUR GOD; FOR WE ARE NO MORE CONTROLLED NOR CONDITIONED BY THE STANDARDS OF THIS WORLD. WE ARE BORN OF THE SPIRIT; WE ARE CITIZENS OF THE HOUSEHOLD OF GOD (SEE EPH 2:19). OUR ROLE HAS CHANGED CONCERNING THIS WORLD; WE WERE ONCE PERMANENT RESIDENTS AND CITIZENS OF AN EVIL WORLD BUT PRAISE GOD NO MORE.
A great transition has taken place. Though we are in this world we are not of this world: “I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world (John 17:14).” “And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:6).”
Not only has a great transition taken place our STATUS has changed as well: “Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God (2 Corinthians 5:20).”
There was the time that through our worldly lifestyle we were presenting the evil standards of the world, but praise God we now present Christ to the world. God has elevated us from the mundane (worldly) realm to the heavenly realm. God through His grace and power and of our new found environment and that IN CHRIST has given us the wherewithal to change the evil environment wherever we are:
TAKE HEART CHILDREN OF GOD WE CAN CHANGE THE WORLD FOR THE BETTER FOR WE HAVE BEEN CHANGED AND THAT THROUGH OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD, AND THROUGH OUR NEW FOUND FAITH AND VISION.
God Bless
Dr Joseph and Dolores D’Allende
