The most important RESOLUTION ever!!!

With December 25, 2011 slowly fading and January 1, 2012 fast approaching, many people will take down the lights, disassemble the tree, put away the decorations and look forward to the dropping of the ball in Times Square and the fireworks everywhere else.

Some will start thinking about their resolutions for the New Year. Some will resolve to give up smoking, others alcohol, and some to change diets and attitudes. Some people will make two and three resolutions yet some will make none.

Consider this, "what is the most important resolution anyone can make"?

The answer is to CHOOSE LIFE! Let me explain.

The most important CHOICE you can make in this life will determine where you’ll spend eternity. When you make that choice you’re not only prepared to live but to live abundantly as well.

Choosing true life means choosing to follow God's son JESUS CHRIST and choosing to do so wholeheartedly, in complete obedience, without compromise. THIS APPLIES TO THOSE WHO DON'T KNOW CHRIST AND THOSE WHO DO.

FOR THOSE WHO DON'T KNOW CHRIST
The Holy Bible says that no one is righteous and all have sinned.

"As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;" Romans 3:10 and 3:23 KJV

The penalty for sin is death but choosing to follow Christ takes away death, the penalty for sin, and replaces it with eternal life.

"For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Romans 6:23 KJV

God loved you so much that He sent His son to die for you in order to save you from death and give you eternal life.

"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." John 3:16 KJV

Believing in Christ grants you eternal life. The Holy Bible makes it so simple. If you say with your mouth that "Jesus is Lord" and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, then you are saved from (death) eternal separation from God.

"That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed." Romans 10:9-11 KJV

Just in case you were wondering, "What will people think or say when I do this?" the Holy Bible also gives you the ASSURANCE that you will NOT be ashamed as a consequence for believing. Read the last sentence in the scripture above again.

The most important RESOLUTION for the non-Christian is to choose to follow Jesus Christ.
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FOR THOSE WHO KNOW CHRIST
There is a type of "Christian" that the Holy Bible calls "CARNAL". Whoa! Yes, it's in there.

"For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?" 1 Corinthians 3:3 KJV

In this scripture, the Apostle Paul wrote to Christians at Corinth. They were born again believers but were living in envy, strife and division. He said he had to speak to them as if they were babies and not as if they were mature. He referred to them as being CARNAL.

He used the Greek word SARKIKOS (Strong's G4559), pronounced sär-kē-ko's for CARNAL. In this scripture it refers to those persons who are controlled by mere human nature and not by the Spirit of God. It also refers to being a weak depraved human.

It is either Christians are led by the Holy Spirit or they are led by their own CARNAL nature. If a Christian is led by the CARNAL nature then it is as a result of disobedience and compromise.

The most important RESOLUTION for the Christian is to resolve to be obedient to the Word of God without compromise.

Let NOW be the time when YOU choose the single most important resolution ever. God Bless You!

CHRIST-MAS: Is December 25 really Jesus' birthday?

THE UNDENIABLE FACTS:
JESUS was born of a virgin in the city of Bethlehem precisely as prophecied many years before (Isaiah 7:14). Jesus was conceived in Mary by the Holy Spirit of God AND NOT BY MAN. JESUS existed before the Creation of the world (John 1:1-3). The Son of God then came in human form (John 1:14) to die as a willing sacrifice in payment for the sins of mankind. He did this to provide salvation as a free gift to all who accept and follow Him (John 3:16).

Now, let me burst your bubble: there is no tooth fairy, no Jack Frost nipping at your nose, no Easter bunny, no Frosty the snowman who came to life, no Santa Claus with flying reindeer, and although Jesus exISts undeniably, there is evidence to suggest that he was not born on December 25!

YES I SAID IT and NO I'm not trying to be controversial. Let me say it again: JESUS MAY NOT HAVE BEEN BORN ON DECEMBER 25! Let me give you the historical secular perspective first then we will go into the scriptures.

Consider this, if this assertion is true then what are the implications for us as born-again believers? Only that we have been celebrating the birth of our messiah in the wrong month, that we are celebrating someone else's birthday, that someone created Christmas traditions based on pagan rituals and lies about when our saviour was born, and that we have a responsibility to celebrate Jesus' birth, life, death and resurrection perpetually, all the time, and free of paganism.

Is your mouth wide open? Do you think Scrooge got to me before the third ghost got to him? Well let me tell you, the HOLY GHOST is the only "ghost" who REALLY MATTERS. No "bah humbug" here, just Biblical truth. Gently close your mouth and carefully consider the research below.

Did you know: The word “Christmas” means “Christ mass,” a special celebration of the Lord’s supper—called a mass in the Roman Catholic Church and a Communion supper in most Protestant churches.

SECULAR HISTORICAL INFO
Here is an excerpt from history.com about the pagan origins of Christmas.

"In the early years of Christianity, Easter was the main holiday; the birth of Jesus was not celebrated. In the fourth century, church officials decided to institute the birth of Jesus as a holiday. Unfortunately, the Bible does not mention [a] date for his birth (a fact Puritans later pointed out in order to deny the legitimacy of the celebration). Although some evidence suggests that his birth may have occurred in the spring [I SAY AUTUMN] (why would shepherds be herding in the middle of winter?), Pope Julius I chose December 25. It is commonly believed that the church chose this date in an effort to adopt and absorb the traditions of the pagan Saturnalia festival.

First called the Feast of the Nativity, the custom spread to Egypt by 432 and to England by the end of the sixth century. By the end of the eighth century, the celebration of Christmas had spread all the way to Scandinavia. Today, in the Greek and Russian orthodox churches, Christmas is celebrated 13 days after the 25th, which is also referred to as the Epiphany or Three Kings Day. This is the day it is believed that the "three wise men" [THE HOLY BIBLE DOES NOT SAY THERE WERE THREE] finally found Jesus in the manger.

By holding Christmas at the same time as traditional winter solstice festivals, church leaders increased the chances that Christmas would be popularly embraced, but gave up the ability to dictate how it was celebrated. By the Middle Ages, Christianity had, for the most part, replaced pagan religion. On Christmas, believers attended church, then celebrated raucously in a drunken, carnival-like atmosphere similar to today's Mardi Gras.

Each year, a beggar or student would be crowned the "lord of misrule" and eager celebrants played the part of his subjects. The poor would go to the houses of the rich and demand their best food and drink. If owners failed to comply, their visitors would most likely terrorize them with mischief. Christmas became the time of year when the upper classes could repay their real or imagined "debt" to society by entertaining less fortunate citizens." SOURCE: CHRISTMAS.

Christmas was created and used as a tool to replace the Saturnalia festival and was a sort of condescending way to "right the wrongs and mistreatment of the poor by the rich" at the end of each year. The article contains much more information that you will find very interesting.

December 25 is now used as Jesus' birthday since no one knew the exact day of his birth and the Roman Catholic Church decided to choose this date. The Church essentially replaced the pagan festival with a Christian holy day (holiday). The psychology was that it was easier to take away an unholy festival from the population and replace it with a good one. Let me say that as a Christian I do not condone lying in any form, for any reason.

BIBLICAL INFO
HERE ARE TWO THINGS TO CONSIDER!

1. SHEPHERDS IN THE FIELD (In Winter?)
LUKE 2:1-7 says Caesar Augustus issued a decree for all to be taxed and Joseph took his family to Judaea to pay taxes. Mary was still pregnant but would deliver Jesus soon.

LUKE 2:8-11 says shepherds were watching their flocks at night in Judea at the same time that Jesus was born.

Look at what Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs says about the climate of the region of Judaea:

"Israel's climate ranges from temperate to tropical, with plenty of sunshine. Two distinct seasons predominate: a rainy winter period from November to May; and a dry summer season which extends through the next six months. Rainfall is relatively heavy in the North and center of the country, with much less in the northern Negev and almost negligible amounts in the southern areas."

The scripture uses the term: "abiding in the field". It is translated from the Greek word AGRAULEO (Strong's G63), which literally means 'to live in the fields, be under the open sky, even at night.' The context of the scripture gives us a very clear understanding of what was happening. They were guarding their sheep at night because of the treachery of the terrain and from wild animals, and they were doing so under the open sky.

Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs also tells us:
"Regional conditions vary considerably, with humid summers and mild winters on the coast; dry summers and moderately cold winters in the hill regions (including Jerusalem), hot dry summers and pleasant winters in the Jordan Valley; and year-round semidesert conditions in the Negev. Weather extremes range from occasional winter snowfall at higher elevations to periodic oppressively hot dry winds, which send temperatures soaring, particularly in spring and autumn."

In Judaea we will find that the winters are moderately cold (including in Jerusalem). It stands to reason that if the winters in Judaea are RAINY, and cold too, then shepherds would not be watching their flocks at night in the rain or cold under the open sky. Look at what Matthew Henry's commentary on the verse says:

" They were not sleeping in their beds, when this news was brought them (though many had very acceptable intelligence from heaven in slumbering upon the bed), but abiding in the fields, and watching... They were employed now, not in acts of devotion, but in the business of their calling; they were keeping watch over their flock, to secure them from thieves and beasts of prey, it being probably in the summer time, when they kept their cattle out all night, as we do now, and did not house them."

The normal practice was to keep the flocks in the fields from Spring to Autumn. Thus, it is more believable (though not certain) that Jesus’ birth may have been around the end of September and his conception (or the miracle of incarnation that occurred when Mary was overshadowed by the Holy Spirit (Luke 1:35)) in late December of the previous year.

Look at what [Dr. Henry M. Morris, The Defender’s Study Bible (notes for Luke 2:8,13)] suggests:

"This would mean, then, that His conception took place in late December. Thus, it might well be that when we today celebrate Christ’s birth at what we call Christmas (i.e., ‘Christ sent’), we are actually celebrating His miraculous conception, the time when the Father sent the Son into the world, in the virgin’s womb. This darkest time of the year—the time of the pagan Saturnalia, and the time when the sun (the physical ‘light of the world’) is at its greatest distance from the Holy Land—would surely be an appropriate time for God to send the spiritual ‘light of the world’ into the world as the ‘Savior, which is Christ the Lord’ (Luke 2:11)”."

2. JESUS WAS BORN SIX MONTHS AFTER JOHN THE BAPTIST
In Luke 1:5, 8 we see that Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist, was serving in the course of Abijah in the temple. The book of 1 Chronicles 24:7-19 indicates that there were 24 courses. The assertion is that the eighth course was the course of Abijah and that this period of service started in early June. If this conclusion is accurate, then we can count forward to discover the dates of birth for John the Baptist, and then by deduction, Jesus (born about six months after John according to Luke 1:24-36).

If Elizabeth became pregnant right away, and the pregnancies of both Mary and Elizabeth were normal in terms of length, then John the Baptist would have been born in March, nine months after his conception in June of the previous year and again, JESUS may have been born in the month of September.

Now don't get nervous and jittery because you think that you've been celebrating Jesus' birth in the wrong month. LOL. Consider this as well: It is not wrong to celebrate such a monumental occasion in contrast and opposition to Saturnalia. When people gather on December 25 in Churches all over the world it is to celebrate JESUS and not some pagan ritual. When families gather together to share elaborate dinners it MUST be primarily to share JESUS the bread of life first, then to share all the other delightful goodies.

As born-again believers we are called to share JESUS' complete story every day, everywhere we go, and Christmas is just as good a time as any to talk about JESUS. I must say, I'm not doing the santa thing, although I may decorate the tree and do gift giving for the children's sake. It is very important to reach out to the less fortunate ALL THE TIME, not just in December.

Finally, the various misconceptions about Christ’s birth necessitates that we MUST always test everything we hear against God’s Word, no matter what the source.

The Bible is the final authority.

God Bless You and Happy Holidays!

HOLY BIBLE 101 - BELIEVERS and the SIGNS that FOLLOW them

Jesus had been crucified and buried. The scripture (Mark 16) tells us that when the Jewish Sabbath (Saturday) had passed, Mary Magdalene, Mary James’ mother and Salome went to the tomb to anoint Jesus’ body (v.1). It was the rising of the sun on Sunday morning, the first day of the week (v.2).

As they approached the tomb they were wondering who would roll away the very large stone from the door (v.3) but when they looked, it was already rolled away (v.4). They entered the tomb where they saw a young man. He told them that Jesus was risen (v.5-6). He also told them to go and tell the disciples and Peter that Jesus was raised and that He would see them in Galilee as He had told them (v.7). They ran away quickly because they were trembling, fearful and astonished but they told no one what they had seen (v.8).

After that, Jesus appeared first to Mary Magdalene (v.9) and she went to tell the disciples that Jesus was raised from the dead (v.10). They were crying when she got there but did not believe her testimony that Jesus had risen (v.11). Two of the disciples were walking on the road into the country when Jesus appeared unto them as well. They returned and told the others who still did not believe their testimony (v.12-13).

Jesus then appeared unto the eleven as they were sitting to eat and He reprimanded them for not believing the others who had seen Him after he had risen (v.14). He then told them to go into the entire world and preach the gospel (v.15). Jesus told them that anyone who believes their message about Him and was baptized would be saved but that those who did not believe would be condemned (v.16). Now look at what Jesus said after that:

“And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.” (v.17-18)

Jesus told them that there were certain signs, which would follow them that believe.

The word ‘believe’ is translated from the Greek word PISTEUO, pronounced pē-styü'-ō (Strong’s G4100). It refers to someone’s trust in Jesus or God as being able to support them either in obtaining or in doing something. Most importantly it is the exercise of faith that saves someone. The scripture did not limit which believer would have the signs. It says: “them that believe!” This tells me that anyone who believes will have these signs following them.

The word ‘signs’ is translated from the Greek word SEMEION, pronounced sā-mā'-on (Strong’s G4592). It refers to that thing which distinguishes a person from others and makes that person known. In this instance it is a token that God uses to let us know that the person sent by Him is authentic.

The word ‘follow’ is translated from the Greek word PARAKOLOUTHEO, pronounced pä-rä-ko-lü-the'-ō (Strong’s G3877). It literally means to follow closely or faithfully, and to always be there, to always be present or to attend to something or someone. So these authenticators shall always be present with believers and believers shall do the following:

1. Shall cast out devils. This term ‘cast out’ is translated from the Greek word EKBALLO, pronounced ek-bä'l-lō (Strong’s G1544), and means to drive out, send out or cast out, and to do so with or without violence. The word ‘devils’ is translated from the Greek word DAIMONION, pronounced dī-mo'-nē-on (Strong’s G1140). It refers to evil spirits or the messengers and ministers of the devil.

2. Shall speak with new tongues. The word ‘speak’ is translated from the Greek word LALEO, pronounced lä-le'-ō (Strong’s G2980). It means to utter a voice or emit an articulate sound, preach, and tell. The word ‘new’ is translated from the Greek word KAINOS, pronounced kī-no's (Strong’s G2537). It refers to something new in form and substance or new in the sense that the newness of the thing is far better than what it was before, or newer than that which exists already. It also means fresh. The word ‘tongues’ is translated from the Greek word GLOSSA, pronounced glō's-sä (Strong’s G1100). It refers to the language or dialect used by a particular people distinct from that of other nations.

3. Shall not be hurt by serpents or deadly drink. The word ‘not’ is translated from the Greek word OUME, pronounced ü mā' (Strong’s G3364), meaning never, certainly not, not at all, and by no means. The word ‘hurt’ is translated from the Greek word BLAPTO, pronounced blä'p-tō (Strong’s G984), meaning to hurt, harm, injure. The word ‘deadly’ is translated from the Greek word THANASIMOS, pronounced thä-nä'-sē-mos (Strong’s G2286). This is the only place in scripture this Greek word is used. It refers to something that can kill and is talking about a drink that can kill a person.

4. Shall lay hands on the sick and the sick shall recover. The word ‘lay’ is translated from the Greek word EPITITHEMI, pronounced e-pē-tē'-thā-mē (Strong’s G2007). It means to put or lay upon. The word ‘hands’ is translated from the Greek word CHEIR, pronounced khā'r (Strong’s G5495). It refers literally to the hand that operates under the help, agency, might, activity and power of God.

The word ‘shall’ is translated from the Greek word MELLO, pronounced me'l-lō (Strong’s G3195). It denotes something one will do by fixed necessity or by divine appointment.

Firstly, the usage of the word ‘shall’ in this scripture does not signify a command but indicates the substantiation or evidence of being something, performing something or possessing something. It is an adverb as used in: “they shall recover” in v.18; or, as in: “For the son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works” Matthew 16:27. Secondly, all four ‘shall’ words above are equally important signatories of the believer.

These scriptures say many things. We are believers who have signs that shall follow us. Evil spirits exist and we shall cast them out. By the Holy Spirit we shall speak the language of another nation even though we don’t know that language. We shall not be injured by serpents and if we drink anything that can kill, it shall not kill us. We shall lay hands on sick people and they shall recover because we lay the hands that operate with the power of God.

Believers are powerful but few act with authority and power because they either don’t know these truths or they don’t believe them even though they believe in Christ.

Be one of them that believe and operate in the power of God!

HOLY BIBLE 101 - SEALED & FILLED with the Holy Spirit.

What does it mean to be sealed with the Holy Spirit and what does it mean to be filled with the Holy Spirit? Is there a difference?

When a person believes in and accepts Christ as Lord and Saviour s/he is instantly born-again in their spirit. The scripture says the born-again believer is ‘sealed’ with the Holy Spirit unto the day of redemption. The word sealed comes from the Greek word SPHRAGIZO, pronounced sfrä-gē'-zō (Strong's G4972). It means to be authenticated or to be marked. This authentication or marking takes place upon the born-again believer’s spirit.

“In whom ye also [trusted], after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,” (Ephesians 1:13)

Here the scripture establishes the process of being born again. It says believers:

1. Hear the Word of truth;
2. Trust in Christ after hearing the Word of Truth;
3. Believe Christ; and
4. Are sealed with the Holy Spirit.

Being sealed with the Holy Spirit is not a physical visible mark but is a mark that is recognizable with spiritual eyes. Compare the sight of the men in Luke 24:31. Now let us see what the scripture says about being filled with the Holy Spirit.

“And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” (Acts 2:4)

The word ‘filled’ comes from the Greek word PIMPLEMI, pronounced pē'm-plā-mē (Strong's G4130). It refers to being completed, fulfilled or filled up. When the believers in the book of Acts were filled with the Holy Spirit, He gave them utterance and they spoke in other languages as evidence to the people around them. When believers are filled with the Holy Spirit they become (Hebrew 6:4) partakers of the Holy Spirit.

A ‘partaker’ of the Holy Spirit is a person who has become a colleague with the Holy Spirit and shares in His divine nature. The word partaker comes from the Greek word METOCHOS, pronounced me'-to-khos (Strong's G3353). Partakers are empowered when they are filled with the divine nature. This is an indwelling.

"Then he remembered the days of old, Moses, and his people, saying, Where is he that brought them up out of the sea with the shepherd of his flock? where is he that put his holy Spirit within him?" (Isaiah 63:11) "What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?" (1 Corinthians 6:19)

Partakers share the office, work and dignity of the Holy Spirit. All born-again believers are sealed with the Holy Spirit but not all are partakers of the Holy Spirit. We should all desire to be partakers of the Holy Spirit and ask God to fill us with Him.

"If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?" (Luke 11:13)

It is when we are filled that we gain real power and manifest the evidence of that power!

HOLY BIBLE 101 - BORN-AGAIN

Did you know that you were created to have a loving relationship with God? He is patiently and lovingly waiting for you to respond to His invitation to salvation. Yes, you can receive forgiveness for your sins and assurance of eternal life through faith in His only Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.

"God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved" (John 3:16-17). "Now this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent." (John 17:3)

You may be asking yourself: "How can I know God?" Man is able to know the true and Living God through His Word the Holy Bible. The Holy Bible reveals God's character and His plan for mankind. It is through reading His Word that we come to the knowledge of the righteousness of God and all that He requires of us.

What is it that prevents us from personally knowing God? Our sin has separated us from God — our corruption is to such a degree that we cannot know Him personally and cannot experience His love. God's Word says:

"All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23)

Man was created to have fellowship with God, but because of his sin (i.e., anything that is against the righteousness revealed in God's Word) he is prevented from that fellowship. This includes anything less than perfect obedience to God's commands.

"The wages of sin is death..." (Romans 6:23a)

The ultimate result of this death is an eternity in Hell. This spiritual death forces a separation from God. Man is sinful and God is holy. This creates an unbridgeable gulf between man and God making fellowship impossible. The only solution is a divine bridge and that bridge is Christ.

God created a way by sending His Son to pay the price for our sin.

"God demonstrated His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8)

He died in our place; He who knew no sin became sin for us. This removed our burden of sin and allows us to enter into that desired fellowship if we follow His way in obedience.
He is the only way. Jesus said:

"I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." (John 14:6)

It is not just enough that you know these truths. We must individually place our trust in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. It is by repenting of our sins and by believing in Christ that we can know God personally and experience His love.

"But as many as receive Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name." (John 1:12) "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them." (Ephesians 2:8-10) "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." (Acts 2:38)

You can receive Jesus Christ right now by faith.

"If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart, one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made to salvation." (Romans 10:9-10)

If you now believe God and place your faith in His Son, congratulations, YOU ARE BORN-AGAIN in your spirit! Welcome to the family. We His children all share in a heavenly inheritance! We are heirs to heaven and are promised the eternal pleasure of glorifying God. As our life here on earth progresses, God will continue to work in our hearts. We are being conformed daily to the image of Christ, Himself. We will begin to live lives of righteousness. Obedience to God will not be a burden to us, but rather a joy.

You may wonder, now that you are a Christian, "What now?" The greatest recommendation for believers, new and old, is fourfold:

1) Find a church so you might hear the preaching of the Word and rejoice in the fellowship of other Christians;
2) Study the Bible because that is where we learn of God and His plans;
3) Pray to Him to strengthen your faith and increase your love toward Him; and,
4) enjoy the blessings given by God in the heavenly ordained sacraments: baptism and the Lord's Supper.

All of these will work to encourage and build upon your faith. If you have any questions, search the Scriptures, ask your Pastor, or please feel free to ask me by sending me an email at: smorganministries@gmail.com.

Adapted from Blue Letter Bible with a vision to reach the lost for Christ.

HOLY BIBLE 101 - CONFORMITY & Non-conformity

Sin is a degenerative condition that inflicts human beings in a creeping fashion from the flesh to the soul. From the time that Adam disobeyed God everything under the sun has waxed worse. It is evident to me and to most born-again believers that the world we live in is in a similar spiritual state like the one in Noah’s time, which was destroyed by water.

Entire kingdoms, civilizations and families from Noah’s time to now have succumbed to utter devastation because of people’s dramatic erosion into immorality, rebellion and perversion. We have examples like Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 19:24-25) and Korah (Numbers 16:30-33). Shouldn’t the thought of these be a wake-up-call to all of us? But no! People want to perpetuate depravity, insurgence and hedonism because it feels good.

The Apostle Peter wrote to the pilgrims throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, in a manner similar to how I am writing to you now. They were strangers scattered throughout five territories that were not their natural homelands. He wrote:

“Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.” 1 Peter 1:13-16 (KJV)

This is a powerful exhortation. My focus here is verse 14, which says you MUST NOT fashion yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance but be obedient children. This phrase ‘fashioning yourselves according to’ was translated from the Greek word SYSCHEMATIZO (Strong’s G4964). It is pronounced sü-skhā-mä-tē'-zō and refers to conforming one's self (i.e. one's mind and character) to someone else's pattern. In this case it refers to 'former lusts', a pattern that is anti-Christ.

Peter was telling these sojourners they should not fall back into the former lusts that they had been delivered from. As children of God we were delivered from some very diabolical circumstances and conditions. We MUST NOT fashion ourselves according to those former lusts that are gaining more and more acceptance in this very dark world. The Apostle Paul told the Roman Christians the same thing. He said:

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 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 12:1-2 (KJV)

Paul urged many things here but my focus for the purpose of this study is on the fact that we MUST NOT be conformed to this world. What is interesting is, in this scripture (it is no coincidence), the words ‘be’ and ‘conformed’ are also translated from the Greek word SYSCHEMATIZO. These three uses are the only places where the word is found in the Greek concordance of the New Testament.

Our mandate as born-again believers is crystal clear. We were delivered from conformity to the pattern of the world and cannot allow ourselves to kowtow to it anymore. The world cannot and MUST NOT determine who our associations are, where we are on the social ladder, whether or not we hold status in society, how we talk, joke, dress, or look, and more importantly, what our ideologies are or how we worship God!

The scriptures say we MUST gather the thoughts of our mind together, soberly, in everything we do, and be holy like Christ. We MUST dedicate our bodies to God and renew our minds (with God’s Word through the Holy Spirit) so that we can know what His good, acceptable and perfect will is. Mind renewal brings about transformation. This is not a mere request from the Apostles Peter and Paul but a direct command from God. We MUST obey God!

Peace!