The New Life, Inc.

Many times down through forty years of ministry, folks have told me that I had become religious. I never considered myself to be religious so I would tell them: “No! I have become spiritual”. Do you believe you are on a spiritual journey or a religious journey? I ask this question because there are more people in the world on a religious journey than there are on a spiritual journey.

As we continue on in our spiritual journey, it is very important for us to see we are more than body and soul. We are also a spirit.  Even as we have to care for our body and soul, we must care for our spirit. If we do not, our spirit becomes weak and anemic; in turn our soul and body suffers as well.

It is important to know there are many different kinds of spirits in the world. Some are good and holy and others are evil and wicked. Some of them want to help you and bless you. Others want to possess you and use you. We must become knowledgeable and wise in regard to spiritual beings.

We all have the choice in our lifetime to decide for good or for evil. Some choose, like Satan did, to be our own god instead of recognizing the true God. It is important to see that when Satan made that choice he moved into darkness and lost something very important. If we make the wrong choice as he did, we also lose something. We begin to go into a greater darkness. There are some folks that turn to the Lord Jesus and they come alive spiritually but they do not continue on in their spiritual walk and go back into darkness. The foolish Galatians are an example of that.

When we begin walking and living as spiritual men and women and then are deceived into going back under the letter of the law that kills, we are going back into darkness and suffer loss. This is happening to many Christian people today. They are not aware they are losing their peace, love and joy. When you loose your peace, love and joy and become critical, judgmental and unloving, take a good look at what direction you are going; into darkness, or into the light?

I had a dream years ago I don’t remember every detail now but in this dream there was a great castle with many people in it, doing all kinds of jobs. There was a great king that lived in this castle and he would walk all through the castle observing all the things people were doing. The thing that amazed me was very few of the people seemed to be aware that he was there. The Lord spoke to me and said; “Very few of my people are aware that I am with them”.

One of the things that should be increasing on our spiritual journey is awareness of God’s presence with us and in us. If that is not happening we should ask the question; “why not?”

We can be so busy in spiritual activity; doing things for God, praying, fighting the enemy, looking for all the answers, that we don’t have time to just enjoy His presence.

I have been involved with many Christian people from a lot of different backgrounds and churches. It seemed there were not many of these folks that had really found a place of peace and rest in Jesus Christ. I say this because they were looking for it and wanted it. They were struggling for it but had not entered into it.

I am reminded of the song that always blesses me; “I come to the garden alone while the dew is still on the roses”. The person that wrote this song had found the answer. I think also of Martha and Mary, when Jesus was teaching, Martha was too busy to sit at his feet. Mary was the one that was blessed. She took the time to enjoy His presence and to listen.

Another song I like; “Blessed Assurance”. We need another song; “Blessed Awareness Jesus is mine.

I have met a number of folks that like to stop in a church everyday. Why?  They enjoy the peace and rest they find there. Maybe some of you should try it! You might become aware of His presence and find peace.