Ezra 7:10 | Worship - Grow - Impact

Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments. [Ezra 7:10]

Notice Ezra prepared his heart to:

• Seek the law of the LORD
• Do it (the law of the LORD)
• Teach (the law of the LORD) in Israel

Have we prepared our hearts to:

• Worship God
• Grow spiritually
• Impact our world

If we profess to love God and claim Jesus Christ as our Savior, but do not prepare ourselves to do these things, how honest are we really being with God, ourselves, and those around us? Ephesians 2:10 states that we are "created in Christ Jesus unto good words, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." Daily, we should be conforming to the image of Christ. [Romans 8:29] This takes dedication and purpose, by the power of the Holy Spirit living within us. 

May we desire to be like Christ, by daily worshiping God, growing spiritually, and impacting our world. This means reading, studying, and obeying God's Word, while sharing it with others. Will you join me? I pray that you will.

* Points from Brave New Discipleship by Max Anders

It’s MY BODY — I can do what I want

Q: Who made you?

A: God made you.

Genesis 1 | Day 6

26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. 27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

In John 1, we learn that ALL THINGS were made by the WORD.

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

In verse 14 we find the HIM spoken of in verse 3 (in reference to God, the WORD) is Jesus Christ.

And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

So God—specifically God the Son (see also Genesis 1)—is our Creator.

Q: As Creator, does God have rights (ownership) to His creation?

• Full rights?
• Partial rights?
• Only rights we give him?
• No rights?

Q: Why did God make man and all things? 

Proverbs 16:4a tells us |

The Lord hath made all things for himself:

Q: According to Proverbs 16:4a, were we created for God or for ourselves?

Q: How do we usually live? For God or for ourselves?

Revelation 4:11a tells us |

Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power:

Q: Why is God worthy of glory and honour?

Revelation 4:11b tells us |

for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

Q: Were we created for our pleasure or God’s?

Q: What/Who do we usually live for? Our pleasure or for God’s?

Q: If we were created by God, for His pleasure, what then should we be doing?

1 Corinthians 10:31 tells us |

Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

If we are bringing or giving glory to (1) self or (2) anything or (3) anyone else—besides God—we are not fulfilling our purpose—our reason for being created.

This is for all mankind; for God has made ALL THINGS, for HIS pleasure. 

This includes (but is not limited to) |

• How you take care of yourself.
• What clothes you wear, how you dress.
• The words you allow to come out of your mouth.
• The things you allow to come in through your eyes and ears.
• The thoughts you allow to control your mind, emotions, and actions.
• The choices you make concerning your body:
• Jewelry, makeup, tattoos, hair, appearance, etc.
• Alcohol, drugs, tobacco, food, etc.

Q: Are you glorifying God with your body (both internally and externally)? Or, do you wear what you want, listen to what you want, say what you want, think what you want, and do what you want because “It’s MY BODY — I can do what I want?”

Now, to those who PROFESS SALVATION—That is those who claim to have repented of sin and put faith in Christ, who now lives within them |

1 Corinthians 7:23a tell us |

Ye are bought with a price;

Q: What does it mean that we “are bought with a price?”

Q: What price?

Acts 20:28 tells us |

he—that is Christ—hath purchased with his own blood.

So, not only did God/Christ create us, He has also purchased us by giving Himself for us.

Galatians 1:4, Titus 2:14

Q: So, does God own us?

Q: Are we God’s?

Q: Are we living for self or for God?

Q: Does what we do with our bodies glorify God?

1 Corinthians 6:19 tells us |

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?

Note | "ye are not your own."

Q: Whose then are we? God’s.

Remember the temple of God was holy—was supposed to stay holy. 

God took that seriously.

Q: What them of our temple—our temple of the Holy Spirit?

1 Corinthians 6:20 tells us |

For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

Q: Does what you wear, what you do, and how you care for your body glorify God?

Q: Would/does God approve?

Q: Would you be embarrassed or ashamed if you saw Jesus walking toward you?

God sees you, Christ sees you, and people see you.

Q: Are you glorifying God in and with your body, or have you stolen it from Him to do whatsoever you want; even if that means sinning against the very God who made you and Saviour who purchased you? 

Think about it.

Am I Really Saved

First off, this is a valid question. It is good that you are asking this, because it is very important, with eternal ramifications (consequences). Every one of us are in 1 of these 4 categories. There could be a 5th—namely one who does not even know what Christianity is; therefore Not a Christian and doesn’t know it—but we will limit this post to these 4:

1. Not a Christian and know it.
2. Believe they are a Christian but are not.
3. Are a Christian but are unsure about it.
4. Are a Christian and know it.

Let’s look at these 4 states (conditions) in which humanity finds themselves (whether we realize it, admit it, or not):

Not a Christian and know it

This person knows they are “lost” and do not profess to trust in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. They would not ask themselves “Am I really saved?” in the Christian sense, because they admit they do not (currently) believe in such a gospel. 

Are a Christian and know it

This person knows (or fully hopes and believes) they are saved (born again) because they remember the day (even if not an exact date) when they not only surrendered to God, but had a genuine conversion experience by the Holy Spirit which involved a remorseful repentance of sin, a child-like faith put in Jesus Christ, with an open confession and profession of the new birth—and currently have a relationship with the Savior both inwardly and outwardly through prayer, the Bible, and obedience (good works).

Notice that usually persons in both of these above categories know they are lost or saved based on their own thoughts, words, and deeds. More importantly, by their relationship (or lack thereof), specifically with the Lord Jesus Christ.

In contrast, those who “Believe they are a Christian but are not” have no true relationship with Christ but believe they do (thus fool themselves), while those who “Are a Christian but are unsure about it” have an adoptive relationship with God through Christ but do not embrace it (thus doubt it). 

An example of those who “Believe they are a Christian but are not” is found in Matthew 7:21-23. These are not persons who somehow lost their salvation, but those who were never truly saved at all.

Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

If you are asking yourself “Am I really saved?” it is most likely for one of two reasons: The Holy Spirit is convicting you because you are really lost, or the Holy Spirit is convicting you because you are not in a right relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 2:8-9 declares we are not saved by works (that is we cannot earn salvation in and of ourselves), but verse 10 proves we are not to simply believe (or that putting faith in) praying a prayer, making a decision, or asking Jesus to come into our hearts—at one moment in our lives—secures or is the end of our salvation and obedience to Christ.

James 2 tells us that “faith without works is dead” just as “the body without the spirit is dead.” No, works (even our “good” works) do not save us nor keep us saved, but they are our fruit which we bare before the world, ourselves, and God. Matthew 7:10 says “Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.” Our fruit (our works) will expose us for who we really are. This is both our spiritual works (which others may not see) and our physical works (which others may see). Our lack of godly fruit (the living out biblical obedience) is a sign, a proof, of our lack of spiritual rebirth or spiritual obedience.

The call to the lost (the unbeliever) is: 

Repent and believe! Bring forth fruit that shows your repentance and faith.

The call to the saved (both to those who doubt and those who know) is:

Repent and believe! Bring forth fruit that shows your repentance and faith.

Repentance should not stop until we sin no more, which shall be at our death or the coming of Christ. Believing should not stop until our faith is made sight, which shall be at our death or the coming of Christ. Our fruit (bearing the fruit of the Spirit, Galatians 5:22-23) should not stop until we can no longer work the works of God, which shall be at our death or the coming of Christ.

There is no reason to doubt. 

Walk in the fellowship of the Lord daily, in heart, soul, mind, and strength.