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I owe this study to my 22 year old daughter Amy Kendziora, who is in the midst of a magnificent spiritual awakening and growth.
Up Up Down Down Left Right Left Right B A Start (The Konami code).
Cheat codes give you an “unfair” advantage when playing certain computer games. They allow you to succeed, without having to go through all the effort or figuring things out on your own. They bring you success as a gift!
Sometimes the truth of God dawns upon us in a way that shouts, “Why doesn’t everyone see this? It’s so simple!!!” But that’s only when we “see” it. Otherwise, it stays hidden. (that makes sense, doesn’t it?). And why do things stay hidden?
II Corinthians 4:3, 4 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are perishing; In whom the god of this world has blinded the minds (thinking) of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
The god of this world is Satan, the devil. He tricks us into thinking that the flesh, the emotions, the abilities of our thinking can somehow bring us into perfection, into the presence of God. When those things, and our mental manipulation of those things leave us empty and unsatisfied, we think we haven’t done them well enough. That it’s our fault! But the truth is that our thinking can never bring us into perfection. No amount of mental gymnastics, of emotional manipulation, of rearranging of the flesh will ever make us whole and complete.
Colossians 1:12, 13 Giving thanks unto the Father, who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light; Who has delivered us from the power (exousia – authority) of darkness, and has transferred us into the kingdom of the Son of His love.
God, through the working of His Son Jesus Christ, gives us access to an inheritance in light, which is spiritual understanding and benefit. That light is what delivers us from the hold that darkness (spiritual un-understanding) has over us. The light of this spiritual understanding brings us “cheat codes for life.” In the light of Christ in our minds and hearts, the machinations of Satan don’t stand a chance. It’s almost like we’re cheating! Like we turned the lights on, and everyone else is wandering around in the dark!
Following are some of the cheat codes I have discovered. There are more, and there is certainly deeper understanding of the ones I name below. Of that I am sure. Being on a journey of spiritual discovery means that I have arrived at the life God intended for me. Where no matter how much I learn, there is always more!
1. Complete satisfaction in life comes only as a gift provided by the presence of the spirit of Christ.
Ephesians 2:8, 9 For by grace (generosity) are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.
There is no working for it. There can be no deserving it (so why do so many focus on their not deserving it?). We turn our focus on Christ (the wisdom and power of the holy spirit of God within), and fullness is ours! In a moment of time, whether we are doing anything or not, whether we have done anything or not. Whether things are going our way or not. Whether those nearest to us like us, agree with us or not. Whether we have enough money, got a good enough grade, got the promotion, got the date……or not. Fullness is ours the moment we turn our mind’s focus to Christ.
2) Judge your thinking, reasoning, deciding, prioritizing and planning, even judging itself, not by what you see and feel to be real, but by where the thoughts and feelings want to take you.
Philippians 3:13 Brethren, I count not myself to have arrived, but this one thing I do; forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the upward calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Instead of thinking that you have a right to be angry, consider where the anger wants to take you. Instead of deciding you have to be right, think where your need to be right will take you. Feel shame? Guilt? Lust? Consider where those strong passions desire to lead you. Think, “Is there a better way to think or feel that will take me to a better, more profitable place?”
We never get control of our lives by doing life the same old way that has caused failure in our lives, and always has. Christ has a better way.
3) 80% of Satan’s tricks are defeated by simply ignoring them.
Timothy 2:23-26 Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.
Pissed because that car cut in front of you? Ignore the rage. Envious because your coworker got the promotion instead of you? Reject the envy. Depressed because a good friend shit on you? Laugh at the depression as waaay beneath your feet. Full of fear because you don’t know where the money for rent is going to come from? Ask that fear how it will help you get that money, and then rejoice in satisfaction when that fear slinks away, caught in its lie. Tempted to want revenge for an imagined slight by someone “who should have known better?” Let it go. You’ve done a lot worse!
Spiritual fruitfulness and growth occurs, (super) naturally simply because we have been birthed as spiritual beings in the spirit of the risen Christ. By simply avoiding getting entangled with lies, deceit and the poison which Satan offers by way of “this is what you should do”, we allow spiritual growth to continue at a rapid rate.
The armor of God spoken of in Ephesians 6:11-18 is mostly passive armor. We put it on, and it protects us, without any further specific action or thought on our part.
4) The quality of the life we live depends totally on perspective.
Ephesians 5:13, 14-17 But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light; for whatsoever does make manifest is light. See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.
How you see yourself, others, events, and the world around you always determines the quality of your life. Change your life by changing how you see things. This is why loving God is the greatest commandment. Because seeing things the way God sees things is so illuminating!
Don’t like a certain person? See them differently. See them the way God sees them, and you’ll quickly realize that God sees them the same way God sees you! And in so seeing them, you’ll begin loving not only them, but yourself as well!
Are you quick to get angry at your wife, your husband, your children, your parents? Is what other people think about you too important? Put on the mind of Christ and enjoy the view from the right hand of God, where all darkness has been dispelled by the light of loving understanding, where the power of Satanic darkness cannot even exist, much less exert any force.
How many times have you realized with chagrin, “If only I’d known such-and-such before I made that decision!” Well, just realize that all your thinking cannot bring the fullness of life that satisfies. Your mind was designed to operate out of the fullness of the presence of God, not to take the place of God. In the self-realization of the severe limitations your mind has, humble yourself to the loving presence of Christ……a whole new way of living and succeeding will open up to you!
Colossians 3:1-4 Since you then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sits on the right hand of God. Set your intentional thinking on things above, not on things on the earth. For you (the old man) are dead, and your (new man) life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, our life, shall appear, then shall you also appear with him in glory.
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The Helmet of Salvation
Agape Love – A Study of I John 3 and 4
Bearing Spiritual Fruit
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