FAITH CHECK

Are you being conformed to the image of Jesus Christ?

            "For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren" (Romans 8:29).

Are you being conformed to the image of Jesus?  Has there been any noticeable change in your likes and dislikes since you trusted Jesus to save you?

        "I urge you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of YAHWEH (God the Father), to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to YAHWEH, which is your spiritual service of worship, and do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of YAHWEH is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect" (Romans 12:1,2).

Everyone who is truly born from above will change. You will stop doing certain things and start doing things you did not do previously. Your thought life will also change.

To determine whether something is good (honoring to YAHWEH) pray, read the Bible and ask yourself if Jesus would join you.

There are a few things we know are not of YAHWEH and must be avoided at all costs -- illegal drugs and punk, rap and rock noise. The only time it is not a sin to take legal drugs is when it is necessary to stay alive. Taking drugs for pain is an extremely bad idea and usually becomes addictive.  Avoid them at all costs unless the pain is so great you cannot function.

The next time you turn on the radio or tape player and listen to rock noise ask yourself if you think Jesus would enjoy spending the day listening to that trash with the vulgar, perverted lyrics ringing in His head.

Not all movies and TV shows are bad, but a vast majority are. Exercise great discernment in watching them. Stick to news and documentaries. The next time you watch a Hollywood production imagine Jesus is sitting next to you. Do you think He would sit through a Hollywood trash movie or TV show?

By the way, Jesus is with you at all times. Think about it!

The spiritual man vs. the natural man

Take a few minutes out of your busy schedule and examine your daily walk with YAHSHUA.

SPIRITUAL ACTIVITY                      AVERAGE TIME SPENT PER DAY

Prayer

Reading and studying the Bible

Memorization & review

Meditation

Devotion with family

Fellowship with believers

Total time serving YAHWEH

ACTIVITIES OF THE FLESH                  AVERAGE TIME SPENT PER DAY

Watching TV & movies

Reading (secular books)

Surfing the Internet (secular web sites)

Chat rooms

Hobbies

Recreation

Attending sporting events

Socializing (in person or by phone)

Shopping

Other non-spiritual activities

Total time spent on personal pleasure

Sleeping, eating, moderate exercise and working are not on this list because they are pursuits of the flesh necessary for survival. It is your free time that you are to examine. All believers should spend more of their free time each day feeding their soul than feeding their flesh. Sadly, few do that. Worse yet, few believers spend more time feeding their souls than they do eating.

If you are not spending more time in spiritual activities (feeding your soul) than you do in eating (feeding your flesh) you are backslidden. Since most people take the time to feed their flesh shouldn't you take an equal amount of time in feeding your soul?

If you spend more time each day exercising the flesh than you do exercising your soul which is more important to you -- your sinful body or your soul?

    

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