Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; Acts 3:19 (KJV)

Can we predict the future? Are we spot-on with every prediction and perception? Absolutely NOT! God created us in His image for us to be like Him and not an imitation of His whole being.

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. Genesis 1:27 (KJV)

Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. 1 John 3:2 (KJV)

Being like the Lord is simply obeying the leading of The Holy Spirit and not our fleshly desires. 

And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. 1 Samuel 15:22 (KJV)

¹⁶ And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
¹⁷ Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
John 14:16-17 (KJV)

A great way to check and discern this truth is to see if our choices make the flesh happy.

While sorting out the differences, we question if we feel thrilled at the outcome. This outcome relates to some old thing that once made us sad. With fleshly choices we see predictable outcomes. The flesh wants the outcome to represent prosperity.

⁶ But godliness with contentment is great gain. ⁷ For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. ⁸ And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. ⁹ But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. 1 Timothy 6:6-9 (KJV)

In sorting let us define these words: Thrilled: Overjoyed – gone past the natural realms of joy, euphoric. Happy: Content, cheerful, comfortable, a confident feeling. Joy: Delight, rejoicing, gladness of heart, a refreshing, an honoring feeling. Peace: A settled feeling, an awareness of God’s presence, calm tranquil, harmony

Making the flesh happy is a temporary feeling. The thrilling sensation of happy always goes away. Most of the time -experiencing a thrill leaves a sunken pit in our stomach. The pit feels as if we swallowed something that did not digest.

On the other hand, being like the Lord we experience joy, peace, hope, and a zeal for continuing new life.

Satan wants us to satisfy the flesh. In this manner – people develop a mindset of establishing earth as a permanent home. Christian believers are citizens in The Kingdom of God. The enemy wants us to forget about God’s righteous judgment.

⁷ Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. ⁸ For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. Galatians 6:7-8 (KJV)

¹ Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; ² That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.

³ For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries: ⁴ Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you: ⁵ Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead.

⁶ For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit. 1 Peter 4:1-6 (KJV)

⁵ For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. ⁶ For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. ⁷ Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.

⁸ So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. ⁹ But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. ¹⁰ And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. Romans 8:5-10 (KJV)

Example of Fleshly Desires

The Book of Luke gives an account of a rich man who saw earth as a permanent home. His life long quest was to make his earthly life His eternity.

The story does not give a sign that he believed in Heaven or having a personal relationship with God. He made a decision that thrilled and made his flesh happy. Choices define individuals. While building earthly empires consider heavenly treasures.

The rich man’s sins included selfishness, pride, and a lack of humility. He had a definite need to repent. Spiritual blindness is always an opportunity to repent.

¹⁶ And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: ¹⁷ And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? ¹⁸ And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. ¹⁹ And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. ²⁰ But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? ²¹ So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God. Luke 12:16-21 (KJV)

¹⁹ Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: ²⁰ But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: ²¹ For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Matthew 6:19-21 (KJV)

Example of Being Like the Lord

The Bible tells us Enoch was the seventh man from Adam after creation. He lived a sinless life before the Lord. The Lord was so pleased with Him and did not want earth-minded people to corrupt Enoch’s holiness.

God used Enoch to prophesy and warn people about the Righteousness and Supreme Authority of God over creation.

In a way, God used Enoch to erase His disappointment in the first man Adam. Enoch was so like God – that He did not give the enemy an opportunity to corrupt a good thing.

The Bible does not tell us Enoch ever sinned. Yet, his life is a good example for Christians to follow.

By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God. Hebrews 11:5 (KJV)

¹⁴ And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, ¹⁵ To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him. Jude 14-15 (KJV)

This message is about repentance. The Lord wants us to judge ourselves by His word. The examination is to decide if the flesh is ruling in areas not accepted by God’s perfect will.

Many people look at big sins like murder. Do people consider murder by tongue – things said to destroy a person’s character? As Christian Believers, we should be like HIM! Are you like Jesus?

The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9 (KJV)

And The Lord Says,

The hour is late. Make sure you are on the right side of The Tribulation. I AM counting on My people to know truth. I AM counting on My people to hear and know My voice.

²⁷ For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. ²⁸ For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together. ²⁹ Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: ³⁰ And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. ³¹ And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. Matthew 24:27-31 (KJV)

Scriptures for Reflection

Teach me, and I will hold my tongue: and cause me to understand wherein I have erred. Job 6:24 (KJV)

TTeach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness. Psalm 143:10 (KJV)

Teach me thy way, O LORD, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies. Psalm 27:11 (KJV)

Teach me good judgment and knowledge: for I have believed thy commandments. Psalm 119:66 (KJV)

Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. Ephesians 6:11 (KJV)

Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Ephesians 6:13 (KJV)

So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom. Psalm 90:12 (KJV)