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Getting into Heaven is just like that. You believe and are transformed in the blink of an eye. Immediately you just got the attention of God, and you are in the presence of His love and grace. Welcome into the club, and I hope and pray for the good of your health, well-being, and happiness. However, there are a few additional incentive prizes for being a member of the Holy Ghost, a part of the unity and oneness that is included in with the transformation from being lost into being saved. Yes, Jesus said that we are all part of one Spirit. At least you now realize which direction you are going in, up instead of down, and also know where you are on the map of salvation. Yes, there is a map of sorts, as that is why you are no longer lost. The thing is that there is no immediate teleportation into Heaven, as for instance in the experience that the thief on the cross had. He was one of those on the side, crucified with Jesus. He believed, was forgiven of his sins, and was together with Christ in paradise on the same day, just like that, as he passed away. God is merciful.
Since we are not yet dead and still have hopefully a little time left on earth, let us consider what might be required of us, as we begin to be transformed by the Holy Spirit. We should begin to give up our sins willingly. That is as soon as possible, immediately. I would not want to be drinking and stumbling around in front of Jesus, at least not when I am presented to Him in heaven. After all, we did say that we believed in Jesus Christ. There is also that part of the Holy Ghost knowing the deepest secrets of all our hearts. Yes, there is nothing secret from God. Since you are now in the group, the click as they say, of other Christians, you might want to quit the drugs and smoking, at about the same time that you give up all that beer and whisky. Not that you actually are required to, but just saying, that it might make it easier on your transformation. After all, you did believe, didn't you? Of course you did! There is no dispute about that. Nobody forced you to give your heart to Jesus. That is not how things are done.with Christians. It is of your own free will and accord. After all, you do want to be healed, don´t you? Yes, there is lots of healing in Christianity. Even you can do it, if placed under the right conditions and circumstances with the help of God. He actually reaches out through you, within that oneness that is of the Spirit. You can still believe and not have your mind exactly right though. I don´t think that the Holy Ghost actually likes wading and muddling, passing spiritually through a mess of sins that your physical body and your soul is burdened down with. I believe that the procedure really works a lot better with the less sins that you have and are held down with. If I were you, I would try to get rid of as many sins as possible. Just so you know and are prepared for what comes next.
You see, it might be considered a burning out or cauterizing process, at least while you are still stuck down here on earth. Actually, when the Holy Ghost tries to enter spiritually into your physical body, there might be some kind of resistance or friction, from all the sin and everything that you are gummed up and loaded down with. I really don't think that the Holy Spirit likes to see all those sinful memories that keep flashing through your mind over and over again, like a pornographic video, or thoughts of hate, vengeance, or violent retribution that keeps flickering like a strobe light behind your eyes. It does take a little time for those evil things, the sin memories, to get purged, diminished, or burned up. Yes, there is a burning out process, very similar to the purifying of dross out of silver, to render your soul pure, that you might be holy and acceptable to God. You might want to get rid of as many of those old sins as possible. You see, there will be a judgment day and every knee shall bow. It is just that if you judge yourself before you get to God, since you are a believer, then you won´t have to worry so much about all those past atrocities. They will already have been burned away, forgotten, and certainly forgiven. God forgives. Just accept it and get on with your life. Yes, Jesus did baptize with the Holy Ghost and also with fire.
There is another side benefit of being in the Christian club, a oneness and being among the believers, that is if you are a believer, and you did say you were. You will definitely want to please God, since you love God and will try not to sin. We are all under grace. Here is the problem. You will actually be tempted to sin, and most likely you will sin. That is just the way it is. But the thing is, that since you love God, you will try NOT to sin. It is just as simple as that, and the blessings are enormous. You can't believe the actually benefits this club has, the real blessings and quickening of the Holy Spirit. But you are a believer, of course you said that already.
God will actually try and help keep you from sinning. He will chastise you in front of the whole world, if you keep sinning. There are ways that God punishes us, or chastens us, but maybe the one thing, the most painful, and that is the fact that He does not hear sinners. This might cause a less than heightened awareness, which could be dangerous for your physical body. Yes, prayer is definitely a blessing and for God to want to hear your prayers is a great benefit, a huge blessing. God loves us and we love Him, even though he does not want to punish us, He certainly will. I am going to leave that up to you to imagine exactly how that might occur. If it was me though, I would not want to sin at all, because God is certainly there watching over all of us. He is the good shepherd and we are the sheep of His pasture, and we certainly respect the rod and the staff of the shepherd, as they comfort us and keep us safe from evil and harm. Read the Twenty-Third Psalm.
Oh, and one more thing, just so that you know. Don't go playing God. It never works out very well to use your own vengeance or be too critical. I know you believe, and are saved and all, but it might be well NOT to judge other people, not in your best interest at all, as that is strictly left up to God in the end. Yes, you can form opinions and maybe avoid some who don't seem to fit well into the club, as they might be really bad influences, but remember that you were actually once just like them, full of sins.
I am praying for your success as a Christian and hope that you will be able to resist temptation. When I pray, I like to use the ACTS prayer model, (Adoration-Confession-Thanksgiving-Supplication), but of course the Lord´s Prayer is the primary way and best model that Jesus gave us to pray. It might be well with your soul to pray often and read, study, and meditate on the Holy Bible. It helps, believe me, to resist temptation, learn about what God really wants for us to be in life, and how to live for all eternity. God is good, and God is love and wants only the best for the followers and believers of His son, Jesus Christ. Keep the words of Jesus in your heart and you will always please God.
John 3:16
John 3:16
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/John-3-16/
John 17:21 - 17:23
John 17:21 - 17:23
21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.
22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:
23 I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.
https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/John-17-21_17-23/
Luke 23:43
Luke 23:43
“And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.”
https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Luke-23-43/
Proverbs 25:4
Proverbs 25:4
“Take away the dross from the silver, and there shall come forth a vessel for the finer.”
https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Proverbs-25-4/
Psalms 119:119
Psalms 119:119
“Thou puttest away all the wicked of the earth like dross: therefore I love thy testimonies.”
https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Psalms-119-119/
Matthew 3:11
Matthew 3:11
“I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:”
https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Matthew-3-11/
Romans 6:14
Romans 6:14
“For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.”
https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Romans-6-14/
1 John 5:12
1 John 5:12
“He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.”
https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/1-John-5-12/
John 9:31
John 9:31
“Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth.”
https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/John-9-31/
Psalms 23
Psalms 23
1 (A Psalm of David.) The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
1 (A Psalm of David.) The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.
Matthew 6:9 - 6:13
Matthew 6:9 - 6:13
9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Matthew-6-9_6-13/
August 1, 2023
Cliff Rhodes Christian Ministry
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