"ACCORDING TO JESUS...
... denying ourselves and taking up the Cross daily are equated with losing our life, for *His* sake."--Keith, Brenda, and the TTM Team
What does that even mean, "losing our life"?
The Greek word translated "life" in this verse is "psuche" from which comes the English word "psyche." It literally means "soul". Hence, Jesus said we are to lose our soul for His sake.
Now, we are first and foremost spirit; For that: "spirit" is what we are.
Next, we have our soul. Then lastly, and least of all, we have our human body that we physically live in.
So, we cannot understand this reference to losing our soul, unless and until we know what manner of men or women we have become through the new birth. Paul wrote these words to the Corinthians concerning what happens when we are born again, "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new (2 Corinthians 5:17)." In this verse, the reference to the "new creature" applies to "the spirit".
When we are born again, we are new in our spirits, but not yet in our souls, nor in our bodies. As the Apostle Paul wrote in Colossians 3:3, "For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God." It is our old nature that is dead. Our spirit is born again; It is a new creature and cannot sin, because it is now become "one" with The Spirit of God. Thus, Jesus does not want us to lose our spirit for His sake, nor does He mean we are to deny our bodies that which is necessary for good physical health.
We are to deny our soul, because our old nature still resides there. Our soul still desires the earthly things, the inviting pleasures, of this world where we live. Our spirits are risen with Christ and desire the Heavenly things of God.
Denying ourselves means we are deciding to follow after The Spirit rather than the old nature of our soul...
"If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth (Colossians 3:1-2)."
Die to "self"; Live in Pursuit of "ONENESS" with CHRIST!
Keith, Brenda and TEAM TTM
Because there are so many people today who do not attend a local church or have truly dedicated Christian friends to hang out with Brenda, our Partners and I would like to present you with an opportunity to make Jesus Christ the Lord of your life. Also, for those of you who, for whatever reason, have drifted away from Him, we invite you to return home where you belong. Below, we have configured a prayer of salvation that is easy to understand. Now, right where you are, read and repeat out loud each line of this prayer. Giving your whole heart to Jesus Christ is the "most important" and "the best" decision you can and will ever make in your lifetime!"
Invite Jesus Christ into your heart to be your Lord and Savior, right there where you are, by praying this prayer to God, then relax and watch what God does...
... "Dear Father God, in the precious Name of Jesus Christ, the King of kings and the Lord of all lords, I lay my life at Your Feet. I come before You, confessing that I am a sinner, and I ask for You to forgive me of all my sins - those that I know I have committed, as well as those that I am not even aware of. I ask that You come into my heart and be my Lord. I lay my life, and everything in it, at Your Feet, and ask that You please take me and begin to change me to be like YOU. I ask that You redeem the time that has passed, and allow me the opportunity to become exactly what You have predestined me to be, from before the foundation of the earth. I commit my life to You now, and thank You for receiving me as Your own. In the wonderful Name of Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God, I pray, Amen." And AMEN!!!
  WELCOME HOME!
If you have just prayed this prayer, we want to congratulate you for making the greatest decision that you'll ever make! By accepting Jesus Christ, or rededicating your life to Him, as your personal Lord and Savior, you have begun the wonder-full process of being grafted into the family of God, and we welcome you "Home" to God's Family. We would also like to invite you to contact us so that we can send you information that will help you begin growing in your relationship and daily walk with God. We would encourage you to begin attending a Holy-Spirit-filled, Bible-believing church right away.
We advise you to begin reading The Holy Bible daily, whether you understand it or not. Always remember, God's written Word in The Holy Bible is like no other book that has ever been written! When we rendezvous with The Person of The Holy Spirit as we read what God has written there, it becomes stored in our heart for The Holy Spirit to access it to bring to our remembrance. You will find that the Scriptures will become applicable to whatever you are going through, at any given time!
There are wonderful Bible teachers on television and on the radio that can, especially early in your walk with God, help you to begin receiving good teaching, and encouragement, right away. Although very informative, these programs are never to be a substitute for close relationships with people who love and serve God.
At times, the transformation process that you have now begun will be difficult, and you will be tempted to go back to your old ways of living your old life. It will be during times like these that hanging out with strong Christian friends and mentors will be crucially important. There really IS strength in numbers!
CONGRATULATIONS!!!!
We would like to be among the first to welcome you into the Family of God... right where you "belong", now and always!!! (Selah)
And, remember, no matter what, KEEP PRESSIN' IN... and learnin', and growin' IN Oneness with our Lord and Savior. You might consider using Keith and Brenda Shealy's book XII SMOOTH STONES, the special collection of 12 life-changing teaching titles:
This collection of twelve teachings,
when taken to heart,
will help you emerge triumphant over seemingly impossible situations...
"XII Smooth Stones"
available at
TowardTheMark online.
Mail tax-deductible contributions by check or money order made out to:
Toward The Mark, Inc., P.O. Box 1152, Yorktown, VA 23692-1152.
Thank you in advance for sowing your financial seed into the fertile soil of this ministry! We pray God bless you with a 100-fold return for your generosity!
Toward the Mark, Inc. © 2005 - 2017 | Privacy Policy and Terms of Use apply | Visit TowardTheMark.com website | Connect with TowardTheMark on e-mail
"See flipcard titles"
The Greek word translated "life" in this verse is "psuche" from which comes the English word "psyche." It literally means "soul". Hence, Jesus said we are to lose our soul for His sake.
Now, we are first and foremost spirit; For that: "spirit" is what we are.
Next, we have our soul. Then lastly, and least of all, we have our human body that we physically live in.
So, we cannot understand this reference to losing our soul, unless and until we know what manner of men or women we have become through the new birth. Paul wrote these words to the Corinthians concerning what happens when we are born again, "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new (2 Corinthians 5:17)." In this verse, the reference to the "new creature" applies to "the spirit".
When we are born again, we are new in our spirits, but not yet in our souls, nor in our bodies. As the Apostle Paul wrote in Colossians 3:3, "For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God." It is our old nature that is dead. Our spirit is born again; It is a new creature and cannot sin, because it is now become "one" with The Spirit of God. Thus, Jesus does not want us to lose our spirit for His sake, nor does He mean we are to deny our bodies that which is necessary for good physical health.
We are to deny our soul, because our old nature still resides there. Our soul still desires the earthly things, the inviting pleasures, of this world where we live. Our spirits are risen with Christ and desire the Heavenly things of God.
Denying ourselves means we are deciding to follow after The Spirit rather than the old nature of our soul...
"If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth (Colossians 3:1-2)."
Die to "self"; Live in Pursuit of "ONENESS" with CHRIST!
Keith, Brenda and TEAM TTM
Because there are so many people today who do not attend a local church or have truly dedicated Christian friends to hang out with Brenda, our Partners and I would like to present you with an opportunity to make Jesus Christ the Lord of your life. Also, for those of you who, for whatever reason, have drifted away from Him, we invite you to return home where you belong. Below, we have configured a prayer of salvation that is easy to understand. Now, right where you are, read and repeat out loud each line of this prayer. Giving your whole heart to Jesus Christ is the "most important" and "the best" decision you can and will ever make in your lifetime!"
Invite Jesus Christ into your heart to be your Lord and Savior, right there where you are, by praying this prayer to God, then relax and watch what God does...
... "Dear Father God, in the precious Name of Jesus Christ, the King of kings and the Lord of all lords, I lay my life at Your Feet. I come before You, confessing that I am a sinner, and I ask for You to forgive me of all my sins - those that I know I have committed, as well as those that I am not even aware of. I ask that You come into my heart and be my Lord. I lay my life, and everything in it, at Your Feet, and ask that You please take me and begin to change me to be like YOU. I ask that You redeem the time that has passed, and allow me the opportunity to become exactly what You have predestined me to be, from before the foundation of the earth. I commit my life to You now, and thank You for receiving me as Your own. In the wonderful Name of Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God, I pray, Amen." And AMEN!!!
  WELCOME HOME!
If you have just prayed this prayer, we want to congratulate you for making the greatest decision that you'll ever make! By accepting Jesus Christ, or rededicating your life to Him, as your personal Lord and Savior, you have begun the wonder-full process of being grafted into the family of God, and we welcome you "Home" to God's Family. We would also like to invite you to contact us so that we can send you information that will help you begin growing in your relationship and daily walk with God. We would encourage you to begin attending a Holy-Spirit-filled, Bible-believing church right away.
We advise you to begin reading The Holy Bible daily, whether you understand it or not. Always remember, God's written Word in The Holy Bible is like no other book that has ever been written! When we rendezvous with The Person of The Holy Spirit as we read what God has written there, it becomes stored in our heart for The Holy Spirit to access it to bring to our remembrance. You will find that the Scriptures will become applicable to whatever you are going through, at any given time!
There are wonderful Bible teachers on television and on the radio that can, especially early in your walk with God, help you to begin receiving good teaching, and encouragement, right away. Although very informative, these programs are never to be a substitute for close relationships with people who love and serve God.
At times, the transformation process that you have now begun will be difficult, and you will be tempted to go back to your old ways of living your old life. It will be during times like these that hanging out with strong Christian friends and mentors will be crucially important. There really IS strength in numbers!
CONGRATULATIONS!!!!
We would like to be among the first to welcome you into the Family of God... right where you "belong", now and always!!! (Selah)
And, remember, no matter what, KEEP PRESSIN' IN... and learnin', and growin' IN Oneness with our Lord and Savior. You might consider using Keith and Brenda Shealy's book XII SMOOTH STONES, the special collection of 12 life-changing teaching titles:
No Matter What!
|
The Magnetic Mantle or Why Cats... Have Kitties;
|
Fire, Pressure, and Them Slithery... Snakes
|
The Ultimate Home Gym
|
Vampires In The Church
|
STOP...
|
The Great Deception
|
The Invisible Man
|
God Is So Much Bigger Than You Think!
|
Die Empty!
|
Building Godly Friendships
|
The Secret To A Happy Life
|
This collection of twelve teachings,when taken to heart,
will help you emerge triumphant over seemingly impossible situations...
"XII Smooth Stones"
available at
TowardTheMark online.
We pray God uses this message, and all of our resources, to fan the flame in your heart for Christ Jesus, His wonder-full Ways, and His Plan and Purpose for you in this life. If you have any questions about our work, or if you would like to make a special tax-deductible donation, place a special order for any of our books, magazines, or CDs, or to share a testimony or prayer request with us, please e-mail us. Also feel free to write a letter and mail it to TOWARD THE MARK, P.O. Box 1152, Yorktown, VA 23692-1152.
May God bless you greatly as you carry this truth in your heart. We are eternally grateful for our loving Toward The Mark Family of sponsors who make this blog, and all of our resources, possible by their faithful prayer and monthly financial support!
Your friends and servants in Christ,
To Show GOD BIG in
a World that Sees Him small…
sums up the reason Keith stepped out in faith to focus on reaching the lost and strengthening believers everywhere, through Toward The Mark, Inc. Keith and Brenda's prayer is that you will be encouraged and edified by the Secrets from God's Word that Keith recounts in our written and recorded products.
sums up the reason Keith stepped out in faith to focus on reaching the lost and strengthening believers everywhere, through Toward The Mark, Inc. Keith and Brenda's prayer is that you will be encouraged and edified by the Secrets from God's Word that Keith recounts in our written and recorded products.
We couldn't do
this without the help of our friends!
This blog message, along with the complete collection of original podcasts, music, blogs, books, CDs, and other Bible-based resources of Toward The Mark, Inc. is made possible by the faithful prayer and financial support of the TTM Sponsorship Family. We'd like to invite you to come on-board, to become a part of the TTM Family as well by becoming a monthly financial partner? Your support will go toward fulfilling our God-given calling to help provide effective, contemporary outreach tools that are available to everyone, the churched and un-churched alike, who desire to know more of the love, truth, and salvation of Jesus Christ. We invite you to partner with us as we "press Toward The Mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 3:14)
This blog message, along with the complete collection of original podcasts, music, blogs, books, CDs, and other Bible-based resources of Toward The Mark, Inc. is made possible by the faithful prayer and financial support of the TTM Sponsorship Family. We'd like to invite you to come on-board, to become a part of the TTM Family as well by becoming a monthly financial partner? Your support will go toward fulfilling our God-given calling to help provide effective, contemporary outreach tools that are available to everyone, the churched and un-churched alike, who desire to know more of the love, truth, and salvation of Jesus Christ. We invite you to partner with us as we "press Toward The Mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 3:14)
Keep PRESSIN' IN!
We INVITE You ... to follow and share these resources that are also available, for
helping build your faith in God, His Will, and His Ways:
~ "Between The Lines PODCAST" on TTM's Libsyn Channel
(Podcast) BETWEEN THE LINES #32... "From the Saddle to the Sand?"
~ "Between The Lines PODCAST" on TTM's Libsyn Channel
(Podcast) BETWEEN THE LINES #32... "From the Saddle to the Sand?"
Every gift is tax-deductible and helps, and we thank you for it!
Mail tax-deductible contributions by check or money order made out to:
Toward The Mark, Inc., P.O. Box 1152, Yorktown, VA 23692-1152.
Thank you in advance for sowing your financial seed into the fertile soil of this ministry! We pray God bless you with a 100-fold return for your generosity!
