Life Basic Principles

Jesus Christ said:
Happy are those who realize their spiritual poverty: they have already entered the Kingdom of Reality (Kingdom of God).

Happy are they who bear the share of the world’s pain: in the long run they will know more happiness than those who avid it.

Happy are those who accept life and their own limitations: they will find more in life than anybody.

Happy are those who long to be truly “good”: they will fully realize their ambition.

Happy are those who are ready to make allowances and to forgive: they will know the love of God.

Happy are those who are real in their thoughts and feelings: in the end they will see the ultimate Reality, God.

Happy are those who help others to live together: they will be known to be doing God’s work (J. B. Phillips, Your God Is too Small).

GIVING IS A PART OF SERVICE
Unfortunately, much of the energy of Christ’s cause has been sucked into our own self-centered agendas. Rarely do people come into a church family seeking to serve; more often, they have a consumer’s mindset. What will this church do for me? Instead, ask what can I do for Christ with the resources that He has given me? Giving financially is an intrinsic part of your service to Christ and His church (Anonymous).

NEVER GIVE UP (GALATIANS 6:6-10)
A preacher who was growing weary in the ministry had a dream. He saw himself pounding away at a huge chunk of granite with a pickaxe. It was his job to break it into small pieces. But hard as he tried, he couldn’t chip off even a tiny piece. At last, tried and disappointed, he decided to give up.

Just then a stranger appeared and said, “Weren’t you given orders to do the work? Your duty is to give it your best regardless of what happens.” The minister, with a renewed determination, grabbed the pickaxe, lifted it high in the air, and gave the granite a crushing blow. It broke into a thousand pieces. He had almost quit one blow too soon.

The Lord wants us to keep working at our God-given task no matter how difficult it might be. Have you grown tired in your service for the Lord? Have you become discouraged that you are tempted to throw in the towel? The service that we render to Christ, if steadfast we will be, is sure to reap a rich reward. Results we will someday see. Failure is not defeat you stop trying.

THE DAILY USE OF THE WORD OF GOD
D. L. Moody said, “A man can no more take in a supply of grace for the future than he can eat enough for the next six months, or take sufficient air into his lungs at one time to sustain life for a week,

We must draw upon God’s boundless store of grace from day to day as we need it” (Donald S. Whitney, Spiritual Discipline for the Christian Life).

THE CROSS OF CHRIST
Jesus Christ is still the dividing line between two segments of humanity. We have but two choices: Reject His sacrificial death for our sins and be lost for eternity, or trust His work on the cross and receive eternal life. The cross has only two sides. On which side are you?

When Jesus died upon the cross, He took our sin and shame; He offers us righteousness, A gift for us to claim (Our Daily Bread).

BE CONSCIOUS OF THE PRESENCE OF THE ENEMY
Whether we encounter the enemy forces unmasked in the form of demon possession, or obscured in entrenched political and religious forms, they are ever around us. Must ever be alert to their presence, resist their endeavor; and press the cause of Christ, persuaded in the process that the Spirit within is greater than all the forces assembled without, as well as our own fears.

In the light of this, the believer must cultivate the diligent study of Scripture and an active prayer life, as the means of cooperating with the indwelling Spirit (Saga of the Spirit).

“John Killinger once commented that Jesus was God’s answer to the problem of a bad reputation” (The Preaching Event).