All Thailand Experiences, Needs of the Soul

Needs of the Soul

The quality of life depends on the condition of the Soul.

Mental problems are the biggest problem in our society today. Since the Soul is the source of our feelings, thoughts and emotions we must have a healthy soul for good mental health.

Hello again, I’m Randy Gaudet, founder and director of All Thailand Experiences. Those who have read my profile know how I first came to Thailand and my association with missions and churches since 1989.

We use funds from our tours to help the needy, change lives and spread the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We teach about the Holy Trinity, Love and Grace because of Jesus Christ and to tell Christians they are free from the Law, sin and death.

At most churches in Thailand the old covenant law is being taught and that Grace is not available to you if you break the law. We are training pastors about the New Repentance as written in the Bible with help from Pastors Nathan and Salila Gonmei at Abundant Grace Church in Chiang Mai.

On all our All Thailand Experiences Christian teaching blogs I will point to scriptures and explain the meaning on the topic. As our mission is to reach Thai people we will then watch or listen to Pastors Nathan and Solila give a sermon on the topic in English and Thai Languages.

Today we’re going to talk about Needs of the Soul.

1 Thessalonians 5:23, NIV: “May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

In this verse Paul refers to God as “the God of peace.” God had given the Thessalonians peace when they had trusted in Jesus as their Savior. Paul insists in Romans 5:1 that justification by faith brings believers “peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Further, Paul prays that God, who gives peace, would make the Thessalonians completely separated unto Himself, so that their spirit, soul, and body would be free of any valid accusation at the rapture.

Most people think of the three components of every human being as body, soul, and spirit, but Paul reverses this order, giving highest priority to the spirit and the lowest priority to the body. The spirit connects us to God and enables us to worship God and to fellowship with Him. The soul is the seat of emotions and makes us conscious of our being. The body connects us to our environment. We need to be kept faultless by God in our worship of Him and in our fellowship with Him. We need to be free of any legitimate accusation in our inner being and in our social relationships.

Spirit and Soul are not the same but they work together. We are a spirit as God created us in His own image and He is a spirit. Our spirit is eternal just as God is. Our spirit is what got born again when we received Jesus Christ. The soul does not get born again so most born again Christians continue with the same habits, thoughts and emotions as a non-believer. The soul must be renewed by the word of God.

The soul contains our thoughts, will, feelings and emotions. The soul guides us in our everyday decisions. The soul can cooperate with the flesh and against the will of God or our old self or with our born again spirit and the will of God.

Our Soul Needs a Caretaker.

You are the caretaker of your soul. Just like a garden that you let weeds or seeds you do not want into the garden you get bad or undesirable fruit, your soul is the same. Let things and thoughts not in line with the will of God into your soul you get depression, sadness, doubt, worry, anxiety, sickness, bad decision making. This will prevent a blessed fruitful life given to you by your born again spirit. Your spirit needs the cooperation of your soul. They must be in agreement.

Proverbs 4:23, NIV: “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”

In many bible verses they talk about the heart. They are talking about the “spiritual heart” or soul not the physical heart.

To “keep” something, in this sense, means more than simply “to maintain ownership.” It refers to maintenance, care, and support. Some translations use the word “guard,” A wise person realizes that temptation is real (1 Corinthians 10:13) and takes appropriate precaution. This parallels statements made earlier, where Solomon advises his son to actively avoid evil, and those who practice it (Proverbs 4:14–15).

Scripture places a strong emphasis on the heart (soul) as the source of good or evil. Jeremiah 17:9 says, “the heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick.” Jesus announced: “The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks” (Luke 6:45).

David, Solomon’s father, certainly understood how influential the heart is in how we live out our morals and values. Out of the evil of his heart he stole Uriah’s wife Bathsheba, committed adultery with her, and then arranged for Uriah’s death when he could not hide his crime (2 Samuel 11:2–5, 14–15). However, when he was under heavy conviction about his evil deed, David prayed, “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me” (Psalm 51:10). What is hidden in the heart is open to God’s eyes. First Samuel 16:7 reminds us that “the LORD sees not as a man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart.”

It is absolutely essential, therefore, to guard the heart (soul).

Our Soul Needs an Anchor.

Our soul determines whether we walk in the plan of God or not. Our will, thoughts and emotions can be controlled by worldly influences or Godly influences. For this reason our soul must be anchored in the word of God not physical or material things.

Hebrews 6:19, NIV: “We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain,”

The purpose of these last verses in chapter 6 is encouragement. In order for Christians to move beyond spiritual immaturity, they need to experience a sense of confidence in their faith. That assurance ought to come naturally when we consider examples such as Abraham. He was given promises by God, and history proved those oaths to be true. In the prior verse, the writer began to weave three separate concepts together.

The first metaphor was that of fleeing to a refuge. This could be a reference to the Old Testament cities of refuge (Numbers 35; Joshua 20), or the general idea of a fortress or safe-house. In either case, the point is safety and security. Those within the refuge are safe from whatever danger they were fleeing.

The next image applied to our confidence is that of an anchor. This was a common symbol of hope, both before and during the early Christian church. Anchors prevent a ship from being swept away by wind or waves. What’s more interesting, and relevant to this particular use, is that anchors are often placed away from the ship. In a harbor, for instance, sailors would carry the anchor some distance away, securing it to a reef, or the shore, or the dock. This aspect of an anchor makes more sense in light of the next image brought out in this verse.

The third image used to explain our hope is that of Christ entering “the inner place behind the curtain.” This has already been referenced in the description of Christ’s High Priesthood for all believers (Hebrews 2:17; 4:14), and a reason for our confident approach to God in prayer (Hebrews 4:16). Here, it again represents the way in which Christ precedes us. The next verse will refer to Jesus as our “forerunner,” much as Hebrews 2:10 called Him the “founder of [our] salvation.”

Put together, these separate images create a powerful message of reassurance. Christ has “anchored” our hope of “refuge” in the very presence of God: the “inner place.” Prior verses pointed out the absolute and unchanging value of God’s promises (Hebrews 6:13–18).

Just as the anchor which holds a ship is not in the exact same place as the ship itself, our hope is not in this world. Rather, it is in a holier, greater place. Since Christ has gone ahead of us, in order to secure our salvation, we should absolute confidence. That confidence ought to lead us to greater faith, and growth in both truth and love. Our soul should be anchored with that of Christ not tossed around by the things of the world. We no longer have to be tossed around by wrong or false emotions or thoughts when we are anchored in God’s word and truth.

Our Soul Needs Rest

Rest in our soul is our relationship with Jesus Christ. Knowing our relationship with Jesus Christ causes our soul to be at rest.

Matthew 11:28, NIV: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

Jesus has made an extraordinary claim and now He makes an extraordinary offer to all who hear Him. He claimed in the previous verse to be the only one who knows God the Father and to be able to reveal the Father to anyone He chooses (Matthew 11:25–27). Now He makes an invitation: if you’re struggling and tired, I can give you relief.

Here is the implication. Jesus’ Jewish listeners were engaged in a mighty struggle to know God the Father. Their religious leaders had placed enormous burdens on them (Matthew 23:4), and they were laboring to carry those burdens in hopes of being approved by God. Jesus has just said that He can reveal His Father to anyone, and He immediately offers rest to everyone who is weighed down.

Jesus is not talking about physical rest, necessarily. The following verse will describe it as rest for the soul. The path to the Father through Jesus is not one of weary labor and heavy work. Jesus’ earlier analogy about the path to life being narrow and “difficult” (Matthew 7:14) is entirely separate, and speaking from a different perspective. From the view of the world, following Christ means taking on difficult circumstances and giving up worldly pleasures. From the view of eternity—of salvation—following Christ means giving up the impossible task of carrying our own sin.

Christ does not say it here, but the gospel will reveal that Jesus is offering to carry the burden and do the work in order to lead those who come to Him—those who are “yoked” to Him—to the Father (Matthew 11:30; John 6:29).

Matthew 11:29, NIV: “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”

A yoke is a wooden device used to harness the working power of an animal, especially oxen. These could be made for a single animal, or to combine the power of several. Jewish people described living under obedience to the Law as having a yoke upon them. In Jesus’ time, the Pharisees made that load even heavier by adding manmade requirements and regulations on top of the law of Moses (Matthew 23:4).

Jesus has declared that He knows God the Father and that He can reveal God to whomever He chooses. Then He invited His listeners to come to Him and take His yoke, to commit to Him and put themselves under His authority. He has promised rest to those who do this (Matthew 11:28). Now He elaborates, inviting these listeners to put His yoke on them.

The implication is to allow Jesus to put His own yoke on us, the way a farmer would put one on his livestock. It means giving Jesus control and letting Him direct our efforts. The work He has will not be difficult, Jesus says. He wants them to learn from Him. Unlike the Pharisees, Jesus insists that He is gentle. He is lowly in heart (Philippians 2:6–7). He has not come to add to their burden but to give them rest for their souls.

This statement is from an entirely different perspective than Christ’s earlier comments on the wide and narrow gates. There, Jesus had said that the path to life was narrow and difficult (Matthew 7:14). In that context, Jesus was speaking of the world’s view: that following Christ meant taking on difficult circumstances. This is certainly true, since being a follower of Christ often means being persecuted (John 16:33). What Jesus refers to here, however, is the perspective of eternity. Compared to the impossible task of earning one’s own salvation (Romans 3:20; Galatians 2:16), Jesus offers something infinitely “easier” (Matthew 11:30).

By making this comment, Jesus is not offering freedom from commitment. His yoke is still a yoke: it still comes with demands from a holy God. But the apostle John will later write that obedience to the God we love is not burdensome (1 John 5:3). This is true in part, the gospels will reveal, because Jesus will carry the ultimate burden of our sin for us and will provide power in the Holy Spirit to carry out His will.

At rest also means not yo compare ourselves to non believers, materialism or things of the world. If you do you will never find rest. You need to focus on who you are in Christ with all His Grace, Love, Promises and Power, who God created you to be

It is OK to enjoy things however things can never satisfy our soul or heart.

Our Soul Needs Freedom.

God did not design our soul to be bound by any negative thing. If our soul does not have freedom it will never see the abundant life God has for us. A soul that is free knows the Love of God and free from the influences of life. This is why we must build our soul on the word of God not the lies of the world and Satan.

Our soul must be free from self-hatred, jealousy, fear, bitterness, hopelessness, uselessness and negative thought patterns that will destroy our lives. We must know our strength and glory in Christ who freed our soul. Without God our spirit can never be free.

2 Timothy 1:7, NIV: “For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.”

Facing Our Fears 2 Timothy 1:7 By David Dann

The opening phrase of this verse may explain why Paul dwells so much on concepts such as bravery and spiritual strength when writing to Timothy. It’s possible this represented a spiritual weakness which Paul was helping Timothy to overcome. Perhaps Timothy was content in his role of serving alongside Paul and did not prefer to be the outspoken leader of a large movement of Christians. And yet, this was the role Timothy held in Ephesus at the time Paul wrote this letter. However, Paul urged Timothy to stand strong. Rather than fear, God had given a spirit or attitude of “power and love and self-control.”

“Power” has always been an important part of God’s work in the church. In the next verse, Paul notes again the “power of God.” In 2 Timothy 3:5, he will speak against those who have an appearance of godliness, but deny its power.

“Love” was also vital theme for Paul (1 Corinthians 13) as well as a prominent topic in the teachings of Jesus. Self-control was a theme in 1 Timothy (1 Timothy 2:9, 15) and appears here again. Paul routinely reminded believers under his care to exhibit self-control, as part of the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22–23).

For Christians, remember your spirit is born again and you have a new nature, the righteousness of Jesus Christ, the presence of the Holy Spirit and all the blessings of redemption is in your spirit. However the soul has a big part to play in our lives. The condition of our soul determines if we receive the blessings and guidance of God and the Holy Spirit or not.

If our soul is renewed with the truth of God then our born again spirit can affect our life. If our soul is not discipled by the word of God then it is cooperating with the flesh and things of the world.

Many new Christians when they are born again experience the same feelings, thoughts and emotions as before they were saved and wonder why. This is because their Spirit was born again but the soul was not.

What the bible says about the soul is to renew our minds with the word of God. Then our soul will align with the born again spirit and you will experience a new life. You must maintain a healthy soul to know the will of God in your life and it will produce good fruit. We are the gardener of our soul and must anchor our soul in the words of Christ.

5. Our soul also must cultivate a life of thanksgiving.

1 Thessalonians 5:16, NIV: “Rejoice always,”

According to this verse, Christians should be joyful at all times. Practicing unconditional forgiveness allows us to obey the command to “rejoice always.” A bitter, unforgiving soul blocks joy as surely as a logjam blocks the flow of a river. Scripture recognizes that our circumstances might not always result in our being “happy,” but happiness is not the same thing as joy. Joy, in the Bible, involves a trusting hope in Christ, leading to an eternal perspective (James 1:2–3; Hebrews 12:2).

Paul practiced what he preached. When he wrote to the Philippians from prison, he didn’t live under his circumstances, instead he rose above them. Even though he was shackled, he rejoiced in the Lord (Philippians 1:17–18; 4:10). The Thessalonians’ circumstances were difficult, but they could be joyful “in the Lord.” Paul’s joy overpowered his trials. In spite of ill-treatment, brushes with death, sorrow, and virtual poverty, he always rejoiced (2 Corinthians 6:8–10).

Jesus linked joy to obedience. He said, “If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love…These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full” (John 15:10–11).

1 Thessalonians 5:17, NIV: “pray continually,”

In this verse Paul encourages the Thessalonian believers to pray continually. Naturally, this does not mean to be in a state of prayer during every waking moment. Rather, we ought to be in a constantly “prayerful” state, and frequently speaking to God in actual, dedicated prayer. Even in the midst of trials, believers should recognize the immeasurable value of maintaining fellowship with God through frequent prayer.

Jesus is the supreme example of what it means to pray continually. He taught His disciples to pray (Matthew 6:5–13). He prayed before feeding the five thousand (Matthew 14:19–21). He prayed when He blessed the children (Matthew 19:13). He prayed in the morning (Mark 1:35) and in the evening (Mark 6:45–47). He prayed for His disciples and for all subsequent believers (John 17). He prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26:36–42). He prayed from the cross (Luke 23:34).

The apostle Paul, too, prayed continuously. He prayed from prison at midnight (Acts 16:25). He prayed after giving a charge to the elders of the church at Ephesus (Acts 20:36). He prayed at Malta (Acts 28:8). He prayed for Israel (Romans 10:1). He prayed for the churches (Romans 1:9; Ephesians 1:16; Philippians 1:4; Colossians 1:3–12).

1 Thessalonians 5:18, NIV: “give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

In this verse Paul exhorts his readers to give thanks in all circumstances. He adds that it is God’s will to do so. Regardless how difficult our circumstances may be, we can find reasons to thank God. We can be thankful that all things work together for our good if we belong to Him (Romans 8:28). We can be thankful that God’s grace is sufficient to sustain us in every circumstance (2 Corinthians 12:9). We can be thankful that nothing can separate us from God’s love (Romans 8:37–39). We can be thankful that God even supports us spiritually when trials produce difficulty in our prayer life (Romans 8:26). Rough circumstances also prove the genuineness of our faith (1 Peter 1:6–7).

Paul previously wrote to “Rejoice always” (1 Thessalonians 5:16). Joy is not the same thing as happiness. In a similar way, Scripture notes the difference between giving thanks “for” our circumstances, as opposed to giving thanks “in” our circumstances. For example, a car wreck may not find us giving thanks for a twisted fender and smashed radiator, but we can give thanks that we have insurance and a God who is always present with us. We may not thank God for an illness, but we can be thankful for medicines and doctors. Persecution is not something we would be thankful for, but we can be thankful that God can use that hardship for our eternal benefit.

All Thailand Experiences, God’s Purpose for Your Life

God’s Purpose for Your Life.

Today we’re going to talk about God’s Purpose for Your Life

Romans 8:28, NIV: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

Despite its incredibly comforting message, some Christians have had an awkward relationship with this verse over the years. That is in no small part due to how easy it is to take this verse out of the context of Romans 8. Stripping these words of their context destroys the essence of what Scripture is saying. It is also possible to interpret the verse correctly, and still misuse it to dismiss the genuine pain and suffering of another person.

Paul has been describing the life of Christians on this side of heaven as one of groaning as we long to escape the suffering of this life and to be with our Father God in person (Romans 8:18–23). We wait in the sure hope of the day our bodies will be resurrected and we will share in God’s glory (Romans 8:24–25).

What about all the hard things that come along while we are waiting? Paul seems to offer the promise of this verse as a comfort for us.

Crucially, though, this promise is limited to “those who love God,” and “those who are called according to His purpose.” In short, that means the promise is for Christians: for saved believers, who have placed their trust in Jesus Christ (John 3:16–18; 14:6; Romans 3:26). No matter our feelings on a given day, loving God is part of what it means to live in Christ. That’s who we are. Each of us is also called to fulfill God’s purposes.

In other words, this verse cannot rightly be applied to non-Christians. Those who reject God do not express their love for God by coming to Him through faith in Jesus. For those who die without Christ, things will not have worked out for the better; they will have rejected the opportunity to take advantage of this promise (John 3:36).

What is the promise? That, for those who are saved, all things will indeed work together for good. “All things” should be taken to mean each and every circumstance one might experience, even pain or suffering. “Work,” or “work together,” must be understood in light of God taking action in the world. He is the one who causes all things to work together or, perhaps, works in and through all circumstances toward a specific end. What is that end? “Good.”

The word “good” does not necessarily mean happy or painless or financially successful or our idea of the best possible outcome on any given day. God’s ultimate good for us is to glorify us in eternity (Revelation 21:1–4). Beyond that, God works in and through us toward an ultimate good that serves His purpose for the universe.

The comfort of the verse is that nothing in this life of waiting and suffering is wasted. It is all meaningful for those in Christ, even if that doesn’t diminish our pain in the moment.

God created you to live in His purpose. To live the abundant life you need to understand these 5 purposes why God created you.

To be God’s children and be Loved by Him.

Jeremiah 31:3, NIV: “The LORD appeared to us in the past, saying: ‘I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.”

God is holy, and God is just, but the very nature of God is love. The Alpha and Omega of God’s eternal and unchangeable attributes unite together in perfect love, for despite their bitter waywardness and foolish choices, the Lord loved Israel with an everlasting love and His love for the Church reflects that same, never-ending love.

Intermingled deep within His eternal character of love, there is a multiplicity of godly attributes and divine graces, for He is good and gracious, He is patient and kind, He is long-suffering, and abundant in truth. He is infinitely unchanging and perfect in all His ways. And by His grace and goodness we discover ourselves to be His beloved children – by faith in Christ. God’s love rests upon His eternal, unchangeable, divine character.

God has a unique and unfathomable love for all mankind which was demonstrated toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, dead in our sin and at enmity with God, Christ died for us. Jesus paid the price for our sin so that His unconditional love and unswerving justice could be demonstrated through Him.

Christ was the One Who was wounded for our transgressions. He was the One Who was bruised for our iniquities. He did not die because of who we are, but because of His everlasting love towards the children of men. Christ did not go to the Cross because of what we have done – but simply because of Who He Is.

Herein is love – not that we loved God, but that He took the initiative and loved us first, by sending His only begotten Son into the world to die for sinful man, so that whosoever believes on Him would not be condemned, but be given abundant and eternal life, by grace through faith.

Pastors Nathan and Salila Gonmei of Abundant Grace Church in Chiang Mai Thailand explain Biblically : Purposes of Your Life Part 1 in English and Thai languages in the 16 minute video below

To know God and walk with Him.

Get to know God through His word, you will then know His purpose. The Holy Spirit will guide you. You will begin to walk with Him and fulfill His purpose along with yours in everything you do. John 17:3, NIV: “Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.”

Elsewhere, the gospel of John points out that salvation comes only through Jesus Christ (John 3:16–18, 36; 14:6). Salvation brings “eternal life,” in contrast to the eternal death of being separated forever from God (Matthew 25:30, 41, 46). Only by faith can a person be saved (Titus 3:5), and only by faith in Christ (Acts 4:12). John refers to the idea of eternal life numerous times in his writing (John 6:47; 10:28; 12:25; 1 John 2:25; 5:11).

The Greek term for “know” used here implies a deep level of intimacy. Though we are saved only by grace through faith, not by actions (Ephesians 2:8), saving faith is more than intellectual agreement (James 2:19). The gospel of John routinely uses the verb form of the Greek pisteuō, translated as “believe,” in connection with this thought. Saving faith is not passive, temporary, or mechanical. It is trusting, active, and engaged (Hebrews 11:6; John 14:15). The connection between God, Christ Jesus, The Holy Spirit and a true believer is profound, rooted in an ever-closer connection. This is God’s Love to man. Those who refuse to know God will not be saved by Him (John 8:55–59).

Pastors Nathan and Salila Gonmei of Abundant Grace Church in Chiang Mai Thailand explain Biblically : Purposes of Your Life Part 2 in English and Thai languages in the 16 minute video below .

To proclaim God’s Grace.

Ephesians 2:8, NIV: “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith–and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God–“

Paul returns again to his theme of grace in this classic verse. Salvation’s source is grace; the means of salvation is faith. We believe by faith to be saved (Romans 10:9), but would never choose to believe apart from the grace of God operating in our lives. That salvation would never be available, other than as a result of the grace of God. Both parts are important in the discussion of salvation.

Immediately following this declaration, Paul repeats and clarifies it. Paul does not want anyone to think salvation is based on something they had done, or could ever do. No action is good enough to provide our own salvation. No good deeds can undo the sins we have committed. Salvation is a gift. Further, it is a gift only God can provide. No matter how much we desire to give salvation to another person, we cannot. Only God can offer the gift of eternal life. Instead, we are called to proclaim the gospel, live it, share it, pray for the salvation of others, and help people grow in the grace of God. The Lord must be the one to provide salvation and does so as He chooses.

1 Peter 2:9, NIV: “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.”

In contrast with those who reject Christ and are destined to “stumble,” Peter now describes the chosen people of God.

Why? For one, He has made us to declare His praises. That’s more than just a natural response to our Father’s mercy or something we should do to be polite. Declaring God’s greatness is one reason for our very existence. When we praise Him, we fulfill our purpose. He has called us out of the darkness of a meaningless life, and an eternity apart from Him, and into His wonderful, marvelous light. Because we belong to Him, we belong in His light.

Pastors Nathan and Salila Gonmei of Abundant Grace Church in Chiang Mai Thailand explain Biblically : Purposes of Your Life Part 3 in English and Thai languages in the 16 minute video below.

To be a Godly influence to others.

As we pursue God, discover His Love, experience His Grace then our lives become a Godly influence to others with the guiding of the Holy Spirit. Acts 13:36, NIV: “Now when David had served God’s purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep; he was buried with his ancestors and his body decayed.”

David was one of many people God chose to save His people (1 Samuel 16:3, 11–13; Acts 13:22). He did so by defeating Israel’s enemies and continuing the charge God gave Joshua to inhabit the Promised Land (Joshua 1:1–9). When David’s service was finished, he died and was buried (1 Kings 2:10). To “sleep” is a euphemism for death in both the Old Testament (1 Kings 2:10) and the New Testament (Acts 7:60; 1 Corinthians 15:6; 2 Peter 3:4). To say he was “laid with his fathers” is also a euphemism since David’s tomb is in Jerusalem and his “fathers” were from and presumably buried in Bethlehem (1 Samuel 16:1).

1 Timothy 4:12, NIV: “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.”

Paul gives five specific areas in which Timothy is to serve as an example. First is his words. Second his actions, which should reflect an example of godliness. Third, his love was to be an example (1 Timothy 1:5, 14; 2:15). Fourth, Timothy was to be an example in faith. This is similar to 1 Timothy 1:5 where Paul said, “The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.” Fifth, Timothy’s example was to include his “purity,” both physically in his behavior around young women (1 Timothy 5:2) and in his spirituality (1 Timothy 5:22).

Pastors Nathan and Salila Gonmei of Abundant Grace Church in Chiang Mai Thailand explain Biblically : Purposes of Your Life Part 4 in English and Thai languages in the 16 minute video below.

To walk in His Blessing.

The very first words God spoke to Adam was “be blessed” (Genisis 1:28). The Hebrew word translated as “blessed” can also at times signify a curse. Here, without a doubt, it signifies that God’s conferring of good on the newly created couple is to be shared by their descendants.

2 Corinthians 9:8, NIV: “And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.”

Why would someone be hesitant to give to meet the needs of others? One reasonable concern might be fear that we won’t have enough left over to meet our own needs. In this way, giving for Christians becomes an act of faith, trusting God to meet our needs while becoming the method by which He meets the needs of others.

Christians can afford to trust the God who loves us. He has already proven Himself faithful by giving us His grace through our faith in Jesus. He has given us all things forever in Christ. That knowledge should help Christians to be convinced He can be counted on to continue to make all grace abound to us. He will make it so we have “enough” of all things at all times so we can accomplish the good works He wants to see from us.

Christians who give generously are convinced that the source of their provision will not run out—because that source is God Himself !

Pastors Nathan and Salila Gonmei of Abundant Grace Church in Chiang Mai Thailand explain Biblically : Purposes of Your Life Part 5 in English and Thai languages in the 16 minute video below.

All Thailand Experiences, Live with No Regrets, Lesson 1

Learning to Live with No Regrets, Lesson 1

We all have regrets because of something we did or didn’t do or something that happened to us or what we did to others in the past. This could be devastating for any decision making we do now and in our future. This is the biggest weapon Satan has. He gets into our souls and convinces us we are not worthy of God’s Love.

Using Scripture we are going to show you how to break the chain of Satan’s hold on your life because of regret. This subject is so important we will spend several lessons on the subject.

lAt most churches in Thailand the old covenant law is being taught and that Grace is not available to you if you break the law. We are training pastors about the New Repentance as written in the Bible with help from Pastors Nathan and Salila Gonmei at Abundant Grace Church in Chiang Mai.

Today we’re going to talk about Learning to Live with No Regret.

Isaiah 43:18-19 “Do not call to mind the former things, or ponder things of the past. 19 “Behold, I will do something new, now it will spring forth; will you not be aware of it? I will even make a roadway in the wilderness, rivers in the desert.”

God is telling Isaiah “do not call to mind the former things, or ponder things of the past.” He is literally saying that we are to receive God’s forgiveness and look ahead to our future.

We all have a past and some things are not so good, therefore we need to ask God for forgiveness, learn from our past mistakes, make amends if at all possible with the one we hurt and look forward to the new things the Lord will do in our lives.

When studying the Bible, we see that God used the least likely people to do some of the most amazing things for Him. He chose the adulterer, the murderer, the thief, and the prostitute. God used them as an example for us.

So if God used people like King David who was an adulterer and a murderer and others; why not us? Jesus died on the cross for us and once we accept Him as our Lord and Savior we are new creatures in Him (2 Corinthians 5:17). Galatians 2:20 tells us: “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.”

Believers need to quit living in the past because God wants us to focus on what is ahead of us and forget what happened yesterday or many years ago; since Jesus paid the price for us on the cross and blotted out all our sins. “I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more.” Isaiah 43:25

We need to learn to put the past behind us. So we may ask: How could God ever forgive me? According to Lamentations 3:22-23, God’s mercy is new every morning, and the Lord tells Jeremiah that He will forgive their iniquity, and will remember their sins no more (Jeremiah 31:34). He told Isaiah: “Though your sins are as scarlet, they will be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they will be like wool” (1:18).

God wants to heal everything that hurts us, but first we have to choose to let it go. Just like David we need to acknowledge our sin and ask God to forgive us. “I acknowledged my sin to You, and my iniquity I did not hide; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord”; and You forgave the guilt of my sin.” (Psalm 32:5)

After a strong exhortation to forget the former things, the Lord says, “See, I am doing a new thing! Do you not perceive it?” This question is vital to understanding how dwelling on the past affects us. The fact is, when we are caught up in the thoughts and events of the past, wallowing in the hurts and pain of yesterday, we become oblivious to the “new” things the Lord is doing all around us. That’s why God asks, “Do you not perceive it?” The perceptions of someone who struggles with letting go of the past literally become dulled—keeping them from “seeing” the good things the Lord is doing all around them.

We must get our eyes off the past and fasten them upon the power of the Lord. The writer of Hebrews tell us to: “…fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith…” (Hebrews 12:2) This cannot be done when our eyes are fixed on our past.

While there is a place and time to recollect the events of the past to gain a heart of wisdom, there is also a time to just let it go—release it. The apostle Paul said: “Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:12)

God does not want us to go through life looking in the rear view mirror. It’s time now to look ahead and focus on what’s before us. God wants to do a new thing in our lives. He wants us to rise up to our full potential in Him. The Lord has called us to do mighty things. He will even make a roadway in the wilderness, rivers in the desert for us.

We have to keep moving forward. It is only in moving forward that we ever accomplish what God has called us to. We cannot stay where we are, nor can we go backwards. The only direction we can go is forward. So let’s move on and keep our eyes focused on God and grow. Just as it is written: “Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, And which have not entered the heart of man, All that God has prepared for those who love Him.” (1 Corinthians 2:9)

Lamentations 3:22-23 NIV

Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

Verse 22. It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed — Being thus humbled, and seeing himself and his sinfulness in a proper point of view, he finds that God, instead of dealing with him in judgment, has dealt with him in mercy; and that though the affliction was excessive, yet it was less than his iniquity deserved. If, indeed, any sinner be kept out of hell, it is because God’s compassion faileth not.

Verse 23. They are new every morning — Day and night proclaim the mercy and compassion of God. Who could exist throughout the day, if there were not a continual superintending Providence? Who could be preserved in the night, if the Watchman of Israel ever slumbered or slept?

Taking a closer look at Lamentations 3:22–23, we notice a couple important themes. First, the Lord’s “great love” (“steadfast love” in some translations) abides even in times of trouble and divine judgment. God never stopped loving Israel, despite His discipline of them. The Hebrew word translated “great love” is used about 250 times in the Old Testament; it refers to love, of course, but it also encompasses elements of grace, mercy, goodness, forgiveness, compassion, and faithfulness. It is God’s “great love” for His people that spared them from being utterly wiped out by Babylon. As we know from history, God later restored His people to their land and blessed them again.

A second theme is God’s unfailing compassion or mercy. Mercy in the Bible is God’s withholding of a just punishment. The particular Hebrew word used in Lamentations 3:22 has to do with tender love, great and tender mercy, or pity. The same word is used in Isaiah 63:7 and translated “compassion”: “I will tell of the kindnesses of the LORD, the deeds for which he is to be praised, according to all the LORD has done for us—yes, the many good things he has done for Israel, according to his compassion and many kindnesses.” The Lord has pity on His suffering children; in fact, His mercies are new every morning.

Jeremiah’s statement that God’s mercies are “new every morning” is related to the statement that follows: “Great is your faithfulness” (Lamentations 3:23). God is unchanging, and His mercies toward Israel were unfaltering. His covenant with Abraham’s descendants would be kept (see Jeremiah 31:35–37). This was the bright ray of hope that shone through the smoke of Jerusalem’s ruins.

The dawning of every new day could be seen as a symbol of God’s light breaking through the darkness and His mercy overcoming our troubles. Every morning demonstrates God’s grace, a new beginning in which gloom must flee. We need look no further than the breath in our lungs, the sun that shines upon us, or the rain that falls to nourish the soil. The mercies of God continue to come to us via a multitude of manifestations.

There is no expiration date on God’s mercy toward us. His mercies are new every morning in that they are perpetual and always available to those in need. We have our ups and downs, and “even youths grow tired and weary” (Isaiah 40:30), but God is faithful through it all. With the dawn of each day comes a new batch of compassion made freshly available to us. God’s compassion is poured out from an infinite store; His mercies will never run out. Some mornings we get up on the wrong side of the bed, but even there we find God’s mercies awaiting us.

Believers still sin and grieve the Holy Spirit, but forgiveness is always available (1 John 1:8–9). God’s mercy is ready to forgive our sins, as they are atoned for by the shed blood of Jesus Christ on the cross. We serve a great, loving, and merciful God, and because of His great love we are not consumed. Our God is for us, not against us.

In Jesus Christ we have the fullest expression of God’s mercy and compassion (see Matthew 14:14), and He is “the same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8). Jesus’ mercy is indeed “new every morning.”

Pastors Nathan and Salila Gonmei of Abundant Grace Church in Chiang Mai Thailand explains Biblically :Overcoming a Life of Regrets lesson 1 and how to walk in it in English and Thai languages in the 16 minute video below..

All Thailand Experiences, Living with Joy

Living with Joy

When the Holy Spirit put doing mission work in Thailand in me without support and to start a tour company to support the mission I had about $50 US Dollars. I had to step out, be brave and trust in Him. Courage comes knowing your spiritual identity in Christ.

Today we’re going to talk about Living in God’s Joy

Galatians 5:22, NIV: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,”

This verse by Paul describes what all spirit filled Christians already posses in the new birth in Jesus Christ not what they will have. Once you relies you have the presence of God with you and in you all the time you will experience His joy always. As His spirit aligns with your spirit you will never be sad, depressed, fearful, or confused because in the presence of God there if fullness of joy.

What should the lives of those who are free in Christ look like? In other words, how should Christians live if we are not under the law of Moses? Paul has answered that question in two ways so far. First, Christians must not squander our freedom in Christ, which is freedom from under the law, by serving only ourselves (Galatians 5:13–15). That leads to a laundry list of sinful lifestyles. Instead, Paul has written, those in Christ should allow God’s Spirit to lead them into powerful service to others motivated by love (Galatians 5:16–21).

Now Paul begins to offer a new list. This describes what those in Christ should expect to see flowing from their lives when they let the Holy Spirit lead them. Paul calls this the “fruit of the Spirit.” It’s helpful to understand this is meant to imply a single fruit—the Greek term is singular. This is not a list of nine separate fruits, but nine characteristics of the (single) fruit of the Spirit. In Christ, we should expect to see all of these characteristics showing up together as we give God’s Spirit control. They come in no particular order, or rank, or schedule.

Paul begins with love, from the Greek term agapē. This is famously described as “selfless love,” or an attitude that considers other people more than ourselves, without expecting anything in return. God’s Spirit in us produces God’s unconditional love in us for Him and for others (1 Corinthians 13:4–13).

Joy is translated from the Greek chara, which does not necessarily imply happiness. “Joy,” in a biblical sense, is best described as an inner confidence. This allows us to declare to our soul that all is well with us, now and forever, because of our place in Christ. Supernatural peace comes with joy as a result of trusting God and is not dependent on our circumstances (Philippians 4:4–9).

Patience is the ability, in the Spirit, to wait on God’s perfect timing even when our personal agenda seems to be failing. Translated from the term makrothymia, “patience” includes controlling our response to circumstances. This contrasts with the error Paul gave in verse 20, translated “fits of anger,” from the related word thymoi. Scripture uses the term “patience” to mean an ability to endure hardship—to “weather the storm.”

Kindness may be simple, but it is not always easy. The original term, chrēstotēs, includes concepts of being good and gentle. In the Spirit, we can be kind to anyone, even those who are challenging and offensive.

Goodness is the ability to do the right thing in every circumstance. The term agathōsynē implies a moral decency: this describes someone respectable, honorable, and righteous.

Faithfulness is a crucial word, from the Greek term pistis, frequently translated simply as “faith” in the New Testament. This represents a kind of endurance, driven by trust. In the Spirit, Christians can keep going in the right direction, even when we don’t fully understand all God is doing.

Psalm 16:11, KJV: “Thou wilt show me the path of life: in thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.”

Closing his psalm, David thanks the Lord for showing him the way of life that leads to the joy of heaven. There is nothing drab or boring about heaven. It is a place of fullness of joy and unending delights. The greatest joy comes from being in Jesus’ presence. First Thessalonians 4:17 promises that believers will be with the Lord forever. We will see Him face to face, and we will be like Him (1 John 3:2). Every believer will have a body like His glorified body (Philippians 3:20–21). In heaven we will be free forever from sin, sickness, sadness, and dying. We will enjoy a reunion with our Christian loved ones and friends. We will not be burdened by our present experiences of restricted time and space.

Heaven is an attractive place. Revelation 21—22 describes it as far beyond the glories of any place on earth. It has gates of pearl and streets of gold. Paul, who was caught up to heaven, calls it “paradise” (2 Corinthians 12:2–3). Even when death seems likely (Psalm 16:8–10), those who have put their faith in Christ can look forward with hope and joy.

As we are now under the New Covenant of Jesus Christ and not thw law we don’t have to wait for the joy of heaven. Because His Spirit lives in us as a new creation we have God’s joy along with all His promises through Grace by the blood of Jesus Christ in us now.

Nehemiah says to the people in Nehemiah 8:10…

“Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our LORD: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength.”

So how can we find strength and joy in the Lord? The answers can be found throughout Nehemiah.

First, we can rejoice that God provides for us. He divinely directed the leaders of other empires to provide safe passage and resources for the Israelites to return to their homeland and rebuild the Temple. God will provide you with everything you need if you will trust in Him and believe that He will do it.

Next, we can trust that God’s strength is sufficient in everything. When the people began to fear what was happening around them, Nehemiah encouraged them to remember the power of God as greater than those that threatened them (Nehemiah 4:14). The apostle Paul recognizes that God is greater than what we can offer in 2 Corinthians 12:9, when God “said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.” Trust that God’s power is stronger than what can come against you (Romans 8:31).

The people also kept themselves dedicated to remaining in God’s Word (Nehemiah 8:1). They sought wise counsel, the leaders ensured that everyone understood the Law, and they devoted a significant portion of their time to corporate worship, study, and fellowship. We should stay steeped in our study and meditation on the Bible, and share our encouragement and godly fellowship with others who are also devoted to God. This is how we can grow together and build up the body of Christ.

Finally, Nehemiah encouraged the people to celebrate! God had delivered them out of exile, and had given them the strength to rebuild their home – that is certainly cause for celebration and generosity (Nehemiah 8:10). When we recognize that God is with us, we can find perfect joy in Him, and we will be quick to share that joy with others by telling them about what God has done for us.

Rejoicing in God can give us the strength to face all of life’s challenges. We can better focus on God instead of our fears, and we can help others learn about the joy we have. Be thankful to God for what He has done, ask Him to remain at the center of your life, and you can be sure that His peace will follow (Philippians 4:6-7).Pastors Nathan and Salila Gonmei of Abundant Grace Church in Chiang Mai Thailand explain Biblically :Living with God’s Joy and how to walk in it in English and Thai languages in the 16 minute video below..

All Thailand Experiences, God’s Healing and Health.

God’s Healing and Health.

Today we’re going to talk about God’s Healing and Health.

Exodus 23:25, NIV: “Worship the LORD your God, and his blessing will be on your food and water. I will take away sickness from among you,”

This is why we should pray over our food before eating.

1 John 5:14, NIV: “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.”

After emphasizing confidence in eternal life, John comments on confidence in prayer. The believer can know he or she has eternal life and know God hears their prayers. However, this verse specifies that getting a positive answer to prayer is based on asking “according to his will.” This phrase is used only two other times in the New Testament. In Luke 12:47, a parable is told about a servant who did not act “according to his [master’s] will” and received judgment. In Hebrews 2:4, the author mentions gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed “according to his will.”

Verses such as this clear up the common misconception that God promises to give us “absolutely anything” we ask for, no matter what. God is not a vending machine, or a robot. He acts according to His ways, not ours. He hears our prayers, but it should come as no surprise that He responds to those prayers according to His will.

1 Corinthians 12:8, NIV: “To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit,”

Paul has been describing to the Christians in Corinth what spiritual gifts are. In short, they are manifestations of the Holy Spirit. That is, they are abilities that go beyond normal human capacity in some specific way, even if the display of God’s power is not always obvious. Paul has shown that they are given to every Christian by God to be used for the common good of the church.

Now Paul begins to describe some of these specific gifts. This first list contains nine gifts, and it is not exhaustive. Other passages in the New Testament list additional spiritual gifts (Romans 12:6–8; Ephesians 4:11; 1 Peter 4:10–11).

Some groups of Christians believe this specific set of gifts, sometimes called the sign gifts or confirmation gifts, to have been given to Christians in the early church to demonstrate the power of God and confirm that the gospel was true. These groups typically believe God stopped giving these gifts after the church was established and the New Testament was published. The same group may or may not believe these gifts are given today sporadically and under special circumstances. Other groups of believers, such as Pentecostals and Charismatics believe these gifts are still distributed by the Holy Spirit regularly and throughout the church around the world.

Paul starts the list with two gifts of “utterance” or kinds of messages. He says again that both are given by the same Spirit, though they are slightly different. The first is the “utterance” or “word” or “message” of wisdom, depending on the translation. The second is the utterance of knowledge.

The word of wisdom involves the supernatural ability to offer insight into truth from God in a way that helps others. The word of knowledge might be understood as the ability to proclaim God’s revelation to those who need to hear it or to offer understanding of how it applies to specific areas of life.

1 Corinthians 12:9, NIV: “to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit,”

Paul is listing some of the gifts the Holy Spirit delivers to believers. Not every believer is given every gift. Paul wrote in the previous verse that one is given the utterance of wisdom, while another is given the utterance—or “message”—of knowledge.

Now he adds that one might be given the gift of faith, while another gifts of healing. In all cases, Paul’s emphasis is that these gifts are given by the same Holy Spirit of God. He is the source of each of them, and all the power behind them comes from God.

By definition, every born-again believer has faith in Christ and faith to believe God’s Word. The spiritual gift of faith, as narrowly implied here, seems to involve the ability to trust God with a confidence or certainty that is beyond the ability of other Christians. Some scholars suggest this gift is tied to the rest of the gifts in this list, including the gifts of healing.

The gifts of healing provide the supernatural ability for the person who possesses the gift to restore health or even to hold off death. This is not to be confused with the ability to practice the medical arts or sciences. Those with the gift of healing are empowered by the Holy Spirit to heal a specific ailment supernaturally, often immediately.

Acts 10:38, NLT: “And you know that God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. Then Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.”

Notice that all 3 of the Holy Trinity are involved, God the Father, Jesus the Son and the Holy Spirit. If you are born again the same Holy Spirit is in you, the same Power of God is in you and you have the righteousness of Jesus.

Throughout His ministry, Jesus blessed the vulnerable and held the powerful responsible (John 2:1–11, 13–16; Mark 10:13–16), He healed the demonically oppressed (Mark 1:23–26; 5:1–13; Matthew: 17:14–18), and brought the dead to life (Mark 5:39–43; John 11:38–44). Most importantly, not only was God with Him, He is God with us (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:23).

In the previous verse, Peter described Jesus’ refusal to retaliate against those who mistreated Him. Jesus chose this path because He trusted the Father to be the just judge, to make all things right. Jesus suffered for doing good, without fighting back, so He could fulfill His purpose. Verse 24 describes exactly what that purpose was.

1 Peter 2:24, NLT: “He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. By his wounds you are healed.”

If Jesus had not willingly endured unjust suffering, we would have remained lost in our sin. Instead, Jesus bore, or “carried,” our sins and physical suffering on the cross. He actually died in order to pay the penalty for our sinful actions. He became our substitute, dying the death we deserved. God, the one who judges justly (1 Peter 2:23) judged Christ for our sin in that moment, pouring out His wrath on His own Son to satisfy the payment for our sin. He endured suffering so we could die to sin. In that action, by God’s grace and through our faith in Christ, we have been freed. Believers are free from the price of our own sin, from the power of sin to poison our choices and sickness and disease. Now, thanks to Jesus’ suffering, Christians can live righteously. We don’t have to sin; we are free to make right choices that please and honor our God (1 Corinthians 10:13).

The verse ends by quoting Isaiah 53:5. As Christians, we have been healed from the penalty and power of our sin by Christ’s wounds, by His death in our place, by His suffering for our good. The wounds—the suffering—of Jesus are the means by which Christians are healed—not only forgiven by God for our sins but physical healing from sickness and disease.

Pastors Nathan and Salila Gonmei of Abundant Grace Church in Chiang Mai Thailand explain Biblical health and healing and how to walk in it in English and Thai languages in the 16 minute video below.

All Thailand Experiences, Living with Courage.

Living with Courage

When the Holy Spirit put doing mission work in Thailand in my heart without support and to start a tour company to support the mission I had about $50 U.S. Dollars. I had to step out, be brave and trust in Him. Courage comes knowing your spiritual identity in Christ.

Today we’re going to talk about Living with Courage.

Proverbs 28:1, NIV: “The wicked flee though no one pursues, but the righteous are as bold as a lion.” NLT: “The wicked run away when no one is chasing them, but the godly are as bold as lions.”

Righteousness is a powerful concept that is made up of sub-concepts. We are called to seek “his righteousness” (Mt 6:33). Underneath this quality are sub qualities that will be ours when we are righteous. Love, patience, and all the other fruits of the Spirit (Gal 5:22-23) will be present. And also, boldness will characterize the righteous man or woman of God. You could call this courage or bravery, but righteousness breeds boldness.

2 Corinthians 5:17, NIV: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”

We are now righteous because of the blood of Jesus Christ. We are no longer slave to the sinful nature brought on by the disobedience of Adam and the Law.

How does righteousness lead to boldness? One way is that to be righteous, one must first accept Christ. Our first act of boldness is to come into the presence of God (Heb 4:16), boldly, because we are holy by our justification, redemption, and adoption as sons of God in Christ. God fills us with the Holy Spirit who, himself, is bold. Then as we mature, we learn to care what God thinks of us more than what other people think of us, as we die daily to our old ways and mortify the sin in our flesh. This we do by the power of the Holy Spirit and abiding in Christ in obedience. Finally, as we learn to know the truth in our inner man or woman, we are sure of what we think and believe about things, so that when the time comes for boldness, we are ready to step forward like a lion.

Alternatively, any boldness on the part of the wicked is just for show. Most of them will flee in the face of true and godly boldness. They live life insecure and afraid of being caught in their schemes and deceptions. They have no genuine confidence, and consequently, they must run from conflict except when their adversary is truly helpless, in which case they will attack like cowards.

“The wicked…” The Bible teaches that all of us were born in a state of sinfulness because of the sin of Adam (Eph 2:1). Until Christ saves us, we are wicked. Our motives are wicked. Our actions are wicked. It is not that nonbelievers can do nothing good, but even the good they do is sinfully motivated (Isa 64:6).

“…flee though no one pursues,” This describes the paranoia of the godless. Why would they not be paranoid? If there is no God, anything can happen to them at any time. There is no true boldness, only arrogant bravado. There is no true conviction, only the subjective opinions of the other people whose disapproval they fear.

“but the righteous…” The righteous are those who are saved by grace and filled with the Holy Spirit, learning to integrate into every fiber the truth and confidence of living by the ways of God, abiding in Christ and trusting him in all circumstances.

“…are as bold as a lion.” Sons and daughters of God are like their Savior, the Lion of the Tribe of Judah. While being meek when meekness is called for, God’s children, the righteous, are also able to be bold when boldness is what is needed. The fear of the Lord is a remedy against the fear of man or disaster (Mk 4:35-31).

Romans 8:15, NIV: “The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, ‘Abba, Father.'”

Romans 8:15 is one of Scripture’s most beautiful verses about our relationship with God through faith in Christ. It describes how God has changed every Christian’s relationship with Him through the power of the Holy Spirit.

In the previous verse, Paul wrote that all who are led by the Spirit of God are His children. Now he gets more specific. Earlier in this letter to the Romans, Paul wrote that through faith in Christ we are freed from slavery to sin and that we become “slaves to righteousness” (Romans 6:18) or “slaves to God” (Romans 6:22). Paul is not backing away from that in this verse. The word used for slaves—doulos—describes what was once known as indentured service: when a person swore their allegiance to remain in the service of a specific master.

Here, though, Paul assures us that God does not view us as His slaves or even just good servants. He did not free us from slavery to sin simply to add us to His team. He rescued us from sin to make us His children. That involves the Holy Spirit.

God did not give us the spirit of slavery, by giving us the Holy Spirit. Abused slaves often live in fear of their masters, and that is not the relationship God wants from us. No, Paul insists, God gave us the Spirit of adoption as his children. In other words, God legally changed the status of those who come to Him by faith in Christ to sons and daughters.

This is not a distant or strained parent/child relationship, either. This Spirit of adoption, another name for the Holy Spirit, allows us to cry out to God as little children call out to a loving daddy. The word Abba is a Greek and English adaptation of the Aramaic word for father. It was often the word used by young children for “papa” or “daddy.” That’s the relationship God wants with us, and He has made it possible through the Spirit.

Pastors Nathan and Salila Gonmei of Abundant Grace Church in Chiang Mai Thailand explain Biblical living in courage and how to walk in it in English and Thai languages in the 16 minute video below.

All Thailand Experiences, The Holy Spirit in You.

The Holy Spirit lives in you.

Today we’re going to talk about The Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit, in a sense, does from the inside what Christ would do from the outside: teach, convict, remind, and guide. In John 14:17, Jesus will clarify that this Helper is the Holy Spirit, who is available only to those who believe .

Many people misunderstand who the Holy Spirit is. Using Biblical scripture we will show you that the Holy Spirit is a person and will be with you for eternity if you have excepted Jesus Christ.

The Holy Spirit

Ephesians 1:13, NLT: “And now you Gentiles have also heard the truth, the Good News that God saves you. And when you believed in Christ, he identified you as his own by giving you the Holy Spirit, whom he promised long ago.”\

Notice how the sealing, occurring at only one time, is linked to one’s belief in Christ. Just as our saving belief happens only once, so the sealing, the guarantee of our faith, only happens once and remains with us for eternity

Paul describes three things that took place in the lives of the Ephesian believers. First, they heard the gospel, known as the word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15; James 1:18).

Second, rather than rejecting the message as many Jews had done, these Gentile believers both heard and believed the gospel and were saved as a result (Romans 10:9; Ephesians 2:8–9).

Third, Paul noted that when they became believers they “were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit.” This specific description of the Holy Spirit is only used in the book of Ephesians here, and in Ephesians 4:30, among a dozen total references to the Spirit in the letter. A “seal” was a mark indicating a letter or scroll was closed or completed. When a king or dignitary wanted to show an identifying mark with a letter, he would seal it with a resin imprint of his ring. The Holy Spirit likewise shows that believers belong to the Lord.

John 14:16, NLT: “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you.”

Jesus commanded the disciples to love each other (John 13:34–35) and to obey His commands (John 14:15). He has also reassured them that knowledge of Him is their means of salvation (John 14:6). In that context—acting in His name—Jesus also promised to provide whatever is asked of Him (John 14:14).

English translations of this verse are relatively consistent, but translating from Greek blurs a subtle difference in this statement. When Jesus refers to the disciples “asking” for something in prayer, He uses the root word ait󠅍eō (John 14:13–14; 15:7; 16:23). Here, however, Jesus uses the term erōtaō. This also means “to ask,” but carries a more personal and mutual sense. Jesus uses both words—with the same distinction between their requests and His—in John 16:26. This, once again, implies that Jesus shares a relationship with God which transcends mere humanity. It also reinforces the idea that prayer is not intended to blindly grant us our wishes.

“Helper,” here, is translated from the root term paraklētos. This can also be translated as a “comforter,” or “advocate.” This is the same term John will use later to describe Jesus in 1 John 2:1. That connection has meaning—Jesus will later point out that He is leaving behind His earthly ministry specifically, so the Holy Spirit can act (John 16:7). The Holy Spirit, in a sense, does from the inside what Christ would do from the outside: teach, convict, remind, and guide. In the following verse, Jesus will clarify that this Helper is the Holy Spirit, who is available only to those who believe (John 14:17).

This Spirit is guaranteed to be with the believer “forever.” This contrasts with the work of the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament, which came and went from God’s servants at various times (1 Samuel 19:23; 2 Chronicles 15:1; Judges 14:6).

The beautiful role of this “Helper” is also demonstrated by understanding its translation. In legal terms, the “defense attorney” is the paraklētos. The opposing side is the “accuser,” from the Greek katēgōr, a term John uses in Revelation 12:10. The concept of an “accuser” features heavily in the Old Testament, through the phrase ha sā’tān. The One who stands by us and guides us is God, the Holy Spirit—our accuser and enemy is Satan.

John 14:17, NIV: “the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept Him, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. But you know Him, for He lives with you and will be in you.”

IS THE HOLY SPIRIT A PERSON?

The Identity of the Holy Spirit

To many people, the Holy Spirit is an enigma. Some see Him as an impersonal force or influence, some deny His very existence, and others are not certain who or what the Holy Spirit is. However, the Bible is very clear on this matter; the Holy Spirit is a person, the Third Person of the Holy Trinity.

The Definition of Person

By “person,” we mean one who has their own identity or individuality as a rational being. They are conscious of their own existence.

When we say that the Holy Spirit is a person some assume that He has eyes, feet, and hands. But these are not the marks of a person. The marks of a genuine person are knowledge, feeling, and will.

The fact that the Holy Spirit is a person can be observed in six ways.

He acts like a person.

2. He is treated as a person.

3. He has the ministry of a person.

4. He is mentioned in connection with other persons.

5. He is the Third Person of the Trinity, and therefore, is personal.

6. The Holy Spirit Has the Characteristics of a Person

We will now consider the personality of the Holy Spirit.

The Scriptures attribute to the Holy Spirit characteristics that only a person can truly possess. He is portrayed as a thinking being, a being who has a mind, an emotional being, and a volitional (or choosing) being.

The Holy Spirit Is a Thinking Being

The Bible says that the Holy Spirit has the intellectual capacity to think and know. These are the marks of personhood.

As we search the Scripture, the Holy Spirit is ascribed personality in the fullest sense. Indeed, through a study of Scripture a number of things become clear. The Holy Spirit has the attributes of a person. He has characteristics that only a genuine person can have.

The Spirit also performs the acts of a person. In other words, He does things that only a person can do. The Holy Spirit is treated as a person. In historical situations the Spirit of God is treated as other persons are treated. The Holy Spirit has the ministry of a person.

He does things that in the Christian ministry that only persons can do. The Holy Spirit is mentioned in connection with other persons. This is further indication that the Spirit of God is indeed a person.

The Holy Spirit is God, and therefore, by nature is personal. Each of these truths makes it clear that Spirit of God is indeed a person.

Galatians 5:25, KJV: “If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.”

Paul has been describing what it looks like to live as one who is free in Christ. He has been clear that this is not a freedom to do whatever feels good. It is not a freedom to simply indulge in trying to satisfy all our sinful desires. On the contrary, true salvation—and freedom from the Old Testament’s ritual law—is freedom from being controlled by our sinful desires. How? Just as we needed an external source, Jesus, to pay for our sin, we also need an external source of power, the Holy Spirit, to overcome our sinful desires and lead us in the right direction.

This happens, Paul has written, when we “walk by” (Galatians 5:16) and are “led by” (Galatians 5:18) the Spirit. The picture he paints is not one of possession in the sense that the Spirit takes us over and does whatever He wants. We are not spiritual robots, or puppets who suddenly lack free will. Instead the picture is one of Christians using our will to allow God’s Spirit to set the direction we will go.

It’s a mysterious idea than none of us fully understand, but the way Paul describes it in this verse is helpful. He says living by the Spirit involves keeping in step with the Spirit. It involves adjusting our pace to match the pace and direction the Spirit is leading. Sometimes, Bible teachers describe it as allowing one’s partner to lead in a dance. In other words, it involves submitting to God’s way, but we are still the one taking each next step.

This will not happen automatically. It is something we must choose from day to day. In fact, we must often choose to give the lead to the Spirit moment by moment .

Pastors Nathan and Salila Gonmei explain Biblically who the Holy Spirit is and how to walk with the Holy Spirit in the video below in English and Thai languages.

All Thailand Experiences Delivering Hope

Hope, Joy and Peace

Today we’re going to talk about Hope.

Romans 15:13, NIV: “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

“Hope” is commonly used to mean a wish: its strength is the strength of the person’s desire. But in the Bible hope is the confident expectation of what God has promised and its strength is in His faithfulness.

Ordinarily, when we express hope, we are expressing uncertainty. But this is not the distinctive biblical meaning of hope. And the main thing I want to do this morning is show you from Scripture that biblical hope is not just a desire for something good in the future, but rather, biblical hope is a confident expectation and desire for something good in the future.

Biblical hope not only desires something good for the future — it expects it to happen. And it not only expects it to happen — it is confident that it will happen. There is a moral certainty that the good we expect, and desire will be done.

The Holy Spirit indwells us as believers. In addition to the many roles He plays in our lives, He seals us as belonging to God (see Ephesians 1:13-14). The Holy Spirit is the person of God who lives in us in our time on earth and teaches us to truly know and follow God.

Hope can be described as happy anticipation of good which is coming for the believer. This comes from knowing God because he is the author of hope so the more we walk with him the more this hope will overflow in our lives and others around us will take notice.

Paul writes to the Romans “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him”. Trust is something that is learned and experienced. The further we walk in fellowship with the Lord the more we know him and understand his will and desires concerning us. He fills us with joy and peace in His presence.

Joy is the source of happiness; it is more than a feeling. It is the ability to be content and joyful in every circumstance. Hebrews says that Jesus was anointed with the oil of joy (Hebrews 1:9, Psalm 45:7). Meaning; there has never been anyone more full of joy than Jesus. As his children it makes sense that we are also anointed and filled full of joy for this life. Peace is harmony in our relationships, but beyond that it can also be understood as a treaty or agreement to cease hostilities.

As God fills you with his peace, you will understand that you are at peace with Him. He is not angry at you for sin, he does not look at you as a filthy sinner, instead He sees you as he sees Jesus ( Ephesians 4:24, NIV: “and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”, Making this change is impossible without Christ and requires a Christian to be renewed in their thinking by God and the Holy Spirit. 1 John 4:17, NIV: “This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus.”). These things are necessary for this life. The author of hope is able to fill you to overflowing with these things as you learn to trust him and experience Him by faith.

An amazing truth is that this all happens on a supernatural level by the power of the Holy Spirit living inside you as a believer. This hope that Paul is describing is supernatural, it is not based on feelings. This means how you feel cannot dictate whether or not you experience this hope. The hope is given by God and you have it. When we walk with the Lord, the anticipation of future things builds and builds until it overflows in your life.

Remember God is the author of hope and he has given you eternal life, which is knowing him in a personal and intimate way. We experience this life by faith and the more we practice it the more this joy, peace and hope will spill out into the natural realm of our lives.

Pastors Nathan and Salila Gonmei explain Biblical Hope and how to walk in it in the 16 minute video below in English and Thai languages.

All Thailand Experiences, Being Humble

James 4:10 Humble-Yourselves-Sight-Lord-He-Lift-You-Up

Be Humble and receive God’s Power, He cares for you

Today we’re going to talk about being humble using scripture. To live an abundant life full of Grace the Bible teaches us a lot about Humility and how it affects our relationship with God. There are many benefits of being humble for the born again believer.

Many people misunderstand what true humility really is. Using Biblical scripture we will show you what being humble is all about. Humility is not degrading or lowering your self-esteem but a necessary action to release God’s power in your life.

James 4:10, NIV: “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.”

Everybody wants to be exalted. We all want to be glorified. Maybe we wouldn’t say so. Maybe we don’t feel it all of the time. But part of the motivation for living according to the world system is to get exaltation for ourselves. This comes in having the things we want, getting the respect we feel we deserve, or living in the comfort and pleasure we crave. God asks us to quit the world’s way of pursuing those things. Instead, He calls us to trust Him to exalt us when the time is right without trying to get that glory for ourselves.

1 Peter 5:6, NIV: “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.”

All of us long to be glorified. We long to know that we are significant and to have others know it, as well. That desire is not necessarily wrong. All natural human desires have some legitimate, God-honoring purpose, and a means to express it properly. In this case, we are made in God’s image, and He has built into us the desire to be exalted. The key to a biblical, Christian view of glory is paying close attention to what God says about seeking it. The Bible teaches us to quit struggling so hard to make it happen, and trust God to exalt us at the right time and place as He sees fit. He’s a good Father who loves us; let Him be in charge of bringing us glory.

Jesus showed us how to do that. Philippians 2 reminds us that Jesus is God and yet, when He came to earth, He made Himself nothing. Instead, He became a servant to all. Then, at the right time, the Father elevated Jesus to the highest position in the universe. Peter echoes that idea in this and the following verse. Why are we so afraid to put on humility toward other Christians? Why does it bother us to live in submission to other people? We are afraid of becoming insignificant, of going unrecognized, of making ourselves nothing.

As used in Scripture, “humility” does not mean weakness or self-hatred. It means a proper appreciation of how we are, in relationship to God. It means strength under control.
Peter reminds us that we are not humbling ourselves under the hand of our human authorities, including the elders in the church. No, we are willingly humbling ourselves under the hand of God. When the proper time comes, He will exalt us either here, or in the life to come, or both, to some extent. Our willingness to serve, to make ourselves nothing, isn’t a declaration that we are, in fact, insignificant. Our humility in service is a declaration that our mighty God can be trusted to give us all the glory and recognition that we long for when time is right.

1 Peter 5:7, NIV: “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”

This verse concludes the thought begun in verse 6. Christians must humble themselves under God’s mighty hand, trusting Him to exalt us at exactly the right time. We must quit the work of seeking our own glory in order to accept the work of serving and submitting to others. Then, when the time is right, our God will use His mighty hand to exalt us.

These are words of great encouragement, and maybe conviction, for those struggling to submit to harsh human authorities. It speaks to those serving year after year with little recognition. It encourages those providing for others of limited power or value in society. Natural human fear tells us we are wasting our lives, we are on the wrong path, that our choice to serve in humility without obvious reward is evidence that we may be worthless, after all.

Peter writes that we should take that fear and cast it—throw it—onto our Father God. In fact, he tells us to take all of our anxieties, everything that worries us, and to give it to the God who cares so deeply for us. This is not a promise that God will fix everything which worries us. God is not obligated to follow whatever script we write for Him. It’s a promise that the mighty God will receive our worries, and care about them. He will carry them for us. He is trustworthy to handle them in the way that is best.

Peter’s words are a command. It is not God’s will for His children to continue to live under those burdens. Believing that God is mighty and cares for us should result in our regularly handing over our worries to Him.

Pastors Nathan and Salila Gonmei explain Biblical humility and how to walk in it in the 16 minute video below. This is in English and Thai languages so share with your Thai friends.

All Thailand Experiences, Keeping A Healthy Soul.

Today we’re going to talk about a healthy soul or spiritual heart. Believe it or not you are a spirit, you have a soul and they live in your body. If you are a believer in Jesus Christ you are born again and you have a new spirit but your soul or spiritual heart has not changed. This is why many Christians keep sinning, doing stupid things, making bad decisions, depressed, angry, lonely and many wrong feelings.

So how do we attain a healthy soul or spiritual heart. God teaches us in His word.

Proverbs 4:23, NIV: “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”

Jesus announced: “The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks” (Luke 6:45).

One positive result from maturity in a believer is not being tricked by false teaching. Those who are “no longer children” can stand against lies and deceit. Paul’s analogy of being “tossed to and fro by the waves” sounds like James 1:6, which instructs us to pray in faith without doubting. Jude 1:13 also uses the idea of “wild waves of the sea.” The goal is to avoid being “carried about by every wind of doctrine.” False teaching changes regularly. Those who are immature can easily be fooled into thinking false teaching is accurate.

Ephesians 4:14, NIV: “Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming.”

This can take place in two ways. First, believers can be deceived by “human cunning.” This is the power of human persuasion; a smooth talker can wield influence over others. Second, a person can be deceived by “craftiness in deceitful schemes.” These are evil plans that may appear good but actually promote something false. In Ephesians 6:11 Paul will add that believers can “Put on the whole armor of God, that [they] may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.”

James 1:8, NIV: “Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.”

This verse completes a crucial idea which James introduced in verse 5. God promises wisdom to all who ask Him for it. He promises to give it generously and not based on our merit. The caveat is that we must believe and not doubt. We must not seek wisdom from sources contrary to God at the same time, expecting to weigh God’s wisdom against others and decide which we will follow. We can consult godly advisors, and look to God’s creation, but we can’t weigh His wisdom against that of the world before we decide who to trust.

Verse 7 made it clear that a doubtful person—the one who treats God as only one of many options—should not expect to receive any wisdom from God. This verse calls that person both double-minded and unstable. Trying to live by God’s wisdom while also following a form of “wisdom” from another source will always lead us in two different directions. We will always be deciding whose wisdom feels more right to us in any given moment. In that way, we end up making a god of our own ability to pick the “right” wisdom from day to day.

James makes it clear that the only stable life is one in which a believer has resolved to follow God’s wisdom—period. Those who trust the Father seek wisdom from the Father and follow the wisdom the Father gives, no matter what.

Matthew 11:28, NIV: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” 29,”Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”

Jesus is not talking about physical rest, necessarily. The following verse will describe it as rest for the soul. The path to the Father through Jesus is not one of weary labor and heavy work. Jesus’ earlier analogy about the path to life being narrow and “difficult” (Matthew 7:14) is entirely separate, and speaking from a different perspective. From the view of the world, following Christ means taking on difficult circumstances and giving up worldly pleasures. From the view of eternity—of salvation—following Christ means giving up the impossible task of carrying our own sin.

Now He elaborates, inviting these listeners to put His yoke on them.

The implication is to allow Jesus to put His own yoke on us, the way a farmer would put one on his livestock. It means giving Jesus control and letting Him direct our efforts. The work He has will not be difficult, Jesus says. He wants them to learn from Him. Unlike the Pharisees, Jesus insists that He is gentle. He is lowly in heart (Philippians 2:6–7). He has not come to add to their burden but to give them rest for their souls.

Hebrews 4:9, KJV: “There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.” Here, the point is made that since God’s seventh day Sabbath rest from creation (Hebrews 4:3–4) is ongoing, the “rest” He offers is available right now, to those willing to trust and obey.

Here are sermons from Pastors Nathan and Salia Gonmei at Abundance Grace Church in Chiang Mai Thailand teaching us in this 3 part series on A Healthy Soul. the sermons are in both English and Thai so you can share with your Thai friends.