How Should We Then Live?

By Jay R. Leach

Many churches today have become ineffective to the kingdom of God because they no longer obey the mandate from our Lord, Jesus Christ. While many churches are boasting about numbers and membership, the actual purpose of the Christian church, making disciples, seems to have gotten lost or overlooked. Using illustrations and down-to-earth language, Jay Leach unlocks practical principles that illustrate the growth of a disciple from rebirth to maturity. Not only will we enjoy eternal life in the future, but we will enjoy eternal life here and now. How? By knowing our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

In the Bible, knowing carries with it the connotation of intimacy. To enjoy eternal life now, we must have a knowing and intimate relationship with Christ. Relationship and intimacy bring with them the creation of a new nature and purpose, of forward movement to a fruitful adult discipleship; they also provide a clear understanding of salvation and the process of growing into a mature disciple. The church can provide nurture through small groups and other team-building ministries, but to become a disciple requires a personal commitment. How Should We Then Live? will explain how to form this very special relationship with Jesus Christ.

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: Jul 21, 2010
• ISBN: 9781450238311

Jay R. Leach

Jay R. Leach is the president of the Bread of Life Ministries International, which he and his wife, Magdalene, founded in 1998. He is senior pastor of the Bread of Life Christian Resource Center and Church and president of the Bread of Life Bible Institute. He has served several Baptist churches in Eastern North Carolina over the past thirty years as pastor. The Leaches reside in Fayetteville, North Carolina, and are the parents of five adult children.

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Contents

SECTION I

KINGDOM PERSPECTIVES

CHAPTERS 1 – 7

CHAPTER 1

NO LACK IN THE KINGDOM (ABUNDANCE)

CHAPTER 2

THE MISSING PIECE (SAY IT)

CHAPTER 3

HAVE FAITH IN GOD (THE 6TH SENSE)

CHAPTER 4

BE TRANSFORMED

(A RENEWED MIND)

CHAPTER 5

FAITH AND GRACE (BALANCE)

CHAPTER 6

MORE THAN RELIGION (CHRISTIANITY).

CHAPTER 7

TRUTH (CHRIST)

SECTION II

ENEMIES OF TRUTH

CHAPTERS 8 – 11

CHAPTER 8

THE SPIRIT OF ANTICHRIST

CHAPTER 9

FROM BELIEF TO UNBELIEF

CHAPTER 10

DECPTION: SATAN’S TACTIC

CHAPTER 11

RELATIVISM

CHAPTER 12

FROM TOLERANCE TO TOLERANCE

PART III

HOW SHOULD WE THEN LIVE?

CHAPTERS 13 – 15

CHAPTER 13

FOR GOD SO LOVED

CHAPTER 14

THE GREATEST OF THESE IS LOVE

CHAPTER 15

THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD (BODY LIFE)

APPENDIX I

REGENERATION AND SANCTIFICATION

APPENDIX II

THE MAKING OF A DISCIPLE

APPENDIX III

EVANGELISTIC RELATIONSHIPS

SECTION I

KINGDOM PERSPECTIVES

CHAPTERS 1 – 7

CHAPTER 1

NO LACK IN THE KINGDOM (ABUNDANCE)

Many of us came up hearing the old hymn of the church, I’ll Fly Away. The blessing was understood to be in a land (God’s Kingdom) – future and far away. However, God has revealed in His Word that the kingdom is here, present as well as future. Thus, His kingdom is on the earth, in fact it has invaded the earth and we are in the spearhead with Him in that kingdom invasion.

Absolute Abundance

To understand the Kingdom of heaven and our places in it as kingdom citizens; it is imperative that we understand how it holds sway over the visible world. We must fully understand two important points. First, there is no lack in the kingdom of God. Secondly, we can have total favor with the Ruler of the kingdom. Unlike a democracy, a kingdom has a king and that king bears the full responsibility for the sustenance, protection, and welfare of his citizens. The Scripture declares that we are in the world, but not of this world. Our world is the Kingdom of heaven. Having been born again, we can realize the kingdom of heaven here and now. With that in mind, on the first point, Jesus, told His disciples that they were permitted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven; but it is a total impossibility for the world to know them (SEE Matthew 13:11).The mysteries pertaining to the kingdom of Heaven are not referring to things that cannot be known; but to truths that are not revealed to you (the believer) until now.

We are admonished:

But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you (Matthew 6:33).

The kingdom of God is the same as the kingdom of Heaven. He is urging us to seek salvation and a right relationship with the King. Your care and provision becomes His full responsibility (SEE Romans 8:32; Philippians 4:19; 1 Peter 5:7). On the second point, He sets forth the kingdom truth of no lack – but abundance with a parable of a sower. Parables were a common form of teaching, often cast in the form of a story. Jesus used parables to obscure the truth from unbelievers (probably an act of mercy lest their condemnation be increased); while making it clearer to His disciples. Here Jesus clearly establishes that the ability to comprehend spiritual truth is a gracious gift from God and given sovereignly to His children. Understanding the parable of the sower is the key to understanding how the kingdom of heaven and the Word of God works (SEE Matthew 13:11).

The Parable of the Sower

"Therefore hear the parable of the sower: When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it; then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside.

But he who received the seed on stoney places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles.

Now he who received seed among thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.

But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears, fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty (Matthew 13:18-23).

Every preacher and teacher sows the Word, but the Holy Spirit of God is the One who quickens the seed (Word) that is sown (SEE 1 Peter 1:23). The four types of ground into which the seed (Word) is sown represents the heart. The condition of the ground (heart) determines the degree of understanding and receptivity (yield) of the Word sown.

Thinking of the wayside brings to mind, ground hardened or packed by frequent and high amounts of traffic. Therefore, the word (seed) sown into the hardened heart is not understood and snatched away by Satan.

The stony ground represents the heart that receives the word (seed) with joy; yet when tribulation or persecution comes because of the word, immediately, he falls away.

The thorny ground represents the heart that receives the word (seed); however, the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.

Notice, in the parable the good ground, which represents the teachable, understanding and hearing heart, yielded harvests of a hundredfold, sixty-fold, and thirty-fold. That is abundances of: 10,000%, 6000%, and 3000% as with a forest, maple tree, or sunset – it’s more than enough.

Each of the four heart conditions are determined by the importance of the Word of God to the individual. Through the Word we receive the mind of Christ, that sees as God sees, that thinks God’s thoughts after Him (SEE 1 Corinthians 2:12 – 14). To receive that abundance of the kingdom the word is quickened in our spirit by the Holy Spirit (SEE Luke 8:11; 1 Peter 1:23; James 1:18 and 1 Corinthians 4:15).

Because God is the only true free being in the universe, His kingdom is a sphere of total possibilities. Jesus demonstrated this with the little boy’s lunch of two fish and five loaves in (SEE Matthew 14:16-21).

Consider this:

God is never fazed by circumstances.

Neither is He limited by His own universe or the natural laws He Himself established.

He can create from nothing, or He can take existing matter and transform it.

He is a total world – total health – total life – total energy – total strength – total provision.

In the matter of favor, Jesus was our perfect illustration of God’s bestowal:

And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man (Luke 3:22).

God presented the supreme Gift of this grace at the time of the baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan

And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon Him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased" (Luke 3:22).

This, God the Father was saying, was the One He had spoken of and promised for centuries. He was going to pour out His grace and blessing on His only begotten Son and on those who belong to Him. We need to recognize that when the Bible speaks of God’s grace it is speaking of His favor. In the New Testament, the Greek word for grace is charis perhaps best defined as the unmerited favor of God. This favor the apostle Paul said, allows us to stand before God Himself. (SEE Ephesians 2:8