Living is Not Life

By Ruth Mertz

How can you be alive and not have life? What is life, and if it is a choice, how do you choose it?

Using wisdom from scripture after scripture, author and pastor Ruth Mertz explains the difference between living and life. She shows the reason the choice must be made, the benefits of choosing life, how to choose this life, and the subseque

• Language: English
• Publisher: Trilogy Christian Publishing
• Release date: Sep 27, 2020
• ISBN: 9781647732646

Book preview

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Living Is Not Life

Trilogy Christian Publishers A Wholly Owned Subsidiary of Trinity Broadcasting Network

2442 Michelle Drive Tustin, CA 92780

Copyright © 2020 by Ruth Mertz

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are taken from the King James Version of the Bible. Public domain. Scripture quotations marked asv are taken from the American Standard Version of the Bible. Public domain.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without written permission from the author. All rights reserved. Printed in USA.

Rights Department, 2442 Michelle Drive, Tustin, CA 92780.

Trilogy Christian Publishing/TBN and colophon are trademarks of Trinity Broadcasting Network.

For information about special discounts for bulk purchases, please contact Trilogy Christian Publishing.

Trilogy Disclaimer: The views and content expressed in this book are those of the author and may not necessarily reflect the views and doctrine of Trilogy Christian Publishing or the Trinity Broadcasting Network.

Manufactured in the United States of America

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is avaiable.

ISBN: 978-1-64773-263-9

E-ISBN: 978-1-64773-264-6

Contents

Introduction

The Meaning of Life

Life Was Created to Be Eternal

My Plans for Life Were Expressed in the Garden

The Plan for Abundance

With This in Mind

The Blessing Principle

Growth Motion

The Plan of Increase

Life Is More Than Living

Life Is My Plan

Offenses Come for the Word

The Set Time

From Concept to Completion

God’s Thoughts Were Spoken

The Word Plan

The Plan Is Blessing

Words Are Without Limitation

Stop Deception with Truth

The Great Debate

Eat the Good of the Land

Be Careful What You Hear

Look Up

Choosing Life

Introduction

Ruth Mertz is an ordained minister of God’s Word and power. The Word and power of the Spirit’s anointing are ever present to perform the necessary works in every place that the Lord sends her.

Ruth Mertz Ministries is registered with the IRS of the United States of America. Donations are tax-deductible and may be sent to 95 Flora Circle, Lehighton, PA, 18235.

This book was given as instruction from the Spirit while in fellowship with the Lord. Scripture references were added to support the Word given as instructed by the Lord.

1

The Meaning of Life

The Lord declared, When I say in My Word, My teaching, ‘I have come to give you life, and that more abundantly’—it is necessary that I teach My people what life is and what ‘more abundantly’ means. To many, life is nothing more than separating the living from the dead. To Me, life is more than separating the living from the dead. To Me, life is more than the absence of death. All that lives will die. All that die once lived. ‘To live’ and ‘life’ are not one and the same. To live means you are a functioning being. Life is functioning in My being—My plan.

The Lord continued, Every creature born lives—functions. Not all creatures born have life in My plan for them. My purpose functioning gives life. It is more than waking and sleeping, then dying. Life is a purpose being fulfilled. Living is existence. Life is Me working through a vessel to complete a purpose I have given the living thing. I give purpose. A purpose-driven life is a life worth living. A life void of My purpose is meaningless. Fulfilling a purpose brings satisfaction. My life in you continues until you are satisfied.

With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.

—Psalm 91:16

"Staying alive is not life. A person can be in a coma for decades. That is staying alive without the ability to life—to fulfill a purpose. Doctors can keep a body alive. They cannot keep it life-ing. To life is to use the living being to complete the purpose given the being by Me. Can you see the difference My purpose makes? Mankind seeks a purpose for their existence. Without Me there is none. Satisfaction of life comes from completing the purpose the life is given to fulfill in the time of living to complete it. The prize is the attainment of completing the race of life. Your purpose is to be completed attaining the prize set before you, knowing the will of The Father has been done in the living of the life afforded the creation. With long life will I satisfy you, allow your purpose to be completed. I give the life—the ability of the living thing to complete the task given it, and the prize of being satisfied that the purpose, the task, is fulfilled.

Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but only one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.

—1 Corinthians 9:24

The Lord explained, "The scientific explanation for a living being, vertebrates, is to have a backbone, to have the ability to move from place to place, to eat, to excrete waste material, and to breathe. To live is simple. Life is using the ability to live to accomplish My purpose. Every living creature has a God purpose. When My purpose is accepted, the creature has purpose.

Living is empty without the working of My purpose. When I told you that I came to give you life and that more abundantly, I was not saying you were not living. I was saying I came to give you purpose—more abundant purpose and the abundant ability to carry out that purpose.

The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

—John 10:10

"I came to give you the God-power to carry out the God-plan for your life. The person who believes on Jesus can do all things through Christ, the anointed, and His anointing. I came to give the anointing—the Spirit-power to complete your purpose. It is impossible to complete your purpose separated from Me, from My enabling you with the power to complete it. The anointing is the enabler-the power to complete the race, to carry out the work set before you. The anointing is for the work I called you to, not what you decide to do. My plan must be accepted. The anointing will allow you to complete it.

"It is for Me that life exists. I am. I am love. I must love because it is My nature. Man seeks to love because they are made in My image and likeness. To be like Me is to love. Man cannot be fulfilled or complete without it—without love. My followers, those in the Kingdom through the Christ- Jesus, will be known by their love—not their ability to live. Satan’s followers live. They do not love.

"The greatest commandment was to love. By love you are identified as kingdom of God citizens.

This is my commandment, that ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

—John 15:12–13

Jesus lay down His life as a sacrifice for many. You lay down your life, your human endeavors, to follow Me and benefit men. There is no distinction between men other than My presence of love. Race is not a factor. All were created in My image. Not all follow Me. Not all love. Some not following Me will come to follow. Some not loving will come to love and there are some that will not turn from their wicked ways. This was not My plan. In giving man the right to choose, there are some who will not choose Me. In giving man the right to choose, there are many who will choose Me, love.

An example of the great love of those who choose is given in the following scripture. It was desired that Jesus would eat with a Pharisee in his home.

And one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him. And he went into the Pharisee’s house, and sat down to meat. And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster box of ointment, And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment. Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner. And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on. There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty. And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most? Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged. And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head. Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet. My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment. Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little. And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven. And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins also? And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.

—Luke 7:36–50

The Lord continued, "He who is forgiven much, loves much. All who come to Me experience the forgiveness and love. All were forgiven-not all experience it by choosing Me. All who call on the name of the Lord are answered. Not all call on the Name of the Lord. The Name of the Lord is Jesus. Jesus is the manifestation of My likeness in the earth. He was the price for your redemption. He is the only way to appropriate the redemption given. He atoned for the sin of all mankind.

All effects of sin are removed by the act of His love for Me and you. There is no greater love than this.

But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:) Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.) But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

—Romans 10:6–13

2

Life Was Created to Be Eternal

The Lord iterated, "I have created life. The life I created was never to end. My life was eternal. Before a choice was made to live outside of My parameters for life, there was no end to the life that was created. The life as I created it was a purpose-driven journey in Me to complete a life of fulfillment in doing the thing I created the life for. When My purpose was not received and was set aside, man could be alive, but life stopped. Life is in Me. You can live without Me. Those who do not accept My life through salvation in Jesus do continue to live. They do not life. There is no fulfillment, no purpose. Living is empty-devoid of a purpose in Me. I fill the emptiness. I give life. Every created being knows there is God the Creator. There is no being that was not created except I Am. I Am is the beginning of life. Life changed to living separate from Me in the garden with a choice. Life begins again with a choice. The choice is to receive Jesus as Lord and be reunited to Me in Spirit and truth. Receiving Jesus as Savior gives back life, fulfilling My purpose on earth as it is in heaven. When My will is received for your life, the life can move to completion. Living aimlessly becomes living abundantly in My promises. Life in Me is good. Life cannot be without Me. Psuche is individual life, the living being. Zoe is the life of that being.

"I never give up on a living being. I always want for the living to have life in Me. Every living being was created to life in Me. Every living being was created to life in Me—to purpose in Me—to fulfill the race they were created to complete. The race is complete when the purpose is received and accepted for the life. Life is a choice.

"My purpose is always to give the abundant life. No life can be abundant, fulfilled to the utmost, without My plan, My purpose, being played out. All plans are emptiness outside of My plan and purpose. Joy comes when My plan, the one I give you, is fulfilled. I give joy unspeakable and full of glory. All other joy does not last and is forgotten. My joy is forever. It is remembered. It is purposeful and gives satisfaction.

"Many have tried to find and plan their own way. It is a way. It can be followed, but it is not My way and is empty of the desired abundance in peace, completion, prize of finishing the race set before you. It always seems like it is out of place—the wrong path. It is the wrong path.

"There is a plan and