PLEASING PEOPLE

Pleasing people
By Belspearl

This is a topic that people don’t talk about enough. Many people are born people pleasers. I identify as a “recovering” people pleaser. I have come such a long way and I want to share what I have learned to bring hope and restoration to others. I didn’t realize that I was a people pleaser until in my adult years. After my childhood, after college, and even after I started working at my first job. I was living a life that revolved around keeping the people around me happy. I wish I could say that I could blame it on the people around me. But, I cannot. It is a heart issue. Something that only God can repair.

I had this fear that as soon as those close to me discovered the real me they would no longer want me. I was looking at life through a conditional lens. If I was to accomplish tasks, make people smile, and keep them happy then I would have their attention, affection, and respect. That is the scariest part about pleasing people. Everyone stated that I was a kind, sweet, and friendly person. No one realized that I was on a steady downward dangerous spiral.

I had been working a stable job for 2 years. I lived in a large house with roommates. I was dating guys. Hanging out with friends. But, one day I realized that no one around me was happy. The more I would try the more it didn’t work. The harder I would have to work. I was judgemental, frustrated, and then all of a sudden I became depressed. I couldn’t get out of bed. I couldn’t smile. I had given up. My life was a waste and I had let everyone down. I was not okay. I was the complete opposite of what everyone thought I was. No one could understand or help me.

I went to counseling. It helped me change my perspective. When I started looking into it; God has a lot to say about it. “The fear of the Lord leads to life; then one rests content, untouched by trouble.” Proverbs 19:23. This verse is amazing! I was afraid of what people thought of me. I didn’t want people to know the real me. Then, they wouldn’t want me. Instead, my fear needed to be pointed toward Christ. He is the only opinion that should matter. His perspective is the only one that reveals my identity. I needed to view him with a holy fear. However, the power in this verse is what follows. UNTOUCHED BY TROUBLE. The stress of making people happy is gone. Words of people no longer hold meaning. Darts that Satan throws don’t stick. When God is the one you are pleasing you find true peace. Peace that passes beyond understanding (Phil 4:7).

The more time you spend with God the more he will change your identity. I am happy now because I fear the Lord. I follow the plans he has for me. I ask him to show me how to love. When to love. What people decide to do with what I have done is up to them. I am held accountable to the God who holds my heart. Praying blessings over you. That you find the freedom God wants you to have.

Thank you. Have a God glorifying day.

GOD, OUR PROVIDER

Your heavenly Father is the Great Provider for all the earth. He gives rain when the earth needs refreshment. He calls the sun from its hiding when the earth needs warmth. He gives to the animals their food, the flowers their beauty, the birds their shelter, and you and me everything we need.

We worship a God who is both loving and powerful. He is both omnipotent and omnipresent. He is both good and able. If he were not, we would be forced to fend for ourselves, striving for that which he has promised to provide. If he were only good, we would not be assured of the provision his power provides. And if he were only able, we would fear for a lack of his desire to provide. But God is our heavenly Father who both knows what we need and longs to provide for us in exceeding measures. He is our Creator and Sustainer, Lord of all and Lord in all.

So why do you fear for your needs? Why do you stress over the foundational cares of this life while your heavenly Father is seated on his throne? The truth is that until we experience for ourselves both the goodness and power of our heavenly Father, the truth of his provision will only ever feel like a heady, theological principle. Until we experience firsthand the character and provision of our God, fear will remain.

1 John 4:18 says, “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.” God longs to perfect you in his love today. He longs to guide you into an encounter with his goodness and power. He longs to establish a foundation of his faithfulness by which you can live in faith. May you have a transformative encounter with the Holy Spirit today that frees you from fear and striving as you enter into guided prayer.

Now let's look at the key text that relates to God's provision:

Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son. So Abraham called that place The LORD Will Provide (Yahweh-yir´eh). And to this day it is said, "On the mountain of the LORD it will be provided." (Genesis 22:13-14)

In this case Abraham doesn't call God a different name, but he names the place with a compound, "Yahweh Provides" (New Jerusalem Bible). The King James Version transliterates the Hebrew words as "Jehovah-jireh." A better pronunciation here is Yahweh-yir´eh.

This was the first time we know of that Abraham had to trust God to provide. Later, as God reveals himself to Moses and the people of Israel, they begin to understand that this is part of God's responsibility as King and part of his role as Father and part of his character as the Loving God. In the New Testament we see two clear statements:

"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." (Matthew 6:33, KJV)

"And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:19)

From that day forward, Abraham remembered the name he had given that mountain top “Jehovah Jireh, Yahweh-yir´eh, "The LORD Will Provide."

GOD OUR HEALER

The Bible describes God as "Jehovah-Rophe" (or Jehovah-Rapha) more than 60 times. Jehovah means “God” and Rophe or Rapha means “to restore,” “to heal,” or “to make healthful.”

In Exodus 15:26, God promised Moses and the people of Israel, “If you listen carefully to the Lord your God and do what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keep all his decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, who heals you.”

Healer is an integral part of God’s character. God cares about every area of your health — your physical health, your mental and emotional well-being as well as your spiritual vitality (Psalm 103:2-3). When we understand that God is Jehovah-Rophe, the Great Physician, we recognize that no healing happens apart from Him. Only He can provide lasting healing from our brokenness.

So often, we want the healing without the dealing. But God has to deal with the source of our pain — the rejection, the hurt, or perhaps the betrayal — to heal us. 

Our Healer has never and will never change (Malachi 3:6). Jesus still does miracles. God works through modern medicine, just like He worked through ancient Israel’s laws to protect them from disease.

The Gospel is the physical, moral, and spiritual remedy for all people. Because in Christ, we have eternal life, the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and connection with God (Isaiah 53:5).

Reflect:

·         When you think about your overall health, what can you begin to give God today for healing?

·         What are you grateful to God for regarding your health today?

WAITING ON GOD

Waiting for God – He Acts on our Behalf
Are you waiting for God? He acts on our behalf as we wait for Him. “Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for him” (Isaiah 64:4).

A few years ago, a man went in for his annual physical and the doctor ordered a routine chest x-ray. A lesion was found on his lung and a CAT scan was ordered. After the CAT scan, other tests were done. Church and family prayed as they waited in expectancy to see how God would answer. During times of trial, depending on God to bring us through is sometimes difficult. However, we can always reflect on other times of suffering and how we were kept by His power.

This man has been going to a cardiologist for the last two years and the x-rays have been negative. The cardiologist continues to check on this spot on the lung every six months. As he await results, he trusted God and know He is in control. Today we praise and thank God once again for a negative test. He alone has acted on our behalf as we wait on Him!

Waiting for God – He Strengthens Us
As you are waiting for God, He strengthens you. “But those who wait on the Lord will find new strength. They will fly high on wings as eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint” (Isaiah 40:31).

I once heard an illustration about how God strengthens us during trials. It went like this: “Did you know that an eagle knows when a storm is approaching long before it breaks? The eagle will fly to high spot and wait for the winds to come. When the storm hits, it sets its wings so that the wind will pick it up and lift it above the storm. While the storm rages below, the eagle is soaring above it. The eagle does not escape the storm; it simply uses the storm to lift it higher. It rises on the winds that bring the storm. When the storms of life come upon us, we can rise above them by setting our minds and our belief toward God. The storms do not have to overcome us; we can allow God's power to lift us above them. God enables us to ride the winds of the storm that bring sickness, tragedy, failure, and disappointment into our lives. We can soar above the storm. Remember, it is not the burdens of life that weigh us down, it is how we handle them.”

Waiting for God – He Blesses Us
When waiting for God, He blesses you. “Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion. For the LORD is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him” (Isaiah 30:18).

What does it mean to be blessed by God while we wait on Him? As we wait on God and His timing, He can accomplish so much in our hearts. Often we find new purpose in life, receive answers to prayer, see God work, increase our faith, and most often we see God’s perfect plan fulfilled in our situation. Remember, waiting is not wasted time!

FEARLESS CHRISTIAN

Fear is a spiritual force that operates like faith. When you operate by fear, you expect negative things to happen to you, and eventually they will.

Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

When you live by faith, you expect and hope for the best.

Fear opposes the Word of God, while faith is rooted in the Word of God.

Let us look to the Word of God and continue this week on the Fearless Christian.

(NKJV) 2 Timothy 1 7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

(AMP) 2 Timothy 1 7For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control.

Fear is faith in reverse.

Shout… Fear is faith in reverse.

Shout… I have the Holy Spirit that dwells in me!

Fear is the reciprocal of faith.

Faith comes by hearing the Word of God.

Fear comes by hearing the words of the Satan.

(NKJV) 1 John 4 18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.

Fear is based in selfishness, but perfected love casts out all fear.

Just as faith is a law, so is fear.

A law is an established principle that works for anyone who gets involved.

God has not given you a spirit of fear.

Shout… Fear, doubt, unbelief, I cast you out in Jesus name.

Satan wants you to fear that God's Word will not work for you.

He wants you to believe God will not supply your needs.

In these last days, the hearts of many will fail them because of fear.

(NKJV) Luke 21 25 “And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; 26 men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 27 Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.

Satan speaks words that oppose God's Word, which produces fear.

Satan spoke words that contradicted God's Word. Know the Word of God! This is your protection from the enemy!

The spirit of fear causes you to think you are missing out on something.

Job operated in fear.

(NKJV) Job 1 5 So it was, when the days of feasting had run their course, that Job would send and sanctify them, and he would rise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all. For Job said, “It may be that my sons have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.” Thus Job did regularly. 6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came among them. 7 And the LORD said to Satan, “From where do you come?” So Satan answered the LORD and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking back and forth on it.” 8 Then the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?” 9 So Satan answered the LORD and said, “Does Job fear God for nothing? 10 Have You not made a hedge around him, around his household, and around all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. 11 But now, stretch out Your hand and touch all that he has, and he will surely curse You to Your face!” 12 And the LORD said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your power; only do not lay a hand on his person.” So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD

PRAY WITHOUT CEASING

QUESTION: What does it mean to pray without ceasing? 

ANSWER: 

How can I pray without ceasing? Praying without ceasing is a biblical term found in the Apostle Paul's first letter to Thessalonica: "Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you" (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, KJV). The Greek word "without ceasing" means continuous action. Therefore, “praying without ceasing” means to pray continuously. 

How to pray without ceasing: a heart attitude

·       How does one pray continually? We cannot always be on our knees. With the daily demands on our busy lives, we are fortunate to kneel in prayer even a few minutes each day. However, the context of this passage gives us a clue. This passage focuses on heart attitude. "Rejoice always" is an attitude of joyfulness. Giving thanks in everything also requires a mental attitude of thankfulness. How do we rejoice and give thanks? Through prayer! Therefore, effective prayer is a proper heart attitude: a mental outlook of joyful thanksgiving. It expresses itself throughout the day with silent prayers of vital communication with the LORD. 

·       Maintaining a healthy relationship requires communication. Always be "on line" with God so when the Spirit moves you to pray, you can instantly agree with Him. The Holy Spirit prays for us with inexpressible groans (Romans 8:26). When in agreement with the Spirit, we are praying continuously. The heart attitude of praying without ceasing means an ever-open heart to the Lord’s leading.

·       If we are praying without ceasing -- even while driving, changing the baby, washing dishes, or running a lawn mower -- we can be open to the leading of the Spirit when He urges us to pray for something or someone. At that time, we can agree with God and make a mental note to add that concern to our later prayer time.

·       Praying without ceasing doesn’t take the place of time alone in prayer with God. However, it is a joyful experience to unite with the LORD who lays burdens on our hearts. We can't always stop and kneel, but our heart attitude can still be "praying without ceasing."

Praying without ceasing is sometimes really difficult when it seems like God is not answering...

CONFIDENCE IN GOD

“Confidence in God” is an article found inside the NLT Study Bible—a fantastic resource for anyone in the earlier stages of Bible study.

God gave Nehemiah favor in the eyes of a mighty Persian king so that the king responded favorably to all of Nehemiah’s requests (1:11; 2:8, 18). Nehemiah then had the confidence to present his bold plan to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem, and the people of Jerusalem responded positively, believing that God was able to give them success in rebuilding the walls (2:20) and to protect them from their enemies (4:4-5, 9).

THEY CONFIDENTLY CONTINUED IN THEIR WORK…

…in spite of opposition because they knew that God fights for his people and frustrates the plans of the wicked (4:14-15, 20). When the walls of Jerusalem were finished, Nehemiah recognized that the entire difficult project was completed only because of God’s help (6:16).

The book of Nehemiah vividly demonstrates that God is all-powerful and able to accomplish his will, both in individual lives and in nations. Nehemiah’s prayer in ch. 9 focuses on praising God for his sovereign and powerful acts: God created the heavens and earth (9:6), called Abram from Ur, and gave the land to Israel (9:7-8, 22-25). The miraculous signs in Egypt, the parting of the Red Sea, and the provision of guidance, food, and water in the wilderness all demonstrate God’s power over man and nature to provide for his people (9:9-15).

The Lord had sent the Israelites into exile after generations of persistent sin (9:26-27). Now he was fulfilling part of his promise to restore them (1:8-9).

NEHEMIAH HAD THE CONFIDENCE…

…to pray and lead because he knew that everything that happened was part of God’s sovereign plan. This same confidence in God’s sovereignty led Abram to leave Ur and by faith go to an unknown land (Gen 12:1-3; Heb 11:8-10), caused Rahab to trust in God (Josh 2:9-14; Heb 11:31), and prompted Hezekiah not to give in to the demands of the Assyrian king Sennacherib (2 Kgs 18–19).

Confidence comes when people believe that God will keep his promises and complete the work he has started in their lives(Phil 1:6).

 

APPLICATION

Where do you lack confidence? Can you think of any promises God makes that you can rely on as a source of confidence? Share some of God’s promises that have given you confidence in the comments below.

NLT STUDY BIBLE

Looking for a study Bible that is SO MUCH MORE than footnotes? The NLT Study Bible is jam-packed with articles, word studies, charts, full-color maps, and more. We highly recommend this study Bible! We especially recommend it to anyone looking to start studying the Bible a little bit more in-depth, but with easy-to-understand content.

LISTENING TO GOD

Listening to God: Preparing Your Heart to Hear Him
Listening to God is like listening to anyone-before you can hear Him, you must be ready to listen. Just as in a conversation, you cannot hear the other person if you are talking or if your mind is distracted. So it is with God. If you want to hear Him speak, you must be quiet and you must be focused on what He is saying. Regular conversation with God can transform your life! Consider identifying a place and time to meet with God everyday.

Prayer is how you begin a conversation with God. Think of it as saying "hello."

Listening to God: How Can I Hear Him?
Listening to God requires a deliberate choice to shut out the chaos around you and focus your thoughts. Is God someone you can hear? The Bible says He is, and the Bible is one of the main tools through which He speaks.

We live in a world of noise. Almost everywhere we go, we find sounds competing with our minds, keeping us from letting our thoughts get below the surface level. Hearing God's voice means not listening to the noise of the world around us. It's not easy, but it can be done.

King David, author of most of the book of Psalms, gave us a model for meeting with God, "Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul" (Psalm 143:8).

He sought God's direction in the morning, at the beginning of the day. Like a general in God's army, he wanted to hear from his Commanding Officer before he entered into battle. Beginning each day fresh with God is a great reminder that, as the Scripture says, His mercies are new every morning (Lamentations 3:22, 23). You must find the time of day that works for you, but morning is the best time if that is possible.

Do you want to hear God speak to you? Listening to God requires regular Bible reading, since the Bible is the Word of God. To listen to the Bible, click here.

Listening to God: Get the Picture
Listening to God requires a heart committed to understand His message. God often speaks to us in visual images. Consider the example of the prophet Habakkuk, in Habakkuk chapter 2. The prophet longed to hear from God! He was so determined that he was willing to stand and wait as long as it took. "I will stand at my watch and station myself on the ramparts; I will look to see what he will say to me…" (Habakkuk 2:1).

Habakkuk found that God was faithful. "Then the LORD replied, 'Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets so that a herald may run with it. For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay" (Habakkuk 2:2).

Listening to God: What Now?
Listening to God requires a right attitude in our hearts. In order to listen to God and receive His instruction, we must want to do His will, much as Habakkuk did. God honors the heart that is fully surrendered to Him. If we are stubbornly clinging to our own desires, we are likely to get a garbled message that will not be God's voice at all. As a result, we are likely to continue pursuing a path that is contrary to the one God has designed for our lives.

Psalm 40:8 says, "I desire to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart."

Do you desire God's will for your life above every other desire? If you do, you can trust that He will direct your path. Listen to His message, and be quick to obey. Write down what He tells you and be ready to share it so that others may understand.

When you listen to God and obey Him, you will discover a life that is full and rich with purpose, confident you are following the Master's plan.

GOD LISTENS

There are never small miracles because every miracle is wonderful. It is always awesome when God answers prayers, whether it is healing or just Him taking our anxiety away. I am realizing that I need to stay aware of all the answered prayers that I have because every single one is an awesome miracle. It is so uplifting when our prayers are answered. In fact, Proverbs points out that a “desire fulfilled is a tree of life” (Proverbs 13:12). Therefore, an answered prayer is life giving to our soul. This past week while my husband, Josh, was on his very far and long business trip, God answered prayers that gave me peace, took away anxiety, increased my hope, and built up my faith. The first answered prayer was on his flight over to the other side of the world. He had a very short layover in Tokyo. His plane from DFW was scheduled to land an hour before his next flight to Jakarta was to depart. Well, when the kids and I were getting ready for bed I checked his flight status and his plane was thirty minutes behind schedule. The kids and I immediately prayed for God to help the pilot make up for the lost time, and that Josh would not miss his connecting flight. Thankfully, God heard our prayer because when I got up in the middle of the night and checked the flight status it had landed only a few minutes late, not thirty minutes late. I prayed again, right then, that Josh was able to make it to his next flight, and a few minutes after my prayer he texted me saying that he was on his next flight. It was wonderful to have an immediate answer to a prayer. Another quick answered prayer was for help with the issue my husband was trying to fix. He wasn’t able to completely fix the issue that the customer was having in Indonesia, so the kids and I once again prayed. We prayed for grace and favor with the customer and that God would just miraculously fix the problem. Shortly after our prayer, my husband texted me saying, “If you are praying for grace with the customer it is working.” This text seriously gave me goose bumps because it really was just a minute after our prayer that we received it. The next day, I found out that God did miraculously fix the problem.

7 GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT

•Wisdom is considered the first and the greatest of the gifts. It acts upon both the intellect and the will. According to St. Bernard, it both illumines the mind and instills an attraction to the divine. Adolphe Tanquerey OP explained the difference between the gift of wisdom and that of understanding: "The latter is a view taken by the mind, while the former is an experience undergone by the heart; one is light, the other love, and so they unite and complete one another. A wise and loving heart is the perfection of the theological virtue of charity. •Understanding helps one relate all truths to one's supernatural purpose; it further illuminates one's understanding of Sacred Scripture; and it assists us to understand the significance of religious ritual. This all gives us a profound appreciation for God’s providence. •Counsel functions as a sort of supernatural intuition, to enable a person to judge promptly and rightly, especially in difficult situations. It perfects the cardinal virtue of prudence. While prudence operates in accord with reason as enlightened by faith, the gift of counsel operates under the guidance of the Holy Spirit to illuminate the will of God. •Fortitude is often identified with courage, but Aquinas takes its meaning to also encompass endurance. Joseph J. Rickaby describes it as a willingness to stand up for what is right in the sight of God, even if it means accepting rejection, verbal abuse, or physical harm. The gift of fortitude allows people the firmness of mind that is required both in doing good and in enduring evil. It is the perfection of the cardinal virtue of the same name. •Knowledge: The gift of knowledge allows one, as far as is humanly possible, to see things from God's perspective. It “allows us to perceive the greatness of God and his love for his creatures” through creation. •Piety accords with reverence. A person with reverence recognizes his total reliance on God and comes before God with humility, trust, and love. Thomas Aquinas says that piety perfects the virtue of religion, which is an aspect of the virtue of justice, in that it accords to God that which is due to God. In a series of talks on the Gifts of the Holy Spirit, Pope Francis said that piety is a recognition of "our belonging to God, our deep bond with him, a relationship that gives meaning to our whole life and keeps us resolute, in communion with him, even during the most difficult and troubled moments”. Francis goes on: "Piety is not mere outward religiosity; it is that genuine religious spirit which makes us turn to the Father as his children and to grow in our love for others, seeing them as our brothers and sisters." •Fear of the Lord is akin to wonder (or awe). With the gift of fear of the Lord, one is made aware of the glory and majesty of God. At a June 2014 general audience Pope Francis said that it “is no servile fear, but rather a joyful awareness of God’s grandeur and a grateful realization that only in him do our hearts find true peace”. A person with wonder and awe knows that God is the perfection of all one desires. This gift is described by Aquinas as a fear of separating oneself from God. He describes the gift as a "filial fear," like a child's fear of offending his father, rather than a "servile fear," that is, a fear of punishment. Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. It is the perfection of the theological virtue of hope.

LIFE AFTER DEATH?

It’s a question that has crossed everyone’s mind, because death happens to everyone, regardless of age, race, gender, religion, or status. Death is the unconquerable foe that has taken over the likes of Alexander the Great and Julius Caesar. Postulates or theories by minds like Einstein or Stephen Hawking can never be proved upon this subject. So what does the Bible say? One of Jesus’ most significant miracles recorded in the Bible was the resurrection of Lazarus from the dead (John 11). There are other instances of people who had been raised from the dead, but unlike those mentioned before in the Bible, Lazarus had been dead for an entire period of four days. When Lazarus died, Jesus said, “‘Our friend Lazarus sleeps, but I go that I may wake him up.’ Then His disciples said, ‘Lord, if he sleeps he will get well.’ However, Jesus spoke of his death, but they thought that He was speaking about taking rest in sleep” (John 11:11-13, NKJV). What does the Bible say about death? The Bible compares death to sleep more than fifty times. After death we are asleep, we are unconscious; we are not aware of the passing of time or of what is going on around us. That is what death is like as well. The Bible says, “for the living know that they will die; but the dead know nothing… their love, their hatred, and their envy have now perished” (Ecclesiastes 9:5, NKJV, see also Psalm 146:4; 115:17). It makes sense that after Lazarus was raised from the dead, he doesn’t share what he saw or experienced. He didn’t have anything to tell, except that once he was dead, and now he is alive! He didn’t experience hell or heaven. He was simply “sleeping” in his tomb. Peter on the Day of Pentecost said the same of King David. “Men and brethren, let me speak freely to you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his tomb is with us to this day…For David did not ascend into the heavens…"(Acts 2:29, 34). >> Related Topics: Are ghosts real? | What does the Bible say about cremation? What happens to your soul when you die? Many Christians think of the soul as an immortal entity within us that goes on living after death. What does the Bible say? Describing the creation of human beings in the beginning, the Bible says, “And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul” (Genesis 2:7, KJV). Other Bible translations say, “. . . and man became a living being” (NKJV; NIV). God did not put a soul into man. He formed the body from the dust of the ground, and then He breathed His life-giving spirit into the lifeless body—and the result was a soul, or a living being. When a person dies, the reverse takes place. The breath of life departs from the body, and the soul no longer exists. That’s what the Bible says. “The dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it” (Ecclesiastes 12:7, NIV). At the resurrection, God reunites the body and His life-giving spirit—and the person lives again. If souls existed as separate entities that lived on after we died, that would mean we have immortality. However, the Bible says human beings do not have immortality. Only God is immortal (see 1 Timothy 6:15, 16). Paul says that the righteous “seek for glory, honor, and immortality” (Romans 2:7). If we had immortal souls, why would the righteous seek after something they already have? Is there life after death? Though we may die, Jesus says, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live” (John 11:25). We will receive immortality when Jesus comes again (see 1 Corinthians 15:51-54). The Bible says that all those who have died—both righteous and wicked—will be raised to life in one of two resurrections. The righteous will be raised to life at Jesus’ second coming. “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first” (1 Thessalonians 4:16, NKJV). According to this verse, the righteous do not go to heaven when they die. They remain asleep in the grave until Jesus returns and raises them to immortal life (see 1 Corinthians 15:50-57). The wicked are raised to life in a separate resurrection—the resurrection of condemnation. Jesus said, “Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation” (John 5:28, 29, NKJV). The prophets never mention in the Bible that the righteous immediately go to heaven or the wicked go to hell when they die. Neither did Jesus and His apostles teach it. When Jesus was about to leave His disciples, He did not tell them they would soon come to Him. “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also” (John 14:1-3, NKJV). When He returns, our loved ones asleep in Christ will awake from their tombs. No matter how long the time has passed, be it long or short, will seem but a moment to them. By the voice of Jesus, they are called forth from their deep slumber they will begin to think just where they ceased, awakening to a glorious immortality. “For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible … So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: ‘Death is swallowed up in victory’” (1 Corinthians 15:52, 54). The last sensation was the pang of death, the last thought, that they were falling beneath the power of the grave, but then, imagine, when they arise from the tomb to the shout, “O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?” (1 Corinthians 15:55). You may wish to learn more through the Discover Bible Lessons on our Bible studies section. Share on FacebookShare on Twitter FEATURED Second Coming of Jesus Christ Why didn't God kill or destroy Satan? What does the Bible say about cremation? What is the rapture? Second Coming of Jesus Christ Why didn't God kill or destroy Satan? What does the Bible say about cremation? What is the rapture? Second Coming of Jesus Christ Why didn't God kill or destroy Satan? Request Prayer Do you have a prayer request? Submit your request and our prayer team will pray for you. REQUEST PRAYER HOME / BIBLE QUESTIONS / APOLOGETICS / Why didn't God kill or destroy Satan? Why didn’t the tragedy of sin stop with Lucifer? Why didn’t God destroy him before his sin-disease could spread? It’s important to remember that Lucifer had challenged the fairness of God’s government. He had told lies about God. The idea of telling a lie had never entered the minds of the angels. Naturally they didn’t grasp all that lay behind Lucifer’s deceptions. If God had destroyed Satan immediately, the angels would have begun to serve Him from fear rather than from love. This would have defeated the very purpose He had in creating beings with the power of choice in the first place. How did anyone really know God’s way was best? No one had dared to try an alternative. God gave Satan a chance to demonstrate his alternative system. That’s why he was given an opportunity to make his pitch to Adam and Eve. This planet has become a testing ground where the character of Satan and the nature of his kingdom are contrasted with the character of God and the nature of His kingdom. Who is right? Who can we ultimately trust? These are the issues which “the great controversy between Christ and Satan” must resolve. Satan's deceptions So deceptive was Lucifer, that before all the universe could be fully convinced, the nature of his alternative had to be fully exposed. It has taken time for everyone to really grasp how disastrous Satan’s alternative actually is. But eventually everyone will see that “the wages of sin is death” and that “the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23). Every being in the entire universe will then agree with the declaration: “‘Great and marvelous are your deeds, Lord God Almighty. Just and true are your ways, King of the ages. Who will not fear you, O Lord, and bring glory to your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship before you, for your righteous acts have been revealed.’” —Revelation 15:3, 4. Conclusion: God's perfect plan After everyone understands the deadly nature of sin and the destructive nature of Satan’s philosophy, God can destroy Satan and sin. He will also have to destroy those who stubbornly resist His grace and cling to Satan’s alternative. God is just as anxious to resolve the problem of sin and suffering as we are to have Him do so. But He is waiting until He can do it on a permanent basis, and until He can both preserve our free will and prevent evil from ever appearing again. EXPAND ANSWER FEATURED Does God send hurricanes and earthquakes? Suffering Satan: Who is he? Does God send hurricanes and earthquakes? Suffering Satan: Who is he? Does God send hurricanes and earthquakes? Suffering Get Free Bible Study Guides Have you ever wished to better understand the Bible? Get started now... GET FREE BIBLE STUDIES HOME / BIBLE TOPICS / Apologetics An apologist should be ready to share why they believe and hope in spiritual things. 1 Peter 3:15 says, “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear.” Apologists should speak with grace and politeness. Colossians 4:5-6 says, “Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.” Apologists should respond without quarreling and in humility. 2 Timothy 2:24-26 says, “And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.” When sharing your faith, lift up Christ and not the wisdom of man. 1 Corinthians 2:1-5 says, “And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.” Humans seek signs and wisdom for proof, but Paul exhorts preaching “Christ crucified”. 1 Corinthians 1:22-24 says, “For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.” Apologists must be careful to correctly interpret the scriptures. 2 Peter 3:16 says, “As also in all his [Paul’s] epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures.” 2 Timothy 2:15 also says, “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”