decreasetoincrease.com

But godliness with contentment is great gain.

1 Timothy 6:6

I am content with life in Jesus Christ. It is enough to seek the Lord daily by prayer and His Word, the Bible, and to listen for His still, small voice of the Holy Spirit. This is a life of faith, without which it is impossible to please God. I see Him at work in my life, perfecting me and calling me deeper into holiness in Jesus. He’s started a good work in me and He’s faithful to complete it. It is enough to know that I belong to God and He belongs to me. I have a personal relationship with God. I can call on Him for anything and He will hear my cry and answer me in due season. It is a good life I have. Simple, peaceful and blessed. Everyone should know the goodness of God.

So lately I’ve been trying to lose weight. I’ve been making fresh juice and smoothies. I supplement that with some protein, tuna fish! I’ve loved tuna fish for as long as I can remember. I’ve always eaten 2 cans at a time, but recently I questioned that. Do I really need 2 cans of tuna? So since then I’ve been eating 1 can of tuna at a time and it has been satisfying me. I’ve discovered that I can be content with less, much less than society says one needs to be happy. My peace comes from knowing God through His Son, Jesus Christ. I don’t need things to be happy. I don’t need TV. I don’t need lust for food or other things. Just give me Jesus.

And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.

Luke 12:15

The past few years I’ve been living as a minimalist. Not because it’s a trendy thing to do, but because it deeply resonates with what I believe in Christ and the man I want to be. Since I’ve gone through the decluttering process and given away or sold or thrown away things I don’t need, it’s almost as if I’m floating on air in this area of my life. I love the freedom that being a minimalist brings. I’m not a slave to consumerism. I rarely buy things other than food and necessities. My life is not found in stuff or things, but in the Word of God, my rock and my fortress.

Someday soon I will die or Christ will return. I don’t want to be foolish in how I live. I want to die to myself and follow Christ. Christ was a minimalist when He was on earth. He was too busy living for God to be concerned with accumulating physical possessions on earth. That’s how I wish to live my life, being heavenly minded and in love with God and people. May God grant me my heart’s desire as I seek first His kingdom and His righteousness.

So, I made a list of what I physically own. This list is a bit arbitrary in how I count my things, but it will give you a ballpark idea of what I own. Some people own less than this, some own more. I’m a single man so I don’t have the needs a family might. I post this list, not to brag about how minimal I am, but to hopefully inspire people to do away with stuff in their lives. I believe there is much gain in living this way. It’s a mindset to clear oneself of all distractions so that he may focus on what really matters in life, Jesus and His Word.

KJV Bible
USB Webcam
Sansa MP3 player with USB cable
Headphones
Dell Latitude E4200 laptop with Windows 7 and power cord
Panasonic home phone
Vonage box
Digital Clock
Power strip
Wireless router/modem (rented)
Breville Juicer
Homgeek Blender
Chair (Recliner that no longer reclines)
Lawn chair
Queen sized bed
Brother printer
2004 Pontiac Aztek (car)
Fork
Spoon
Filet Knife
Bowl
Cup
Can Opener
Hair Trimmer
Small Hair Trimmer
Deodorant
Comb
Scissors
African Cell Phone with charger
Fingernail clippers
Shampoo
Body Wash
Plunger
2 baseball caps
10 T-Shirts
5 pairs underwear
1 pair brown socks
Red sweatshirt
Green sweatshirt
purple sweater
icebreaker moreno wool black long sleeved shirt with stripes
black dress pants
pajama pants
2 collared dress shirts
Black backpack
2 suitcases
small container with old documents
Adidas fitfoam sandals
Italian dress shoes (black)
Pen
Laundry Basket
Large grocery bag reuseable
Tire pump for car
Book – The Fasting Prayer by Franklin Hall
DVD Collection – 5 Kendrick Brothers Christian movies

So that’s it. I may have missed a few things, but I’m not seeking to be exhaustive. Try living light in natural things and you may find yourself becoming more spiritual. As you focus on God and His Word may you devote yourself wholly to Him. Glory to God!

For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus: for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews: Who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they please not God, and are contrary to all men:

1 Thessalonians 2:14-15

But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ. And after that many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel to kill him: But their laying await was known of Saul. And they watched the gates day and night to kill him.

Acts 9:22-24

And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay him, because he had done these things on the sabbath day. But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work. Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God.

John 5:16-18

Saying, The Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be slain, and be raised the third day.

Luke 9:22

And all they in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath, And rose up, and thrust him out of the city, and led him unto the brow of the hill whereon their city was built, that they might cast him down headlong. But he passing through the midst of them went his way,

Luke 4:28-30

Antichrist religion and Antichrist government have murder in their hearts. They seek to slay anyone that is righteous. Anyone that has the character of Jesus Christ in their hearts. They want to stop anyone that is a threat to their authority. People that spread the good news of Jesus Christ are definitely threatening to the two beasts of Antichrist.

This is the exact opposite of what Jesus said. Jesus said of the two beasts, “let them alone”. We aren’t to strive with Antichrist religion and Antichrist government. As much as is possible, we are to live at peace with all men. Although the two beasts are a threat to the size of Christ’s kingdom, ruling in the hearts of mankind, Christ says to leave them be. Christ is content to grow His kingdom among the persecution of the two beasts on His faithful servants. Like the apostles, we should be joyful that we are worthy to suffer reproach and persecution for the name of Jesus Christ.

Does wanting to kill someone because they did good on the sabbath day seem like a bit of an over-reaction? Antichrist religion and government cannot stand threats to their power. They take it deadly seriously. Servants of Christ must be willing to suffer and if needs be suffer death for the gospel of Jesus Christ. Christ is worthy and will soon make all things right in God’s eternal kingdom. There are countries on earth where people are thrown in prison for being Christians. Does this seem like an over-reaction? To the two beasts, it isn’t. It is self preservation, for if the masses ever became true Christians, the two beasts would be destroyed. Remember, the two beasts FEAR Christ and what He can do to them. They FEAR those who follow Jesus Christ with a pure heart. In some countries Christians are killed for their faith. Oh, this is serious business. The two beasts are dead set on protecting their ownership of the people at all costs. They know that the Truth is in Jesus. This is why other religions are allowed to exist while Christianity is unjustly singled out for persecution. The two beasts know where the power is and where it isn’t.

Sometimes the persecution from the beasts comes in lesser forms. They might just speak against you for being a Christian and find some false fault with you. They may just murder you with their words, with strife and envy. They may allow you to go on living, but with loss of privileges. There’s no telling what the two beasts will do to you for being a Christian. That’s why we must always be willing to pay the ultimate price, if it comes to it.

Remember, the two beasts are spiritually blind. They can’t see or understand Christ’s holy way of love and mercy. They are ever selfish and their selfishness knows no limits. This is why they persecute what they don’t understand. When the righteous suffer at their hands, it shows God that His people are worthy of the kingdom of God. It also shows that the two beasts are worthy of eternal torment in the lake of fire. This world is upside down. Good is called evil and evil is called good. The world is in a state of spiritual blindness and hardness of heart. They don’t want Jesus to rule their lives. This is why the unrighteous will scream and moan and shriek with terror when Christ returns. God will only tolerate so much. It’s amazing to me that God has tolerated mankind’s wickedness as much as He has. Surely God’s mercy is great, which means that God Himself is great. His love makes Him worthy of our obedience and praise to His name!

Then the high priest rent his clothes, saying, He hath spoken blasphemy; what further need have we of witnesses? behold, now ye have heard his blasphemy.

Matthew 26:65

And they gave him audience unto this word, and then lifted up their voices, and said, Away with such a fellow from the earth: for it is not fit that he should live. And as they cried out, and cast off their clothes, and threw dust into the air,

Acts 22:22-23

And they were filled with madness; and communed one with another what they might do to Jesus.

Luke 6:11

Antichrist religion and Antichrist government are highly emotional. They aren’t governed by reason and the Truth of God’s Word. They live off feelings and emotions and lies. They have a serious anger problem. If someone dares to do or say something contrary to their corrupt kingdom, you’d better watch out! Their emotions coupled with their authority to have people imprisoned or put to death is a dangerous combination. It’s like letting little children have power over adults. They don’t have the spiritual maturity and self discipline necessary to rule over the people with love, so they rule with force and cruelty. You can’t trust people that are ruled by their emotions and feelings. They are highly unstable and untrustworthy. Run from the false doctrines of the two beasts while you can, before their lies swallow you whole! Live a spiritually mature life governed by the Truth of God’s Word and you will have rejoicing, both in this life and the life to come. All those that are a part of the world’s system will be destroyed in the lake of fire, with eternal suffering and torment. Choose to suffer affliction with the people of God, esteeming the riches of Christ greater riches than what Egypt has to offer. The kingdom of God belongs to those who suffer for righteousness sake. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ with all your heart. Believe on Him until the end, and you will be saved. Amen.