“For
to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law
of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please
God. (Rom 8:6-8; KJV).
The
Lord showed me in a very vivid dream that most Christians struggle with
operating in the spirit realm or in God’s ways and under his direction. We
lapse far too much into operating in the flesh or under the dictates of our own
minds without checking in with God, or we just plain do things our way. Life is
hard and fraught with struggle and failures when we do it our way.
When
we were born again it is was spirits that were made new (John 3:4-5) not our
souls or bodies. The word says we have to bring our bodies under (1 Cor 9:27) and
renew our minds with God’s word so they can be directed by God through our
spirit (Rom 12:2; Prov 20:27). God wants to direct us into the path he has for
us (Prov 3:5-6), he desires ongoing communion with us so we can walk in the
life he enjoys and, in his peace, (Rom 8:14; John 10:10).
We
need to try it God’s way today, check in with him, get his direction for our
days; it will be good and o my, his peace is beyond all understanding and guards
our minds and our hearts (Phil 4:7).
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others.
“Christ
in you, the hope of glory” (Col 1:27; KJV). Wow, do you ever stop to think what
that means to us as Christians? We have Jesus on the inside of us in the form
of the Holy Spirit (John 14:17). All that Christ died for, all he rose for, his
victory and power and authority are ours (Matt 28:18).
We find
out what is ours in the bible and he gives us his power (Acts 1:8) to be all he
wants us to be and live the life that God lives (John 10:10). God’s power works
in us to bring about change (Phil 2:13; Phil 1:6). In fact, Paul said that he
could only boast about that which Christ had done in and through him;
everything else was of no significance (Rom 15:18).
If
you think about it, all we need to do as Christians is to rest in him (Matt 11:28),
study and believe his word (John 6:29) and cooperate with him as his word and
power change us, guide us and direct and use us for his glory. Knowing this we
should have such a heart to be in his word; to pray, praise and worship him,
give him thanks and hang on every word as we are taught by his ministering
servants.
It sorrows
me to look around our churches and see blank, impassive faces during worship
and hear gossip going on as we are taught the word of God. Christians, wake up
to who you are in Christ, what we have and what God expects of us. We are his
hands and feet and voice in this earth. His will can only be done through us.
Be exhorted today, time is short.
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Sometimes
we can be overawed or intimidated by the glory and power of God and feel
inadequate or unworthy of him as we walk our walk upon this earth. It is important
for us to realize that Jesus gave up the advantages and privileges of heaven
and came to earth as a man, with flesh and blood (Phil 2:5-8). He had to be
filled with the power of the Holy Spirit to minister on this earth just like we
have to be (Matt 3:13-17).
In
Hebrews chapter 4, verse 15, we are told that Jesus can identify with us as he
was tempted in all the same ways we are, while he was on this earth, but he did
no sin. “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the
feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet
without sin” (Heb 4:15.) Do you get the picture? Jesus came here as a man with
flesh and blood and walked in our shoes just like us. He knows our state, our
weaknesses and temptations, our trials and tribulations; he dealt with the same
things while he was here. He knows where we are at and yet the word still says:
“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” (Phil 4:13).
Nothing
is impossible if we have Jesus inside us. Be encouraged today, Jesus will never
leave us or forsake us (Heb 13:5).
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“I
have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fufil
all my will” (Acts 13:22-23; KJV). What was it about David that allowed the
Lord to say these words about him? David had a great zeal for God (1 Sam
17:45). He was teachable, humble and feared God (Ps 25). David trusted God and
had great intimacy with him (Ps 27). David loved to praise his God (Ps 34:1),
desired righteousness, (Ps 51) loved God (Ps 63) and prayed and cried out to his
heavenly Father (Ps 143:1). As we see in our main text, David was also obedient
to the will of God.
David
was; however, human and fell into the sins of sexual immorality and even murder
in his affair with Bathsheba (2 Sam 11). However, when confronted by Nathan the
prophet he repented and God forgave him (2 Sam 12). “And David said unto Nathan,
I have sinned against the Lord. And Nathan said unto David, The Lord also hath
put away thy sin; thou shalt not die.”
We
should look to the life and attributes of David, a mighty man of God. We should
also be encouraged that God regarded David’s strengths and forgave such great sin.
God loves us and will forgive us just as he did David. Be exhorted and
encouraged.
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Check out our web site ( www.onthewayinlove.com ) for information on our
book: “On the Way: Basic Christian Training”, including how to purchase it and
also to see more encouraging Bible based blogs. Please recommend our book to
others.
“This
Book of the Law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shall meditate therein
day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein:
For then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good
success” (Josh 1:8-9; KJV).
In
the old Testament men and women lived under a law they could never completely
keep, but God was merciful and blessed them when their hearts were right toward
him. This was their relationship with him.
Now,
if we have given our lives to him, we have Christ in us (Gal 2:20) and through his
death we were justified (made just as if we had never sinned) (Rom 3:24). We
are new creations in Christ Jesus (2 Cor 5:17), we have his forgiveness (Eph
1:7). We no longer live under the law, driven by the dictates of the flesh, but
by faith we live in obedience to God as the Spirit leads us (Rom 8:1-2). We are
redeemed (purchased at a great price) from the curse of the law, poverty,
sickness and death (Gal 3:13). God has adopted us as his children (Rom 8:15), he
is our Abba Father (Daddy). He has taken us out of the power and authority of
darkness into his wonderful kingdom of light (Col 1:13-14). We are more than
conquerors in Jesus (Rom 8:37).
Let’s
commit to grow into all God has for us. If we press into him, he will work in
us through his word and power to change, transform, use and bless us (James
4:7-8; Phil 1:6).
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