Sin remains, yet those who align to HIS WILL, have seen sin for what it is, and are working diligently, to control that sin which they can, while RELYING on HIS guidance, protection, and provision to becoming more improved, day by day, hour by hour, for the LOVE of HIM, for HIS GLORY!!!
IF we CLING to those sins we think we enjoy, despite their emptiness, KNOWING full, and well that they are against HIS WILL, ARE we allowing HIM to dwell in HIS temple; are we allowing HIS SPIRIT to sanctify, and consecrate? There ARE those sins we encounter that are NOT of our own choosing, but those sins we CHOOSE to remain in are even more abominable, because we KNOW they are sin! Sure, there are those sins we are overwhelmed by, though we SHOULD be working to remove their chains from our lives, in more than FAITH, instead in FAITHFULNESS! WHY would I want to be chained by what I KNOW separates me from THE LORD I LOVE, and my rightful inheritance? I will fight with all my might to relinquish sin's control over me, that I have control over sin! Remaining in sin finds us in a weakened state, one in which we have difficulty overcoming the evil of the world, opposition to THE GOSPEL, and the endless enemies thereof!!!
We WILL have battles with sin, that is natural to this world, yet, that we CHOOSE to remain in understood sin is dangerous! We are one with a COVENANT, which is, a PARTNERSHIP, a CONTRACT, which is DUAL in context, and fulfillment! THE LORD HAS FULFILLED HIS end of this COVENANT, and believe it, we have responsibility to fulfilling our end! There was a PRICE PAID for the right to this COVENANT, one of UNPRECEDENTED value, thus, liberty is found in HONOURING our end of the partnership, NOT in taking liberty vainly, using it as a scapegoat for carnal pleasure, and passions!!!
HE tells us, HE urges us to BE HOLY as HE IS HOLY! What does this mean? That I can defile the body for carnal fulfillment? NOT! This means I STRIVE to step INTO HIS WILL, and live accordingly! The hope of a resurrection to glory, should keep Christians from dishonouring their bodies by fleshly lusts. And if the soul be united to Christ by faith, the whole man is become a member of his spiritual body.
Other vices may be conquered in fight; that here cautioned against, only by flight. And vast multitudes are cut off by this vice in its various forms and consequences. Its effects fall not only directly upon the body, but often upon the mind. Our bodies have been redeemed from deserved condemnation and hopeless slavery by the atoning sacrifice of Christ.
We are to be clean, as vessels fitted for our Master's use. Being united to Christ as one spirit, and bought with a price of unspeakable value, the believer should consider himself as wholly the Lord's, by the strongest ties. May we make it our business, to the latest day and hour of our lives, to glorify God with our bodies, and with our spirits which are his.
Make no mistake, *GOD* gave us free will in HOPES that we will choose LIFE OVER the temporal, empty excitement of this world, and HE HAS set before us, this day, LIFE and death, BLESSINGS, or curses! NOTHING profane, blemished, or corrupt shall be present in HIS KINGDOM! It ISN'T that we will acquire pure HOLINESS in this time, it is that we are running the race towards it, focused UPON HIS WILL, with a changed heart, which sees us ever diligent in pursuing it, FOR HIS GLORY, and for our very life...
We must study, we must think, we must understand!!!
REV. LWINSOR © 204
BIBLICAL, and/or other references marked BOLDLY IN COLOURS
They strengthened the spirits of the disciples and exhorted them to persevere in the faith, saying, “It is necessary for us to undergo many hardships to enter the kingdom of God.”
See how restless the rage of the Jews was against the gospel of Christ. The people stoned Paul, in a popular tumult. So strong is the bent of the corrupt and carnal heart, that as it is with great difficulty that men are kept back from evil on one side, so it is with great ease they are persuaded to evil on the other side. If Paul would have been Mercury, he might have been worshipped; but if he will be a faithful minister of Christ, he shall be stoned, and thrown out of the city.
Thus men who easily submit to strong delusions, hate to receive the truth in the love of it.
All who are converted need to be confirmed in the faith; all who are planted need to be rooted. Ministers' work is to establish saints as well as to awaken sinners. The grace of God, and nothing less, effectually establishes the souls of the disciples.
It is true, we must count upon much tribulation, but it is encouragement that we shall not be lost and perish in it.
The Person to whose power and grace the converts and the newly-established churches are commended, clearly was the Lord Jesus, on whom they had believed. It was an act of worship. The praise of all the little good we do at any time, must be ascribed to God; for it is He who not only worketh in us both to will and to do, but also worketh with us to make what we do successful.
All who love the Lord Jesus, will rejoice to hear that he has opened the door of faith wide, to those who were strangers to him and to his salvation. And let us, like the apostles, abide with those who know and love the Lord.
1 comment:
We should be busy building UP, in FAITH, FAITHFULNESS, virtue, and all the fruits worthy of THE LORD, WHILE enduring, persevering, aware, and consciously applying CHRIST JESUS' example! When we are living worthy of THE GOSPEL, we are diligently removing, or diminishing what exists to shake our FAITH, and our FAITHFULNESS; never forget we are being readied for a battle unprecedented, and only they who stand firm to the end, shall be saved (MATTHEW 24), that is making our calling and election sure. Thus, we should remain busy in THE WORD, in applying THE WORD, and PRAYING ceaselessly, ALL TO THE GLORY OF *GOD*...
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