I am back from vacation; it was a nice one, but left us road weary, and in need of a vacation after vacation:))) Vacations are TOTALLY necessary, but I tell ya, they sure do involve a LOT of prep, and labour, and when they involve moving from one place to another during the course of time allotted, it makes it all the more tiring! I cannot imagine having 3 or more Children and packing, along with all else it takes to ensure a good time; the stuff one needs for a week or two is unbelievable in retrospect, besides everything else involved, AND the costs these days are off the chart...
Anyway, here I am; grateful, and happy to be home, though it isn't easy to get back into the groove, I think I am ready, with the memories of beaches, and waves, and the sights and sounds of distant shores, to inspire me...
We were called for FREEDOM! Now, there are those who interpret this as appeasement to the carnal being, allowing for us to think, say, or do anything we want, void of consequence! The numbers of people who believe that freedom means being able to satisfy the desires of the flesh, IS astounding!!!
For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.
The gospel is a doctrine according to godliness, 1Ti 6:3, and is so far from giving the least countenance to sin, that it lays us under the strongest obligation to avoid and subdue it.
EPHESIANS 4: 17-19...
17+++So this I say, and affirm together with the Lord, that you walk no longer just as the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their mind,
18+++being darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart;
19+++and they, having become callous, have given themselves over to sensuality for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness.
The apostle charged the Ephesians in the name and by the authority of the Lord Jesus, that having professed the gospel, they should not be as the unconverted Gentiles, who walked in vain fancies and carnal affections. Do not men, on every side, walk in the vanity of their minds? Must not we then urge the distinction between real and nominal Christians?
They were void of all saving knowledge; they sat in darkness, and loved it rather than light. They had a dislike and hatred to a life of holiness, which is not only the way of life God requires and approves, and by which we live to him, but which has some likeness to God himself in his purity, righteousness, truth, and goodness. The truth of Christ appears in its beauty and power, when it appears as in Jesus.
The corrupt nature is called a man; like the human body, it is of divers parts, supporting and strengthening one another. Sinful desires are deceitful lusts; they promise men happiness, but render them more miserable; and bring them to destruction, if not subdued and mortified. These therefore must be put off, as an old garment, a filthy garment; they must be subdued and mortified. But it is not enough to shake off corrupt principles; we must have gracious ones. By the new man, is meant the new nature, the new creature, directed by a new principle, even regenerating grace, enabling a man to lead a new life of righteousness and holiness. This is created, or brought forth by God's almighty power.
IF we are OF THE LORD, we no longer belong to ourselves; not that we ever did, but that is another post! We have taken off the 'old self', and put on the 'new self', that is the TRUTH of whom, and what we are, beings of THE SPIRIT, heirs, and Children OF THE KINGDOM, THEREFORE, we are NO LONGER ruled by the world, and it's ways, instead, we step INTO our roles, and responsibilities as citizens of HEAVEN, and co-partners TO THE COVENANT OF RECONCILIATION! It is NOT that we will never sin; it IS that we loathe sin as does our LORD, and STRIVE to remain out of it's clutches, and CERTAINLY, we do NOT sin on purpose to appease the flesh, because the flesh HAS been nailed to the Cross, along with CHRIST JESUS, AND we don't place so much importance on being satiated according to the ways of the world, or of carnality, instead, our pleasures are derived FROM our righteousness, and right-minded existence IN THE LORD *GOD*, HIS WILL, and HIS WAYS! We ARE different now IN HIM, and we MUST REMAIN IN HIM, THAT HE REMAINS in us! Surely, we WILL stumble, trip, and fall, but, we do so because of the factions of the world, NOT because our passions lead us to, and if we do, we ever repent, and seek to improve upon ourselves, ALWAYS turning TO HIM, PRAYING, and RELYING ON HIM to lead us past, and through the challenges we encounter, and suffer...
Some sins come at us innocently enough; some come from our emotions, and minds; some we CHOOSE to partake in, and so forth! IF we are now IN CHRIST, sin is repulsive to us, and we put EFFORT into resisting the falsehoods which lead us astray, such as feelings, and imagination, and whatever else IS CONTROLLABLE, but which we have chosen NOT to control! WE ARE ABLE to resist, and overcome sin, regardless of our doubts, or decisions not to, AND when we struggle to do so, all we have to do IS to TURN TO THE LORD and TRUST HIM to aid us!!!
Though human and IN the world, we are NOT OF THE WORLD, thus, we manage our time differently, more wisely, and according TO HIS WILL! We understand that we have work to do IN HIS NAME, FOR HIS GLORY, and the greater good of others, as well as for rescuing lost souls! We ARE to REFLECT HIM, SHINE OF HIM, and INSPIRE others to SEE HIM, and to turn to HIM! Also, we forward HIS LOVE, and HIS compassion, as we take care of ANYONE who needs assistance! Believe me, we WERE born FOR HIM, and BELONG TO HIM, hence, we are not our own, and this world is NOT our playground; it IS a battlefield for the good of souls, and the eradication of ALL evil in CREATION, of which Christian people ARE yoked WITH *GOD* TO contribute TO HIS WILL BEING DONE!!!
1 PETER 2: 16...
Act as free men, and do not use your freedom as a covering for evil, but use it as bondslaves of God.
A Christian conversation must be honest; which it cannot be, if there is not a just and careful discharge of all relative duties: the apostle here treats of these distinctly. Regard to those duties is the will of God, consequently, the Christian's duty, and the way to silence the base slanders of ignorant and foolish men. Christians must endeavour, in all relations, to behave aright, that they do not make their liberty a cloak or covering for any wickedness, or for the neglect of duty; but they must remember that they are servants of God.
JAMES 1: 22-25...
22+++Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.
23+++Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror
24+++and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.
25+++But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.
If we heard a sermon every day of the week, and an angel from heaven were the preacher, yet, if we rested in hearing only, it would never bring us to heaven. Mere hearers are self-deceivers; and self-deceit will be found the worst deceit at last. If we flatter ourselves, it is our own fault; the truth, as it is in Jesus, flatters no man.
Let the word of truth be carefully attended to, and it will set before us the corruption of our nature, the disorders of our hearts and lives; and it will tell us plainly what we are. Our sins are the spots the law discovers: Christ's blood is the laver the gospel shows. But in vain do we hear God's word, and look into the gospel glass, if we go away, and forget our spots, instead of washing them off; and forget our remedy, instead of applying to it. This is the case with those who do not hear the word as they ought.
In hearing the word, we look into it for counsel and direction, and when we study it, it turns to our spiritual life. Those who keep in the law and word of God, are, and shall be, blessed in all their ways. His gracious recompence hereafter, would be connected with his present peace and comfort. Every part of Divine revelation has its use, in bringing the sinner to Christ for salvation, and in directing and encouraging him to walk at liberty, by the Spirit of adoption, according to the holy commands of God. And mark the distinctness, it is not for his deeds, that any man is blessed, but in his deed. It is not talking, but walking, that will bring us to heaven. Christ will become more precious to the believer's soul, which by his grace will become more fitted for the inheritance of the saints in light.
I PRAY EVERY single day that *GOD* teaches me to understand sin that I am more enabled, and empowered to resist, and overcome it! We MUST understand sin, and it's inner workings in order to be able to fend off the fiery darts of the enemy, and to grow into our TRUTH! Sin is stealthy, it is often, beyond our comprehension, or awareness; it just pops up, SO, KNOWLEDGE IS KEY to our commitment TO THE LORD, and HIS WILL!!!
Have a beautiful week; this GIFT of time, and SHINE OF THE LORD *GOD* ALMIGHTY! NEVER think it is all on HIM, as we DO have duties, and responsibilities IN HIS WILL, FOR HIS GLORY, and THE KINGDOM! Of course we will not be perfect, but that we are enjoining IN THE PROCESS of HIS MAKING us perfect, matters, it surely does! STAY IN THE WORD; study, and devour it, and take it to heart; this will aid you greatly, and bring you ever closer TO THE LORD, and HIS WILL! PRAY, PRAISE, WORSHIP, REJOICE, BE THANKFUL, HONOUR and GLORIFY THE LORD in EVERY way, EVERY day!!!
LWINSOR © 2018
BIBLICAL, and/or other references marked BOLDLY IN COLOURS
No comments:
Post a Comment