This passage from Hebrews is replete with the kinds of information that are so often overlooked by believers. This information is the sort that will enable every person of faith to step away from the habits of life that cause anemic faith. In addition, the most pervasive life style among Christians is thinking that the flesh is more powerful than the Person of Christ who lives within. When Satan convinces people into thinking this, it will be difficult for that person to know abundant living in Christ.
“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” Galatians 5:16-24.
Here is a warning:
Do not be foolish enough to believe that simply because a ‘profession of faith’ has been made that life suddenly becomes a ‘rose garden’. This is not the case. More often than not life often becomes more difficult because of the continuous spiritual battle that takes place. “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” 1 Peter 5:8.
Billy Graham states, “Satan is a defeated foe! By His death and resurrection Jesus Christ conquered death and Hell and Satan! And someday that victory will be complete, and "the devil, who deceived them, (will be) thrown into the lake of burning sulfur" (Revelation 20:10). Until that day, make it your goal to live for Christ and walk close to Him every day.” Seattlepi.newsource.com 52007.
One more thing, Satan is not like God. He in not omnipresent as is our Lord. That is to say he cannot be at all places at all time as is God. Satan is a created being having been created by his adversary, God. Remember that he has legions of demon spirits that do his bidding. Therefore, your daily battles are not directly against the Devil, but against his demonic spirits. Yes, as the angel of light he is fast, but he cannot be all over the world all of the time. “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” James 4:7.
Christians and unbelievers are quite different from one another. One follows the Lord and the other does not because the unbeliever cannot do what he cannot do. “Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others. But what we are is known to God, and I hope it is known also to your conscience. We are not commending ourselves to you again but giving you cause to boast about us, so that you may be able to answer those who boast about outward appearance and not about what is in the heart.” 1 Corinthians 5:11-12.
Football season, for all practical purposes, has finally drawn to a close. The time between seasons is called the ‘off season’ because preparation for next year has already begun. Things are happening everywhere. Coaches have lost their jobs, players move on, and unhappy supporters are making themselves known. “Just wait until next year’ is the rallying cry. Everyone will repeat another season next year, and this is repeated over and over again every single year. As the Preacher says in Ecclesiastes, everything has a season.
But things are different for the believer, “assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness..” Ephesians 4:21-24.
With this in mind, be encouraged in the Lord Jesus. You are different because of Him. And when you sin the Bible says that “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:8.
Yes, you have moved up. Live like it!!!
No comments:
Post a Comment