Tag: eternity

STAYING SPIRITUALLY MINDED IN A CORRUPT WORLD

“…Walk in the Spirit, and you will not fulfill the lusts of the flesh” (Gal. 5:16).

                Believers are assured of walking in victory daily (even in the midst of a corrupt world) if they are led by the Spirit rather than their flesh. The source of all our struggles in this present world result from the fallen nature that each of us are born with (as we’ve all descended from fallen Adam). None of us are righteous by nature—we’ve all sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Gen. 3, Rom. 3:10-18, 25, 5:12, 18-19).

                It’s helpful to become familiar with the many names of this fallen nature in order to recognize it when it rears its ugly head (as it can with such subtlety and deceit): 

· The Flesh “That which is born of the flesh is flesh” (John 3:6).  This flesh “cannot please God” (Rom. 8:8); “profits nothing” (John 6:63), and has “no good thing” in it (Rom. 7:8).

· The Natural Man “receives not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness to him: neither can he get to know them because they are spiritually discerned” (1 Cor. 2:14).

· The Old Man “is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts” (Eph. 4:22).

· The Outward Man “… is perishing” (2 Cor. 4:16).

· The Heart (the natural heart) is “deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked” (Jer. 17:9)—so deceitful that only God can really know it. Jesus said that “Out of the heart precede evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornication, thefts, false witness, blasphemies” (Matt. 15:19).

· The Carnal Mind is “enmity against God” (Rom. 8:7). This aspect of the old nature deals with the thoughts (“minding” the flesh), and imaginations of the natural man. These thoughts propel the flesh into action.

·  SIN is the nature and the root while “sins” are the outcome (or fruit) of that nature. In Romans 1:18-5:11 it speaks of theses “sins”. From Romans 5:12-8:39 it’s “Sin” (the old nature) that is dealt with. Even though the sinner is justified in Christ, he/she still senses the old nature at work, and experiences the conflict between that and the new nature. 

It’s a Lost Cause to try to improve this nature or change it as that which is of the flesh remains flesh.  It can’t be turned into spirit. Its end is death (Rom. 8:6). “In Adam all die” (1 Cor. 15:22).  The first Adam was made of the dust of the earth, and to dust all his descendants “return” (Gen. 3:19). He or she that sows to his/her flesh will of the flesh reap corruption (Gal. 6:8). All efforts to improve the flesh, provisions made for the flesh, and all ordinances connected with the flesh—end in corruption and death—all “perish with the using” (Col. 2:22). “For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it…” (1 John 2:16-17).

                Thankfully there’s a superior alternative, the spirit. It’s divine in nature—something begotten by God, created in righteousness and true holiness (Eph. 4:24). For those who partake of it, the whole course of life can flow in a different direction (2 Cor. 4:16, 5:17, Eph. 4:23). This new nature also has several names that it’s known by:

· Spirit “That which is born of the Spirit is spirit” (John 3:6). As the “flesh” partakes of the nature of Adam, so the spirit partakes of the nature of the Holy Spirit.

· Divine Nature “…partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust” (2 Pet. 1:4).

· The New Man “…which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness” (Eph. 4:24, Col. 3:10). This is also referred to as “a new creation” (2 Cor. 5:17, Gal. 6:15).

· The Inward Man “is being renewed day by day” (2 Cor. 4:16). It’s called the “inner man” in Ephesians 3:16. The Holy Spirit fuels and nourishes the partaker with grace and strength enabling them the capacity to experience something of God’s vast love (Eph. 3:16). This inward man delights in the law and ways of God and so is in direct conflict with the outward man (Rom. 7:22).

· The Mind  (this “mind”) serves the law of God and delights in it (Rom. 7:22-23, 25).

· Christ’s Spirit (Pneuma-Christou) is the new nature which makes one a “son of God” as Christ is “the Son of God” so Pneuma-Christou is another name for the “sonship spirit” (Rom. 8:14-15, Eph. 1:5-6).

· Divine Spirit (Pneuma-Theou) is begotten from God— “not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God” (John 1:13, Rom. 8:9).

This nature is perfect and impervious to change—it remains spirit (John 3:6). It originates from the Spirit of God and its instrument is the Word of God (1 Pet. 1:22-23, John 6:63, 2 Tim. 3:16-17). This gift of the new nature or spirit is called our ‘sealing’ which is ours on believing (Eph. 1:13). If we are “complete” in Christ, we cannot become incomplete (Col. 2:10). This new nature can’t be canceled out (even by sin). If any man or woman sins, they have an Advocate with the Father (Jesus Christ, the righteous) and He is (and remains) the propitiation for our sins (1 John 2:1-2).

 THE TRAP OF RELIGION

                The believer needs to be ever mindful of his/her standing in Christ (and where his/her true citizenship lies, Phil. 3:20, Col. 3:1-4) so they don’t fall into the trap of religion. Religion has to do with the flesh (and all the things that the flesh can perform) and is concerned only with what it can see, hear, and comprehend (1 Cor. 2:14). The rules of the flesh profit nothing (John 6:63). These works are dead and in these works they deny God (Tit. 1:16). The Pharisees erred thinking that in themselves (and more rules, laws, ordinances, etc.) they could improve themselves, but they were called out by Jesus for the phonies and hypocrites that they were (Matt. 23, John 8:44).

               Christianity is not religion and isn’t made up of articles, creeds, confessions, ordinances, etc. but in the Person of Christ Jesus and the sonship relationship the Christian has with God in Him. The apostle Paul knew the dangers of a believer not realizing his/her position in Christ and how that opened them up to deception. He reminded the Colossians in his letter to them that because they were now complete in Christ (which is the Head of all principality and power) all ordinances were therefore done away with. He warned them to beware of anyone who tried to cheat them through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, or the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ, Who is the Head (and source of all nourishment that helps the body to grow with the increase that’s from God) (Col. 2:8-15, 19). He furthered urged them to not fall back to futile things— “…if you died with Christ to the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, are you subjecting yourselves to its regulations that are according to the commandments and doctrines of men? These things may have an (outward) appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body, but are useless against the indulgence of the flesh” (Col. 2:20-23).  In Paul’s letter to the Ephesians it was a similar theme as he pressed them to walk worthy of their calling and use their gifts for God’s purposes (Eph. 4:11-12), the goal being a perfect man (fully grown) with perfect (or full) knowledge of the Son of God in order that they’d no longer be tossed to and fro, like children, from one wind of doctrine (teaching) to another— coming from the cunning, deceitful agendas of men (backed by the devil himself) Eph. 4:1-16, 6:11). It’s okay to be righteously angry at the corruption and injustice we see in the world today, just keep it transitory and exhibit self-control or the flesh will be fed, and an opportunity will be given to the devil (Eph. 4:26-27).

KNOWING GOD is the KEY to not being deceived and the source to stay spiritually minded

                Understanding (through the Holy Scriptures) the knowledge of God is so vital and also a necessity to empower one to walk in the Spirit as well as perform the good works He preordained for the believer to walk in (2 Tim. 3:16-17, Eph. 2:10, Phil. 2:13, Tit. 2:14, 3:8, 14). Without the continual renewing of the mind (daily feeding of the new nature) (Deut. 8:3, 2 Cor. 4:16, Rom. 12:2, Eph. 4:23-24, Col. 3:10) the believer can fall into the trap of having confidence in their flesh once again (Phil. 3:3, Rom. 13:14, Ga. 5:16). I catch myself minding my flesh when my striving doesn’t lead to peace or any of the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23). Thankfully I remember that I can’t do anything profitable in my own strength and flesh and I turn to the One Who can.

“For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh (See Eph. 6:12, 1 John 2:13). For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,”  (2 Cor. 10:3-5).

A believer won’t be aware of what to cast down if they don’t have some firsthand knowledge of God. They won’t be able to use the spiritual weapons (Eph. 6:10-17) that God has so graciously provided for them if they can’t differentiate between the knowledge of God and the arguments and high things that exalt itself against it. Hebrews 4:12 reminds us that the Word of God is alive and powerful, sharper than any two-edged sword, dividing and differentiating between that which is begotten of the flesh and that which is begotten of the spirit (in the individual but also between the natural and spiritual man) (1 Cor. 2:13-15). Read the apostle Paul’s first prayer to the Ephesian believers in Eph. 1:17-23. He prayed that God would give them the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him as this was the key to leading them to know what the hope of His calling was…and the exceeding greatness of His power to those who believed.

PARTING WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT

                Even though it says in 2 Timothy 3:12 that those who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution don’t get discouraged. The suffering of this present time is not worthy to be compared with the glory which awaits us (Rom. 8:18, 2 Cor. 4:17). Even though our outward man is perishing, our inward man is being renewed day by day. Take good care of your spiritual self (by properly feeding it) as it will pay off and help you to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts, and live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age. Keep your mind upward, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing our great God and Savior Jesus Christ (Rom. 13:13-14, 2 Cor. 4:16-18, Col. 3:1-4, Titus 2:11-14).

“If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” (Gal. 5:25).

Laura                                                                   

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IT’S ALL IN GOD’S TIME

“The race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to men of understanding, nor favor to men of skill; but time and chance happen to them all. For man also does not know his time: … Like birds caught in a snare, so the sons of men are snared in an evil time, when it falls suddenly upon them.” Ecclesiastes 9:11-12

Isn’t it funny how much of what goes on in the world is beyond our understanding and yet we think we can steer and control it?  I’m learning that doing so is a great waste of time. There’s so much going on ‘behind the scenes’ in the spiritual realm that would blow our minds if we were privy to it all. God’s only allowed us small glimpses of it. See Job 1:6-12, 2 Kings 6:16-17, Dan. 9:21, 10:11-13, 20-21, Eph. 6:12, Jude 9, and Rev. 12:7.

                THE ONE EVENT

It’s part of human nature to be fixated on self. Ironically, it doesn’t matter how rich, famous, beautiful, fit, skilled, talented, or wise one is, the one event that happens to everyone (regardless of status) is DEATH (Eccl. 9:11-12).  Man, like a bird caught in a snare, does not know when death will suddenly fall upon him (Eccl. 9:11-12).  All the tiresome toils and passing pleasures of this life can be traced back to the nature and fall of man.  One wouldn’t be wrong in saying that the consequences of it were life changing as man and woman no longer had access to the Tree of Life.  Now bound in time—life subject to limitations—it advances toward the one event that brings them back to the dust that they came from (Gen. 2:7, 17, 3:19, Eccl. 12:7, 1 Cor. 15:47, Ps. 103:14).

                GOD’S TIME IS NOT OUR TIME

All’s not fair in this life. Often the righteous suffer and the wicked prosper. The question, “Why would a loving God permit evil and suffering in the world?” is a common one. God’s allowed men and women to have freewill, giving each to choose to follow what’s good or what’s evil.  God’s already provided a remedy for sin and His mercy and longsuffering are beyond human comprehension (John 3:16, Rom. 5:8, Ps. 86:15, 2 Pet. 3:9). To us mere mortals, ensnared in a fallen world, it may seem like an eternity, but God’s timing is always perfect. His work goes beyond the scope and sphere of our work and His purpose dates back before time began, and continues on after it’s ended. We’re unable to ‘find out the work that God does from the beginning to the end’ (Eccl. 3:11, Rom. 11:33-36, Acts 1:7, Ps. 115:3, Isa. 40:28). So why do we think we can?

The endless cycle of human experience described in Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 is a faint echo of the mighty purpose of the ages.  Whatever God does, it will be forever. Not a thing can be added to it or taken from it (Eccl. 3:14).  God works in the way He does ‘that men should fear before Him’ (Eccl. 3:14). This fear of the Lord (reverence) is the beginning of knowledge (Prov. 1:7). It’s only the “beginning” as Job discovered (Job 42:5-6, James 5:11).  King Solomon found that the conclusion of all his searching and testing was to “Fear God and keep His commandments” (Eccl. 12:13).

                WHAT HAPPENS WHEN MEN NO LONGER FEAR GOD?

When men no longer fear God they sin without hesitation. The fear of consequences isn’t a deterrent when the fear (reverence) of God is gone. Proverbs 19:21 says, “There are many devices (schemes) in a man’s heart, yet the counsel of the Lord shall stand.”  Yet throughout the ages man has turned to the creature and not the Creator to seek counsel apart from God using everything from fortune tellers with crystal balls to tarot cards and horoscopes. Even turning to witches, enchanters, wizards—those who use spells, divination or consult with familiar (evil) spirits to seek the dead. These are of no real help and an abomination to the Lord (Rom. 1:25, Ps. 115:4-8, 146:3-4, Deut. 18:10-12, Lev. 19:26-31, 1 Tim. 4:1-3, 2 Tim. 4:3-4, Titus 1:10-16). This in the end led to King Saul’s demise (1 Chron. 10:13-14). 

                OBEDIENCE LEARNED THROUGH SUFFERING

Jesus’ death and resurrection has given the believer a hope and a purpose to wait patiently and endure this present evil age.  If the dead won’t rise then the “Let’s eat, drink for tomorrow we die” mentality would suffice. But that’s not the case. The counsel of the Lord will stand and all works will be brought into judgement (Eccl. 12:14, Ps. 37:1-2, Heb. 10:23). Sin came through disobedience while righteousness comes through obedience (Rom. 5:12, 19). “Though He were a son, yet learned obedience by the things which He suffered” (Heb. 5:8, 12:2, 1 Pet. 2:21-24).  Obedience is the cadence in which a believer must learn to walk in. One can’t bypass suffering in the chain of events that lead to hope (Rom. 5:3-4).  Being conformed to Christ’s likeness happens as the believer has faith through trying times, while keeping their eye on the prize (Rom. 8:29, Phil. 3:14, 20-21, 2 Tim. 4:7-8, 2: Cor. 4:8-10, 16-18). Though we may not understand it, God disciplines because He desires for us to be partakers of His holiness. It’s not always pleasant going through it but afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it (Heb. 12:5-11, Gal. 6:8-9, 2 Tim. 2:11, 2 Cor. 4:17-18).

FAITH IS MEASURED IN STEPS

Our finite minds can only see in part. It’s not for the created to question the Creator. God justifies man/woman when they come to Christ and receive Him as Savior, knowing that it’s not based on any merit of their own. The believer becomes a new creation and learns to live and walk by faith, not by sight (Eph. 2:8-10, 2 Cor. 5:17, 7, Gal. 2:20).   Martin Luther King Jr. said, “Faith is taking the first step even when you can’t see the whole staircase.”  God sees the whole staircase.  He knows where it’s going. We need to trust and obey His direction and will in our lives. Even when we trip and fall, we need to get up and take the next step in faith, in hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began (Titus 1:2).

May the poem, “The Weaver”, by holocaust survivor Corrie ten Boom, inspire you to see with eyes of faith:

“My life is but a weaving
between my God and me.
I cannot choose the colors
He weaves steadily.

Oft’ times He weaves sorrow;
and I in foolish pride
forget He sees the upper
and I the underside.

Not ’til the loom is silent
and the shuttles cease to fly
will God unroll the canvas
and reveal the reason why.

The dark threads are as needful
in the weaver’s skillful hand
as the threads of gold and silver
In the pattern He has planned

He knows, He loves, He cares;
nothing this truth can dim.
He gives the very best to those
who leave the choice to Him.” 

Laura   

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Where’s My Hope?

Things Above Colossians 3 2
“Things Above” by Laura Kestly

HIGH HOPES

Having an Outlook that’s Positively Eternal

 March is the month that includes the last phase of winter & also the official beginning of spring. For us in the northern Midwest especially, it’s the long awaited glimmer of hope of warmer temperatures and the bright & beautiful colors of creation reawakening–replacing the frozen snow-covered, brown & barren ground.

THE HOPE OF SPRING ENABLES US TO ENDURE THE REMAINING DAYS OF WINTER.

I often tell people (especially after discussing current events or other circumstances that may be out of my control), that I’m so thankful that I have ‘a Hope’. I don’t mean the kind of hope that has a trace of doubt in it—like, “I hope it doesn’t rain tomorrow” or “I hope he remembers to bring the mail in”. That’s an “I’m not so sure if it will happen, but I have my fingers crossed” kind of hope—it’s possible but… The “Hope” that keeps me ‘keeping’ on’ and focusing upward is the capital “H” type of Hope defined by “confident expectancy”—as in the fulfillment of a promise. It’s a certain hope (where there’s no trace of doubt) (Heb. 6:19, 10:23; Titus 1:2)!

Martin Luther King Jr. said this, “We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope.”

Finite means having limits or bounds/fixed. Contrarily, infinite means limitless/unable to measure. This type of hope can only come from the Divine. It’s a HIGH Hope placed in a God Who, though He was on High, was brought low so that those (like me) who were low could have a hope on High (Phil. 2:6-9, 3:20; Rom. 3:23, 5:6-11)!

  • IT’S a PRECIOUS & BLESSED HOPE that was BOUGHT with a PRICE. A Hope, through Christ Jesus’ shed blood on the cross, for those who were alienated, to have peace with God & citizenship in heaven upon its reception (Eph. 2:12-13; Phil. 3:20).
  • IT’S a HOPE that came by GRACE & through FAITH is received (2 Thess. 2:16, Eph. 2:8).
  • IT’S a SAVING & ETERNAL HOPE (Rom. 8:24, 1 Thess. 5:8, Titus 1:2, & Eph. 2:8).
  • IT’S A HOPE that focuses on the BIG PICTURE—the FOREST (not just the trees). This Hope comes from God’s perspective & doesn’t focus on earthly circumstances that will pass –but on the eternal unseen things that will last (2 Cor. 4:18).
  • IT’S A GLORIOUS HOPE THAT CAUSES ONE TO REJOICE (not be disappointed) even through hard circumstances the future glory outweighs the present afflictions (Rom. 5:2, 5; Col. 1:27; 2 Cor. 4:8-10, 17).    
  • IT’S SUBSTANCE CONSISTS of FAITH/UNSEEN with the NAKED EYE. Through tribulation, perseverance & character it’s produced & must be eagerly waited for with perseverance (Hebrews 11:1, Rom. 5:3-4, 8:24-25).
  • IT’S ENERGIZING: One can endure & abound in this hope by the power of the Holy Spirit, through God’s Word (Rom 15:4, 13; 2 Cor. 4:16).

THE HOPE OF ETERNITY ENABLES US TO ENDURE OUR REMAINING TIME ON EARTH.

Want the shadows to fall behind you? Keep your mind’s eye toward the Son and the things above where HIGH HOPE can be found (Col. 3:1-4, Heb. 12:1-2, Titus 2:13).

Laura  

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ANOTHER YEAR BEGINS–2016…

ANOTHER YEAR BEGINS—2016 (if you’re counting). 

The God Who created all things, created the earth that we live in to be confined to set times and seasons (Gen. 1:14; Eccl. 3; Ps. 19:1-6, 104:19). He created man to be set within this time structure even though He himself is not, as He is eternal (Deut. 33:27; Isa. 57:15; Ps. 90:2; 1 Tim. 1:17; Rev. 1:4).

Since we’re human and confined to time, we do count things—the hours of the day—the days that pass—maybe milestone years. I have a dear friend who lived to the age of 97 years. That’s a lot of years! He was a good friend in Christ and will be dearly missed. I count that a loss to me personally but I can be thankful for all the days that added up to the 14 years that we enjoyed.

The number of days of one’s life, for many on this earth, will not even come near to the years of my friend. Some lives are cut short for reasons only God may have knowledge of. If those that we have loved are Christians who have died (fallen asleep in Christ), we have the hope of seeing them again in a place where time has no bounds (1 Thess. 4:13-18, John 3:16).

Since our days on this earth are numbered, it’s best if we can have a thankful heart to count our blessings even in the midst of our losses. As the Psalmist says, “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom” (Ps. 90:12). Paul exhorts the Ephesians in verse 16, to walk wisely, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

Paul counted all things a loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus, His Lord, for Whom he had suffered the loss of all things, yet counted them rubbish in order that he gained Christ and was found in Him (Phi. 3:7-8).

No matter the number of the year, one thing we can always COUNT ON is GOD’S FAITHFULNESS. The Holy Scriptures document and testify of God’s faithfulness. His mercy reaches unto the heavens and His faithfulness reaches to the clouds (Ps. 36:5, 57:10). The Lord is faithful and will establish you and guard you from the evil one (2 Thess. 3:3). “He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it” (1 Thess. 5:24).

So let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful (Heb. 10:23)!

Laura

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