LIVING  THE  CHRISTIAN  LIFE  TODAY  

In our daily living The Christian Life we must deal with two major areas,

…….our relationship with GOD and

…….our relationship with our fellowman.

     Jesus outlined this when He received the question and responded to it in Matthew 22:35-40,  “One of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, (36) “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?"  (37) And He said to him, " 'YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.'  (38) "This is the great and foremost commandment.  (39) "The second is like it, 'YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.'  (40) " On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets."  Note that Jesus pointed out that all the commandments (the “Whole Law” and the Prophets) are “wrapped up” – included, in these two New Testament Commandments.  It then is vitally important that we give serious and detailed attention to these two Commandments in our daily Christian Living.

     One of the “curses” on many people’s lives today is lamenting the past and worrying about the future.  Someone has stated that the past is “a cancelled check” and the future is a “promissory note” neither of which can be used in the present.  We need to let the past go – let it be the past and stop trying to drag it into the present or allowing it to impose itself into the present.  If there is sin in the past, then we need to confess it to God so He can forgive us and cleanse us as He has promised to do in 1 John 1:9 where we read, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”  This is God’s Promise and He will do just as He Promised if we confess our sin.  He forgives us and cleanses us of ALL UNRIGHTEOUSNESS!  So, let’s allow the past to be the past and not bring it into the present.  We can remember the “good things” and enjoy these memories while remembering the “bad thing” only so as not to repeat them again.

     Our “past sins” is often the “playground” of the devil and his demons.  They like to drag these sins up before our eyes and “remind” us of our “failures.”  They use these “past transgressions” as instruments of “accusation” against us.  They like to say, “look what you did – look how you failed – look at yourself – and you call yourself a “Christian?” When the devil or one of his demons try this old “tried and true” trick, we need to remember Romans 8:1-2 which states, “Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.  (2) For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.”  When the devil (or one of his demons) comes to “accuse us” we need to use our “Sword of The Spirit” on them.  We can say something like this to the accusing demon, “Thank you devil for reminding me of that sin.  You have caused me to remember and rejoice in the fact that God has forgiven me of that sin and He has “Cleansed” me of that sin.  It doesn’t exist any longer.  Praise God, Jesus Christ paid for all sin, for all mankind, for all time.”  Hallelujah!  Praise His Holy Name!  If you will use the devil’s attempt to accuse you and condemn you for some past sin as an occasion to THANK  GOD and to PRAISE  HIM the devil will quickly be gone and you will be left thanking and praising God!  It works!

     We can “prepare for” the future but we can’t live it now.  Someone has stated that 80% of what we worry about never comes to pass.  Worrying is somewhat like rocking back and forth in a rocking chair – it gives us something to do but doesn’t get us anywhere. Worry is a sin that can ruin our “present.”  Yes, worry is a sin!  Instead of worrying, let’s “Trust God” instead.  God is in control and He is able to cause even what we would call the “bad things” of life to work out for our good.  Let’s remember Romans 8:28 which states, “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”  It is so much better for us to “Trust in God” instead of worrying.

     The “PRESENT” – “NOW” – This “MOMENT” in time is ALL  WE  HAVE!   We live in the “NOW,” not yesterday and not tomorrow.  If we waste the “PRESENT” by grieving over the past or by worrying about the future we “cheat ourselves” out of the “PRESENT.”  Let’s learn the truth that the “present” is all we have.  Let’s learn to  LIVE  IT  TO  THE  FULLEST – EVERY MINUTE – OF  EVERY  DAY!   Remember Jesus said in John 10:10, "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”  Jesus Christ wants us to live “abundantly” – NOW!

 ATTITUDE  TOWARD  GOD  (FATHER,  SON,  AND  HOLY  SPIRIT)

 

1. TODAY  I  WILL  SEEK  TO  LOVE  AND  HONOR  GOD  (FATHER,  SON,  and  HOLY  SPIRIT).  .  .

     Today I will express my thanks to GOD for all my Blessings, realizing that they all come from HIM!  I will Honor Him above all in all that I say and do, I will Praise Him with my lips, and I will Worship Him with all my Heart.  As expressed in  Colossians 3:17 where we read, “Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.” And in Colossians 3:23 we read, “Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men.”  The proper use of our tongue and our lips is expressed in Hebrews 13:15, “Through Him then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name.” Our total devotion is to be expressed to ALMIGHTY  GOD in heartfelt worship.  In Psalms 2:11 we read, “Worship the LORD with reverence And rejoice with trembling.”  And, in Psalms 95:6 we read,

“ Come, let us worship and bow down, Let us kneel before the LORD our Maker.” God alone deserves our full thanks, our devoted praise, and our complete worship – HE deserves our full devotion!

     Today, I will surrender myself (body, mind, soul, and spirit) to The Will of God My Father, to The Lordship of Jesus Christ (Gods’ Only Begotten Son), and to The Leading of God The Holy Spirit in my life.  This “surrender” is key to living the life of a Christian!  It is an important prerequisite to everything else in our relationship to God (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit).  It is also something that we must do as often as necessary.  And what do I mean by “as often as necessary?”  Our human nature dictates that we stay in control of our own person and our own destiny.  Therefore, it is against our human nature and our natural desires to “GIVE UP  CONTROL  OF  OUR  LIVES” – to “SUBMIT” or  to “SURRENDER” to GOD!  However, our living The Christian Life successfully on a daily basis depends on it!  Our complete Surrender to Jesus Christ as Our Lord and Savior and to The Leading of The Holy Spirit in our life is vital AND  WE  MAY  HAVE  TO  YIELD  CONTROL  OF  OUR  LIVES  TO GOD  MANY TIMES  EVERY  DAY!  Every situation we face contains the possibility of our saying something like this, “move over Jesus, I’ll handle this one.”  When we find ourselves doing this and trying to “handle things” on our own, we then need to confess this selfishness (SIN) and “Surrender” once again to The Lordship of Jesus Christ and The Leading of The Holy Spirit in our lives.

     Remember Frank Sinatra’s song “I Did It My Way.” This expresses our natural human desire, “to do it my way” – “to have my own way” – “to have what we want” – and “to have it now.”  However, this is absolutely contrary to the attitude that is required for us to have if we are to have a right relationship with God as our Father, Jesus as our Savior and LORD, and The Holy Spirit as our Guide and Comforter.  This relationship requires that we “surrender” ourselves totally and completely to GOD.  When we find ourselves taking back control of our lives, we must at that moment, surrender afresh and anew to GOD.   Paul stated it this way, “we must crucify ourselves daily.” In fact, we may have to do this several time in a day.  This is especially true, until we learn that it is really best for us if we allow Jesus to be Lord of our lives (all the time) and for Him to perform God’s Will in us and through us BY The Power of The Holy Spirit working in us and through us!  God’s Will is always for our best.  God is for us not against us!  He is always working for our GOOD!   

     GOD  IS  AWLAYS  WORKING  FOR  OUR  GOOD!  Do we truly believe this truthful statement form God’s Holy Word – The Bible?  Our “Surrender” to Him depends on just how much we do believe this statement.  IT  IS  TRUE!!  But do we believe it and practice it in our daily living?  The Apostle James reminds us “Faith without works is dead.”  In other words, our Faith must be put “to work.”  It must be active, moving, living, and working in our lives – all the time!  The question is not “How much faith we have?”  Nor is the question “What is the quality of our faith?”  The Bible states clearly that God gives to each of us “A  MEASURE OF  FAITH.”  In Romans 12:3 we read, “For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith.”  The same Bible tells us that “IF  WE  HAVE  FAITH  AS  A  GRAIN  OF  MUSTARD SEED” then this faith is sufficient to “move mountains.”  In Luke 17:6 we read, “And the Lord said, ‘If you had faith like a mustard seed, you would say to this mulberry tree, be uprooted and be planted in the sea; and it would obey you.’”  We cannot question the quantity of our Faith.  It is a “Gift” from God and it is enough for every situation.  Nor can we question the Quality of our Faith.  It is from God and it is Perfect.  The question comes down to, “DO  WE  STAND  ON  THE  GOD  GIVEN  FAITH  THAT  WE  HAVE?  This is our decision to make – every moment – of every day!  And, this is a decision that must be made on the basis of our WILL not our feelings!

     Yes, God desires – in fact, requires, that we “Walk by Faith.”  In 2 Corinthians 5:7 we read, “For we walk by faith, not by sight.” And in Hebrews 10:38 we read, “BUT MY  RIGHTEOUS  ONE  SHALL  LIVE  BY  FAITH;  AND  IF  HE SHRINKS BACK, MY  SOUL  HAS  NO  PLEASURE  IN  HIM.” Yes, God REQUIRES  THAT WE  LIVE  BY  FAITH – not by sight, and not by our “feelings.”

     We need to remember this very important truth, to “Walk by Faith” is a  DECISION  OF  OUR  WILL  AND  NOT  OF OUR  EMOTIONS!   We can choose for our emotions (our feelings) to be in subjection to our will!  For any person that has been used to letting their emotions control their life, this may be very hard to do at first.  However, we do have the “Power” within us – THE HOLY  SPIRIT – to put our emotions in their proper place – that is, in subjection to our will!  As this is done more and more, the emotions will finally “fall into line’ behind our will and follow it.  As we learn to exercise our will we then can learn to submit our will to THE  WILL  OF  GOD  OUR  FATHER and ALLOW  JESUS  CHRIST  (AS  LORD  OF  OUR  LIFE) TO  WORK GOD’S WILL  IN  US  AND  THROUGH  US.   Let’s remember that HE (GOD) is always working on us to finally “Conform” us to the very IMAGE of Jesus Christ His Son.  As amazing as it sounds, GOD  IS  WORKING  ON  US  TO  FINALLY MAKE  US PERFECT  –  JUST  LIKE  JESUS  CHRIST!   THIS  IS  GOD’S   WAY  FOR  US  AND  IT  IS  FOR  OUR VERY  BEST! THAT  WHICH  IS  THE  VERY  BEST  FOR  US   IS  ALWAYS  WHAT  GOD  WANTS  FOR  US  AS HIS  CHILDREN!

2. TODAY  I  WILL  SUBMIT  TO  THE  LORDSHIP  OF  JESUS  CHRIST  IN MY  LIFE

     Again, the key to our living the life of a Christian is to “SURRENDER” ourselves to THE  LORDSHIP  OF  JESUS  CHRIST – all the time – in every situation!  This vitally important question was asked of Jesus in John 6:28-29 (28) Therefore they said to Him, "What shall we do, so that we may work the works of God ?"  (29) Jesus answered and said to them, ‘This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.’"  Jesus said in no uncertain terms that  OUR  WORK  IS  TO  BELIEVE  IN  HIM – JESUS CHRIST!  This is our work – the sum total of our work!  The rest of the Work is God’s Work that Jesus Christ does in us and through us.  This is a concept that is critical to our living a successful Christian Life.  We must SURRENDER  TO  THE LORDSHIP OF  JESUS  CHRIST  AND  ALLOW  HIM  TO  DO  GOD’S  WORK  IN  US  AND  THROUGH  US!  It will be our hands, our feet, our voice – but, it must be Christ directing THE  WORK  AND  WILL  OF  GOD  THE  FATHER  IN US  AND THROUGH  US BY  THE  POWER  OF  THE  HOLY  SPIRIT – THE  POWER  OF  GOD  WORKING WITHIN  US!   I cannot stress this VITALLY  IMPORTANT  TRUTH  ENOUGH!

     It is not good enough to ask, “What would Jesus do” and then try to do as He would do!  (We experienced that “fad” a few years back in the popular bumper sticker “WWJD” –WHAT  WOULD  JESUS  DO?)  On the surface this “sounds” great – even “right” – however, it is not – it misses the “MARK.”  In reality it opens the door to the devil’s counterfeit – to try to “imitate” what Jesus would do  IN  OUR  OWN  STRENGTH.  The result is a cheap counterfeit and I believe that these poor souls are part of the misguided ones to which Jesus refers in Matthew 7:21-23  “ Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.  (22) " Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?'  (23) "And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; DEPART  FROM  ME,  YOU  WHO  PRACTICE   LAWLESSNESS.'  Note that Jesus did not dispute that these persons had done many good works or deeds.  Instead, He simply said to them, “I never knew you; Depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.”  Jesus said they were practicing “SIN.”  AMAZING!  Sadly these deceived souls thought they were doing great works for God when in fact they were doing their “own thing” – they were deceived into “practicing SIN”- they were (and they are) “In Iniquity.”  (Isn’t it amazing that “doing good works” outside of the Will of God is  ACTUALLY SIN!)

     These misguided souls are ones that have been tricked by the devil (or his demons) into thinking that they were (AND  ARE) “WORKING  THE  WORKS  OF  GOD” – these poor “doomed souls” thought they were doing wonderful things “FOR GOD!” Jesus said they were (and are) steeped in “iniquity” – they were (and are) SINNERS and not children of God.  Again, this is a truth that we need to hear, learn, and obey!  “Doing works for Jesus Christ” or “working for Jesus” are terms that lead one along the path of the devil’s deception and these are the poor souls that Jesus referred to in Matthew 7:21-23.  We  MUST  SUBMIT to The Lordship of Jesus Christ in our lives and then we allow Jesus Christ to  DIRECT  The Father’s Will and Work in us and through us BY  THE  POWER  OF  THE  HOLY  SPIRIT  WORKING  IN  US  AND  THROUGH  US!  This is God’s WAY!  Man’s way won’t work for us.  Man’s way leads to destruction!

     Note that Jesus said “MANY” are in this category!  That means that the devil succeeds in deceiving MANY into thinking they are on the “right track” when they are not truly “Surrendered” to God and are not truly “Surrendered” to The Lordship of Jesus Christ – AND  THEY  ARE  NOT  SAVED  INDIVIDUALS!  Instead, these are “pretenders to the faith,” they are merely “church members” who are “playing church,” “playing at ‘Christianity.’”  Sadly, Jesus will say to them, “Depart from Me, I never knew you.”

     It is alarming (and cause for great concern) that Jesus used the term “few” when He referred to those who had found “The Narrow Way” (Jesus Himself) that leads to Salvation and He used the term “many” who were on “the broad way” that leads to hell. In addition, Jesus used the term “many” when He referred to those who were deceived into thinking that they were doing great works for God when in fact, they were in “iniquity” – “SIN.”  It is the devil’s work to deceive as many as possible into “doing their own thing” and calling it “working for God.”  It is our natural human nature to do everything “our way.”  The “old man” must be crucified daily and we must allow Jesus Christ to truly be Lord in us and allow The Holy Spirit to lead us!  It is The New Creation in Christ that submits to God – submits to The Lordship of Jesus Christ, and allows Him to direct in us and through us Our Father’s Will, His Work, and His Way!  The result is fantastic!

     God’s Word states in Ephesians 2:10 “For we are His  workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that  we  would  walk in them.”   Yes, God’s Purpose for us is to “do good works.” In fact, we are created by God to do good works.  However, these are “Works” prepared beforehand by God Himself and it is Jesus Christ (as Lord) who is directing the WORKS  OF  GOD  IN  US  AND  THROUGH  US  BY  THE  PRESENCE  AND  POWER  OF  THE HOLY SPIRIT!  Let’s remind ourselves once again that Jesus Christ “Directs” God Our Father’s Will and Work within us and through us, and The Holy Spirit “implements” (or “manifests) God Will and Word in us and through us.  We “surrender” to The Lordship of Jesus Christ in our lives and we surrender to the leading of the Holy Spirit.  We “supply” the “hands,” the “feet,” the “voice,” the “physical body” to do “God’s Work.”  Let’s remember too, that our Bible states that our own “works” done in our own “thinking” and “effort” are “as “filthy rags” in God’s Sight!

     I need to point out here that submission to the Lordship of Jesus Christ is not just a “one-time event.”  God made us with the inherent ability to think, to reason, and to decide for ourselves.  I believe that it is a good practice for us to put on God’s armor (as explained in Ephesians 6:10-18) every morning and ask Jesus Christ to be Lord of our lives for the new day.  It may also be necessary to “vacate” the throne of our lives and invite Jesus to sit on that throne several times every day.  It is all too easy for us to face a particular situation and suddenly take the attitude, “I’ll handle this myself.”  In so doing we dethrone Jesus Christ and take over the throne of our lives ourselves.  The result is always a disaster.  When we suddenly recognize that we are trying to “run our own lives” we need to pause, confess our sin of selfishness, get off the throne of our lives, ask Jesus to sit on the throne of our lives, and “take over” once again!  JESUS  CHRIST  “DIRECTS” – WE  “DO” –  BY  THE  POWER  OF  THE  HOLY  SPIRIT WORKING  IN  US  AND  THROUGH  US  –  NEVER  IN  OUR  OWN  STRENGTH!

3. TODAY  I  WILL  SUBMIT  TO  THE  LEADING  OF  THE  HOLY  SPIRIT  IN  MY  LIFE.  .  .

     We are commanded to be “filled” by The Holy Spirit.  As we read in Ephesians 5:18, “And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit.”  The Greek presents this “command” in this way, “we are to be in a state (or condition) of continually being filled with The Holy Spirit.  The “filling” of and by The Holy Spirit is a continuing process that is intended by God to never cease!  It is like a fresh body of water that has a continuous stream of refreshing, clean water running into it and running out of it to “feed” others.  At Pentecost The Holy Spirit came to permanently indwell the Church – The Body of the Lord Jesus Christ composed of all “TRUE BELIEVERS.”  In Acts 2:1-4 we read, “When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place.  (2) And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.  (3) And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them.  (4) And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance.”  Since Pentecost The Holy Spirit comes to make His “Home” in every believer at the “moment” of our “New Birth” in Jesus Christ.  From that time through today, every believer is filled with The Holy Spirit AT  THE  MOMENT  WE  TRUST  IN,  BELIEVE  IN, AND ACCEPT Jesus Christ into our life as Savior and Lord.  At this moment of “Our New Birth” Jesus Christ Himself “Baptizes us in The Holy Spirit and with Fire.”  John The Baptist pointed this out in Matthew 3:11 where he said, "As for me, I baptize you with water for repentance, but He who is coming after me(Jesus Christ) is mightier than I, and I am not fit to remove His sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.”  Notice that it is Jesus Himself that baptizes us in The Holy Spirit (and with Fire).  Jesus Himself baptizes us into His Church – into His Body of which He is The Head!  At the moment of our conversion Jesus Christ comes to live in us and  be “Our Savior and Lord.”

     Let’s note that a Major Eternal Role of The Holy Spirit is to “SEAL” us to insure our “Salvation” for all Eternity.  Our Bible states that God Our Father places this “SEAL” (The Holy Spirit) on us at the time of our “New Birth” into His Family.  In 2 Corinthians 1:21-22 we read “Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and anointed us is God,  (22) who also sealed us and gave us The Spirit (The Holy Spirit) in our hearts as a pledge.”  In Ephesians 1:13-14 we read, “In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation — having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, (14) who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God's own possession, to the praise of His glory.” And in Ephesians 4:30 we read, “ Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.” God Our Father’s “SEAL” upon our lives (The Holy Spirit) gives us absolute security in our salvation since NOTHING  CAN BREAK  THIS SEAL – THE  SEAL  OF  THE  HOLY  SPIRIT  ON  (AND  IN)  OUR  LIVES!  

     This subject – The Security of The Believer, is another subject.  But, let us note here that in John 10:28-29 Jesus states, “I give eternal life to them (believers in Christ), and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand.”   Jesus continues to give assurance of our security in verse (29) where we read, “My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand.”  Jesus Christ The Son and God Our Father hold onto us securely!  I have heard so many times “the admonition” that “we must hold onto God as tightly as we can” so we don’t “fall out of our salvation.”  This is so incorrect as to be laughable except for the fact that those who believe it are in such sad shape.  THE   FACT  IS,  GOD  THE SON HOLDS  ONTO  US  AND  GOD  THE  FATHER  HOLDS  ONTO  US  AND  WE  ARE  GIVEN  THE ASSURANCE THAT  NOTHING  CAN  TAKE  US  OUT  OF  THEIR  HANDS!  We can rest “IN  HIM.”  He does “The Holding On.”  As our Heavenly Father, God holds onto us as His Child!  Praise God!  He is ALMIGHTY – NOTHING  CAN TAKE  US  OUT  OF HIS  HAND – NOTHING  CAN  SEPARATE  US  FROM  HIS  LOVE!   HE  HOLDS  US SECURELY!   PRAISE  GOD!!

     Further evidence of “Our Security” is given in Romans 8:35, 38-39 where we read these words of assurance, “Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? (38) For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, (39) nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”  Dear one, NOTHING  CAN  SEPARATE  US  FROM  THE  LOVE  OF  GOD  IN  CHRIST  JESUS OUR LORD!  “NOTHING REALLY  DOES  MEAN  “NOTHING!”  Jesus gave us this assurance when He said in Matthew 11:28-30, "Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.  (29) "Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU  WILL  FIND  REST  FOR  YOUR  SOULS.  (30) "For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." Isn’t that enough assurance for us??!!   Surely it is!!

     O.K.  Let’s get back to our subject of “SURRENDER.”  As Children of God –  AS  “Christians,” we must SURRENDER  to the LEADING  OF  THE  HOLY  SPIRIT in our daily lives.  He leads us in doing the Works of The Father that Jesus Christ “directs” in us and through us.  Yes, we are to be led by The Holy Spirit!   Romans, chapter 8 sates that if we are led by The Holy Spirit, then we will do the “things of the Spirit.”  And, if we are led by the flesh, we will do the “things of the flesh.”  It becomes clear that there are two very apposing directions we can choose, the Way of God or the way of the devil.  We are warned not to follow the way of the world (the way of the devil) in 1 John 2:15-16 where we read, “Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.  (16) For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.”  We are a “New Creation in Christ Jesus” and we need to live the person we are – the “Person” of a “New Creation” in Jesus Christ Our Lord with  HIM  AS  LORD  OF  OUR LIVES!  

     The Holy Spirit seals us, leads us, feeds us on The Word of God, and prays for us!  In addition, He produces His “Fruit” within us as we submit to The Lordship of Christ and The Leading of The Holy Spirit in our daily lives.  This “fruit” is stated in Galatians 5:22-23 as  LOVE,  JOY,  PEACE,  GOODNESS,  GENTLENESS,  KINDNESS,   FAITHFULNESS,  PATIENCE,  and SELF-CONTROL!   This “Fruit” of The Holy Spirit is “The Living Water” Jesus referred to in John 7:37-39 when He said, “Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying,  ‘If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink.  (38) ‘He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, 'From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.' But this He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive; for the Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.”  This “Fruit of The Spirit” borne on the “Branches” is also what Jesus referred to in John 15:1-6 where we read, “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.  (2) "Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit.  (3) " You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.  (4) " Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me.  (5) "I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.  (6) "If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned.”   Note, that Jesus points out the critical need for us, as “Branches” is to “Abide in Him.”  We can also state this need as “Allowing” Jesus Christ to be our “LORD” daily and allowing “The Holy Spirit” to “LEAD” us daily, in order for us to “BEAR MUCH  FRUIT”  and  FOR  “OUR  FRUIT  TO  REMAIN!”

     As “The Very Power of God” The Holy Spirit is “THE  ACTIVATER’ of The Will of  God on this earth.  He is here to “activate” (or to “manifest”) The Will and Purpose of God Our Father.   Nothing happens except by the “ACTIVATING POWER” of The Holy Spirit.   God’s Angel stated in Zechariah 4:6, “Then he said to me, "This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel saying, 'Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,' says the LORD of hosts.”  It is The Role of The Holy Spirit to “IMPLEMENT” GOD’S PURPOSE  AND  HIS  WILL  ON  THE  EARTH  and within us – to Activate (or “MANIFEST”) God’s  Will and Purpose in our lives and through our lives.

     Jesus shares many of The Roles that The Holy Spirit fills in our lives in John 16:5-15 "But now I am going to Him who sent Me; and none of you asks Me, ' Where are You going?' (6) "But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. (7) "But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you. "And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment.” Two major roles that the Holy Spirit plays in our lives are revealed in these verses, to “convict us of our sin” and to be “our Helper – “our comforter.” Additional roles are revealed in John 16:13-15, "But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come.

(14)  "He will glorify Me, for He will take of Mine and will disclose it to you.  (15) "All things that the Father has are Mine; therefore I said that He takes of Mine and will disclose it to you.”  These additional roles The Holy Spirit plays in our lives are to “guide us into all the truth,” to “act on The Father’s Initative, not His Own,” He “tells us what He Hears from Jesus Christ Who “relays” What He Hears from God The Father,” He will “disclose to us what is to come,” He will “Glorify Jesus Christ,” and He “takes from Jesus Christ and gives it to us – discloses it to us.”  Remember, that Jesus stated that He came expressly do “DO  THE  WILL  OF  HIS FATHER!

     As does Jesus Christ, The Holy Spirit intercedes for us with God The Father.  The Role of The Holy Spirit in praying for us is revealed in Romans 8:27 where we read, “and He (God Our Father) who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit (The Holy Spirit) is, because He (The Holy Spirit) intercedes for the saints according to the Will of God.”  Notice that The Holy Spirit prays for us “according to The Will of God The Father.”

     Note that the Principal Function of The Holy Spirit within us and to us is to reveal  Jesus Christ to us and to perform The Work of Jesus within us and through us!  And, let’s remember that The Principal Function of Jesus was (and is) to reveal God The Father – His Will, and “PERFORM” His Work in us and through us!   The Holy Spirit “Activates – Manifests - Performs” The Will and Work of God within us and through us!  As Our “Lord” Jesus “Directs” the Will of The Father in us and through us and The Holy Spirit “Implements” that same “Will” in us and through us!

We should take note that the Holy Spirit never seeks to “glorify” Himself.  His role is to “REVEAL  JESUS  CHRIST,”  just as the role of Jesus Christ was (and is) to reveal GOD  THE  FATHER and “DO” THE  FATHER’S  WORKS!

4. TODAY  I  WILL  RECOGNIZE  GOD’S  PURPOSE AND WORK  IN  ME . . .   

     It is so critical for us to live the life God desires for us to live as His Children.  He desires the very best for us!  For this to be done in us and through us, we must be totally surrendered to GOD’S  WILL  AND  WAY in our lives.  We must be totally surrendered to THE  LORDSHIP  OF  JESUS  CHRIST  IN  OUR  LIVES.   And, we must be totally surrendered to THE  LEADING  AND WORKING  OF  THE  HOLY  SPIRIT  IN  US  AND  THROUGH  US.  The key is “SURRENDER.”

 

     God’s Purpose for us is to work in us and on us to  CONFORM  US  TO  THE  VERY IMAGE  OF  JESUS  CHRIST.  In short, God’s Purpose is to make us just like Christ – PERFECT  IN  EVERY  WAY!  This is His first Goal – to perfect us – TO MAKE   US   LIKE   JESUS!  We need to understand that this is HIS  WORK,  NOT  OURS.   WE  SURRENDER  TO  HIM AND  HE  WORKS  HIS  WILL  AND  PURPOSE  IN  US.    Whenever we try to do any of this “improvement work” ourselves we are sure to only mess things up and hinder God’s Work in us and on us!  Again, OUR  WORK  IS  TO  BELIEVE LEADING TO  SURRENDER  TO  HIM!   The rest of it – all of it – IS  HIS  WORK – TO  THE  GLORY  OF  GOD  OUR FATHER,  TO THE  EXALTING  OF  THE  NAME  OF  JESUS  CHRIST,  AND  TO  OUR  ETERNAL  GOOD! PRAISE  GOD!!!

 

     This is such an amazing truth of God’s Word – that HE is working on us and in us to finally CONFORM  US  TO  THE  VERY IMAGE  OF  JESUS  CHRIST.  This “TRUTH” is revealed in several New Testament passages such Philippians 3:20-21 where we read, “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; (21) who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself.”  In 2 Corinthians 3:17-18 we read, “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. (18) But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.” This means that when God is finished with His Work on us and in us, WE WILL  BE PERFECT  IN  EVERY  WAY!  We will know fully as we are fully known by God today!  We will have Perfect Bodies – we will live in a Perfect Place – we will live in that Perfect Place where all will be Perfect.  All will be Perfect Peace! There will be no evil in that Perfect Place – it is called “HEAVEN.”  Yes, God is “fitting” us for that Perfect Place, Heaven!  It is The Truth of God that we seem to have difficulty in fully comprehending.  It seems “to good to be true” – something of a “fairy tale.”  But, my friend, God does not deal in fairy tales.  He deals in Truth and He can be fully trusted.  He doesn’t lie and every promise He has made, we can completely rely on being TRUE  AND,  HE  WILL  MAKE  IT COME  TO  PASS!   GOD  IS  FAITHFUL!! PRAISE  GOD!!             

 5. TODAY  I  WILL  RECOGNIZE  GOD’S  PURPOSE  AND  WORK  THROUGH   ME .  .  .      

     God not only has a lot of Work to do in you and me but He wants to do a lot of Work through you and me as well.  The Bible makes it clear “that we are created by God unto Good Works.”  In Ephesians 2:10, we read these Words, “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.”  This is God’s Desire and Purpose for us!  Also in 1 Timothy 6:18-19, we read, “Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, (19) storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is life indeed.”  In Philippians 2:13 we read, “For it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.”  Here, we need to be careful to note that the “Good Works” to which the Apostle Paul was referring are those Works that we allow Jesus Christ to do in us and through us.  (We need to always remember that our own human works (done in our own strength) are as “filthy rags” in the sight of God.)

 

     Let’s remember that we do have a very important “work” to do that is our own work.  This “work” is to believe.”  In John 6:28-29, Jesus answered a very important question put to Him from the crowd of listeners, “Therefore they said to Him, ‘What shall we do, so that we may work the works of God?’  (29) Jesus answered and said to them, ‘This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.’"  Our “Work,” that must be done by us, is to believe in Jesus Christ!  From this point forward we continue to “believe” – to “trust” in God Our Father, Jesus Christ Our Savior and Lord, and God The Holy Spirit.  We live “in Faith” –  WE LIVE  “by Faith – WE  LIVE  BY  “TRUSTING  IN  GOD!   And, we “live our lives” in “submission” to the LORDSHIP of Jesus Christ and The LEADING  of  God The Holy Spirit.

     In Ephesians 3:10 we have one of the most astonishing statements in all of God’s Word.  Here, God makes it clear that His Purpose in this “New Testament” time – this “New Testament Covenant Era,” is to Work His Will and His Purpose through all of us who are truly a part of The Body of Christ.  In Ephesians 3:10 we read, “So that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the church to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places.”  This is an amazing scripture and needs to be read in the context of verses 1-12 to fully comprehend the meaning and context of this verse.  (I will note these verses below.)   Here, God reveals through the Apostle Paul His Plan and Purpose – His way of Working through His Church in This “Church Age” or this “New Testament Era” in which we live today.

     Let me point out that this in no way LIMITS  GOD  so that He cannot work in other ways.  God simply lets us know here that His Plan in this “Church Age” in which we currently live is to primarily  WORK  THROUGH  HIS  CHURCH -  THAT’S  US!  In times past God Worked directly with individuals, such as with Noah, Moses, and Abraham.  Then He worked through Judges such as Joshua, Gideon, and Samuel.  The He worked through Prophets such as Samuel, Elijah, and Elisha.  Then, after an “inter testament period” of “Silence” for 400 years, He worked through His Son, Jesus Christ!  With His “Sacrificial Death” on The Cross of Calvary, Jesus Christ then brought in the “New Testament Era” –  “The Church Age” – The “Age of The Holy Spirit” – The “Age” in which we currently live.  Today, God has Chosen to do “HIS WORK” primarily through The Power of The Holy Spirit working in us and through us!  This of course, means that Jesus Christ as LORD of  OUR  LIVES,  DIRECTS  GOD’S  WILL AND  HIS  WORK IN  US  AND  THROUGH  US!!  AND,  GOD’S  WILL  AND  HIS  WORK  IS  DONE  IN  US  AND THROUGH  US  BY THE  POWER  (and  LEADING)  OF  THE  HOLY  SPIRIT  LIVING  IN  US!

6. TODAY  I  WILL  FIND  TIME  TO  PRAY – TO  MEET  WITH GOD – TO  THANK  HIM – TO  WORSHIP  HIM  AND  TO  PRAISE  HIM .  .  .

     Praying for the Christian should be as natural as breathing.  We are told in God’s Word to “pray without ceasing” and to “pray always.”  Praying is “conversing” with God Who indwells us!  God is always with us and within us.  In John 14:23 we read, Jesus answered and said to him, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him.”  Here Jesus tells us that He, The Father, and the Holy Spirit come to indwell us and that they will make there abode in us and with us permanently.  

     We need to “get hold of the truth” that God is ALWAYS WITH  US  AND  WILL  NEVER  LEAVE  US.  Wherever we are God is there with us.  Psalm 139 does such a wonderful job of telling us this truth.  Let’s look at Psalms 139:1-10  (1) “O LORD, You have searched me and known me.   (2) You know when I sit down and when I rise up; You understand my thought from afar. (3) You scrutinize my path and my lying down, And are intimately acquainted with all my ways.  (4) Even before there is a word on my tongue, Behold, O LORD, You know it all.  (5) You have enclosed me behind and before, And laid Your hand upon me.  (6) Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; It is too high, I cannot attain to it. (7) Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence?  (8) If I ascend to heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, You are there.  (9) If I take the wings of the dawn, If I dwell in the remotest part of the sea, (10) Even there Your hand will lead me, And Your right hand will lay hold of me.”   Psalm 139 does a wonderful job of telling us this truth of GOD’S  EVER  ABIDING  PRESENCE!  Even though we may be unable to “feel” God’s Presence or “see” His “Form,” we need to recognize the Truth of God’s Word – He has promised never to leave us or forsake us!  Jesus emphasizes this truth when in Matthew 28:18-20 we read, “And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. (19) " Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, (20) teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."  Either Jesus was stating the Truth or He was lying.  I prefer to believe Him – HE  IS TRUTH!  Remember, Jesus said in John 14:6, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.” This truth we accept by faith and we need to learn to practice His constant Presence in our daily living.  Yes, His Presence becomes as natural to us as “breathing” when we are in the “Right Relationship” with Him, and He is always with us – He never leaves us – even for an instant!  Once we finally realize the full importance of this “Truth, we can rest in His Promises  –  WE  CAN REST  IN HIM!!

     Prayer is so much more than simply making our “requests” of God.  It includes Adoration of God, giving our Worship to God, giving Him our Praise, giving Him our Thanks, and BLESSING  HIM!  It is also “Resting” in Him – Enjoying Him – Basking in His Presence – Receiving His Blessings – His Favor – His Grace – HIS  Mercy – and His Great and Marvelous Love – IN  OTHER WORDS,  BY  RECEIVING  HIM!  Prayer is being constantly in “The Presence of God” and enjoying it!  It is “Communicating with Him at all levels and in all ways!  Our “requests” for “things” are almost an “afterthought.”  And, our requests always need to be accompanied with our thanksgiving to GOD!  In Philippians 4:4-8 we read, “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! (5) Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near.  (6) Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.  (7) And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.  (8) Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.”  This is such a beautiful Scripture full of God’s Promises to us as His Children.  Note in verse 6 we have the reminder to be sure that our “requests” are “accompanied by OUR  “THANKSGIVING.”  OUR  EXPRESSION  OF THANKSGIVING PLEASES  AND  BLESSES  GOD!!

     In our PRAYING (“Communicating” with God), we need to come to the position  (to hold the attitude) that what we can  GIVE GOD  is more important to us than what we receive from Him!  So many “Christians” speak, however flippantly, about coming to church to “get their blessing!”  This is a very “improper attitude” and reveals the lack of spiritual maturity of the person!   God intends for us to “GROW” into the attitude of “Desiring to Be a Blessing,” first to GOD, and then to others in The Body of Christ. My purpose here is not to go into the various ways we can be a blessing to God.  Suffice it to say that we can Bless Him with our Presence, our Worship, our Praise, and our Thanksgiving – in short – our LOVE!  All of this is a form of “PRAYER.”  As the Apostle Paul stated in Philippians 3:13-14, “Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it (The Prize of “Knowing” Jesus Christ) yet; but one thing I do:  forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, 14  I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”  We see this “Goal” of our lives sated again in Hebrews 12:1-2 where we read, “Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”  Have you progressed in your growth (maturity) as a Child of God to the point where you can genuinely say, “the Priority of my life is to “KNOW  JESUS!!”

     Yes, dear one, THE  “HIGHEST  GOAL” of our life is to make Jesus Christ  “THE  PRIORITY”  OF  OUR  LIVES!   As Jesus Himself stated in Matthew 6:31-33, "Do not worry then, saying, 'What will we eat?' or 'What will we drink?' or 'What will we wear for clothing?'  (32) "For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. (33) "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”  Could Jesus have made what is to be “THE  PRIORITY”  OF  OUR  LIVES  ANY  CLEARER?  Oh, how slow we are to understand and apply this “TRUTH” in our lives!!  Jesus emphasized this TRUTH once again in Matthew 6:19-20 where He said, "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.  (20) "But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal.”  Jesus added in Matthew 6:21, “for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”  Yes, Jesus makes it very clear that  THE  PRIORITY  OF  OUR  LIVES  IS  TO  BE “SEEKING HIM”  AND  TO   “KNOW  HIM”  ABOVE  ALL  ELSE!!

 7. TODAY  I  WILL  LOVE  AND  RESPECT  GOD’S  CREATION .  .  .

     All creation is of God!  It all belongs to Him!  That includes you and me and everything we may “call our own.”  Psalm 24 states, “The earth is the LORD'S, and all it contains, the world, and those who dwell in it.  (2) For He has founded it upon the seas And established it upon the rivers.”  And in Psalms 89:11 we read, “The heavens are Yours, the earth also is Yours; The world and all it contains, You have founded them.”  Yes, dear one,  EVERYTHING  BELONGS  TO  GOD!

     Genesis records the creation of the earth, the heavens, the sun, the moon, and the stars.  Then God said, “Let us make man in Our Image.”  A conversation between the Father, the Son, and The Holy Spirit is recorded for us in the creation of mankind.  In The Colossians we are given a look at the role Jesus Christ played in Creation.   Colossians 1:16 states “ For by Him (by Jesus Christ) all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities — all things have been created through Him and for Him.  Notice that ALL  THINGS  WERE  CREATED  THROUGH CHRIST and ALL  THINGS  WERE  CREATED  FOR  CHRIST!   Again, we see God’s Method of Implementing of all things. All things originate in (and from) God Our Father, All things are then “PLACED” by Our Father IN  JESUS  CHRIST  THE  SON, they then “Come” through Him to The Holy Spirit to be “Implemented” (“Manifested,” “Brought into Being”)  by  THE  HOLY SPIRIT!

     This “Ownership” of God extends to us as well.  The Apostle Paul states in 1 Corinthians 1:19-20 that we are “not your own” but we have been “bought” with a “Price.”  This “Price” is the “Blood and Life” of Jesus Christ when He paid  FOR  ALL  SIN – FOR ALL  MANKIND – FOR  ALL  TIME – BY  HIS  DEATH  upon the Cross of Calvary!  Praise GOD!   Dear friend, you and I were created through Christ Jesus and we were created for HIM!   We are not our own – we belong to Christ Jesus – LORD OF LORDS  AND  KING  OF  KINGS – HE  PURCHASED  US  BY  THE  PRICE  HE  PAID  ON  THE  CROSS!

     YES!  All of our sins have already been paid for by Jesus Christ at Calvary!  Oh, how we need to “get hold” of this amazing truth!  It seems to me that many “Christians” know this truth in their head but have NOT absorbed it into the depths of their heart.  It has not reached to the “Depth of the SOUL  and  SPIRIT.  Dear friend, as True Children of God – as True Believers in Jesus Christ – as Saved Souls having been washed in the Blood of the Lamb, the eternal punishment for all of our sins was borne by Jesus Christ at Calvary!  We do not have to bear them – we will never have to bear them – Jesus Christ has already paid for all of them!  For this reason the Apostle Paul could state in Romans 8:1, “There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”  We are NOT under condemnation – we are under GRACE!    WHEN  WE  CONFESS  OUR  SINS  TO  GOD,  WE  ARE FORGIVEN, CLEANSED,  AND   SANCTIFIED – FOREVER!!   Actually, according to 1 Peter 2:9-10 we are “Special” in God’s Eyes!  In 1 Peter 2:9-10 we read, “But you are A  CHOSEN  RACE,  A royal  PRIESTHOOD,  A  HOLY  NATION,  A PEOPLE  FOR God's  OWN  POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; (10) for you once were NOT A PEOPLE, but now you are THE  PEOPLE  OF  GOD; you had NOT  RECEIVED MERCY, but now you have RECEIVED  MERCY.”  God has declared us “HIS  CHILD,”  “CHOSEN,” “HOLY,” “RIGHTEOUS,”  “CLEANSED,” and HE  HAS  MADE  US  CITIZENS  OF  HEAVEN!   HALLEUJAH!!! PRAISE  GOD FOR  HIS  GREAT  AND  EVERLASTING  LOVE!!!

     In 1 John 1:9 we read, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”  God is FAITHFUL and He is JUST (or JUSTIFIED) in forgiving us of our sin because Jesus Christ has already paid for all sin, for all mankind, for all time.  Notice that this verse concludes that we are “cleansed of ALL unrighteousness.”  The devil and his demons will constantly “accuse us” and try to place us “under condemnation” but, this is not for us and we must not accept this from the devil or his demons.  Instead, we reject this “untruth” and us the “Sword of the Spirit” – God’s Word, to place the devil and his demons in their rightful place – UNDER  OUR  FEET!    LET’S   REMEMBER  THAT  WE  ARE  “MORE HAN CONQUERORS”  THROUGH  JESUS  CHRIST  WHO  LOVES  US  AND   GAVE  HIMSELF  FOR  US! PRAISE GOD!

     Allow me to digress for a moment to point out an error that is all too often sated about  GOD  CLEANSING  US  OF  ALL SIN. It is important to note that  THE  BLOOD  OF  JESUS  CHRIST  CLEANSES  US  OF  ALL  SIN!   Yes, the Word is “CLEANSED,” not “COVERED.”  To speak of The Blood of Jesus Christ as “covering” our sin is very incorrect and actually very insulting to Jesus Christ Himself!  To use this terminology of our being “covered” by “The Blood of Jesus” is to put  HIS  PERFECT SACRIFICE  ON  THE  SAME  LEVEL  AS  THE  SACRIFICE  OF  SHEEP  AND  GOATS.   HIS  SACRIFICE  WAS VASTLY  SUPERIOR  TO  THE  SACRIFICE  OF  ANIMALS.   HIS  “PERFECT   SACRIFICE”  PAID  FOR  ALL  SIN, FOR  ALL  MANKIND,  FOR  ALL  TIME!   HIS  SACRIFICE  DID  NOT  “JUST  COVER  SIN” – HIS  SACRIFICE “PAID  FOR  ALL SIN”  SO  THAT  HIS  BLOOD  CLEANSES  US  OF  ALL  SIN!   THAT  MEANS  THAT  OUR  SIN IS “CLEANSED”  AND  IS  “FOREVER  GONE!!!”  PRAISE  GOD!!

8. TODAY  I  WILL  GROW  SPIRITUALLY  BY  READING  AND  STUDYING  GOD’S  WORD  .   .   .

     I will spend more time in prayer today.  I will read my Bible more, I will find a quiet place (at some point during this day) and listen to God's voice.  Yes, God speaks to those who are willing to hear Him – He still “speaks” today.  Remember, God does not change. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever!  However, we need to also remember that God has already spoken to us through His Word – His Holy Inspired WORD  –  THE  BIBLE!  As we read it we need to keep that fact in mind and let God speak to us fresh and new through His Written Word as we read it and meditate on it.  Remember, The Holy Spirit will “Guide us” and “Teach us” as we allow Him to lead us!

     We all start out in our Christian Life as “spiritual newborn babies.”  However, we are not to stay there.  God intends for us to “Grow Up” – to “Mature” in Christ.  In order for “our spirit” to grow – in order for us to “grow spiritually” we must feed on God’s Word.  Remember that Jesus spoke these Words to the devil in Matthew 4:4, "It is written, 'MAN  SHALL NOT  LIVE  ON BREAD  ALONE,  BUT  ON  EVERY  WORD  THAT  PROCEEDS OUT  OF  THE  MOUTH  OF  GOD."   Here Jesus was quoting scripture from Deuteronomy 8:3 where we read, "He humbled you and let you be hungry, and fed you with manna which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that He might make you understand that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by everything that proceeds out of the mouth of the LORD.” I am very concerned many Christians may be very malnourished and weak spiritually.  We recognize that we must eat food regularly in order to grow, stay healthy, and be strong in our bodies.  In the same way, we must eat regularly of the “spiritual food” that God provides in order to grow, mature, stay healthy, and be strong “soldiers in God’s army.”  In Romans 8:37 we read, “But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.” God provides all we need for us to be “Overwhelming Conquerors” in our Christian Life!!

9. TODAY  I  WILL  NURTURE  MY  BODY – THE  TEMPLE  OF  GOD. . .

     I will eat less . . . I will eat healthy foods .  .  . I will exercise .  .  . I will rest in The Lord.   I will thank God for my body and appreciate it as “HIS  CREATION.”  I will exercise my body and my mind.  Let’s remember, the  SECOND COMMANDMENT of Jesus states, ”We are to love our neighbor AS  WE  LOVE  OURSELVES.”  I will treat my body with respect.  I will recognize that my body “belongs to God.”  As The Apostle Paul stated in 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? (20) For you have been bought with a price : therefore glorify God in your body.”  I will recognize that God Our Father, God The Son, and God The Holy Spirit live within me – that I am constantly in GOD’S PRESENCE.   HE  (THE  TRINITY)  WILL  NEVER  LEAVE  ME  NOR FORSAKE ME!

     At the same time I will remember the admonition of Romans 12:3-5, “For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith.  (4) For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function,  (5) so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.”  With this in mind, I will endeavor to “think” with “sound judgment” and have a “proper view” of myself.  I will realize that my worth is in Christ Jesus My Lord and not in “things.”

I am not advocating that we “worship” or “idolize” the human body.  We must realize that our human body does not belong to us.  As the Apostle Paul stated in

     1 Corinthians 6:19-20 where we read, “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?  (20) For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.” Yes, we have been purchased by the price Jesus Christ paid for us on The Cross of Calvary.  We belong to GOD – body, soul, and spirit.  Everything belongs to GOD!

     For us to “Think Properly” about ourselves it is absolutely imperative that we “crucify” our “PRIDE.”  PRIDE is the “ROOT” of all sin.  It gives rise to all other sins in our lives!  Note that it was the “sin of pride” that was found in “Lucifer” that “brought him down.” In Isaiah 14:11-20 we read these Words about the devil, “Your pomp and the music of your harps Have been brought down to Sheol; Maggots are spread out as your bed beneath you And worms are your covering.' (12)  "How you have fallen from heaven, O star of the morning, son of the dawn! You have been cut down to the earth, You who have weakened the nations!  (13) "But you said in your heart, 'I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God, And I will sit on the mount of assembly In the recesses of the north.  (14) 'I will ascend above the heights of the clouds;  I will make myself like the Most High.'” Verses 13 and 14 contain the five “I wills” of Lucifer.  These five “I wills” show the “Pride” of Lucifer in “full bloom.” Verse 12 contains the statement, “How you have fallen from Heaven, O star of the morning, son of dawn.” The sin of “PRIDE” was (and is) the devil’s “downfall.” Since we “inherit” the “Fallen Nature” of our ancestor Adam, we “inherit” the nature OF  SIN  And we inherit the nature TO SIN!

 

     Yes, biologically speaking, we inherit the “SINFUL  NATURE” of Adam.  However, when we are “BORN  AGAIN” – MADE  A   “NEW  CREATION”  IN  JESUS  CHRIST,  God gives us a “NEW  NATURE.”  We can now choose to allow our “New Nature” to lead us and guide us.  We can now choose to allow Jesus Christ to be LORD of our lives and allow The Holy Spirit to operate in us and through us – to LEAD  US!   When we do this, we crucify “PRIDE” and all sin in our lives and we “HUMBLE” ourselves “under The Mighty Hand of God.”  When we humble ourselves, we place ourselves in a position where God can exalt us!

10.  TODAY  I  WILL  HAVE  A  HEALTHLY  LOVE  OF (AND FOR) MYSELF.

     So often I have heard the admonition, “GOD,  OTHERS, AND  SELF” in that order!  A  CLOSE  INSPECTION  OF  WHAT JESUS  SAID  IN  THE  SECOND  COMMANDMENT      IN  MATTHEW 22:39 tells us something different.  In Matthew 22:19 we read these Words of Jesus, "The second is like it, 'YOU  SHALL LOVE  YOUR  NEIGHBOR  AS  YOURSELF.’” Jesus actually said for us to LOVE  OTHERS  “AS  WE  LOVE  OURSELVES.”  

     It is very important to recognize that this is  NOT  A  NARCISSTIC  KIND   OF  LOVE.   Instead, this is a healthily kind of Love that correctly recognizes WHO  WE  ARE  IN  CHRIST  JESUS  OUR  LORD!  It is in JESUS  CHRIST that we have our worth – ASIDE  FROM  HIM  OR  OUTSIDE  OF  HIM,  WE  HAVE  NO  WORTH!   This is the kind of Love that comes from GOD alone – THIS  IS  AGAPE   LOVE!   This is the kind of Love that we read about in 1 Corinthians 13.  This Love enables us to see others as equal to us and we as equal to them.  Remember Jesus stated,  “IN  CHRSIT  THERE  IS  NO MALE, NO FEMALE NO  BOND,  NO  FREE – NO  GENTILE  OR  GREEK.  We are all equally precious in GOD’S  EYES. PRAISE  GOD!  

 

     The problem many (if not most) of us face is to have a proper love for ourselves.  I contend that we cannot love others any more than we love ourselves.  A second problem area is that we have such a casual use of the word “love” in our culture.  We love God, we love our spouse, we love food, and we love sports.  We must go to the Greek language to differentiate the various kinds of love. Briefly, Greek gives us “EROS” which is a sexually oriented love, “Phileo” which is a brotherly kind of love or affection, and “AGAPE” which is that pure love that is only found in God and is available to us when GOD is truly in us and working HIS  WILL through us – when we permit JESUS to be OUR  LORD and THE  HOLY  SPIRIT to be our GUIDE.

     As we see in Romans 8:5-8  For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.  (6) For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, (7) because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so,  (8) and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.  NASU   When we are “LED  BY  THE  HOLY  SPIRIT,” WE WILL DO THE  THINGS  OF  THE  SPIRIT and WHEN  WE  ARE  LED  BY  OUR  FLESHLY  DESIRES,  WE WILL  DO THE THINGS  OF  THE  FLESH!

  

    ATTITUDE  TOWARD  MY  FELLOWMAN  (MY NEIGHBOR)

1.  TODAY  I  WILL  LOVE  MY  NEIGHBOR – MY  FELLOW  MAN – AS  I  LOVE  MYSELF.  .  .

     I will love with THE  LOVE  OF  JESUS  CHRIST for I will allow Him to be LORD of my life and love others through me.  This “second commandment” is given to us by Jesus in Matthew 22:39 where we read, "The second is like it, 'YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.'”  This should certainly be our goal as “Christians” – to LOVE our fellowman – our neighbor! The way to achieve this is actually very simple but, also very difficult for us to do as humans.  I  am concerned that today many are making the fatal mistake of trying to “love” others in their own human strength.  This method will always result in failure! We cannot love others, God, or ourselves, with the “Love” that God requires in our own human efforts.  We can try, try, and try again, and we will fail – again and again!  We need to face the fact that this “kind of Love” is simply not in us naturally.  This is a supernatural Love – this is a “PERFECT  LOVE” that can  BE  FOUND  IN  GOD  ALONE!

     Earlier, I stated that “the way to achieve this is actually very simple but, also very difficult for us to do as humans.”   Again, the key is for us to “surrender” to the Lordship of Jesus Christ in our lives and allow Him to Love in us and through us.  We then Love ourselves, others, and God with the Love of Christ – the Love of God, within us!  As we live daily with Jesus Christ as our Lord, He then Loves in us and through us!  Yes, it is simple – we simply surrender to the Lordship of Jesus Christ in our lives and He then does God’s Will in us and through us.

 

     The hard part of this is the “surrendering” to the Lordship of Christ continually – to live in a perpetual state of surrender of our will to His Will.  This is so against our human nature that many rebel against “giving up control” of their lives to Jesus Christ.  It is our human nature – our natural bent, to want to “do it our way.”  It is only when we realize that God is truly always “Working for our Best” – that He always “Wants the very Best for us,” that we can begin to “surrender” into “The Loving Arms of Christ” and “rest in Him.”  This is such a Blessed State for us to achieve and, we achieve it by simply “giving up” – “surrendering” to The Lordship of Jesus Christ in our lives.  He is “OUR HEAD.”  He is to make the decisions of our lives as sons and daughters of God!  HE WORKS FOR  OUR  VERY  BEST!  Remember Romans 8:28 states, “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”  Sometimes we may not be able to see God doing this.  But, He states that He does it and God CANNOT  LIE!  This is an instance where we “TRUST  GOD” to do just what He says He will do!  HE  WILL!

     John states in 1 John that we cannot love GOD and hate our brother at the same time.  We must come to realize that we cannot truly Love God without also Loving His Creation – and  YOU  AND  I  ARE  PART  OF  HIS  CREATION.  Remember, we are under the Lord’s Commandment to even “Love our enemies.”

2.  TODAY  I  WILL  TREAT  OTHERS  THE  WAY  I  WISH  TO  BE TREATED . . .

     I will practice the “Golden Rule,” "Do Unto others as I would have them do Unto me"- with EVERYONE I encounter.  In Luke 6:31 Jesus made this statement, "Treat others the same way you want them to treat you.”  In Matthew 7:12 Jesus made this statement,  "In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” In Luke 6:27 Jesus said, "But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,”  John states in 1 John, “we cannot love GOD and hate our brother at the same time.”  We must come to realize that we cannot truly Love God without also Loving His Creation – and YOU  AND  I  ARE  PART  OF  HIS  CREATION.  Remember, we are under the Lord’s Commandment to Love one another and to even “Love our enemies.”

     Humanly speaking, it is impossible to LOVE  God and LOVE Others as God commands us.  We simply do not have that capacity in us naturally.  We were born into sin – we were born sinners with the heritage of Adam.  We have to undergo a drastic change before we can LOVE as God commands.  This change comes about when we are convicted of our “sinful condition,” confess our sin, ask Jesus to be Our Savior, accept Him into our life as our Savior and Lord, and become a “New Creation” in Christ Jesus.  Jesus Christ Baptizes us in The Holy Spirit, The Holy Spirit comes to indwell us, Jesus comes in to our life as Our Lord, and we now can Love God and Love others by allowing God’s Love to flow into us, through us, and out of us!   We Love God and others with The Love of God that is now inside of us!  Now it is possible for us to obey Our Lord’s Commandments to Love God and Love others – but, not in our own strength or ability – in God’s Strength – in His LOVE!  God Provides THE WAY!

3. TODAY  I  WILL  NOT  STRIKE  BACK . . .

     Today, if someone is rude, if someone is impatient, if someone is unkind, I will not respond in a like manner.  I will allow “CHRIST IN ME” TO  TRULY  BE  MY  LORD and to LOVE  OTHERS  THROUGH  ME.  I will be submitted to the Lordship of Jesus Christ and therefore an instrument of GOD’S  LOVE!

     Let’s remember that Jesus Himself stated that He did not come into the world to do His own will.  Instead, He stated that He came to do the Will of His Father in Heaven.  When I am surrendered to The Lordship of Jesus Christ then I can be assured that HE  WILL DIRECT  THE  FATHER’S  WILL  IN  ME  AND  THROUGH  ME  AND  IT  WILL  BE  IMPLEMENTED  IN ME  AND THROUGH  ME  BY  THE  POWER  OF  THE  HOLY  SPIRIT  WHO  DWELLS  IN  ME!  Since GOD  IS LOVE, I can be assured that Jesus will LOVE others through me if and when I will allow Him to truly be LORD  OF  MY  LIFE! When I am submitted to The Leading of The Holy Spirit in me, I can be assured that The Fruit of The Holy Spirit will come forth in me “as Fruit upon a Branch.”  One of those nine fruits is “LOVE.”

     It is by THE  LORDSHIP  OF  JESUS  CHRIST within me and THE  POWER  OF  GOD,  THE  HOLY  SPIRIT working in me (and through me) that I am able to resist striking back and to truly LOVE - EVEN  MY  ENEMIES.  I allow The Love of God to FLOW in me and THROUGH me when I allow Jesus Christ to be Lord of my life and when I allow The Holy Spirit to led me!

 

4.  TODAY  I  WILL  LEAVE  REVENGE  OF  MY  ENEMIES  WITH GOD

     Oh how much our human nature desires to seek our own revenge!  How very sweet revenge seems to be as we are exercising our “so-called right” to practice it.  However, how very sour it becomes once it is exercised.  We need to face the reality of GOD’S WORD!  We are under God’s Command to refrain from practicing OUR OWN revenge.  For us to seek our own revenge is absolutely against God’s Commands.  The Bible makes it very clear that “REVENVE – VENGEANCE” BELONGS  TO  THE LORD  ALONE!  In Romans 12:19 we read, “Never take your own revenge , beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, "VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY," says the Lord.”  This is a clear and precise command, “Never take your own revenge.” In Hebrews 10:30 we read, “For we know Him who said, "VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY." This scripture makes it very clear that God reserves “revenge” or “vengeance” for Himself to perform as He sees fit!  We do not have the right as Christians to take our own revenge!  Instead, we are commanded to “Love our enemies.”

Again, it is by the  LORDSHIP  OF  JESUS  CHRIST  IN  ME and THE  POWER  OF  THE  HOLY  SPIRIT  WORKING  IN ME  (AND  THROUGH  ME) THAT  I  AM  ABLE  TO  LEAVE  REVENGE  IN  GOD’S  HANDS!

5.  TODAY  I  WILL  ASK  GOD  TO  BLESS  MY  'ENEMY'  .   .  .

    Today, if I encounter someone who treats me in a hateful or unfair manner, I will quietly ask God to bless that individual.  I understand "enemy" could be a family member, a neighbor, a co-worker or stranger.

 

     Again, it bears repeating, it is by the LORDSHIP  OF  JESUS  CHRIST  IN  ME and THE  POWER  OF  THE  HOLY  SPIRIT  WORKING  IN  ME  (AND  THROUGH ME)  THAT  ENABLES  ME  TO  “LOVE”  AND  “BLESS”  MY  ENEMIES  AND  TO  PRAY  FOR  THEM!

     In all our dealings with others we also need to remember that our battles of life are never against another human being.  As Ephesians 6:10-13 states, “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.  (11) Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.  (12) For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. (13) Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.” Notice that verse 12 states that our struggle is NOT  AGAINST  FLESH  AND  BLOOD – not against another human being. Yes, it is difficult for us to remember that we never fight against another human being.  In the “heat of the moment” we strike out in anger at others, forgetting that our real battle is against the devil and the demons of hell!  We need to internalize this truth, put on our “divine armor,” and engage in the “real battle.”  We are all “soldiers” in God’s Army.  Our battles of life are always against the devil, his demons, and his “world system!”

     Thankfully, God has given us everything we need to be more than “Overcomers” and “Overwhelming Conquerors” in battles of life (our on-going war) against the “world,” the “flesh,” and the “devil.”  We have Jesus Christ as Our Lord, we have The Holy Spirit as God’s Power within us, and we have the “Spiritual Armor” that God has provided for us!  God has made it possible for us to be victorious in all our battles of life.  Our Spiritual Armor is listed in Ephesians 6:10-18 where we read, “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.  (11) Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.  (12) For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.  (13) Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.  (14) Stand firm therefore, HAVING  GIRDED YOUR LOINS  WITH  TRUTH, and HAVING  PUT  ON  THE  BREASTPLATE  OF  RIGHTEOUSNESS,  (15) and having shod YOUR  FEET  WITH  THE  PREPARATION  OF  THE  GOSPEL  OF  PEACE;  (16) in addition to all, taking up  THE SHIELD OF  FAITH  with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.   (17) And take THE  HELMET  OF SALVATION, and the SWORD  OF  THE  SPIRIT, which is the Word of God.  (18) With all  PRAYER  AND  PETITION PRAY at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints.”  Note that there are Seven Pieces to our Armor.  (Seven is number of “Perfection” or the number of “Completion.”)  Our God always supplies the Very Best!

     These “Weapons of our warfare” are not ordinary earthly weapons.  As the Apostle Paul stated in 2 Corinthians 10:3-6, “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh,  (4) for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses.  (5) We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ,  (6) and we are ready to punish all disobedience, whenever your obedience is complete.”  These are “Divinely Powerful Weapons” provided to us by God Himself so we can be victorious in our battles.

6.  TODAY  I  WILL  BE  CAREFUL  ABOUT  WHAT  I  SAY . . .

     Today I will carefully choose and guard my words being certain that I do not spread gossip.   Remember the old saying, “sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me.”  How very wrong that saying really is.  Words have tremendous power in our lives to affect for good or evil.  With our words we can encourage and build up another person or hurt, wound, and even destroy another person.  The way we view ourselves and the “self-talk” in which we engage has great power to build or tear down our own “self image.”  Remember, the Commandment given by Jesus is “to love our neighbor  AS  WE  LOVE  OURSELVES.”  In the final analysis, we cannot love others more than we love ourselves. However, this is not a “Love for ourself” that is proud, arrogant, haughty, or boastful.  Instead, it is a “Healthy Love” that is infused with humility and an attitude of “servanthood.”  We need to have a “healthy” love of and for ourselves.  This “healthy love” for our “self” is critical to our love for God and our love for others.

     The tongue of course is like any other “instrument,” it can be used for good or evil at the choice of the “owner.” Surely one of the most commonly committed sins today by the average Christian is the sin of gossip.  As the Apostle James notes in his Letter the tongue can do much damage.  As James explains, the tongue can be a source of poison and do great harm to others, even within the Body of Christ – The Church.  In James 3:8 we read “But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison.” In James 3:6 we read “And the tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity; the tongue is set among our members as that which defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life, and is set on fire by hell.”  In James 3:5 we read “So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things.  See how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire!”  In Proverbs 26:28 we read “A lying tongue hates those it crushes, And a flattering mouth works ruin.”  Clearly God takes note of the enormous damage that an “uncontrolled tongue” and inflict!

     A “lying and uncontrolled tongue” is so abhorred by God that Proverbs tells us that God “hates” it.  In Proverbs 6:16-19 we read “There are six things which the LORD hates, Yes, seven which are an abomination to Him:  (17) Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, And hands that shed innocent blood, (18) A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that run rapidly to evil, (19) A false witness who utters lies, And one who spreads strife among brothers.” Notice that three of these items refer to an “uncontrolled tongue.”  Clearly, God considers a “lying tongue” and an “uncontrolled tongue” as very dangerous and damaging!

 

     Just as the tongue can do great damage it can also do great good!  The Bible records many references regarding the tongue being use in a “positive” manner.  Here are a few of these references.  In Psalms 37:30 we read “The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom, And his tongue speaks justice.”  In Psalm 51:15 we read “O Lord, open my lips, That my mouth may declare Your praise.”  In Psalms 71:24 we read “My tongue also will utter Your righteousness all day long;”  In Proverbs 10:20 we read “The tongue of the righteous is as choice silver.”  In Proverbs 12:18 we read “The tongue of the wise brings healing.”  In Proverbs 15:4 we read “A soothing tongue is a tree of life.”  And, in Philippians 2:11 we read “Every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”   Just as the tongue can be used as an instrument that can inflict much damage, it can also be used to build, to encourage, even to “Honor and Praise God.”                   

     Jesus pointed out that our words come out of our “heart” or “innermost being.”  In Matthew 15:18-20 Jesus said, "But the things that proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and those defile the man.  (19) "For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, slanders.  (20) "These are the things which defile the man.”  Also in Mark 7:20-23 Jesus said, "That which proceeds out of the man, that is what defiles the man.  (21) "For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed the evil thoughts, fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries, (22) deeds of coveting and wickedness, as well as deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride and foolishness. {23) "All these evil things proceed from within and defile the man."  Our words reveal our thoughts and our character.  There is also an old saying that goes like this, “Our thoughts give rise to our words – our words give rise to our behavior – our behavior gives rise to our habits – our habits give rise to our character – and our character gives rise to our destiny.” All of this is a result of the choices we make.  We are responsible for these choices for God created us with the ability to choose! Our most important choice is to make Jesus Christ our  SAVIOR  AND  OUR  LORD and allow Him to “direct” our lives in God’s Will and Way!  Our thoughts and our words will then be “building” to others and “honoring” to God!

     Again, it is by the  LORDSHIP  OF  JESUS  CHRIST  IN  ME and THE  POWER  OF  THE  HOLY  SPIRIT  WORKING IN  ME  (AND  THROUGH  ME) THAT  MY  TONGUE  IS  BROUGHT  UNDER  CONTROL.  When THE  HOLY SPIRIT IS  TRULY  LEADING  ME,  HE  IS  ABLE  TO PRODUCE  HIS  FRUIT  IN  ME  AND  IT  WILL  COME FORTH  FROM ME!   The nine Fruits of Love, Joy, Peace, Goodness, Gentleness, Kindness. Faithfulness, Patience, and Self Control will be evident for all to see.  Today, by the Power of The Holy Spirit working within me and with Jesus Christ on The Throne of my life, I “will” (decide) to speak “Truth” and words of encouragement and “building” only!

7. TODAY  I  WILL  GO  THE  EXTRA  MILE . . .

     I will find ways to help share the burden of another person.  I will go the “extra mile” as commanded by Jesus Himself in Matthew 5:41 when He said,"Whoever forces you to go one mile, go with him two.”  I will not “resist” any person who seeks to do me evil. As Jesus commanded in Matthew 5:39 when He said, "But I say to you, do not resist an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.”  I will not resist anyone who “sues” me.  As Jesus commanded in Matthew 5:40 when He said, "If anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, let him have your coat also.”  I will give to anyone I see who is in need and to anyone who asks of me.  As Jesus commanded in Matthew 5:42 when He said,  “Give to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you.”  By The Lordship of Jesus Christ within me and The Power of The Holy Spirit working through me, I will love even my enemies.  As Jesus commanded in Matthew 5:43-45 when He said, "You have heard that it was said, 'YOU SHALL  LOVE  YOUR  NEIGHBOR  and hate your enemy.'  (44) "But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,  (45) so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven.”  In response to anyone who strikes me or “offends” me, I will “turn the other cheek.”  As Jesus commanded in Matthew 5:39 when He said, ”but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.” I cannot do any of these things in the “flesh” – in my own strength.  But, I can with Jesus Christ as My Lord and in the “Power of The Holy Spirit!”

     Note the use of “I will” in all of the above statements.  I can always “choose” to “exercise” my own will in every situation I face. The key word here is “will.”  We must learn to exercise our “will” above our “feelings.”  It is common for those of the world to operate on “their feelings” rather than their will but this is not at all appropriate for the Christian.  We first exert “our will” to surrender to the Lordship of Jesus Christ and we then submit ourselves to the Leading of The Holy Spirit rather than operate on our feelings. We can always “Choose” to follow our “will” or follow our “feelings.” As “Christians,” we need to choose (by our will) to submit to The Lordship of Jesus Christ and to The Leading of The Holy Spirit in every situation we face in our daily living.  As the scripture states in Romans 8:5 “For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.”  And Galatians 5:16 states “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.”  We have the ability to choose to go it alone – by ourselves – in our own strength, or we can choose to allow Jesus Christ to truly be Lord of our lives, to direct our thoughts, and our actions.  And, we can then choose to allow The Holy Spirit to lead us and allow “His Power” to do God’s Will and Work in us and through us!  The “choice” is ours!!

8. TODAY  I  WILL  FORGIVE . . .

     I will forgive the person for any hurts or injuries that come my way.  This may very well be the most difficult thing for us to do as Christians – to forgive others, to forgive ourselves, and yes, even to forgive God.  Yet, it is of paramount importance that we FORGIVE!  Jesus made it so very clear that God’s Forgiveness of us is conditioned on our forgiving others.  In The Model Prayer Jesus gave us in Matthew 6:12 Jesus stated, “And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.”  He came back to this statement in Matthew 6:14-15, "For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. (15) "But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions. ”Notice that Jesus stated this first in a positive statement and then in a negative statement.  Clearly He wanted to emphasize this very important point.  In Matthew 18:22 Jesus told Peter that we are to just keep on forgiving – there is no limit to the number of times that we are to forgive.  We must forgive others before we can enjoy God’s Forgiveness of our own sins!

     To forgive is always our choice.  We can find many reasons to not forgive but we are commanded to forgive, as an act of our own will.  Contrary to popular belief, forgiveness does not have to be requested by the offending party before we forgive.  Nor does forgiveness have to be earned by the offending party before we forgive.  We simply forgive because we are commanded to forgive. We exercise our will and say, “I forgive you.”  If we are serious and mean what we say, The Holy Spirit within us will give us “The Power” to forgive.

     In Hebrews 12:15 we read these words, “See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled.”  I believe the “root of bitterness” develops from a condition of “unforgiveness” in the heart of a “Christian.”  Unforgiveness held for an extended time “festers” in the heart of the person and drives its roots deep into the heart and soul of the “Christian” and becomes “bitterness.”   Notice that this “root of bitterness” will “cause trouble” and “defile many.”  This “bitterness” not only hurts the one holding on to the unforgiveness but reaches out to defile many others – those closest to the “unforgiving Christian” are hurt too!  This truth is further emphasized in Ephesians 4:30-32 where we read, “Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.  (31) Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.  (32) Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.”  The “Fruits” of The Holy Spirit such as, Love, Goodness, Gentleness, and Kindness demand that we “LOVE” one another and “FORGIVE” others.

 

     We need to recognize that unforgiveness is sin and sin always separates us from God.  When we confess our unforgiveness to God, then He treats it as any other sin, He is Faithful and Justified to Forgive us and to Cleanse us of all unrighteousness.  1 John 1:9 states, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” We have NO  EXCUSE  TO  STAY  IN  OUR  SIN  OF  UNFORGIVENESS.  God stands ready, willing, able, and justified to forgive our sin of unforgiveness when we are willing to confess it to HIM!

 

9. TODAY  I  WILL  SEEK  TO  LIVE  IN  PEACE  WITH EVERYONE

     How difficult it is to “live in peace with everyone!  We live in a “fallen world.”  Yet, while we must live in a fallen world, we have to live “in the world” but we are not to be “of the world.” We read in 1 John 2:15-17, “Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.  (16) For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.  (17) The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever.”  In John 17:14-16 Jesus emphasized this truth that we are not of this world when He prayed to Our Father, "I have given them (His followers – His disciples) Your Word; and the world has hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.  (15) "I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one.  (16) "They are not of the world , even as I am not of the world.”  Remember that the “world system” is currently under the dominion of the devil and as Christians, we are “separated” – “set apart” by God Himself from this “world system.”

     Our citizenship is not really in this world but in Heaven.  In Philippians 3:20-21 we read, “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; (21) who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself.” And, in Ephesians 2:19-20 we read, “So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God's household, (20) having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone.”  Yes, dear one, we have to live in this world for now but, we are not to be of the world – we are not to love this world or the things of this world.” Consequently, we are not to “live” like those who are of the world.

     Our human nature dictates that we “have our rights” and when these “rights” are violated, we get angry – we want to strike our against the “offender” – we want to “get even.”  In Romans 12:18 we read, “If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.”  This verse of scripture recognizes that it may not always be possible to live in peace with all men.  Living in peace does depend on both parties putting forth the necessary effort to “live in peace.”  However, as Christians – as Children of God, we are under the commandment to do everything in our power to “live in peace” with all men.  And, let’s remember that as we permit The Holy Spirit to lead us, one of The Fruits that He produces in our lives is “PEACE.”

     The issue is, “are we walking in the flesh or, “are we walking in the Spirit?” When THE  HOLY  SPIRIT  IS  TRULY LEADING  US,  HE  IS  ABLE  TO  PRODUCE HIS  FRUIT  OF  PEACE  IN  US.  As noted in Romans 8:5-9, “For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.  (6) For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, (7) because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, (8) and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.  (9) However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you.”  These verses make it very clear that the result of our being “indwelt and led by The Holy Spirit” will be that He Produces the desired result in our lives.  It is clear and simple, “those who are led by The Holy Spirit do the things of the Spirit.”

Again, it is by the  LORDSHIP  OF  JESUS  CHRIST  IN  ME and THE  POWER  OF  THE  HOLY  SPIRIT  WORKING  IN ME  (AND THROUGH ME)  THAT  I AM  ABLE  TO  LIVE  IN  PEACE  WITH  ALL  MEN.

10. TODAY  I  WILL  DO  SOMETHING  KIND  FOR  SOMEONE . . .

     Today, I will reach out and bless the life of another without thought or intent to receive recognition and/or praise for myself.  I WILL ALLOW  THE  FRUIT of The Holy Spirit (KINDNESS) to be produced in me and on me and be shown through me to others.  I will allow THE  LOVE  OF  GOD  (GOD  HIMSELF)  TO  FLOW  OUT  OF  ME  TO  BLESS  OTHERS!  Yes, this is a “tall order” for us.  In fact, it is impossible for us to do if we are “living in the flesh” and trying to be “in charge” of our own lives.  To show kindness to others, to live in peace with them, to love them, and to be a blessing to them requires “Supernatural Strength.” This “Supernatural Strength” comes only by The Lordship of Jesus Christ within us and the Leading of The Holy Spirit in our lives. Remember that Kindness, Peace, and Love are “Fruits” that The Holy Spirit bears in our lives when we permit Him to lead us.

     God’s desire for us is for us to be “channels” of His Blessings first, to bless Him and then to bless others.  This is inherent in the two commandments Jesus gave us in Matthew 22:37-39, to “love God and to love our neighbor as we love ourselves.”  This principle is shown in the law of sowing and reaping.  The first part of this law is shown in Galatians 6:7 where we read, “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap.”  The second part is shown in Galatians 6:8 where we read, “Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary.”  The third part is shown in 2 Corinthians 9:6 where we read, “Now this I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.”  This principle is further explained in 2 Corinthians 9:10-11 where we read, “Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness; (11) you will be enriched in everything for all liberality, which through us is producing thanksgiving to God.”  The three parts to the law of Sowing and Reaping are (1) We reap what we sow, (2) We reap sometime after we sow, and (3) God multiplies what we sow in return to us or, “we reap more than we sow.”

     When we sow blessings in God and the lives of others we can expect blessings to be returned to us and multiplied back to us! This “Law” works no matter what we sow.  If we sow hatred, we reap more hatred.  If we sow loneliness, we reap more loneliness. If we sow sadness, we reap more sadness.  However if we so friendship, we reap more friendship.  If we sow kindness, we reap more kindness.  If we sow finances, we reap more finances.  Somehow, we tend to think about this law in reverse.  We think that we will give once we receive.  However this law works the other way – we “give” first and then we “receive!”  Jesus told us this truth in Luke 6:38 where He said, "Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure — pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return."  Note that Jesus said first “give” then we would “receive.”  Note also that He said, “THEY will pour into your lap.”  Remember, in this “Church Age” God does His Work through His Church – through you and me and all other Believers.  (See Ephesians 3:10).  When we bless others we receive blessings in return.  We do reap what we sow!

11. TODAY  I  WILL  ENCOURAGE  THOSE  I  MEET . . .

     Today I will encourage those around me!  My smile, my words, my expression of  support, can make a major difference to someone who is struggling with the  circumstances of life.   Sometimes this can be as simple as giving a smile or saying a “cheery” ‘good morning.’”  I will seek to be like Barnabas of the early church as recorded in the Book of Acts – an encourager!   In Acts 11:23 we read, “Then  when he (Barnabas) arrived and witnessed the grace of God, he rejoiced and began to encourage them all with resolute heart to remain true to the Lord.”   Barnabas had been sent to Antioch for the purpose of “encouraging” the Church there. Likewise, the Apostle Paul sent Tychicus to the Church at Colosse to encourage them.  In Colossians 4:8 we read, “For I have sent him (Tychicus) to you for this very purpose, that you may know about our circumstances and that he may encourage your hearts.”

     The New Testament commands us to encourage our brothers and sisters with the GOOD NEWS of GOD’S WORD.  In 1 Thessalonians 5:11 we read, “Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing.”  And in 1 Thessalonians 5:14 we read, “We urge you, brethren, admonish the unruly, encourage  the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone.”  In Hebrews 3:13 we read, “But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called "Today," so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.” The general admonition to encourage one another is given to help all of us in the Body of Christ – The Church, to help keep us from becoming weary and discouraged in our “Christian Walk.”

Oh, how the Body of Christ – The Church, needs “encouragers” today!

 

     To speak words of encouragement or discouragement – words of building or tearing down, this is always a choice on our part. As I choose to allow Jesus Christ to be LORD of my life – to live in me and live through me, He will actually speak “words of encouragement” and building through me.  Again, the secret “key” is for us to “SURRENDER”  TO  THE  LORDSHIP  OF JESUS CHRIST  IN  OUR  LIVES!   

 

12. TODAY  I  WILL  BE  A  BLESSING,  FIRST  TO  GOD  AND    THEN  TO  OTHERS .  .  .

     We can in some small measure be a blessing in our own strength.  However, when we surrender to The Lordship of Jesus Christ in our daily lives and allow Him to direct God’s Will and Purpose in us and through us, we then see The Supernatural Strength of God, The Holy Spirit at work in us and through us.  We are now in a position of allowing God’s Will  - (as Ephesians 3:10 states), His Magnificent WISDOM  to be  demonstrated in us and through us.  Remember, One of God’s Major Purposes during this “Church Age” in which we are now living is to demonstrate to the devil, his demons, and the “world powers” His (God’s) “MAGNIFICENT WISDOM” through His Church (and that is “in and through” you and me).  We always have the choice – to do things “our way” or submit to God’s Way – to allow Jesus Christ to truly be Lord in us and through us – and allow The Holy Spirit to Work God’s Will and Work in us and through us!

     In our human nature, we tend to seek God’s Help in doing what we determine to be “right.”  For example, we typically will ask God to strengthen us when we should be praying, “God be my Strength!”  When we ask, “God help me” or “God strengthen me,” we are in fact taking the position that we are “almost able” to do this task on our own – we just need a “little help” from God.  We keep the “focus” on ourselves.  In this “position” if we are able to accomplish something, we are likely to say, “I did it by myself!”  If pressured we may “admit” that we had a “little help” from God.  In this way, we get the glory, not God!  We did it, not God!  We therefore are ready and very willing to take the credit for it!  This is man’s way not God’s Way!  Again, allow me to state that God’s Way is for us to “Submit” – to “Surrender” to The Lordship of Jesus Christ and The Leading of The Holy Spirit in our daily lives!

When we are fully surrendered to The Lordship of Jesus Christ and The Leading of The Holy Spirit, we are then able to truly be a blessing to God and to others in THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT!

     This IS  GOD’S  WAY to “POUR   OUT  HIS  BLESSINGS”  ON  US  AND  THROUGH  US  TO BLESS OTHERS!  As Jesus said in Luke 6:38  "Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure — pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return."  Notice that Jesus says “they” will pour into your lap.”  GOD  WORKS  THROUGH  US – HIS  CHURCH,  TO  PERFORM  HIS  WILL!  If we want to receive God’s Blessing, we must first be a Blessing by allowing God The Holy Spirit to “do” God’s Blessing in us and through us!!  This is a critically important lesson for us to learn!

     We are to first, and most importantly, be a Blessing to GOD!   It is critical to realize that we cannot do this in our own strength – we cannot do this by trying to “do as Jesus would do.”  The “WWJD” fad of a few years ago just doesn’t “cut it.”  For us to try to imitate Jesus Christ results always in a cheap imitation – a cheap counterfeit.  In fact the result is actually following the will of the devil and such people – no matter how well intentioned – are as Jesus stated, “workers of iniquity” – in the “grip of sin.”  Jesus stated of such deceived persons in Matthew 7:20-23, "So then, you will know them by their fruits.  (21) "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.  (22) "Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?'  (23) "And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.'”  Notice that Jesus simply identified these persons for who they were – sinners – as ones who never were “KNOWN”  BY  JESUS!  These sadly deceived persons were not saved persons – they were (and are) NOT  CHILDREN  OF GOD!

     For us to truly be a “Blessing” to God we must be fully submitted to the Lordship of Jesus Christ – He must be “our Head” and be “directing” God’s Will in our lives and through our lives.  God’s Will is then “carried out” – “Performed” by God The Holy Spirit working in us and through us!  In short, we “Bless God” when Jesus Christ is directing God’s Will in and through our lives and The Holy Spirit – The “POWER  OF  GOD” is actually performing His Will in us and through us!  We actually “BLESS  GOD”  BY THE WILL  OF  GOD  OUR  FATHER  DIRECTED  IN  US  BY  JESUS  CHRIST  AS  OUR  LORD  AND  BY  THE POWER OF  THE  HOLY  SPIRIT  LIVING  IN  US  AND  WORKING THROUGH  US!

     We also “Bless others” in the same manner – through Jesus Christ being Lord of our lives – directing God’s Will in us and through us, and by “The Power” of  GOD  THE  HOLY  SPIRIT  ACTIVATING  GOD’S  WILL  IN  US AND  THROUGH US! WE MUST  LIVE  OUR  LIVES  DAILY  “SUBMITTED”  TO  THE  LORDSHIP  OF  JESUS  CHRIST  IN  OUR LIVES AND “BEING  LED”  AND  “EMPOWERED”  BY  GOD  THE  HOLY  SPIRIT!

     We “BLESS” GOD  BY “LOVING”  HIM with “THE  LOVE”  HE  PLACES  WITHIN US – HIMSELF, and by giving HIM our Praise, our Thanks, our Adoration, and our Worship!  We “BLESS” others by allowing GOD”S  LOVE to flow through us into the lives of others – by “LOVING  THEM  AS  WE  LOVE  OURSELVES” –  by “DOING  UNTO  THEM  AS  WE WANT THEM TO  DO  UNTO  US – by  ALLOWING  THE  HOLY  SPIRIT  TO  PRODUCE  HIS  FRUIT WITHIN  US AND  BE DEMONSTRATED  (MANIFESTED)  THROUGH  US  TO  OVERFLOW  TOUCHING  THE  LIVES  OF OTHERS!

CONCLUDING  REMARKS:  USING  OUR  TIME  ON  EARTH  WISELY:

     Remember, TODAY  IS  A  PRECIOUS  GIFT  FROM  GOD!   We need to recognize that TODAY is really all we have. Actually all we have is this moment in time.  The last moment is forever gone – it is forever in the past.  The next moment is not here yet and in fact, may never arrive.  It is this very moment in time that we have to use – to spend – to invest as we choose.  The wise choice is to “invest” ourselves and our time by surrendering to The Lordship of Jesus Christ in our lives.  As Jesus said in  Matthew 6:19-21, " Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. (20) "But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; (21) for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”  We need to ask ourselves this very serious question of “eternal importance,” Where am I laying up my treasure?

     When God called me to the Ministry, I remember that HE called me to be “HIS  MINISTER.”  His call was very specific.  I was to MINISTER  TO  HIM  FIRST  AND  FOREMOST!  We are all “Ministers” – first to GOD and then to others.  Let’s choose to invest our lives in the things that really matter.  Jesus put it this way in Matthew 6:33, "But seek first His (GOD’S) kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”   Jesus also pointed out that we cannot successfully serve our own desires and GOD’S when HE said in Matthew 6:24  "No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.”  Jesus went ahead to give us excellent advice in Matthew 6:19-21 "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.  (20) "But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; (21) for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Let’s resolve to choose wisely and invest ourselves in GOD’S KINGDOM!  Let’s “lay up” our treasures in Heaven!

Living the Christian Life is the easiest thing in the world to do AND  AT  THE  SAME  TIME,  IT  SEEMS  THE  HARDEST THING  TO DO.  The secret to living the daily Christian Life is the theme that runs through these pages – SURRENDER  TO  THE LORDSHIP  OF  JESUS  CHRIST!

     I must point out that surrender to the Lordship of Jesus Christ is impossible for the person who is not yet truly a  CHILD  OF GOD – BORN  AGAIN  INTO  THE  FAMILY  OF  GOD  BY  VIRTUE  OF  TRUSTING  AND  ACCEPTING  JESUS CHRIST  AS  SAVIOR.  The steps of accepting Jesus Christ as Savior and accepting Him as Lord may occur at the same time. However, my own observation has taught me that most Christians finally accept Jesus Christ as their LORD sometime after accepting Him as Savior.

     Sadly, I am concerned that many of those occupying the church pews today are “make-believe Christians.”  My reason for making such a statement revolves around the words of Jesus Himself.  He said in Matthew 7:13-14, “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it.  (14) "For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.   It always gives me cause for concern when I read these words of Jesus about the many going through the “broad way” that leads to destruction and only a “few” finding the Narrow Way (JESUS) that leads to Eternal life.  As if to emphasize the point Jesus went ahead to state in Matthew 7:21-23, "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.’  (22) "Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?'  (23) "And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; DEPART  FROM  ME,  YOU  WHO PRACTICE  LAWLESSNESS.'   Notice again here that Jesus refers to “many.”  These poor souls are deceived by themselves, by others or by the demons of hell into thinking that they are doing the Lord’s Work when they are in fact doing, “their own thing,” and calling it “work for the Lord.”  Jesus didn’t deny that they had “done great works” but stated that even in doing these so-called “good works” they were PRACTICING  LAWLESSNESS – THEY  WERE  IN  SIN  AND  SINNERS.  Their destination was hell! How many are in this category today.  Only Eternity will tell!  However, Jesus did use the term “many” while using the term “few” referring to those who find “The Narrow Way” – Jesus Christ Himself!

Please ask yourself these few questions.

1.       HAVE  I  TRULY  BELIEVED  IN  AND  ON  THE  LORD  JESUS  CHRIST?

2.       HAVE  I  TRULY  ACCEPTED  JESUS  CHRIST  INTO  HEART  AND  LIFE?   HAVE  I  TRULY  RECEIVED  HIM  INTO  MY  LIFE.

3.       HAVE  I  TRULY  PERMITTED  JESUS  CHRIST  TO  BE  THE  LORD  OF  MY  LIFE?

4.       DOES  THE  HOLY  SPIRIT  BEAR  WITNESS  TO  MY  SPIRIT  THAT  I  AM  A  CHILD  OF  GOD?   CAN  I  TRULY  CRY  OUT,  “ABBA”  FATHER?

5.       DOES  MY  LIFE  SHOW  THE  EVIDENCE  OF  THE  NINE  FRUITS  OF  THE  HOLY  SPIRIT?  (LOVE,  JOY,  PEACE,  GOODNESS,   KINDNESS,   GENTLENESS,  FAITHFULNESS,  PATIENCE,  AND  SELF-CONTROL).

     Hopefully, you can answer a resounding “YES” to these five critical questions.  If not, ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you your real condition before GOD!  The Bible states that those who seriously seek GOD will find HIM!  In Isaiah 55:6 we read, “Seek the LORD while He may be found; Call upon Him while He is near.”  And, we read in Jeremiah 29:13, “You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.”  God promises to “reward” those who seriously seek Him by coming to dwell in each “seeker.” He is not hiding from us!  He desires that all human beings find HIM by accepting (and receiving) Jesus as Lord and Savior, and receiving His  “SEAL” – The  Holy  Spirit in our lives!  In 2 Peter 3:9 we read, “The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.”

     Faith is the critical component.  God gives to each person the faith he/she needs!  In Romans 12:3 we read, “For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith.”  In Hebrews 11:6 we read, “And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.”  The vital issue is for us to “ACT” on the faith we have.  The Bible states that God will give us the faith we need.  It is up to us to act on the faith we have with God’s assurance that the faith He has given to us is enough!  Remember the statement about “having faith as the grain of a mustard seed?”  In Luke 17:5-6 we read, “The apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith!"  (6) And the Lord said, "If you had faith like a mustard seed, you would say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and be planted in the sea' and it would obey you.”  It is not a question of the amount of our faith or the quality of our faith.  The question becomes, are we willing to act on the faith that God has given all of us?  If we are willing to “ACT” on our “God-Given Faith” marvelous things can and will happen.

     Finally, the “Fruit” we bear in our lives reveals who we are – reveals whether we are truly saved or not!  Jesus stated in Matthew 7:20, "So then, you will know them by their fruits.”  In Matthew 7:16-20 Jesus states, "You will know them by their fruits.  Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they? (17) "So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit.  (18) "A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit. (19) "Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. (20) "So then, you will know them by their fruits.”  Do we exhibit the “Fruits” of The Holy Spirit in our lives?  These “Fruits” will be evident in the life of EVERY  “TRUE  BELIEVER” because the Holy Spirit indwells every believer – every true child of God. Remember, The Holy Spirit is “God’s Seal” on the life of every True Believer.

     The letter of 1 John is a wonderful “measuring stick” for the validity of our salvation.  1 John 2:9-11 we read, “The one who says he is in the Light and yet hates his brother is in the darkness until now.  (10) The one who loves his brother abides in the Light and there is no cause for stumbling in him.  (11) But the one who hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going because the darkness has blinded his eyes.”  In 1 John 2:15 we read, “Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.”  And finally, in 1 John 3:17 we read, “But whoever has the world's goods, and sees his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him?” Clearly, obeying the commandments that Jesus gave us in Matthew 22 to Love God and to love our neighbor” is the measure of a Child of God!

     As I stated earlier, living the Christian Life is the easiest thing in the world to do AND  AT  THE  SAME  TIME,  IT  SEEMS THE  HARDEST  THING  TO  DO.  The secret to living the daily Christian Life is TO  “SURRENDER  TO  THE  LORDSHIP” OF  JESUS  CHRIST!  This becomes difficult (in fact, impossible) for us to do when we permit “our pride” and our old “human nature” to rule our lives.  As Jesus said, “We cannot serve God and mammon.”  We must make the decision to step off the throne of our lives and allow Jesus Christ to sit on the throne of our lives and BE  LORD  OF  OUR  LIVES!  For most of us, this is a decision that is not made just once – instead it is a decision that we must make every day!

Jesus gave an interesting answer when HE was asked in John 6:28, "What shall we do, so that we may work the works of God ?" (29) Jesus answered and said to them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent."  NASU

The answer Jesus gave was ‘BELIEVE  IN  HIM” –  BELIEVE  IN  JESUS!  This brings us back to the abiding commandment of GOD –  WE  ARE  TO  WALK  BY  ”FAITH.”  In HIS Word, GOD states at least three times  THAT  HE  REQUIRES  THAT HIS  CHILDREN  LIVE  BY  FAITH!

JESUS  SAID  IN JOHN  14:1, “YOU  BELIEVE  IN  GOD,  BELIEVE  ALSO  IN  ME!”     JESUS  ALSO  STATED THAT “OUR  WORK” IS  TO  “BELIEVE  IN  HIM!”   OUR  “LIVING  THE  CHRISTIAN  LIFE”  IS  SIMPLE  YET, NOT  EASY FOR  US  TO  DO!   ALLOW  ME  TO  ATTEMPT  TO  OUTLINE  A  SUMMARY  OF  OUR GUIDELINES  FOR  OUR DAILY   CHRISTIAN  LIVING!

HERE  ARE  OUR  GUIDELINES  FOR  DAILY  CHRISTIAN  LIVING! ******* BELIEVE  “IN”  AND  “ON” JESUS CHRIST

******* ACCEPT  (RECEIVE)  HIM  INTO  OUR  HEARTS  AND  OUR  LIVES

******* LIVE  BY  FAITH  –  WALK  BY  FAITH  (NOT  BY  SIGHT)

******* SURRENDER  TO  THE  LORDSHIP  OF  JESUS  CHRIST

******* SURRENDER  TO  THE  LEADING  OF  THE  HOLY  SPIRIT

******* KEEP  OUR  FOCUS  (OUR  EYES  FIXED)  ON  JESUS  CHRIST!

     In the Old Testament God gave Moses The Ten Commandments.  The first of these Commandments is stated by God in Exodus 20:3 where we read, "You shall have no other gods before Me.”  Jesus restated this in Matthew 22:35-38 where we read, “One of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him,  "Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?"  (37) And He said to him, " 'YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.'  (38) "This is the great and foremost commandment.”

     Clearly, we are to have GOD as our “Highest Priority” of life!  We need to also remember that the second commandment God gave to Moses stipulates that we are to have NO  OTHER  GODS  BESIDE  HIM!  In Exodus 20:4 we read, "You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth.  (5) "You shall not worship them or serve them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and the fourth generations of those who hate Me, (6) but showing lovingkindness to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.”  God intends for us to honor Him and Him alone.  He is not to be the first among many, He is to be OUR ONE  AND  ONLY  GOD!

The Apostle Paul expressed The Priority of his life in Philippians 3:13-14 where we read, “Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it (his “Goal”) yet; but one thing I do:  forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead,  (14) I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”  The Holy Spirit writing through the heart and mind of the author of Hebrews expressed our singular goal of life in this manner in Hebrews 12:1-2, “Since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,  (2) fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”  Jesus Himself sated this singular “Goal” of our lives in Matthew 6:20, where He said, "But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal.”  And, Jesus again emphasized this “Priority” in Matthew 6:33 where He said, "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”  Clearly, God intends for us to  MAKE  HIM  “THE GOAL”  OF  OUR  LIVES!

THESE  ARE  OUR  GUIDELINES  FOR  OUR  DAILY  CHRISTIAN  LIVING!  

  Amen!   Amen!   Amen!

Pastor J. Gilbert Hammond

Read: One Man's Journey,

to  Find God!. Gary O’Hair