Monday, March 3, 2014

Denying Ourselves: True Faith


Now we have received, not the
spirit of this world, but the
Spirit who is from God,
that we might know the
things that have been
freely give to us by God.
1Corinthians 2:12

As I begin this week’s blogs I am reminded, and I want to remind you, when we receive the Holy Spirit He unites us with God, so that His Love, God, is manifested in us, and in our life, our daily undertakings. It is impossible to weary the love of God for God is LOVE. LOVE is His nature and if we allow the Holy Spirit to operate in our lives and His Love springs from our center then I, you, have no business to be guided by the wisdom of this world, the spirit of this world and by natural temperament. We must beware not to work along the line of natural sympathy, for if we do then all we have done is blaspheme the Love of God, in fact, we have blasphemed God. God has given to His children freely so that we may know Him and this is done by the teaching of the Holy Spirit: “These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual” (1Corinthians 2:13). We are to compare things in this life with Scripture and allow Scripture to lead us for this is how the Holy Spirit teaches is, by His word, and impressing upon our souls to follow God’s word. If what we think is from God, as some do think that by some special revelation God speaks to them, then how would we be able to judge them whether what they say is from God or not? We can’t, but if Scripture supports, not intimates, but supports what they have heard by the Holy Spirit’s directing them to Scripture for the truth then false understanding and teaching will be put at bay. Do you love Jesus? Do you love God? Do you love the Holy Spirit? When Jesus asked Peter three times: Do you love Me, then probably Peter was somewhat hurt at the question(s). What Jesus was doing was probing into Peter’s belief and willingness to love Him and to follow Him. The questions that Jesus, the Holy Spirit asks of us may hurt for we must either obey, and answer the question(s) for in either way we answer we reveal our true selves.  Are you holding firm to you convictions? Or are you allowing the wisdom of this world to lead into things that God has told us not to be involved in: i.e., watching TV shows, or going to movies that portray homosexuality as an OK lifestyle. Will you stop watching TV shows that are hosted or have as persons in the show, as with a person who is homosexual and gives the weather report as he does on GMA and then stop watching that show so as not to give some tacit approval? Jesus tells us that we will face troubles because we are following Him: “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. But beware of men, for they will deliver you up to councils and scourge you in their synagogues. You will be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles” (Matthew 10:15–18). We have so much “sloppy agape” teaching and preaching that God and our testimony about Jesus Christ is held in derision by those who oppose Jesus and His teachings and we see this everyday now with even government approving of such as homosexual lifestyles. Are you willing to stand up for the truth? Are you willing to be what Jesus wants, you, and me, to be: His feet, hands, and His voice until He returns for His bride? This is what Jesus told Peter that if you love me you will feed My sheep. If we do otherwise then we are doing that which Jesus spoke against and are denying Him: “Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven. Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword” (Matthew 10: 32-34). Paul in writing to the Corinthian Christians reminds them and us of the same thing that Jesus spoke: “But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned” (1Corinthians 2:14). I have heard it said that we are not to judge, but is this true? NO! We are to judge to ensure that God’s commands are being carried out in this world. We begin with ourselves to judge ourselves according to God’s word and not be the wisdom of this world, and by those who are preaching the wisdom of this world: “But he who is spiritual judges all things, ye the himself is rightly judged by no one. For ‘who has know the mind of the LORD that he may instruct Him?’ “But we have the mid of Christ” (1Corinthians 2:15–16; Isaiah 40:13). If you are following the commands of God, then who can judge you rightly? No one! They are followers of the wisdom of this world and not of God and are foolish men and women. We are to have and we do if we have converted to Jesus and are allowing our convictions not to waver. Those convictions are to deny our selves and live for Him. This will take courage, but we have the courage of the Holy Spirit residing in us and we are not to be afraid: “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matthew 10:28). This will require that we change from the Inside Out for if the inside is wavering then our character that shows what and how we are inside. The reality about us has a need to change and live for the One who came and died for His children.

He who dwells in the secret place
            Of the Most High shall abide
Under the shadow of the Almighty.
            I will say of the LORD, ‘
“He is my refuge and my fortress
            My God, in Him I will trust.”
                                    Psalm 91:1–2

Set Time Aside To Pray And Speak To God

Richard L. Crumb

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