This is a huge subject. Today we will only look at a tiny bit of it. So let us begin by naming or defining sin. Sins are what you do. Sin is who wants to do sin. Sin is a person, Satan by name. We will call that one Mr. Sin. Now this is worth pondering.
We thought we were the initiators of sin and could, by effort, avoid listening to and obeying Mr. Sin and when trying hard enough, listen to God and obey. In short, we thought we had all the qualities of God and Mr. Sin in us. Then by using our wisdom or intellect know the difference between good and evil things and by effort behave like one or the other. In short, we thought we were free to do Satan or God stuff. Then Jesus comes along and says, "Try harder and be as perfect as your Father in heaven is perfect." About then the rational mind says, "No way!" The commanding soul says, "You do it!" The placating soul says, "I can fix this mess!" And the irrelevant soul says, "Time to do the dishes." Then Jesus comes sharing His congruent soul. He defines sin once and for all time by saying, "And when Holy Spirit has come He will convince the world what sin, and righteousness, and judgment are. Concerning sin, He will convince them that sin is not trusting Me;" (John 16:8-9 DLT emphasis mine) So Mr. Sin does not trust Jesus nor do souls bound to him. We can then conclude souls attached to Jesus's Spirit trust Him. For what? Everything. And this we can do. But be reminded, it is not trusting that He will do but HAS done. In the face of everything contrary, we trust. Like the great cloud of witnesses recited in Hebrews chapter 11. We join their ranks and say what God is, has, and will say about any one subject. In the face of seeming contradiction, we claim what He proclaims. There is no magic in this, just trust. When it comes to introspection Jesus had none. I never see Him second-guessing Himself nor being tossed this way and that concerning guidance from Papa. He just did what Father was up to and claimed He NEVER initiated one act on His own. To repeat, He claimed He only did what He saw the Father doing through Him.
To do that takes a huge agreement between our thoughts, wants, and choices. How can we have such an agreement and who with? First, we agree with Father, not our thinking. Agreeing with our thoughts is like a person claiming to be Napolian and proving it because he tucks his left hand in his shirt all the time, or should that be the right hand? Concerning wants, well that is easy, as long as you can settle on which thing you prefer over all the other possible things and outcomes. Finally, you have to commit your life experience to your preferences and possible outcomes. Confused? Whew! The truth is much easier. The Spirit of God has this all covered. All we do is look to the author and finisher of OUR faith (trust). Looking to the Christ within, being fixed on Him, He who is desiring what we desire. Anything other than sin of course. Then we have the ability to commit indiscriminately to loving everyone you meet, that is all we need ‘do’ for it is all He is doing. It sounds like a lot of introspection, doesn’t it? NOT. It is the rest in which we are to enter found in the Book of Hebrews.
Good morning. Just a reminder...
(John 14:37 NAS77 emphasis mine) “PEACE I leave with you; My PEACE I give to you; not as the world gives, do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.” Love Jesus If you have Jesus's Spirit within, you have His peace. He's not worried about the way the world is going. It is at the end of human effort He can be seen. I hope as you read, you remember it is Christ's call to let Him always be for you, with you, in you, through you, and as you.
1. Concerning Anxiety In your occupations, possess your soul in 'the union', which is peace. It is not a good plan to be in haste to perform any action which will be soon over. On the contrary, you should accustom yourself to do whatever you have to do with tranquillity, so that you may retain the possession of your soul in union and remain in His settled peace. 2. Humility A truly humbled person permits nothing to put them into a rage. It is pride that is last to reckon its self dead in the soul. It is the passion that is last destroyed in the outward conduct. A soul thoroughly dead to itself finds nothing of rage left. It finds no effort is needed to complete its self. That’s the beauty, Jesus is the light of the cosmos – not just the light of the Christian church. He’s not only the one in and through and by whom are all things, but FOR him. Here, in this person, and in the relationship between – God on the one side and the human race in another that exists in his very identity – here we see what God is up to for all eternity. This is the revelation, this is the unfolding of what’s been hidden and we could not conceive of. That’s a Christological hermeneutic – that’s the truth of all truths, that’s the way to think as a Christian.
Turn on the TV, pick up a newspaper, or read a magazine and immediately you will be bombarded with the world’s thinking. Remember that Satan is the god of this world, and he is using all that the world offers to influence you to compare, to succeed, to win, to be strong, to be self-sufficient, and most importantly, to be independent. Satan uses our culture to entice you to want bigger, better, and always more. This infernal message, designed to sow discontentment, is the primary one you will receive from the world. Why? All that the world can serve up to you, as it says in 1 John 2:16, is the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the boastful PRIDE of life.
In addition, world events, politicians, etc. can invoke fearful, angry, and anxious thoughts. I know Christians that can’t get past their anger about what the government is doing or not doing. They let politicians and governmental action (or inaction) steal their peace and rest in Christ. They just “wallow” in their “stinking” thinking. I believe we would be surprised to know how deeply our culture influences our thought life and how much it can trigger fleshly thoughts of lust, envy, anger, anxiety, etc. "This is the day which the LORD has made; Let us rejoice and be glad in it." Psa 118:24 (NAS77)
May I see with your eyes. May I hear with your ears. May I speak with your words. With the leading of the Holy Spirit - may I love with your Love everyone I see, talk with, touch, and hold with your compassion. May I rejoice that my Father is smiling at me through their smiles. So then… Just put on your dirtiest old cloths. Let your hair be a mess. Don’t wash. You can stink to high heaven. Even so, the Father has an appointment with just you. It is my prayer that His anointing falls on you today and every day. "Seek my Face at the beginning of your day (very much like a Barasheet approach). This practice enables you to "put Me on" and "wear Me" throughout the day. Most people put on clothes soon after arising from bed. Similarly, the sooner you "put Me on" by communicating with Me, the better prepared you are for whatever comes your way.
To "wear Me" is essentially to have my mind: to think My thoughts. Ask the Holy Spirit to control your thinking; be transformed by this renewal within you. Thus you are well equipped to face whatever people and situations I bring your way. Clothing your mind in Me is your preparation for each day. This discipline brings Joy and Peace to you and those around you." Your lines express the wonderful expectation and assurance of how Jesus brings forth His fruit in us. Thanks. |