Living According to the Spirit

This entry is based on a paper i did for my NT survey class and the section of Scripture referenced was Galatians 5:16-18.

The book of Galatians was written by the Apostle Paul to the churches in Galatia, but we are not exactly which part of the country. Now most of the commentaries I have read lean more toward the southern portions of the country because he spoke to them in such a direct manner, as though he had spent generous amounts of time with them, which could have taken place while he was on his mission trips.

Since accepting the gospel of Jesus Christ you are free from the bondage of the Law. Do not abuse your freedom as a chance to sin more, but as a reason to love all the more accordingly to the great commandment. If we live in a manner according to the Spirit we will not gratify our fleshly desires. Keep in mind that the desires of the flesh and of the Spirit have no room for one another. So in being led by the Spirit we are no longer under the Law. Make sure to pay close attention to those around you because the works of their flesh are evident. You will also know those in whom the Spirit dwells because you will see their fruit. So live in the Spirit and you will not give into sin, remember that the Spirit and the flesh cannot occupy the same space, knowing that being led by the Spirit frees you from the Law.

Now the audience that Paul was writing to was a church that he had planted. While he was away however another group of preachers came around preaching another gospel. The gospel these men were preaching was a gospel of Jesus plus circumcision. These men were often called Judaizers. This same sect was also trying to challenge the authority of Paul’s Apostleship. Hopefully for all of us we do not rely on works to grant us salvation or have someone preaching it to us. We can also trust that Scripture is true and that Paul was an Apostle.

We should walk according to the Spirit and in doing so we will not gratify the desires of the flesh. And we are no longer bound by the Law but free in the Spirit.

Now to bring this all home let’s see what this will look like in our lives. I will use myself as an example, when I was younger I was an addict. I was addicted to alcohol, nicotine, marijuana, and pornography. Since my conversion I have not had major struggles with all of these things but there have been some more than others. I have been able to combat these struggles not of my own accord but in trusting the Lord and spending time in His word and with Him. The closer I get to Him the further I get from my sinful desires. One of my favorite groups is Pillar and they have a song called “Further from Myself” which falls in line with what we are talking about.

A way we can look at being free from the Law is to look at the food customs when Peter was told that what God declares clean is clean.(Acts 10:11-15) So Jews today still hold to Kosher products refusing to eat pork and certain kinds of meat, seafood, and etc. By us being set free from the Law we are no longer accountable to the Law. So go have a some good food and thank the Lord he has set you free to eat it.

You Want Me To Do What ?!?

The Lord in his good and perfect grace saved me in August 2002. It was around six months after my conversion that I felt the Lord put a call on my life to minister his word. Just like Moses I felt like “God you have got the wrong man.” Remember God met Moses at the burning bush in Exodus 3 & 4 informing Moses of the task at hand. All Moses wanted to do was come up with reasons why he could not do them. Moses got to speak with Jehovah through a bush, as for me He actually showed me in dreams what I was supposed to do. Due to the circumstances surrounding my life I constantly feel like a failure, or feel like I am inadequate to accomplish any goal. In my life whether at work or at church I am the outsider and very rarely listened to because I feel they think I lack authority. Just as Moses felt like an outsider while in Egypt, he was a Jew raised in the palace. He was never treated like any other Jew, by either side.

I think I get looked at like a child especially in my church because my education is not up to par with others in my community or life stage. However Moses did not have that problem because he was raised in the palace of the Pharaoh, and he was highly educated. I have offered before to lead a small group or to help assist or even teach a Sunday school class, but I have never received a second look from my leadership. So this makes me feel extremely insecure, like” Okay Lord did I hear you correctly.” The only thing that keeps me going to pursue my dream and goal in spite of everything is trusting that the Lord is in control. “And I am the God who made you with your limitation. I want to use you despite your limitation so that you will bring glory to Me.” (CF pg 67) My hearts cry is to bring glory to Jesus with all that I do in my life! In starting these classes I pray that he will be glorified in my work .My biggest fear is that I will screw up. I have been saying for so long how I feel called to His work, and here is my chance to show people that this is what I was made to do. I pray I don’t screw up and ruin the testimony of Jesus Christ.

Right now at this stage of my life I am travelling in the wilderness. I have been out of work for close to two months now, just started attending school, while living in my mothers’ house with my family. On top of everything I live my life day to day feeling like I have few friends, no money, and unfit to be alive some days. But there is comfort in knowing that the Lord has made the promise “For the Lord your God is a merciful God. He will not leave you or destroy you or forget the covenant with your fathers that he swore to them.” (Deut 4:31 ESV) So trusting that the word of the Lord is true I know that where I am right now is not where he is going to leave me. Because “Despite all the difficulties, it was there in the wilderness that God’s greatest blessings came” (CF pg 72) And holding fast to the words of Romans 8:28 “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”[1] So just like Moses I hope to lead God’s people well, remain in his presence and always pursue His will. May we all be like Christ in the garden in praying “And he said “Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.”[2]

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^[1]The Holy Bible : English standard version. 2001 (Ro 8:28). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

^[2]The Holy Bible : English standard version. 2001 (Mk 14:36). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

Courageous Faith : Dr Ed Hindson

Street Light Along the Way

Life brings its own far share of challenges, for some it may be dealing with the loss of a loved one, another an addiction. For me it is my tendency to be prideful and want to think of myself more highly than I ought. Tonight I was with a group of men who on most accounts are completely different then me. These men are older with kids that are older and they are outdoors men, meaning in their spare time they hunt or fish. As I sat in the living room with these men we watched videos of deer hunting, then we shared in a brief message> As the host lead us in our study I was going in my mind that is nowhere near how I would go about this. What I mean by that is some of the references this man chose I did not see where he was tying everything together, but it doesn’t mean he was wrong.

“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be competent, equipped  for every good work.” (2 Tim 3:16-17 ESV)

The Lord showed me not to long ago that he speaks to us all in different ways. And maybe just maybe the way he spoke to these men this evening was through that simple discussion. Those of you who know me know that I am a theology junky, so this conversation was a little on the light side. I have decided however to continue with this group of men for a while, so that I may expand my horizons and be more effective in my own ministry one day. 

Another way to look at life is to think about walking even through your own house in the middle of the night while its pitch black. If you have no way of seeing what could hurt you how do you avoid it? In the life of a Christian we have his word.

“Your word is a lamp to my feet
and a light to my path.” (PS 119:105 ESV)

”Jesus answered,  “Are there not twelve hours in the day?  If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world.” (Jn 11:9 ESV)

So if you are walking around feeling as though you are in a fog, out of place, or don’t belong. Look closer there may be more than what you see. In this group I was in the greatest common factor was we all are Christian men. So for me I know my life was a huge unclear, dazed and confused mess. After accepting Jesus for who he is not for what I wanted him to be my life came into focus. Because I left my world of darkness behind and started walking in light. “Again Jesus spoke to them, saying,  “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (Jn 8:12 ESV)

I am not making any claims or promises that life will be easy, easier yes because you can live with a confidence in something bigger than yourself. You may still stumble and fall but not because you couldn’t see, but because your human and will make mistakes. (Rom 3:23) Please know that it is so much more comfortable knowing how to walk and what to avoid then running into everything that gets in the way.

The first step is to chose the Light. Jesus Christ.

Live Long, Pray Hard, Die Well !
Preach

Joy & Pain

This I must say has been one of the most trying times of my life. I would say that for at least the last three weeks my body has been attacking itself. I am unable to keep hardly any food down, headaches, nose bleeds and excessive stomach cramping. One of the only things that keeps me going is knowing that my Lord and Savior went through and suffered so much more.

“Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, in Aramaic called Bethesda, which has five roofed colonnades. ³ In these lay a multitude of invalids—blind, lame, and paralyzed. ⁵ One man was there who had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. ⁶ When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been there a long time, he said to him, “Do you want to be healed?” ⁷ The sick man answered him, “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, and while I am going another steps down before me.” ⁸ Jesus said to him, “Get up, take up your bed, and walk.” ⁹ And at once the man was healed, and he took up his bed and walked.” (Jn 5:2-9 ESV)

Now I don’t know about you but me in reading this it is very easy to miss. Let’s take a look back this section of scripture tells  us in verse three that in these colonnades lay a multitude of invalids. And one of those was a man who had been there for 38 years. So as Jesus and his disciples were walking through he saw this one man and already knew he had been there a long time. But look at this now Jesus asked this man “DO YOU WANT TO BE HEALED?”  (capitalization and italics added for emphasis). Any normal person would look up at Jesus and go what do you think stupid. I have been sitting here for 38 years. Check out this guys response “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, and while i am going another steps down before me.” So he kind of says what i said without being as rude. Then the most beautiful thing of all happens Jesus gives him a command. “GET UP, TAKE UP your bed, and WALK.”

How many of us would know how to react if Jesus gives us that kind of specific command. What have you been sitting around waiting on? Has it been something at home? Going back to school? Whatever it maybe when your spirit finally lines up with what HE has in store for you don’t sit back on the sidelines because he may, no he will pass you by.

Think about it He being Jesus went to a place full of sick people looking to get healed, and only chose one. So please if you have been feeling him knocking at the door of your heart, open the door and let him in.

“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.” (Re 3:20 ESV).

Let’s take a look at another example of Jesus’ power to change a life.

“And behold, a woman who had suffered from a discharge of blood for twelve years came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment, ²¹ for she said to herself, “If I only touch his garment, I will be made well.” ²² Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, “Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well.” And instantly the woman was made well.”  (Mt 9:20-22 ESV).

In using this passage i am not saying that if you have faith in being healed you will automatically be healed. What i would like to point out however is this woman suffered for 12 years with bleeding, in some versions it says she spent everything on Drs who only made her worse or did not solve her issue. Even though she had nothing to give this man, she put all of her trust and more importantly her faith in the fact that if she could touch his garment that she would be healed. Another question for you to ponder when was the last time you actively put faith into something knowing it was out of you control and only Jesus could accomplish it?

Last but not least let us not for get that the Lord allowed Paul to live for an extended period of time with a thorn in his side.

^“7 So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. ⁸ Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. ⁹ But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. ¹⁰ For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”   (2 Co 12:7-10 ESV)

So all in all we are no better than Paul or Jesus Christ himself. We must look at our lives and remember that we can go through pain in give glory to Jesus and receive the joy that comes from it. Or we can live in pain and merely have to deal with it. The choice is yours.

Live Long, Pray Hard, Die Well!
Preach

As Iron Sharpens Iron : Building Strong Relationships

In this stage of my life it is good to know who I can depend on. We all need people in our lives, because we can't run around living like we are solitary unto ourselves. Things we choose to do have reactions or consequences, depending on how you choose to view it. There are several very important relationships that a person needs to have. The reason for this being is because "Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another." (pro 27:17 esv) To some this verse may be confusing to me it is encouraging, it tells me that I need someone who is going to be wiling to get in my face and tell me the truth even when it could be difficult. We all need a Nathan. Just in case some of you don't know or don't remember Nathan, here is a refresher (2 Sam 12:1-15) David has just had Uriah moved to the frontlines of war so that he could cover up his adultery with Bathsheba and the evidence thereby concieved. Nathan comes in with athourity from the Lord and rebukes David for his sin and tells him "Thus says the Lord, ‘Behold, I will raise up evil against you out of your own house. And I will take your wives before your eyes and give them to your neighbor, and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this sun." (2 Sa 12:11 ESV). So how many of us have a Nathan who will lovingly but strongly tell us of our sin? My next question then becomes do you really want one who will confront you or do you want to be allowed to live anyone and still think you are pleasing to God?

Then someone as important if not more so is Jonathan, this is a friend who was said to love David "he loved him as his own soul" (1 Sam 18:3). I don't know about you but there certainly aren't very many people in my life that would come close to that kind of remark. (1 Sam 18:1-4) is a great depiction of how much dedication these men would have, we often say we would give someone the shirts off of our back, Jonathan actually did and much more. As life progressed and David found more favor with the people Saul became jealous and began attempting to take to his life. So David ran, and while running Jonathan brought him food and intelligence. Jonathan knew that David was destined to be king & willingly handed his rights over to his friend. Do you have many people in your life who would give up their birthright for you, how about take care of you when someone else is out to destroy you.

The best friend a person could have in all the world is the God/man Jesus Christ. He tells us "Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. ¹⁴ You are my friends if you do what I command you." (Jn 15:13-14 ESV). And layed his life down he did he chose to die for all of us who follow him. Like my pastor Ruffin Alphin said several Christmas Eve's ago " Jesus Christ is the only man who ever lived that chose to die." As effect of the fall we are all set to die, but Jesus and he alone was able to make the choice to die. Being fully God and fully man he never had to die seeing as how he could bring the dead back to life. As a gift giver liking to show those whom I love my affection through gifts Christ out shines me even in my greatest attempt. Here is a man who not only did not have to die, but chose to he also chose humilitaion and shame to go with it, while we as a people mocked him. " For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God."

(2 Co 5:21 ESV) He is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. (pro 18:24)

So I challenge all who read this to become to someone you know and value to pray about the role you would play in thier life, will you be Nathan or Jonathan? There is only one Jesus Christ, and no matter what role you are in someones life never be affraid to tell them about Him. (luke 9:26)

Live Long, Pray Hard, Die Well!