Power of Thanksgiving

 “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” (1Thess. 5:18) 

The Apostle Paul had a clear revelation of what we should do to please God.  This verse is not inclusive of all we need to do to, but it is interesting to note that Paul includes rejoicing and giving thanks with prayer.  There is power in prayer, and likewise there is power in rejoicing and giving thanks.  Joy and thanksgiving can be our responses to being blessed, but in obedience to God, we should rejoice and give thanks before experiencing the blessings.  Like praying “without ceasing”, they should be done “always”, and in “every situation”.

There is a common belief among Christians that if God is in control of everything, we should thank Him “for” everything.  Is that proper thinking?  Please do not misunderstand what I am saying here.  If we do not thank God, we do not honour Him, so it is better that we thank Him, even if it is without understanding.  Giving thanks “for” every circumstance is good, but there is better.

Paul’s way of praying for the churches was to always begin with thanksgiving.  To the Romans he says, “First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.” (Rom. 1:8).  He goes on to explain the progression of degradation of societies, “because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.” (Rom. 1:21).  To the Ephesians he says, “Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers” (Eph. 1:15-16).  He understood the need to honour God, but he also understood the power of thanksgiving.

The problem with thanking God “for” everything is that sometimes what is coming to us is from the devil, not from God.  Jesus “went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.” (Acts 10:38b), and we should be doing the same in His name.  Now, God is able to make all things work together for our good, even if it comes from the enemy, but should we thank God for something the enemy is doing? (Rom. 8:28).  The answer is both yes and no.  We should thank God “in” the situation, but not “for” everything in it.  The principle I apply in circumstances is the same as for the food I receive with thanksgiving.  When I thank God for food, I honour Him as my provider, and I trust that He will remove from it any impurities.  Saying grace before a meal is not just a religious tradition, it is an act of faith.  The principle is that all things are sanctified (made clean) through the prayer of thanksgiving. (1Tim. 4:5). 

Not everything we read in the Scriptures aligns with our present understanding.  Sometimes we try to make it fit, rather than letting God change our thinking.  Take the troubles of Job, for example.  We know from the Biblical account that the devil brought those troubles upon Job, but God permitted them. In fact, He initiated the entire situation!  The traditional interpretation is that God did it to deal with sin in Job’s life, namely his pride.  If that is true, then God lied when He told Satan that Job was a blameless and upright man (Job. 1:8).  To counter this traditional teaching, the Word of Faith movement taught that Job opened the door to the devil through fear (Job 3:25).  Again, how can that be if God tells the devil, “you incited Me against him without cause.” (Job 2:3).   “Without cause” means without fault on Job’s part.  The simple truth is that God is sovereign.  If He chooses to allow the devil to bring trials upon His servants, it is for their ultimate good.  There is justice in the Kingdom of God.  If the devil causes us harm without cause, then he must repay it with a penalty (Ex. 22:7).  This was certainly the case for Job, but more important than that, the faith and patience of Job allowed God to demonstrate to the unseen powers that the devil is a liar and God is sovereign.  In the same way, when trials come to believers, it is so that “the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places.” (Eph. 3:10). 

There is also the experience of Joseph.  It is obvious that Joseph understood God had sent him to Egypt, even if it was through the evil actions of his brothers.  “But as for you, you meant it for evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.” (Gen. 50:20).  Throughout the ordeal, God was in control.  When his brothers wanted to kill him, God arranged it so he would be sold into slavery instead.  Despite his circumstances, Joseph continued to serve God and gained favour with his masters.  He did not resign himself to suffering but looked to God for deliverance.  When in prison, he asked the butler to “remember me when it is well with you, and please show kindness to me; make mention of me to Pharaoh, and get me out of this house.” (Gen. 40:14). 

What should be our response to trials?  We should continue to praise and thank God in every circumstance, trusting that He will deliver us from all our troubles.   We should not resign ourselves to destruction.  If we are tired, we should thank God for strength.  If we are struggling with illness, we should thank God for health.  If we are facing difficulties, we should thank God that He is working all things for our good.  We must be patient and full of hope.

“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.  Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.  But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.” (1Pe. 5:8-10). 

Taking the Land

 “Have I not commanded you?  Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” (Josh. 1:9) 

These words were spoken to Joshua as they were preparing to go in and take possession of the land God had promised to Abraham.  As his descendants, they were being given this land as an inheritance. (Gen. 13:14-17).  They were, however, going to have to fight to take over what God had promised.  Joshua, whose name means “Yahweh is Salvation”, is a type of Jesus Christ the Messiah.  The promises made to Abraham were not all fulfilled.  Before Moses died, he told the Israelites that God would raise up another Prophet from among them.  Christ is the heir to the promises, and His brothers are joint heirs with Him.  “And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” (Gal. 3:29). 

The mystery of Christ has been revealed to the Church.  One aspect of this mystery is “that in the dispensation of the fulness of times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth—in Him.” (Eph. 1:10).  There is more to the promised inheritance than land.  The spiritual descendants of Abraham are to be a holy nation that blesses all nations.  “In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed.” (Gen. 22:18).  Not only the nations but also all of creation is to be blessed by the heirs of promise.  “Because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.” (Rom. 8:21).  If the nation of Israel needed to take their inheritance by warfare, should it not be the same for us today?  Our battle is different than theirs was, but we are nonetheless involved.  “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” (Eph. 6:12).  If we wrestle against them, it is to overcome them.  “To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.” (Rev. 3:21).  We must not shrink back from battle, “Now the just shall live by faith, but if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him.” (Heb. 10:38). 

There is an order for the defeat of our enemies.  “For in that He put all in subjection under Him, He left nothing that is not put under Him.  But now we do not yet see all things put under Him.  But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels…” (Heb. 2:8,9).  These enemies have already been placed under our feet spiritually since we are seated with Christ in heavenly places (Eph. 1:20-23).   Regarding our souls, however, they “are being placed” under our feet as we overcome sin.  Regarding our bodies, they are also “being placed” under our feet as His grace gives us strength and as He heals our bodies.  The last enemy “will be placed” under our feet when we are resurrected (1Cor. 15:26).  “But each one in his own order; Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming.  Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power.  For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet.” (1Cor. 15:23-25).

Even as there is an order for our path to complete victory, these enemies are put under in stages.  For example, death is put under the feet of the Church at His Second Coming, but is not thrown into to the lake of fire until the end of the Millennium (Rev. 20:14).  During the thousand-year reign of Christ on the earth, there will still be people who live and die naturally, but the Church will rule with Christ in eternal resurrected bodies.  So death, which includes natural corruption (decay), continues until the end when all the dead are resurrected for the final judgment.  

Another enemy to be removed in stages is the devil.  At first, he was cast out of the Third Heaven, from before the throne of God (Ezek. 28:16).  When this occurred, he fell to the second heaven, which is between Earth and Heaven.  He became the prince of the power of the air (Eph. 2:2).  When Jesus rose from the dead, He took back from the devil all that man had lost in the fall.  Since then, He has been assisting redeemed man to take back what was promised to Abraham’s descendants.  When the number of those to be redeemed is completed, the devil will be bound and cast into the bottomless pit for the thousand-year period (Rev. 20:2,3).  Before this occurs, the devil must be cast down from the second heaven to the earth (Isa. 14:12; Rev. 12:7-9).  This is the next phase of him being placed under our feet. 

When the devil is thrown down to the earth, he will no longer have power in the heavenlies to oppose the prayers of the saint, as we read about in Daniel Chapter 10.  Instead, he will try to rule the earth through the man of evil, the antichrist.  False miracles will be performed by the false prophet, “but the people who know their God, shall be strong, and carry out great exploits” (Dan. 11:32b).  Without interference in the heavenly places, “greater works” than the ones performed by Jesus will be done by the disciples (Jn. 14:12).  It will be a time of great tribulation for the inhabitant of the earth.  (Rev. 12:12).  The followers of Jesus will suffer persecution, but the faithful will be victorious because “they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.” (Rev. 12:11).  Although the times will be difficult from a natural perspective, they will also be glorious.  In the series of articles on “End-Time Vision”, I shared concerning a vision given to Tommy Hicks in 1961.  This is an encouraging revelation given to the Church concerning the last days.  It is not a time to be feared, but a time to rise and be overcomers.  With faith and courage, we must overcome evil with good (Rom. 12:21).

“But to you who fear My name the Sun of Righteousness shall arise with healing in His wings; and you shall go out and grow fat like stall-fed calves.  You shall trample the wicked, for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet on the day that I do this,’ says the Lord of hosts.” (Mal. 4:2,3).

Preparing for the Coming Days

 “Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?” (Lu. 18:8). 

What is the Lord looking for when He asks a question He already knows the answer to?  Is it not to emphasize its importance?  We must understand the days we are in and prepare for the days that are coming.  In post-secondary education, when students prepare for their careers, they obtain knowledge and develop skills that will ensure their success.  Jesus is the Master Teacher; He knows what knowledge and skills we need for the coming days.  We must listen to Him attentively today if we are to stand with Him in the coming days when greater trials come.  There is great tribulation coming “such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be.” (Matt. 24:21).  Even if you believe that Christians will be taken away from the earth before that time, you must not rest all your hope on escaping tribulations.  Jesus told the disciples that a time of trials would come, even before the final Great Tribulation.  “For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.  And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places.  All these are the beginning of sorrows.” (Matt. 24:8).  Many prophets believe we entered that time in 2020 when the pandemic came upon the world.  That event is just one of many birth pangs.  The frequency and intensity of these events will continue to increase until the beginning of the Great Tribulation. 

The Apostle Paul also referred to a day where believers will be pressed to stand.  “Therefore take up the whole armour of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. (Eph. 6:13).  Please note that he did not say “an” evil day, but “the” evil day.  It is a day that will come upon everyone corporately.  We will be able to stand in that day by taking up the spiritual armour and weapons the God provides.  We cannot wait until then to do this; we must do it today.  “Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says: ‘Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as in the day of trial in the wilderness.’” (Heb. 3:7,8).  We must learn to put on the breastplate of righteousness, the belt of truth, the shoes of readiness, the shield of faith, the helmet of hope, the sword of the Spirit, and persevere in prayer. 

In this article I want to talk about only one part of the armour, faith.  As important as faith is, however, it is not more important than love.  Faith is what makes it possible for us to love effectively.  By faith we obtain grace to obey (Rom. 5:2).  By faith we live in Christ (Gal. 2:20).  By faith we overcome sin and the devil (1Jn. 5:4).  By faith we receive what God promises (Heb. 6:12).  It is essential that we learn to believe because we will need faith to receive God’s help in the difficult days ahead.

The principles of faith have been taught extensively in the last fifty years, so it is not my intention to cover all these in this article.  Instead, I want to remind you of the relationship side of faith.  In my walk with the Lord, I do not practice “independent” faith.  I am dependent on the Lord for every aspect of my life, including believing the promises.  There is a familiar passage of Scripture which emphasizes this: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledged Him, and He will direct your paths.” (Prov. 3:5,6).  Trust is faith in a person.  We know that faith comes from hearing the Word of God (Rom. 10:17), but let us not forget that the Word is a Person, the Lord Jesus Christ (Jn. 1:1).  What has helped me to believe God’s promises is not only knowing what He has promised, but also knowing the One who promised it.  “All things that pertain to life and godliness” come to us through His “exceedingly great and precious promises” but we obtain them through “the knowledge of Him Who called us” (2Pe. 1:3,4).

Independent faith will take God’s promises and try to believe them, regardless of the situation.  Trust, on the other hand, will pray about a situation to understand the mind of the Lord concerning it.  By praying about a situation, I do not mean doubting the promises, I mean involving the Lord in the act of believing.  The apostles were taught to heal the sick (Lu. 9:1-6) but later when a man brought his demonized son to them, they could not heal him (Lu. 9:37-42).  When they asked Jesus why they could not cast out the spirit, He said it was because of their unbelief.  He then added “However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.” (Matt. 17:20-21).  We see the works of the enemy and we want to destroy them, but we do not always know the strongholds he has set up to keep people in bondage (2Cor. 10:3-5).  Praying first about the situation will give us discernment.  It also increases our faith because the Holy Spirit helps us.  He reminds us of what Jesus has said (Jn. 14:26).  He gives us assurance of God’s will through the inner witness (1Jn. 2:27).  He gives us power through the gifts of the Spirit (1Cor. 12:4-11).

Jesus Himself did not walk in independent faith.  He told the disciples that it was the Father in Him doing the works (Jn. 14:10).  He “went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil” because God was with Him and anointed Him with the Holy Spirit (Act 10:38).  The first disciples “went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through accompanying sign.” (Mk. 16:20).  We can be no different.  Today is the day to increase in faith so we can be strong in the days to come.  “But the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits.” (Dan. 11:32).

Stumbling Stones

“Go through, go through the gates!  Prepare the way for the people; build up, build up the highway!  Take out the stones, lift up a banner for the people!” (Isa. 62:10)

John the Baptist was sent to prepare the way for the Lord’s first coming by removing the stones in the hearts of God’s people.  As it was for His first appearing, God’s people must be ready for His Second Coming.  Before the Day of the Lord, He is sending again His messenger to prepare His people (Mal. 4:5).  This messenger is a company of prophets with a similar message as John the Baptist.  “Behold I send My messenger, and he will prepare the way before Me.  And the Lord whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple” (Mal. 3:1).  He is coming “to” His temple in a great end-time revival before He comes “for” His Church at His Second Coming.  “But who can endure the day of His coming?  And who can stand when He appears?  For He is like a refiner’s fire and like launderers soap.” (Mal. 3:2).  At His Second Coming, He will bring judgment to the world and deliverance to His people, but first judgment must begin with the house of God (1Pe. 4:17).  Before His Second Coming, the Bride must make herself ready (Rev. 19:7). 

In the first year of my salvation, I read the book Why Revival Tarries by Leonard Ravenhill.  It left a lasting impression on my heart.  The author made it clear that God desires to send revival, but it is delayed because of sin and lack of prayer.  If we want revival, we must pursue God with all our hearts.  This end-time revival will come as the Lord has promised because there is a remnant of believers who have not bowed the knee to Baal (1Ki. 19:18).  We must be part of that remnant.

If we pursue God, where will we find Him?  “For thus says the High and Lofty One who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him who has a contrite and humble spirit to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.” (Isa. 57:15).  When the Lord comes to His temple, He will bring refreshing to the contrite and humble.  What will He bring to the disobedient?  “He will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver; He will purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer to the Lord an offering in righteousness.” (Mal. 3:3).  We must pursue holiness if we want to see God (Heb. 12:14).  It is not just an option; it is essential.  “Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord?  Or who may stand in His holy place?  He who has clean hands and a pure heart…” (Ps. 24:3,4). 

Stones are areas in our hearts that have been hardened by the deceitfulness of sin (Heb. 3:13).  We need not continually stumble in our walk with God.  “Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble” (2Pe. 1:10).  We must prepare for the return of the Lord by removing from our lives the trees that bear bad fruit and by receiving “with meekness the implanted word” which will bear good fruit in us (Jas. 1:21).  “And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees.  Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.” (Lu. 3:9).  When we repent of our actions that are not pleasing to the Lord, it is like cutting off the branches.  That is good, but unless the tree is removed, similar branches will grow again.  We need to cut the entire tree down from the roots, or it will spring up new shoots.  These roots represent the causes of our behaviours.  Obtaining spiritual discernment is like exposing the roots of the tree so we can lay the axe to them.  Now if we get this far but do not have a good sharp axe, the task cannot be completed.  We have been provided with such a tool, the Word of God.  We wield the axe (the sword of the Spirit) with the strength of God by faith.

Let me give you an example of how this works.  One of the weaknesses the Lord showed me was my tendency to pout when wounded.  People with my personality type tend to use pouting to control the behaviour of those who wound them.  When I realized what I was doing, I repented.  Growth is a process, so removing this tree of sin can take time.  The first thing I did to try to remove this behaviour was to apply God’s Word.  Love “does not take into account a wrong suffered” (1Cor. 1:5 NASV).  The next thing I did was to repent of “control”; this is the trunk of the tree.  It tries to produce branches of all shapes and sizes, so it must be discerned separately from the branch that is causing the present trouble.  Again, I must repent and replace the behaviour with obedience to His commands.  After a time, however, it will return.  If I want to remove this sinful pattern completely, I need to apply the axe to the roots.  What is the root of control?  It is selfishness, and that springs from “self-protection”, which is actually “pride of life”.  I cut at the root of the tree when I repent of pride and replace the behaviour with surrender to God.  I grow in this area of my life as I discern between good and evil, repent of the evil, and believe God’s word (Heb. 5:14).  I don’t claim to have “already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.” (Phil. 3:12).

In this example, the root was the pride of life.  The Scriptures tell us there are three roots of sin.  The power of sin came into this world “when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise” (Gen. 3:6).  When Jesus was tempted in the wilderness, He overcame sin in these three areas.  John defined these as “the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life” (1Jn. 2:16).

It is liberating to realize that every problem is rooted in sin because, in Christ, we have victory over the power of sin (Rom. 6:6-11).  With humility and faith, we can overcome.  “And this is the victory that has overcome the world – our faith.” (1Jn. 5:4)

The Missing Step

 “As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him…” (Col. 2:6).

The way to live in the kingdom of God is the same as the way we enter it.  We did this by responding to the preaching of the gospel with repentance and faith (Mark 1:14,15).  It is not enough to hear the truth; we must turn to it in obedience for any transformation to occur (1Pe. 1:22).  What is it that keeps us from experiencing greater fruitfulness?  There is an important step we must take, but sadly it is too often missing in our walk. This is the practice of spiritual discernment.

Before we can apply spiritual discernment, we must first purpose to walk in the Spirit by faith.  This is a deliberate choice we must make in daily surrender.  “Those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.  If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” (Gal. 5:24,25).  We live crucified to this world and alive to God in Christ Jesus (Gal. 2:20).  We must, as Jesus said, deny ourselves and follow Him (Lu. 9:23).  To walk effectively in the Spirit, we must listen to, and obey His promptings.  How we hear will determine our obedience.  “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!” (Lu. 8:8b). 

In my desire to walk in surrender to the Lord, I may ask Him, “Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me and know my anxieties; and see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” (Ps. 139:23,24).  As I pray this, it is important to listen to what the Lord may tell me.  What if, instead of speaking directly to my spirit, He chooses to reveal what is in my heart through circumstances?  My ability to hear Him will depend on my ability to discern spiritually.  In my last article we discussed meditating on the word of God to obtain spiritual understanding.  Discerning spiritually is necessary for the application of this understanding since the proper application of knowledge is wisdom.  “Who is wise and understanding among you?  Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom.” (Jas. 3:1). 

The ability to distinguish between good and evil, is a mark of spiritual maturity. We develop this skill by practice.  “But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.” (Heb. 5:14). It takes effort, which we will only exert if we are convinced of its value.  The first thing we need to develop this habit is a sincere hatred of sin.  There are two statements concerning the fear of the Lord that tell me this is the starting point: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” (Prov. 9:10a) and “The fear of the Lord is to hate evil;” (Prov. 8:13a).  We must possess a deep conviction that sin produces death, “for to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.” (Rom. 8:6).  Any sinful pattern in my life will result in destruction, and it will affect those around me.  If I love my neighbour, I will be diligent in practicing spiritual discernment.  God knows how critical it is for me to forsake evil, so He will discipline me if I am not obedient (Heb. 12:5-9). 

If the fear of the Lord is the first step, then obeying the commandment of love is the next one.  “Now the purpose (or goal) of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith,” (1Tim. 1:5).  We will be effective in obeying this commandment if we walk by faith with pure motives.  We obtain a pure heart when we repent and believe on the Lord for salvation.  We maintain purity of heart with a good conscience. 

Maintaining a sensitive (good) conscience is the third step.  When we are forgiven for our sins, our conscience is cleansed (Heb. 9:14).  To have a “good” conscience, we must not allow our hearts to be hardened by sin (Heb. 3:13).  We must always be quick to respond in repentance to the convictions of the Holy Spirit.

Armed with these spiritual weapons, we must in humility examine the fruit of our words and actions.  “Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or else make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for a tree is known by its fruit.” (Matt. 12:33).  Am I experiencing the fruit of the Spirit, which is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Gal. 5:22-23)?  If what I am experiencing is contrary to these, then I apply myself to discern the source of the evil.  Pride will keep me from examining myself, so humility is essential.

Recognizing the type of fruit we are experiencing is the easy part.  Discerning the tree which is bearing this fruit is more difficult.  The Holy Spirit will help us with this as He brings to remembrance what we have meditated on in the word of God.  “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” (Heb. 4:12).  As He uses the word of God, and His anointing as a witness (1Jn. 2:27), we discern His voice in our conscience.  Hearing correctly is important, but our response will determine our success.  We must cast down “arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. (2Cor. 10:5).  This is possible if we remain in an attitude of submission, refuse to be conformed to this world, and submit to the renewing of our minds (Rom. 12:1,2).

Finally, having discerned what is in our hearts, we can overcome evil by faith.  We cannot blame the action of others for our sins; we must take responsibility for them and repent.  The good news is that we have died to the power of sin through the cross (Rom. 6:5-14).  Standing by faith in our freedom from sin’s power, we look to the life of Christ in us for the grace to obey.

Spiritual Understanding

“For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.” (Prov. 2:6)

Scripture tells us that if we want wisdom, we need only ask God for it in faith (Jas. 1:5,6).  This verse in Proverbs tells us how God will answer our prayer.  It comes from His mouth, that is His Word.  We may like to think that God will just drop it in us instantly, but that is not what Solomon shared after receiving this gift.  He told us to treasure God’s words in our hearts and to cry out for understanding and discernment.  We are to search for wisdom as for hidden treasures. (Prov. 2:1-5).

In the parable of the sower, the Lord gave us insights on how the seed of the Word can grow and bear fruit in us.  When we hear the words of the Lord, we receive them in our minds, but to get them into our hearts, we must mix them with faith (Heb. 4:2).  If we harden our hearts through disobedience, the seed will not be planted deep enough to grow.  “And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who did not obey?  So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.” (Heb. 3:18,19).  Those who desire to obey the Lord will receive His words by faith.  Then, for the seed to bear much fruit, we must add one more step.  We must meditate on the spoken word until we obtain spiritual understanding.  “But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who bears fruit and produces: some a hundred-fold, some sixty, some thirty.” (Matt. 13:23). 

Spiritual understanding will help us keep the word until it bears fruit.  I may have shared with you before how the Lord brought this revelation to me.  In my prayers for guidance, I was seeking to hear a word from the Lord.  There had been a few occasions in my walk, especially when my struggles were the most difficult, that I had been delivered by a “rhema” (spoken) word from the Lord.  We all need those experiences at times, but I was placing too much importance on them.  I was too hesitant to act unless I had a direct word from God.  On that occasion, the Lord did not respond by answering my questions, but rather by bringing correction.  A familiar passage in Scripture was opened to my understanding in a new way.  “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye.   Do not be like the horse or like the mule, which have no understanding, which must be harnessed with brit and bridle, else they will not come near you.” (Ps. 32:8,9).  Without spiritual understanding, I could be too easily distracted from obeying Him.  “Discretion will preserve you; understanding will keep you, to deliver you from the way of evil, from the man who speaks perverse things.” (Prov. 2:11,12).  In these last days, many deceivers have gone out into the world (2Jn. 7), but we will be kept on the path of righteousness by the wisdom that is found in Christ (1Cor. 1:30).  We must have the mind of Christ (1Cor. 2:16).

The process of transformation into the image of Christ depends on the working of the Holy Spirit (2Cor. 3:18).  The presence of the Spirit is the moisture that causes the seed to germinate. When we receive spiritual understanding, we are “seeing” the Lord because He is the Word of God.  Change will not occur in us unless we obey His words, but we must “see” Him before we can follow Him.  The enemy will use the cares of this world to keep us from spending time in the Lord’s presence.  There is a time to be busy, and there is a time to be quiet.  The example of Mary and Martha illustrates this point.  Martha was “worried and troubled about many things” but Mary “sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word” (Lu. 10:38-42).  When Jesus is speaking, we should be listening.  If we spend time at the feet of Jesus before we do the works, then we will rest in peace as we do them.  We will not be anxious as Martha was.  Having “beheld” Jesus in the Spirit, we will then be enabled to follow him with grace (Phil. 2:13).  The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of grace (Heb.10:29).

To receive this spiritual understanding from the Lord, we must be careful how we hear.  When Jesus sent messages to the churches He said, “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” (Rev. 2:29).  First, we must listen with meekness (Jas. 1:21).  A proud person is not open to receive instruction.  Second, we must discern through our spirit.  “And he shall not judge by the sight of his eyes, nor discern by the hearing of his ears” (Isa. 11:3).  The Spirit teaches us through the anointing we have received (1Jn. 2:27).   Third, we must be careful not to limit revelation by our own understanding (Prov. 3:5).  We must trust in the Lord to confirm what is true in what we have previously understood. We have all been influenced by what we have heard, and we may even have received as doctrine the teachings of man (Matt. 15:9). 

We need to read Scripture, but God can also speak through Christian books.  Anointed teaching is a gift to the Church.  We must read these with the same care given to prophetic words: “Test all things; hold fast what is good.” (1Thess. 5:21).  It is important also to confirm these teachings through Scripture (Acts 17:11).  Christian teaching should direct us to Jesus in the same manner that Scripture points us to Him (Jn. 5:39,40).

At the time of this writing, we are approaching a new year.  I would like to take this opportunity to remind you of the Two-Year Bible Reading Plan available on this website.  Reading the Bible in a systematic manner helps us to read portions of Scripture that we would not normally do.  There are hidden treasures in all the books of the Bible.  You can view this plan in the article posted on December 26, 2020, or you can download a copy of it with the following link.

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1TQs0_oejNJO8HInVlN1JmSClMhWcEbiG?usp=sharing

Our First Love

“Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love.” (Rev. 2:4). 

What is it about our first love that makes it so important to the Lord?  It is a love that has not yet been tested by the challenges of life, yet it is full of faith and hope.  Even though it is young and may have more words than reality, it is full of zeal.  This zeal is not fleshly passion, but a fervency of spirit which is to be maintained throughout our Christian walk (Rom. 12:11).

The Lord gave this admonition to the church in Ephesus near the end of the first century.  This was a church birthed in revival (Acts 19:1-20).  So powerful was the demonstration of the Spirit that “all who dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus” (vs. 10) and “the word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed.” (vs. 20).  In the time of their first love, the fear of the Lord came upon them and “many who had believed came confessing and telling their deeds.” (vs. 18).  They were still babes in the Lord, but they were alive and growing.

Later, Paul wrote and exhorted them to walk as children of light (Eph. 5:8).  They were still not mature as believers, but he said they were full of faith and love (Eph. 1:15), and he instructed them to be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might (Eph. 6:10).  As newborn babes they had come to know and believe the love that God had for them (1Jn. 4:16).  Then as children, they were learning to walk by faith in love.  The fruit of the Spirit was developing in them as they were learning to overcome the enemy.  They were becoming spiritual young men who are strong in the Lord and have overcome the evil one (1Jn. 2:12-14).  This stage of spiritual maturity is victorious Christian living, but it is still not the state of “a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.” (Eph. 4:13).  The later stage occurs when, having gained victory over the enemy, we once again become like children in humility and walk in perfected love.  Mature believers have not only learned to overcome the evil one; they continue to walk in their first love.  “I write to you little children, because you have known the Father.  I have written to you, fathers, because you have known Him who is from the beginning.” (vs. 13 and 14).  

As we ponder the message the Lord gave to the Ephesian church in the book of Revelations, we can take note and guard our hearts.  In the last article we discussed walking in the fruit of self-control for victory over the flesh and the devil.  The danger that occurs when we experience victories over the enemy is that we can become devil-focused instead of God-focused.  When the disciples returned rejoicing that the demons were subject to them, Jesus affirmed their authority, but He exhorted them to rejoice instead that their names were written in heaven.  (Lu. 10:17-20).  Regardless of how many victories we experience, we can never assume that we will never fall.  “Let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.” (1Cor. 10:12).  There are many ways the enemy tries to defeat us.  If he cannot steal the word from us, he tries to discourage us with opposition or he tries to distract us with the cares and things of this world (Matt. 13:18-23).  We know that the Ephesian church had initially kept the words of Jesus and had not been defeated by persecutions (Rev. 2:2,3).  They had, however, lost their first love.  They were too busy “doing” and not taking enough time to maintain their relationship with the Lord. 

How can we keep from falling into that trap?  For me, it always goes back to the proverb, “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” (Prov. 16:18).  I was listening to a teaching on humility recently and the minister made an interesting point.  He said that it is easier to see pride in others than in ourselves because our own pride will blind us from recognizing it.  In my own walk, I have found that if I am not responding to the correction of the Lord in my conscience, He will then try to correct me through circumstances or the rebuke of a friend.  But even for those methods to work, I need to be sensitive to what the Lord is trying to say through them.  Rather than complain when things do not go right, I make an effort to give thanks in every situation (1Thess. 5:18), which is the first step to seeing God in it.  Rather than defending myself when I am corrected, I try always to discern whether the Lord may be trying to say something to me, and if He is, I “agree quickly with my adversary” (Matt. 5:25).

There is another occasion in the New Testament that may reveal something about what was happening to the Ephesian church.  The first letter to Timothy was written when Paul had resumed his travels after the first Roman imprisonment.  Timothy had been left in Ephesus to help establish them because they were starting to give heed to teachings based on the traditions of men.  “I urged you when I went into Macedonia—remain in Ephesus that you may charge some that they teach no other doctrine, nor give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which cause disputes rather then godly edification which is in faith.” (1Tim. 1:3,4).   By the time John sends them the message from the Lord, they have works, but not the kind that pleases the Lord.  We know that the Lord is more concerned with who we are than with what we do, but works are nonetheless important.  “Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent.” (Rev. 2:5).  The works that please the Lord are those that issue from love, not legalism.

When I was praying to understand the Lord’s message to the Ephesian church, I was directed to see the role of the Holy Spirit in their growth.  The Book of Acts records their baptism in the Holy Spirit, and the revival that followed (Acts 19).  After being sealed with the Spirit of promise (Eph. 1:13), they were to receive the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him” (Eph. 1:17).  They were to walk worthy of their calling, maintaining the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace (Eph. 4:1-3).  They were to walk as wise men, filled with the Holy Spirit (Eph. 5:15-18).  If we want to walk in our first love, we must continue to walk in communion with the Holy Spirit (2Cor. 13:14), the Spirit of grace and love. 

The Fruit of Self-Control

 “He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.” (Prov. 16:32). 

Every Christian believer goes through the experience Paul described in his epistle to the Romans, “For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice.” (Rom. 7:19).  It is important that we go through this and not live there.  Self-control is possible for believers.  The type of self-control I am referring to is not human willpower or self-discipline.  It is a fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:23).  Peter listed it as one of the eight qualities required to “make our call and election sure” (2Pe. 1:10).  In my last article, we discussed ever-increasing love.  Our goal in pleasing God is to walk in genuine love.  The journey begins and continues with faith, but other qualities like self-control must be increased in us if we are to reach our goal (2Pe. 1:5-8).  

The way of victory is not easy, but it is achievable.  In these last days, many will choose an alternate path.  “Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron… (1Tim. 4:1,2).  Why would someone give heed to deceiving spirits?  Because, in the flesh, it is easier to accept sinful weaknesses than to believe in the power of grace for righteous living.  Paul says that in the last days, men will be “lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power.” (2Tim. 3:4,5).  Doctrines of demons do not always look like they are from demons.  Take some teachings on grace, for example.  If they emphasize the mercy of God but deny its power for holiness, they are but half-truths, meant to keep people in sin.  There are so many variations of deceitful doctrines currently being propagated and their goals are always the same.  They deny the Lord, or what He has done (2Pe. 2:1).  Teachings on righteousness, for example, are not as popular as teachings on faith.  The reason is simple: teachings on faith tell you how you can have what you want; teachings on righteousness tell you how you can please God.  We cannot please God without faith, but faith which does not result in good works is not profitable for eternity (Jas. 2:14-17).  I do not think I can overstate that deception is a major assignment of the enemy in these last days.  “But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.” (2Tim. 3:13). 

Let us not be deceived into thinking that we will not be judged for our actions.  “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.” (2Cor. 5:10).  God is merciful, but He is also just.  As we walk in the Way, we must be careful not to fall into the ditches, on one side or the other.

The message of the cross is how we can obtain control over our flesh.  “For the message of the cross is foolish to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” (1Cor. 1:18).  Note here that the Scripture says, “who are being saved”.  Our salvation begins with justification, but it does not end there, it continues unto sanctification.   Be not deceived; we will not see the Lord without holiness (Heb. 12:14).  

Our faith must be in God and what He has done through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  “For if we died with Him, we shall also live with Him” (2Tim. 2:11).  “For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.” (Rom. 5:10).  To move past the experience Paul described in Romans Chapter 7, we must “reckon ourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Rom. 6:11).  It is a stand that we take by faith every time we battle sin.  We declare that we died with Christ, so sin no longer has any power over us (Rom. 6:6).  We also turn our faith to the life of Christ in us.   “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” (Gal. 2:20).  These are not just words which we confess with our lips; we must be believe them in our hearts (Mk. 11:23). 

Some translations of Galatians 2:20 say “by the faith of the Son of God” instead of “by faith in the Son of God.  While it is true that we receive our faith from God, it is important that we also see ourselves “in” Christ.  At the occasion of our salvation, we were baptized “into” Christ by the Spirit (1Cor. 12:13).  That is when we were effectually crucified with Christ.  Having then been united with Him in His death, we were also raised with Him in His resurrection.  At the present, our spirit man has been raised with Him to a position of authority over evil (Eph. 1:20-21).  We can walk by faith in this reality as we submit to the Spirit of God with our members (body and soul).  This is the process of transformation which results in the renewing of the mind (Rom. 12:1,2).  As we see ourselves “in” Christ, we recognize that we have spiritual life in the Spirit, and we now choose to “walk” in the Spirit (Gal. 5:25).  As we do this, the fruit of the Spirit will develop in us; self-control being one aspect of this fruit.

The experience of having reckoned ourselves to be “dead indeed to sin, but alive to God” occurs through an act of complete surrender to Christ.  This is not a one-time event.  We must constantly come to this place of reckoning as a living sacrifice.  Maintaining a conviction of “having died”, we also die daily to the things of this world (Col. 3:1-5).  Victory in Christ begins with surrender, but it must be worked out through repentance and faith.  “For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.” (Rom. 8:13). 

Ever-Increasing Love

 “The way of life winds upward for the wise, that he may turn away from hell below.” (Prov. 15:24). 

The Christian walk is a path to eternity; as we live on this earth, we are either moving upward or downward.  To move upwards is to become more like Christ.  John described the goal of the Christian life as love that is being perfected (matured) in us.  “Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.  No one has seen God at any time.  If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us.”  (1Jn. 4:11,12).  All who are honest with themselves will admit that our love needs to be perfected; it has hindrances which must be overcome.  “You ran well.  Who hindered you from obeying the truth?  This persuasion does not come from Him who calls you.  A little leaven leavens the whole lump.” (Gal. 5:7-9).  Our walk is never stationary because the enemy of our souls is behind these hindrances.   If we don’t push forward, we are pushed back.  To continue to walk on an upward path, we must grow in obedience with our spiritual senses developed to discern between good and evil (Heb. 5:14).  How do we do this?  How do we grow in obedience and discernment? 

In the later years of his life, Peter summarized the key instructions of life in his second epistle.  “Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.”  (2Pe. 1:10,11).  In previous articles I have covered the eight qualities Peter listed that are needed to be “neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (2Pe. 1:8).  These eight qualities are added one to another in a definite sequence.  They are steps that lead to the highest quality which is love.  But, like the writer of proverbs stated, the path is circular as it moves upward.  We must have these qualities, but we must also have them in abundance (2Pe. 1:8).  The highest quality, love, is increased through the obedience of faith as we increase in the other six qualities.

Faith is the foundation for growth.  If we are to continue upward in our walk, faith must continue to increase.  We cannot, as Paul accused the Galatians, begin in faith then turn to human means to accomplish our goals (Gal. 3:3).  Faith will be challenged, but we must stand fast in it.

Take for example the current situation with the corona virus.  As the world battles this issue, there is a lot of talk of restrictions and vaccines.  Faith is not recognized as a useful means to fight this problem, so the world relies on science.  Those who refuse to follow the guidelines, or to be vaccinated, are labelled as careless and selfish.  I think some are, but what about those who are standing in faith?  I do not mean wishful thinking, but serious faith.  “And this is the victory that overcomes the world—our faith. (1Jn. 5:4).  Our freedom as individuals is also being challenged, but for me that is not the main issue.  Freedom is ours in Christ, but it must be the servant of love (Gal. 5:13).  For the sake of those without faith, I follow the guidelines because that is all those people have for protection.  But what about vaccinations?  Is it selfish to not get vaccinated?  Not if we truly have faith, because what we have is better than a vaccine.  Standing in faith does not mean that we will not contract the disease; it means that we will battle and overcome it.  We wage war with spiritual weapons, such as the blood of Jesus and the Word of God, but it is still a fight of faith.  The price has been paid for our healing (Isa. 53:4,5).  We can take God’s Word as our medicine (Prov. 4:20-22).  If, because of work or travel, I choose to get vaccinated, it need not hinder my faith.  I will be careful not to put my trust in it, and I will still need to use my faith to oppose all the possible side-effects of the vaccine. 

Having obtained faith, we add the next two qualities, which are virtue (moral excellence) and knowledge (2Pe. 1:5).  Virtue is added before knowledge because faithfulness to what we have is necessary before more is given to us, but knowledge is needed for us to increase in virtue.  “Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” (2Cor. 7:1).  Remember that salvation is in three aspects: spirit, soul, and body.  What Paul is talking about in this verse is cleansing our soul from all filthiness of flesh and spirit.  Our mind, which is part of the soul, needs to be renewed.  We must be spiritually minded. 

The enemy has established many strongholds in the cultures of this world (2Cor. 10:5).  Take world religions for example.  One of the areas that I have seen the influence of eastern religions in the lives of Christians is regarding health.  Exercise programs like yoga may help to relieve stress and tone the body, but what spiritual effect do they have on the soul?  The basis of Buddhism is that you can be one with the “force of the universe” through meditation or self-purification.  It teaches that you can achieve as state of “perfection” without a Saviour.  You may think that you can participate in the martial arts without the spiritual influences, but that is not how the Lord sees it.  He rebuked the Israelites for similar attitudes: “For You have forsaken Your people, the house of Jacob, because they are filled with eastern ways.” (Isai. 2:6).

It is not only in exercise that we see the influence of “eastern ways”.  We see it in alternative methods of healing like reflexology and acupuncture.  The basis behind these methods is to remove blockages to the flow of divine energy.  There is no scientific basis for these methods; they are spiritual in nature.  Any healing method that speaks of achieving a balance of yin and yang originates in the spirit of divination.  Some may argue that these methods work, but at what price?  To submit to a spirit is to come under its control. 

There are other qualities that must be increased in our lives to bring love to maturity, but we must begin with faith and continue with obedience and discernment.  If you have participated in any of these practices, you must cleanse yourself from their influences.  You must turn from them in repentance, and by faith you must renounce these practices and deny the spirits behind them any further claim to your life.

Words

 “If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body.” (Jas. 3:2). 

As much as I would like to, this is a measuring standard I cannot argue with, nor can I replace with any other.  I have recently had to repent for using words that are hurtful to others.  The realization that I could react that way under pressure is a great disappointment.  As I think about it, there are other times that I have used words in a manner that is not Christ-like.  Whenever I have, it has been to protect myself, or to manage my circumstances.  In either case, I must admit that it is not representative of the surrendered life I desire to walk in.  How should I respond to my lack of maturity?  Of course I must repent, and I have, but how do I change?  Is it even possible?  James tells us that if we control our words, we control our walk, but then he also says, “But no man can tame the tongue.  It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.” (Jas. 3:8).  Should I just thank God for His forgiveness and accept the state of my soul as that of the man Paul described in Romans chapter 7?  “For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice.” (Rom. 7:19).  This is a serious question we must all settle within ourselves.  Many false doctrines have resulted from misinterpretations of scriptures like this one.  As Peter warned, we must not twist these scriptures to our own destruction (2Pe. 3:16).  Taming the tongue may not be possible for man, but with God, all things are possible (Mark 10:27).

Let me tell you, then, how I respond to failures.  First, I am disappointed in myself and grieved for the harm I have caused others and God.  (Ps. 51:4).  Then, I resist the temptation to judge myself, and I submit to the discipline of the Lord (1Cor. 4:3,4).  I have learned to discern the difference between the two.  If I judge myself, I come under condemnation, which results in despair.  If I trust in God, however, I have hope.  I believe He can cleanse me and cause me to walk in a manner pleasing to Him, because of His Spirit within me (Ps. 51:7-13).  I realize that the root cause of my sin is that I walk in the flesh and not the Spirit.  This is quite apparent because my behaviour is not the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:16-23). 

Even this realization can lead to discouragement, but the Lord has taught me that “all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” (Rom. 8:28).  I reassure myself that God can cause good to come out of even my defeats.  God can lead me in triumph in Christ as He helps me to learn from my failure (2Cor. 5:14).  To gain the victory, I must not only repent for having sinned, but I must discern and repent for the root sin.  Those who are mature have learned by practice to discern between good and evil (Heb. 4:16).  Discernment is the first real step to victory.  Then comes repentance and faith.

Instead of Christ being my life in this situation, I resorted to selfishness. The cause of this selfishness is fear, which is rooted in pride.  Under pressure, when things were not going the way I was comfortable with, I resorted to taking over my life rather than letting Christ be my life (Gal. 2:20).  To gain control over my tongue, I need to understand what led to this so that I do not repeat it.  The Scriptures are clear that the problem is in my thinking.  “For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.  For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.” (Rom. 8:5,6).  The Spirit of God helps me with this.  He shows me the thoughts that need to be brought into obedience to Christ (2Cor. 10:4,5), and He teaches me by His Word the thoughts I should possess.  As I meditate and believe His instructions, my mind is renewed and I walk in the acceptable and perfect will of God (Rom. 12:1,2).  It is my choice to change how I think.  Like Paul exhorted us, we must “set our minds on things above, not on things on the earth” because we have died, and our life is now hidden with Christ in God. (Col. 3:2,3).

The discernment I receive helps me to repent in the truest sense, which is to change direction.  But to walk in the right direction, I need grace, which is obtained by faith (Rom. 5:2).  The only way to victory is faith.  I must identify by faith with the death and resurrection of Christ.  “For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin.  For he who has died has been freed from sin.” (Rom. 6:5,6).  I choose to “reckon myself dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus (Rom. 6:11), and to walk by faith in the Spirit.  The result is more of the fruit of the Spirit in my life.

The experience I have shared has resulted in some growth, but it has also shown me that there is a limit to my surrender.  I think that is why Paul calls it a “living sacrifice” (Rom. 12:1).  I must continually offer myself to God and submit to the process of transformation through the renewing of my mind.  I don’t like the circumstances that cause the fleshly behaviour to surface, but I realize that without them I would not know about the weaknesses in my character.  So, I welcome trials because tribulations produce perseverance (Rom. 5:3,4), which provides good soil for the seed of the Word to bear the fruit of Christ-like character in me (Lu. 8:15).