Unashamedly Living for Christ

by Terry Laughlin | May 6, 2016 | Christian Living

“Then He called the crowd to Him along with His disciples and said: ‘If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for Me and for the gospel will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? If anyone is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when He comes in His Father’s glory with the holy angels.’”  (Mark 8:34-38)

There is a tale of the great English actor Macready.   Macready was once asked by a preacher; “What is the difference between the two of them.”  The actor appeared before crowds night after night proclaiming fiction and people listened with delight.  The preacher spoke of the essential and of the unchanged truths of God yet, most people listened with no passion upon their hearts. Macready’s answer was.  “I present fiction as though it was true you present truth as though it were fiction.” That, my dear brothers and sisters in Christ is the answer to what needs to be seen in the Body of Christ.  Preachers need to return to fasting, prayer and keeping their offices as a place of study.  The children of God need to walk into church expecting to hear a message that is birthed from the Word of God while praying for illumination from the Holy Spirit.  Jesus’ view on passionate Christianity is clearly spelled out in the gospel of Mark.

Listen as I read Mark 8:34-38, “Then He called the crowd to Him along with His disciples and said: ‘If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for Me and for the gospel will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? If anyone is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when He comes in His Father’s glory with the holy angels.’” 

I would propose to you that Jesus Christ desires for His disciples to live unashamedly for Him. How can a Christian’s life express the same compassion that Jesus has for the Body of Christ?

What Jesus taught then is still for all who are reads this  message today

In order to live passionately for Christ, Christians must grasp the truth of Jesus’ message.  It begins with understanding that what Jesus taught then is still for all who are within earshot of this message today.

Live unashamedly as His disciple 

A very key issue in expressing a passionate life for Christ is to live unashamedly as His disciple.  Jesus said, “If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me.”  (Luke 9:23)  Jesus knew how the separate the men from the boys.  The crowds had been following Him because of the miracles.  There would be those in the crowd, just like in church circles today, people who like religion, who love the works of God manifested in some way, but are unwilling to pay the cost of true discipleship.  (The Bible Exposition Commentary)   Discipleship is a daily discipline and true Christianity is a life that walks under the guidance of the Holy Spirit of Christ throughout the day.

Passionate Christian living is saying no to ourselves, not just simply to pleasure or possessions, but saying no to self-will.  Christians know that this is not a negative, such as denying oneself something, but, rather it is a positive action.  It is saying yes to the Lordship of Christ. The heart of Christ’s teaching is found in the word “deny,” (aparneomai) meaning to disown, disregard, forsake, renounce or reject.  Its practical application is to subdue the flesh and bring it under submission to a higher authority.  The Greek word for “deny” means that the person enters a new state or condition.  (Corinthians 5:17)  The apostle Paul wrote:  “Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires.” (Galatians 5:24)

Passionate Christian living enables the child of God to reject self-interest and self-fulfillment and diligently seek out how to fulfill the will of God in his life by becoming a disciple of Christ.  The closest contemporary word to “disciple” is probably “apprentice.”  A disciple is more than a student who learns lessons by means of lectures and books.  He is one who learns by living and working with his teacher in daily hands-on experiences. Jesus sets the style of true Christianity by the way of taking up one’s own cross daily and He commands Christians to live as He did.  Passionate Christianity trusts God in every situation of life.

The heart factor to passionate living for the Lord is found in many places in the Word of God.  One great instance is found in Daniel Chapter 1.  Verse 8 tells us this about a man who grasped his purpose for living, “But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way.”  (Daniel 1:8) Daniel is a man of God who stayed devoted to his calling and faithful to God’s will for him in the midst of a sin-centered world no matter what cross was laid upon him.  He was a spiritual leader whose way of life and faith is to be considered and imitated. (Hebrews 13:7)

Daniel was taken in captivity to Babylon when King Nebuchadnezzar besieged Jerusalem. (Daniel 1:1: Who’s Who in the Bible)  He was chosen with three others (Daniel 1:6) to be trained in the language and literature of the Babylonians so they could become administrators for the Babylonian Empire.  While being a part of the Royal Academy, Daniel and His fellow servants of the Lord were given the opportunity to enjoy a daily amount of food and wine from the kings table. Daniel and his friends could have easily have justified their circumstances as being a blessing.  They could have said “We will obey what the king wants and just be loyal to God on the inside.” This is not the case with a man of God who has Biblical integrity.

I love the way the King James Bible puts it, “But Daniel purposed in his heart…”   The Babylonians could change Daniel’s home, textbooks, menu, but they could not change his heart.  He and his friends purposed in their hearts that they would obey God’s Word they refused to become conformed to the world around them.

Daniel, Shadrack, Meshack, and Abendnego had their first real test of faithfulness to God here.  Daniel knew what was right and the other three captives resolved to do what was right also.  To eat meat and to drink wine from the king’s table would have caused them to become involved in indirect worship to the Babylonian deities. It was the custom of the Babylonians to throw a small part of the meat and wine upon the earth, as an initiatory offering to the gods, so as to consecrate to the gods the whole entertainment of the feast.  To have partaken of such a feast would have been to sanction idolatry and the worship of the Babylonian gods. There was only one true God and these four men proved their faithfulness of not bowing to other gods.  Later on in the Book of Daniel we read of his faithfulness in praying to God even when it came against the decree of king Darius to do so.  Because of his faithfulness in prayer he saw the Lord deliver him from the mouths of the lions.  (Daniel 6:1-22)  Shadrach, Meshack, and Abendigo were delivered by God out of the fiery furnace they were thrown into because they refused to bow down to the image made by Nebuchadnezzar.  These four men lived a passionate life before God and they carried their cross daily, choosing to obey the Lord rather than man.

Note, while the Lord’s children are living in this sin cursed world with all it’s false man made gods, they are to take special care to be living a life that is after the heart of God.  They are called to be a holy priesthood and not participate in the sins of the flesh, and the world.  Even when facing an attack on their faith, they are to express a life that is passionately pleasing to the Lord.  Christians are to be a peculiar people acting upon the spiritual light they have and the Lord will protect them.  Those who desire to excel in God’s wisdom and a holy life say in their heart as did King David, “Let not my heart be drawn to what is evil, to take part in wicked deeds with men who are evildoers; let me not eat of their delicacies.” (Psalm 141:4)

The Lord has always done extraordinary things with people who are sold out to Him and His work.  The joy of seeing God use such people came after they had allowed the Lord to show His faithfulness in their act of denying themselves for the Lord.  One such man was George Mueller and when asked “What was his secret” he said, “There was a day when I died, utterly died – died to George Muller, his opinions, preferences, tastes, and will—died to the world, its approval or censure—died to the approval or blame even of my brethren and friends—and since then I have studied only to show myself approved unto God.”

The child of God who finds his value in what is done for Christ and Christ alone knows the joy of passionately living for the Lord.  (This portion of the message came about as I studied material from, Daily Study Bible Series; The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge; Word Pictures of the New Testament; Wiersbe’s Expository Outlines on the New Testament; New American Commentary; Matthew Henry Commentary; British Weekly;  Encyclopedia of 7,700 illustration; The Readers Companion; A Commentary, Critical and Explanatory Commentary; The Teacher’s Commentary; Tyndale Concise Bible Commentary: Barnes Notes and The Expository Bible Commentary and the Bible)

Unashamedly living for Christ and His cause

Passionate Christianity is expressed through denying self, taking up our cross daily and unashamedly living for Christ and His cause.  Jesus is very direct in pointing out an eternal fact, “For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for Me and for the gospel will save it. (Mark 8:35) The foundational truth worth grasping is found in the words, “loses his life for Me…”  It is better translated in the New American Standard Bible as, “…for My sake…”   The phrase, “The only thing that will count for eternal life is what is done for Christ” is a powerful truth to grasp.  Discipleship is a matter of profit and loss, a question of whether we will waste our lives or invest them for the sake of Christ and His work.  Personal devotion to Christ will lead to practical duties being done for the sake of Jesus.

To waste our lives is to use the spiritual gifts, talents, opportunities and possessions that He has given us on ourselves in order to gain ungodly wealth, power and fame.  Christians who invest their lives for the glory of Jesus and for the good of the kingdom of God sacrificially exercise their spiritual gifts and talents through sacrificial love.  They see all opportunities and possessions they have as coming from God.  They sacrifice pleasure, time and energy to develop and grow God given endowments for the good of others in hopes to bring attention to Christ and reaching the lost with the Gospel. Many have learned the joy of no longer working for themselves and have started using all they have for the Lord and for the sake of furthering the Gospel to family members, friends and co-workers.

I knew of a man who had a trade that he was very gifted at.  He loved his trade and spent all his time getting good at.  After reaching his goal he found that wasn’t satisfying, so he set his goal on making money and becoming famous.  Some money started coming in and his fame most certainly grew.  After a few years that did not satisfy.  Instead of repenting and turning to the Lord for forgiveness, he was surrendered over the lust of his sinful flesh. (Roman’s 1:21,24) After coming to His senses, he gave His life to the Lord and ever since he has done all his work, used his gifts and talents for the glory of Christ and for the good of others.

Youth Companion ran the true story of Abraham Bininger, a Swiss boy from Zurich, who came over with his parents on the same ship as John Wesley whose preaching Abraham was exposed to.  The father and mother of the lad died on the voyage and were buried at sea.  When Abraham grew to manhood he gave his entire life and heart to Jesus Christ. After hearing of the misery and the degradation of the negroes on the island St. Thomas, he wanted to go and take the gospel of Christ to them.  He sacrificed all he had to make it to St. Thomas and upon his arrival he learned that it was against the law for any person but a slave to preach to other slaves.  It was the policy of the planters to keep the blacks in ignorance and superstition. Abraham wrote a letter to the governor of St. Thomas begging urgently to become a slave for the rest of his life, promising to serve as a slave faithfully, providing he could give his leisure time to preaching the gospel of Christ to his fellow-slaves.  The governor was so touched by this man’s sacrifice of freedom for the sake of His Lord and for the Gospel he wrote an edict empowering Abraham Bininger to tell the story of Jesus Christ when and where ever he felt led of the Lord to do so, to black or white, bond or free man.”

(Much of the teaching found in this second division of the message came to my mind as I read these study books, The Bible Exposition Commentary; The Preacher’s Outline & Sermon Bible; Encyclopedia of 7,700 Illustrations and the Bible)

Unashamedly grasp His values

Those who give their entire life for the Lord and His gospel will be used of God and Christians are to unashamedly grasp His values.  Jesus points Christians to eternal values, “What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?  (Mark 8:36-37) No man can gain the whole world.  But what if he could? All the pleasures and wealth and power and fame are nothing without it being obtained in the perfect will of God.

The Apostle Paul wrote the young pastor Timothy and gives a truth, “But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.” (1 Timothy 6:6-7) Evangelist Billy Graham has done funerals for the rich and famous and through his years of ministry he has never seen a U-Hall trailer loaded with the possessions of those who have passed away being driven to the cemetery for a reason.  The physically dead are not taking their worldly wealth with them.

Jesus is not saying having wealth is wrong, for God has given many, Christians and no-Christians the gift to make and manage all kinds of wealth.   He is clearly teaching for mankind not to place his eternal value on how much they have or can obtain down here.  Passionate Christians keep their earthly possession in the proper place, for they know that death is the grave of earthly pleasures, but it is a gateway of heavenly joys.  They know to pass through this gate and not having a right relationship with Christ is to pay an eternal cost which cannot be purchased back even with the wealth of the entire world.

In His parable of the Rich Fool Jesus teaches us that, “…a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions .” (Luke 12:15b)  In this parable the rich fool found his security in the fact that he was blessed with a good crop.  “He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do?…  He said [I] have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.” (Luke 12:19)  In the parable, “God said to him, ‘you fool!  This very night your very life will be demanded from you.  Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself.”  (Luke 12:20)  Jesus went on to say, “This is how it will be with anyone who stores up for himself but is not rich toward God.” (Thoughts coming to my mind and heart as I read these study books, The Preacher’s Outline & Sermon Bible; The Pulpit Commentary; Matthew Henry Commentary and the Bible)

Confesses unashamedly the Lordship of Christ

Lastly, passionate Christianity confesses unashamedly the Lordship of Christ. Jesus gives a powerful warning, “If anyone is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when He comes in His Father’s glory with the holy angels.” (Mark 8:38)  Whosoever denies Christ Lordship over them, whether through pride, wickedness or fear here on this side will be rejected by Christ on the other side and this has an eternal cost.  On the other hand those who openly confess Him as Savior and Lord will have the privilege of having Jesus acknowledging them in heaven before God and all the angels.

Passionate Christianity speaks out as the apostle Paul did, “I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes…”  (Romans 1:16) Paul was not ashamed of the gospel.  He knew God’s forgiveness and the power of it to save people from their sins.  This gospel message has power to free all who surrender to the Lordship of Christ from the bondage of sin.  Like this adulterous and sinful generation, Paul was carrying the same message Christians are to give today.

Like many in America who are without Christ, Rome was a proud city.  The Gospel came from Jerusalem, the capital city of one of the most insignificant nations in Paul’s time, according to Romans.  Christians in that day were not commonly known among the elite of society; they were common people and some even slaves. Any message handed down from Caesar would immediately get the attention of most in Rome.  Paul called his message, “The Gospel of God.” (Romans 1:1)  I have just recently read the testimony of one great Bible scholar who shared about a season in his life in high school when he held the position of office monitor.  He had the privilege of and was entrusted to take important messages to teachers and the school staff.  Often he had to walk in on the class and interrupt its lesson to give an important message.  No teacher ever scolded him, because they all knew his position and his message came from the principal’s office.  He was never afraid or ashamed because he knew by what authority it was given.

Passionate Christians are like the Apostle Paul, they are taking the only life giving message that can be proclaimed to a lost sin sick world that offers hope, forgiveness and empowerment to live victoriously over all that strives to keep mankind out of fellowship with the Lord.  They are not ashamed and they know that all authority has been given to Christ and He has called them to be involved in the Great Commission. (Matthew 28:18-20) (This portion of the message is birthed by studying these research material, The Preacher’s Outline & Sermon; Barnes Notes; The Pulpit Commentary; The Bible Exposition Commentary and the Bible)

Word of God holds truth and not fiction

Passionate Christianity lives in a way that causes all onlookers to see that the Word of God holds truth and not fiction.  This lifestyle knows the joy of dying to self and trusting in God’s ever-loving and protecting hand, regardless of what circumstance Christians may be facing. Passionate Christianity lives for the sake of Christ and causes Christians to fulfill their part in the Great Commission.  Passionate Christianity places the same value on their souls that Christ does and lastly passionate Christianity expresses a lifestyle that confesses Christ as Savior and Lord unashamedly.

A few years ago I had the privilege to meet Pastor Carter Conlon of Times Square Church in New York City.  His entire life expresses a passion for Christ.  His devotion to preparing the preaching of God’s Word comes from a close intimate relationship with Jesus, thus his preaching reflects his passion for Christ.  The way he lives his life, proclaims to others that God’s Word is truth.Before his encounter with the our living Lord he was a man who lived a life that was full of anger, loudness and bitterness that even his presence would at times cause his little girl to run to her room.  Then one day he experienced the power of the Holy Spirit of Christ coming into his life and heart and he was immediately changed. His little girl is now a young woman, who puts her trust in Christ because she has seen just how much the Lord changed her dad.  She had seen her dad continue to live passionately for the Lord even in the mist of having to carry a very difficult cross.   He is a man who has given up what he did so well so as to be obedient to God’s call on his life.  He has the same value on his soul as Christ does and He says no to the passions of the world to feed his soul the Word of God so he can fully enjoy the benefits of living passionately for Christ.  He is a man of God who has no problem with confessing to all in ear shot, that Jesus Christ is his Savior and Lord.

For the sake of application, are you a Christian that lives a life that says Word of God is truth and must be lived out or does your life present God’s Words as fiction before the eyes of those who see your life?  Do you trust in the Lord Jesus to empower you to carry your cross?  Have you surrendered your life over to God for the sake of Christ and how much are you involved in fulfilling the Great Commission?  Do you unashamedly express the Lordship of Christ in your life?

Let us pray!!!

Tested and Trained

by Terry Laughlin | May 6, 2016 | Christian Living

Understanding God’s Purpose in Afflictions

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.  Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day–and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for His appearing.”  (2 Timothy 4:7-8)

Biblical look at God’s purposes in allowing afflictions

The Apostle Paul writes to the young pastor Timothy and there is a pleasure found in this passage of Scripture for all pastors as well as for those who are good soldiers of Christ.  Paul did not fear death and neither should good ministers of the Word of God, nor Christians, because they have a sure hope of being with Christ when they part from this world. There are three points for us to consider as we take a Biblical look at God’s purposes in allowing afflictions to come upon His chosen people. It is time of 1.) Testing so that Christians may be proved to be genuine believers in Christ.  2.) Training so His children will be able to achieve God’s will for them.  3.) Revealing His deliverance in the minds of mankind and before their eyes. I would propose to you that every one of us has the opportunity to speak in the same manner as the Apostle Paul who said, “…I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me–the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace.”  (Acts 20:24)Just what will enable us to have the testimony that the Apostle Paul had toward the end of the ministry that was entrusted to him?

Proved genuine

Every child of God gift given of the Holy Spirit has the opportunity to be effective in the “Great Commission.”  The heartbeat of every overseer of a church is that the children of God will be proven genuine in their Christian faith.  Therefore, in this life there will be trials for the proof of a believer’s faith in God, Christ and in his ability to surrender to the enabling of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit moved the Apostle Peter to write, “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade–kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith–of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire–may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.” (1 Peter 1:3-7)

Mankind places great worth on earthly things and considers the value of their lives by what they posses.  God’s Word tells us that genuine faith in Him is much greater than the things that mankind values.  The Lord knows what reveals genuine faith.  His stamp of approval will be on faith that has been tested by the refining fires of trials in this life. These various trials of life put the professing Christian’s religion to the test, thus revealing the nature of their real faith.  “All kinds of” (poikilos) trials means temptations (The Complete Word Study Dictionary) of all kinds including disobedience, deceptions and lust.  Christians will face various colors of trials (Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon; Dictionary of Bible Languages; New American Greek Dictionaries) including disease, demonic attack but not demonic possession.  They will face strange unbiblical doctrines, persecutions, and oppositions in service to the Lord.

“Proved genuine” (dokimiou) means “to test for the purpose of approving.”  (The Bible Knowledge Commentary; The Complete Word Study Dictionary)  Here it means the results of a test proofing that a child of God is genuine. Just as it is desirable to know whether that which appears to be gold is genuine, it should be desirable for those in the church to be tested to see if their faith is genuine.  To gold we apply intense heat so we may know whether it is what it appears to be.  So it is with Christianity.  Considering that our faith is far more important than gold, it is imperative that it be subjected to the right test. A Christian that wants to make a real mark for His Lord in this world wants the alloy (that which lowers or takes from perfection from someone) to be taken from his heart.  The Christian’s heart cry is not just “Lord use me,” but first “Make me usable.”  He is in agreement with the psalmist who wrote, “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.  See if there is any offensive way in me and lead me in the way everlasting.”  (Psalm 139:23-24)

There is much in the world that appears to be valuable like gold yet it has no value.  There is much that appears to be Christian today, yet when tried through God’s testing, it has no real value. Genuine faith is not only the sign of a trusting child of God, but a source of praise, glory, and honor to God the Father, Jesus the Son and the wonderful sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit. One of God’s greatest Apostles wrote, “…we …rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.  And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us.” (Romans 5:3-5)

In the Sunday School Times we read, “A skilled physician who was about to perform a delicate operation upon a man’s ear said reassuringly, ‘I may hurt you, but I will not injure you.’ How often the great Physician speaks to us the same message if we would only listen! He promises a richer life and a more abundant spiritual health if we will only surrender to His purposes in taking us through trials. Why defeat that purpose?” Let the Holy Spirit draw your attention to some of the great things that can happen in and through trials.  Paul’s sweetest epistles are from prison cells; John’s Revelation was written in exile; Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress came from the Bedford jail and Luther’s translation of the German Bible came as he was locked in Wartburg Castle. I am sure at times all these Christians felt like giving up, convincing themselves while in their most difficult trials God was finished with them and they had only the worst to face.  Yet in their trials they found the strength of God and when the test was over, they were proved to have genuine faith in Christ their Lord.  God is still bringing forth fruit from their labors today.

When man is faced with trials or temptations he draws closer to God.  Christians are more aware for the need to pray to the Lord.  Thus, God uses various methods in that cleansing process.  God uses adversity from outside and even from within the church to expose what is in a man’s heart.  King David was attacked from outsiders, from men within his own ranks and family members.  When these severe trails were over, King David was made into a better man of God by being purified and was proved genuine in his faith, unlike King Saul. For application’s sake today, “Do those who observe your life as you walk through the hot fires of trials see a genuine faith in God, Christ and enablement from the Holy Spirit?”

Discover God’s will

Once the child of God has been proved to have genuine faith, afflictions can enable him to discover God’s will.  Moses was such a man and his afflictions enabled Him to be a man of deliverance with God.  Hebrews 11:24-26 says, “By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter.  He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time.  He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward.”   

Our text says “…when [Moses] had grown up…” meaning he had “become great.” Moses enjoyed all the benefits of living under royalty.  When Moses made his decision to be mistreated with God’s people it was not because he was a failure needing a change. Stephen tells us that Moses was forty years old (Acts 7:23) when he chose to identify himself with God’s suffering people and get away from a life surrendered to the “pleasures of sin.”  The “pleasures of sin” in this passage of Scripture does not only refer to lust and other gross sins, but describes a way of life that is consumed with what the world calls success.  This love for success breeds a hunger for position, prestige, power, wealth, and freedom from problems.  True faith leads to a life of separation from that which intrigues the lost who are bound by this world’s system.  Therefore the child of God can live a life dedicated to the work of the Lord and to what God has called him to do, even if that means being mistreated by those who may despise God’s people.

Christians who choose to forsake the pleasures of sin, that which rejects God’s ordained purpose for them, will find their place in God’s work.  They will accomplished exactly what He has ordained for them and they will find themselves successful in fulfilling their part of the “Great Commission.”

Moses occupied a unique place as God’s friend.  The Bible says, “The LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks with his friend.” (Exodus 33:11)  Moses, as the fountainhead of the prophets of God was the first to receive, write down, and teach the revelation of the Lord.  This revelation extended to all facets of life, including the laws of holiness, purity, rituals, family life, work and society. He identified with the Jewish slaves who were treated very badly and were looked at with contempt.  Slavery at the time Moses lived usually stripped an individual of legal and social status to the level of extreme poverty and was often a life style of forced labor. Moses preferred to suffer ill-usage with God’s people rather than have a short-lived life of sin and living apart from the Lord.

Wuest’s Word Studies tell us that Moses believed that God would fulfill His promises to His people.  Therefore, he valued the Lord’s work more than earthly treasures.  Like Abraham, Moses rejected earthly comforts and security in order to serve the living and true God and he did not want to continue to sin by denying his place among God’s people. Moses is a hero of the faith and his entire ministry with God was molded into character by opposition and affliction.  Christians who allow God to mold their character through opposition and affliction will overcome fear and temptation thus, living victorious Christian lives.

Moses’ parents’ lives are highlighted as overcoming fear and doing what is right by ignoring Pharaoh’s edict of having every Hebrew boy born thrown into the Nile. (Exodus 1:22)  They hid Moses for three months. (Exodus 2:2)    After they could not hide him any longer Moses’ mother made a water tight basket, she put Moses inside and placed it in the Nile River.  Moses was delivered out of the river and then placed back into his mother’s hands to be nursed until weaned under the financial support of Pharaoh’s daughter. (Exodus 2:6-7)  The affliction of Pharaoh’s edict brought Moses’ parents to that place of making a moral decision, to choose the world’s view or God’s way.   Their choice in this affliction upon their lives enabled them to enjoy and be trained for God’s service, that of raising Moses until weaned and teaching him all they could about the One True God.

When Moses had grown to manhood his rashness in taking matters into his own hands caused him to kill an Egyptian for beating a fellow Hebrew.  Because he was a slave and no longer had the authority of a prince Moses fell under the affliction of Pharaoh’s justice. (Exodus 2:15) Pharaoh’s desire to kill Moses to avenge the death of the Egyptian was most likely because of fear that Moses would be seen as the friend of the Hebrews and a possible champion to be followed.  When it became public about his killing an Egyptian who very likely was a man of authority, (Exodus 2:14) Moses had to flee for his life.  This caused Moses the afflictions of loneliness, humiliation and suffering that comes with having to leave family and the place where a man was raised.

In Moses’ distress the Lord finds a place of safety in Midian.  In Egypt God had provided what he needed to be well schooled in the ways of the Egyptians, a gentleman, a statesman, a soldier and a heart for the people of God which prepared him for the task God had for him. Yet, there was still something lacking.  He needed to learn communion with God, that ability to get revelation from the Lord that comes from being long in that place of servant hood and alone with God.  The Lord had brought Moses from prince, to slave, to shepherd so he could become God’s vessel of deliverance and a prophet.  All the afflictions that Moses suffered prepared his heart for devotion to God’s will. Those who are greatly used of God must be trained to deny themselves the pleasures and prestige that this world can offer so they can have fellowship with the Lord and be identified as being with God’s people.  They must be put in that place where they can be trained to hear the voice of God and have an ear and heart to respond to God’s call.  Often God uses afflictions to get Christians to the place in their spiritual hearts were they can be trained for real service unto Him.

For application’s sake, “Are you trainable in the afflictions that come with being seen as a Christian for the sake of Christ?  Are you allowing God to put you in those places where you can hear the voice of God and be made usable for His work?” There is no greater position than being tested and trained for the work of the Lord.  Athletes are tested for their abilities, disciplined lifestyle and heart for the game, so it is with the soldiers of Christ.

Show His deliverance

God allows affliction to prepare Christians for service unto Him and to show His deliverance in the minds of and before the eyes of mankind. Obedient Christians will praise God in the midst of their affliction and stay dedicated to Him regardless of the opposition.

Isaiah 48:10-11 says, “See, I have refined you, though not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction.  For My own sake…  I will do this…”   This passage of Scripture is found in among other Scripture that promises deliverance to the people of God upon their repentance.  The key word the Holy Spirit wants you to grasp today is “refined” (sarap).  When it is applied to people, this word refers to the purifying effects of external trials that God often uses to purify His people from sin. Cleansing from sin and deliverance from the Lord will be to glorify His mercy among an unworthy people.  He will bring deliverance in a way that exalts Him in the minds of and before the eyes of mankind. The second word worth grasping is “tested” (bahar) or as the King James Bible puts it, “chosen.”  As it is used here it means “I have proved thee in the furnace of affliction.”

Consider the powerful example of the three Hebrew children, whom King Nebuchadnezzar threw into the fiery furnace. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were brought to the place of having to choose whom they were going to be faithful to.  Like Moses, they were about to face affliction in order to be faithful to God Most High, or do public worship to the image set up by Nebuchadnezzar. When confronted by the king they said, “…O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter.  If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and He will rescue us from your hand, O king.  But even if He does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.”  (Daniel 3:16-18)

These three obedient men of God had seen the Lord defend His honor before.  When King Nebuchadnezzar was confronting the Hebrews he made a statement that put the battle into God’s hands with regard to defending His ability to bring deliverance.  This king of Babylon made a huge mistake when he said, “…Then what god will be able to rescue you from my hand?”  (Daniel 3:15)

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego spoke words that reflect a relationship that had been established through the afflictions that had come into their lives for the sake of God.  These same words will be found in mouths of Christians who are willing to suffer disgrace and affliction for the sake of Christ.  Many Christians have experienced the Holy Spirit enabling them to say, “Our God is able, but even if does not save us, we want you to know, O world, we will not serve your gods.”  These Christians find themselves being listed in the long list of heroes of the faith.

For those who may not know the rest of the story, the three Hebrews were thrown into the fire and Nebuchadnezzar was left looking at a sheer miracle.  The God greater than him and his gods was in the fiery furnace with those three men who chose to be identified with the One True God of heaven and earth.  In the midst of their affliction, God was with those who were faithful, just as He is always with His children who worship Him in spirit and truth.

God’s proof that He was able and faithful to deliver His obedient children brought forth an acknowledgement of truth for all to hear, “Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, servants of the Most High God.” (Daniel 3:26)  Their trust in the Lord and willingness to give their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God (Daniel 3:28) brought forth a proclamation that all need to heed today, “…Praise be to… God.”  (Daniel 3:28)  God showing Himself faithful in the affliction of His servants birthed forth a decree saying, “no one is to say anything against the God Most High.”

For application’s sake, in your afflictions are you worshiping Jesus Christ, no matter what oppositions are coming at you?  The world and devil can come with some pretty threatening ways of intimidating the children of God. Christians who have surrendered to the Holy Spirit’s sanctifying work in their afflictions make these statements with their lives.  1.) They belong to Christ and the afflictions they face prove that they are genuine believers who trust in Christ.  2.) In their afflictions God has done a work that makes them usable and reflects a surrendered life to the Lord’s will, thus, enabling them to hear the voice of God and walk in step with His Holy Spirit.  3.) In their afflictions, God is able to bring to the mind of others that He is the Only True God that can bring deliverance to His obedient children.

Adoniram Judson was one man of God who was proved genuine in his faith in Christ through sufferings in Burma.  He was able to hear the voice of God and enabled by the Holy Spirit of Christ to fulfill his calling.  In the affliction that he received in prison, God made known to others that He is a God able to bring deliverance. Adoniram so wanted to take the Gospel into India, yet was rejected entrance and was not permitted to preach to the Hindus.  After many trying times, frustrations, fears and failures, the Judson’s found an open door in Burma.   Upon their arrival it was discovered that there was not one known Christian in Burma.  The Judson’s had no friends and at first there was only the voice of God to guide and direct them.  After living with loneliness for some time a baby was born, but in eight months the couple suffered the affliction of losing their child to cholera.

The couple worked night and day under soul-crushing, heart-breaking condition for six years before they saw their first convert.  Converts came slowly and when it looked like things were about to change for the good, missionary Judson was thrown into prison condemned to die, accused of being a British spy.  After twenty-one months of intense prayer, Adoniram Judson was released.    His work with the Lord progressed and the gospel power began to open blind eyes, breaking idolatry and changed lives began to emerge. After thirty-four years of ministry, Adoniram Judson died at the age of sixty-two.  When he was dying, news came to him that some Jews in Turkey had been converted through reading of the account of his afflictions in Burma.  He told his wife, “This is good news.  When I was a young man, I prayed for the Lord to send me to Jerusalem as a missionary.  But he sent me to Burma to preach and to suffer the afflictions of imprisonment.  Now, because of my suffering, God has brought some Jews in Turkey to repentance!”

Sometime after his death a government survey recorded 210,000 Christians in Burma.  Adoniram Judson allowed the Lord to mature him in the afflictions he received for the sake of Christ.  And in a place where there were no known converts, God proved Himself mighty for His name sake by calling over 200,000 souls to Christ. Adoniram Judson is called a mighty man of faith, prayer, purpose, patience in afflictions and perseverance for the Son of God and for the souls of men. When the church does as Moses did, looks ahead to her reward, she will allow God to mold her into Christ-likeness in her afflictions.  Then great things with God will be enjoyed.

Let us pray!!!!

Victoriously Living Over The Flesh

by Terry Laughlin | May 6, 2016 | Christian Living

  Mortifying the Flesh

 “Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation—but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it.  ^{Ro 8:13} For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live,  ^{Ro 8:14} because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.” (Romans 8:12-14) Man’s most aggressive enemy, “The Flesh”

Donald Ballar, Reader’s Digest, shared this story of an instructor of student truck drivers.  The instructor gave this scenario to his class.  “You are in an 18-wheeler with a heavy load, barreling down a mountainous two-lane highway.  Ed, your co-driver, is asleep.  There are six trucks behind you, and as you come over the top of a hill, one of the trucks behind you pulls out into the left lane to pass.  As he comes along side you, you see several trucks coming from the opposite direction moving towards you.  One of the trucks coming at you is in your lane because it is passing an on coming truck.  There are five trucks behind and one beside you.  There are several trucks in front of you and the two out front have both lanes blocked.  The question is, ‘What will you do?’ ‘The answer is simple’ a student called out. ‘I would wake up Ed.’   ‘Why would you do that?’  asked the instructor.  The student replied with, ‘Because, Ed ain’t never seen a truck wreck like this before!’”

I would propose to you that Christians need not wait for a potential wreck with the flesh before they try to prevent a tragedy from happening.  God’s Word has preventative measures that will keep the child of God from having a tragic accident with his most aggressive enemy, “The Flesh.” Listen as I read Romans 8:12-14, “Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation—but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it.  For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live,  because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.”  Where is this battle with “the flesh” fought and how is victory achieved? What are our obligations in regards to the price that Jesus paid upon the Cross of Calvary?  Where is the power to overcome “the flesh” to be found?

To whom do Christians have an obligation 

All great armies that are victorious in battle are made up of soldiers who know that they have an obligation to fight with all their mind, heart and strength.  To whom do Christians have an obligation? In Romans chapter 8, verse 12, the apostle moves from instruction to exhortation, from what God has done through Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit to what is expected of the child of God in way of response.  There is a strong emphasis on human responsibility in regard to what is truly the reflection of a repentant heart renewed by the Holy Spirit.  (The Expositors Bible Commentary) The obligation is to God, who created man’s body, mind and spirit. (Thru the Bible) He gave His one and only Son for the redemption of sinful mankind. (John 3:16)  The obligation is to Jesus Christ who purchased God’s chosen with His own blood. (1 Peter 1:1-2) “Obligation” (opheiletes) means to be bound by a duty. (Practical Word Studies of the New Testament) It is important to note that this is not an ambition, it is a duty (Bishop Handley Moule).  The application is this. With the position that the child of God has in Jesus Christ comes an obligation to live a life worthy of the gospel. (Word meaning in the New Testament) The Christian has a debt to mortify the flesh. (Vines Dictionary of the New Testament)   Because of the price that Christ paid for the Christian’s soul the child of God is obligated to surrender his mind, heart, tongue and literally every part of His body to the will of God.

Before a battle can be won, there must be the recognition of an enemy

Before a battle can be won, there must be the recognition of an enemy.  The most continual aggressive enemy the Christian has is the “sinful nature” or rather the “flesh.” The “flesh” (sarx) or that sinful nature has been compared to cancer.  It is not like a rotten branch on a tree that can be broken off and gotten out of the way, thus protecting the rest of the tree.  No, it lies deep always looking for its opportunity to grow and cause more damage.  Matthew Henry wrote, “Sin is a brat which nobody is willing to own up to, a sign that it is a scandalous thing.” It is that part in you that always wants to put the blame on someone else. The apostle Paul writes about the character of the flesh in Galatians 5:17, “For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want.”

The Minnesota Crime Commission recognizes the power of the sinful nature and admits the truth that every person, if left to himself, will be overcome by the power of the flesh.  A few years ago they released this statement.  “Every baby starts life as a [potential] savage. He is completely selfish, and self-centered. He wants what he wants when he wants it – his bottle, his mother’s attention, his playmate’s toys, his uncles’ watch. Deny him these once, and he could go into a rage and aggressiveness, which would be murderous were he not so helpless. He is, in fact, dirty. He has no morals, no knowledge, no skills. This means that all children – not just certain children – are born delinquent. If permitted to continue in the self-centered world of his infancy, given free reign to his impulsive actions, to satisfy his wants, every child would grow up a criminal…” Romans 3:23 says, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” and the Psalmist wrote, “Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.”  (Psalms 51:5)

The Bible tells us of the fruit that comes out of a life that has lost its battle with the flesh.  It says they “…are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; ^{Gal 5:20} idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions ^{Gal 5:21} and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.”  (Galatians 5:19-21)

Mortification is the special ministry that enables the child of God to overcome those evil desires that could destroy the Christian’s relationship with the Lord 

The first step to “Victoriously Living Over the Flesh” is to agree with God that a sinful nature lives in us and the next is to understand what the Bible says about how to walk in victory.  The King James Bible says, “For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.” (Romans 8:13) The key word to walking victoriously over the flesh is “mortify” (thanatoo).  Mortification is the special ministry that enables the child of God to overcome those evil desires that could destroy the Christian’s relationship with the Lord.  It means to become dead to anything that would feed and give those evil desires strength to overcome you. (The Expositors Bible Commentary; The Complete Word Study Dictionary of the New Testament)  When you mortify the flesh you are deadening the desire that comes upon you.  True mortification will rob sin of it’s debilitating and emotional distracting influences.

The Apostle Paul says we are to “…count [ourselves] dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. ^{Ro 6:12} Therefore [we are] not [to] let sin reign in [our] mortal [bodies] so that [we] obey its evil desires.  ^{Ro 6:13} [We are] not to offer the parts of [our] body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer [ourselves] to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of [our] body to Him as instruments of righteousness.  ^{Ro 6:14} For sin shall not be [our] master, because [we] are not under law, but under grace. (Romans 6:11-14)

How can a Christian count himself as dead to sin thus mortifying those sinful desires that come upon him?  Jesus gives a clear teaching that will pave the way of putting to death the sinful nature.  He said, “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light.  ^{Mt 6:23} But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. (Matthew 6:22-23) There is such a simple truth here that is so powerful and yet many walk blindly to it.  Corporations spend millions of dollars on advertising because of the principle Jesus is talking about here.  They know what goes in the eyes and ears will have an effect on the human heart and thus goes his life.  Movie theaters have promotional ads come up before the movie pointing people’s attention to the snack bar.  They know once it goes through the eyes and supported with the right music it will have their desired effect on their victims causing pop and candy sales to go up.   The snack bar is right in front of you when you walk in to catch the attention of the eye. The Christian who walks in victory over lust of the flesh is the one who does not feed it through the eye and ears.  He does not feed himself pornography, watch TV commercials, or pay much attention to ads that use sex to sell products.  The one who walks in victory over the sin full nature is the one who does not feed it.  He overcomes improper language because he does feed that sin by what he watches or read.  The Christian who lives in victory over bitterness, worldliness, and the pride of life is one who does not feed those sins by what he allows to influence his life.

Ed Wood shared this story he heard about an Indian who had come to Christ.  When asked about his new found faith he described it as having two dogs living inside him.  One is like an old dog.  He is mean, vicious, unmanageable, and down right untrainable.  The second is like a new dog that is obedient, longs to serve Christ, and gives attention to the Lord.    He described the two dogs as always fighting to get his attention and wanting to have control over his entire life.  When asked what dog wins he replied back with, “The one I feed the most.” In dealing with the sinful nature, Christians have to become like a man who owns an old dog that is untrainable, refuses to obey, always finds trouble when turned loose, bites children and causes a path of destruction wherever he goes.  Finally the law shows up on his porch with a court order informing this man that he must fulfill his duty and restrain the dog for the protection of himself and the safety of the community.  Thus, the man restrains the dog with something that is stronger than himself.  He puts the dog on a chain.

Today’s text, Romans 8:12-14 informs the Christian of his duty.  The restraining order is to mortify the flesh and become dead to that sinful nature. Every moment of the day we are feeding.  What we feed on will grow in our minds and hearts.  That is what is going to flow out of our lives.  Just as our bodies reflect what and how much we eat, our lives will reflect what we feed the mind, spirit and soul.

The Apostle Paul writes about the empowering agent that enables the child of God to live that victorious life 

Once we have the heart to mortify the flesh, we can trust in God’s power for victorious living.  The child of God who walks in victory is the one who realizes his sin it is not because of defeat, but because of disobedience. Mark Bubeck wrote, “The flesh is a built-in law of failure, making it impossible for the natural man to please or serve God. It is a compulsive inner force inherited from man’s fall, which expresses itself in general and specific rebellion against God and His righteousness. The flesh can never be reformed or improved. The only hope for escape from the law of the flesh is its total execution and replacement by a new life in the Lord Jesus Christ.”

The Apostle Paul writes about the empowering agent that enables the child of God to live that victorious life.  Romans 8:9-11 says, “You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. ^{Ro 8:10} But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness. ^{Ro 8:11} And if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit, who lives in you.”

The Christian who walks in victory over the sinful nature is the child of God who understands the truth that the Holy Spirit who raised Christ from the dead is living in them.  The victorious Christian agrees with God on what sin is.  He desires in his heart to put the flesh to death, then he allows the Holy Spirit to do His cleansing work.  Victorious Christians have revelation and illumination of, “…if by the [Holy Spirit] you put to death the misdeeds of the body…” (Romans 8:13) Only by obedience to the Lord and through the empowering of the Holy Spirit can the child of God live that abundant life promised by Jesus Christ.  When the child of God tries to beat the flesh on his own he is defeated because of the sin of disobedience.  He still wants to be in charge of his own life.  Victory comes through surrender and supernatural empowerment which are received by faith.

The Christian does not need to beat sin.  It has already been defeated upon the Cross.  He needs only to enjoy the pleasures that come with the duty of living by the power of the Holy Spirit, surrendered to His cleansing and leading.   I have spoken with great men of God who enjoy the power of the Holy Spirit helping them to defeat the flesh and continue to find the Holy Spirit’s power to keep the sinful nature subdued under the authority of Christ. They seem to have the heart of the psalmist who wrote, “^{Ps 139:23} Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. ^{Ps 139:24} See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” (Psalm 139:24)   They have truly prayed from their hearts, “Lord show me how offensive this sin is to you.”  The Lord revealed it to them and they experienced a supernatural cleansing from the Holy Spirit because they knew that they could not get victory over it on their own.

There is no really good illustration on how the Holy Spirit helps the child of God overcome the sinful nature.  It is a supernatural work that can not be fully explained.  All we do know for sure is that confession brings forgiveness and purification.  1 John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” “Purify” (katharizo) in the spiritual sense is to cleanse from the pollution and guilt of sin.

The purifying work of the Holy Spirit is like the mother who was getting her four year old boy ready for church.  She gave him a bath and got him all dressed up.  She set him in front of the TV while she got herself ready and told him to keep his eyes focused on the TV. The little boy became distracted by something outside and he went out to investigate it.  In the process he fell down in the mud and wiped off his hands on the front of his pants.  He scratches his nose and brushed the hair out of his eyes. In just a few seconds he found himself covered in mud from the top of his head to his toes. Thinking nothing of his condition the dirty little boy went back and sat in front of the TV.  Needless to say, mom was hurt and disappointed over the condition of her little boy.  She informed him of his dirty condition and chastised him for his self-centeredness and for acting on his own accord.  After his apology, mother forgave him and then got him cleaned up for church.

It is the same with the child of God.  Even though his previous sins were washed cleaned by the blood of Christ, his sinful nature has a tendency to distract him from what he is supposed to be doing.  Thus, he finds himself soiled once again.  The Holy Spirit convicts him, God chastises him, Jesus Christ forgives him and sends the Holy Spirit to clean him up so he can be effective in the true church. The victorious Christian does not give excuses for his soiled condition. He agrees that his flesh distracted him, took his eyes off what he was supposed to be feeding himself, and in his disobedience he became dirty because of the indulgence of the flesh, the filth of the world and the lie of the devil. He just responds the Lord’s chastisements appropriately and then allows the Holy Spirit to clean him up.

Seven truths to victorious living are

Like the mother who sat the cleaned up little boy down to fill his eyes with something good until she returned to take him to church, the Word of God has truths that Christians are to be feeding themselves until Jesus returns for the church.

Seven truths to victorious living are:

One, recognize the fact that it is only by God’s enabling that you are going to be able to accomplish His perfect will for you.  Philippians 2:13 says, “For it is God who works in you to will and to act according to His good purpose.”   Victorious living begins with a heart that is humble enough to ask the Lord for His help to live right before God.

Two, recognize the need to be filled with the Holy Spirit so you live a life that reflects being led of the Holy Ghost.  The apostle exhorts you “…to be filled with the [Holy] Spirit.”

Three, begin mortifying the flesh by confessing sins and claim Christ’s purchased ownership on your life and body.  Galatians 2:20 says, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”

Four, saturate your mind with the Word of God and pray for Holy Spirit revelation and illumination so you can understand and live out God’s will for you. Romans 12:1-2 says, “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.  Ro. ^12:2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will.”

Five, recognize that every life produces fruit, surrender your heart over to the Holy Spirit’s cleansing so you can express the fruit of the Spirit out of your life.  Galatians 5:22, 23 says, “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”

Six, recognize that your body is not evil, it is the sinful nature that is within you, therefore, present your entire body, mind and soul over as instruments to the Lord’s use.  Romans 16:12,13 says, “Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather … offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness.”

Seven, recognize that you must express a life that says, “I love you Lord.”  Jesus said, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ ^{Mt 22:38} This is the first and greatest commandment.” (Matthew 22:37-38) Those who are victorious over the flesh are willing to examine their lives to see if they are living according to true faith in Jesus Christ and if they have accepted the truth found in the Word of God. (Thru the Bible; Barnes Notes)  2 Corinthians 13:5 says, “Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test?”

Are you a natural person whose spirit is dead? Do your bodily senses and your natural desires control you? Are you a worldly Christian who has allowed Christ to enter your life but is still being mastered by the desires of the flesh? Is the big “I” still in control?  Or are you a spiritual Christian who has been crucified with Christ and is being controlled by the Holy Spirit? The child of God has three trucks pushing on him every day of his life.  The one labeled “The Flesh” is always the one mowing him toward a collision course.  He does not have to wait until he is about to be in the biggest wreck anyone has ever seen before he puts his foot on the brakes.   The Biblical way of mortifying the flesh is a sure way of avoiding the heart break that comes from the acts of the sinful nature.

Spiritual Christians are not perfect, but daily they crucify the flesh and consciously allow the Holy Spirit to fill them. When tempted, they invite Christ to fill their lives and they close the door of the flesh. When they sin, they ask for God’s forgiveness and strength to help them overcome the next temptation. They continually seek to offer themselves — mentally, emotionally, and physically — to Christ to be used for His purposes. Only through the power of the Holy Spirit can this occur, and only when He is invited to come in is His awesome presence and power enjoyed.

As you walk in this world you are and will be constantly attacked by the sinful nature, Christian or not.  What you feed is what will be dominant over your life.  You can give strength to the old man or the new man.  Victorious living comes as you walk in the Spirit, as you daily meditate on the Word of God, as you pray and as you associate with other Christians who feed not on worldly things, but on the things of God. Victory over the flesh, that sinful nature, is accomplished by mortifying the flesh and feeding the new life in Christ through prayerful reading of the Word of God.

Let us pray!

A Congenial Life

by Terry Laughlin | May 6, 2016 | Christian Living

• Congenial Life Learns to Listen
• Congenial Life Gives Without Sparing.
• Congenial Life Prays Without Ceasing
• Congenial Life Does Not Complain or Argues
• Congenial life Trust Without Wavering
• Congenial life Promises Without Forgetting

        We live in a time were people are easily influenced by a world view off criticizing, complaining and the disregarding of the feelings of others.  The work place often has an atmosphere of tearing down others for the purpose of building one self-up.  Family members spend to much time speaking derogatory comments about and toward each other, rather than speak words of appreciation.  Coaches, parents, actually everyone in a place of authority find themselves under the radar of speculation and accusation rather than a searching heart of council and direction.

Recently, I saw a face-book pop-up, a picture of an old couple roller-skating together, with comments presenting love as forbearance, the empowerment for not killing each other after all those years of being together. I would propose to you that the Bible has principles to live by that surpasses forbearance and creates congenial surroundings filled with people who have a congenial spirit.  In this world filled with a complaining and a critical spirit, there are people who, through a disciplined life, live a congenial life. Jim Bennet, writing about the Congenial Workplace tells us, “When working alongside individuals that have an overly negative attitude, many people find that their own attitude becomes negative and progress in the workplace is slowed considerably.  It is the job of the business management to create a congenial workplace in which all of the employees are able to get along (at least to the point of keeping up positive attitudes and progressing throughout the work day without being slowed down by negative co-workers.)”

God knows the value of a peaceful atmosphere, that is why we are given this exhortation, “Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”        With such an exhortation, just what are Biblical truths that can enable us to have a pleasing nature?  How can we realistically create an atmosphere of living that people love to be exposed to?

Learn to Listen

        A key Biblical truth to developing a pleasing character is to learn to listen.  Proverbs 18:13 says, “He who answers before listening— that is his folly and his shame.” The Bible also says, “A man of knowledge uses words with restraint and a man of understanding is even-tempered.”

God warns us against rash talking, as well as protecting us from coming across as being rude and interruptive.   (Keil, C. F., & Delitzsch, F. (1996). Commentary on the Old Testament (Vol. 6, p. 273). Peabody, MA: Hendrickson.)  We make a mistake when we think that giving a quick answer shows others how sharp we are. We also deceive ourselves when we think that we must give answers right away.  The Bible is saying that it is folly for a man to speak about an issue before he has gotten all the facts and has understanding of the circumstances. (Henry, M. (1994). Matthew Henry’s commentary on the whole Bible: complete and unabridged in one volume (p. 995). Peabody: Hendrickson.; Smith, J. E. (1996). The wisdom literature and Psalms (Pr 18:13). Joplin, MO: College Press Pub. Co.) Communication skills are not just good interpersonal relations; they are actually moral issues of wisdom coming from prayerful understanding of the council of God’s Word.  Responding quickly without listening causes us to give our opinion, thus missing the opportunity to point people to seek the council of the Lord. (Radmacher, E. D., Allen, R. B., & House, H. W. (1999). Nelson’s new illustrated Bible commentary (Pr 18:13). Nashville: T. Nelson Publishers.) It is actually stupid, because it cause us to miss out on hearing from the Lord and make right judgments.

John 7:24 says “Stop judging by mere appearances, and make a right judgment.”   “Too often we are slow to hear—we never really listen to the whole matter patiently—and swift to speak; and this gets us into trouble.  It is wise to restrain the lips.  A godly person will study to answer, but a fool will open his mouth and pour out foolishness.  Potiphar did not listen to Joseph’s side of the story and committed a great crime because of it. Jesus and the Apostles were not permitted to tell their whole story; the verdicts were passed by their enemies before the cases were honestly tried.”. (Wiersbe, W. W. (1993). Wiersbe’s Expository Outlines on the Old Testament (Pr 18:13). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books)  “A man should get all the facts before giving his opinion. Otherwise he will be embarrassed when the full details are made known. There are two sides to every question: every divorce, every quarrel, etc.  Don’t agree with a person if you have not heard the other person’s side.” (MacDonald, W. (1995). Believer’s Bible Commentary: Old and New Testaments. (A. Farstad, Ed.) (p. 838). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.; Willmington, H. L. (1997). Willmington’s Bible handbook (p. 338). Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.)

Robert Herron wrote, “Good listening is like tuning in a radio station. For good results, you can listen to only one station at a time. Trying to listen to my wife while looking over an office report is like trying to receive two radio stations at the same time. I end up with distortion and frustration. Listening requires a choice of where I place my attention. To tune into my partner, I must first choose to put away all that will divide my attention. That might mean laying down the newspaper, moving away from the dishes in the sink, putting down the book I’m reading, setting aside my projects.”  (Robert W. Herron in Homemade, June, 1987 – Galaxie Software. (2002). 10,000 Sermon Illustrations. Biblical Studies Press)

The Book of Proverbs has it right, “The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer…” (Proverbs 15:28)

Gives Without Sparing

        A congenial life has a listening heart and it gives without sparing.  Proverbs 21:26b says, “…but the righteous give without sparing.” A person who touches the lives of others is a person who is ready to give time, strength and financially as the Lord provides.  This person has a heart that is discerning, knowing when it is being taken advantage of, but sees real needs.  They manage their time wisely so they can make time to help someone who truly needs it.  They are able to find strength to help that person who needs it, even in the late hours of the night.  They are willing to give joyfully without finding fault. 

I remember over hearing a couple talk about a church in the South east part of the United Sates, this Body of Christ knew the joy of giving.  There was a young couple in Nebraska, both veterinarians, they were trying to adopt a special needs baby.  They made the trip to Memphis, Tennessee to pick up their new baby.  They spent the day holding her, packed their bags, were heading their way out the hospital, when they were detained, due to some paper work that had not gone through. Heart broken, they made their way to a church service at Bellevue Baptist.  While attending the service they were asked what brought them to Tennessee.  They explained there situation and dilemma.  Immediately, Bellevue Baptist became a congenial atmosphere.  They put the couple in a motel, provided meals, transportation and provided whatever this couple needed until the paper work was all in order.  The family of God at Bellevue Baptist gave time, strength and finances for a full week.  Then, they joyfully saw the young couple off to Nebraska, with their new baby.

Prays Without Ceasing

        A congenial life gives without sparring and it prays without ceasing. Colossians 1:9 says, “For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of His will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding.”

The most congenial person I have ever known was my mother-in-law, Doris Stump.  It has often been said of her, “Doris was woman of prayer.”  Doris would seldom be heard running others down, complaining or feeding a continuous atmosphere.  I once heard a lady speak of Doris, “She is a woman who would assume as keep quite, and take the matter to the Lord in prayer and wait for Him to do whatever He chooses to do.”  People take note of life that is prayerful.

Before I was a Christian, I was attending a state championship football game.  Doris was setting to my right, a man at the game suffered a serious heart attack.  As the ambulance crew was attending to the patient, I notice, Doris, quietly closed her eyes, and did some serious praying.  I was not a Christian, that act of faith powerfully laid down a foundation for my own prayer life, after I became a Christian.

Does Not Complain or Argues 

        A congenial life prays and does not complain or argues.  Philippians 2:14 – 16, “Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life—in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing.”

The person who does not complain or argue is the person people like to be around or work with.  There is no greater trust an employer can have than having an employee who does not complain or argue.  The family member who is enjoyable to be around is the family member who does not complain or argues over issues.  The couple who is the happiest in life, is the couple who does not complain about each other to others, this couple chooses wisely their words toward each other. The married couple who people like to be around is the couple who cherishes each other, and lives out their adoration for all to see.  The couple who always speaks well of each other is the couple who are admired by others.  In the horse business, the trainer that is like is the one who does not complain about their customers.

The Apostle Paul was always concern about the life that was being lived by those who he had ministered the Word of God to. (Galatians 2:2)  The greatest concern for those who preach and teach God’s Word, “Are the people living out what is taught.” Nothing more disheartening to Christian parents, their children live a life that is complaining and argumentative.  In the work place people who find that they have been complained about, are hurt and they find comfort in being around co-workers who are known not to be complainers.

Trust Without Wavering

        A congenial life is one that is not complaining or argumentative and it trust without wavering. 1 Corinthians 13:7 “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

The person who is looked to in the work place for training is the person who is patient, not prideful, not rude, is kind and truly wants to see others do well.  The congenial person in the work place, is that person who is protective, trust others and perseveres in their responsibilities.  The people who draw the hurting, the insecure and the frustrated are those who hold no record of wrongs.  Congenial people do not let past failures keep people who are trying from open doors of opportunity.  Ever seen the TV commercial of the little boy who is washing his dad’s convertible car with a water hose and the hood down, the little boy is getting all the interior wet.  Dad does not yell or tear down the little boy, but shows appreciation for his sons efforts – now that is a congenial act.

Promises Without Forgetting

        A congenial life always trust and it makes promises without forgetting.   Proverbs 13:12, “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.”

When I was a young man, I longed to learn how to train Arabian Halter Horses.  So I called a young man, one of the best in the field.  We made arrangements for me to go to his place in the Spring.  When Spring came, I called to complete the final details.  The phone rang, the secretary answered – I could hear the trainer in the background, telling the secretary to tell me, he was not available.  My heart sank, I felt there was no one to help me.  Years later, I met another trainer who was very successful at training halter horses.  He helped me purchase a book that I took home and read over and over again, which laid down the foundation to train and condition Arabian Halter Horses.  His promise to help me was kept and it open many doors of opportunity to me for many years.

In the early years of the Miss America Contest there was a  Miss Congeniality.  It was re-introduced in 2006, it is a quality of life award for a contestant’s platform. (Wikipedia)   Miss Congeniality is a coveted title. She is known by her peers as the most friendly, helpful, genuine and outgoing woman in the pageant.  Miss Congeniality is an award given by the hardest judges of all: The other contestants.  Miss Congeniality is given the award because she pays more attention to others than she does herself.  She gives her fellow contestants a hug when they need it.  She is a confidence builder to the other contestants. She helps other contestant avoid disaster, making sure other contestants looks their best.  She makes friends and gets to know the people around her.  (How Culture & Society)  If you were being voted on today by those who observe your life, would you be voted in as someone who has a congenial life?

In Closing: Let the Holy Spirit examine your heart with these questions.  Do you live a congenial lifestyle?   Do you listen, give without sparing, pray with out ceasing, live without complaining or arguing, trust and keep promises?   Let us pray!