What are you thinking?

What are you thinking?

Having trouble with your thoughts? Well, GOD explains the problem and gives us the solution in 2 Corinthians 10:3-5.  The LORD does know what HE is talking about, and all HIS ways are right and they work (Isaiah 55:8-9, 11).  So, when GOD tells us how to combat our thoughts, just do it even though it may not make sense to you. 

Don’t be seduced from the simplicity that is in CHRIST JESUS! Yes, we are in spiritual warfare, but GOD says that HIS weapons are more powerful even to the pulling down of strongholds of wrong thinking and every deceptive argument that rises up against GOD’s knowledge.  The whole battle begins in our minds and what we think changes everything.

So, when GOD tells us to take all our thoughts to the obedience of CHRIST (2 Corinthians 10:3-5), but you don’t know how to get them under control, remember (Hebrews 4:16). “Run to the throne of grace to obtain (get) mercy and receive grace to help in time of need.”  Just take your thoughts to JESUS, tell HIM about them and HE will help you corral them.

To take my thoughts to JESUS who sits on the throne brings my thought into obedience for JESUS has a way of taking my thoughts and I begin to see whatever the situation is from an entirely different angle, and they become obedient to HIM.

JESUS said, “without ME you can do nothing” (John 15:5). In another place, 2 Corinthians 3:5 to be exact, it says, “we are not sufficient as of ourselves to think anything as from ourselves, our sufficiency comes from CHRIST.” So, when a thought is rebellious just take it to JESUS. HE tames them real quick. Believe me, I know!

So don’t struggle in your own strength (or lack of it) with the fiery darts of lying thoughts coming at you from the enemy, take those thoughts to JESUS and talk to HIM about it.

hugs
Sharon

Just do what’s right

Nobody on earth is perfect.  But, like Paul we need to say, “Not that I have already reached the goal or am already perfect, but I MAKE EVERY EFFORT to take hold of it because I also have been taken hold of by CHRIST JESUS (Philippians 3:12 CBS).  “I can do all things through CHRIST which strengthens me (Philippians 4:13).

You (who believe in JESUS) are of GOD … and have overcome … because greater is HE that is in you, than he that is in the world (1 John 4:4).

When you were saved, the SPIRIT of CHRIST (Philippians 1:19) (one of the HOLY SPIRIT’s names) came to live within you and sealed you as GOD’s possession (Ephesians 1:13). This means you are no longer your own, you were bought with a price (1 Corinthians 6:20). You now belong to the LORD and are to live in a manner that reflects CHRIST.

Have you ever considered how some of our attitudes and actions grieve the HOLY SPIRIT (Ephesians 4:30) who is sealed in us until the day of Redemption?  Our actions and thoughts can also hinder our prayers for GOD will not hear our prayers if we cling to sin (Psalm 66:18).  By refusing the nudges of the HOLY SPIRIT we give Satan room to work in and through us (Ephesians 4:27).

In Romans 12:1-2 we are urged by the mercies of GOD, to present our bodies as a living and holy sacrifice, ^[acceptable to GOD, which is your spiritual service of worship. And we are told not to be conformed to this ^[world’s ways and thoughts but be transformed by the renewing of our mind (in HIS Word), so that we may prove what the will of GOD is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

How do we do that? “Trust in the LORD with ALL your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In ALL your ways acknowledge HIM, and HE will make your paths straight.  Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the LORD and turn away from evil” (Proverbs 3:5-7). The HOLY SPIRIT will enable you if you pray (ask) (Hebrews 4:16).

Fearing the LORD is more that just reverential AWE of our GOD.  It is a healthy fear: fear HE won’t hear our prayers because we hold on to a sin and it is fear of the discipline HE promises to give all HIS children HE loves that need it (Hebrews 12:6-7, 11).

It’s obvious to us that lying, adultery, and stealing are wrong, and we are often quick to criticize them harshly.  But too often we tolerate and excuse sinful attitudes and emotions in ourselves like assumptions, judgments, snide remarks, gossip, anger, bitterness, resentment, and an unforgiving spirit. Every area of our life is affected when we refuse to extend to others the understanding, long-suffering, forgiving grace GOD freely extends to us.

Take for instance snide remarks. They can really hurt a sensitive spirit.  I once suffered greatly when people mocked and made fun of my mistakes because of my inability to hear.  I pulled back and isolated myself until I learned to release my hurts to JESUS. Even today, there are times I have to turn to GOD to help me forgive and reach out.

Not knowing what might hurt another is one reason we are commanded to walk in/ follow the nudges and leading of the HOLY SPIRIT (Romans 8:1, 4-5, Galatians 5:16-18).  If we are listening to the HOLY SPIRIT we cannot go wrong.  

Only GOD knows what will hurt another and it is only through the HOLY SPIRIT that HIS fruit, the CHRIST-like nature flows through us to meet the needs of others (John 7:38-39).  The HOLY SPIRIT enables us to see others through eyes GOD’s eyes of grace and mercy and to hear GOD’s instructions (Philippians 2:13) so that we can be the hands and feet of GOD.

The familiar command JESUS gave on the Sermon on the Mount—to treat others the same way we want them to treat us (Matthew 7:12) is still in effect.  JESUS still says, “And why call ye ME, LORD, LORD, and do not the things which I say? (Luke 6:46).  JESUS also says: “If you love ME, keep MY commandments (John 14:15).

As Paul said to Timothy, I say to myself and to you, ^“Meditate upon these things; give yourself wholly to them; that your PROFITING (growth) may appear to all (1 Timothy 4:15) and GOD be glorified.

Hugs

Sharon

How many times?

Have you ever known someone who kept stumbling into the same sin again and again?  Its easy to think “shame on them.” But let’s not be too quick to judge that one. It took me years to learn not to jump to conclusions and judge the heart of another, which is itself a sin.

I know a gal who loves the LORD yet she when she gets in a certain situation she slips into sin.  My friend was so discouraged.  She wondered if GOD would forgive her again.  But as we prayed together I asked, “How many 2nd chances (new beginnings) are there for ______, LORD?”

JESUS answered me immediately by bringing a verse to my mind. “70 times 7” (an idiom meaning times without number).  As I told her what the LORD reminded me of, she beamed.

Peter had asked JESUS how many times he had to forgive and then put a number by it.  “Even 7 times?”   (Matthew 18:22).  Actually, he was really being generous for the Rabbinical rule (taken from Amos 1:6) stated that you were to forgive 3 times period.

But JESUS who was going to die for all sin, went past the man-made ideas.  If a believer, cleansed by the blood of JESUS wants another chance, all they have to do is go to the throne of grace and they will find mercy (forgiveness) and be given grace to help them overcome whatever they are struggling with.

And there is more.  When we believed in JESUS and called on the name of the LORD we were saved, given eternal life (John 3:16,36, Romans 10:13) and GOD the FATHER transferred us out of the power of darkness and placed us into the kingdom of HIS dear son (Colossians 1:13).

We also were sealed by the HOLY SPIRIT (Ephesians 1:13-14). HE baptized us into the body of CHRIST (1 Corinthians 12:13,27) and teaches us (John 14:26), leads us and when necessary convicts us, prays for us in our weaknesses (Romans 8:26) plus so much more.

I am so glad my Savior the LORD JESUS CHRIST whose blood on the cross paid for all my sin didn’t stop there but will save me to the uttermost because HE lives forever to intercede for me.

Hebrews 10:14 For by one offering HE (JESUS) hath perfected forever them that are sanctified (it is a process).

Hebrews 7:25 Therefore HE is also able to save forever (to the uttermost) those who come to GOD through HIM, since HE always lives to make intercession for them.

It is as Martin Luther said, “A Christian is at one and same time sinner and righteous person.  He is a sinner in fact (for he falls short of the glory of GOD), but a righteous person by the sure reckoning and promise of GOD (Romans 3:21-23) that HE will continue to deliver him from sin until HE has completely cured him (Hebrews 7:25, Hebrews 12:11). So, he is totally healthy in hope, but sinner in fact.  He has the beginning of righteousness so always continues more and more to seek it, while realizing he is always unrighteous.

Philippians 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that HE which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of JESUS CHRIST:

Behold, what manner of love the FATHER has bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of GOD…Beloved, now are we the sons of GOD, and it does not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when HE (our LORD JESUS CHRIST) shall appear, we shall be like HIM; for we shall see HIM as HE is (1 John 3:1-2).

Hugs

Sharon

Struggles

Writing the homework questions for Romans 8 the purpose for this chapter seems so clear to me.  It deals with the questions raised in Romans 7.

  1)Must a believer in JESUS CHRIST, who truly desires to do what GOD wants spend his whole life on earth frustrated by ongoing defeats to his indwelling sin nature?

  2)If not, how can a Christian live a righteous life without constant struggle to keep GOD’s law? 

The Old Testament Law failed to produce righteousness in man for it relied on imperfect man (Romans 8:3). Is there no power provided a Christian to get victory?  Yes, in the New Covenant GOD provides both the means of forgiveness of sins through JESUS (Hebrew 9:15) and gives each believer HIS HOLY SPIRIT who is the source of divine power. (see the Trinity at work?) 

The HOLY SPIRIT works to teach, and lead believers and is the power behind their sanctification (growth in holiness Hebrews 10:14) and the secret for spiritual victory in daily life. The HOLY SPIRIT increasingly enables believers to do right for one step at a time HE reveals truth about JESUS and enables us to live out that truth (2 Corinthians 3:15). 

As we begin our day submitting to GOD (LORD, if I have sinned, grieved or quenched YOU please forgive me. What do YOU want for me to do today?), the HOLY SPIRIT motives and nudges us along (Philippians 2:13) step by step.  And HE will let us know when the devil steps in to trip us up.  But, we must be on the alert.

Though the goal of a baseball player is to get on base, he doesn’t keep looking at the base, instead he watches the ball when he is up to bat.  It is the same with us. Our goal is to be righteous, but we don’t look at the rules but fix our eyes on JESUS (Hebrews 12:2) and respond to the HOLY SPIRIT’s reminders and nudges.

Through whom the GOD of all grace instructs you and makes you a promise concerning this struggle against sin agitated by the evil one.

“Be self-controlled and alert.  Your adversary the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.  Resist him standing firm in the faith (what GOD says is right), because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same sufferings.  And the GOD of all grace, who called you by HIS eternal glory in CHRIST, after you have suffered awhile, will HIMSELF adjust, make you strong, firm and steadfast” (1 Peter 5:8-10).  

Hallelujah!  What a mighty GOD we serve!

I urge you in CHRIST’s stead to consider these things and may the good LORD give you wisdom and understanding (James 1:5, 1 Corinthians 2:10) as HE guides you with HIS peace (Colossians 3:15), strengthens you with HIS joy (Nehemiah 8:10), and enables you with HIS grace (Hebrews 4:16). Now may the GOD of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the HOLY SPIRIT.”(Romans 15:13) Keep looking unto JESUS (Hebrews 12:2) and talk over your thoughts with HIM (2 Corinthians 10:5).

Hugs

Sharon