Sunday, December 9, 2012

Attending My Own Funeral

My Utmost For His Highest
 
The natural life itself is not sinful. […] Very few of us would debate over what is filthy, evil, and wrong, but we do debate over what is good. It is the good that opposes the best. […] “Those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh . . . .” The cost to your natural life is not just one or two things, but everything. Jesus said, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself. . .” (Matthew 16:24). That is, he must deny his right to himself, and he must realize who Jesus Christ is before he will bring himself to do it. Beware of refusing to go to the funeral of your own independence. The natural life is not spiritual, and it can be made spiritual only through sacrifice. If we do not purposely sacrifice the natural, the supernatural can never become natural to us. There is no high or easy road. Each of us has the means to accomplish it entirely in his own hands. It is not a question of praying, but of sacrificing, and thereby performing His will.’ CHAMBERS
 
Devotion to the things of this world can cause many spiritual problems for Christians.  They seem innocent enough … many are spiritually neutral.  In other words, the Bible does not speak against them.  But they become a stumbling block because our desire to possess them becomes an obsession which leads to actions and decisions that the Bible does speak against.   The flesh wars against the Spirit and the Spirit against the flesh.  Galatians 5:16-18  So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want.”
 
The struggle is common to all of us.  The question is, which do we submit to .. the flesh or the Spirit.  Many of us believe that we can do both.  That is not what the Bible says, but it is what the reasonable man says.  Having possessions is not the issue.  Being controlled by the desire to have the possessions .. being willing to compromise on what we know is true to have them … that is the issue.  Jesus said that we must deny ourselves .. say no to what the flesh desires and follow Him.  Remember when He talked with the rich young man .. who did everything right … but for one thing … Matthew 19:21-22Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.” The man was living a good life … but he loved the things of this world more than God.  He would not give them up.  Even for eternal life.
 
Is there something that is controlling your life?  Holding you back from where you know God wants you to be?  You need to let it go. Release it and the death grip it has on your spiritual life.  Having a hard time with that?  Maybe you are not doing what you should to nurture your spirit.  Stop depending upon yourself and trust God.
 
Bondye Beni Ou (God Bless You)

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