Tuesday, January 5, 2016

How To Maintain Control Over Your Life

My Utmost For His Highest
 
Jesus answered him, "Where I am going you cannot follow Me now, but you shall follow Me afterward." —John 13:36
 
“And when He had spoken this, He said to him, ‘Follow Me’ ” (John 21:19). Three years earlier Jesus had said, “Follow Me” (Matthew 4:19), and Peter followed with no hesitation. The irresistible attraction of Jesus was upon him and he did not need the Holy Spirit to help him do it. Later he came to the place where he denied Jesus, and his heart broke. Then he received the Holy Spirit and Jesus said again, “Follow Me” (John 21:19). Now no one is in front of Peter except the Lord Jesus Christ. The first “Follow Me” was nothing mysterious; it was an external following. Jesus is now asking for an internal sacrifice and yielding (see John 21:18).[…] No matter what changes God has performed in you, never rely on them. Build only on a Person, the Lord Jesus Christ, and on the Spirit He gives. All our promises and resolutions end in denial because we have no power to accomplish them. When we come to the end of ourselves, not just mentally but completely, we are able to “receive the Holy Spirit.” […]  There is now only One who directs the course of your life, the Lord Jesus Christ.” CHAMBERS
 
In a Cobra helicopter you must have help to control the aircraft.  Not a co-pilot, although you may have one of those, but something called the Stability Control Augmentation System.  Without SCAS  you have a very difficult time in the cockpit.  There are too many forces at work for a pilot to control on his own.  As Christians we have a SCAS as well, the Spirit Controlled Augmentation System.  Peter discovered and each Christian has discovered, that our response to the life we are called to, the life we have in Jesus, is nigh impossible to live without the power of the Spirit in us.  When you start any helicopter you have a check list that you must follow.  In the Cobra, that includes turning the SCAS on.  If you don’t follow the checklist and don’t turn the right switches on, you will be in trouble when you try to fly the helicopter.  In the same way, you must start your day the right way.  Follow the procedures that God has given us.  Start your day with prayer, with the Word, with your focus on the Lord.  God has given us the Holy Spirit as a helper.  (John 14:16)  “ "I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever”  Don’t forget to engage the Holy Spirit in your life each day  .. and whatever you do, don’t turn that switch off!  ELGIN
 
Bondye Beni Ou (God Bless You)
 
Charley Elgin

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