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Tuesday, 01 December 2009
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Living by the Spirit's Power
Galatians 5 (NLT)
Living by the Spirit’s Power
16 So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. 17 The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions. 18 But when you are directed by the Spirit, you are not under obligation to the law of Moses.
19 When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, 21 envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.
22 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!
24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. 25 Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives. 26 Let us not become conceited, or provoke one another, or be jealous of one another.
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It's interesting to me how "following the Law of Moses" (legalism when this is attempted without the capability to live completely holy lives) and "following the desires of your sinful nature" (an "I don't care; I'm going to do what feels good" attitude) are both opposites of living a life controlled by the Spirit.
The commonality is found in the control. In both instances we trust ourselves to be able to live.
Lord, please, this day, let me live for you and in the strength of Your Resurrection, guided by your Holy Spirit... bring glory to Yourself through my life.
Saturday, 07 November 2009
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Matt. 24: 45
“A faithful, sensible servant is one to whom the master can give the responsibility of managing his other household servants and feeding them. 46If the master returns and finds that the servant has done a good job, there will be a reward. 47I tell you the truth, the master will put that servant in charge of all he owns. 48But what if the servant is evil and thinks, ‘My master won’t be back for a while,’ 49and he begins beating the other servants, partying, and getting drunk? 50The master will return unannounced and unexpected, 51and he will cut the servant to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Matthew 23:27
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It's easy to think, "God will forgive me. I still love Him, even if I'm not quite obeying Him... all the time..." That thinking is so wrong. It's hypocritical. And when I employ it, I'm no better than the Pharisees Jesus so vitriolically condemned.
"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men's bones and everything unclean.
Dear Father,
Enable me to always see things Your way. Grant me a completely pure heart - not just the desire to do right or the lip-service, but the actions that honor You and wait for Your good things in Your perfect timing.
Tuesday, 03 November 2009
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Disaster Warning
John 12: 44 Jesus shouted to the crowds,“If you trust me, you are trusting not only me, but also God who sent me. 45For when you see me, you are seeing the one who sent me. 46I have come as a light to shine in this dark world, so that all who put their trust in me will no longer remain in the dark. 47I will not judge those who hear me but don’t obey me, for I have come to save the world and not to judge it. 48But all who reject me and my message will be judged on the day of judgment by the truth I have spoken. 49I don’t speak on my own authority. The Father who sent me has commanded me what to say and how to say it. 50And I know his commands lead to eternal life; so I say whatever the Father tells me to say.”
(from the New Living Translation of the Bible)
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Friends, I can't get away from this truth, and I can't marginalize it by not sharing it! If you want to talk about this, I would love to talk with you, anytime.
Love,
Charis
Monday, 26 October 2009
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"You Are Still Holy"
"You Are Still Holy" ~ Kim HillHoly, You are still holy
Even when the darkness surrounds my life
Sovereign, You are still sovereign
Even when confusion has blinded my eyesLord, I don't deserve Your kind affection
When my unbelief has kept me from Your touch
I want my life to be a pure reflection
Of Your loveAnd so I come into Your chamber
And I dance at Your feet, Lord
You are my Saviour
And I'm at Your mercy
All that has been in my life
Up 'til now
It belongs to You
You are still holyHoly, You are still holy
Even though I don't understand Your ways
Sovereign, You will be sovereign
Even when my circumstances don't changeLord, I don't deserve your tender patience
When my unbelief has kept me from Your truth
I want my life to be a sweet devotion
To YouAnd so I come into Your chamber
And I dance at Your feet, Lord
You are my Saviour
And I'm at Your mercy
All that has been in my life
Up 'til now
It belongs to You
I belong to YouAnd so I come into Your chamber
And I dance at Your feet
You are my Saviour
And I'm at Your mercy
All that has been in my life
Up 'til now
It belongs to You
I belong to You
You are still holy
You are still sovereign
You are still holy, Lord
You are still righteous
You are all-knowing
You are still holy
Wednesday, 21 October 2009
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"Who But God"
"Who But God"
Words by Wes King & Michael Card
Music by Wes King & Phil Naish
Who but God
Would send His Son
To condescend
And make Himself the likes
Of a mere mortal man?
Who but God
Would not regard
Equality with God a precious thing
Not to be held onto?
Who but God?
Who but God?
Who but God?
Only God would condescend for us
And choose the weakness of the cross.
Who wept the tears that conquered sin
That we might laugh with Him?
Who but He who knew no sin
Would make Himself the very thing
He knew He could not look upon,
Endure the cross and scorn its shame
And choose the very weak things
Of this world to over come the strong?
Who but God?
Who but God?
Who but God?
Only God would send us His only Son
Obedient to death
Our spotless One
Servant, Savior so lowly now ~
Soon every knee shall bow.
Who but God
Would send His Son
To condescend
And make Himself the likes
Of a mere mortal man?
Who but God?
Who but God?
Who but God?
