"Christ is our life!"
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I joyfully share with you today, incredible truth from the writings of Andrew Murray. May his rich insights prepare us for an incredible new year...​
Christ's life is more than historical facts concerning His birth, His teaching, His work, even more than His death. It was His unique and divine life in the presence of God and man that gave value to all that He said and did. And it is this life, glorified in the resurrection, that He imparts to His people, enabling them to live victoriously in spite of any upsetting trials or circumstances. |
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Spiritual leaders agree that the life of believers is either the greatest asset, or the greatest obstacle, in the winning of souls to Christ. Too many church members miss this deepest of spiritual truths because they do not understand, nor do they truly believe, this message of the indwelling Christ. When Jesus sent out His disciples it was with this command: "But stay in the city of Jerusalem until you have been endued with power from on high." (Luke 24:49)​
Everything in missions and ministry depends upon this life with God in Christ being right. The simplicity and intensity of our lives in Christ, and of His life in us, makes us more than conquerors over selfish desires, as well as anything else, that would hinder His purposes for us from being realized. The Christ life will give us power over the world, the flesh, and the devil.
Christ is life! And when He lives in you and me, every moment of everyday, as He promised in His word, you and I can live our lives to the fullest. He is our strength; He is our joy; He is our peace; He is our LIFE!
Christ is life! And when He lives in you and me, every moment of everyday, as He promised in His word, you and I can live our lives to the fullest. He is our strength; He is our joy; He is our peace; He is our LIFE!
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"Come now, you who say, 'Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit'; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow.
For what is your life?
It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. Instead you should say, 'If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.' But now you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil." James 4:13-16
One of the great principles of scripture is that we walk by faith, and not be sight. Faith living is a total reliance, or a complete dependence, upon the person of Jesus Christ. It is the absolute surrender of our wills to the abiding presence of His Spirit within us, Who lives in us to guide, guard, and govern us in our daily adventures. Anything less is a reliance upon human logic and reasoning, which denies the lordship of Christ over us.
James says such a mindset is evil when a believer decides that he or she will chart the course for their own life. The unregenerate must make choices and decisions based upon reasoning, because they are spiritually dead. They pursue a course that appears to be for their advantage based upon the information that they can gather from their senses and their circumstances. This is living and operating by 'sight' instead of faith, which is the only way for the lost to live, as they have not the Spirit of God living in them. Our journey should be remarkably different, however, as God has placed His Spirit in us. As we learn to yield to our new way of living, which is yielding to His divine life inside of us, then we begin to please God in our journey as we grow, mature, and walk by faith.
I have had many interesting conversations over the years with those who are looked upon as being spiritually mature in their local church settings, yet have no understanding of this kind of lifestyle. I remember well those times when I called Tammy and asked her to please pray fervently for me, as I was among a people who did not, or could not, understand the most basic concepts of biblical truth concerning the Life of Christ in the soul of man. Far too many people "get saved" and begin to add religious activities to their lifestyles, and they never realize that salvation is not an encounter of God's grace that occurs when someone agrees to certain biblical doctrines, prays a so-called sinner's prayer, and unites with a church. Beloved, this is not salvation! Bible salvation is when God Himself convicts, converts, and changes someone based upon His incredible and eternal grace! Salvation is Christ in you, the hope of glory!
 | So the question must be asked: Does Christ live in you? If He does, I pray that you are living each day resting and relying upon Him to lead you, fill you, and sanctify you, so that you might live to glorify Him! Please don't live as the lost do, making personal, family, and church choices and decisions based upon human logic, personal preferences, or congregational tradition. Why? Because God says that kind of mindset is "evil" for those who belong to Him. Walk by faith; not by sight. AMEN!! |
These six things the Lord hates, yes, seven are an abomination to Him...
And one who sows discord among the brethren." Proverbs 6:16-19
And one who sows discord among the brethren." Proverbs 6:16-19
It is rather remarkable that we find in Proverbs a list of seven items, or sins, that God hates. Most of the time in our Bible studies and worship services, we are being reminded of the great love of God. And it is very true, of course, for the Bible says that "God is love" in 1 John 4:8. Yet the Bible also says that God has a perfect, holy, burning dissatisfaction towards certain attitudes and actions. In fact, the Bible says that God hates these things, and that should most definitely get our attention.
The plain list in Proverbs ends with God's hatred toward those who purposely sow discord among the brethren. Why would He have such an extreme emotion towards those who are guilty of creating chaos? One reason is that in today's dispensation, He is desiring to work thru the church to accomplish His kingdom activity and bring glory to His name. The church is often called the body of Christ, and unity within the body is critical in order to experience His presence and power. In chapters one and three of 1 Corinthians, Paul had to strongly fuss at this church because of the testimony of division in their fellowship. Later in chapter twelve, as he instructs them concerning the diversity of spiritual gifts, he also reminds them that the church is made up of many members, but it is ONE body. In verse 25 of that chapter, he says "there should be no schism in the body." In the original Greek, the word 'schism' denotes being fiercely divided; ripped asunder, or torn apart. I do not believe that any further explanation, or illustration, is necessary to understand the heart of God towards those church members that would rather fuss, fight and feud, than experience repentance, restoration, and revival.
In Henry Blackaby's Experiencing God, he states that the will of God is revealed by the Holy Spirit thru Bible study, prayer times, life's circumstances, and the church body. Yet it is grievous to admit that some will not submit to His revelation, no matter how it might be experienced, and will even seek to force their own personal agenda into the life of a church. This often causes a congregation to be fiercely divided, ripped asunder, or torn apart, which we've already seen should never happen within the body of Christ.
Recently, while preaching on the subject of unity in the church, I stressed how God worked so graciously and powerfully thru the early church in the book of Acts. They were not a perfect church, but they were a united one. The phrase "in one accord" is often found and used to describe how their hearts and minds were knitted together. They had a united focus on Jesus, their Great Commander, and a united purpose to fulfill both the Great Commandment and the Great Commission. And what God accomplished thru these ordinary, yet Spirit filled, men and women is truly amazing!
| Unity is so important among the people of God, that in Joshua 1:16-18, the people said to their new leader, that anyone who would rebel and not follow his godly leadership would be put to death. Wow, you might want to look those verses up. Now why would they say such a thing? Were they being hateful, mean and intolerant? No, they were just following the word of God. What? That's exactly right, for in Deuteronomy 17:12-13, the Bible says, "Now the man who acts presumptuously and will not heed the priest who stands to minister there before the Lord your God, or the judge (which would include Joshua), that man shall die. So shall you put away the evil from Israel. And all the people shall hear and fear, and no longer act presumptuously." |  |
Now today, we no longer face the death penalty for such actions and attitudes, for Jesus has paid that high and horrible price for us. However, that does not do away with God's hatred toward those who would purposely bring division into the body of Christ. Don't be so foolish as to believe that you can create chaos and turmoil in the church of Jesus Christ and live under the smile of God's love. No, that can't happen dear friend, for He has clearly and eternally said that He hates those who sow discord among the brethren.
-CS-
Charles Smith
Has agreed to allow Job2ten to pass along some of his words of wisdom. Be sure to go visit his blog to get to see all his content.
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