The Spirit and the flesh do not go together easily. To the person whose heart is affected by this world, Gods heavenly answers seem too inconvenient to accept without at least a little tweaking.
But this is the height of unreasonableness, that anyone might scoff at any answer God gives them directly. God demonstrates His blameless grace by answering mens prayers, even if His answers arent what men were hoping for.
If we humans, as a whole race, have passed down and improved on anything throughout the generations, it has been an aptitude for rejecting Gods straightforward answers. So we should seek the Spirits help for praying, not only to petition effectively, but also to accept His answers unconditionally.
Gods answers will always reflect the fact that He knows better. This is a good thing because our minds and hearts are naturally saturated with the insanity of sin.
God is already telling those of us who dare to listen how to approach Him, dwell in Him and how to live in general. All the inconvenient answers that we need to hear are already close at hand. For example, right when I start getting interested in praying about this terrible, fallen world around me is the time that Gods grace bursts every self-righteous bubble Im using to keep myself comfortable. Around the time when I get my religious diplomas framed and ready to hang on my church wall is the same time that God comes in to crash my party by informing me that neither diplomas nor walls have much to do with the kingdom of heaven.
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Sinful Flesh Vs. Spirit. Click to go to our Home Page death (flesh) or under the reign of grace and righteousness (Spirit) which we
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Set Free by the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus :: Desiring God ::
A Passion for Purity vs. Passive Prayers (Taste & See Articles) according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to
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However, in Christ we church professionals have the opportunity to press past ourselves and onward toward maturity. Because He is the Lord over this reality, we can embrace our true spiritual conditions, surrender ourselves to Him and let Him move us on from here.
Christ is commanding more truthful introspection, not because we need more attention for ourselves, but because we ought to be realistically humble in our dealings with the Almighty. If were sure beyond a doubt that were full and complete and content with ourselves as a western church, then our first order of business is to embrace Gods unmistakably devastating brand of self-emptying and self-death. When our old selves are completely annihilated in Christ, then we will be free to move on from our distracted crawls, toward a more mature, Christ-centered walk.
In light of Gods nature and my experience thus far, I am convinced that we western churchgoers possess barely enough spiritual motor skills to put one spiritual stone on top of another. But, as for now, lets be encouraged that even the most rudimentary motor skills can be developed over time, through active practice.
I dont mean that we westerners dont have all the right answers. On the contrary, we pride ourselves in having all the right answers. But have we tried these right answers?
Truly, we are a well-educated bunch. But have we ever put our education to work?
We may have read all about the mechanics of putting one spiritual stone on top of another, to the point that even conducting a church service sounds simple enough. Most churchgoers are content to know the right answers so they can... what? Why, of course, go back to church again. And next Sunday? Go back to church again.
Where the Spirit of the Lord is::
Article Title: Where the Spirit of the Lord is was Flesh vs. Spirit and we spent time unpacking the flesh and the Spirit.
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We westerners are a people who prefer ask our peers about how we are doing rather than ask Christ. We would rather crowd around each other for mutual encouragement, regardless of Gods opinion of us. That Christ is literally available to field every one of our questions might even seem silly to many churchgoers.
When we need confirmation for our work, we look inward at ourselves. And, when we want something tangible, we manufacture something to fit the bill. But this is contrary to sincere, Christ-seeking experimentation. And these things also point toward this general truth, that we are a spiritually underdeveloped people.
Mind you, if the lines of communication between you and the Lord are wide open, then you need not panic in any case. In fact, if you are on the same page as Christ, then you dont even need me to tell you not to panic because He is already your direct Source of encouragement.
A simple truth is that God is no fool. He is not mocked by us little people. If wise men cannot be easily duped by people who claim to be something they arent, how much less can any mortal person deceive the Lord Omniscient!
But He will endorse a church that is on the same page as He, so that the worlds attention will be drawn to the people who draw attention to Christ. He approves of either all or none of a persons life so that those who are His are thoroughly His, whether they work or play, eat or drink, speak or sit quiet.
No matter how many right answers we have accumulated for ourselves, the truth is that we western churchgoers cling to religious distraction before we cling to Christ. We would clutch our predictable shiny things rather than inherit heavenly treasure in Christ, even if this treasure applies to our lives right now. But blessed is anyone out of whose hands the Lord pries these things.
by Patrick Roberts. Find his book and additional material at www.BooksByPatrick.com
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