Spirit versus Flesh
I count him braver who overcomes his desires than him who overcomes his enemies; for the hardest victory is victory over self. –Aristotle
I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. Philippians 4:13
How do we obtain this type of bravery? Throughout scripture we see men and women valiantly fighting against enemies abroad. But that type of enemy is easy to identify and fight against. What about the enemy within, the enemy that affects us the most…our flesh? Go to the same place to find strength—scripture. Consider with me Hebrews 12:1-2; “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
Child of God; Confess and forsake sin. Die to fleshly desires by getting into the Word of God—DAILY. Quit making excuses why you can’t get to church and other church functions. Get busy doing something for the Lord. Share the Gospel with someone. The boldness and bravery that will follow will even surprise yourself! You can do it through Christ!
Jesus knows all about our struggles!
When I consider my crosses, tribulations, and temptations, I shame myself almost to death, thinking what are they in comparison to the suffering of my blessed Saviour Jesus Christ. --Martin Luther
For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: 1 Peter 3:18
No matter what we go through in this life nothing will ever compare to the suffering that the Lord Jesus went through to redeem mankind. From Him leaving Heaven to come to Earth, to Him going to Hell for your and my sins…what could ever compare? Nothing, absolutely nothing! Don’t ever think He doesn’t know what you are going through. He has been right where you are at. He can empathize with you. “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.” Hebrews 4:15
Death is coming...are you ready?
As men, we are all equal in death. -Publilius Syrus
And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: Hebrews 9:27
One thing is for sure; death is coming. It will come to every man, woman, boy and girl. It doesn’t matter how rich or poor, how old or young, how beautiful or ugly, how famous or recluse. When death comes knocking at your door there is nothing you can do about it. But what you can do right now is be prepared for it. Do you know Jesus as Saviour? He is the only one that can save us from an eternity in Hell. Consider with me Romans 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
Water is the only drink for a wise man. –Thoreau
Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise. Proverbs 20:1
So many Christians are being deceived by Satan about this subject of wine. They have believed the lie under the guise of Christian Liberty. Well the Bible is very clear when it speaks of wine and its purposes. Nowhere in it will you find, “Have a little drink with your meal”. Nor will you find, “Have a drink with your buddies after work.”
Be careful with whom you listen to when it comes to wine or other alcoholic beverages. There isn’t one drunk out there that started out by saying, “I’m going to be a drunk.” On the other hand, each one started off by having one drink and that’s when they found themselves bound to the bottle.
Go to church, the Lord has soemthing for you!
The difference between listening to a radio sermon and going to church, someone has said, is almost like the difference between calling your girl on the telephone and spending an evening with her. –Moody
We took sweet counsel together, and walked unto the house of God in company. Psalm 55:14
So much is lost when we do not talk to someone in person. A text is misunderstood. A phone call is meant for someone else. A snail mail letter is often late. But if you have the opportunity to speak face to face with someone—there is normally no doubt in what you said or meant.
When you GET UP, GET READY, and GO TO CHURCH the message isn’t misunderstood, the message is for you, and it’s right on time every time! What’s hindering you from going today?
Giving is one of the many secrets of success.
Giving is the secret of a healthy life. Not necessarily money, but whatever a man has of encouragement and sympathy and understanding. -J.D. Rockefeller, Jr.
Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. 2 Corinthians 9:7
Everyone has something to give; time, talents, and yes, treasures. For the one who says they have nothing they can give for the service of the Lord, be reminded of what He gave in order for you to have life and have it more abundant; His Precious Son. He gave His all, can’t you give Him what due back to Him? If not, don’t be surprised when judgment comes and you have nothing for yourself.
Forgiven but cannot forgive?
"I can forgive, but I cannot forget," is only another way of saying, "I cannot forgive." –Beecher
Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him. Luke 17:3
Sooner or later someone will hurt your feelings. They may not have wanted to but they did. Whether or not they wanted to doesn’t change the fact of what our response should be—to forgive. In forgiving the person that did us wrong we show them the love of God. We show them what Jesus did for us on the Cross.
Do you have someone that you have a hard time forgiving? Think of it this way; if the Lord forgave all you ever did against Him, why should you not forgive the one that did you wrong? No matter what they did!!
Comfort comes with Him near!
Of all created comforts, God is the lender; you are the borrower, not the owner. -Rutherford
Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. Isaiah 41:10
If there is one thing that brings comfort in my life; it is knowing the Lord is with me! It’s not a right that I have; it is one of the many gifts God gives to His children! I don’t know what you are going through but I know the Lord is there right beside you ready to walk with you! So get up and go the way He has laid out for you with a boldness knowing He will, strengthen, help, and uphold you in that journey!
NO small SIN!
No sin is small. It is against an infinite God, and may have consequences immeasurable. --Jeremy Taylor
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Romans 3:23
Many think they can sin and it only affects them. They think they can hide behind a cell phone, computer monitor, or television screen and no one will know anything about their sin. This is not the case. Scripture says, “Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them” Matthew 7:20. You will be known by your talk, your walk, and the places you go. They will know in your attitude, your prayer, and in your willingness/ unwillingness to serve the Lord. That sin that so easily besets you may be hidden now but sooner or later it will be exposed.
Nothing in my hand I bring, simply to Thy Cross I cling.
But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. Galatians 6:14
That old rugged Cross so despised by the world has a wondrous attraction to me! The sight of the Cross reminds me of my Lord and Saviour that hung on it. It reminds me of what He endured so that I could be saved! When is the last time you visited the Cross? Be reminded today what He placed on Himself so that you and I could be saved!
The Greatest Memorial
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. Romans 12:1
The American Soldier puts country before them self for the cause of national security and for what’s in our country’s best interest. Some not only gave of their time and talents but many with their very lives. Those are the ones we honor today. Those are the ones who have given the ultimate sacrifice, their lives, so you and I can have freedom! Just like those men and women, we owe our very lives to this great country we live in, if for no other reason—to honor them.
There is One Soldier that fought a different battle though. This Soldier placed upon Himself the sins of the world, not only for the interest of an individual’s spiritual security but for everyone’s best interest. Jesus came to seek that which was lost and in doing so laid down His life for you and I! Each one of us in return need to present our bodies a living sacrifice in order to bring Him honor!
No better place to worship the Lord than in church!
Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee. Hebrews 2:12
I think the best times I have had in church is when someone stands up and says something like, “Preacher, I’d like to praise the Lord.” Like a wildfire the praises begin the ring throughout the church. One after another people stand and give account of how the Lord is working in their life.
But if you stay at home you miss out! You miss hearing how the Lord is working in people’s lives. So whatever your plans are today, make sure you GET UP, GET READY, and GO TO CHURCH!
Sit Down and Listen!
Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God. James 1:19-20
As you already know we are living in a face paced society. We want everything right now. We want our instant potatoes, television on demand, and a sermon sent to us as we drink our latte eating a donut. What happened to the preacher that said in his heart, “I’ve a message from the Lord hallelujah, a message unto you I’ll give.” Not just a nice little speech but a Holy Ghost filled message that causes us to look inside and have a conviction to confess sin! Oh wait preacher…I’m too busy with all of that! Well you may be too busy now but sooner or later you will be sitting at the Father’s feet listening to what He has to say! I think I’ll just go sit for a while!
Get off the Fence and do something!
It is a wicked thing to be neutral between right and wrong. --Theodore Roosevelt
A double minded man is unstable in all his ways. James 1:8
If you think you can sit back and not choose between right and wrong, you are wrong! By default you are on the wrong side! Edmund Burke said, “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” If you claim to be a good man why don’t you get off the fence and choose to do right by: Accepting Jesus as Saviour, Exposing people to the Gospel, and Exercising your legs by going to church more than you do now!
Winning through Witnessing
Be ashamed to die until you have won some soul for the Lord—ME!
The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise. Proverbs 11:30
If the Lord were to come back today, how many people could you say you shared the Gospel with? How many people could you say, by your direct witness, came to know the Lord? How many people have told you that you were the reason they got saved? If you are not winning souls for the Lord you are not fulfilling scripture! Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. Matthew 28:19
Why does God love me?
Could we with ink the oceans fill and were the skies of parchment made and every stalk on earth quill and every man a scribe by trade, to write the love of God above would drain the oceans dry, nor could that scroll contain the whole though stretched from sky to sky. --Scribbled on an asylum wall
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16
I often think about the love of God and wonder what would cause Him to love a wretch such as I. Was it my blood line? Was it my looks? Was it my pedigree? Was it my education? What exactly caused Him to love ME?
Then I am reminded of Romans 5:8, “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” It’s none of those things! He loved and loves me because of who He is! I did not deserve salvation but He provided it anyway! We deserve Hell but God, by grace through faith, gives us Heaven!
Joy comes with Assurance!
Full assurance is not essential to salvation, but it is essential to satisfaction. May you get it-may you get it at once. May you never be satisfied to live without it. –Spurgeon
And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full. 1 John 1:4
A full assurance of your salvation brings about a full life of joy! That’s the problem with some Christians though, they don’t spend time in the Word getting the assurance they need to have joy in their soul! I’ve got joy like a river flowing in my soul—How about you?
Praying is better than pouting!
Ten minutes' praying is better than a year's murmuring. –Spurgeon
Do all things without murmurings and disputings: Philippians 2:14
What did you say? That’s what Dad would say after he had spanked us and we were around the corner murmuring over the injustice we thought just happened. No one complains when their Father is within hearing range though. Our response would always be, “Nothing Daddy”, because we didn’t want another spanking—I mean we’re not stupid. I would’ve never said, “Well Dad, I’m complaining about the spanking I just got!” No sir that would have been insane!
Why should we complain over the affairs of this old world? The Lord knows each one and if we would just go to church as much as we can we wouldn’t murmur so much. Why? When we get to church most of us stop murmuring because we are “nearer to the Lord”. Thing is, our Heavenly Father is always close-by even knowing our very thoughts and intents of our hearts. So He is always within hearing range!