by David Brenneman
"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places." Ephesians 6:12.
According to John Stott in The Message of Galatians, sowing to the flesh means "to pander to it, to cuddle and stroke it, instead of crucifying it. Every time we allow our mind to harbor a grudge, nurse a grievance, entertain an impure fantasy, or wallow in self-pity, we are sowing to the flesh. Every time we linger in bad company whose...influence we know we cannot resist, every time we lie in bed when we ought to be up and praying, every time we read pornographic literature, every time we take a risk which strains our self-control, we are sowing to the flesh. Some Christians sow to the flesh every day and wonder why they do not reap holiness. Holiness is a harvest; whether we reap it or not depends almost entirely on what and where we sow." Study Notes of Dr. David Jeremiah on Galatians 6:8.
The letters that Paul wrote were from the heart of Paul with the certification of the Spirit of God. While some may still be looking for them the other letters of Paul were lost to time and decay. What we have is what the Spirit preserves.
I have been, since January, reading through 4 study Bibles at a sitting each night. Not only is the repetition good so it is that the mind is slowed down to consume more.
Drawing parallels is how some people understand things or they are persuaded against things. I, after these recent months of reading, became convinced that there have been many people in my life who would have tried to counsel the Apostle Paul to not write like he did to those churches and those people.
Yet what we have is what the Spirit says is necessary for our sanctification. We are in a war and soldiers don't learn when and where everyone gets a trophy.
"Suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him as a soldier." 2 Timothy 2:3-4.
We aren't going to grow much if we're coddled from dangers that we're going to run into in these spiritual battles that we find ourselves in.
We can't go to church on Sunday and listen to music during the week that isn't healthy at all to growing in Christ. We can't spend our time in reading works of fiction and not finding ourselves in our Bible. We can't listen to people who aren't Godly and expect to be better off spiritually. We cannot keep trying to stay as close as we can to a life outside of Christ while being in Christ. We cannot keep with the excuses for why we have chosen to not let go of sins that we know we ought to let go of.
The Spirit fully intends to grow those who are saved in Christ Jesus to become more like Christ.
We read that we are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works that we might walk in them. We read that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.
Yet so many people fight growing in Christ! They would rather embrace aspects of a selfish life and in all truthfulness give lip service to Christ.
Paul wrote often of not being entangled in many things of this world. The greatest temptations we face daily are tailored by our enemy to entangle us. We really don't try to understand our enemy or his schemes. God's Word says this is a spiritual war. That we battle not against flesh and blood.
We miss out on the work of God quite often because we're not looking for it.
Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be added unto you.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.
The mind of man plans his ways but the Lord directs his steps.
Are you really ready to face Jesus to give an account of your life knowing that you never really tried giving your all to Jesus in appreciation for His dying on the cross for you?
Are you really saved? Nothing else matters. No situation or problem you face in your brief life is more important than knowing that you are saved in Christ Jesus.
If you are saved are you striving to please Jesus in what you do in life?
Are you intentionally making time for being in the Word of God? Intentionally making time to be alone with Jesus in prayer?
These things are part of sanctification. These things develop the character of Christ Jesus in you.
There's very strong evidence that we could be very very close to the return of Jesus. Very significant pieces of the puzzle are falling into place to reorient the world to only focusing on the middle east. Things are happening in Israel that are very significant.
Would you be ready to meet Jesus face-to-face? What would you say?
Take the time to get yourself right before Jesus now. Make the right choices even if it hurts. Ask Jesus for the help you need from the Spirit of God.
I am waiting for the shout that will take us out of this world into the very presence of my personal Lord and Savior Jesus Christ...are you?
All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission.
New American Standard Bible
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