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Posts Tagged ‘carnal’

“This they said to try(test) Him, hoping they might find a charge on which to accuse Him. But Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground with His finger.” Jn 8:6

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Amazing! Before the eyes of all present to accuse this woman of adultery, the active, living word of God was being written before them!  The very finger of God was being used again but in a way of grace never before experienced! The effect was to bring conviction and freedom. It was to bring life and cover over judgment.

Hebrews 4:12 tells us the word is alive and full of power… that it penetrates to the dividing line of the breath of life (soul), and the immortal spirit. This is what Jesus was doing there. As He wrote in the dirt, He was truly writing in the very hearts of all the dirt in the form of man present. They each then had the opportunity to agree or disagree; to align with, or turn away from that truth.

It is the very same thing today. We live our lives ruled by passion and desire, pleasures and delights… and yet we think we are saved. We call ourselves believers in fact. But we are often every bit like that crowd, or even the disciples … not knowing what spirit we are of.

At that time, if the crowd had really known the word of God (which in fact was not yet written for them – but is for you and me), they would have seen in Galations 5 that a contrast is presented between the spirit and flesh, between the life of the Spirit residing in us (against which there is no charge), and the life of our own flesh…

At some point you see, there is a distinction. Light does not just blend out into darkness. Darkness certainly does not “evolve” into light. There is a place were dark is dark and light is light – within us. The big question is… given that, what rules within you? Light, or dark? Light thinking or dark thinking?(Rom 6:16)

Imagine that light has a positive charge, and darkness a negative charge. Given a powerful magnet, there would actually be a shakedown of reality in you. Your true condition would be revealed. The prevailing rule of your heart would be seen in all its truth – either the preponderance of light or dark would draw or repel you from the magnet. You would see the truth of your condition – for as a man thinks in his heart so he is!

The problem is: many don’t know their true condition. They are deceived. In fact the cares of this world have choked the word (read life of God or light) in them – so that darkness and their own flesh really rule.

The most dangerous thing about deception is when you yourself are deceived. It is a terminal error! Thinking you stand, your actually are sliding down the slippery slope.

True salvation is to allow the word of God to deal with us. It is Living and Active. It does divide between soul (flesh) and spirit. It does free us from the dominion of our own flesh, and sin, and darkness. But is requires that you remain ever in a place of humility and submission before your God, and that He reigns in you!

Many who have lived divided lives are experiencing today the Lord’s drawing a line in the dirt. He is separating that which is for Him, and that which is not. Let this process show you where you stand!

Let the spirit of repentance have its way in you today, bringing conviction, bringing life, bringing freedom in its fullness to you. Let life and light have the victory!!! The Word is a light and a lamp unto our feet! See clearly today!

 

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Day Twenty

 

The Battle for Your Belonging

 

“For this is why the good news (the Gospel) was preached [in their lifetime] even to the dead, that though judged in fleshly bodies as men are, they might live in the spirit as God does.”

1Pet 4:6 Amp

 

            Every day, every hour you live a battle rages.  You don’t necessarily feel it, although you might become aware of the pull as the struggle increases.  If you are not a believer in Jesus Christ – this struggle doesn’t exist for you yet.  But for the believer, it is all out warfare.  It is the battle for who you belong to!

            There are two choices.  If as a believer you are following your natural self, your own ideas, feelings and preferences – you still belong to the flesh.  You are still carnal – and what predominates in you is the flesh even though you are saved.  But if you have surrendered your flesh to the Lord, daily for crucifixion, and are instead following the leading of the spirit – then according to Watchman Nee you belong to the spirit and are increasingly becoming a spiritual man. 

            This is the will of God for you; this living in the spirit.  It is what is referred to in the Scripture above.  As believers, our flesh is judged already.  It is condemned and dead by virtue of its sin and guilt.  Thus, if we agree and live not according to the dictates of the flesh but according to the spirit – the cross has been applied to ourselves by the Holy Spirit and we begin to then walk according to the word of God.  Now the promises of God, and the life of the spirit predominates in us and our lives become testimonies of the overcoming power and victory of Jesus Christ.  Though we are dead – we walk in the resurrection power of a living God!  Though we still live in the world – He has overcome the world – even our faith!

            As we obey the spirit – we become spiritual.  Our affiliation with God increases and our affiliation with the world and all of its draw and attraction decreases.  This is what is meant by 1Peter 4:1-2 in the amplified Bible: 

“So since Christ suffered in the flesh for us, for you, arm yourselves with the same thought and purpose [patiently to suffer rather than fail to please God].

For whoever has suffered in the flesh [having the mind of Christ] is done with [intentional] sin [has stopped pleasing himself and the world, and pleases God], So that he can no longer spend the rest of his natural life living by [his] human appetites and desires, but [he lives] for what God wills.”

 

            Do you seriously hunger to be a spiritual being?  As a believer in Christ there is only one way – belong to the Holy Spirit!  This is the place where the power of God can begin to be manifested through you for the glory of God!  But it is not for the carnal, the selfish, or the fainthearted — for it will cost you everything!  But for the willing – it will open the destiny of God in your life.  Are you willing?

            Be-loved!

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