An Easter Thought.

Yesterday I was reading a book I have that is essentially a compacted time line of the Bible.  I was reading about Adam and Eve being expelled from the Garden of Eden.  After their expulsion, they were unable to speak directly with God, therefore, they built stone altars and they burned gifts to the Lord.  They did this as a way of praying for forgiveness of their sins.

Isn't that incredible.  As I was reading this, I felt an overwhelming fear for the people who lived before Jesus Christ came to walk on the Earth.  Due to the choice Adam and Eve made, to disobey God, humanity was and is in a fallen state.  They then had no direct communication with God.  In order to have a relationship with God in all His glory, they needed to rid themselves of their sins.  But can't you see?  That was an impossible task!  They made these altars and sacrifices and burnt offerings.  They thought they had to attempt earning their way to God.  How terrifying that life must have been. [We know they were saved the same way we are saved. Through Jesus. Only difference is, they hadn't seen Him come to earth yet. Though Adam and Eve could never have done anything to make atonement for their sins on their own efforts, they did not know that. And that is an overwhelming fear that I am glad I do not bear.]

Today is Easter.  I am so thankful for God's grace today.  The grace of living in a time where Jesus has come, died, and RISEN so that I can have direct communication with GOD at all times.  So that I can have peace, hope, love, joy, and security.  I am thankful for Jesus.  God is good.  How could we ever doubt the goodness of God.  Nothing we ever go through will be too difficult.  There is nothing that can happen to you or me that will take away the TRUTH that our debt has been PAID IN FULL on the cross at Calvary!

Rejoice in Jesus today.  Rest in the truth of the Gospel.  Have peace.  Have joy.  Give love.  For we have been rescued from a pit of darkness and will never have to return.  Do you believe the best is yet to come?

The Holy Spirit vs Sinful Nature

This morning I was thinking about sinful nature.  Just how powerful it can be.  How can its power stand against the power of  the Holy Spirit?  Surly it cannot.  But so often the sinful nature wins control over our lives.  How can this be?  There must be another factor involved in the battle.  Free will perhaps?

We are given a choice when temptation presents itself.  Ask the Holy Spirit to fight for us or allow our flesh to have claim over us.  How is it that a heart fully in love with God and fully aware with wisdom and discernment can choose to allow the sinful nature to have authority in his or her life?

When we sin, we recognize that we have a sinful nature about us.  But is that an excuse?  After all, the Bible says that "no one can serve two masters."  Well, I don't think so.  And if I don't think so, then I'm condemned to death.  This is why the Good News is so good.  We don't typically make the best decisions when it comes to choosing between sin and righteousness; therefore, God condemned Jesus to death in order to settle ALL the debts we have accumulated from failing to choose righteousness over sin.

Romans 8:9-10

"You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you.  And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ.  But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness."

But back to where the decision takes place.  I think we so often choose sin over righteousness, not because the sinful nature is stronger than the Holy Spirit, but because we are the ones given the choice between the two.  We are too weak to make the better decision.  We are people who were naturally born with a sinful nature.  It took death on a cross for us to receive the Holy Spirit.  It isn't an easy battle for our less-than holy minds.  In Matthew 26, Jesus tells His disciples to pray so that they won't fall into temptation.  He says "The Spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak."

Since our flesh is weak, I think it's wise for us to slow down in our decision making.  Because when we slow down, we allow ourselves time to weight the options.  And when it comes down to God's wrath versus God's kingdom, I think we will all be screaming and begging for the Holy Spirit to take authority in our hearts and minds.  Galatians 5 is the best guide for how living by the Spirit should look for us.

Galatians 5:16-26

"So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.  For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh.  They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want.  But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.  The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the life.  I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.  Against such things there is no law.  Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.  Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.  Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other."

Let's practice living life by the Spirit.

[Sweet little Rodney isn't doing well.  Pray that he recovers and can be with us for years to come.]