| How We Can Be Hindered in our Walk | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: May 23 2005, 02:01 PM (101 Views) | |
| Stace4Jesus | May 23 2005, 02:01 PM Post #1 |
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My mind thinks of how something is going to affect me, my reputation, my job, my comfort. The Lord's mind thinks of how it is going to affect someone (even me) and draw them deeper into the Kingdom of God. I might want to do something because of fear. He would not want fear to motivate me. I might want to do a certain job because it will make me look important. He wants me to do a certain job because He can affect the lives of others through me. When we do what we do out of love...He is there When we do it for the love of ourselves.. He is not there.
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| Stace4Jesus | May 23 2005, 02:02 PM Post #2 |
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Anyway, So, in Galatians, the Bible shows us the fruits of the Spirit and the Works of flesh. Here is a list of the works of flesh: Gal 5:19 Now the doings (practices) of the flesh are clear (obvious): they are immorality, impurity, indecency, Gal 5:20 Idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, anger (ill temper), selfishness, divisions (dissensions), party spirit (factions, sects with peculiar opinions, heresies), Gal 5:21 Envy, drunkenness, carousing, and the like. I warn you beforehand, just as I did previously, that those who do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. And here is an example of the working of the Holy Spirit: Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the [Holy] Spirit [the work which His presence within accomplishes] is love, joy (gladness), peace, patience (an even temper, forbearance), kindness, goodness (benevolence), faithfulness, Gal 5:23 Gentleness (meekness, humility), self-control (self-restraint, continence). Against such things there is no law [[6] that can bring a charge]. So, I contemplate these things in my life: There are some things that I do that are obvious to the eyes that I am doing them for the purpose of "flesh." What is "flesh?" Okay, try this: Flesh is the combination of all the elements we are made up of with the exception of our spirit. Flesh is comprised of our five physical senses and our soul (mind, will, and emotions). How it works (very limited example): I am on a fast and it is the first lunch time (ie.. I am not toooo hungry yet) and my eyes see a white coconut cake Or They see a plate of collard greens.. I am not tempted on my fast by the collard greens, as matter of fact.. I am encouraged to stay on it. I am tempted by the coconut cake.. hum.. did God really want me start this fast today? My nose smells a fire in the field next door which means they are outside in the hot heat working -- My nose smells a BBQ across the street -- I might want to go one place, but not the other. My ears hear my mother call me for supper -- My ears hear my father call me for not cleaning up my room... I might want to go or I might not want to go. My legs feel the soft clean sheets on my bed -- or My legs feel burlap on my bed .. am I really so tired now? I could go on, but as we can see, what my physical body tells me is computed and my mind makes decisions based upon these things. These decisions are based on flesh. Or.... Lets say the we are hearing the Lord direct our steps as He promises. Okay.. He says: Eat the collards Go help your neighbor so he can get out of the heat quicker Go answer your father and clean up your room, (clean rooms glorify Him) Sleep on the burlap bed because it might help you from sleeping 12hours at a time (I don't really, but just to give you an example) Okay.. we yield. We are now walking in the Spirit. |
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| Stace4Jesus | May 23 2005, 02:03 PM Post #3 |
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Well, at this point, it is rather easy to discern the Lord's voice in the matter. He seems to breaking the softness off of me and it is clear that He wants me out of the comfortable life and more diligent about the Kingdom of Heaven. But, what happens when He begins to reward and bless me because I obey faithfully? What if He says to go ahead this day and eat the cake, sleep on regular sheets, and even sleep in a bit. This is easy because when we are young in our faith, we are just like excited children receiving a reward from our Father. But, over time, we can again begin to enjoy these things and then discernment can be hard. What are you going to do? You're going to have to discern which voice is telling you what. Whether the flesh is giving orders now and you are obeying or whether the Holy Spirit is telling you. And you know what? There is one other voice to contend with... the adversary. Hum.. |
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3:51 AM Jul 11