Be Vigilant

What is rather obvious is how God has chosen the natural world to teach us so many valuable lessons that we must apply to our spiritual lives. It is also palpable that we cannot take those lessons and then live them out in the flesh to find favour from God. Here is the truth behind that type pf reasoning: “For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.”  (Romans 8:7-8) – We must make this truth our own, if not we will always be living in a bowl of oil and water trying to mix the two into a single liquid, which is impossible.

However the brilliance of God has allowed us to learn many valuable teachings as we live out our lives in the natural. But unless there is a shift into the spiritual realm we will remain babes in Christ; that is if we have been truly saved. Just like a baby putting everything into their mouths, unable to differentiate the good from the bad. How do we apply ourselves with prudence? We examine those trainings against the voice of God and see how we are able to carry those lessons into our spiritual walks with God. It’s always good to have the intent of finding the acceptable, good and perfect will of God in and through the experience. How do we accurately measure what we believe we are being taught, how do we know whether our understanding is accurate or not? We examine it against the Word of God and not the opinions of others. God has afforded His children that privilege. With that said, I am heavy hearted this morning, so many of us believe because someone claims to be a Christian, it must be so. It is imperative that we mark out those who are truly invested in the will of God and expel those who are all about their own agendas. Sadly there are many who fall into the latter category. Mark out those amongst you and be astute whilst examining what they have to say, is it in accordance with the will of God, or more accurately are they vessels unto honour or not? Not that we need to knit pick on the different persuasions Christians have on certain fundamentals. I believe we will all be squared away when we get to heaven. But blatant violations cannot be overlooked, that will end in devastation. I trust God the Holy Spirit will lead you into all truth concerning this. “Let God be true and every man a liar”. So whether a women covers her head or not as Paul teaches, that wouldn’t be a hill to die on. However when he teaches on how or who should be teaching God’s Word and the reason for it, it must be taken very seriously if we are to stay on track.

When the focus of the author or the preacher becomes about themselves more than the finished work of the cross, be warned! Paul Tripp in his book "Awe" puts it like this; “When we put ourselves in the center of the story, not only do we become rebels against God, we become a danger to ourselves and others. And since we are our greatest problem, we are left powerless to help ourselves.” How do we change our application to the problem of self-getting in the way? “The law can reveal how much you have put yourself in the center of the story, but it has no power to put God back in his rightful place in your heart. We are confronted with the utter foolishness of repeatedly asking the law to do what only grace can accomplish.”

It’s the grace of God that has saved us and it’s the grace of God that will get us home. But we must always be mindful of this truth, it’s not as if we now repeatedly look to abuse the grace of God in our lives, a license to live a life of habitual sin.

​“What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?” (Romans 6:1-2) – The war rages on, but the Christian must be brought to their senses if they have been truly saved. It may take some serve disciple to bring them round, however I am persuaded because God has begun the work HE will see it through unto the end. We are not all the same per se, sure we are all tainted by sin, but some are dull of hearing and just like the rebellious lamb that always wanders away from the protection of the flock and eventually needs the shepherd to intervene. Historically we are taught that a shepherd used to go as far as breaking the lamb’s leg and then carrying it on his shoulders to keep it save. What a glorious metaphor.

The Holy Spirit of God will bring the Christian to their senses, let us make every effort to hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

Signing off

Tyrone