Been thinking a lot about temptation recently. There is a higher side to this, a higher solution, that I'll get to in a bit. But for now, here's some thoughts taken from the Smith Wigglesworth devotional:
Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. – James 1:12
People do not know what they are getting when they are in a great place of temptation. Temptation endured brings the “crown of life.”
There is nothing outside of purity except what is sin. All unbelief is sin. God wants you to have a pure, active faith so that you will be living in an advanced place of believing God all the time, and so that you will be on the mountaintop and singing when others are crying.
I want to speak now about lust. I am not speaking about the base things, the carnal desires. I am not speaking so much about adultery or fornication, and such things, but I am speaking about what has turned you aside to some other thing instead of God.
God has been offering you better things all the time, and you have missed them.
There are three things in life, and I noticed that many people are satisfied with just one of them. There is blessing in justification, there is blessing in sanctification, and there is blessing in the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Salvation is a wonderful thing, and we know it. Sanctification is a process that takes us on to higher levels with God. Salvation, sanctification, and the fullness of the Spirit are processes.
Many people are satisfied with “good” – that is, with salvation. Other people are satisfied with “better” – a sanctified life, purified by God. Still other people are satisfied with “best” – the fullness of God with revelation from on high. I am not satisfied with any of the three. I am only satisfied with “best with improvement”.
So I come to you not with good, but better; not with better, but best; not with best, but best with improvement – going on with God.
Why?
Because “when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is fully-grown, brings forth death”(James 1:15)
When anything has taken me from God, it means death in some way.
When Jesus said to the disciples, “The Son of Man will be put into the hands of sinners and crucified,” Peter rebuked Him ( see Mt. 16:21-22), but Jesus said, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.”(verse 23)
Anything that hinders me from denying myself and taking up my cross(v.24) is of the Devil; anything that hinders me from being separated unto God is of the Devil, anything that hinders me from being purified every day is carnal, and it is death.
So I implore you today to make certain that there is no lustful thing in you that would rob you of the glory. Then God will take you to the very summit of the blessing where you can be increased day by day into all His fullness.
Thought for today: Do not neglect the Word of God. Take time to think about the Word of God; it is the only place of safety.
Showing posts with label Judgement. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Judgement. Show all posts
Monday, January 4, 2016
Saturday, September 5, 2015
Communion: It's Different
Communion is awesome--yet it's also not for everyone. We need to walk on the right path so that we can take the Elements faithfully. We need to be woven into Jesus by the Spirit. If we know the truth, then we'll have been set free. If we've already been set free, then we are free to take communion!
Communion is for Believers: It's through our belief that we are justified (Romans 10:10). If we have the faith of God, then we will be blessed in our doing. In other words--If you know Jesus, remember Him thru communion. Receive what He's done with thanksgiving and reverence--Yahweh does not give as the world does (John 14:27).
Communion is a Proclamation: When we partake of the Elements, we are proclaiming the Lord's death until He comes (1 Corinthians 11:26). And when we proclaim God's will in faith, it is established for us (Job 22:28).
So as we take communion, we are having Jesus' death established--fulfilled-- in our new life. We realize that One died for all and that therefore all died (2 Cor. 5:14). We proclaim Communion as the most sure Word of prophecy (2 Peter 1:19)--the most reliable prophetic word. It is the most powerful positive confession. We proclaim that God really did send His Son for us.
Communion Requires Discerning the Body: We need to treasure what Jesus has purchased--our brothers and sisters, for whom He died (1 Cor 8:11)! We need to be perfected in forgiveness and love (Matthew 5:48). And because God's already done the perfecting, we just need to choose to yield to it. This means having the faith to discern that Jesus is enough.
We need to acknowledge that Jesus came in the flesh (1 John 4:2). With that, He destroyed the sinful nature once and for all (Romans 6:6). Let's receive the grace of freedom from sin (Romans 6:18). We are a sacrifice of Holiness! We have received the sinless body of the Lord.
Communion Requires Discerning Yourself: The Holy Spirit convicts us of sin and of righteousness (John 16:8). He shows us a wonderful paradox--we were sinful in the flesh, but now we are flawless in His Spirit.
If we are convicted of our own righteousness, if we know that Christ is in us, then we can turn from sin and understand how we need to yield to God's growth. We can discern how we've went wrong and see communion as a marking point of change. It's so important to remain in His purifying fire.
Communion is Seperate: Do you know what the word 'Holy' means? It's original meaning is different, set apart, other. We are a holy priesthood, a chosen nation (1 Peter 2:9)! We have been selected and set apart by God, and communion can activate our living like it.
The Holy Spirit is saying come away, He's saying come out of oppression. He's saying be in the world, just not of it (John 17:16)! Communion is a spiritual force that draws us away from the world and into the wonderful, sacrificial Love of our Saviour. It's a blessing for those who are worthy, and a curse for those who are not. It's a torrent of God's love for those who believe, and the cup of His wrath for those who do not (Matthew 26:42). When we receive the needed belief, we receive the abundant blessings!
Communion is for Believers: It's through our belief that we are justified (Romans 10:10). If we have the faith of God, then we will be blessed in our doing. In other words--If you know Jesus, remember Him thru communion. Receive what He's done with thanksgiving and reverence--Yahweh does not give as the world does (John 14:27).
Communion is a Proclamation: When we partake of the Elements, we are proclaiming the Lord's death until He comes (1 Corinthians 11:26). And when we proclaim God's will in faith, it is established for us (Job 22:28).
So as we take communion, we are having Jesus' death established--fulfilled-- in our new life. We realize that One died for all and that therefore all died (2 Cor. 5:14). We proclaim Communion as the most sure Word of prophecy (2 Peter 1:19)--the most reliable prophetic word. It is the most powerful positive confession. We proclaim that God really did send His Son for us.
Communion Requires Discerning the Body: We need to treasure what Jesus has purchased--our brothers and sisters, for whom He died (1 Cor 8:11)! We need to be perfected in forgiveness and love (Matthew 5:48). And because God's already done the perfecting, we just need to choose to yield to it. This means having the faith to discern that Jesus is enough.
We need to acknowledge that Jesus came in the flesh (1 John 4:2). With that, He destroyed the sinful nature once and for all (Romans 6:6). Let's receive the grace of freedom from sin (Romans 6:18). We are a sacrifice of Holiness! We have received the sinless body of the Lord.
Communion Requires Discerning Yourself: The Holy Spirit convicts us of sin and of righteousness (John 16:8). He shows us a wonderful paradox--we were sinful in the flesh, but now we are flawless in His Spirit.
If we are convicted of our own righteousness, if we know that Christ is in us, then we can turn from sin and understand how we need to yield to God's growth. We can discern how we've went wrong and see communion as a marking point of change. It's so important to remain in His purifying fire.
Communion is Seperate: Do you know what the word 'Holy' means? It's original meaning is different, set apart, other. We are a holy priesthood, a chosen nation (1 Peter 2:9)! We have been selected and set apart by God, and communion can activate our living like it.
The Holy Spirit is saying come away, He's saying come out of oppression. He's saying be in the world, just not of it (John 17:16)! Communion is a spiritual force that draws us away from the world and into the wonderful, sacrificial Love of our Saviour. It's a blessing for those who are worthy, and a curse for those who are not. It's a torrent of God's love for those who believe, and the cup of His wrath for those who do not (Matthew 26:42). When we receive the needed belief, we receive the abundant blessings!
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