ETERNITY

[Ranb2khz]

The Troublemaker Within

Scripture Reading:

“Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God. For we have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles — when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries. In regard to these, they think it strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation, speaking evil of you. They will give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.” ~ 1 Peter 4:1-5

Key Verse:

“For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit,” ~ 1 Peter 3:18

I used to wonder if the Christian life really worked. Even after I had been a pastor for a while, I still wondered. I’d look at the Scriptures and then at my life, and they did not always match.

Even though most people have the idea that the Christian life does not work out the way the Bible says it does, I could not be content with doubting what the Word of God says. So, I fasted and prayed, confessing to the Lord everything I could think to acknowledge. Still, I believed I was missing something.

I soon discovered the actual reason my Christian life was not working according to Scripture. I had been overlooking one very important truth – a truth that would ultimately transform my life of faith from a burden to buoyancy. The problem was coming from within me. That is, our greatest troublemaker is our flesh. The main cause of defeat for the believer is the propensity to sin.

We receive a new nature the moment we are saved. However, Scripture reveals that because of the way our thinking has been “programmed”, we retain certain longings that do not fit a child of God. These attitudes and desires may come and go for the rest of our life, but they no longer define who we are. We are new creatures in Christ Jesus, because He broke the power of the flesh! Therefore, it is clear that we cannot live the Christian life without God.

There is a battle waged between our flesh and the Holy Spirit, and the only way to win is by allowing Jesus Christ to live His life through us.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, please reprogram my attitudes and desires. Give me a new way of thinking that is in accord with Your Word. Help me win the battle over the troublemaker within. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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Excerpt from: “Pathways To His Presence” ~ Charles F. Stanley