Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Art of Living #43



Åґ☂ ◎ḟ ʟ☤√ḯη❡ #43 : "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).
Ѧ℘☺﹩☂◎łḯ¢ €ϰ℘øüηḓ : Many times in my life I have asked the Lord this question, "Lord, you know that until temptation comes to me I confidently say I love you and I will stand with you against sin, but when the moment of temptation arrives suddenly my mind malfuntions to do the same thing that I promised that I will not do. Why? Please help me!" Even one of the greatest apostolic missionary had this dilemma when he expressed what was happening in his spiritual life when he tried to walk in the perfection of God's power to overcome sinful tendencies. Here is what he says, "14 For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin. 15 For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do. 16 If, then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it is good. 17 But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me." (Rom 7:14-17). We do not understand what we are doing in the moment of our temptation and trials because our carnal soulish nature have been sold under sin to the evil tickling and instigating thought control of the world system of governance of which Satan is the god for this age (2 Cor 4:4). But take heart, we have not been left like that without hope. But a new way of living has been introduced to overcome this evil tendencies that works in us to self-destruction (Heb 10:20). This is why the greatest enemy to ourselves is neither any demons nor any wicked persons living in this evil world, but it is none other than ourselves (James 1:14-15). If we are saved from self, then we can be useful to God and live the rest of our lives for HIS GLORY!

The call from Jesus primarily is not to get saved from sin, but to get saved from self by choosing to embrace courageously the cross of God's custom designed trial for our lives, deny ourselves and follow him (Luke 9:23). This we cannot do it by our strength as we have already seen, but when we realise our wretchedness of being lost in sin by our own strength, God will choose to deliver us from this body of death through Jesus Christ our Lord. So even though we struggle and do sin because of the soulish flesh, we will be able to thank God for the victory that will always come progressively more and more with the spiritual mind that serves the law of God (Rom 7:24-25). I believe that the greatest prayer we can do to God in this planet earth is "Help me!". God loves to help us when we ask for it and He hates when people with their pride think that they can help themselves. By the way, 'God helps those who help themselves.' is not Biblical but a worldly proverb that aligns people diametrically opposite to the will of God.

Abundant life is that life of freedom and love that God lives in heaven, and it is eternal in its entirety. I believe that the freedom of abundant life that Jesus promised is getting saved from our selfish attitude of 'I, Me and My self' instead of a godly attitude of 'We, You and Ourselves' (Matt 11:28-30; John 10:10). Humility and meekness is what will make us grow perpetually in this abundant heavenly life of God that Jesus provides for us. The army, navy and airforce of a nation selects people for their citizenship but promotes for their hard work, courage and efficiency. The same applies in the kingdom of God too, we are saved to serve God because God has given to us His heavenly citizenship in His kingdom (Phil 3:20), but we will be rewarded individually the 'Crown of Life' according to how much of God's heavenly life we were able to live out, enjoy and display to others while we were on earth. SO LOVE GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, MIND, SOUL AND STRENGTH AND AUTOMATICALLY YOU WILL RECEIVE HIS ABUNDANT HEAVENLY LIFE WHICH FREES YOU FROM SELF AND WILL MAKE YOU OVERCOME SIN'S POWER OVER YOUR SOUL LIFE (Matt 22:37-38). It is not in us to overcome the lure of temptation, but it is in Him who is in us who helps us overcome and live abundant life on earth as it is in heaven. We truly will learn to enjoy life and overcome temptation when we learn to love God!

"We are always in the forge, or on the anvil; by trials God is shaping us for higher things." — Henry Ward Beecher

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