Santosos, I needed to hear His Word spoken in truth and power. If you have any more for me, please share. The reminder to just be in His Word was what I needed to hear. Thank you again, brother. Thank you over and over. God bless you.
I understand you are concerned that you cannot hear His words in truth and power.
The Lord have said:
My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. -John 10:27
You must ask yourself honestly:
are you His sheep? If you say that you are His sheep, do you see in your life that the Lord is shepherding you? If not, you need to seek after the truth and the truth will set you free.
If you want to come after the truth; if you want to know His power ; that means you are coming after the Lord Jesus.
Then Jesus told his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. -Matthew 16:24
So, have you deny yourself and take up the cross and follow Jesus?
Perhaps, you are thinking how to deny yourself?
Let us consider this for TODAY.
This is what apostle Paul have taught:
assuming that you have HEARD about Him and were TAUGHT in Him, as the TRUTH is in Jesus, -Ephesians 4:21
to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, -Ephesians 4:22
As the sheep, we have HEARD about our Shepherd and were taught in Him, as the truth is in Jesus, that is to PUT OFF OUR OLD SELF.
For when our Lord call us to deny ourselves, that He is referring us to put our old self.
Many struggle in how to put our old self; this truth is revealed in another place in the Holy Scripture.
This is what apostle Paul have spoken:
And you, who once were ALIENATED and HOSTILE IN MIND, DOING EVIL DEEDS, -Colossians 1:21
He has now reconciled in His body of flesh by His death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before Him, -Colossians 1:22
IF INDEED YOU CONTINUE IN THE FAITH, stable and steadfast, NOT SHIFTING FROM the hope of the gospel that you HEARD, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister. -Colossians 1:23
From here, we can understand the mind of person play a role alienating himself or herself from what you have HEARD, that is, the truth in Jesus.
With just thinking, a person can resist the truth — like setting his or her mind on the things of the flesh, doing that is considered to be doing EVIL DEEDS.
With that thinking, that person can bring himself or herself hostility with God and make that person — God’s enemies.
Why I can say that ?
As I understand HOSTILITY means
hostile behavior; unfriendliness or opposition.
"their
hostility to all outsiders.
So if a person‘s mind is in opposition to God, that makes that person God’s enemy.
For this we have heard:
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. -Romans 8:7
Why the person’s mind need to be subjected to God’s law of Spirit of life?
Here it is explained:
and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, -Ephesians 4:23
and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness. -Ephesians 4:24
Why many still struggle to put their mind off the things of the flesh ?
Have you heard This?:
Thus says the LORD: "Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart turns away from the LORD. -Jeremiah 17:5
So when a person put his trust in himself or herself and consider his or her own strength, actually they are living under a curse and that their hearts turn away from the Lord.
the primary reason why many struggle to put their mind off on the things of the flesh is that they rely on their strength.
In regard to the mind,
This is written:
My people are destroyed FOR LACK OF KNOWLEDGE; because you have rejected knowledge, I reject you from being a priest to me. And since you HAVE FORGOTTEN the law of your God, I also will forget your children. -Hosea 4:6
So if thinking on the things of the flesh are considered EVIL deeds and that a person cannot rely on his/her own strength, what should one do ?
As we have heard:
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. -James 1:5
This wisdom is given in the proverbs:
By steadfast love and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for, and BY THE FEAR OF THE LORD ONE TURNS AWAY FROM EVIL. -Proverbs 16:6
The fear of the Lord does not mean that you make yourself of the Lord but hold holy reverence to His words and stand in awe of His words.
What words, you may say?
Have you not HEARD the Heavenly Father speaking to you ?
My son, if you RECEIVE my words and TREASURE UP my commandments with you, -Proverbs 2:1
making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding; -Proverbs 2:2
yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, -Proverbs 2:3
if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, -Proverbs 2:4
then you will UNDERSTAND THE FEAR OF THE LORD and find the knowledge of God. -Proverbs 2:5
So have you HEARD what the Heavenly Father have instructed you to do ? when you have done what the Heavenly Father have instructed, you will understand the fear of the Lord and be able to turn from evil.
Eventually, you will understand this:
Now it is GOD WHO MAKES us STAND FIRM in Christ. He anointed us,set His seal of ownership on us, and put His Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.- 2 Corinthians 1:21-22
When God have made you stand firm in Christ, you will know that you have HEARD His truth and that you have HEARD Him speaking in power.
GBU
I’m so new. I was a pro on facebook, but this is a different place altogether. Thanks you guys.
