Before we read the Word this evening, I want to ask you all a question. Whenever you recieved first Jesus as your Lord and Saviour, what instructions were you given? How did you understand the basic principle of a christian life? We looked at some things this morning that define christians, but I would like to look at the way that we can become that very definition of Christ followers....
When I first accepted Christ, I was a young boy...maybe 12 or so. I thought I knew the basics...don’t drink, don’t smoke, and don’t cuss. The way I understood this new christian life was summed up in these 3 things also; Be good...obey God’s Word.....and live a Godly life. Now, that’s good advice, isn’t it? Now, if only it were as easy to do as it was to say!
It wasn’t long before I realized that I could NOT do this on my own. There were times whenever I just felt so powerless against Satan and his devices that I wanted to quit...and eventually I did quit. I’m sure that Satan was very happy....til I came back, anyway! Don’t you ever wonder sometimes how you can learn to really stand fast in your faith? How can I really "trust God" to make all His promises availible for me? Do all things really work together for good for those that love Him?
One of the things I noticed is that whenever we are faced with temptation, we must have a mental mindset NOT to yield. In the past, when something came up I might have said "oh no...here we go again". Now I realize that I was expending a lot of my energy trying to resist the enemy with my own strength. After all, James 4:7 says Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. I was finding it easier said than done, and you may be too. Then I took a closer look at that passage. Let’s read it all together...
James 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. That first part, the part we don’t always recall...that’s it! Eureka! So then, we need to understand HOW to submit ourselves to God so that we can truly resist the Devil and make him flee. Satan is a srong, unyielding adversary, and if we do not understand the power that we have in Christ, we are doomed for defeat...and an attitude of defeat.
You ever hear christians say things like "well, life’s a struggle; I’m just doing the best I can" or "I’m just trying to make it, Preach’a"...."I’m only human". Listen, you do not have to live like that! You are not the one that is defeated, it is Satan! He’s under your feet, so you need to start acting like it! Sometimes we have that defeatist attitude for so long that we don’t even realize what we’re doing or saying.
God has a plan for each and every one of our lives, and His plan does not include you struggling thru each circumstance, barely getting by each and every day. He came so that you and I might have not just life, but life more abundant! Victorious! Be of good cheer; He has overcome this world and the things in it! And you can too! Well, how, preach’a? Glad you asked.
A lot of christians today mistakenly think that they can experience all God’s blessings and yet not fully commit their lives to Him. Not 60% or 80%...not even 99.9%, but 100% is what God expects out of us! Simply coming to church isn’t enough; even paying your tithes isn’t enough, and certainly being a christian in name only isn’t enough. A quick, short prayer before bed time, good works...those are good things, but that isn’t what God wants from you. And by the way, if that is the type of christian you are, then you will never be able to know the true peace of God in your life. God wants, expects, and yes, demands a close personal relationship with Him.
Jesus said in John 15 that none of can do anything without Him! we are utterly helpless without Him. Living in the power of the Holy Spirit is not something any of us can achieve on our own. It is a gift and privilege that God gives us so that we can live in the blessing and not the curse.
JOHN 14:15"If you love me, you will obey what I command. 16And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever— 17the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.
The Holy Ghost is the one that illuminates our minds with that truth spoken of here; and it is that Spirit that enables us and empowers us to stand against the wiles of the enemy. To resist Satan! It is the Holy Ghost that counsels us to make right choices, to give us wisdom whenever we aren’t sure of what to do. To just say no whenever temptation comes around, as it surely will. When we feel lonely or rejected, it is His Spirit that rejoices with us because we are living in God’s blessing in spite of our current circumstances. His precious Spirit is always with us. We are never alone or forgotten when the Spirit lives inside of us.
EPH 2:10For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. It is our duty to carry on the work of the cross here on earth. What draws unbelievers to Christ? What reveals truth and enables us to do good works? What protects and comforts christians in time of need? His Holy Spirit!
Now, we can quench the Spirit, can’t we? Thru our disobedience and sin, we push the Spirit further and further out of our lives. 1 THESS 5:19Quench not the Spirit. Don’t do that! Listen, why would any of us want to even try living this life full of trouble without God’s Holy Spirit guiding us and using the infinite resources of His Spirit? And yet we continually do things that drive that saving Spirit OUT of our lives instead of into our lives. The Spirit should be becoming more and more a part of you. Instead, someof us are heading in the wrong direction, doing things that result in the Spirit becoming less and less a part of our lives. If God is your co-pilot, then swap places! Let Him drive! EPH 4:And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
In this life, you are guarranted to have problems. Jesus said that. But be of good cheer! You don’t have to struggle and battle thru everyday of your life. He has overcome the world, and all we need to do is accept Him, surrender to Him, and let Him guide us into all understanding. His Spirit will teach you what is right and wrong. When you are full of the Holy Ghost and are in step with Him, you will already know what is right, even before you have a chance to debate it in your mind! That’s how in-tune we should be with Him!
"Is this right or wrong? Should I or shouldn’t I?" In situations where your faith could be compromised, you will be so plugged in with God that you won’t have any questions. You can be confident in every decision you make when the Spirit controls your life. Jesus calls it a promise from the Father, and don’t you want all that the Father has to give you? One last thing...
You say "Pastor...I really want the Holy Ghost to live in me. I really want the blessings of God in my life. I realize that life is too hard woithout His Spirit guiding and directing me. Good news!
LUKE 11:9"So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 10For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. 11"Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? 12Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"
The Holy Ghost is here for those that ask Knock on that door. Everyone who asks recieves. God desires your communion with Him thru His Spirit. Maybe you’re here tonight and you say "I used to live like that...I used to have that Spirit-contolled life, but it has kinda wanned, what with all the cares of this life". That’s what God is saying to you. The Holy Ghost can take away the cares of this world....but remember this; the cares of this world can take away the Holy Spirit out of your life. Why not rekindle that old love affair that you had with Jesus at one time. Why not now?
