From my journal entry: April 9, 2013
Numbers 33:55 (ESV)
“But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you, then those of them whom you let remain shall be as barbs in your eyes and thorns in your sides, and they shall trouble you in the land where you dwell.”
Jesus, I see a correlation with sin in my life. Hebrews 12:1,2…not laying aside the weights and the sin that holds me down…holds me back. For me the sins that can do me in are:
- Lust
- Pride
- Greed
- Anger
By your grace, keep me vigilant, aware and help me experience victory in these four areas!
+Additional Thoughts:
As most of you know, I invested 38 years with The Navigators. The Navigators are well known for serious Bible study and scripture memory as a means to seeing the Holy Spirit take the Word of God and facilitate spiritual maturity and transformation in the life of a Christian.
During the early years of my Navigator training, I had the extreme privilege and joy of studying my way through the book of Romans verse by verse, chapter by chapter with my mentor Warren Myers–not once, but twice! They were incredible weeks of insight and Holy Spirit-empowered transformation.
I was especially intrigued with chapters 6-8. I have believed for years that the answers to defeat, discouragement and distortions of the Gospel are found in Romans 6-8.
A few weeks ago, in the community group that Susan and I attend, several of the men were really struggling and hurting. When we had broken into separate groups for men and women (which we do each week) so we could share “our stuff,” I made this comment: Whatever we are dealing with…temptations, fears, discouragement, sexual sin, the answers are in Romans 6-8.” I believe that with all my heart!
A few months ago, I found myself in Romans 8. I read the passage first in the New Living Translation and then read the same passage, verses 1-17, in The Message.
Here is Romans 8:15 in The Message: “This resurrection life you received from God is not a timid, grave-tending life. It’s adventurously expectant, greeting God with a childlike ‘What’s next, Papa.’”
I believe the key to victory over the power of sin in my life is to be constantly reminded of who I am. I am a child of God, loved and cherished by God. I am the recipient of resurrection life through the power of the Holy Spirit. I further believe that my past and my past sin may describe me, but it doesn’t need to define me. The cross of Jesus and his resurrection define me. I don’t want to live “a timid, grave-tending life,” but rather one of adventurous expectancy watching the triune God at work in/through me.
Here is Romans 6:12-13 in The Message:
“You are dead to sin and alive to God. That’s what Jesus did. That means you must not give sin a vote in the way you conduct your lives. Don’t give it the time of day. Don’t even run little errands that are connected with that old way of life. Throw yourselves wholeheartedly and full-time—remember, you’ve been raised from the dead!—into God’s way of doing things.”
That’s the key; remembering “we’ve been raised from the dead!”
Is Satan after you of late? Are you being hounded and harassed by him? Do you feel beat up, discouraged and hopeless? May I encourage you to bathe yourself in the glorious and liberating truths of Romans chapters 6, 7 and 8?
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