Escape Temptation

 1 Corinth 10:13
 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

The work of sanctification in the heart of man does not remove the temptation to do something that is wrong. It would seem that if the Holy Spirit is dwelling in the heart of the believer, and the carnal nature has been put to death, it would be impossible for a believer to fall into doing something that is in violation of the will of God. I don’t claim to be a Bible scholar on this subject, but it is undeniable that no matter how spiritual or committed you are to God, the temptation to sin is no respecter of person. Not everyone is affected by temptation in the same way. The devil knows our vulnerability and human weaknesses. The devil works through human nature and the legitimate desires of humanity. The desire for love, happiness, self-preservation, and self-respect is common among all of us. God puts these desires within each one of us, but Satan tempts us to fulfill them in a way that brings death to the soul. The battle is intensified when the heart is not consecrated and set apart in sanctification. The carnal nature is still lusting after the sinful ways of the flesh. The spirit-filled person must still pick up their cross every day and make the choice to do the will of God. We read and know that Jesus Himself faced temptation, and He did not have a carnal nature, yet was tempted by Satan to fulfill a human desire. They say that everyone has their demons. I would clarify this by saying that Satan has his demons that he uses to weaken the resolve of those who desire to do what is right. We have been given this promise in His word. That whatever we are facing, God is faithful to provide a way to escape and resist the fiery darts of the enemy. Call upon His word, entreat the power of the Holy Spirit, plead the blood of Jesus over sin, resist the devil and yield yourself unto righteousness, doing what is right.  

Oh, to be a Daniel!

Daniel 6:4
.. but they could find no occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him.

Oh, to be a Daniel! A man standing strong in what he believed. Living a life without error according to the laws of God and His commandments. We can only admire the integrity and character of this man. The pressure was on for Daniel to let down his convictions and give in to the temptation of human preservation. I don’t believe that Daniel was super human, he no doubt made mistakes of human nature, but when it came to the principles of God’s word, he remained faithful. He knew whom he believed in, and was willing to keep that which he committed unto the end of his days. Oh, to be a Daniel! Determine to stand true, come face to face with pending death and trust God to carry him through. We live in a culture where the word of God has been put aside for perverted thinking and liberal progressive ideology. We are the only Bible that others may see. ”Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read by all men” (2 Corinth 3:2) Oh to be a Daniel! A man living holy and blameless in this present world. Such a life is possible living in these vessels of clay. Submitting daily to God’s will is to daily take up the cross of Jesus and live a blameless life before others, that it may be said of us. “No occasion, nor fault is found, they are true and faithful to the God they serve.” Oh, to be a Daniel! Oh, to be like Jesus!

The Pilgrim Journey

 

Heb. 11:13
These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

The faithful who have lived and gone before us looked for a better place. This world was not their home, they were only passing through. We live in this present world and seek love and happiness. We are all pilgrims on this journey of life and we who are in Christ, seek to live with the blessing of God as we journey. The destination is the City of God, but often the pilgrim journey is hard, filled with heartache and pain. I think of one of my favorite hymns. 
“I can see far down the mountain, where I wandered weary years, often hindered in my journey, by the ghosts of doubts and fears; broken vows and disappointments, thickly sprinkled all the way, but the Spirit led, unerring, to the land I hold today.” 
Unlike those who died in the faith before the coming of Jesus, we have received the promise. The promise of the Father, the Holy Spirit, guides us on this pilgrim journey. We have the words of Jesus, “Seek the Kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you.” We walk each day knowing that Jesus cares and desires what is best for us. The pilgrim journey is not made alone. He will bless us as we trust and obey. He will carry us through difficult times. Like the songwriter, we also can know the blessing of God as we make this journey.
“ I am drinking at the fountain, where I ever would abide; For I've tasted life's pure river, and my soul is satisfied; There's no thirst for life's pleasures, nor adorning, rich and gay. For I've found a richer treasure, One that fadeth not away.” 
Is not this pilgrim journey the land of Beulah?

To Our Old Age

 Isaiah 46:4
Even to your old age I am he  and to gray hairs I will carry you. I have made, and I will bear;  I will carry and will save.

I recently received a photo of myself, and had to take a second look. Surely that was not me? The years are beginning to show on my face. I’m aging to an old age. My hair is gradually turning gray, and my days on earth are becoming fewer and fewer. It is the way of all flesh, Time marches on and our days are numbered. “​The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they are fourscore years, yet is their strength labor and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.”(Psalm 90:10). I’m at threescore and almost five, and have found God to be faithful. For even in my old age, He has carried me through the valley of life and has brought me to this present day. I don’t know how many more days He will allow me to live, but this one thing I know, He will never leave me or forsake me. His promises are true and I choose to believe that He is able to do all things to His glory. Until He calls me home, I desire to live a life that is unspotted from the world, lifting holy hands, doing His work, and expect Him to return soon to receive the young and old who have given their hearts and life to Him

Steadfast Under Trail

 James 1:12
Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.

Trials and tribulations are part of life. No one is exempt from facing them. Some people go through severe testing, but we all will face them at some level. Trails are defined as hard times, difficult situations that can cause us to doubt that God is in control, or that God is able to come through on His promises to help us. When we begin to doubt God, we are like the wind tossed here and there, unstable in our ways, unsure of our footing. Our direction is lost and we wander around without real purpose. Temptation is of the devil who’s only desire is to cause us to fail and start doubting what God has said. God does not tempt, but He will test us. He will test our resolve and our determination to stay faithful and steadfast. His testing is designed to make us stronger and to be rooted and grounded in Him. He does not delight in our failures and will use our failures as stepping stones to put our trust in Him when we face our next trial.

Walk in the Spirit

 Gal 5:24,25
And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts…If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

It is the lust of the flesh, the carnal sinful nature of man that wars against us walking in the Spirit. Having accepted the gift of God, salvation through Christ, our lives have been transformed. Our sins have been washed away in the blood of Jesus. Those things that we have done in the past have all been put to death. We no longer live to gratify the lust of sinful flesh. The experience of holiness, or sanctification provides us with the filling of the Holy Spirit in our lives. As we walk in the light of God, we come to a place in our lives that we have not only put to death the lust of our flesh, but we surrender the totality of our being. Everything we have, everything we are given to God. We learn to live and walk in the Spirit, giving us the power to triumph over sin and the temptations that Satan brings before us. What does it mean to walk in the Spirit? Walking in the Spirit is to yield ourselves to what God wants and desires of us, to live blameless and without filling the lust of the flesh. If we fail to walk in the Spirit, He is faithful to call us back to Him. Paul was clear that if we continue to live a life fulfilling the lust of the flesh, that we cannot inherit the kingdom (heaven). Living, and walking in the Spirit will keep us faithful to the way God wants us to live.

Remember Me

Luke 23:42

“Jesus, [please] remember me when You come into Your kingdom!

The cry of every soul when death draws near is to be remembered. The criminal on the cross would be remembered by those around him for the evil deeds he had committed . Scripture will forever remember this man who recognized his sinful condition and called out for mercy. We all deserve to die, for the wages of sin is death. Physical death comes to all. We will all someday take our last breath, the heart will cease to beat, and our mind will no longer function. Our soul will continue to live on, and we will come face to face and be judged by a Holy God who knows our heart and desires. He will remember when we yielded to His tender love and confessed our sins. He will remember our commitment to follow Him and to obey His word, He will remember our humanity and failures in life. We desire only to hear the words, “Enter in my good and faithful servant…” Remember me Lord when I pass from this life into eternity. 

Keeping His Way

 Psalm 18:21
 For I have kept the ways of the Lord, and have not wickedly departed from my God.
Keeping true to what you know is right. What is right? The way of the Lord is given to us in His word. Keeping the commandments of Jesus, to love the Lord your God with all your heart, and your neighbor as yourself. This is the way of the Lord, on it, hangs the entire law of God. To wickedly depart from his way, is to totally disregard His will and depart from what you know to be the way of the Lord. God’s word is made clear to us through the Holy Spirit. His words speak to our heart and reveal truth to us. Not the interpretation of man that leads to man-made rules, but truth that is written in our heart. Walk in the way of the Lord, Walk in the light, live in the light, be faithful to the light, and depart not from it.

He Is Faithful

 Lamentations 3: 23, 25
They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.
The Lord is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeks him.
He is faithful each morning to extend His mercy to us. It is a new day and God’s mercy never runs out, even though we have sinned and owe a debt we cannot pay, His mercy fails not to see our condition and hopelessness. How great is the mercy of God. It may seem that He has left us, but we must wait on Him and trust Him to take care of us. We don’t deserve His mercy, but He has  chosen us and our hope is in Him. Even though we may fail, He desires that we remain faithful and keep our trust in Him. He will not leave us or forsake us, as long as we continue to call upon Him and put our faith in His faithfulness to guide and direct us, He will keep His promise.

Being Faithful

 John 1:41,42
 He first found his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messiah, which is, being interpreted, the Christ...And he brought him to Jesus…

It was not much, but Andrew’s witness to the work of Christ and telling his brother has impacted history. Peter became one of the main influential people in the New Testament Church. Andrew, only mentioned in the Bible as one of the Apostles, and only mentioned in relationship to the other Apostles. Yet, Andrew was faithful to spread the news, and he brought Peter to Jesus. It often appears that we are making very little, if any impact in the world that surrounds us. We are just common people living each day working to put a roof over our head, and provide food at the table. We seek to find meaning in life and what is God’s purpose for our life. We are one in billions of people that look to find answers. God, who knows our every waking and sleeping moment, watches over us and has an individual plan for each one of us. We may be invisible to the world, but God sees us, and He sees that we have been faithful in the little things of life.

Bearing Fruit in Old Age

Psalm 92:14  They shall still bring forth fruit in old age…

The days of man are numbered, and getting old eventually comes if God allows. How old do you need to be to be considered reaching old age? Yes, it has been said that we are as old as we feel, but at some point we all reach “old age” Physical appearance, the graying of the hair, the sagging of the skin, the bending of the shoulders, or the pace of our walk all can be indications that we have reached “old age”. Our body begins to wear down, our mind is not as quick as it use to be, and it appears that our usefulness to be used of God is diminished. God has a plan for each one of us as we grow older. We may no longer be able to do the things we were able to do in our youth, but this does not mean that we stop bearing fruit for the kingdom. God is faithful as we grow older to provide a way for us to be fruit bearer. He knows our physical limitations, but we can still be a light of hope and encouragement to those who follow our footsteps. May the prayers of the saints and the wisdom of old age be a guiding light to those who follow.

Hold On To Faith

Heb. 10:23  Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised).

The devil is out seeking to destroy our faith in God. Our faith in the blood of Christ to remain clean and pure. We have come into this relationship with Christ through His death on the cross. His blood was shed to remove the guilt of sin. We have been granted access to the holiness of God. Let us not lose sight of the prize before us, His faithfulness to keep his promises to protect us from the darts of the enemy. The journey does not get any easier as we walk with the Lord, we must surround ourselves with likeminded believers, encouraging one another in the faith. Praying for strength in the times of testing. There is strength in numbers as we gather together in our respected places to worship and find solace in God. Let us draw closer to God and closer to the body of believers even more so as we see the end coming.