D.L. Moody, while on his European crusade in 1873, was so inspired by a conversation he had with British revivalist Henry Varley that he prayed:

“The world has yet to see what God can do with, and for, and through, and in a man who is fully and wholly consecrated to Him. By God’s help, I am to be that man.”

This is the essence of the desire to be all God created you to be— to be “all in for Him,” as they say.  The problem is, after we conjure up the desire, we come face-to-face with the “how to.” In other words, how do I surrender my life to the Lord? How do I yield everything to him? And how do I live a truly sanctified, higher Christian life?

In any other endeavor, we would find someone who is where we want to be and model our lives after them. But we live in the Laodicean church age, and sold-out Believers are few, especially in the West. So what are we to do? What’s the next step? And is there anything we can learn about surrender from even the obscure passages in Scripture that point us in the right direction?

What Does it Mean to be God’s Servant?

After God gave David rest from all his enemies and after he consolidated the kingdom to himself, David made what he thought was a pretty good request from the Lord. After all, he reasoned, “See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells inside tent curtains” (2 Sam. 7:2), and we can’t have that.  So he decided, after receiving less than stellar advice from the prophet Nathan, to take it upon himself to build a dwelling place for God, or more specifically, for the Ark of the Covenant. And, on the surface, it seemed like a good idea, even somewhat noble.

But God was not amused, for neither David nor Nathan had sought the Lord in this matter.

In fact, God rebuked David twice for forgetting who he was as God’s servant, or “slave” (doúlos)— which, by definition, makes God the Lord and Master of all, including David. So, in response to God’s stinging censure, David humbled himself profoundly before God’s rebuke. He owned his true identity as a “servant” or “slave” (doúlos), and acknowledged it ten times in his brief exchange with God (vv. 19, 20, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29). That’s ten times in just eleven verses.

So, what transformed David’s perspective? He simply recognized his true identity before God— not as a self-made king, but as a submitted servant or faithful slave (doúlos) to the Lord.

David’s example highlights that discipleship stems from knowing we belong wholly to God. As Paul wrote, “You are not your own… you were bought at a price” (1 Cor. 6:19-20). Have we grasped this liberating truth? We cannot experience God’s depths while still stubbornly clinging to personal rights and claims over our lives. True freedom, paradoxically, comes through bonding ourselves permanently to our Master as His faithful servant, longing for Him to say, “Well done, good and faithful servant (doúlos)” (Matt. 25:21). Remember, God did not save us to be independent contractors employed in His service. He has something much greater in mind.

Just like assuming a new family name changes the way we view ourselves, likewise, our core identity in Christ transforms how we approach life. Living “all-in” starts by accepting that we now belong to Another— to Someone far greater than we can imagine.

Time to Re-Calibrate Your Identity

Perhaps it’s time to let Him recalibrate your identity like He did David. His Word invites us to “present your bodies a living sacrifice… and be transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Rom. 12:1-2). When we grasp God’s complete right to direct us, surrendering fully becomes the only...]]>Embracing Who We Really Are

D.L. Moody, while on his European crusade in 1873, was so inspired by a conversation he had with British revivalist Henry Varley that he prayed:

“The world has yet to see what God can do with, and for, and through, and in a man who is fully and wholly consecrated to Him. By God’s help, I am to be that man.”

This is the essence of the desire to be all God created you to be— to be “all in for Him,” as they say.  The problem is, after we conjure up the desire, we come face-to-face with the “how to.” In other words, how do I surrender my life to the Lord? How do I yield everything to him? And how do I live a truly sanctified, higher Christian life?

In any other endeavor, we would find someone who is where we want to be and model our lives after them. But we live in the Laodicean church age, and sold-out Believers are few, especially in the West. So what are we to do? What’s the next step? And is there anything we can learn about surrender from even the obscure passages in Scripture that point us in the right direction?

What Does it Mean to be God’s Servant?

After God gave David rest from all his enemies and after he consolidated the kingdom to himself, David made what he thought was a pretty good request from the Lord. After all, he reasoned, “See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells inside tent curtains” (2 Sam. 7:2), and we can’t have that.  So he decided, after receiving less than stellar advice from the prophet Nathan, to take it upon himself to build a dwelling place for God, or more specifically, for the Ark of the Covenant. And, on the surface, it seemed like a good idea, even somewhat noble.

But God was not amused, for neither David nor Nathan had sought the Lord in this matter.

In fact, God rebuked David twice for forgetting who he was as God’s servant, or “slave” (doúlos)— which, by definition, makes God the Lord and Master of all, including David. So, in response to God’s stinging censure, David humbled himself profoundly before God’s rebuke. He owned his true identity as a “servant” or “slave” (doúlos), and acknowledged it ten times in his brief exchange with God (vv. 19, 20, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29). That’s ten times in just eleven verses.

So, what transformed David’s perspective? He simply recognized his true identity before God— not as a self-made king, but as a submitted servant or faithful slave (doúlos) to the Lord.

David’s example highlights that discipleship stems from knowing we belong wholly to God. As Paul wrote, “You are not your own… you were bought at a price” (1 Cor. 6:19-20). Have we grasped this liberating truth? We cannot experience God’s depths while still stubbornly clinging to personal rights and claims over our lives. True freedom, paradoxically, comes through bonding ourselves permanently to our Master as His faithful servant, longing for Him to say, “Well done, good and faithful servant (doúlos)” (Matt. 25:21). Remember, God did not save us to be independent contractors employed in His service. He has something much greater in mind.

Just like assuming a new family name changes the way we view ourselves, likewise, our core identity in Christ transforms how we approach life. Living “all-in” starts by accepting that we now belong to Another— to Someone far greater than we can imagine.

Time to Re-Calibrate Your Identity

Perhaps it’s time to let Him recalibrate your identity like He did David. His Word invites us to “present your bodies a living sacrifice… and be transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Rom. 12:1-2). When we grasp God’s complete right to direct us, surrendering fully becomes the only reasonable response. It is a natural outflow from the identity we now embrace— a faithful slave to the Most High King.

Let God begin the transformation of your identity today.

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67: True Signs of a False, Counterfeit Salvation

Giving God a flippant “my bad” when we mess up just won’t cut it, no matter how hard we try to make it work. Too often, we deal with our sin through superficial apologies, not grasping the gravity of how our choices offend our Creator and grieve His Spirit.

But in Psalm 51, David shows us a better way. His raw, honest prayer of remorse models how genuine repentance can thoroughly transform us and restore our fellowship with God. In his plea to God, David holds nothing back. He pours out his grief and hope with both humility and longing, providing a template for the kind of confession that gets God’s attention and purifies us deep down.

David’s prayer reveals that repentance goes far beyond crisis management or trying to mitigate the consequences of our sins. Instead, David walks through an intense spiritual restoration, launching him into greater intimacy with God and a commitment to remain faithful to his first love. David finds joy and wholeness on the other side through his uncompromising honesty and hunger for spiritual renewal.

As we walk through ten key truths David models regarding repentance, may his prayer challenge each of us to put into practice what we will learn. We, like David, cannot experience God’s full forgiveness and empowerment while still clinging to our besetting sins and flimsy excuses. So, let’s look at these ten truths in the hope they will compel us toward the kind of soul-changing repentance that revives our passion for Christ and allows us to experience His presence.

One, David Owned Up to His Sin and Made No Excuses

The first step of repentance is openly admitting our wrong actions or attitudes without making excuses to justify ourselves. David begins his prayer with raw honesty, saying, “For I acknowledge (yāḏaʿ) my transgressions, and my sin (singular) is always before (present) me” (v. 3). He does not try rationalizing adultery and murder or to come up with some excuse for his actions. David faces his evil deeds head-on, keeping no sin hidden from his awareness or accountability before God. We display genuine repentance by owning where we have fallen short, without downplaying or explaining away our sin, or blaming someone else for our own actions. The devil didn’t make you do it, you did.

Two, David Understood Who He had Sinned Against

Though David’s actions horribly wronged Bathsheba and Uriah, he confesses, “Against You, You only, have I sinned, and done this evil in Your sight” (v. 4). Even when our sin affects others, we must recognize that all transgression violates God’s holy standard first, which is the greater sin— because all sin repels His glory. So, by focusing on the root issue of offending God’s righteousness through sin, we gain a proper perspective of the evil of our actions, leading to our repentance. Our sin grieves the very heart of God, and to Him first, we must repent before any others.

Three, True Repentance Comes from a Broken Spirit

David says a broken spirit and a contrite (crushed) heart reveal genuine humility (v. 17). Religious sacrifices alone don’t move God’s forgiveness— contrition does. Repentance requires altogether abandoning stubborn pride or entitlement or clinging to our self-justification and supposed “rightness” by honestly coming to terms with the gravity of our sin. We must approach God, broken and shattered over the arrogance and self-centeredness corrupting our hearts, crying out for Him to create purity within us once again.

Four, Restoration From the One Offended

Though wracked with guilt, David focuses his hope on God’s power and willingness to “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and (You) renew a steadfast spirit within...]]>Ten Aspects of True Repentance that Gets God’s Attention

Giving God a flippant “my bad” when we mess up just won’t cut it, no matter how hard we try to make it work. Too often, we deal with our sin through superficial apologies, not grasping the gravity of how our choices offend our Creator and grieve His Spirit.

But in Psalm 51, David shows us a better way. His raw, honest prayer of remorse models how genuine repentance can thoroughly transform us and restore our fellowship with God. In his plea to God, David holds nothing back. He pours out his grief and hope with both humility and longing, providing a template for the kind of confession that gets God’s attention and purifies us deep down.

David’s prayer reveals that repentance goes far beyond crisis management or trying to mitigate the consequences of our sins. Instead, David walks through an intense spiritual restoration, launching him into greater intimacy with God and a commitment to remain faithful to his first love. David finds joy and wholeness on the other side through his uncompromising honesty and hunger for spiritual renewal.

As we walk through ten key truths David models regarding repentance, may his prayer challenge each of us to put into practice what we will learn. We, like David, cannot experience God’s full forgiveness and empowerment while still clinging to our besetting sins and flimsy excuses. So, let’s look at these ten truths in the hope they will compel us toward the kind of soul-changing repentance that revives our passion for Christ and allows us to experience His presence.

One, David Owned Up to His Sin and Made No Excuses

The first step of repentance is openly admitting our wrong actions or attitudes without making excuses to justify ourselves. David begins his prayer with raw honesty, saying, “For I acknowledge (yāḏaʿ) my transgressions, and my sin (singular) is always before (present) me” (v. 3). He does not try rationalizing adultery and murder or to come up with some excuse for his actions. David faces his evil deeds head-on, keeping no sin hidden from his awareness or accountability before God. We display genuine repentance by owning where we have fallen short, without downplaying or explaining away our sin, or blaming someone else for our own actions. The devil didn’t make you do it, you did.

Two, David Understood Who He had Sinned Against

Though David’s actions horribly wronged Bathsheba and Uriah, he confesses, “Against You, You only, have I sinned, and done this evil in Your sight” (v. 4). Even when our sin affects others, we must recognize that all transgression violates God’s holy standard first, which is the greater sin— because all sin repels His glory. So, by focusing on the root issue of offending God’s righteousness through sin, we gain a proper perspective of the evil of our actions, leading to our repentance. Our sin grieves the very heart of God, and to Him first, we must repent before any others.

Three, True Repentance Comes from a Broken Spirit

David says a broken spirit and a contrite (crushed) heart reveal genuine humility (v. 17). Religious sacrifices alone don’t move God’s forgiveness— contrition does. Repentance requires altogether abandoning stubborn pride or entitlement or clinging to our self-justification and supposed “rightness” by honestly coming to terms with the gravity of our sin. We must approach God, broken and shattered over the arrogance and self-centeredness corrupting our hearts, crying out for Him to create purity within us once again.

Four, Restoration From the One Offended

Though wracked with guilt, David focuses his hope on God’s power and willingness to “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and (You) renew a steadfast spirit within me” (v. 10). He seeks inner renewal from the very Person his sin grievously hurt. David’s hope of forgiveness and restoration rests securely in God’s compassion and drives out his guilt and shame by trusting that God wants to redeem this failure in his life— which, of course, He does. Note: This doesn’t mean you can skate on asking others you have hurt for their forgiveness. No, that will come, but only after you have first repented before God. Restoration from Him is your first priority. Restoration from others will follow in time.

Five, True Repentance Demands a Commitment to Change

Part of David’s appeal says, “Then (afterward) I will teach transgressors Your ways, and sinners shall be converted to You” (v. 13). He knows receiving such lavish grace now compels him into a life radically different from what he was before. True repentance marries confession with an action plan to live differently by God’s standard. We will inevitably slide backward if we only feel sorry but never address root heart issues. Repentance demands embracing personal transformation and then allowing God to bring glory to Himself through His redeemed child.

Six, Repentance Means Trusting in God’s Overflowing Mercy and Love

Though David feels that the abundant mercy of God may seem inadequate for the wickedness of his actions (v. 1), he nevertheless rests entirely in God’s divine compassion, remembering God forgives even the chief of sinners. He calls out, hope against hope, trusting God’s unmatched lovingkindness to triumph over the evil in his life. So, no matter how far we have fallen, crying out in repentance means believing God can redeem anyone who comes with authentic humility— especially you and me.

Seven, We Must Walk in Freedom from Condemning Shame

David now begs for joy and gladness to replace his sorrow, asking God to uphold him by the Holy Spirit (v. 12). He understands wallowing in self-hatred after forgiveness solves nothing and is an insult to the promises and nature of God. Experiencing true repentance frees us from the paralyzing grip of guilt and shame. Though sin’s consequences remain, and rightly so, we must embrace the healing God provides as no longer condemned sinners, but cleansed children of His. And we glorify His mercy by walking forward in renewed peace and purpose.

Eight, We Must Use Our Restored Life to Bless Others

Forgiveness launches David into a new ministry, as it should each of us— as David now pledges his tongue will sing of God’s righteousness and teach others His truth (vv. 13-14). Genuine repentance multiplies the ministry of redemption. Like David, sharing our testimony offers fellow strugglers empathy, proving God patiently awaits every prodigal. Our renewed lives remind others of how His mercy triumphs over the judgment of our sins.

Nine, We Should Desire Growth in His Wisdom and Character

Beyond removing sin’s burden, David urgently pursues deeper depth in his spiritual life by asking God to nurture truth and integrity and teach him wisdom within (v. 6). Repentance sparks a revived appetite for the Word, prayer, and worship with others. Remember, repentance is not about crisis management, but a launching pad for lifelong growth in understanding God and His character.

Ten, We Can Now Rejoice in His Complete Restoration

Even though the consequences of his sin remain, David ultimately sees past them to embrace the joy of full redemption his repentance provides. He cries for God to “Make me hear joy and gladness, (why) that the bones You have broken may rejoice” (v. 8). Repentance stands on God’s commitment that confession leads to a renewed relationship as our Father waits, ready to turn our mess into a message of hope for others.

Conclusion

David leaves no aspect of genuine repentance unaddressed through this raw, honest prayer for repentance. He shows us exactly how to tear down stubborn strongholds and find complete redemption in Him. Through brutal honesty, a desire for inner wisdom, commitment to change, and a firm trust in God’s mercy, David finds his supernatural restoration that is the byproduct of true repentance— and so can we.

David’s journey must now become our own. We cannot run from pockets of willful sin or spiritual blindness, thinking God will fully use compromised vessels. So, like David, we must do the hard part and plead for His Spirit to inspect every hidden corner in our lives— because shortcuts will not produce the deep spiritual health and wholeness we long for. But as we fully open our lives to His correction, true forgiveness and restoration wait on the other side.

David discovered firsthand that true repentance opens the floodgates to renewed joy and purpose. There is simply no better place to be than fully surrendered at the feet of Jesus. In Psalm 51, David guides us step-by-step through confession, cleansing, and revival, which is critical for walking in new life. I pray David’s bold prayer softens and strengthens us to experience the fullness of Christ’s promises to those who confess and forsake their sin.

If you need renewal and restoration because of your sins, no matter how small you may think them to be, follow David’s example.

And do it today.

To download the slides for this message, click – HERE

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66: Abiding – The Key to Lasting Surrender and Joy

One familiar “if / then” passage, often called the “believer’s bar of soap,” is found in the first chapter of the first letter of John. In it, we find one “if” condition and two implied “then” promises God grants to those who meet His one “if” condition. And the two promises of God encompass the totality of salvation this side of heaven, both our justification and our sanctification.

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness – 1 John 1:9

What Does it Say?

Let’s see exactly what it says.

If (the condition, something we must do in order to receive the promise) we (this includes you and me, make it personal, put your name here) confess (homologous – to admit, concede, to affirm or agree) our (it is inclusive, everyone has something to confess to a holy God) sins (hamartía – offense, wrongdoing, failure, fault, it is an act or feeling that transgresses something forbidden or ignores something required by God’s law, whether in thought, feeling, speech, or action. Literally, it means to miss the mark or the true end and purpose of our lives, which is God. And note, the word is plural, as in more than one sin),

This is the condition prescribed by God. It is something we must do, a non-negotiable, if we want to receive the promise that comes from meeting the condition. And, by His grace, it is something we can do.

Next, the Spirit, through John, lists only two of God’s infinite attributes as proof of the truth of His promise: faithful and just.

He (God, the Sovereign One, Eternal, All-Powerful, All-Knowing, Always-Present, Creator of All, of which there is no One higher, no One more glorious, no One more beautiful or of greater worth, and there is no more lofty goal in which to devote one’s life than to have a deep, intimate, relationship with Him) is (His current attributes) faithful (pistós – worthy of belief, trust, or confidence, sure, steadfast, of true fidelity) and (of all God’s immeasurable attributes, the Spirit, through John, lists only these two, as if they are enough, already more than we can handle) just (díkaios – righteous, correct, perfect, upright in everything, without error, free from favoritism, self-interest, bias, or deception)

And now, after stating His conditions and His attributes, the Spirit reveals the two promises or results we can rest assured of after we meet the conditions. Note, because He is “faithful and just” and does not show favoritism or bias, these promises are for everyone, including you, who “confess” their sins, no matter how great those sins may be, how unworthy you may feel, or how many times you have tried and failed in the past. To Him, it doesn’t matter— every day is a new beginning.

First Promise: Forgiveness (Justification)

to forgive (aphíēmi – to send forth or away, to stop blaming or taking an offense into account, to leave, release, let go, dismiss. God, in effect, chooses, based on our confession, to send our sins and the consequences of them away from Himself and us, to no longer blame us for our offenses, to release, let go, and dismiss the consequences of our sins as if they never happened. We are now free from their condemnation, guilt, and shame – see Romans 8:33-34) us our (again, inclusive, which means you and me. Make it personal, put your name here) sins (plural, the sins...]]>The Conditional Promises of God

One familiar “if / then” passage, often called the “believer’s bar of soap,” is found in the first chapter of the first letter of John. In it, we find one “if” condition and two implied “then” promises God grants to those who meet His one “if” condition. And the two promises of God encompass the totality of salvation this side of heaven, both our justification and our sanctification.

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness – 1 John 1:9

What Does it Say?

Let’s see exactly what it says.

If (the condition, something we must do in order to receive the promise) we (this includes you and me, make it personal, put your name here) confess (homologous – to admit, concede, to affirm or agree) our (it is inclusive, everyone has something to confess to a holy God) sins (hamartía – offense, wrongdoing, failure, fault, it is an act or feeling that transgresses something forbidden or ignores something required by God’s law, whether in thought, feeling, speech, or action. Literally, it means to miss the mark or the true end and purpose of our lives, which is God. And note, the word is plural, as in more than one sin),

This is the condition prescribed by God. It is something we must do, a non-negotiable, if we want to receive the promise that comes from meeting the condition. And, by His grace, it is something we can do.

Next, the Spirit, through John, lists only two of God’s infinite attributes as proof of the truth of His promise: faithful and just.

He (God, the Sovereign One, Eternal, All-Powerful, All-Knowing, Always-Present, Creator of All, of which there is no One higher, no One more glorious, no One more beautiful or of greater worth, and there is no more lofty goal in which to devote one’s life than to have a deep, intimate, relationship with Him) is (His current attributes) faithful (pistós – worthy of belief, trust, or confidence, sure, steadfast, of true fidelity) and (of all God’s immeasurable attributes, the Spirit, through John, lists only these two, as if they are enough, already more than we can handle) just (díkaios – righteous, correct, perfect, upright in everything, without error, free from favoritism, self-interest, bias, or deception)

And now, after stating His conditions and His attributes, the Spirit reveals the two promises or results we can rest assured of after we meet the conditions. Note, because He is “faithful and just” and does not show favoritism or bias, these promises are for everyone, including you, who “confess” their sins, no matter how great those sins may be, how unworthy you may feel, or how many times you have tried and failed in the past. To Him, it doesn’t matter— every day is a new beginning.

First Promise: Forgiveness (Justification)

to forgive (aphíēmi – to send forth or away, to stop blaming or taking an offense into account, to leave, release, let go, dismiss. God, in effect, chooses, based on our confession, to send our sins and the consequences of them away from Himself and us, to no longer blame us for our offenses, to release, let go, and dismiss the consequences of our sins as if they never happened. We are now free from their condemnation, guilt, and shame – see Romans 8:33-34) us our (again, inclusive, which means you and me. Make it personal, put your name here) sins (plural, the sins we confess are the sins He forgives, and there is no sin you have committed that is too great for Him to forgive)

Second Promise: Holiness (Sanctification)

and (in addition to forgiveness) to cleanse (katharízō – to purify and cleanse from the pollution and guilt of sin, to make innocent, pure, and undefiled once again, literally to clean from leprosy) us (inclusive, make the promise personal) from all (pás – as in each, every, everything, the whole, in totality without exception. Note: there is nothing that does not fall under the word, pás) unrighteousness (adikía – injustice, what ought not to be, that which is wrong, wickedness, failing to adhere to moral principles, commands, or laws).

What Does it Mean?

In this conditional promise, the Lord shows us the breadth of His salvation, by forgiving us of our sins— which is justification, and also by the promise of living a Christ-like, holy life— which is sanctification. When He “cleanses us from all unrighteousness” as a result of our confession, He does this not only positionally— how God sees us, but also in our practical lives— or how we allow Him to live through us daily. And this, for me, is the great blessing in this passage.

You see, not only does God forgive our sins, but He also empowers us to live a life pleasing to Him, in all holiness and righteousness, since we have “put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness” (Eph. 4:24). So through surrender and faith, we can experience in our lives what Jesus commanded when He said, “Therefore you shall be perfect (without defect or blemish, complete, wanting nothing), just as your Father in heaven is perfect” (Matt. 5:48). This is the essence of the surrendered life, or the life of consecration to Him.

Your Turn

So, we have looked at what this conditional promise says and, to a lesser degree, what it means. Plus, you have been encouraged to take it at face value and make it personal by putting your name as the one needing to confess their sins and as the recipient of all His promises.

Are you ready to do that? If so, then do it now. Don’t wait another minute.

And, after you have experienced His forgiveness and the blessing of allowing the Spirit to sanctify you and daily conform you into the likeness of Christ (Rom. 8:29)— then, on a personal level, deep where few are allowed to go, honestly answer this question: What does this passage mean to you? And, has this one conditional promise become real to you?

Quick Take-Aways

Four truths to take with you (for those who are strapped for time).

•  The Importance of Confession. God will forgive the sins you confess— all the sins. So, confession is the key.

•  God’s Faithfulness and Justice. His promise to one is His promise to all, including and especially, you. He does not play favorites or consider your sins too great to forgive. How do we know this? Because, “He is faithful and just.”

•  The Possibility of Forgiveness. Ah, the question of the ages: Can God forgive sins? And now you know the answer. Yes, He can. And not only that, but He will. All you have to do is confess your sins and ask for His forgiveness. So do that today.

•  Transformation and Renewal. Finally, we can be changed, transformed, and renewed into what we long to be and not what we have become. I don’t know about you, but nothing sounds better than that to me. Would you agree? Good. Then, let’s get started.

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65: The Seventh Step – Don’t Leave Home Without Him

The Biblical story of Abraham is profoundly human— a narrative full of twists and turns, triumphs and failures, poor decisions and their unintended consequences, and, of course, drama— much like a Netflix mini-series. Yet, throughout the trials of his faith, we see Abraham continually return to a place of trust in God’s promises. And the trajectory of his life models for us the possibilities and pitfalls of our own spiritual journey.

The Call and the Promise

In Genesis 12, Abraham, then called Abram, receives a divine call from God to leave behind the only land and people he’s ever known and travel to a place yet unknown, so that through him, God would bless all the families of the world. Pretty tall order.  Yet, this inaugurates the covenant— God pledging to make Abraham a great nation, to bless him abundantly, and to give his descendants the land of Canaan.  The promise must have seemed improbable to Abraham, a nondescript man from an obscure country, but he obeyed nonetheless.

Abraham’s faith wasn’t one-dimensional— the Genesis account shows it being refined through tests and trials, success and failures.  In Egypt, fearing danger, Abraham lies to Pharaoh about Sarah being his wife. Not one of his better days.  Later, anxious about lacking an heir, Abraham and Sarah take matters into their own hands, leading to the birth of Ishmael through Hagar. Probably one of his worst days. Yet even after these failures, Abraham returns again and again to faith in what God has spoken, as he is learning to trust in the timing and provision of the Promiser.

Courage and the Climax

Ultimately, Abraham’s faith journey crescendos in the test of the binding of Isaac, where God asks for the unthinkable— to offer up his son, through whom the covenant blessings were to flow, as a sacrifice to Him on Mount Moriah.  Abraham obeys, demonstrating remarkable courage and trust that God could fulfill His promise even through death.

Lessons for the Journey

What lessons can we apply from Abraham’s life? And how can we learn to have the courage to follow God into the unknown and do the unthinkable, even after a history of faith that may be less than stellar?

•  Face the Unknown with Faith – Like Abraham, God often calls His followers out of their comfort zones into uncharted territory that requires faith and courage. Abraham’s “leave your country” first step models the courage to obey God, even when the destination is uncertain.

•  Grow through Failures – Our mistakes need not define us. Like Abraham, we can let them deepen our reliance on God. Need more proof? Remember David’s moral failure with Bathsheba and his restoration, and Peter’s denial and later reinstatement by Christ.  They are pictures of Divine grace— and of the blessings of second chances.

•  Wait on God’s Timing – The years between promise and fulfillment were Abraham’s training ground in patience.  God frequently calls His people to endure patiently as His purposes simmer below the surface, or years of obscure preparation before emerging leadership, pleading in prayer before a longed-for miracle, or decades struggling with wounds before finding healing.  May we likewise learn to wait on His timing, in all things.

•  Cling to God’s Promises – When famine descended on Canaan, Abraham clung to God’s covenant promises despite being surrounded by doubt and discouragement.  We, too, can hold fast to the many promises in Scripture, even when the road gets tough, and we can’t see our way forward.

•  Act with Everyday Courage – While few undergo...]]>Faith and Courage— Two Sides of the Same Coin

The Biblical story of Abraham is profoundly human— a narrative full of twists and turns, triumphs and failures, poor decisions and their unintended consequences, and, of course, drama— much like a Netflix mini-series. Yet, throughout the trials of his faith, we see Abraham continually return to a place of trust in God’s promises. And the trajectory of his life models for us the possibilities and pitfalls of our own spiritual journey.

The Call and the Promise

In Genesis 12, Abraham, then called Abram, receives a divine call from God to leave behind the only land and people he’s ever known and travel to a place yet unknown, so that through him, God would bless all the families of the world. Pretty tall order.  Yet, this inaugurates the covenant— God pledging to make Abraham a great nation, to bless him abundantly, and to give his descendants the land of Canaan.  The promise must have seemed improbable to Abraham, a nondescript man from an obscure country, but he obeyed nonetheless.

Abraham’s faith wasn’t one-dimensional— the Genesis account shows it being refined through tests and trials, success and failures.  In Egypt, fearing danger, Abraham lies to Pharaoh about Sarah being his wife. Not one of his better days.  Later, anxious about lacking an heir, Abraham and Sarah take matters into their own hands, leading to the birth of Ishmael through Hagar. Probably one of his worst days. Yet even after these failures, Abraham returns again and again to faith in what God has spoken, as he is learning to trust in the timing and provision of the Promiser.

Courage and the Climax

Ultimately, Abraham’s faith journey crescendos in the test of the binding of Isaac, where God asks for the unthinkable— to offer up his son, through whom the covenant blessings were to flow, as a sacrifice to Him on Mount Moriah.  Abraham obeys, demonstrating remarkable courage and trust that God could fulfill His promise even through death.

Lessons for the Journey

What lessons can we apply from Abraham’s life? And how can we learn to have the courage to follow God into the unknown and do the unthinkable, even after a history of faith that may be less than stellar?

•  Face the Unknown with Faith – Like Abraham, God often calls His followers out of their comfort zones into uncharted territory that requires faith and courage. Abraham’s “leave your country” first step models the courage to obey God, even when the destination is uncertain.

•  Grow through Failures – Our mistakes need not define us. Like Abraham, we can let them deepen our reliance on God. Need more proof? Remember David’s moral failure with Bathsheba and his restoration, and Peter’s denial and later reinstatement by Christ.  They are pictures of Divine grace— and of the blessings of second chances.

•  Wait on God’s Timing – The years between promise and fulfillment were Abraham’s training ground in patience.  God frequently calls His people to endure patiently as His purposes simmer below the surface, or years of obscure preparation before emerging leadership, pleading in prayer before a longed-for miracle, or decades struggling with wounds before finding healing.  May we likewise learn to wait on His timing, in all things.

•  Cling to God’s Promises – When famine descended on Canaan, Abraham clung to God’s covenant promises despite being surrounded by doubt and discouragement.  We, too, can hold fast to the many promises in Scripture, even when the road gets tough, and we can’t see our way forward.

•  Act with Everyday Courage – While few undergo anything close to Abraham’s sacrifice of Isaac, God calls each of us to cultivate courage through small, daily acts of faith— like sharing Jesus with others despite fear of rejection, giving generously in the middle of financial shortfalls, and forgiving deeply rooted hurts and offenses.  Abraham’s supreme test at Moriah models courage through absolute trust in God’s faithfulness.  And we build similar courage through daily acts of faith despite our fears and challenges.

•  Bless the World – Embedded in God’s covenant with Abraham was a global vision. God’s covenant goal was always to bless all nations through one man’s radical obedience to Him. We join in this mission by living out faith-filled lives that shine His light around us, becoming the salt and light of the world.

Putting All the Pieces Together

What a journey Abraham walked— from rookie to seasoned veteran, from an unknown nomad to the father of nations.  And his life reveals the intertwined twin virtues of faith and courage, all in one amazing life.  His journey illustrates that courage rests upon the bedrock of faith properly placed.  For with faith as a mustard seed, Jesus said, “Nothing will be impossible for you.”

But faith requires courage.  And courage is undergirded by faith.  Both work together to change a Saul into a Paul, and to make you into the person God created you to be.

In Abraham’s story, we see a life lived not perfectly, but faithfully.  His journey gives us hope and courage to step out boldly as we learn to trust the God who guides the unfolding of our lives.

So what are you waiting for?  Surrender and trust Him today.

Our Latest Posts:

68: Our Salvation – It’s More Than You Ever Imagined

67: True Signs of a False, Counterfeit Salvation

66: Abiding – The Key to Lasting Surrender and Joy

65: The Seventh Step – Don’t Leave Home Without Him

64: The Sixth Step – Surrendering to the Holy Spirit

Salvation means different things to different people. For some, it’s a “get out of hell free” card, the cosmic fire insurance policy they checked off and filed away years ago. For others, it’s trying to be a good, moral, upstanding person and attend church— at least on Easter and Christmas. Most don’t give it much thought beyond hoping to end up in the Pleasant Place and not the Hot Place when they die.

But is that really the extent of what Jesus accomplished on the cross? Did He endure scourging and nails just to offer a slight upgrade in our afterlife accommodations, leaving our day-to-day lives largely untouched? I don’t think so.

I’m convinced salvation encompasses far more than this shallow version we’ve settled for. The eternal life Christ promised involves a radical transformation into new creations, holy and acceptable, right here and now. But so few seem to grasp this truth.

I understand why, though. I used to view salvation the same way. As a young believer, I prayed for forgiveness, believing Jesus’ death paid the penalty for my sin. I looked forward to heaven but figured holiness would have to wait. Meanwhile, I assumed grace gave me the green light to keep living as I pleased. And so I did.

What changed my perspective? The book of Romans.

Buried in Paul’s masterful exposition hides a powerful secret that sparked the Protestant Reformation, but remains obscured to many believers today. Let’s dust off this treasure and explore how the gospel offers, not just a ticket to paradise when we die, but victory over sin’s grip in our daily lives.

The Path to Real Change

Chances are you know the famous verse that ignited reform in Luther’s heart back in 1515: “The just shall live by faith” (Rom. 1:17). Luther had tried everything to obtain salvation: self-denial, penance, indulgences, pilgrimages, and even becoming a monk. At last, thankfully, he finally grasped that a man is justified not by works, but through faith alone (Rom. 3:28).

Yet mere intellectual assent cannot change hearts. I know, I’ve tried. Mere head knowledge never hindered Paul from persecuting Christians, but an encounter with the risen Christ transformed him in an instant.

In the same way, justification marks only the beginning of the work of salvation in our lives. The just are not just declared righteous, but enabled to live righteously through an ongoing process called sanctification. Surprisingly, this practical component of redemption receives little pulpit airtime today, though the epistles address it constantly. It’s the part of our salvation experience that primarily rests on our shoulders.

Sanctification means being set apart for holy use. It means growing into the likeness of Christ. And it is how we glorify the Lord today. Just as temple implements were consecrated for God’s service, we who trust in Christ are sanctified and empowered to serve the Lord rather than ourselves. Although complete sinlessness awaits eternity, believers can receive real deliverance from the mastery of evil in the here and now, today. This is what it means to live out what Jesus promised as the “abundant life” found only in Him (John 10:10). Consider these promises:

For sin shall not have dominion over you – Romans 6:14.

For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live – Romans 8:13.

His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue – 2 Peter 1:3.

“But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you” – Acts 1:8.

Through Christ, God enables His children to overcome sinful...]]>Different Strokes for Different Folks

Salvation means different things to different people. For some, it’s a “get out of hell free” card, the cosmic fire insurance policy they checked off and filed away years ago. For others, it’s trying to be a good, moral, upstanding person and attend church— at least on Easter and Christmas. Most don’t give it much thought beyond hoping to end up in the Pleasant Place and not the Hot Place when they die.

But is that really the extent of what Jesus accomplished on the cross? Did He endure scourging and nails just to offer a slight upgrade in our afterlife accommodations, leaving our day-to-day lives largely untouched? I don’t think so.

I’m convinced salvation encompasses far more than this shallow version we’ve settled for. The eternal life Christ promised involves a radical transformation into new creations, holy and acceptable, right here and now. But so few seem to grasp this truth.

I understand why, though. I used to view salvation the same way. As a young believer, I prayed for forgiveness, believing Jesus’ death paid the penalty for my sin. I looked forward to heaven but figured holiness would have to wait. Meanwhile, I assumed grace gave me the green light to keep living as I pleased. And so I did.

What changed my perspective? The book of Romans.

Buried in Paul’s masterful exposition hides a powerful secret that sparked the Protestant Reformation, but remains obscured to many believers today. Let’s dust off this treasure and explore how the gospel offers, not just a ticket to paradise when we die, but victory over sin’s grip in our daily lives.

The Path to Real Change

Chances are you know the famous verse that ignited reform in Luther’s heart back in 1515: “The just shall live by faith” (Rom. 1:17). Luther had tried everything to obtain salvation: self-denial, penance, indulgences, pilgrimages, and even becoming a monk. At last, thankfully, he finally grasped that a man is justified not by works, but through faith alone (Rom. 3:28).

Yet mere intellectual assent cannot change hearts. I know, I’ve tried. Mere head knowledge never hindered Paul from persecuting Christians, but an encounter with the risen Christ transformed him in an instant.

In the same way, justification marks only the beginning of the work of salvation in our lives. The just are not just declared righteous, but enabled to live righteously through an ongoing process called sanctification. Surprisingly, this practical component of redemption receives little pulpit airtime today, though the epistles address it constantly. It’s the part of our salvation experience that primarily rests on our shoulders.

Sanctification means being set apart for holy use. It means growing into the likeness of Christ. And it is how we glorify the Lord today. Just as temple implements were consecrated for God’s service, we who trust in Christ are sanctified and empowered to serve the Lord rather than ourselves. Although complete sinlessness awaits eternity, believers can receive real deliverance from the mastery of evil in the here and now, today. This is what it means to live out what Jesus promised as the “abundant life” found only in Him (John 10:10). Consider these promises:

For sin shall not have dominion over you – Romans 6:14.

For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live – Romans 8:13.

His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue – 2 Peter 1:3.

“But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you” – Acts 1:8.

Through Christ, God enables His children to overcome sinful passions and bear righteous fruit by cooperating or partnering with the sanctifying work of the indwelling Spirit. We see this in Romans 6, where Paul explains the implications of our spiritual baptism into Christ’s death and resurrection— a joining together as one that transfers the benefits of the cross into the believer’s life.

United with Christ

Consider the amazing truths found in Romans 6.

Do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? – Romans 6:3.

When we trust in Jesus as Savior, we spiritually unite with Him in His death and resurrection. Our old self— our identity in Adam that was corrupted by sin— dies with Christ. And we rise anew in Him, as joint participants in Jesus’ own victory through His resurrection. This profound union means His power replaces our weakness and, therefore, we are complete in Him (Col. 2:10).

For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection – Romans 6:5.

Furthermore, through this union, we can now walk in Christ’s newness of life, no longer enslaved to our old carnal habits and sinful desires. Sin used to dominate us when we operated in the flesh, independent from God. But no more. Now, our dependence on the Spirit breaks the power of sin and our flesh and allows us to live lives worthy of the price of our redemption.

Our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with – Romans 6:6.

For he who has died has been freed from sin. Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord – Romans 6:7, 11.

This “reckoning” involves continually choosing to see ourselves as God does— as those who have died and risen again with Christ. It means believing that His death fully paid the penalty of our sin in our place. Our old self and its sinful desires perished, and no longer define us. We now inhabit a new “house”— Christ’s own body (2 Cor. 5:1), which means we now have the power and ability to stop obeying the cravings of the flesh and live victoriously over sin. And all of this is possible because His Spirit empowers us to honor and obey Him instead of giving in to our selfish desires (Rom. 8:9, 13).

A Life-Changing Revelation

Do you see how our union with Christ enables our sanctification? This truth radically transformed Paul’s own spiritual walk. After struggling to obey God in his own strength, Paul finally grasped that his human efforts could never please God while his heart remained carnal and unchanged. He understood that outward conformity, apart from an inward renewal, only breeds self-righteousness and hypocrisy. And his life before Christ was a testimony to that fact.

But once Paul understood the grand implications of his identification and union with Christ, he realized God accepted him solely on the basis of Jesus’ completed work and perfect merits, His righteousness and holiness— and not on the basis of Paul’s own feeble efforts to gain salvation by his own works. This revelation launched Paul into a life characterized by immense joy, gratefulness, freedom, boldness, contentment, surrender, obedience, sacrifice, and selfless service to his Lord and others. The spiritual transformation in Paul resulted directly from recognizing his new identity and position as one crucified and raised with Christ. And it gave birth to the incredible phrase found throughout his writings that defines the essence of the Christian life— “in Christ.”

Yet, even with this revelation, Paul confessed he continued battling his sinful nature, not having attained perfect holiness while still living in his sinful flesh (Rom. 7:14-25, Phil. 3:12). He agonized over failures and shortcomings but did not resign himself to spiritual defeat or throw up his hands in resignation and despair. Instead, again and again, he affirmed, as a redeemed believer in Christ, his freedom from condemnation and confidently expected God to complete the sanctification He had begun in him (Rom. 8:1, Phil. 1:6). And this is exactly what God promises to do for each of us.

Paul shows us that discouragement over our failings proves we still depend on ourselves rather than resting, or abiding, in our union with Christ. We will remain self-focused on our own performance, even after our conversion, until we grasp that pleasing God depends entirely on His work in us, and not our own efforts. As Jesus said, “Without Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). And Jesus meant exactly what He said.

Sanctification requires continually reckoning ourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ. It means acknowledging the absolute sufficiency of Jesus’ sacrifice to cleanse us from anything standing between us and a deeper relationship with God. It involves consciously seeking the things of the Spirit rather than the flesh. And it means believing God has accepted us as His beloved children, no matter how we may feel or the circumstances in which we may find ourselves. The key to sanctification is not self-discipline, but utter dependence on Christ, through faith, alone.

Abiding in the True Vine

In John 15, Jesus likens Himself to a vine providing life and fruitfulness to its branches. By “abiding” through faith in Him, we receive His spiritual life flowing and transforming our thoughts, desires, words, and actions. Sometimes pruning is needed to destroy sinful growth and stimulate fresh fruit, but our focus remains on staying connected to the Vine. The branch does not bear fruit by striving, but simply by drawing strength from Christ and remaining connected to Him. This is the nature of what Jesus means when He says, “Abide in Me” (John 15:4).

This abiding faith in Him consists of the following:

•   Praising God for making us perfectly righteous through Christ’s sacrifice. Our deepest identity is now “in Him” and not in anything else, especially us.

•   Thanking Jesus for breaking sin’s dominion over us. If sin still rules us, it’s because we have not properly understood or relied on the power of the cross. We have His power at our fingertips; all we have to do is incorporate it into our lives by faith. So what are we waiting for?

•   Asking (or begging) the Holy Spirit to cultivate the mindset of a dead/raised person who now lives for One greater than ourselves and produces Christ’s likeness in us. Our natural tendencies rebel against the idea of sanctification. But once we understand those old, natural tendencies are now dead, then our new life can begin.

•   Asking God to reveal any lingering elements of self-trust and independence we may have and freely grant Him full Lordship over every area of our lives. We must see ourselves as crucified in Christ and reject any claim to personal rights we may think we deserve.

•   We must learn to confess and turn from sin the moment it occurs by freely receiving His forgiveness, and then believing the blood of Jesus cleanses us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). If not, then our guilt will inevitably lead to more self-effort, hindering our dependency and intimacy with Christ.

When we obey by faith out of hearts grateful for Christ’s love, mercy, and grace, we bear much fruit to His glory. But self-effort and legalistic conformity only breeds self-righteousness and pride. Only after we fully accept our death and resurrection in Christ’s death and resurrection, will we experience liberation to walk in the newness of life through the Spirit’s power, and watch Him bring radical transformation in our lives.

Remember the Lesson from Saul?

Remember what happened to Saul? After encountering the risen Christ, he became Paul, an exemplar of the Spirit-filled life and cornerstone of the early church. In the same way, encountering Jesus also revolutionized the lives of fishermen, zealots, and nobodies into world-changing disciples. And the same can happen to us. But first we, like them, have to grasp our new position in the crucified and resurrected Savior.

Have you attained the holiness you desire? Do your besetting sins continue plaguing you? If so, consider Paul’s example. Transformation dawns when we truly apply the cross to our identity and draw life from our union with Christ. The victorious Christian life depends on you understanding “Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Col. 1:27). The hope is not you, but “Christ in you.” Don’t miss this.

Think of the addict set free when she realizes, “I have died to that old life; it no longer controls me.” Or the abrasive husband who stops abusing his wife and children once he accepts “My old self was crucified with Christ; His Spirit now lives in me.” Union with Jesus provides freedom from sin’s dominion if we walk by faith in His finished work. But if we still struggle against the flesh in our own power, we lack this revelation and have not incorporated this truth into our lives.

If you share Paul’s battle with sin, take heart. You are not alone in your struggle. But as Paul discovered, our victory is not self-obtained by our own efforts, but Christ-imparted by what He has already done. Just as His grace secured our justification, His life now enables our sanctification. And through this faith-union with Jesus, the Spirit transforms us into new creations bearing godly fruit only He can produce. And most importantly, fruit-bearing now requires abiding in Him and not striving to create something you were never designed to do.

We cannot work for sanctification, we only receive it by faith as a gift flowing from the sacrifice of Jesus and the impartation of the Holy Spirit. As we learn to rest in His perfect acceptance of us, just as we are (Rom. 12:1), the Spirit then prunes unfruitful habits and dead branches and conforms us to the image of Jesus (Rom. 8:29).

Remember, “Christ in you” is not only the hope, but the source, and guarantee of glory. So embrace the full benefits of your salvation, and walk in the newness of the life He provided.

And begin that process today.

Our Latest Posts:

67: True Signs of a False, Counterfeit Salvation

66: Abiding – The Key to Lasting Surrender and Joy

65: The Seventh Step – Don’t Leave Home Without Him

64: The Sixth Step – Surrendering to the Holy Spirit

63: The Fifth Step – Surrendering to God’s Sovereignty

Deception runs rampant in our world today. Just look around. False teaching, twisted values, distorted truths, and outright sinister lies bombard us from every side. Even in the church, not all professing believers have embraced the genuine gospel— which means not all who claim to be saved are, in fact, saved. And this is the most frightening deception of all.

As Jesus warned in Matthew 24, spiritual deception will flourish in the last days. “Take heed that no one deceives you,” He told His followers, “for many will come in My name… and will deceive many.” Sobering words.

Why did Jesus put such emphasis on not being deceived, especially regarding the nature and name of Christ? Because our eternal destiny hangs in the balance. If we get this one thing wrong, what true salvation entails, then we lose everything. The cost is eternal damnation. Remember, on judgment day, many will claim to know Jesus as Lord, only to hear Him say, “I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness” (Matt. 7:23). This is the essence of self-deception or counterfeit salvation, believing you have a relationship with Jesus and discovering, when it’s too late, that you don’t. Can you think of anything worse?

It’s dangerously easy in our deceptive culture to assume we are saved when we lack true spiritual life. We may profess faith in Christ while possessing little beyond a religious heritage, church attendance, a reasonably moral lifestyle, or a past prayer. And the church as an institution doesn’t help much either by accepting, without question, our claim of salvation even when our lives show little or no evidence of it.

Salvation is the one thing you don’t want to get wrong. Because if you do, you’ll have all eternity to pay for it. And nobody wants to do that. Remember, the Bible says today, right this minute, is the day of salvation (2 Cor. 6:2)— not tomorrow, or next week, or as soon as you clear your calendar. Today means today. Right now. Before you run off to do the next thing.

Jesus warned us, saying the deception in the times we now live in would be so prevalent that, if it were possible, even His elect would be deceived (Matt. 24:24). Since that is true, how can we make sure we are not part of that statistic and are deceived regarding our salvation? How can we make sure the object of our faith is Christ, and Christ alone, and that we possess saving faith and not non-saving faith (Jas. 2:19). And how can we know the difference? We know by carefully examining our lives in light of Scripture to determine if our faith is authentic and will endure honest scrutiny.

God’s Word provides sobering tests to examine ourselves and avoid deception. Let’s take a look at a few of these and then do the hard part, honest self-reflection to make sure we are not disqualified spiritually. Remember what the Bible commands:

Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?— unless indeed you are disqualified – 2 Corinthians 13:5.

Let’s begin that test together.

True Signs of a Counterfeit Conversion

Here are some red flags that may indicate counterfeit conversion. See if any of these are true of you.

Lack of Spiritual Fruit

Jesus said you would know His disciples by their fruit (Matt. 7:16), not by their profession or church attendance or the Follow Me to Church bumper sticker on their car. Therefore, one key sign of false faith is a prolonged lack of consistent spiritual fruit. When we are born again, the Holy Spirit enters our lives and begins sanctifying us, to make us more like Christ. And over time, this process...]]>Deception: the Currency of Our Culture

Deception runs rampant in our world today. Just look around. False teaching, twisted values, distorted truths, and outright sinister lies bombard us from every side. Even in the church, not all professing believers have embraced the genuine gospel— which means not all who claim to be saved are, in fact, saved. And this is the most frightening deception of all.

As Jesus warned in Matthew 24, spiritual deception will flourish in the last days. “Take heed that no one deceives you,” He told His followers, “for many will come in My name… and will deceive many.” Sobering words.

Why did Jesus put such emphasis on not being deceived, especially regarding the nature and name of Christ? Because our eternal destiny hangs in the balance. If we get this one thing wrong, what true salvation entails, then we lose everything. The cost is eternal damnation. Remember, on judgment day, many will claim to know Jesus as Lord, only to hear Him say, “I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness” (Matt. 7:23). This is the essence of self-deception or counterfeit salvation, believing you have a relationship with Jesus and discovering, when it’s too late, that you don’t. Can you think of anything worse?

It’s dangerously easy in our deceptive culture to assume we are saved when we lack true spiritual life. We may profess faith in Christ while possessing little beyond a religious heritage, church attendance, a reasonably moral lifestyle, or a past prayer. And the church as an institution doesn’t help much either by accepting, without question, our claim of salvation even when our lives show little or no evidence of it.

Salvation is the one thing you don’t want to get wrong. Because if you do, you’ll have all eternity to pay for it. And nobody wants to do that. Remember, the Bible says today, right this minute, is the day of salvation (2 Cor. 6:2)— not tomorrow, or next week, or as soon as you clear your calendar. Today means today. Right now. Before you run off to do the next thing.

Jesus warned us, saying the deception in the times we now live in would be so prevalent that, if it were possible, even His elect would be deceived (Matt. 24:24). Since that is true, how can we make sure we are not part of that statistic and are deceived regarding our salvation? How can we make sure the object of our faith is Christ, and Christ alone, and that we possess saving faith and not non-saving faith (Jas. 2:19). And how can we know the difference? We know by carefully examining our lives in light of Scripture to determine if our faith is authentic and will endure honest scrutiny.

God’s Word provides sobering tests to examine ourselves and avoid deception. Let’s take a look at a few of these and then do the hard part, honest self-reflection to make sure we are not disqualified spiritually. Remember what the Bible commands:

Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?— unless indeed you are disqualified – 2 Corinthians 13:5.

Let’s begin that test together.

True Signs of a Counterfeit Conversion

Here are some red flags that may indicate counterfeit conversion. See if any of these are true of you.

Lack of Spiritual Fruit

Jesus said you would know His disciples by their fruit (Matt. 7:16), not by their profession or church attendance or the Follow Me to Church bumper sticker on their car. Therefore, one key sign of false faith is a prolonged lack of consistent spiritual fruit. When we are born again, the Holy Spirit enters our lives and begins sanctifying us, to make us more like Christ. And over time, this process inevitably produces spiritual fruit like love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Gal. 5:22-23), something only He can produce in us. Our new life in Christ now reflects His character and will result in a change of heart and a change of behavior. Even though we are imperfect, there is, nevertheless, a noticeable spiritual trajectory where we become less like what we were and more like what Christ is— which is a pretty good layman’s definition of sanctification.

But claiming to be Christian without spiritual fruit should raise some questions about genuine faith or the lack of it. Yes, seasons of struggle occur, but an unchanged life opposes Christ’s promise that a good tree, one who has experienced true salvation, bears good fruit (Matt. 7:17-18). So examine your life. Is lasting spiritual fruit evident, or does sin still dominate your character? And remember the principle: Spiritual fruit comes from the Spirit who lives in you. If there is no spiritual fruit, there is probably no Holy Spirit. And if there is no Holy Spirit, there is no salvation. You are simply deceived and lost in your sin. Don’t let that happen to you.

A Disregard for God’s Word

Another warning sign of counterfeit salvation is a disregard for God’s commands in Scripture. When God saves us, He implants His law within our hearts (Jer. 31:33), and transforms us into new creations that delight in obeying His Word (Ps. 119:47). But willful, ongoing disobedience or disregard for God’s commands is incompatible with saving faith, since true, saving faith is manifest through a life increasingly marked by obedience (1 John 2:3-4). You can’t have it both ways. You must choose. Do you eagerly obey Christ’s teachings in all circumstances or disregard His Word when it becomes inconvenient, embarrassing, or cramps your style?

If someone claims to follow Christ, yet minimizes the authority of Scripture in their life, or picks and chooses convenient parts to follow and rejects the teachings that demand sacrifice or commitment— their heart obviously remains unchanged. They are likely deceived, still dead in sin rather than alive in Christ. Because those transformed by the Spirit cherish all of God’s Word, not just preferred sections that fit their lifestyle. Does any of this resonate with you?

Continual bondage to Sin

When truly saved, believers gain the power to resist sin’s control in their lives through the Spirit who has now taken residence in them. Though still imperfect, true believers are no longer chained by sinful cravings as before, since sin cannot tyrannically rule in a redeemed heart. We may still wrestle with sin, but are no longer enslaved to it (Rom. 6:6-7). The Scriptures teach before our salvation, we were dead in sin, incapable of pleasing God. But after being born again, we can now resist sin’s dominance in our lives through the Spirit’s power— because sin no longer reigns over us (Rom. 6:14). Though confessing and repenting of sin should mark a Christian’s life, ongoing slavery to sin with no repentance is a clear, frightening indication of false salvation, where no true regeneration has taken place.

So we must ask: Does sin still reign in my mortal body, or has Christ’s Spirit freed me from its mastery? Examine your life for unconfessed patterns of sin. Do you walk in the newness of life or remain chained to the old nature? The Spirit sets believers free from sin’s bondage. Make sure your life on the outside lines up with your confession on the inside. Otherwise, you may be deceived.

No Evidence of the Holy Spirit’s Work

This is an easy one. God’s Spirit actively indwells and changes true Christians. In fact, the Holy Spirit assures believers of salvation (Rom. 8:16), helps us pray (Rom. 8:26), illuminates Scripture (1 Cor. 2:10-14), comforts us (Acts 9:31), convicts us of sin (John 16:8), and produces spiritual fruit in our lives (Gal. 5:22-23). These are just a few things the Holy Spirit does in us that are evidence of His presence in us. But what does it mean when these fruits are not evident in our life? Again, this is an easy one. Lacking such fruit of a Spirit-empowered and sanctified life for a prolonged period of time implies the Spirit is absent. And if the Spirit is absent or inactive, Scripture warns we do not belong to Christ. Read it for yourself. “Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His” (Rom. 8:9)

Does the Spirit noticeably sanctify your life? Can others see the results of His presence in your life? And if not, why? Could it be you are deceived and still lost in your sins? If that is the case, you need to confess and repent and receive Christ on His terms, today.

Indifference Toward Spiritual Growth

Another red flag that points to counterfeit salvation is an indifference toward spiritual growth or the things pertaining to God. When a person is born-again, God implants in believers a heart passionately pursuing a deep intimacy with Him (Ps. 42:1-2). The Spirit within us propels an irresistible hunger to know Christ through prayer, the study and internalization of Scripture, worship, fellowship with a Christian community, and other spiritual practices.

If someone exhibits little interest in such spiritual pursuits, living each day engrossed in worldly routines that have no eternal significance, it suggests the Spirit is not actively sanctifying their heart and, therefore, is not present. Do you remember what it means when a professing believer doesn’t have the Holy Spirit? A past conversion experience or being raised in the church since childhood does not guarantee genuine faith today. But the ongoing pursuit of Christ, the “living water” that satisfies all our needs, is a clear indication of true salvation.

Love of the World or Worldly Things

Our priorities are a window to our soul, exposing our spiritual state. Scripture warns that friendship with the world is actually hostility toward God (James 4:4), and Jesus said the greatest commandment was to “Love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind” (Matt. 22:37), or, more than anything else, including you. So if earthly ambitions like wealth, fame, success, immorality, and pleasure rule someone’s heart, it reveals their faith is likely counterfeit, and they are lost, deceived, and on their way to eternal punishment (1 John 2:15-17). But it doesn’t have to be that way.

When true salvation takes place in a believer’s life, they cherish Christ above all else. He becomes their supreme delight and satisfaction. But if worldly affections hold preeminence in someone’s life, the love of the Father clearly does not reside in them. Because what we treasure most reveals who has captured our hearts. Does Christ hold first place in your life, or does the world and all its trappings? Our true spiritual state is revealed by our deepest affections. What do your affections say about you?

The Eternal Danger of Self-Deception

Finally and tragically, the Bible warns that some willingly deceive themselves about their salvation (James 1:22-25), which is the greatest deception of all. They hear the Word of God, maybe every Sunday, but don’t apply it to their lives. And after inspecting themselves in a mirror, they forget what they look like. Many cling to a false assurance of salvation because they once prayed a prayer, walked an aisle, had an emotional experience, or made a mental decision. Yet with no life change, they remain unsaved. A faith that does not result in obedience to the Lord is a dead, non-saving faith— a counterfeit faith. Because when we come to Christ in earnest, we must respond in obedient faith, not an empty profession.

So What Can We Do?

Scripture exhorts us to examine ourselves to confirm we are in the faith (2 Cor. 13:5). You need to do that today. Yes, it is true that while genuine, authentic believers stumble, the Spirit produces increasing Christlikeness in them over time. That’s simply what happens when the Spirit comes to live within you. Do you see that sanctification process in your life? A prolonged lack of spiritual fruit, indifference toward obeying God’s Word, ongoing slavery to sin, no evidence of the Spirit’s work, a time-consuming love for the world, and willing self-deception about true salvation warn that our faith may be counterfeit. So ask yourself the following questions.

•   Do I display long-term spiritual fruit or a protracted barrenness of the life and power of the Spirit?

•   How do I respond when convicted of sin by the Spirit and Word? Do I respond with repentance or rationalization? Am I humbled and remorseful, or callous and apathetic to His promptings into areas of my life that I would rather Him leave alone?

•   Who or what is ultimately first in my life, desires, and pursuits— Christ or what I want to do?

•   Is occasional or willful disobedience my pattern? What do my thoughts, words, and actions reveal about me and my relationship with my Lord? If others were to examine my life choices, would they conclude I serve a God greater than myself?

•   Do I perceive the Spirit’s convicting and comforting work in my life? Or am I just making it on my own, only reaching out to Him for help when I get in a jam I can’t handle?

•   Do I demonstrate Christlike care and commitment to fellow believers? Or is church just something I do, trying not to feel guilty or look bad in the eyes of other believers?

Scripture encourages genuine saints to validate their calling and election (2 Peter 1:10). So let’s do that by reflecting on these sobering tests and repenting where needed, drawing near to Christ and His transforming grace.

And remember, if you come up short and realize you may be deceived in thinking you have truly experienced the regenerating power of salvation, the next step is easy. Pray, believe, confess, repent, and receive— but for real this time, and the life with Him you thought you had will now truly become yours.

The choice is yours— so choose wisely.

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62: The Fourth Step – Presenting Yourself as a Sacrifice

When it comes to spiritual disciplines like surrender or yielding our life to the Lord, the hardest part is not the act of initial surrender, but the journey of remaining surrendered to Him in the days and months ahead. For most believers, this journey can be discouraging, filled with success and failure, ups and downs, and sometimes, you may even feel like giving up. But that should never be the case. After all, it is the Holy Spirit living in you that seals you in Him and is the deposit, the guarantee of the promise of your future inheritance to come (Eph. 1:14). And this is more than going to heaven when you die— far more. The indwelling Holy Spirit also guarantees your sanctification, which is you becoming more like Christ each and every day (1 Cor. 1:30).

But the one question still remains, how? How do we experience the process of becoming more like our Lord in the chaos of everyday living? And how do we make sure, at least on our end, that we remain surrendered and submitted to Him?

To Abide

In Christian circles, we hear much about the word abide or abiding regarding our relationship with Christ. Jesus actually made that term the centerpiece of His teaching on the nature of our relationship with Him in John 15. You would do well to study this teaching. In it, Jesus said:

“Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing” – John 15:4-5.

Abiding in Christ is the key to remaining surrendered and walking in obedience under His authority. But what does it mean to abide in Him? And how is it done?

The word “abide” in Greek is menó, and means to “remain or stay, live, and dwell with someone in an intimate, close relationship by being united with them, or being made one with them, in heart, mind, and will.”¹ It is more than a casual acquaintance but rather a deep, enduring connection. And it is only when we remain connected to Him, that we allow His life to flow through us, producing spiritual fruit that brings glory to the Father (John 15:8).

The principle is simple: When we abide, we flourish and live. When we detach from the vine and try to go it alone, we flounder and die. And the choice is always ours to make.

Remaining Connected (Surrendered) to the True Vine

Why is abiding so important? Because it leads to spiritual fruitfulness in our lives. Jesus said, “He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). As we stay attached or surrendered to the Vine (Christ), His life flows through us, and this supernaturally enables us to bear His good fruit— the fruit of righteousness, godly character, and the expansion of God’s kingdom, all for the glory of the Father. It is an amazing dependent relationship. Remember, as a branch, we don’t produce any fruit. That’s the job of the Vine, Christ. But as long as we remain attached and surrendered to Him, we get the joy of bearing His fruit since all He is, as the Vine, flows through us and, as His branches, gives our life purpose. And all we have to do is remain surrendered, attached, and submitted to the source of everything that gives our life value. He produces all the fruit, and we get to bear His handiwork for the world to see. Let that sink in for a moment.

The Scriptures reveal we were created for good works (Eph. 2:10), but we can only fulfill these works if we rely wholly on Jesus’ power working in us. If we detach from the Vine, our best efforts become futile, and we quickly...]]>No More Roller-Coaster Living

When it comes to spiritual disciplines like surrender or yielding our life to the Lord, the hardest part is not the act of initial surrender, but the journey of remaining surrendered to Him in the days and months ahead. For most believers, this journey can be discouraging, filled with success and failure, ups and downs, and sometimes, you may even feel like giving up. But that should never be the case. After all, it is the Holy Spirit living in you that seals you in Him and is the deposit, the guarantee of the promise of your future inheritance to come (Eph. 1:14). And this is more than going to heaven when you die— far more. The indwelling Holy Spirit also guarantees your sanctification, which is you becoming more like Christ each and every day (1 Cor. 1:30).

But the one question still remains, how? How do we experience the process of becoming more like our Lord in the chaos of everyday living? And how do we make sure, at least on our end, that we remain surrendered and submitted to Him?

To Abide

In Christian circles, we hear much about the word abide or abiding regarding our relationship with Christ. Jesus actually made that term the centerpiece of His teaching on the nature of our relationship with Him in John 15. You would do well to study this teaching. In it, Jesus said:

“Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing” – John 15:4-5.

Abiding in Christ is the key to remaining surrendered and walking in obedience under His authority. But what does it mean to abide in Him? And how is it done?

The word “abide” in Greek is menó, and means to “remain or stay, live, and dwell with someone in an intimate, close relationship by being united with them, or being made one with them, in heart, mind, and will.”¹ It is more than a casual acquaintance but rather a deep, enduring connection. And it is only when we remain connected to Him, that we allow His life to flow through us, producing spiritual fruit that brings glory to the Father (John 15:8).

The principle is simple: When we abide, we flourish and live. When we detach from the vine and try to go it alone, we flounder and die. And the choice is always ours to make.

Remaining Connected (Surrendered) to the True Vine

Why is abiding so important? Because it leads to spiritual fruitfulness in our lives. Jesus said, “He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). As we stay attached or surrendered to the Vine (Christ), His life flows through us, and this supernaturally enables us to bear His good fruit— the fruit of righteousness, godly character, and the expansion of God’s kingdom, all for the glory of the Father. It is an amazing dependent relationship. Remember, as a branch, we don’t produce any fruit. That’s the job of the Vine, Christ. But as long as we remain attached and surrendered to Him, we get the joy of bearing His fruit since all He is, as the Vine, flows through us and, as His branches, gives our life purpose. And all we have to do is remain surrendered, attached, and submitted to the source of everything that gives our life value. He produces all the fruit, and we get to bear His handiwork for the world to see. Let that sink in for a moment.

The Scriptures reveal we were created for good works (Eph. 2:10), but we can only fulfill these works if we rely wholly on Jesus’ power working in us. If we detach from the Vine, our best efforts become futile, and we quickly discover we can “do nothing” (John 15:5). But when we remain connected or surrendered to Him by abiding in Him, we partner with Him as He allows us to bear His lasting spiritual fruit. Abiding places us in the channel of God’s wonderous grace and enables us to experience the joy of vibrant Christian living. It is truly the abundant life Jesus promised (John 10:10).

The Fruit of Obedience

Abiding also produces obedience. Jesus said, “If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love” (John 15:10). It seems that obedience and love are intrinsically intertwined. So when we love Christ, obedience to His Word flows naturally. And as we follow His commands, our love for Him grows deeper still.

Our culture exalts self-will and independence, but Jesus calls us to a life of voluntary surrender and submission— recognizing His wisdom exceeds our own, on every level. Therefore, as branches abiding in the Vine, obeying Christ’s commands allows His life and power to flow unhindered through us, which is the entire point of being conformed to His image (Rom. 8:29).

Some may view obedience as restrictive, but in reality, it leads to great peace and freedom. Sin and pride trap us in bitterness, resentment, anxiety, and emptiness. But obeying Christ frees us from sin’s grip, no matter how strong the grip is. His commands are given as a blessing, not to stifle, but to protect, guide, and bless. And as we surrender to the Vine, we find true purpose in bearing His righteous fruit that will last, and not mindlessly spending our life chasing the trinkets and toys of this world that will inevitably perish.

But how can we grow in abiding obedience?

It starts by cultivating a heart that longs to honor Christ. Before rushing into any activity, we must take a moment to stop and listen to Jesus, focusing on His voice among the fray. Remember what He said, “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you” (John 15:7). This is a promise and a condition. If we rest in Him and allow His words to permeate our hearts, He will give us the power and, most importantly, the desire to obey. Abiding flows out of a satisfied heart resting in Christ’s love.

Finally, understand that abiding obedience is a journey. We will make missteps, count on it, but the Father graciously prunes us to grow sweeter fruit within each season of our lives (John 15:2). So do not let past failures, no matter how many or how often, sever you from the Vine. Repent and rely on Christ’s forgiveness and power to help you take the next step in faith and obedience to Him.

The Fruit of Dependent Surrender

Abiding in Christ requires full dependence on Him. Jesus said, “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). We must recognize that apart from Him, we are helpless and fruitless.

When we try to live the Christian life in our own effort and strength, we end up exhausted, frustrated, and often burned out. You’ve probably experienced that at some point in your life. But when we fully surrender control to Jesus, trusting in His inner working more than our striving, then His divine life, power, and joy flow through us. Surrender means ceasing from our labors and completely relying on Him (which is a great definition of abiding).

This surrender is not passive or apathetic, but rather one of active dependence. As we abide in Christ, we gain wisdom to know what He desires us to do each step of the way. We then act in alignment with His will but rely, not on our own meager and finite resources, but on His inner strength to accomplish it. As Paul said, “To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily” (Col. 1:29). The life of Christ within empowers us beyond human capability. The joy of experiencing being complete in Him (Col. 2:10), comes from abiding as His branch and letting the Vine do all the stuff only the Vine can do. And then we do what we can do, which is simply to remain connected to Him.

The Fruit of a Life That Matters

Jesus promised that abiding in Him would produce spiritual fruit that remains. He said, “You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain” (John 15:16). When we minister in human strength and wisdom, the impact is often limited and temporary. But drawing life from the Vine produces eternal fruit that matters and remains.

This fruit comes from our conscious effort to remain surrendered to Him in everything. As we listen to the Spirit’s promptings through an abiding relationship, He leads us to act in ways that bless others. It may involve speaking a word of encouragement, showing compassion, serving a practical need, or doing something that moves us out of what feels comfortable and stretches our faith. When we follow His lead rather than our own agenda, the fruit always brings glory to the Father. And since the fruit is from the Spirit and not our own human efforts, it will always remain.

Scripture describes the fruit that naturally grows from abiding in Him as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Gal. 5:22-23). These fruits of the Spirit emerge in our character as we stay connected to the Vine and become more like Jesus.

The Overflow of Joy

One primary fruit Jesus mentions is fullness of joy. He said, “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full” (John 15:11). As we abide in God’s love, His joy naturally overflows in our hearts. And the joy of Christ, the joy He experiences Himself, will remain in us. It really doesn’t get any better than that.

This joy is much deeper than temporary human happiness based on circumstances. This kind of joy flows from a surrendered relationship in Christ, trusting Him amidst any situation, good or bad. Even in great trials and heartwrenching tribulations, we can experience His supernatural joy as we rely on His presence by remaining surrendered to Him. And, as Paul and Silas discovered when chained in a dungeon in Philippi, we can now view all troubles as opportunities to experience more of Him (Acts 16:25).

This abiding joy comes from recognizing and embracing that nothing can separate us from the love of Christ (Rom. 8:38-39). So now, life’s pressures only drive us closer to the God who sustains us. And when we abide in the Vine, joy remains even in the midst of suffering, because we now know that pain, with purpose, produces great joy.

Launching into Jesus’ Harvest

Finally, abiding readies us for Kingdom impact. Jesus said, “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit. I have said these things to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full” (John 15:16, 11). Abiding fills us with contagious joy and propels us into Jesus’ harvest fields.

When our roots grow deep into the Vine, we gain a passion to share Christ’s love with the world. We yearn for others to know this soul-satisfying relationship we have in Him, and therefore, we long to see others grafted into the True Vine with us as fellow branches.

So we follow the Spirit’s leading to invest in the work of His kingdom. We freely leverage our gifts and resources to make disciples, meet needs, and proclaim the Gospel in any way possible. We spend and are spent for the cause of Christ, fueled by our joy in Him. This is what an overflowing life looks like abiding in the True Vine. And it fills us with overabounding gratitude for His choice of us in Him (Eph. 1:4).

His Final Plea: Remain in Me

On the night of His betrayal, Jesus pleaded with His disciples to remain in close fellowship with Him when He said, “Stay here and watch with Me” (Matt. 26:38). He knew great trials would soon come that would shake their faith to the core. But He also knew that if they clung to the Vine, drawing life and strength from Him that day and daily thereafter, they would bear eternal fruit, and their lives would have a lasting impact on others.

Centuries later, His same plea echoes in our own hearts. Jesus says, “Abide in Me. Stay vitally connected to Me. For apart from Me, you can do nothing. A branch detached withers quickly. But if you stay united to Me in abiding surrender, My life will flow through you with supernatural power. Abide in My love and joy. Seek My heart above all else. Remain in Me, and your life will overflow with righteous fruit that endures forever.”

This is the way to live fully surrendered to the Lord, no matter what— come what may. Are you ready to live a life abiding in Him? Good. Then let’s get started today.

Notes:

1. Zodhiates, S. (2000). In The complete word study dictionary: New Testament (electronic ed.). AMG Publishers.

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61: The Third Step – Dying to Self to Gain Him

We are now at the last step to surrendering our lives unreservedly to the Lord. And this seventh and final step deals with how to keep close to Him, and how to remain surrendered and submitted, even after the initial awe of the experience begins to wear off and we let our guard down. Don’t be deceived— yes, it will happen to you, just like it has happened to all those who have gone before you in seeking the Higher Christian Life or the life of full surrender.

Even though we are at the last step, our journey of surrender has just begun. Like Peter, taking his eyes off Jesus and sinking into the waves when doing the impossible, walking on water, it’s easy to lose focus on Christ amid the trying circumstances we face every day (Matt. 14:30). Remember, sin is sin, and all sin, no matter how trivial we make it, hinders our relationship with the Lord and grieves the Holy Spirit (Eph. 4:30). Therefore your mission, if you choose to accept it, is to keep Christ at the center of your life, always, regardless of the situation you may be facing. And we do that by keeping our eyes on Him.

Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses (see Hebrews 11), let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, (how) looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God – Hebrews 12:1-2.

So how do we maintain a posture of continual submission to the Lord and make seeking Him our consuming priority in life? Or, how do we keep our eyes on Him like He kept His eyes on His Father? Let me share with you a few disciplines that should give you some direction in your life-long pursuit of Him.

Start the Day Anchored in Christ

Begin each morning grounded in Scripture and prayer. Make this a priority and set the tone of your day, communing with Jesus before anything else. Take His word in John 15:5 to heart, “Without Me, you can do nothing,” and realize He meant what He said. Read a devotional or passage about Christ’s character.¹ Write down what He has been showing you or how He has answered your prayers. This anchors you in Him before the chaos of the day competes for your attention.

“My voice You shall hear (when) in the morning, O Lord; (when) in the morning I will direct it to You, and I will look up” (Psalm 5:3). Just as we nourish our bodies with breakfast, we must nourish our spirit with Christ first thing in the morning.

Don’t Exclude Christ from Your Daily Tasks

As you go about your day, talk to Jesus continually through quick, conversational prayers, thanking Him for the little blessings you notice. Ask the Spirit for patience when frustrations arise, and they will. And seek His wisdom in any decisions you have to make, no matter how small. Remember, He is the Lord over everything— even the small stuff. Offer up a prayer of blessing to those you encounter. And ask Him to guide your interactions throughout the day.

When you pray without ceasing, as 1 Thessalonians 5:17 instructs, it keeps your focus on the Lord no matter how busy your schedule gets. Whether you’re checking off your to-do list, heading to appointments, running errands, or socializing with others, you can invite Jesus into every moment of your day. And if you invite Him, you will no longer be surprised when He comes to walk beside you in what you consider the mundane things of life. Try it. I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised at how much He wants to be part of your life.

Look at Everything Through His Eyes

Consider how your daily choices reflect on]]>We’ve Only Just Begun

We are now at the last step to surrendering our lives unreservedly to the Lord. And this seventh and final step deals with how to keep close to Him, and how to remain surrendered and submitted, even after the initial awe of the experience begins to wear off and we let our guard down. Don’t be deceived— yes, it will happen to you, just like it has happened to all those who have gone before you in seeking the Higher Christian Life or the life of full surrender.

Even though we are at the last step, our journey of surrender has just begun. Like Peter, taking his eyes off Jesus and sinking into the waves when doing the impossible, walking on water, it’s easy to lose focus on Christ amid the trying circumstances we face every day (Matt. 14:30). Remember, sin is sin, and all sin, no matter how trivial we make it, hinders our relationship with the Lord and grieves the Holy Spirit (Eph. 4:30). Therefore your mission, if you choose to accept it, is to keep Christ at the center of your life, always, regardless of the situation you may be facing. And we do that by keeping our eyes on Him.

Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses (see Hebrews 11), let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, (how) looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God – Hebrews 12:1-2.

So how do we maintain a posture of continual submission to the Lord and make seeking Him our consuming priority in life? Or, how do we keep our eyes on Him like He kept His eyes on His Father? Let me share with you a few disciplines that should give you some direction in your life-long pursuit of Him.

Start the Day Anchored in Christ

Begin each morning grounded in Scripture and prayer. Make this a priority and set the tone of your day, communing with Jesus before anything else. Take His word in John 15:5 to heart, “Without Me, you can do nothing,” and realize He meant what He said. Read a devotional or passage about Christ’s character.¹ Write down what He has been showing you or how He has answered your prayers. This anchors you in Him before the chaos of the day competes for your attention.

“My voice You shall hear (when) in the morning, O Lord; (when) in the morning I will direct it to You, and I will look up” (Psalm 5:3). Just as we nourish our bodies with breakfast, we must nourish our spirit with Christ first thing in the morning.

Don’t Exclude Christ from Your Daily Tasks

As you go about your day, talk to Jesus continually through quick, conversational prayers, thanking Him for the little blessings you notice. Ask the Spirit for patience when frustrations arise, and they will. And seek His wisdom in any decisions you have to make, no matter how small. Remember, He is the Lord over everything— even the small stuff. Offer up a prayer of blessing to those you encounter. And ask Him to guide your interactions throughout the day.

When you pray without ceasing, as 1 Thessalonians 5:17 instructs, it keeps your focus on the Lord no matter how busy your schedule gets. Whether you’re checking off your to-do list, heading to appointments, running errands, or socializing with others, you can invite Jesus into every moment of your day. And if you invite Him, you will no longer be surprised when He comes to walk beside you in what you consider the mundane things of life. Try it. I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised at how much He wants to be part of your life.

Look at Everything Through His Eyes

Consider how your daily choices reflect on Christ’s priorities. Does your use of time and money align with pursuing God’s Kingdom and righteousness? Do your entertainment choices and digital consumption feed your spirit or merely your flesh? Did you know that who you befriend and interact with also impacts your walk with God?

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, (why) that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God” (Romans 12:2). Evaluate whether your lifestyle choices, even the ones you consider trivial and non-important, line up with the His Word. And if they don’t, dump them.

Prioritize Spiritual Disciplines

Be willing to say “no” to lesser commitments and rearrange your schedule to embrace spiritual disciplines that feed your soul. This is the one practice our Christian heroes of old did that we seem to ignore today for the sake of what seems important now. So set aside consistent time for Bible reading, extended prayer, corporate worship, serving within your local church, and fellowshipping with other believers before your schedule gets so jammed you have no room for God.

As Jesus said, “It is written, ‘Man (including you) shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God’” (Matthew 4:4). Don’t let busyness crowd out what matters most.

Turn First to Christ During Difficult Times

When challenges inevitably come, resist falling into despair and anger by trying to manage them on your own. Instead, immediately turn to Jesus in prayer, surrendering the situation to His control. “Cast all your care upon Him, (why) for He cares for you” (1 Pet. 5:7). And all means just that— all, everything. Trust in His sovereignty and ask Him to use this trial for your spiritual growth.² Learn to lean into His peace and perspective, no matter how things may look to you at the time. Remember, “Our God is in His heavens; He does what He pleases” (Psalm 115:3).

As Corrie ten Boom said, “Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.” So keep your eyes fixed on Christ through the storm.

Limit Earthly Pleasures (No Matter How Good They Make You Feel)

While God richly provides for our enjoyment, beware of overindulging in His temporary gifts. We belong to Him, and what He blesses us with is also designed to be a blessing to others. So generously share your finances to further the Gospel rather than storing up treasures on earth that rust, rot, and fade away (Matt. 6:19-21). Learn to develop healthy boundaries around media, food, shopping, and how you spend your leisure time. Commit to investing more of your life in the eternal rather than the fleeting.

“Set your minds on things above, not on things on the earth” (Colossians 3:2). Our indulgences can easily become idols if we aren’t careful.

Immerse Yourself in Christ-Centered Influences

Carefully consider those who speak into your life or who you rent space to in your brain. Limit your time with media (especially social media), relationships, and interactions that can hinder your focus on Jesus and quench the power of the Spirit in your life (1 Thes. 5:19). Instead, immerse yourself in influences that point you to God and grow your faith.

As Proverbs 13:20 states, “He who walks with wise men will be wise (promise), but the companion of fools will be destroyed (also a promise).” Don’t be a companion of fools, no matter how socially acceptable it may be in our culture. Do the hard stuff. Seek out mentors, pastors, books, podcasts, sermons, and friendships that strengthen your spiritual walk. And make that a daily priority.

Make Christ the Center of All Your Relationships

Surround yourself with people who reflect and encourage your devotion to God, not hinder it, malign it, or encourage you to downplay it. Graciously, but firmly, end any relationship, even on social media, pulling you from full devotion to Christ. Bring Jesus into your conversations. Pray for your friends’ needs. Set an example of wholehearted obedience to the Gospel. And let your closest relationships be with those sharing your commitment to Him. Don’t ever settle for anything less.

As Christ said, “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it” (Matthew 7:13-14). Seek out fellow travelers on the narrow road. There aren’t many of them, but they are out there. You just might have to go out of your way to find them.

Honor the Lord’s Day for Spiritual Recharge

Set aside Sunday as a sacred day to reconnect with God. It was given as a command to God’s children for a reason. Disengage from work, news, political commentary, and social media. Prepare yourself to enter into His presence in worship. Read His Scripture reflectively. Have spiritual conversations with Him and others. Spend the day being renewed in Him.

Jesus said, “The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath” (Mark 2:27). God gave His day to us as a gift, not a burden. So set apart this time to refocus completely on Christ.

Find Your Ultimate Fulfillment in the Pursuit of God

Earthly pleasures quickly fade, but true joy is found in communion with Christ. After all, it is Christ who brings joy and peace in this chaotic world (Rom. 15:13). So make abiding or resting in Him your source of satisfaction (John 15:5). Take delight in prayer, meditating on Scripture, serving in the church, praying for others, and sharing your faith. Discover your true purpose as you daily walk closely with Jesus.

As Psalm 16:11 promises, “In Your presence is fullness of joy.” And it is in His presence where we find our enduring treasure.

So What’s Next?

Keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus in the midst of life’s trials, hurts, and constant distractions takes determination, spiritual strength, and a mental commitment. But as we choose daily to seek Christ first, above all else, and build our lives around Him, He promises to align our hearts with His perfect will, producing abundant life and joy (John 10:10), and a peace that defies description (Phil. 4:7). Just as a compass needle continually realigns to its true north, we must realign to the source of our true life each day— and that source is Jesus Himself.

May our lives fulfill Paul’s words in Philippians 3:14 — “I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” Let’s keep our eyes only on Him.

And let’s do it today.

Notes:

1. A great devotional is My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers.

2. See Step Five – Surrendering to God’s Sovereignty.

Our Latest Posts:

64: The Sixth Step – Surrendering to the Holy Spirit

63: The Fifth Step – Surrendering to God’s Sovereignty

62: The Fourth Step – Presenting Yourself as a Sacrifice

61: The Third Step – Dying to Self to Gain Him

60: The Second Step – Confession and Repentance

When we decide to fully yield our lives to the Lord, one essential step is surrendering control of everything to the Holy Spirit, who is probably the most overlooked member of the Trinity. And this is because the doctrine of the Trinity, or trying to explain the triune nature of God, is one of the most confusing teachings in Scripture. After all, we are finite beings who think in finite, logical, cause-and-effect, terms. Yet God is infinite, off the scales, and His nature is beyond what we can explain or logically process in our finite minds.

But let’s try. The doctrine of the Trinity is defined as God eternally exists as three persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and each person is fully God, and there is one God.¹

Or, to make it easier to digest:

1. God is three persons (Father, Son, and Spirit).

2. Each person is fully God.

3. There is one God.

But, even though they are all equally God, they have different and unique functions, especially regarding salvation and sanctification. For example, Scripture reveals God the Father is right now seated on His throne in heaven. Jesus is currently at His right hand interceding for us (Rom. 8:34, Heb. 7:25). And where is the Holy Spirit? He is the one who now lives in us and empowers us with His gifts, guidance, and transforming power. The Spirit is not a force that emanates from the Father to do His will, like in Star Wars, but is God Himself— co-equal, co-eternal, of the same essence as the Father and the Son. Yet, even though the Spirit is as much God as Jesus and the Father, sadly, we must admit He is the one Person we spend the least amount of time with and the one we know the least about.

If you look at just a few things the Holy Spirit has been tasked with, you will quickly notice these have to do with securing our salvation and enhancing our sanctification. It seems, of the three Persons in the Godhead, it is the Spirit who works the closest with us, and yet He is the one we tend to keep at arm’s length, distant and aloof.

The Vital Roles of the Spirit

Here are some key roles the Holy Spirit plays in our lives while residing in us:

•  The Holy Spirit helps us understand God’s word and apply it to our lives – John 14:26.

•  The Spirit guides us into truth and helps us discern right from wrong – John 16:13.

•  The Holy Spirit produces spiritual fruit in our lives like love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control – Galatians 5:22-23.

•  The Spirit empowers and equips us with spiritual gifts for ministry – 1 Corinthians 12:4-11.

•  The Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness and intercedes for us in prayer – Romans 8:26-27.

•  The Spirit bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, giving us an assurance of our salvation – Romans 8:16.

•  The Holy Spirit seals believers for the day of redemption – Ephesians 1:13-14.

•  The Holy Spirit comforts believers in times of need – Acts 9:31.

•  The Holy Spirit convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment – John 16:8.

•  The Holy Spirit fills believers for service by empowering them to speak the word of God with boldness – Acts 4:31.

•  The Holy Spirit reveals the deep things of God to believers – 1 Corinthians 2:10.

And the list goes on. Notice, these are not things the Father or the Son does in us, but the Spirit. And it is a shame that we know so little of the Spirit compared to what we know about...]]>God is Three and Three in One

When we decide to fully yield our lives to the Lord, one essential step is surrendering control of everything to the Holy Spirit, who is probably the most overlooked member of the Trinity. And this is because the doctrine of the Trinity, or trying to explain the triune nature of God, is one of the most confusing teachings in Scripture. After all, we are finite beings who think in finite, logical, cause-and-effect, terms. Yet God is infinite, off the scales, and His nature is beyond what we can explain or logically process in our finite minds.

But let’s try. The doctrine of the Trinity is defined as God eternally exists as three persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and each person is fully God, and there is one God.¹

Or, to make it easier to digest:

1. God is three persons (Father, Son, and Spirit).

2. Each person is fully God.

3. There is one God.

But, even though they are all equally God, they have different and unique functions, especially regarding salvation and sanctification. For example, Scripture reveals God the Father is right now seated on His throne in heaven. Jesus is currently at His right hand interceding for us (Rom. 8:34, Heb. 7:25). And where is the Holy Spirit? He is the one who now lives in us and empowers us with His gifts, guidance, and transforming power. The Spirit is not a force that emanates from the Father to do His will, like in Star Wars, but is God Himself— co-equal, co-eternal, of the same essence as the Father and the Son. Yet, even though the Spirit is as much God as Jesus and the Father, sadly, we must admit He is the one Person we spend the least amount of time with and the one we know the least about.

If you look at just a few things the Holy Spirit has been tasked with, you will quickly notice these have to do with securing our salvation and enhancing our sanctification. It seems, of the three Persons in the Godhead, it is the Spirit who works the closest with us, and yet He is the one we tend to keep at arm’s length, distant and aloof.

The Vital Roles of the Spirit

Here are some key roles the Holy Spirit plays in our lives while residing in us:

•  The Holy Spirit helps us understand God’s word and apply it to our lives – John 14:26.

•  The Spirit guides us into truth and helps us discern right from wrong – John 16:13.

•  The Holy Spirit produces spiritual fruit in our lives like love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control – Galatians 5:22-23.

•  The Spirit empowers and equips us with spiritual gifts for ministry – 1 Corinthians 12:4-11.

•  The Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness and intercedes for us in prayer – Romans 8:26-27.

•  The Spirit bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, giving us an assurance of our salvation – Romans 8:16.

•  The Holy Spirit seals believers for the day of redemption – Ephesians 1:13-14.

•  The Holy Spirit comforts believers in times of need – Acts 9:31.

•  The Holy Spirit convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment – John 16:8.

•  The Holy Spirit fills believers for service by empowering them to speak the word of God with boldness – Acts 4:31.

•  The Holy Spirit reveals the deep things of God to believers – 1 Corinthians 2:10.

And the list goes on. Notice, these are not things the Father or the Son does in us, but the Spirit. And it is a shame that we know so little of the Spirit compared to what we know about the Father and the Son.

But all that can change today.

15 Ways to Deepen Your Relationship With the Holy Spirit

Deep intimacy with the Holy Spirit comes through continually yielding control of our lives to Him and responding to His work within us. The more we surrender to Him, the more we learn to recognize His leadings, promptings, and His voice. And the more we obey Him, the more we acknowledge our dependence on Him, and the closer He becomes to us. Like with any relationship, it grows with time. The more time you spend with the Holy Spirit, the more you will get to know Him as much, if not better, than you do the Father and the Son. It is really that simple, but it takes a commitment on your part to make it happen.

So let me share 15 ways to help build a closer relationship with the Spirit.

1.  Begin with a simple conversation. Start by speaking to the Spirit as you would a friend. Tell Him what is on your heart, and confess to Him if this process of praying to Him seems strange. Remember, He is God, and He already knows. Nothing you say will surprise Him.

2.  Develop a habit of thanking Him for His works and gifts in your life. Recognize the Spirit’s activity in your life, such as bringing you comfort, wisdom, power, discernment, etc. And when you pray, don’t make it generic by saying God or Lord. Thank the Spirit specifically, by name, for what He has done for you, and remember that He alone brings transformation in your life.

3.  Ask Him to reveal more of Himself to you. Pray for greater knowledge, awareness, openness, and intimacy with the Spirit. Ask Him to become as close to you as Jesus and the Father. And if you ask, He will respond.

4.  Rely on His guidance every moment and show Him how dependent you are on Him. Seek the Spirit’s direction in all things, big and small, and thank Him specifically for the guidance He brings (see #2).

5.  Share some personal testimonies of His activity in your life and your awareness of Him. Tell others how the Spirit has guided, helped, or empowered you. And be specific, if it was the Spirit who empowered you, then give thanks to the Spirit.

6.  Meditate on His name and attributes in Scripture, such as Counselor, Comforter, or Spirit of Truth. When you reflect on verses describing the Spirit’s nature, you will soon begin to see His personality emerge from the Scriptures. And when you do, it changes everything about your relationship with Him.

7.  Thank Him for letting you bear His fruit and for producing His Godly traits in you. Express your gratitude to Him for your growth in love, joy, peace, etc., and acknowledge your dependence on Him for your continued growth. Remember, they are His fruits, the “fruit of the Spirit” (Gal. 5:22), that He graciously allows us to manifest in our lives.

8.  Ask Him to reveal any sins that need confessing or relationships that need restoring. Pray for His conviction and your courage to make things right. Be quick to repent and forgive. And eliminate anything hindering, grieving, or quenching your fellowship with the Spirit.

9.  Respond immediately when you sense His presence and guidance. Act quickly when the Spirit prompts your spirit. Don’t dismiss His gentle whispers. And be sure to act before the urgency fades, because it ultimately will.

10.  Worship the Spirit. Yes, you heard that right. Profess your praises directly to Him for who He is and what He does. After all, as God, the Holy Spirit is also worthy of your praise and devotion.

11.  Take time and be still to hear His voice. Create space in your life to listen to the Spirit’s promptings and for His voice when you read Scripture. If you don’t make the time for Him, you will miss the joy of His presence.

12.  Write down your conversations or encounters with Him and record what He tells you. Note how He is stretching and maturing your faith and conforming you into the image of Christ (Rom. 8:29). Over time, you will see how the Spirit has been moving in your life all along, even before you were aware of it, and it will grow your faith more than you can imagine.

13.  Before you make any decisions, ask Him to guide you and make His wisdom clear. Seek the Spirit’s direction in all things and wait for His green light. As Oswald Chambers said, “Never run before God gives you His direction. If you have the slightest doubt, then He is not guiding. Whenever there is doubt— wait.”²

14.  Imagine experiencing His presence when you read Scripture accounts of Him empowering believers, like in the book of Acts. Visualize the Spirit’s activity as you read His Word, imagining how you would have been impacted if you were there in the pages of Scripture. Then expect Him to move likewise in your life.

15.  If you don’t have a strong sense of His presence, tell Him about it, and ask Him to increase your revelation of Himself. Share honestly your desire for greater closeness with Him. And rest assured, He will give you what you ask. For it is His will to reveal more of Himself, and the Father and the Son, to you.

But this leaves us with one pressing question: How does my life change when I grow in my relationship with the Holy Spirit?

The Spirit’s Transforming Power

As we grow closer to the Holy Spirit, He progressively conforms us to the image of Christ, which is the goal of our sanctification (Rom. 8:29). We partner with Him in the process of sanctification as we, on our part, yield more control of our lives to Him and He, on His part, bears His fruit in us, renews our minds, produces Christlike virtues, and releases His gifts through us for others. He gives us a new hunger for His Word, convicts us of sinful patterns, comforts us in sorrow, intercedes on our behalf beyond our understanding, seals our salvation, and guarantees our inheritance in Christ by His continual presence in us (Eph. 1:13-14).

What an amazing gift to have the very presence of God dwelling in us in the Person of the Holy Spirit! (1 Cor. 6:19). As we yield more of ourselves to His control, He changes us from within and partners with us in the lifelong process of being reshaped into the image of Jesus Christ.

Remember, the Christian life was never meant to be lived in our own power. With the Holy Spirit within us, we have access to the same power that raised Jesus from the dead (Rom. 8:11). He wants to operate through us, transforming us into vessels that overflow with divine fruit, gifts, power, and godly character traits.

So why do we hold back from giving control of everything to Him? Why not surrender your life to the Holy Spirit today, totally, wholeheartedly, without reservation, and watch what He can do in a life fully devoted to Him?

As D.L. Moody once said, “The world has yet to see what God can do with a man fully consecrated to him. By God’s help, I aim to be that man.”³

Let’s make that same commitment today by surrendering our lives totally to the Holy Spirit. Are you ready to experience the abundant life Jesus promised?

Then what are you waiting for? Do it today!

Notes:

1. Grudem, W. A. (2004). Systematic theology: an introduction to biblical doctrine (p. 226). Inter-Varsity Press; Zondervan Pub. House.

2. Chambers, O. (1992). My Utmost for His Highest: An Updated Edition in Today’s Language (J. Reimann, Ed.; p. 4). WORDsearch.

3. This quote is widely attributed to Dwight L. Moody, a 19th-century American evangelist, although its original source is unclear.

Our Latest Posts:

63: The Fifth Step – Surrendering to God’s Sovereignty

62: The Fourth Step – Presenting Yourself as a Sacrifice

61: The Third Step – Dying to Self to Gain Him

60: The Second Step – Confession and Repentance

59: The First Step in Surrendering Your Life to Him

By nature, we are control freaks. We pray for divine healing, but only after our physician shakes his head and says, “Well, there’s nothing left to do but pray,” and our medical insurance runs out. We claim Matthew 6:33, where Jesus promises to meet all our needs, but again, only after we max out our credit cards and can’t make the minimum payments. In other words, we try to fix everything our way, in our own strength, and ask no one for advice or help. It’s only when we come up short that we pray and ask the Lord to bless our efforts (emphasis on our) or get us out of the jam we seem to have stumbled into again. This is not a life of surrender. Nor does it acknowledge the sovereignty of God. The fifth step in surrendering your life to the Lord demands trusting completely in His goodness, grace, mercy, and especially— His sovereignty. Remember, He is God (and all that entails), and we are not. And the sooner we learn this truth, the closer we are to fully surrendering, and trusting Him.

Surrendering our lives fully to God requires trusting in His sovereignty— meaning He is in complete control and His plans are always best. But what does it really mean to trust God’s sovereignty? And why is absolute submission to His supreme plan vital for fully yielding our lives to Him? Let’s explore the meaning of God’s sovereignty, some biblical examples of surrender, and the reasons why relinquishing control to His authority brings peace and purpose to our lives.

Defining God’s Sovereignty

Trusting in God’s sovereignty means believing He reigns supreme over everything, including you and your circumstances. He has divine plans and purposes far beyond our human comprehension (Isa. 55:8-9). It’s acknowledging that nothing happens without His permission, and He can, and will, use any circumstance, good or bad, to grow us in maturity and glorify Himself.

Surrendering to His sovereignty requires faith that God’s way is perfect, even when life feels random or senseless or anything but perfect. We must believe He cherishes us unconditionally and understands precisely what we need in every situation, even if what He knows we need is not what we have been praying for. We must be fully convinced that God is not only “able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think” (Eph. 3:20), but that He is also willing, as a loving Father who adores His children. And when He moves in His sovereign manner, we must know and rest in the truth that His perspective surpasses our limited human insight, and He knows best— even when we can’t see it or doubt His goodness.

Some Biblical Examples of Surrender

The Scriptures are full of examples of those who faced trials greater than ours, and trusted in God’s sovereignty. Job suffered excruciating losses— his family, fortune, reputation, and health, yet declared in worship, “The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord” (Job 1:21). Even during unimaginable grief and agony, Job trusted God’s good purposes rather than questioning His supreme authority, even when he didn’t understand what God was doing.

Abraham is another well-known example. God instructed him to do the unthinkable, to sacrifice his promised son Isaac— Abraham’s only hope and future (Gen. 22). Though undoubtedly grieved and confused, Abraham obeyed God’s command by trusting the Lord had a purpose he could not yet grasp. And God, in His sovereignty, honored Abraham’s faith by providing another sacrifice instead of Isaac and blessing him beyond measure.

Even Jesus surrendered to His Father’s sovereign will. When facing the horrific pain of crucifixion, He prayed His will would be aligned with His Father’s sovereign purpose, “Not my will, but yours,...]]>He is God, and We Are Not

By nature, we are control freaks. We pray for divine healing, but only after our physician shakes his head and says, “Well, there’s nothing left to do but pray,” and our medical insurance runs out. We claim Matthew 6:33, where Jesus promises to meet all our needs, but again, only after we max out our credit cards and can’t make the minimum payments. In other words, we try to fix everything our way, in our own strength, and ask no one for advice or help. It’s only when we come up short that we pray and ask the Lord to bless our efforts (emphasis on our) or get us out of the jam we seem to have stumbled into again. This is not a life of surrender. Nor does it acknowledge the sovereignty of God. The fifth step in surrendering your life to the Lord demands trusting completely in His goodness, grace, mercy, and especially— His sovereignty. Remember, He is God (and all that entails), and we are not. And the sooner we learn this truth, the closer we are to fully surrendering, and trusting Him.

Surrendering our lives fully to God requires trusting in His sovereignty— meaning He is in complete control and His plans are always best. But what does it really mean to trust God’s sovereignty? And why is absolute submission to His supreme plan vital for fully yielding our lives to Him? Let’s explore the meaning of God’s sovereignty, some biblical examples of surrender, and the reasons why relinquishing control to His authority brings peace and purpose to our lives.

Defining God’s Sovereignty

Trusting in God’s sovereignty means believing He reigns supreme over everything, including you and your circumstances. He has divine plans and purposes far beyond our human comprehension (Isa. 55:8-9). It’s acknowledging that nothing happens without His permission, and He can, and will, use any circumstance, good or bad, to grow us in maturity and glorify Himself.

Surrendering to His sovereignty requires faith that God’s way is perfect, even when life feels random or senseless or anything but perfect. We must believe He cherishes us unconditionally and understands precisely what we need in every situation, even if what He knows we need is not what we have been praying for. We must be fully convinced that God is not only “able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think” (Eph. 3:20), but that He is also willing, as a loving Father who adores His children. And when He moves in His sovereign manner, we must know and rest in the truth that His perspective surpasses our limited human insight, and He knows best— even when we can’t see it or doubt His goodness.

Some Biblical Examples of Surrender

The Scriptures are full of examples of those who faced trials greater than ours, and trusted in God’s sovereignty. Job suffered excruciating losses— his family, fortune, reputation, and health, yet declared in worship, “The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord” (Job 1:21). Even during unimaginable grief and agony, Job trusted God’s good purposes rather than questioning His supreme authority, even when he didn’t understand what God was doing.

Abraham is another well-known example. God instructed him to do the unthinkable, to sacrifice his promised son Isaac— Abraham’s only hope and future (Gen. 22). Though undoubtedly grieved and confused, Abraham obeyed God’s command by trusting the Lord had a purpose he could not yet grasp. And God, in His sovereignty, honored Abraham’s faith by providing another sacrifice instead of Isaac and blessing him beyond measure.

Even Jesus surrendered to His Father’s sovereign will. When facing the horrific pain of crucifixion, He prayed His will would be aligned with His Father’s sovereign purpose, “Not my will, but yours, be done” (Luke 22:42). Though understandably dreading the torture of a Roman scourge and crucifixion, Jesus submitted to His Father’s higher plan for His sacrifice that led to our redemption. And I am sure glad He did.

Why Trusting God’s Sovereignty Matters

There are several key reasons why yielding full control of our lives to God requires trusting in His perfect sovereignty:

One, it allows God to direct our paths (which is a really good thing). Tightly clutching onto control of our lives restricts how God is able to work in us and guide our steps. If He guides, but we refuse to follow, then we suffer. But surrendering to His sovereignty gives Him the freedom to lead and direct us daily according to His will, knowing we trust His plan and will do according to His desires. As Proverbs 3:5-6 promises, “(if we) Trust in the Lord with all our heart, and (if we) lean not on our own understanding; (if we) in all your ways acknowledge Him, and (then) He shall direct your paths.” And isn’t that what we truly desire, for God to direct our paths?

For example, frantically clinging tightly to our career plans or relationship goals that aren’t aligned with God’s wise direction severely limits how He can lead us down better paths. But surrendering our agendas creates space for Him to open unexpected doors we never could have imagined, like being called into ministry or marrying a supportive spouse of His choosing who complements us perfectly, far better than what we could imagine.

Two, it brings perfect peace amid chaotic uncertainty. When turmoil, trials, or suffering strike our lives, and they will, clinging to God’s supreme authority over all things provides comfort, stability, and hope. As Psalm 9:10 promises, “And those who know Your name will put their trust in You; for You, Lord, have not forsaken those who seek You.”

When life turns dark, and we lose jobs or loved ones and experience grief and pain, fixing our eyes on the certainty of God’s sovereignty reminds us that He will carry us through even the raging storms of life. We can find security, refuge, and hope in His promise never to abandon us (Heb. 13:5), as He sustains us through life’s darkest valleys. And the peace He gives during these times of turmoil is beyond human description or understanding (Phil. 4:7).

Three, it puts us in a position to receive from God. Surrendering to God’s sovereignty humbles us and reminds us of our utter dependence on Him rather than ourselves. Submitting to His supreme plan positions us to come before Him with open hands, ready to accept His purpose and direction for our lives with joy and thankfulness. As 1 Peter 5:6 encourages, “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time.”

For example, admitting our human limitations and praying sincerely, “Not my will, but Yours,” prepares our hearts to receive His amazing guidance, provision, and blessings that exceed our wildest expectations. And maintaining a teachable, humble spirit makes room for God to shape us into the image of His Son, which is one of the reasons for our redemption (Rom. 8:29).

Finally, It deepens our intimacy with Christ (which is the goal of the Higher Christian Life). As we loosen our tight grip on trying to control our lives, we create space for Jesus to fill us with His presence and power. Our connection and intimacy with Him soar to new heights as we learn to surrender every area of our lives fully to His Lordship. Our purpose in life becomes to fulfill the mandate of John the Baptist, who said, “He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30).

The more we turn away from stubborn self-reliance and give God complete authority over our lives, the more we experience His supernatural peace and joy. Our love and devotion for Christ grow exponentially as we witness Him faithfully provide for our needs, day in and day out, when we submit our motives, purposes, and desires to His greater plans. This is a picture of the life surrendered into the hands of our sovereign God.

What’s Next?

Fully trusting in God’s complete sovereignty over every aspect of our lives liberates us from trying to play God by making all the decisions and calling all the shots ourselves, which we are not very good at. Surrendering to the wonder and mystery of His higher ways permits His loving purposes to unfold and bloom in, and through, us in ways unimaginable. And living a life fully surrendered to God brings incredible freedom, peace, and purpose.

Although it’s difficult for human nature to relinquish control over anything, doing so allows the Lord to fully use us for His glory. As you reflect on this fifth of seven steps to surrender your life to Him, may your heart be compelled to abandon yourself completely to Christ. He loves you abundantly, beyond measure, and desires an intimate relationship with you. So take courage and boldly release every area of your life into His hands— your dreams, fears, relationships, doubts, failures, and future. After all, He is God, and we are but dust and ashes. And He knows what is best for His creation. So rest confidently in His infinite wisdom, love, and power at work on your behalf. Be bold and have faith to declare, “Your will be done,” as you walk in a life surrendered to Him.

And don’t wait another minute. Surrender today to the One who knows all and is all-powerful. You’ll be amazed at what happens when you do.

Our Latest Posts:

62: The Fourth Step – Presenting Yourself as a Sacrifice

61: The Third Step – Dying to Self to Gain Him

60: The Second Step – Confession and Repentance

59: The First Step in Surrendering Your Life to Him

58: Embracing a Full Understanding of Salvation

Of the seven steps to living a fully surrendered life to God, perhaps none is more vital than the fourth— offering ourselves, specifically our bodies, as a living sacrifice to Him. But this can only be accomplished after we have done the hard work of denying ourselves and dying to self, which was the point of the third step (Matt. 16:24). Death and denial must take place before we present our bodies (flesh) to Him as an act of worship and sacrifice. You will ultimately fail, horrendously, if you try to reverse the order. We must have died to ourselves first in order to present ourselves to Him as a living sacrifice. Otherwise, we’re dealing with a two-headed monster. And it ain’t pretty. Presenting ourselves as a living sacrifice means taking our body, our flesh, with all its desires and ambitions, and laying it down before God as an act of worship and submission to His Lordship. And this, as they say, is where the men are separated from the boys. It is not for the faint of heart.

To be more exact on what step four entails, Romans 12:1-2 reveals what we are to do to submit to Him and what He does for us in response to our submission. What we give is all we are— and what we receive is all He is. Pretty good exchange if you ask me. We give Him rocks, and He gives us diamonds. Not too shabby. So read the passage slowly and take note of each word and promise.

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God – Romans 12:1-2.

Let’s look at this passage a little closer.

I beseech (urge, beg) you therefore, brethren, (on what basis) by the mercies of God, that you (our responsibility) present your bodies a (what) living sacrifice, (seen by God as) holy, acceptable to God, (and why should we do this) which is your reasonable service (based on the mercies of God). And (implied, you) do not be conformed to this world, but (implied, you) be transformed by the renewing of your mind, (for what benefit) that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

The essence of the surrendered life is knowing, for certain, the perfect will of God. And this is the promise given to those who offer their bodies (flesh) to Him, unreservedly.

Why is this So Important… and Seem So Extreme?

Why is this so important? Because our flesh is the source of so much pride, sin, and selfishness. And therefore, our flesh has to die (see step three). Our natural instincts are to gratify our own wants and needs first, before anything else, including God. We are born self-centered creatures, seeking our own advancement and comfort above all else. But God calls us to live differently, to put others before ourselves and seek His kingdom first (Matt. 6:33). And this requires denying the flesh and crucifying it along with its passions and desires (Gal. 5:24). In a word, we must die to self so that we can live fully to God.

And what do we do once we have denied and died to ourselves? We offer ourselves, our bodies (flesh), the seat of our lust and sins, to the Lord as a living sacrifice and act of surrender. But this surrender is more than just a mental acknowledgment or verbal profession. It requires action. So we demonstrate surrender by taking our body and making it a “living sacrifice”— by placing it on the altar before God to say, “I am no longer my own, but Yours to command and do with what You wish.” Or, in the words of Jesus, “Not my will, but Yours, be done” (Luke...]]>First Step Three, Then Step Four

Of the seven steps to living a fully surrendered life to God, perhaps none is more vital than the fourth— offering ourselves, specifically our bodies, as a living sacrifice to Him. But this can only be accomplished after we have done the hard work of denying ourselves and dying to self, which was the point of the third step (Matt. 16:24). Death and denial must take place before we present our bodies (flesh) to Him as an act of worship and sacrifice. You will ultimately fail, horrendously, if you try to reverse the order. We must have died to ourselves first in order to present ourselves to Him as a living sacrifice. Otherwise, we’re dealing with a two-headed monster. And it ain’t pretty. Presenting ourselves as a living sacrifice means taking our body, our flesh, with all its desires and ambitions, and laying it down before God as an act of worship and submission to His Lordship. And this, as they say, is where the men are separated from the boys. It is not for the faint of heart.

To be more exact on what step four entails, Romans 12:1-2 reveals what we are to do to submit to Him and what He does for us in response to our submission. What we give is all we are— and what we receive is all He is. Pretty good exchange if you ask me. We give Him rocks, and He gives us diamonds. Not too shabby. So read the passage slowly and take note of each word and promise.

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God – Romans 12:1-2.

Let’s look at this passage a little closer.

I beseech (urge, beg) you therefore, brethren, (on what basis) by the mercies of God, that you (our responsibility) present your bodies a (what) living sacrifice, (seen by God as) holy, acceptable to God, (and why should we do this) which is your reasonable service (based on the mercies of God). And (implied, you) do not be conformed to this world, but (implied, you) be transformed by the renewing of your mind, (for what benefit) that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

The essence of the surrendered life is knowing, for certain, the perfect will of God. And this is the promise given to those who offer their bodies (flesh) to Him, unreservedly.

Why is this So Important… and Seem So Extreme?

Why is this so important? Because our flesh is the source of so much pride, sin, and selfishness. And therefore, our flesh has to die (see step three). Our natural instincts are to gratify our own wants and needs first, before anything else, including God. We are born self-centered creatures, seeking our own advancement and comfort above all else. But God calls us to live differently, to put others before ourselves and seek His kingdom first (Matt. 6:33). And this requires denying the flesh and crucifying it along with its passions and desires (Gal. 5:24). In a word, we must die to self so that we can live fully to God.

And what do we do once we have denied and died to ourselves? We offer ourselves, our bodies (flesh), the seat of our lust and sins, to the Lord as a living sacrifice and act of surrender. But this surrender is more than just a mental acknowledgment or verbal profession. It requires action. So we demonstrate surrender by taking our body and making it a “living sacrifice”— by placing it on the altar before God to say, “I am no longer my own, but Yours to command and do with what You wish.” Or, in the words of Jesus, “Not my will, but Yours, be done” (Luke 22:42).

Submit Each Member of Your Body to Him

This means consciously taking the members of your body— your eyes, ears, mouth, hands, and feet— and presenting them to God for His purposes instead of your own:

Eyes – Our eyes reveal much about what captures our attention and focus. Are we looking at things that could lead us into lust, impurity, and sinful desire? Or are we keeping our eyes fixed on the glory of God’s creation and His Word? For instance, we can actively look away from provocative images online that could awaken wrong passions. Instead, we can choose to focus our eyes on Scripture to meditate on God’s truth and see the hurting people around us who need Christ’s love. Keeping our eyes on the Lord, and His purposes, helps us live surrendered lives.

Ears – What we tune our ears to also impacts our walk with God. Are we quick to listen to edifying truth that builds us up spiritually? Or do we give our ears freely to gossip, slander, and other vain talk that tears us and others down? For example, we can get in the habit of listening to uplifting sermons or podcasts that teach Biblical truths rather than media hosts who angrily attack and slander others. What we listen to is a choice each of us makes daily. And as we submit our ears to wholesome speech and the inner voice of the Holy Spirit, we grow in living out the surrendered life in Him.

Mouth – Our mouth reveals the state of our heart, for “out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks” (Matt. 12:34). Do our words bless others and build them up in Christ? Or is our speech filled with words that drag people down? We demonstrate surrender when we let no unwholesome talk come out of our mouth, but only what is helpful and aimed at God’s purposes (Eph. 4:29). For instance, by God’s grace, we can speak words of love and encouragement to our spouse even when we feel irritable inside. We can refuse to pass along juicy rumors that tickle our ears yet tear others down. Our mouth becomes an instrument of worship when we praise God through song and prayer. So, keeping a careful watch over what comes out of our mouths is a key aspect of living out a surrendered life.

Hands – Our hands can either be used for righteous purposes or defiled by sin. It’s our choice to make. Are we using our hands primarily to serve others and care for those in need? Or are we defiling them through violence, immorality, greed, selfishness, and other wicked uses? For example, we can use our hands to rock a crying baby at church to help relieve a tired mom. Or God may call us to lay hands on the sick and pray for their healing and comfort. The selfless use of our hands reveals a surrendered life, as we lift up the weary rather than promoting ourselves.

Feet – Where we go with our feet also speaks much about our walk with God. Are we careful to avoid places and environments that could compromise our testimony or pull us into sin? Do we allow the Lord to direct our steps to unexpected places and people who need His touch? For instance, we demonstrate surrender by walking away when friends pressure us to do or say or participate in something we know is not of God. Or God may lead our feet to go visit someone lonely and forgotten rather than just sticking to our normal routine.  We can choose to avoid settings like bars and casinos where temptation thrives.  As we kneel humbly before God and follow where He leads, our feet walk out true Christlike surrender.

In addition to our body, we must also sacrifice our mind. This means bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ (2 Cor. 10:5). We must submit our intellect, opinions, reasoning, and logic to God’s truth found only in Scripture. And when we align our thinking to His ways and wisdom by having the mind of Christ (1 Cor. 2:16), we will cease rationalizing and justifying our sin and move on from spiritual lukewarmness (Rev. 3:16).

Living as a surrendered sacrifice also means sacrificing our rights— what we feel entitled to or think we deserve. We must release our rights to God. This may mean sacrificing sleep to pray for someone, or sacrificing our plans to serve a need, or sacrificing our ambitions that may conflict with God’s will. The key to surrender is selfless sacrifice— the sacrifice of ourselves to Him and those He places in our path.

Most importantly, living a surrendered life means sacrificing our will and fully submitting to God’s will in all things. Just as Jesus said, “Not my will, but Yours, be done” (Luke 22:42), we likewise must surrender our will to the Father’s purposes. It means to present ourselves as a living sacrifice to Him as an act of worship, yielding everything to Him.

The Key is Consistency

The key is consistency— doing this daily as part of your time with God. It is not a one-time event that lasts forever. Start each morning by presenting yourself as a living sacrifice, saying: “Lord, my body and mind belong to You and not myself today. Have Your way in me and lead me to walk and work for Your Kingdom this day.” This keeps us surrendered to Him, moment by moment.

When done daily and consistently, this act of surrender will have a profound impact on your life. It will lead you to freedom from sin, the power to resist temptation, the grace to endure trials, and a renewed purpose to live all out for Christ. In essence, it allows you to experience the Higher Christian Life or the abundant life Jesus promised.

So what does this look like in real life? Here are some examples:

•  A husband sacrifices his pride and humbly asks for forgiveness from his wife even when he thinks she may be overreacting.

•   A wife defers a purchase she wants to give the money to someone in need.

•   A teenager skips a party to visit an elderly neighbor who is lonely.

•   An executive passes up a promotion that would require unethical choices or extended travel away from his family.

•   A middle manager speaks up for an oppressed coworker rather than remaining silent, even if it reflects negatively on him with his superiors.

•   A parent lovingly disciplines a child rather than ignoring misbehavior.

•   A church member serves in the nursery to free up young parents, preferring others over themselves.

•   A retiree uses their time to volunteer and tutor underprivileged kids in the community.

In all things, we can pause and ask: “How can I present myself as a living sacrifice in this situation? What does God want from me right now?” Then respond in obedience and watch how lives, including your own, are transformed by your surrender.

Conclusion

Surrendering our entire self— body, mind, and will— runs countercultural in our world today. We are constantly bombarded with messages telling us life is all about gratifying our desires, fulfilling our dreams, and asserting our rights. But as followers of Jesus, we are called to a radical, revolutionary lifestyle of surrender and sacrifice.

It’s not easy to lay down our agendas and give up control to God. But when we take this step of faith and make ourselves a living sacrifice, incredible things begin to happen. We find freedom from sin’s grip. Anxiety loosens its hold as we trust the One who holds our future. The purpose in our life is renewed as we align it with eternal Kingdom priorities rather than running after temporary earthly goals.

And most of all, immense joy comes from following a God who is good, loving, and infinitely wise. Surrender unlocks meaning, blessing, and spiritual power beyond what we could imagine. The Christian life ceases to be dreary and dutiful when we experience the abundant new life Christ provides to those fully devoted to Him. In other words, our spiritual life becomes something we always hoped it would become, but just didn’t know how to make it happen.

As we continue on this journey of surrender through these seven life-changing steps, may the promise of God’s faithfulness give us the courage to lay ourselves upon His altar each day. The sacrifice costs us much, but what awaits on the other side is so much greater. By His mercies, let us offer ourselves fully to God and have our lives transformed by Him.

So what are you waiting for? Offer yourselves to Him today.

Our Latest Posts:

61: The Third Step – Dying to Self to Gain Him

60: The Second Step – Confession and Repentance

59: The First Step in Surrendering Your Life to Him

58: Embracing a Full Understanding of Salvation

57: Experience Freedom and Power in Your Christian Life

Surrendering your life fully to the Lordship of Jesus Christ is no small or simple matter. But I’m sure you are painfully aware of that by now. It requires making the conscious choice each day to deny our natural desires and humbly submit to His leadership and control. And that’s where it begins to chafe. We love the Lord Jesus— but we probably love the “Jesus” part more than we love the “Lord” part. But as Jesus commanded, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself (ouch), and take up his cross daily (double ouch), and follow Me” (Matt. 16:24). He sets the requirements for discipleship, not us. And as with just about everything in the Christian life, it’s all or nothing— life or death, hot or cold, light or darkness, narrow gate or wide road, walk by the Spirit or the flesh, good fruit or bad fruit, you get the idea. He says to follow Him, we must first deny ourselves and then die to ourselves. This is what baptism symbolizes. Dying to self, being buried with Christ, and then being raised into the new life in Him. Ok, we got that. But what does it really look like in practical terms to “die to self” daily?

Dying to self goes much deeper than just giving up a few activities we enjoy or taking on extra chores around the house. It requires renouncing the deep-seated notion that our lives still belong to us and embracing the Biblical reality that we now belong entirely to Christ (Gal. 2:20). When He died on the cross for our sins, He purchased us with His blood (1 Cor. 6:19-20). And purchase speaks of ownership— which means our lives are no longer our own. Dying to self means joyfully relinquishing all rights we think we have to our lives to the One who sacrificed everything to save us. It means enthroning Him as the rightful Lord and Owner over every area of our lives.

What Does Denying and Dying to Self Look Like

Concretely, this dying to self plays out through both the small and large choices we make each and every day. It may mean choosing to leave your lucrative career that provides comfort and prestige to pursue full-time ministry at a fraction of your former salary. Or regularly apologizing to your spouse in humility when conflict arises, even when you don’t think you were in the wrong, in order to restore peace and unity in the relationship by putting your spouse first.

Dying to self often requires passing on purchasing something nice we can afford and believe we deserve in order to generously meet an urgent need in someone else’s life. It could mean taking time away from a beloved hobby or habit that is absorbing too much of our time and attention at the expense of God’s priorities or sacrificing the time we spend with our children. Each new situation presents an opportunity to once again surrender our will and way to Christ’s desires and plans for us. We simply must be open and willing to put Him first, and everything about us less than first.

To walk in a life of continual self-denial and dying to self, we must abandon the notion that we know what’s best for our lives, almost on a daily basis, and embrace the fact that God’s purposes and priorities are better and higher than ours (Isa. 55:8-9). It requires admitting we don’t have all the answers and desperately need the guidance of the Holy Spirit each step of the way. As Paul said, “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me” (Gal. 2:20). The old rebellious, stubborn, selfish nature must die so that the resurrected life of Christ can reign fully in us, transforming us into His image (Rom.8:29).

Of course, practically living out this surrendered, crucified life will look different for each of us. It may mean humbly serving others in lowly ways...]]>“Lord” Jesus Christ also means “Owner” Jesus Christ

Surrendering your life fully to the Lordship of Jesus Christ is no small or simple matter. But I’m sure you are painfully aware of that by now. It requires making the conscious choice each day to deny our natural desires and humbly submit to His leadership and control. And that’s where it begins to chafe. We love the Lord Jesus— but we probably love the “Jesus” part more than we love the “Lord” part. But as Jesus commanded, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself (ouch), and take up his cross daily (double ouch), and follow Me” (Matt. 16:24). He sets the requirements for discipleship, not us. And as with just about everything in the Christian life, it’s all or nothing— life or death, hot or cold, light or darkness, narrow gate or wide road, walk by the Spirit or the flesh, good fruit or bad fruit, you get the idea. He says to follow Him, we must first deny ourselves and then die to ourselves. This is what baptism symbolizes. Dying to self, being buried with Christ, and then being raised into the new life in Him. Ok, we got that. But what does it really look like in practical terms to “die to self” daily?

Dying to self goes much deeper than just giving up a few activities we enjoy or taking on extra chores around the house. It requires renouncing the deep-seated notion that our lives still belong to us and embracing the Biblical reality that we now belong entirely to Christ (Gal. 2:20). When He died on the cross for our sins, He purchased us with His blood (1 Cor. 6:19-20). And purchase speaks of ownership— which means our lives are no longer our own. Dying to self means joyfully relinquishing all rights we think we have to our lives to the One who sacrificed everything to save us. It means enthroning Him as the rightful Lord and Owner over every area of our lives.

What Does Denying and Dying to Self Look Like

Concretely, this dying to self plays out through both the small and large choices we make each and every day. It may mean choosing to leave your lucrative career that provides comfort and prestige to pursue full-time ministry at a fraction of your former salary. Or regularly apologizing to your spouse in humility when conflict arises, even when you don’t think you were in the wrong, in order to restore peace and unity in the relationship by putting your spouse first.

Dying to self often requires passing on purchasing something nice we can afford and believe we deserve in order to generously meet an urgent need in someone else’s life. It could mean taking time away from a beloved hobby or habit that is absorbing too much of our time and attention at the expense of God’s priorities or sacrificing the time we spend with our children. Each new situation presents an opportunity to once again surrender our will and way to Christ’s desires and plans for us. We simply must be open and willing to put Him first, and everything about us less than first.

To walk in a life of continual self-denial and dying to self, we must abandon the notion that we know what’s best for our lives, almost on a daily basis, and embrace the fact that God’s purposes and priorities are better and higher than ours (Isa. 55:8-9). It requires admitting we don’t have all the answers and desperately need the guidance of the Holy Spirit each step of the way. As Paul said, “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me” (Gal. 2:20). The old rebellious, stubborn, selfish nature must die so that the resurrected life of Christ can reign fully in us, transforming us into His image (Rom.8:29).

Of course, practically living out this surrendered, crucified life will look different for each of us. It may mean humbly serving others in lowly ways when we’d rather kick back and relax or be the one being served. It may mean we have to bite our tongue instead of firing off a heated text message or email we can never take back. We may have to learn how to receive life-giving correction from others without reacting in a defensive manner or making excuses. Or, saying “yes” to something that stretches our faith when we would rather stay home where it is safe, warm, and secure. Each new situation requires a fresh dying to our fleshly reactions so that we can respond as Jesus would. This is the substance of self-denial and dying to self. And these are the two prerequisites for following Jesus (Matt. 16:24). Read them yourselves.

While often difficult and uncomfortable, dying to self daily is the only pathway to experiencing the full and abundant life Jesus promises (John 10:10). It is the key to the Higher Christian life we have talked about. As we surrender control of our lives to Christ’s capable hands, we are set free from the grip of sin, filled with supernatural joy, and experience deep intimacy with Jesus as maybe never before. Remember, Jesus said it was to those who willingly lose their lives for His sake that will find true life (Matt. 16:25). And isn’t true life what we are all longing for?

Dying to Self is the Only Way to Live the Abundant Life He Promised

Dying to our natural selves is admittedly not easy or painless. In fact, it may be the hardest thing you have ever tried to do. But the rewards are eternal and far outweigh any temporary suffering it involves. As we yield ourselves fully to Christ each day, we gain an imperishable inheritance in heaven (1 Peter 1:3-4) that cannot be diminished. The trials that come from daily surrender to Jesus produce everlasting glory that is beyond comparison (2 Cor. 4:17).

So let’s take up our cross today and every day, whatever that looks like for us in our specific circumstances, and push forward towards the life of total surrender. Say “no” to self-will and “yes” to the new resurrection life Christ purchased for us. Because walking the crucified life with Jesus is the only path to experiencing lasting joy, freedom, and purpose. And it is a vital step in surrendering your life totally to the Lord.

So begin that process today. Say “no” to you and “yes” to Him.

Our Latest Posts:

60: The Second Step – Confession and Repentance

59: The First Step in Surrendering Your Life to Him

58: Embracing a Full Understanding of Salvation

57: Experience Freedom and Power in Your Christian Life

56: Letting Go and Letting God – Steps for Total Surrender

Surrendering your life to God is a profound journey that transforms your relationship with Him into something many only dreamed about but few ever expected to happen. In fact, full surrender to Him is what He requires (that is why He is called Lord and Master), but is often conveniently glossed over in our churches today. We feel more comfortable with terms like servant or disciple or follower— rather than anything that resembles submission or smacks of surrender to anyone, including the Lord. We want Jesus as a friend with a Get-Out-of-Hell-Free-Card who politely laughs and turns His head at our sin. But the last thing we want is the King of kings and Lord of lords who will stand in judgment of our lives. Well, guess what? That’s not our choice. We get Jesus as who He is and not who we want to make Him into.

Understanding this, let’s be honest about the steps to surrendering to Him (assuming that’s something you want to do). Your journey into Christ-likeness cannot progress unless you continually deal with anything and everything in your life that separates you from Him. And you know what that is. It’s no secret, never has been. It’s always been the same thing since Adam and Eve fell prey to it in the garden and made the same mistake we make on a daily basis. And it’s what works against your complete submission to Him and the joy of the abundant life He promises (John 10:10). The Achilles heel in our spiritual life is pride and the sin it inevitably brings.

The Second Step: Confession and Repentance

Confession and repentance of sin are essential for maintaining fellowship with God and walking in obedience to His will. Remember, they were the essential ingredient in your salvation. And as such, they are vital for maintaining a close relationship with the Lord. As 1 John 1:9 promises, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” God always stands ready to forgive. But our sin must be acknowledged and confessed, and repentance means more than simply feeling sorry you got busted for doing something you knew was wrong.

What does confession and repentance look like day to day? First, it requires taking as much time as needed to ask the Holy Spirit to search your heart and reveal any areas of disobedience, unconfessed sin, wrong attitudes, or anything that might hinder your relationship with God (Ps. 139:23-24). Don’t rush through this thinking there is something in your day more important. There isn’t. Be willing to listen openly and honestly, as His conviction is a sign of His love and desire for you to become like His Son. So don’t rush this process, and allow ample time for the Spirit to speak to you.

Next, prayerfully examine your thoughts, attitudes, behaviors, lifestyle choices, relationships, and pretty much everything else in your life. Consider whether you harbor bitterness toward someone, look at pornography when no one is watching, engage in dishonest business practices, lie, gossip, steal, elevate yourself by tearing down others, or neglect time in God’s Word. Call sin exactly what it is without rationalizing or downplaying it. God doesn’t care that others are doing what you are doing. Two wrongs don’t make a right. As 1 John 1:8 warns, “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” Don’t let that happen to you. Make a habit of self-examination to keep your heart right before God and then respond immediately when His conviction comes.

And when the Holy Spirit reveals sin, make a thorough and specific confession directly to God. Pour out your heart like the tax collector who cried out, “God, be merciful to me a sinner!” Remember, Jesus...]]>Surrender Your Life? The Choice is Yours

Surrendering your life to God is a profound journey that transforms your relationship with Him into something many only dreamed about but few ever expected to happen. In fact, full surrender to Him is what He requires (that is why He is called Lord and Master), but is often conveniently glossed over in our churches today. We feel more comfortable with terms like servant or disciple or follower— rather than anything that resembles submission or smacks of surrender to anyone, including the Lord. We want Jesus as a friend with a Get-Out-of-Hell-Free-Card who politely laughs and turns His head at our sin. But the last thing we want is the King of kings and Lord of lords who will stand in judgment of our lives. Well, guess what? That’s not our choice. We get Jesus as who He is and not who we want to make Him into.

Understanding this, let’s be honest about the steps to surrendering to Him (assuming that’s something you want to do). Your journey into Christ-likeness cannot progress unless you continually deal with anything and everything in your life that separates you from Him. And you know what that is. It’s no secret, never has been. It’s always been the same thing since Adam and Eve fell prey to it in the garden and made the same mistake we make on a daily basis. And it’s what works against your complete submission to Him and the joy of the abundant life He promises (John 10:10). The Achilles heel in our spiritual life is pride and the sin it inevitably brings.

The Second Step: Confession and Repentance

Confession and repentance of sin are essential for maintaining fellowship with God and walking in obedience to His will. Remember, they were the essential ingredient in your salvation. And as such, they are vital for maintaining a close relationship with the Lord. As 1 John 1:9 promises, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” God always stands ready to forgive. But our sin must be acknowledged and confessed, and repentance means more than simply feeling sorry you got busted for doing something you knew was wrong.

What does confession and repentance look like day to day? First, it requires taking as much time as needed to ask the Holy Spirit to search your heart and reveal any areas of disobedience, unconfessed sin, wrong attitudes, or anything that might hinder your relationship with God (Ps. 139:23-24). Don’t rush through this thinking there is something in your day more important. There isn’t. Be willing to listen openly and honestly, as His conviction is a sign of His love and desire for you to become like His Son. So don’t rush this process, and allow ample time for the Spirit to speak to you.

Next, prayerfully examine your thoughts, attitudes, behaviors, lifestyle choices, relationships, and pretty much everything else in your life. Consider whether you harbor bitterness toward someone, look at pornography when no one is watching, engage in dishonest business practices, lie, gossip, steal, elevate yourself by tearing down others, or neglect time in God’s Word. Call sin exactly what it is without rationalizing or downplaying it. God doesn’t care that others are doing what you are doing. Two wrongs don’t make a right. As 1 John 1:8 warns, “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” Don’t let that happen to you. Make a habit of self-examination to keep your heart right before God and then respond immediately when His conviction comes.

And when the Holy Spirit reveals sin, make a thorough and specific confession directly to God. Pour out your heart like the tax collector who cried out, “God, be merciful to me a sinner!” Remember, Jesus said he went home justified because of his humble confession and repentance (Luke 18:13-14). Be brutally honest about your struggles with bitterness, immorality, greed, pride, neglect of God’s Word, apathy, laziness, or anything that is displeasing to Him and separates you from His intimacy. Hold nothing back but confess every detail openly. And go through this process as soon as you sense your relationship with God waning.

Repentance means not merely being sorry for what you have done (sin of commission) or haven’t done (sin of omission), but deliberately changing directions and turning away from your sin. You must renounce sin, reject sin, abandon sin, and hate sin as much as God does. These are the first signs of true repentance. Your repentance will then demonstrate itself through specific life changes, such as eliminating influences or relationships that tempt you toward wrong behavior, no matter how painful that process may be. The Spirit may urge you to make restitution when your sinful actions have harmed others. You will find yourself compelled to wholeheartedly turn away from old sinful patterns and habits and walk in obedience to God’s ways. In essence, you will fulfill the admonition of John the Baptist to those who came to him for baptism, “Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance” (Luke 3:8). This is what true repentance looks like.

After Confession and Repentance, Then What?

Going forward, keep short accounts with God. Real short. Don’t allow unconfessed sins to accumulate for even a moment. When the Holy Spirit convicts you of sin and a rift in your relationship with the Lord and your surrender to Him, deal with them immediately, no matter how small or insignificant you may feel they are. Sin is sin. So don’t try to downplay or rationalize it. God treasures honesty and values even small acts of repentance that keep your heart soft and surrendered. Remember, the best way to keep short accounts with God is through daily prayer, the study of His Word, and fellowship with other believers who can keep you accountable. And even though you may have heard about prayer and Bible study for years, don’t let your familiarity with these disciplines breed contempt for them in your heart. They are still true and have proven to be the best way to grow closer to Him and experience His goodness, whether you are tired of hearing about them or not.

The Christian life is a lifelong journey of confronting sin, confessing it openly, repenting completely, and experiencing God’s cleansing forgiveness. And walking in the light requires being brutally honest about the darkness still within us coupled with a willingness to expose it to God’s convicting light (1 John 1:7). As the Puritan pastor John Owen observed, “Be killing sin or it will be killing you.”¹ So maintaining a clean heart and right spirit is crucial for surrendering fully to Christ and experiencing the blessings of an intimate walk with Him. And it is only by complete surrender that we can hope to experience the abundant life He promised (John 10:10).

The Road Ahead

In conclusion, confession and repentance are not a one-time event but rather a lifestyle of honesty, transparency, and dependency on God’s grace. And it takes courage and humility to acknowledge our sins and shortcomings continually. But as we are quick to confess and turn from sin, we clear the way for a deeper intimacy with Him and greater spiritual power to fulfill His purpose for our lives— which is the whole point, wouldn’t you say?

A surrendered life requires laying down pride, sin, and self at the foot of the cross. And to remain surrendered requires the same, only more often. But the joy of walking in unhindered fellowship with Christ is worth the cost, no doubt about it.

So what are you waiting for? Let’s get started today.

Notes:1.  John Owen, The Mortification of Sin (Edinburgh: Banner of Truth Trust, 2004), p. 9.

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When you surrender your life to the Lord, you will notice it is not a one-time event. You don’t just say a prayer or make a vow and it’s done. It is a process, usually full of ups and downs, that may take some time to master. But even as a process, it must have a starting point. And that point recognizes who God is and your responsibility to yield to His lordship. Everything follows this first step.

The seven steps of surrender are as follows (in Cliff Notes form):

1. Recognize and embrace a truth greater than yourself (which is God and His lordship)

2. Confess and repent of any known sin in your life

3. Learn to die to yourself daily (or more often)

4. Present yourself daily as a sacrifice to God

5. Trust completely in God’s sovereignty

6. Rely on the Holy Spirit for daily guidance

7. Keep your eyes fixed on Jesus

Today, we will look at the first step— the step where every springs from. And we will cover the subsequent steps in future broadcasts.

The First Step in Surrendering Your Life to the Lord

The journey of surrendering your life to God begins with one essential first step: recognizing God’s complete lordship over everything— especially you.

What does it mean to recognize God’s lordship? It means understanding that He rightfully deserves your full allegiance, devotion, and obedience. As Revelation 4:11 declares, “You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created.”

Since God created you and gave you life and breath itself, He deserves first place in every area of your existence. Recognizing Him as Lord means enthroning Him as the supreme ruler and focus of your life. It requires willingly choosing to dethrone anything else that has occupied that rightful place— relationships, career, wealth, success, self-interests, you name it. And the operative word is willingly. You must be willing. God will not force His lordship on you.

Recognizing His lordship calls for an honest evaluation of who or what is currently on the throne of your heart and decisions. What do your priorities, schedule, entertainment choices, and bank statement reveal you worship? What consumes your thoughts and passions? Ask the Holy Spirit to bring conviction about any idolatry that may be hidden in your life. As J.C. Ryle wrote, “Where Christ rules in the heart, the whole course of a man’s life will bear witness to the fact.”¹ If God rules your heart, your lifestyle will clearly reflect it.  So, how is your lifestyle measuring up to your confession of Christ right now?

Remember, this first step of surrender will lead you to reorder every area of your life— your plans, job, time, possessions, habits— and center them around God’s priorities rather than self-centered pursuits. It will mean letting go of anything He calls you to release or change. And it will mean embracing a purpose defined by His eternal impact rather than your temporary comfort. But I think you already know that, don’t you?

Ultimately, recognizing God’s lordship requires pursuing intimacy with Him like you may have never done before through heart-felt prayer, consistent reading of His Word, and obedience to Him as your highest aim, and not just an add-on for a temporary, spiritual high. He must become your supreme treasure and consuming passion.

Surrendering requires submitting your life completely to His authority, which is something you give up to Him. But you receive so much more. As J.I. Packer reminds us, “He does not exploit our submission, but gives us glory, joy, peace, and fullness of life” only found in Him.² Our...]]>Surrender is a Lifestyle, Not a One-Time Event

When you surrender your life to the Lord, you will notice it is not a one-time event. You don’t just say a prayer or make a vow and it’s done. It is a process, usually full of ups and downs, that may take some time to master. But even as a process, it must have a starting point. And that point recognizes who God is and your responsibility to yield to His lordship. Everything follows this first step.

The seven steps of surrender are as follows (in Cliff Notes form):

1. Recognize and embrace a truth greater than yourself (which is God and His lordship)

2. Confess and repent of any known sin in your life

3. Learn to die to yourself daily (or more often)

4. Present yourself daily as a sacrifice to God

5. Trust completely in God’s sovereignty

6. Rely on the Holy Spirit for daily guidance

7. Keep your eyes fixed on Jesus

Today, we will look at the first step— the step where every springs from. And we will cover the subsequent steps in future broadcasts.

The First Step in Surrendering Your Life to the Lord

The journey of surrendering your life to God begins with one essential first step: recognizing God’s complete lordship over everything— especially you.

What does it mean to recognize God’s lordship? It means understanding that He rightfully deserves your full allegiance, devotion, and obedience. As Revelation 4:11 declares, “You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created.”

Since God created you and gave you life and breath itself, He deserves first place in every area of your existence. Recognizing Him as Lord means enthroning Him as the supreme ruler and focus of your life. It requires willingly choosing to dethrone anything else that has occupied that rightful place— relationships, career, wealth, success, self-interests, you name it. And the operative word is willingly. You must be willing. God will not force His lordship on you.

Recognizing His lordship calls for an honest evaluation of who or what is currently on the throne of your heart and decisions. What do your priorities, schedule, entertainment choices, and bank statement reveal you worship? What consumes your thoughts and passions? Ask the Holy Spirit to bring conviction about any idolatry that may be hidden in your life. As J.C. Ryle wrote, “Where Christ rules in the heart, the whole course of a man’s life will bear witness to the fact.”¹ If God rules your heart, your lifestyle will clearly reflect it.  So, how is your lifestyle measuring up to your confession of Christ right now?

Remember, this first step of surrender will lead you to reorder every area of your life— your plans, job, time, possessions, habits— and center them around God’s priorities rather than self-centered pursuits. It will mean letting go of anything He calls you to release or change. And it will mean embracing a purpose defined by His eternal impact rather than your temporary comfort. But I think you already know that, don’t you?

Ultimately, recognizing God’s lordship requires pursuing intimacy with Him like you may have never done before through heart-felt prayer, consistent reading of His Word, and obedience to Him as your highest aim, and not just an add-on for a temporary, spiritual high. He must become your supreme treasure and consuming passion.

Surrendering requires submitting your life completely to His authority, which is something you give up to Him. But you receive so much more. As J.I. Packer reminds us, “He does not exploit our submission, but gives us glory, joy, peace, and fullness of life” only found in Him.² Our sacrifice brings the blessing of His intimate presence, which nothing on earth compares. Nothing.

Surrendering our lives to God begins with the crucial first step of recognizing His complete lordship and willingly choosing to make Him preeminent in every area. Though sacrifice is involved, the blessing far outweighs the cost. For when we enthrone Christ as Supreme Ruler in our hearts, we gain incomparable treasure, namely, the intimate presence of the King of kings. And as A.W. Tozer said, “Come, thou long expected Jesus, born to set thy people free…to give them victory o’er the grave and grant them life eternally.”³ This is the glorious exchange of surrender.

And it is something we can experience this side of heaven, right now, when we surrender our lives to Him. So take the first step today.

Next, we will look at step two, the confession and repentance of sins that bring true freedom.

Notes:1. J.C. Ryle, Holiness (London: James Clarke & Co., 1902), 79.

2. J.I. Packer, Knowing God (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1993), 207.

3. A.W. Tozer, The Pursuit of God (Camp Hill, PA: Christian Publications, 1993), 15.

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Dark times can profoundly shake our faith and assurance in God. Ongoing trials, deep hurts, and spiritual warfare can make us lose sight of the incredible hope we have in Jesus Christ. But despite the darkness, Christ’s resurrection guarantees our justification, sanctification, and future glorification. This living hope is ours both now and for all eternity.

Justification – God’s Complete Forgiveness

What does justification mean? Simply put, it is God’s complete forgiveness through Jesus Christ. When we put our faith in Christ, trusting in His sacrifice for us, God sees us as righteous in His eyes – as if we had never sinned at all. Romans 5:1 says, “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Through Christ’s redeeming blood, all our sins are forgiven – past, present, and future.

This justification before God happens instantly when we are born again into God’s family. We go from being condemned sinners to forgiven saints in an instant, even before we have time to change our outward behavior. Our right standing before our holy God depends entirely on Jesus’ atoning death for us, not on our own effort. Our only role is to have genuine repentant faith, trusting that Christ’s sacrifice on the cross secured our redemption once and for all.

Sanctification – God’s Power to Live Right

But God does not just justify us and then leave us alone to struggle against sin. No, when He forgives us, He also sends the Holy Spirit to begin the process of sanctifying us – or transforming us into Christ’s image and freeing us from sin’s power in our lives. Scripture says, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). Justification (forgive us our sins) and sanctification (cleanse us from all unrighteousness) work hand-in-hand.

Though temptations still come, we as believers are no longer helpless slaves to sin. After all, “Sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace” (Romans 6:14). Christ’s death and resurrection have broken sin’s power and its penalty. We now have the Holy Spirit living within us, empowering us to say no to sin and walk in ever greater freedom from its grip.

God’s Power to Keep Us

We all know this sanctification process has its ups and downs. We make progress but also stumble. Yet even when we do, God still keeps us securely in His hands. Jude says, “He is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy” (Jude 1:24).

What comfort we have in knowing that our eternal salvation does not depend on our strength to hold on to God, but His ability to hold on to us. And just as Christ’s tomb could not contain Him, nothing can snatch us out of the Father’s mighty hand (John 10:28-29). The same almighty power that raised Jesus from the dead now works in us to transform our lives to look like His (Eph. 1:19-20). It doesn’t get much better than this.

Future Glorification – Perfected with Christ

But this living hope in Christ also includes an amazing future promise – that one day we will be completely free from sin’s presence and will be perfected with Him in glory. We are promised to “see Him as He is.” (1 John 3:2). Although we often stumble in this life, the day is coming when we will be fully glorified with Christ, being made completely righteous in Him.

Stand Firm in the Hope of Christ

Dark times will come that shake our faith. That is a guarantee. But Christ stands unmovable and unchanging as our “living hope” through all the storms in...]]>The Living Hope We Have in Christ

Dark times can profoundly shake our faith and assurance in God. Ongoing trials, deep hurts, and spiritual warfare can make us lose sight of the incredible hope we have in Jesus Christ. But despite the darkness, Christ’s resurrection guarantees our justification, sanctification, and future glorification. This living hope is ours both now and for all eternity.

Justification – God’s Complete Forgiveness

What does justification mean? Simply put, it is God’s complete forgiveness through Jesus Christ. When we put our faith in Christ, trusting in His sacrifice for us, God sees us as righteous in His eyes – as if we had never sinned at all. Romans 5:1 says, “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Through Christ’s redeeming blood, all our sins are forgiven – past, present, and future.

This justification before God happens instantly when we are born again into God’s family. We go from being condemned sinners to forgiven saints in an instant, even before we have time to change our outward behavior. Our right standing before our holy God depends entirely on Jesus’ atoning death for us, not on our own effort. Our only role is to have genuine repentant faith, trusting that Christ’s sacrifice on the cross secured our redemption once and for all.

Sanctification – God’s Power to Live Right

But God does not just justify us and then leave us alone to struggle against sin. No, when He forgives us, He also sends the Holy Spirit to begin the process of sanctifying us – or transforming us into Christ’s image and freeing us from sin’s power in our lives. Scripture says, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). Justification (forgive us our sins) and sanctification (cleanse us from all unrighteousness) work hand-in-hand.

Though temptations still come, we as believers are no longer helpless slaves to sin. After all, “Sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace” (Romans 6:14). Christ’s death and resurrection have broken sin’s power and its penalty. We now have the Holy Spirit living within us, empowering us to say no to sin and walk in ever greater freedom from its grip.

God’s Power to Keep Us

We all know this sanctification process has its ups and downs. We make progress but also stumble. Yet even when we do, God still keeps us securely in His hands. Jude says, “He is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy” (Jude 1:24).

What comfort we have in knowing that our eternal salvation does not depend on our strength to hold on to God, but His ability to hold on to us. And just as Christ’s tomb could not contain Him, nothing can snatch us out of the Father’s mighty hand (John 10:28-29). The same almighty power that raised Jesus from the dead now works in us to transform our lives to look like His (Eph. 1:19-20). It doesn’t get much better than this.

Future Glorification – Perfected with Christ

But this living hope in Christ also includes an amazing future promise – that one day we will be completely free from sin’s presence and will be perfected with Him in glory. We are promised to “see Him as He is.” (1 John 3:2). Although we often stumble in this life, the day is coming when we will be fully glorified with Christ, being made completely righteous in Him.

Stand Firm in the Hope of Christ

Dark times will come that shake our faith. That is a guarantee. But Christ stands unmovable and unchanging as our “living hope” through all the storms in life. His resurrection powerfully guarantees the full salvation He purchased for us. So when discouragement sets in, let us remember that He who promised is faithful (Heb. 10:23), and He will never stop His sanctifying work within us until we see Him face to face.

By His atoning blood, we stand fully pardoned and justified before God. In the strength of His Spirit, we can walk in ever greater sanctification, rejecting sin’s power. And through His flawless redeeming work, we will one day be presented glorified and spotless before God with exceeding joy (Jude 1:24).

To download the slides for this message, click – HERE

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Let’s talk about something that has captivated believers for generations— the Higher Christian Life. This term refers to a life of intimate fellowship with God that goes beyond the ordinary Christian experience. Popularized by 19th-century revival and devotional preachers such as Andrew Murray, Oswald Chambers, and R.A. Torrey, and brought into the Christian mainstream by the Keswick movement, this life is characterized by holiness, surrender, and a depth of relationship with God that taps into His supernatural power in ways seen in Scripture, but seldom experienced in contemporary church.¹

In this post, I want to provide a biblical overview of the Higher Christian Life— what it looks like, how we enter into it, and then answer some common questions that often keep seeking believers from experiencing the “abundant life” Jesus promised (John 10:10), or what has been called the Higher Christian Life. My prayer is this will inspire and equip you to experience the abundant life in Christ that He intends for each of us as believers.

Defining the Higher Christian Life

Simply put, the Higher Christian Life is:

A life of holiness, consecration, and victory over sin that is available to every Christian who fully surrenders themselves to Christ’s lordship in faith. It is considered ‘higher” because it transcends the defeat and constant struggle that plagues much of Christian living and reveals a new dimension of faith-filled living in the power of the Spirit.

Some key aspects of the Higher Christian Life include:

•  Complete surrender and consecration to Christ: Relinquishing our self-will and ambitions by surrendering every area of your life— your time, relationships, work, and resources — to Christ’s complete control and lordship.

•  Death to self and sin through co-crucifixion with Christ: By reckoning or understanding that our old sinful nature was crucified with Christ, we are able to break sin’s mastery in our lives (Rom. 6:6). By faith, we count ourselves dead to sin’s power and alive to God since our old self is crucified and dead and we have new, resurrected life in Christ (Romans 6:11).

•  Filled with and empowered by the Holy Spirit: By praying for the Holy Spirit to fill us and take full control, and by depending on the Spirit’s power to overcome sin, we then produce Christlike character and are supernaturally equipped for ministry. The results: We are guided, moment-by-moment, and empowered by the Spirit as we yield to Him.

•  Victory over sin’s power: Sin’s mastery is broken because by faith, our old self is crucified with Christ, and sin has no dominion in our lives (Rom. 6:14). Though temptations remain, we have Spirit-given power to overcome anything our flesh or the enemy can throw our way.

•  Deeper intimacy and fellowship with God: We find our time in God’s Word and prayer becomes sweeter as we relate to God more deeply. We desire to know Christ more as the Spirit reveals His presence and character in ways not known to us before. And, as a result, our walk with Him is characterized by joyful obedience and not legalism.

•  Fruitfulness and power for ministry and service: Our energies go toward serving Christ wholeheartedly and caring for others, rather than living selfish, self-consumed lives. We learn to depend on Christ working through us as we trust and abide in Him.

This abundant life liberates us from defeat and brings new joy, passion, and power through our relationship with, and dependency on, Christ. It is the normal Christian life as God designed it.²

Benefits of this Surrendered Life

This...]]>The Higher Christian Life

Let’s talk about something that has captivated believers for generations— the Higher Christian Life. This term refers to a life of intimate fellowship with God that goes beyond the ordinary Christian experience. Popularized by 19th-century revival and devotional preachers such as Andrew Murray, Oswald Chambers, and R.A. Torrey, and brought into the Christian mainstream by the Keswick movement, this life is characterized by holiness, surrender, and a depth of relationship with God that taps into His supernatural power in ways seen in Scripture, but seldom experienced in contemporary church.¹

In this post, I want to provide a biblical overview of the Higher Christian Life— what it looks like, how we enter into it, and then answer some common questions that often keep seeking believers from experiencing the “abundant life” Jesus promised (John 10:10), or what has been called the Higher Christian Life. My prayer is this will inspire and equip you to experience the abundant life in Christ that He intends for each of us as believers.

Defining the Higher Christian Life

Simply put, the Higher Christian Life is:

A life of holiness, consecration, and victory over sin that is available to every Christian who fully surrenders themselves to Christ’s lordship in faith. It is considered ‘higher” because it transcends the defeat and constant struggle that plagues much of Christian living and reveals a new dimension of faith-filled living in the power of the Spirit.

Some key aspects of the Higher Christian Life include:

•  Complete surrender and consecration to Christ: Relinquishing our self-will and ambitions by surrendering every area of your life— your time, relationships, work, and resources — to Christ’s complete control and lordship.

•  Death to self and sin through co-crucifixion with Christ: By reckoning or understanding that our old sinful nature was crucified with Christ, we are able to break sin’s mastery in our lives (Rom. 6:6). By faith, we count ourselves dead to sin’s power and alive to God since our old self is crucified and dead and we have new, resurrected life in Christ (Romans 6:11).

•  Filled with and empowered by the Holy Spirit: By praying for the Holy Spirit to fill us and take full control, and by depending on the Spirit’s power to overcome sin, we then produce Christlike character and are supernaturally equipped for ministry. The results: We are guided, moment-by-moment, and empowered by the Spirit as we yield to Him.

•  Victory over sin’s power: Sin’s mastery is broken because by faith, our old self is crucified with Christ, and sin has no dominion in our lives (Rom. 6:14). Though temptations remain, we have Spirit-given power to overcome anything our flesh or the enemy can throw our way.

•  Deeper intimacy and fellowship with God: We find our time in God’s Word and prayer becomes sweeter as we relate to God more deeply. We desire to know Christ more as the Spirit reveals His presence and character in ways not known to us before. And, as a result, our walk with Him is characterized by joyful obedience and not legalism.

•  Fruitfulness and power for ministry and service: Our energies go toward serving Christ wholeheartedly and caring for others, rather than living selfish, self-consumed lives. We learn to depend on Christ working through us as we trust and abide in Him.

This abundant life liberates us from defeat and brings new joy, passion, and power through our relationship with, and dependency on, Christ. It is the normal Christian life as God designed it.²

Benefits of this Surrendered Life

This intimate walk with God impacts every area of life. As 19th-century missionary Hudson Taylor said, “I have found that there are three stages in every great work of God: first, it is impossible, then it is difficult, then it is done.” What seems impossible in our strength becomes real to us by surrendering our life to Christ and embracing His power within. It is often called full salvation, or complete surrender. Theologians call it practical sanctification.

Living the Higher Christian Life brings freedom from sinful habits and attitudes that previously felt unbreakable. Things that once caused irritation and resentment quickly lose their power. We become more loving, patient, kind, and self-controlled as a result. As Charles Finney said, it is “dying to self and coming alive to Christ.” Our marriages, families, and relationships are strengthened as we experience victory in ways previously unimaginable.

Pioneer missionary C.T. Studd said it well: “If Jesus Christ be God and died for me, then no sacrifice can be too great for me to make for him.” Serving God in our daily lives becomes natural and joyful, rather than burdensome. We overflow with worship and praise as we fall deeply in love with Jesus. And walking faithfully with Christ fills our hearts with “inexpressible and glorious joy” (1 Pet. 1:8).

When you compare this to our own experience with Christ, it is not hard to see why it is called the Higher Christian Life.

Steps for Entering In

So how can we enter practically into this life of intimate surrender to Christ? Here are some key steps:

1.  Admit your inability in your own strength through prayer – “Lord, I confess I cannot conquer sin or live the Christian life by self-effort. I surrender my weaknesses and failures to You.” Express dependency in your prayer.

2.  Make a definite, complete surrender/consecration to Christ – Give Him express lordship over every area in your life— your time, relationships, work, resources, and future. Plead with Christ, “I surrender my entire life to You to do with as You please. I no longer want to live for myself but only for You.”

3.  Claim the fullness and power of the Holy Spirit – Pray to be filled and empowered fully for God’s service and yield to His control. Pray, “Holy Spirit, I ask You to fill and empower me fully for Your service. Take control of my life.”  Then depend fully on the Spirit’s power.

4.  Reckon ourselves dead to sin, alive to God in Christ based on our co-crucifixion and resurrection with Him (Rom. 6:11). Thank God your old self has died, and your new life is hidden with Christ. Then, by faith, affirm sin’s mastery over you is now broken.

5.  Maintain daily surrender through ongoing prayer. Begin each day yielding and surrendering yourself completely to God for that day. Pray, “Lord Jesus, I surrender myself and this day to You. Have Your way in my life today.” Choose to walk in continual dependence on the Spirit.

Walking in Newness of Life

When we enter the Higher Christian Life by faith, what changes practically in our daily experience? Here are some key implications:

Sin’s mastery is broken as you count yourself dead to it daily (Rom. 6:14). Though temptations still come, sin no longer has dominion over you. By continually identifying with Christ’s death, sin’s grip is broken, and you gain new power through the Spirit to walk in obedience.

You experience inward transformation as Christ’s resurrection power works in you. Old habits and thought patterns begin to lose their hold as you are inwardly renewed. Relationships start to align more with God’s kingdom values of love and holiness rather than selfishness. Your ethics and integrity reflect more of Christ’s righteousness. Priorities shift from self-centeredness to glorifying God.

Obedience becomes joyful as you relate to God in a deeper way. Serving Christ is no longer drudgery, but delight. Legalistic striving fades, being replaced by freely flowing intimacy with Christ. Prayer becomes a lifeline rather than a duty. Digging into God’s Word fuels your spirit like never before.

You bear Spirit-empowered fruit for God as you abide in Christ (John 15:5). Instead of anxiety and fruitless striving, you experience new effectiveness and fruitfulness in life and ministry. Gifts flourish. You depend on Christ’s life in you to reach people, disciple others, and advance God’s Kingdom. Fear gives way to boldness.

This does not mean perfection. Temptations, failures, frustrations, and trials will come. But you now have resurrection power and victory available to weather the storms of life differently than before. The Spirit empowers you moment-by-moment.

In essence, the Higher Christian Life transforms daily experience by breaking sin’s power, renewing the mind, producing intimacy with Christ, and bearing new fruit through depending on the indwelling Spirit. This brings radical new freedom.

Questions and Answers

What does it mean that we are “co-crucified with Christ”?

More than just agreeing doctrinally that Christ died for us, it means our old sinful self was crucified with Him. As we identify with Christ’s death by faith, we experience inwardly a death to our old sinful habits and desires. Sin’s mastery is broken in our lives, and we are now, probably for the first time, able to live a consistent life of holiness to Him (Rom. 6:6-7).

What are the implications of being united to Christ?

The implications are profound! For starters, sin no longer defines us. We are freed from sin’s tyranny as resurrection power operates within us. We count ourselves dead to sin and alive to God daily by faith in what Christ has accomplished on our behalf (Rom. 6:11). And now, sin loses its grip on us as we live out of our new identity in Christ.

What does “walking in newness of life” mean practically?

Practically, it means Christ’s resurrection power, which resides in us, transforms everything in our lives— our relationships, ethics, habits, and character. As we now are free to live to honor God, our ungodly patterns lose sway, the fruit of the Spirit develops, and our energies advance God’s Kingdom rather than our own self-interest. It is truly a supernatural life!

Can this life ever be lost?

In a word, absolutely. The abundant life (John 10:10), or the Higher Christian Life, is maintained by ongoing surrender, faith, and obedience. We can lose it by taking our focus off Christ and failing to walk in step with the Spirit. Therefore, continually yielding to the Spirit is essential.

Is this way of living only for “super saints”?

No, it is for every believer (including you) who totally surrenders to Christ’s lordship. It is not a higher class of Christianity, but this abundant life Jesus promised is intended as normal Christian living for any who yield fully to the Spirit. Therefore, it all depends on you. So yield to Him today.

Doesn’t this lead to pride and perfectionism?

It shouldn’t, if properly understood. This life depends completely on Christ and the Spirit, leaving no room for pride. The focus is consecration, not perfection. Therefore, just like everything else in the Christian life, humility and faith are key.

In summary, the Higher Christian Life is a life of intimacy, fruitfulness, and victory available to every believer through full dependence on Christ and surrender to the Holy Spirit. It liberates us from sin’s power and unlocks the supernatural promises of Scripture. May God give us grace as we surrender to the abundant life He intends for us in Christ.

The Next Steps

If you are ready to leave spiritual defeat behind, take time to prayerfully process the truths shared here. Ask the Lord to show you any areas you are not fully surrendered to Him. And as you take steps of faith to yield to Christ’s complete control, trust the Holy Spirit’s empowering presence to make this new life real. Remember, you were created for so much more than constant struggle. God longs for you to experience the Higher Christian Life of intimacy with Him and victory over sin.

So begin that journey of surrender today.

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56: Letting Go and Letting God – Steps for Total Surrender

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54: How to Know the Will of God When We Pray

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52: Immanuel and the Higher Christian Life

As followers of Jesus, you and I long to live the spiritually charged, victorious life He promises in Scripture— an abundant, overcoming life marked by joy, peace, purpose, and the wonder of having the mind of Christ. But let’s face it, our everyday experience often falls painfully short of the dynamic faith and unimaginable blessings described in God’s Word (Eph. 3:20). But it doesn’t have to be that way.

So what’s the key to unlocking this life to the fullest in the power of the Spirit? Complete and total surrender to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

But What Does Total Surrender Look Like?

Surrender means letting go of our wants, rights, and expectations and fully embracing God’s perfect plan for our lives, even if the future seems unclear and we don’t know what that plan is. Surrender requires trust, obedience, and complete reliance on His supernatural power at work within us, even when we struggle to feel His presence at times. And surrender is trusting Him even when the future is uncertain, and we can’t see what tomorrow holds. But that’s to be expected. After all, we “walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Cor. 5:7). But when we surrender completely, release control of our lives, and submit to His will, we open ourselves up to the blessing of becoming all God created us to be in Him. And the results are breathtaking.

True surrender brings freedom— true freedom to thrive in our identity as children of the Most High God and not be constrained by the world’s definition of who we are. Surrender leads us deeper in our relationship with Him, far beyond surface-level faith, into an intimate walk with the Almighty, the Creator of All. This surrendered life overflows with heavenly abundance, just as Jesus promised. But it only comes through daily submission and complete dependence on Jesus.

If you want to live out the fullness of God’s calling, then it’s time to surrender your all to Him— your plans, dreams, possessions, relationships, everything— even your life itself (Matt. 16:24-25). Lay it all down at the feet of the One who gave it all for you.

If you’re ready to experience the spiritual abundance Christ offers, here are some practical steps to help you surrender yourself completely to the Lord:

Recognize Your Need for God

The first step towards the surrendered life is admitting, “I can’t do this on my own!” As humans, we’re all flawed sinners falling short of God’s glory (Rom. 3:23). Pride and self-sufficiency erect thick barriers separating us from the Lord and each other. So get honest with yourself about the areas where you fall short and confess those sins to Him. Ask God to show you where you need to grow spiritually and recognize that no amount of effort will ever make you holy or righteous in His sight, outside of Christ. Approach God with humility, knowing you desperately need Him.

For example, when you catch yourself complaining about long lines or bad traffic, pause and acknowledge the pride behind your disgruntled heart. Or when you experience a major failure at work, use it as a reminder that you need God’s strength and grace every moment of every day. For without Him, you can do nothing (John 15:15)

Repent and Ask for Forgiveness

Once you’re aware of your shortcomings, take those sins to God in repentance— don’t justify or downplay them. It’s your sin that separates you from God (Isa. 59:2). True repentance restores your fellowship with God when you acknowledge your sins and ask for forgiveness. Plus, God promises that “if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). And once we repent and confess our sin, the crushing...]]>There is So Much More to This Life in Christ

As followers of Jesus, you and I long to live the spiritually charged, victorious life He promises in Scripture— an abundant, overcoming life marked by joy, peace, purpose, and the wonder of having the mind of Christ. But let’s face it, our everyday experience often falls painfully short of the dynamic faith and unimaginable blessings described in God’s Word (Eph. 3:20). But it doesn’t have to be that way.

So what’s the key to unlocking this life to the fullest in the power of the Spirit? Complete and total surrender to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

But What Does Total Surrender Look Like?

Surrender means letting go of our wants, rights, and expectations and fully embracing God’s perfect plan for our lives, even if the future seems unclear and we don’t know what that plan is. Surrender requires trust, obedience, and complete reliance on His supernatural power at work within us, even when we struggle to feel His presence at times. And surrender is trusting Him even when the future is uncertain, and we can’t see what tomorrow holds. But that’s to be expected. After all, we “walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Cor. 5:7). But when we surrender completely, release control of our lives, and submit to His will, we open ourselves up to the blessing of becoming all God created us to be in Him. And the results are breathtaking.

True surrender brings freedom— true freedom to thrive in our identity as children of the Most High God and not be constrained by the world’s definition of who we are. Surrender leads us deeper in our relationship with Him, far beyond surface-level faith, into an intimate walk with the Almighty, the Creator of All. This surrendered life overflows with heavenly abundance, just as Jesus promised. But it only comes through daily submission and complete dependence on Jesus.

If you want to live out the fullness of God’s calling, then it’s time to surrender your all to Him— your plans, dreams, possessions, relationships, everything— even your life itself (Matt. 16:24-25). Lay it all down at the feet of the One who gave it all for you.

If you’re ready to experience the spiritual abundance Christ offers, here are some practical steps to help you surrender yourself completely to the Lord:

Recognize Your Need for God

The first step towards the surrendered life is admitting, “I can’t do this on my own!” As humans, we’re all flawed sinners falling short of God’s glory (Rom. 3:23). Pride and self-sufficiency erect thick barriers separating us from the Lord and each other. So get honest with yourself about the areas where you fall short and confess those sins to Him. Ask God to show you where you need to grow spiritually and recognize that no amount of effort will ever make you holy or righteous in His sight, outside of Christ. Approach God with humility, knowing you desperately need Him.

For example, when you catch yourself complaining about long lines or bad traffic, pause and acknowledge the pride behind your disgruntled heart. Or when you experience a major failure at work, use it as a reminder that you need God’s strength and grace every moment of every day. For without Him, you can do nothing (John 15:15)

Repent and Ask for Forgiveness

Once you’re aware of your shortcomings, take those sins to God in repentance— don’t justify or downplay them. It’s your sin that separates you from God (Isa. 59:2). True repentance restores your fellowship with God when you acknowledge your sins and ask for forgiveness. Plus, God promises that “if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). And once we repent and confess our sin, the crushing weight of shame and guilt gets lifted when we experience the healing power of God’s forgiveness. It doesn’t get any better than that.

So examine your conscience before bed and confess specific sins like losing your temper with your kids or lying to a colleague or cheating on your taxes. Ask the Lord to search your heart and reveal to you any unconfessed sin you need to confess. And if you ask Him to reveal the sin that is separating Him from you, He will tell you, in no uncertain terms. The rest is up to you.

Submit Your Will Fully to God’s Will

This requires surrendering your desires, plans, and expectations to the Lord. You must release the tight grip of trying to maintain control of your circumstances to Him. Remember, God sees the full picture, while we only see a small part of it. Therefore, submitting your will means trusting that God’s way is higher than your way (Isa. 55:9) and that His plans for your life are much better than anything you could come up with yourself. And it’s only by surrendering to God’s plan that you will experience freedom, joy, and a supernatural peace that is beyond all human understanding (Phil. 4:7). It is something you will have to experience yourself to fully understand.

Try it for yourself. For example, when you pray about a career change or move to a new city, instead of telling God what you want, try asking God to show you His will in this decision. So when you have a major decision to make, pray as Jesus did in the garden, “Father, not my will, but Yours be done” (Luke 22:42) to align your heart with His, no matter how uncomfortable it may feel. And once you do, your faith will soar. Try it, you’ll see.

Trust Completely in God’s Wisdom and Timing

Since God is all-knowing, He knows exactly what you need and when you need it, even better than you do. Timing is everything; surrendering means waiting patiently for God’s perfect plan to unfold in His timing, not yours. So don’t try to rush and manipulate outcomes or make things happen in your timing. Let go of preconceived timelines, trusting that God has a purpose in any difficulty or delay you may experience. Fully believe that God is working all things out for your good according to His wisdom, and not your wants and wishes (Rom. 8:28). After all, He alone sees the full picture, the end from the beginning, while we only catch fleeting glimpses of what is going on (Isa. 46:10).

So, when you are impatiently waiting for months to finally land your dream job, choose to believe God’s timing is purposeful and perfect even when it feels painfully slow. Release all your anxiety over the situation into His sovereign hands and have faith, not only in His plan, but also in His timing.

Rely Completely on God’s Strength to Obey

Once God gives you clear direction in His Word or through the Spirit’s still small voice, rely fully on His supernatural strength to help you follow through in obedience. This is the essence of sanctification. Stay grounded in Scripture, praying continuously for empowerment from the Holy Spirit. Obedience demonstrates the sincerity and completeness of your surrender. But trying to obey God in your own inadequate strength, leads straight to compromise or failure. The key to victorious Christian living is understanding you can do nothing of eternal value apart from Christ’s power living and active in you (John 15:5). So yield to that power daily.

For example, ask God to help you respond with grace and forgiveness when a friend hurts you instead of lashing out in anger. Freely admit to yourself and God that you cannot begin to exhibit Christlike character without the Spirit empowering you from within. And then rest in His Spirit and let God work His forgiveness through you. Just be a channel of His Spirit in you to others. This is one of the greatest blessings of surrender.

Learn to Practice Daily Dependence

Make prayer, God’s Word, and practicing Biblical meditation non-negotiable priorities in your day. Set aside quiet time to hear God’s voice as you slowly read Scripture. His living Word will gradually transform you as His truth renews your mind and sanctifies your heart to become more like His (Rom. 12:2), just as He promised it would. Stay intimately connected to Christ through continual, two-way conversations with God about everything going on in your life. Learn to depend on His strength, wisdom, and guidance to get you victoriously through each day in Him. And remember, the blessings of living in constant, complete reliance on the Lord Jesus is the core lifestyle of the surrendered life. And it is yours for the asking.

The Rewards of a Surrendered Life

While surrendering fully to God is challenging, the rewards are life-changing. Here are just a few of the blessings your total surrender to Him can bring:

•  Feel a deeper sense of belonging through an intimate relationship with God.

•  Experience increased spiritual strength by relying on God’s power at work within you.

•  Gain a greater sense of purpose and meaning when you know your life matters to God.

•  Feel more peace and less stress when you trust God with all your worries.

•  Receive clarity about decisions when your will aligns with God’s will.

•  Discover joy and contentment when you focus less on yourself and more on serving God.

The choice is yours. Will you take that first step of humility today and admit your desperate need for Jesus? Will you choose to let go of control and surrender everything— your will, plans, dreams, possessions, relationships, and even your very life— to God? This total surrender will forever change your life and launch you into the greatest adventure imaginable.

The words of Jesus remind us of this precious promise:

“If anyone (including you) desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it” – Luke 9:23.

The choice is yours. What will it be?

Our Latest Posts:

55: The Difference Between Living or Just Being Alive

54: How to Know the Will of God When We Pray

53: Faith, Revival, and the Example of George Muller

52: Immanuel and the Higher Christian Life

51: How to Understand the Fear of the Lord

We have been talking about the Higher Christian Life for quite some time. And today, we will discover Jesus pointing to this manner of life, the “abundant life” as He called it in John 10:10, while He was trying to encourage Martha at the tomb of her brother, Lazarus. Do you remember the story? If so, we will see Jesus offering us a life truly worth living and not one of mere existence, of just being alive. It’s the difference between experiencing an exhilarating life of wonder and joy or an artificially sustained life, like a comatose patient on life support. One is truly living, the other is just being alive— barely.

Let me elaborate.

When Jesus received word of Lazarus’ illness, He waited two more days before heading to Bethany (John 11:6). But by that time, it was too late, four days too late (John 11:17). Lazarus had died and was already buried. For Lazarus’ sisters, all hope of a healing was gone, buried just like their brother. For them, Jesus arrived late, the curtain had closed, and their hope was as lifeless as their brother.

Both Mary and Martha were in mourning. When Martha heard Jesus had finally arrived, she ran to meet Him and uttered the pain she held in her heart. She said, almost like an accusation, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died” (John 11:21). Jesus, trying to encourage her, said, “Your brother will rise again.” But unable to see the big picture, Martha responded, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last days” (John 11:23-24). It was almost like she was saying, “But what help is that to me now? I know I will see him in heaven, but I need to see him now. And if You would have been here, this would not have happened.”

It was at this point Jesus spoke these life-changing words.

“I am the resurrection and the life. He who believe in Me, thought he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?” – John 11:25-26.

Great question for each of us as well. Do we believe His words? And if so, what does He mean by live? Does it mean a longevity of years, like “eternal life” (John 3:15) or “everlasting life” (John 3:16)? Or could it also mean something else?

Let’s look at the three times in His statement that Jesus uses the words life, live, and lives, and see if we can discover something wonderful about the resurrected life He offers.

But What Kind of Life Does Jesus Offer?

In Jesus’ words to Martha, He purposely used two different Greek words for life and live. They are zōḗ and záō and they each reveal a different dimension of the life He offers each of us. Let’s look at the definition of these two words:

First, zōḗ.  The word zōḗ refers to “physical life and existence as opposed to death and nonexistence.” It is the most common word for life and conveys what we assume today when we think of eternal life— life that does not end. Yet, it says little about the quality of that life, only that life exists.

Next, the word záō means “to live, to pass one’s life, to live in a certain way or manner.” This word reveals more about the type of life one leads than the fact they will live forever or have life. But it also means “to live unto God and be devoted to Him, to live a life characteristic of a resurrected life.” And, by implication, to “live and prosper, to be blessed, and to live satisfied in Him.” Or, as we would call it, to live the Higher Christian Life or the “abundant life” Jesus promised (John 10:10).

With this background, let’s look at the words of Jesus one more...]]>“I am the Resurrection and the Life”

We have been talking about the Higher Christian Life for quite some time. And today, we will discover Jesus pointing to this manner of life, the “abundant life” as He called it in John 10:10, while He was trying to encourage Martha at the tomb of her brother, Lazarus. Do you remember the story? If so, we will see Jesus offering us a life truly worth living and not one of mere existence, of just being alive. It’s the difference between experiencing an exhilarating life of wonder and joy or an artificially sustained life, like a comatose patient on life support. One is truly living, the other is just being alive— barely.

Let me elaborate.

When Jesus received word of Lazarus’ illness, He waited two more days before heading to Bethany (John 11:6). But by that time, it was too late, four days too late (John 11:17). Lazarus had died and was already buried. For Lazarus’ sisters, all hope of a healing was gone, buried just like their brother. For them, Jesus arrived late, the curtain had closed, and their hope was as lifeless as their brother.

Both Mary and Martha were in mourning. When Martha heard Jesus had finally arrived, she ran to meet Him and uttered the pain she held in her heart. She said, almost like an accusation, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died” (John 11:21). Jesus, trying to encourage her, said, “Your brother will rise again.” But unable to see the big picture, Martha responded, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last days” (John 11:23-24). It was almost like she was saying, “But what help is that to me now? I know I will see him in heaven, but I need to see him now. And if You would have been here, this would not have happened.”

It was at this point Jesus spoke these life-changing words.

“I am the resurrection and the life. He who believe in Me, thought he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?” – John 11:25-26.

Great question for each of us as well. Do we believe His words? And if so, what does He mean by live? Does it mean a longevity of years, like “eternal life” (John 3:15) or “everlasting life” (John 3:16)? Or could it also mean something else?

Let’s look at the three times in His statement that Jesus uses the words life, live, and lives, and see if we can discover something wonderful about the resurrected life He offers.

But What Kind of Life Does Jesus Offer?

In Jesus’ words to Martha, He purposely used two different Greek words for life and live. They are zōḗ and záō and they each reveal a different dimension of the life He offers each of us. Let’s look at the definition of these two words:

First, zōḗ.  The word zōḗ refers to “physical life and existence as opposed to death and nonexistence.” It is the most common word for life and conveys what we assume today when we think of eternal life— life that does not end. Yet, it says little about the quality of that life, only that life exists.

Next, the word záō means “to live, to pass one’s life, to live in a certain way or manner.” This word reveals more about the type of life one leads than the fact they will live forever or have life. But it also means “to live unto God and be devoted to Him, to live a life characteristic of a resurrected life.” And, by implication, to “live and prosper, to be blessed, and to live satisfied in Him.” Or, as we would call it, to live the Higher Christian Life or the “abundant life” Jesus promised (John 10:10).

With this background, let’s look at the words of Jesus one more time.

“I am the resurrection and the life (zōē). He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live (záō). And whoever lives (záō) and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”

Do you see the specific choice of words Jesus used to convey this truth to Martha, and to us? Consider the statement one more time.

“I am (present tense, currently and forever) the resurrection and the life (zōē – physical life, as opposed to death). He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live (záō – the manner of life, the resurrected life, the abundant life, the Higher Christian Life). And whoever lives (záō – the manner of life, the resurrected life, the abundant life, the Higher Christian Life) and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”

Even here, at the tomb of Lazarus, Jesus is pointing to a life that knows no bounds and is available to all who are in Him. Currently, forever, He is our resurrection. Jesus, by His simple breath and nature, can bring to life— not just any life, but an abundant life, an overcoming life— that which sin and neglect have destroyed. He said, “Behold, I make all things new” (Rev. 21:5), which includes you and me.

There is so much more we have to say about these small Greek words and the profound meaning they have for us in our quest for the Higher Christian Life. So join us as we learn more about Jesus, the “Resurrection and the Life” who is beyond what we can ask or even conceive in our mind (Eph. 3:20). And let’s experience the “abundant life” found only in Him, together.

To download the slides for this message, click – HERE

For more on the Higher Christian Life, visit www.higherchristianlife.com or www.leavinglaodicea.com.

Our Latest Posts:

54: How to Know the Will of God When We Pray

53: Faith, Revival, and the Example of George Muller

52: Immanuel and the Higher Christian Life

51: How to Understand the Fear of the Lord

50: Living in the Kingdom, While Living on Earth

For many believers, prayer is often confusing and frustrating. We pray earnestly, with as much faith as we can muster up, and many times the answer to our heartfelt prayer is no, or worse, silence. And if we have this experience with prayer and faith repeatedly, eventually, for most believers, we rely less on prayer and more on our own efforts to make things happen our way. Now, instead of praying, “Your will be done,” we pray, “Lord, please bless the works of my hands,” whether or not it is God’s will.

See the dilemma?

Then, when seeking confidence in our prayers, we stumble across 1 John 5:14-15 which seems, at least on the surface, to be the silver bullet we were looking for. Uh, until we look at the passage closer. Then we see the condition that unlocks the promise of confidence.

Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him – 1 John 5:14-15.

And quickly, we see the linear promise and corresponding conditions in this passage.

Confidence in Him (our goal) – We Ask – His Will (condition) – He Hears – We Receive

We can have the confidence to know that if we ask, and here is the stickler, anything “according to His will,” that He hears us and will grant what we ask. But what we pray for must be “according to His will.” If we ask what He wants, He will naturally grant our request. But if we ask something selfish, something “amiss” (James 4:3), God is under no obligation to answer our prayer the way we want.

So the emphasis in our prayer life should not be on changing God’s mind to match our wants. It is to first find out the will of God and then pray accordingly. We are to have the mind of Christ (1 Cor. 2:16), and not the other way around.

So how is that done? How can we discover the will of God in our prayer life? And once I discover it, how can I know for certain I am praying “according to His will”? How can I make sure I am not self-deluded into thinking what I want is what God wants? And finally, when I pray, how can I tell the difference between His will and mine?

Especially in My Prayer Life?

As we shared last time, there are two ways to be successful in almost every area of life, both physical and spiritual. One, find someone who is successful and do exactly what they did to become successful. Or two, find a dismal failure, someone you would never want to be like, and do the exact opposite of what they did to get where they are. This principle works in both the natural life and the spiritual life.

We looked at the life of George Muller last time to discover some of his secrets of faith in his relationship with the Lord. If you have yet to listen to that episode, I would suggest you do that before reading any further.

George Muller is our example of both faith and prayer, but especially of praying “according to His will.” And he has not left us in the dark regarding this matter. George Muller published a small paper which outlined the six steps he went through with each prayer request to make sure he was praying God’s will, and not his own. And these six principles can help us today learn how to discover the will of God in our prayer life,...]]>How Can I Know the Will of God…

For many believers, prayer is often confusing and frustrating. We pray earnestly, with as much faith as we can muster up, and many times the answer to our heartfelt prayer is no, or worse, silence. And if we have this experience with prayer and faith repeatedly, eventually, for most believers, we rely less on prayer and more on our own efforts to make things happen our way. Now, instead of praying, “Your will be done,” we pray, “Lord, please bless the works of my hands,” whether or not it is God’s will.

See the dilemma?

Then, when seeking confidence in our prayers, we stumble across 1 John 5:14-15 which seems, at least on the surface, to be the silver bullet we were looking for. Uh, until we look at the passage closer. Then we see the condition that unlocks the promise of confidence.

Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him – 1 John 5:14-15.

And quickly, we see the linear promise and corresponding conditions in this passage.

Confidence in Him (our goal) – We Ask – His Will (condition) – He Hears – We Receive

We can have the confidence to know that if we ask, and here is the stickler, anything “according to His will,” that He hears us and will grant what we ask. But what we pray for must be “according to His will.” If we ask what He wants, He will naturally grant our request. But if we ask something selfish, something “amiss” (James 4:3), God is under no obligation to answer our prayer the way we want.

So the emphasis in our prayer life should not be on changing God’s mind to match our wants. It is to first find out the will of God and then pray accordingly. We are to have the mind of Christ (1 Cor. 2:16), and not the other way around.

So how is that done? How can we discover the will of God in our prayer life? And once I discover it, how can I know for certain I am praying “according to His will”? How can I make sure I am not self-deluded into thinking what I want is what God wants? And finally, when I pray, how can I tell the difference between His will and mine?

Especially in My Prayer Life?

As we shared last time, there are two ways to be successful in almost every area of life, both physical and spiritual. One, find someone who is successful and do exactly what they did to become successful. Or two, find a dismal failure, someone you would never want to be like, and do the exact opposite of what they did to get where they are. This principle works in both the natural life and the spiritual life.

We looked at the life of George Muller last time to discover some of his secrets of faith in his relationship with the Lord. If you have yet to listen to that episode, I would suggest you do that before reading any further.

George Muller is our example of both faith and prayer, but especially of praying “according to His will.” And he has not left us in the dark regarding this matter. George Muller published a small paper which outlined the six steps he went through with each prayer request to make sure he was praying God’s will, and not his own. And these six principles can help us today learn how to discover the will of God in our prayer life, before we come to Him in prayer.

So in the words of George Muller, let me share them with you.

One, I seek at the beginning to get my heart into such a state that it has no will of its own in regard to a given matter. Nine tenths of the trouble with people is just here. Nine tenths of the difficulties are overcome when our hearts are ready to do the Lord’s will, whatever it may be. When one is truly in this state, it is usually but a little way to the knowledge of what His will is.

Two, having done this, I do not leave the result to feelings or simple impression. If I do so, I make myself liable to great delusions.

Three, I seek the will of the Spirit of God through, or in connection with, the Word of God. The Spirit and the Word must be combined. If I look to the Spirit alone without the Word, I lay myself open to great delusions also. If the Holy Spirit guides us at all, He will do it according to the Scriptures and never contrary to them.

Four, I take into account providential circumstances. These often plainly indicate God’s will in connection with His Word and Spirit.

Five, I ask God in prayer to specifically reveal His will to me. (According to Muller, the key to getting specific answers to prayer is to ask God to specifically reveal His will to you.)

Six, thus, through prayer to God, the study of the Word, and reflection, I come to a deliberate judgment, according to the best of my ability and knowledge, and if my mind is thus at peace, and continues so after two or three more petitions, I proceed accordingly.

Join us as we learn about faith and the confidence we need in our prayer life from George Muller as we move forward in embracing the Higher Christian Life.

To download the slides for this message, click – HERE

For more on the Higher Christian Life, visit www.higherchristianlife.com or www.leavinglaodicea.com.

Our Latest Posts:

53: Faith, Revival, and the Example of George Muller

52: Immanuel and the Higher Christian Life

51: How to Understand the Fear of the Lord

50: Living in the Kingdom, While Living on Earth

49: Something More Powerful Than Your Faith

When we look at the condition of our world and of the spiritual temperature of the church, the clear assessment is that we need revival. Not a revival meeting or a revival as a once-a-year event, but a revival akin to an awakening, like our nation has experienced in the past. It is a re-capturing of lost spiritual ground, exemplified by what Jesus said to the church at Ephesus, “I have this against you, that you have left your first love” (Rev. 2:4). Understanding our present condition, revival would be to rekindle that love by remembering “from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works” (Rev. 2:5).

Which naturally leads to a few questions.

What is a Christian revival?

Why is revival so important in the life of a Believer?

What are some examples of past revivals?

What happens during a revival?

How does spiritual revival take place?

What are the effects of a revival?

And how can we begin the process of revival today?

We should also note, the process of revival is the quickest way to experience the Higher Christian Life we have been talking about. Why? Because the definition of revival is a “spiritual awakening from a state of dormancy or stagnation in the life of a believer.” And this spiritual awakening comes from a resurgence of faith in the believer. Not faith for salvation, but faith in the Word and character of God. It is taking God at His Word and living one’s life in accordance with His truth, and not what we think or feel or want.

And the key to revival and the Higher Christian Life, as with most things in our walk with Christ, is faith.

Two Ways to be Successful

There are two ways to be successful in almost every area of life, both physical and spiritual. One, find someone who is successful and do exactly what they did to become successful. Or two, find a dismal failure, someone you would never want to be like, and do the exact opposite of what they did to get where they are. This principle works in both the natural life and the spiritual life.

The problem for us, especially regarding living by faith, is that we don’t know many believers who have achieved what we desire. Most of our faith heroes are long since gone and many today struggle like we do with faith. There are very few, if any, Christian leaders who, like Paul, would confidently say, “Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ” (1 Cor. 11:1). If there were, we could follow and imitate them and learn from their life. But faith heroes like these are few, especially in the West.

So what are we to do? Simple. We will learn and be discipled by the faith heroes of the past. And in my estimation, the greatest example of pure faith in the last 300 years is a man named George Muller.

Let me tell you just a little about his life.

•  He was born in 1805 in Prussia (Germany) and died in 1898, at the age of 92.

•  He was an evangelist and the founder and director of the Ashley Down orphanage in Bristol, England, and cared for over 10,024 orphans during his lifetime.

•  He established 117 schools which offered Christian education to over 120,000 children.

•  He established the Scriptural Knowledge Institution for Home and Abroad and distributed over 285,407 Bibles, 1,459,506 New Testaments, and 244,351 other religious tracks that were translated into twenty languages.

And he did all of this by prayer alone. Muller never solicited gifts nor went into dept nor told anyone their financial needs. When asked, he would say, “the Lord provides for all our needs.” It is estimated he prayed into the ministry over $113,000,000.

I believe this is someone we can learn]]>Will You Not Revive Us Again?

When we look at the condition of our world and of the spiritual temperature of the church, the clear assessment is that we need revival. Not a revival meeting or a revival as a once-a-year event, but a revival akin to an awakening, like our nation has experienced in the past. It is a re-capturing of lost spiritual ground, exemplified by what Jesus said to the church at Ephesus, “I have this against you, that you have left your first love” (Rev. 2:4). Understanding our present condition, revival would be to rekindle that love by remembering “from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works” (Rev. 2:5).

Which naturally leads to a few questions.

What is a Christian revival?

Why is revival so important in the life of a Believer?

What are some examples of past revivals?

What happens during a revival?

How does spiritual revival take place?

What are the effects of a revival?

And how can we begin the process of revival today?

We should also note, the process of revival is the quickest way to experience the Higher Christian Life we have been talking about. Why? Because the definition of revival is a “spiritual awakening from a state of dormancy or stagnation in the life of a believer.” And this spiritual awakening comes from a resurgence of faith in the believer. Not faith for salvation, but faith in the Word and character of God. It is taking God at His Word and living one’s life in accordance with His truth, and not what we think or feel or want.

And the key to revival and the Higher Christian Life, as with most things in our walk with Christ, is faith.

Two Ways to be Successful

There are two ways to be successful in almost every area of life, both physical and spiritual. One, find someone who is successful and do exactly what they did to become successful. Or two, find a dismal failure, someone you would never want to be like, and do the exact opposite of what they did to get where they are. This principle works in both the natural life and the spiritual life.

The problem for us, especially regarding living by faith, is that we don’t know many believers who have achieved what we desire. Most of our faith heroes are long since gone and many today struggle like we do with faith. There are very few, if any, Christian leaders who, like Paul, would confidently say, “Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ” (1 Cor. 11:1). If there were, we could follow and imitate them and learn from their life. But faith heroes like these are few, especially in the West.

So what are we to do? Simple. We will learn and be discipled by the faith heroes of the past. And in my estimation, the greatest example of pure faith in the last 300 years is a man named George Muller.

Let me tell you just a little about his life.

•  He was born in 1805 in Prussia (Germany) and died in 1898, at the age of 92.

•  He was an evangelist and the founder and director of the Ashley Down orphanage in Bristol, England, and cared for over 10,024 orphans during his lifetime.

•  He established 117 schools which offered Christian education to over 120,000 children.

•  He established the Scriptural Knowledge Institution for Home and Abroad and distributed over 285,407 Bibles, 1,459,506 New Testaments, and 244,351 other religious tracks that were translated into twenty languages.

And he did all of this by prayer alone. Muller never solicited gifts nor went into dept nor told anyone their financial needs. When asked, he would say, “the Lord provides for all our needs.” It is estimated he prayed into the ministry over $113,000,000.

I believe this is someone we can learn from regarding faith, don’t you?

To download the slides for this message, click – HERE

For more on the Higher Christian Life, visit www.higherchristianlife.com or www.leavinglaodicea.com.

Our Latest Posts:

52: Immanuel and the Higher Christian Life

51: How to Understand the Fear of the Lord

50: Living in the Kingdom, While Living on Earth

49: Something More Powerful Than Your Faith

48: Jesus and His Dependence on the Holy Spirit

One of the unmistakable truths that leads to a fuller understanding of the Higher Christian Life is our embracing the fact of the Holy Spirit living in us. Now, I know you know that… at least cognitively, as a fact, and probably have this truth hidden for safekeeping somewhere deep in the recesses of your brain. But that’s not where the reality of this wonder takes place. And it is not the knowledge of this truth that leads to the Higher Christian Life, but the experiencing of this truth.

We experience “God with us” when we wholeheartedly release our fear and doubt and shame to the One who literally lives in us. One who abides in you (John 15:4-5). The Spirit, fully God in every sense, who has chosen to “rest, dwell, live, to make His home” in you as well as to “remain united with one heart, one mind, and one will” with you. After all, this is the definition of the Greek word which translates, abides.

This was all promised to us eons ago. We see it in the Old Testament, in the words of Isaiah.

“Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel” – Isaiah 7:14.

And an angel later confirmed it to a troubled, betrothed man named Joseph.

But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins.”

So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us” – Matthew 1:20-23.

We often focus on the miracle of Christ’s birth, and rightly so. But we find one vital key to the Higher Christian Life revealed in the name given Jesus. They shall call His name Immanuel, which means, “God with us.” Not just with us physically, but with us eternally in the Person of the Holy Spirit.

Which Means, “God With Us”

Oh, the wondrous joy of knowing we are never alone. For God is with us and in us and has promised to never leave us as orphans (John 14:18). His name, given before time for our understanding of the miracle of redemption, is Immanuel. And Immanuel means “God with us.” He is always with us. And we will be forever with Him.

But that raises a few questions on a practical level.

•  What does it mean to have God with us?

•  And how is He with us?

•  What is that experience like?

Now, let’s make it personal.

•  Is God with you?

•  Is He with you theologically or experientially?

•  And if He is, what is that experience like?

•  How does your life reflect God with you?

It is in the Person of the Holy Spirit that God lives in us and is with us. And it is by surrendering our lives to Him who lives in us and is with us that we begin to experience the Higher Christian Life.

So let me encourage you, as you join us today, to consider deeply the meaning of the name of our Lord and realize His very name speaks of the wonder of our redemption. We have our sins forgiven so that we can have fellowship with God Himself. But not by trekking to Mount Sinai to go where God is. No,]]>And You Shall Call His Name Immanuel…

One of the unmistakable truths that leads to a fuller understanding of the Higher Christian Life is our embracing the fact of the Holy Spirit living in us. Now, I know you know that… at least cognitively, as a fact, and probably have this truth hidden for safekeeping somewhere deep in the recesses of your brain. But that’s not where the reality of this wonder takes place. And it is not the knowledge of this truth that leads to the Higher Christian Life, but the experiencing of this truth.

We experience “God with us” when we wholeheartedly release our fear and doubt and shame to the One who literally lives in us. One who abides in you (John 15:4-5). The Spirit, fully God in every sense, who has chosen to “rest, dwell, live, to make His home” in you as well as to “remain united with one heart, one mind, and one will” with you. After all, this is the definition of the Greek word which translates, abides.

This was all promised to us eons ago. We see it in the Old Testament, in the words of Isaiah.

“Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel” – Isaiah 7:14.

And an angel later confirmed it to a troubled, betrothed man named Joseph.

But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins.”

So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us” – Matthew 1:20-23.

We often focus on the miracle of Christ’s birth, and rightly so. But we find one vital key to the Higher Christian Life revealed in the name given Jesus. They shall call His name Immanuel, which means, “God with us.” Not just with us physically, but with us eternally in the Person of the Holy Spirit.

Which Means, “God With Us”

Oh, the wondrous joy of knowing we are never alone. For God is with us and in us and has promised to never leave us as orphans (John 14:18). His name, given before time for our understanding of the miracle of redemption, is Immanuel. And Immanuel means “God with us.” He is always with us. And we will be forever with Him.

But that raises a few questions on a practical level.

•  What does it mean to have God with us?

•  And how is He with us?

•  What is that experience like?

Now, let’s make it personal.

•  Is God with you?

•  Is He with you theologically or experientially?

•  And if He is, what is that experience like?

•  How does your life reflect God with you?

It is in the Person of the Holy Spirit that God lives in us and is with us. And it is by surrendering our lives to Him who lives in us and is with us that we begin to experience the Higher Christian Life.

So let me encourage you, as you join us today, to consider deeply the meaning of the name of our Lord and realize His very name speaks of the wonder of our redemption. We have our sins forgiven so that we can have fellowship with God Himself. But not by trekking to Mount Sinai to go where God is. No, He is now where we are and He is the One who made the journey for our benefit.

Rest easy in this confusing world. After all, God is with us, with you, forever.

To download the slides for this message, click – HERE

For more on the Higher Christian Life, visit www.higherchristianlife.com or www.leavinglaodicea.com.

Our Latest Posts:

51: How to Understand the Fear of the Lord

50: Living in the Kingdom, While Living on Earth

49: Something More Powerful Than Your Faith

48: Jesus and His Dependence on the Holy Spirit

47: School’s Out— Time to Do Something

We have shared in the past how we often find a fuller understanding of the Higher Christian Life in the small words of Scripture. Simple, often overlooked as unimportant words like “know” or the various Greek definitions of our single-use English word translated “love” give us insight into the heart of God that can bring great intimacy with Him. And this principle is also true of harsh words, unkind words that seem inconsistent with the love we experience from God. In particular, the command to “fear” God or the “fear of the Lord” can also open the door to the Higher Christian Life like no other word can.

Let me explain.

The Scriptures record over 300 times the importance of having a fear of God. And it reveals incredible promises to those who do fear Him and stern warnings to those who don’t (we will look at those promises in our next episode). But the word translated fear, in both the Hebrew and the Greek, leads us in two opposite directions. For in Scripture, the word fear has two meanings, one negative, and the other positive. Let’s look at a familiar example from Proverbs to illustrate this point.

“The fear (yirʾāh) of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding” – Proverbs 9:10.

In this verse, the Hebrew word for fear (yirʾāh) means just that, fear, as in dread, terror, or fright. But in context, being the fear of the Lord, the word also conveys a positive quality that acknowledges God’s good intentions and love for His people (Ex. 20:20). Therefore, fear (yirʾāh) can also translate as “respect, reverence, awe, and profound honor.” And it’s the intended audience of this verse that determines the meaning of the word.

There are always two audiences for Scripture, and especially for the phrase, the “fear of the Lord.” One, unbelievers who fear the judgment of God and await eternal separation from Him (Heb. 10:31). For them, fear means terror, dread, and fright (Deut. 2:25). And two, believers who have profound reverence for God and hold Him in absolute awe. For them, fear is a word describing the feeling one gets when in the presence of supreme greatness. It is a fear that comes with many promises that spring from having a deep and abiding respect for the Lord. And it is these promises that make experiencing the fear of the Lord so important for us today.

The Beginning of Wisdom

So fear translates as both dread and fright, as well as reverence and awe. And the context and audience of the passage determines the definition. But what does the fear of the Lord mean for the believer? What is the total scope of this phrase? What is it saying about God and the Higher Christian Life? And how can we learn to cultivate the fear of the Lord in our own lives?

To develop the fear of the Lord, we must come to recognize who He is and not limit Him to our own understanding. God is sovereign. He is our omnipotent (all-powerful), omniscient (all-knowing), and omnipresent (all-everywhere) God. As our sovereign God, there is nothing we can do, nor speak, think, or feel, that He is not fully aware of at all times. And as a just God, we will give an account to Him for everything we have done or thought or for every idle word spoken that does not bring Him glory (Matt. 12:36). This is an incredibly sobering thought.

When we get a glimpse of the reverence of God, it helps us take His Word and commands seriously. We see Him for who He is, and tremble at His power and glory in His mercy and grace. This realization that He is God and we are mere dust produces a humility and desire to...]]>The Fear of the Lord is …

We have shared in the past how we often find a fuller understanding of the Higher Christian Life in the small words of Scripture. Simple, often overlooked as unimportant words like “know” or the various Greek definitions of our single-use English word translated “love” give us insight into the heart of God that can bring great intimacy with Him. And this principle is also true of harsh words, unkind words that seem inconsistent with the love we experience from God. In particular, the command to “fear” God or the “fear of the Lord” can also open the door to the Higher Christian Life like no other word can.

Let me explain.

The Scriptures record over 300 times the importance of having a fear of God. And it reveals incredible promises to those who do fear Him and stern warnings to those who don’t (we will look at those promises in our next episode). But the word translated fear, in both the Hebrew and the Greek, leads us in two opposite directions. For in Scripture, the word fear has two meanings, one negative, and the other positive. Let’s look at a familiar example from Proverbs to illustrate this point.

“The fear (yirʾāh) of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding” – Proverbs 9:10.

In this verse, the Hebrew word for fear (yirʾāh) means just that, fear, as in dread, terror, or fright. But in context, being the fear of the Lord, the word also conveys a positive quality that acknowledges God’s good intentions and love for His people (Ex. 20:20). Therefore, fear (yirʾāh) can also translate as “respect, reverence, awe, and profound honor.” And it’s the intended audience of this verse that determines the meaning of the word.

There are always two audiences for Scripture, and especially for the phrase, the “fear of the Lord.” One, unbelievers who fear the judgment of God and await eternal separation from Him (Heb. 10:31). For them, fear means terror, dread, and fright (Deut. 2:25). And two, believers who have profound reverence for God and hold Him in absolute awe. For them, fear is a word describing the feeling one gets when in the presence of supreme greatness. It is a fear that comes with many promises that spring from having a deep and abiding respect for the Lord. And it is these promises that make experiencing the fear of the Lord so important for us today.

The Beginning of Wisdom

So fear translates as both dread and fright, as well as reverence and awe. And the context and audience of the passage determines the definition. But what does the fear of the Lord mean for the believer? What is the total scope of this phrase? What is it saying about God and the Higher Christian Life? And how can we learn to cultivate the fear of the Lord in our own lives?

To develop the fear of the Lord, we must come to recognize who He is and not limit Him to our own understanding. God is sovereign. He is our omnipotent (all-powerful), omniscient (all-knowing), and omnipresent (all-everywhere) God. As our sovereign God, there is nothing we can do, nor speak, think, or feel, that He is not fully aware of at all times. And as a just God, we will give an account to Him for everything we have done or thought or for every idle word spoken that does not bring Him glory (Matt. 12:36). This is an incredibly sobering thought.

When we get a glimpse of the reverence of God, it helps us take His Word and commands seriously. We see Him for who He is, and tremble at His power and glory in His mercy and grace. This realization that He is God and we are mere dust produces a humility and desire to surrender our lives to Him and helps move us along in our journey to the Higher Christian Life.

And since we know each of us will give an account of our lives to the Lord, and since we know He is fully aware of everything we speak, do, think, and desire— then the fear of the Lord is a continual awareness of these truths, 24/7, every moment of every day of our lives. We can therefore define the “fear of the Lord” as a continual, ever-present, awareness that we are in the presence of a holy, just, and righteous God, and that every motive, desire, word, thought, and action is open before Him to be judged by Him.

And there is nowhere to hide.

This is what it means to fear the Lord. To be always aware of His presence and to scrutinize the motives and actions of our lives to be pleasing to Him. We can summarize our response to the fear of the Lord as follows:

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God – Romans 12:1-2.

But what of the promised blessings for living in the fear of the Lord? They are innumerable and beyond description. And next time, we will look at the blessings and promises that follow those who fear the Lord.

I think you’ll find them amazing. I certainly did.

For more on the Higher Christian Life, visit www.higherchristianlife.com or www.leavinglaodicea.com.

Our Latest Posts:

50: Living in the Kingdom, While Living on Earth

49: Something More Powerful Than Your Faith

48: Jesus and His Dependence on the Holy Spirit

47: School’s Out— Time to Do Something

46: How to Experience Freedom From Your “Besetting Sins”

We, as believers, are dual citizens and live in two kingdoms. We have temporal citizenship in this world, or so it seems, maybe as a citizen of the United States or whatever country you may be from. But more importantly, we are citizens of the Kingdom of God, citizens in His eternal Kingdom that has no equal. And both kingdoms have rules, make demands, and pull us in opposite directions.

Promises empower one Kingdom. And the other kingdom is full of disappointments.

Note: For a faith exercise and to experience how God’s Kingdom operates, try beginning in Matthew and write down every promise given to you as a child of your loving Father. Start with the Sermon on the Mount. And then align your life in such a way as to live by those promises, to see if they are true or not. What you will soon discover is this earthly kingdom, the fallen kingdom of this world, never keeps its promises. Yet every promise in God’s Word is as true and steadfast as the King Himself. This revelation alone should help you see the waste and futility of one kingdom and the infinite value of the other.

But for most of us, we try to find our success and happiness in this world by doing what this world rewards. We work to make money, and then more money so that we can buy worthless stuff. We want people to like us, so we become like them and like what they like, just to be accepted. And if we are not happy, we will move heaven and earth to change things and rearrange our reality in our vain attempt to make us happy. Not realizing the source of all happiness lives in us, and we are already accepted, loved, and liked by the King of king and Lord of lords (Rev. 19:16).

Unfortunately, this is how many believers live their allotted days in life, chasing after trinkets and toys and things that pass away in time.

But that’s not how those live who desire the Higher Christian Life. For them, all the transitory and temporary things of this world mean nothing compared to what is eternal and infinite. They reason, “If I will live for only 70 or 80 years and then die and leave everything behind, yet spend eternity in heaven, why would I not focus more on heaven while living on earth? Why would I devote my life to something I cannot take with me and slight what I can never lose?”

Or, as Jim Elliot wrote in his journal on October 28, 1949, seven years before he was martyred as a missionary to the Auca tribes in Ecuador:

“He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose.”

So how can we live in His Kingdom without listening to the deceptive and demanding voices of this world? And how can we live in such a way as to daily experience the Higher Christian Life?

While Living in the Kingdom of this World

Logic states there are two ways to be successful.  First, find someone who is successful and where you want to be and do exactly what they did to get to where they are. And second, find someone who is a dismal failure, someone you never want to be, and do the exact opposite of what they did to make them what they are. Logically, either path should work and point you in the right direction.

So let’s take the first path and follow the example of Paul, who obviously lived in the experience of the Higher Christian Life. Consider what he did and how he lived:

But what things were gain to me (in this kingdom), these I have counted loss (why) for Christ (and His Kingdom). Yet indeed I also count all (pas) things loss (why) for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, (for what purpose)

(1) that I may gain Christ

(2) and be found in Him, (how) not having my own righteousness, which is...]]>Living in the Kingdom of God…

We, as believers, are dual citizens and live in two kingdoms. We have temporal citizenship in this world, or so it seems, maybe as a citizen of the United States or whatever country you may be from. But more importantly, we are citizens of the Kingdom of God, citizens in His eternal Kingdom that has no equal. And both kingdoms have rules, make demands, and pull us in opposite directions.

Promises empower one Kingdom. And the other kingdom is full of disappointments.

Note: For a faith exercise and to experience how God’s Kingdom operates, try beginning in Matthew and write down every promise given to you as a child of your loving Father. Start with the Sermon on the Mount. And then align your life in such a way as to live by those promises, to see if they are true or not. What you will soon discover is this earthly kingdom, the fallen kingdom of this world, never keeps its promises. Yet every promise in God’s Word is as true and steadfast as the King Himself. This revelation alone should help you see the waste and futility of one kingdom and the infinite value of the other.

But for most of us, we try to find our success and happiness in this world by doing what this world rewards. We work to make money, and then more money so that we can buy worthless stuff. We want people to like us, so we become like them and like what they like, just to be accepted. And if we are not happy, we will move heaven and earth to change things and rearrange our reality in our vain attempt to make us happy. Not realizing the source of all happiness lives in us, and we are already accepted, loved, and liked by the King of king and Lord of lords (Rev. 19:16).

Unfortunately, this is how many believers live their allotted days in life, chasing after trinkets and toys and things that pass away in time.

But that’s not how those live who desire the Higher Christian Life. For them, all the transitory and temporary things of this world mean nothing compared to what is eternal and infinite. They reason, “If I will live for only 70 or 80 years and then die and leave everything behind, yet spend eternity in heaven, why would I not focus more on heaven while living on earth? Why would I devote my life to something I cannot take with me and slight what I can never lose?”

Or, as Jim Elliot wrote in his journal on October 28, 1949, seven years before he was martyred as a missionary to the Auca tribes in Ecuador:

“He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose.”

So how can we live in His Kingdom without listening to the deceptive and demanding voices of this world? And how can we live in such a way as to daily experience the Higher Christian Life?

While Living in the Kingdom of this World

Logic states there are two ways to be successful.  First, find someone who is successful and where you want to be and do exactly what they did to get to where they are. And second, find someone who is a dismal failure, someone you never want to be, and do the exact opposite of what they did to make them what they are. Logically, either path should work and point you in the right direction.

So let’s take the first path and follow the example of Paul, who obviously lived in the experience of the Higher Christian Life. Consider what he did and how he lived:

But what things were gain to me (in this kingdom), these I have counted loss (why) for Christ (and His Kingdom). Yet indeed I also count all (pas) things loss (why) for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, (for what purpose)

(1) that I may gain Christ

(2) and be found in Him, (how) not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, (namely) the righteousness which is from God by faith; that I may

(3) know Him and the

(4) power of His resurrection, and the

(5) fellowship of His sufferings,

(6) being conformed to His death, (why) if, by any means,

(7) I may attain to the resurrection from the dead – Philippians 3:7-11.

Do you see the trade Paul is making? He gladly gives up all he has gained in this kingdom to gain what is beyond description in God’s Kingdom. And what He gained was Christ. To know Him. To be found in Him. To experience the power of His resurrection and share in the fellowship of His sufferings. To be conformed to Him (Rom. 8:29), to live in His likeness (Col. 2:6), to have the mind of Christ (1 Cor. 2:16), and as a blessed bonus, to attain the resurrection from the dead and experience life eternal with Him. In essence, to be made complete, whole, perfect, and without defect in Him (Col. 2:10).

What a great trade for Paul! He gave up what was worthless and had an expiration date, his life, and received what is perfect and eternal, Christ in him (Rom. 6:11). And, as a great encouragement to us, he began living the perfect and eternal life in Christ while still living on earth. In other words, He experienced the Higher Christian Life and deep, profound intimacy with the Holy Spirit, just as you can today.

So surrender your life to Him and make the trade. You will forever be glad you did.

To download the slides for this message, click – HERE

For more on the Higher Christian Life, visit www.higherchristianlife.com or www.leavinglaodicea.com.

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45: To Know or Not Know, that is the Question

The trait that defined the members of the early church that seems absent in the church today is found in the simple word, power. And it is the very same power (dúnamis) that was promised through the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8) and received by those in the early church (Acts 2:4). Uh, the same power we supposedly received when we were “sealed” by the Holy Spirit who came into our lives as the “guarantee” of our eternal salvation (1 Cor. 1:22).

So if we have the same Spirit they had, and the same power through the same Spirit they had… that leads to a few questions.

•  Why were they able to live in the power they received from the Holy Spirit to the extent they were and we don’t seem to be able to do the same?

•  Did they have a different power than we do today? Or was it the same power? By the same Spirit?

•  And if it was the same power and the same Spirit, why were their lives marked by this unleashed power and ours don’t seem to be so much today?

•  Does God love them more than He loves us? Or did He choose to use them more than He seems to be using us? Were they better people than we are? Maybe more holy, more faithful, more committed?

•  How were they different from us and what can we learn from them?

Remember, their promise was the same promise we received from the Lord.

“But you shall receive power (dúnamis) when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” – Acts 1:8.

Again, if we have received the Holy Spirit and the power (dúnamis) that comes with Him, like those in the early church, why are our lives often marked by frustration and spiritual impotence, and not the life-changing Spirit encounters we see in the Acts? What could be the problem?

Your Doubt and Unbelief

One of the most troubling events in the life of our Lord happened in His own hometown when He “could do no mighty (dúnamis) works there” (Mark 6:5-6, Matt. 13:58) because of their unbelief. Did you catch that? Jesus was limited in what He could do, or how the power (dúnamis) of the Spirit could be manifest, because of their unbelief. Read it for yourself.

Now He (what) could do no mighty work (dúnamis) there, except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them. And He marveled because of their unbelief. Then He went about the villages in a circuit, teaching – Mark 6:5.

Matthew adds, “He did not do many mighty works (dúnamis) there because of their unbelief – Matthew 13:58. Which brings even more questions. Why was Jesus not able (could do no) mighty works (dúnamis) in their midst? What was limiting the power of God in their lives? To make it personal, what is keeping Acts 1:8 from being true in your life? What is keeping you from experiencing the Higher Christian Life? Is it God? Or could it be something else?

Note, the most powerful force in you is not your faith, as strange as that may sound… but your doubt and unbelief. Your doubt and unbelief can make void all the Holy Spirit came to make magnanimous in you. It can nullify, completely, the power (dúnamis) you received from God in the Person of the Holy Spirit.

Does that statement make you feel uncomfortable? It does to me also. But it is true, nevertheless, no matter how it makes us feel. If you would like to look further into what it means to limit the Holy Spirit in your life and how it can keep you from experiencing the Higher Christian Life, join with us today as we discover what our doubt and unbelief costs]]>What Is More Powerful Than Our Faith?

The trait that defined the members of the early church that seems absent in the church today is found in the simple word, power. And it is the very same power (dúnamis) that was promised through the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8) and received by those in the early church (Acts 2:4). Uh, the same power we supposedly received when we were “sealed” by the Holy Spirit who came into our lives as the “guarantee” of our eternal salvation (1 Cor. 1:22).

So if we have the same Spirit they had, and the same power through the same Spirit they had… that leads to a few questions.

•  Why were they able to live in the power they received from the Holy Spirit to the extent they were and we don’t seem to be able to do the same?

•  Did they have a different power than we do today? Or was it the same power? By the same Spirit?

•  And if it was the same power and the same Spirit, why were their lives marked by this unleashed power and ours don’t seem to be so much today?

•  Does God love them more than He loves us? Or did He choose to use them more than He seems to be using us? Were they better people than we are? Maybe more holy, more faithful, more committed?

•  How were they different from us and what can we learn from them?

Remember, their promise was the same promise we received from the Lord.

“But you shall receive power (dúnamis) when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” – Acts 1:8.

Again, if we have received the Holy Spirit and the power (dúnamis) that comes with Him, like those in the early church, why are our lives often marked by frustration and spiritual impotence, and not the life-changing Spirit encounters we see in the Acts? What could be the problem?

Your Doubt and Unbelief

One of the most troubling events in the life of our Lord happened in His own hometown when He “could do no mighty (dúnamis) works there” (Mark 6:5-6, Matt. 13:58) because of their unbelief. Did you catch that? Jesus was limited in what He could do, or how the power (dúnamis) of the Spirit could be manifest, because of their unbelief. Read it for yourself.

Now He (what) could do no mighty work (dúnamis) there, except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them. And He marveled because of their unbelief. Then He went about the villages in a circuit, teaching – Mark 6:5.

Matthew adds, “He did not do many mighty works (dúnamis) there because of their unbelief – Matthew 13:58. Which brings even more questions. Why was Jesus not able (could do no) mighty works (dúnamis) in their midst? What was limiting the power of God in their lives? To make it personal, what is keeping Acts 1:8 from being true in your life? What is keeping you from experiencing the Higher Christian Life? Is it God? Or could it be something else?

Note, the most powerful force in you is not your faith, as strange as that may sound… but your doubt and unbelief. Your doubt and unbelief can make void all the Holy Spirit came to make magnanimous in you. It can nullify, completely, the power (dúnamis) you received from God in the Person of the Holy Spirit.

Does that statement make you feel uncomfortable? It does to me also. But it is true, nevertheless, no matter how it makes us feel. If you would like to look further into what it means to limit the Holy Spirit in your life and how it can keep you from experiencing the Higher Christian Life, join with us today as we discover what our doubt and unbelief costs us in our relationship with Jesus and the Spirit.

I think you’ll be shocked… and convicted. And hopefully inspired to never let anything stand between you and a deeper intimacy with our Lord. Nothing.

To download the slides for this message, click – HERE

For more on the Higher Christian Life, visit www.higherchristianlife.com or www.leavinglaodicea.com.

Our Latest Posts:

48: Jesus and His Dependence on the Holy Spirit

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45: To Know or Not Know, that is the Question

44: The Higher Christian Life is Found in Small Words

As we continue looking at the book of Acts, especially the account of the lives of those in the early church, we are stopped cold in our tracks and amazed by a small, cryptic phrase found in Acts 1:2. And in these four small words, through the Holy Spirit, we find great encouragement in our own quest for the mind of Christ (1 Cor. 2:16) and our goal of being more like Him (1 John 2:6), being complete in Him (Col. 2:10), and experiencing the Higher Christian Life (John 10:10).

Let me explain.

When we see Christ in the Gospels, we tend to view Him in one of two extremes. One, as the Son of God who is fully God in every aspect, both co-equal and co-eternal with the Father. He is the Mt. Sinai God, the God of the Old Testament, all smoke, thunder, and lightning, only in a different person. We have looked at this subject in the past. And when we focus primarily on the divine aspect of Jesus, He becomes somewhat aloof and untouchable to unholy men like us with dirty hands and impure thoughts.

But, if we allow the pendulum to swing too far on the other side, we primarily see Jesus as only a man, a friend, someone we look up to and admire, but certainly not a King and definitely not God in the flesh. He thinks like us, likes what we like, and struggles with the same things we struggle with. Therefore we feel no need to fear or respect Him, much less obey Him. And we don’t worry too much about sinning because as a man, He is just like us (as uncomfortable as it is to admit)— fickle, prone to doubt, and as uncommitted and faithless as we are. Or at least that is what we assume.

Yet neither of these extremes fully capture the nature of Jesus. Again, as we have already discussed, Jesus is fully God and fully man and will be so forever. Yes, forever. Theologically this is known as the Hypostatic Union and can be summarized as follows:

“Remaining what He was (fully God), He became what He was not (fully man).”

In summary, Jesus is (1) both fully God and fully man, and (2) there is no mixture or dilution of ether nature, and (3) He is united as one Person, forever. In other words, Jesus is both God and man, and His two natures, human and divine, are inseparable and will be forever.

But He Made Himself of No Reputation (kenṓsō)

But what Jesus did was to choose not to take advantage of His divine nature while on earth in order to fully experience our temptations and sufferings and become, as Hebrews states, our High Priest who was, like us, in all points “tempted as we were, yet without sin” (Heb. 4:15). Jesus chose to present Himself as our perfect example of how to live the Higher Christian Life by not utilizing what we don’t have— a divine nature, and voluntarily limiting Himself to what we do have— a human nature. As a result, Jesus struggled as we do, yet did not give into His struggles and sin. Jesus was tempted as we are, yet did not succumb to those temptations and sin. Jesus faced everything we face, even more so, yet held His head high, kept His eyes focused on His Father, and did not sin while being fully man. And in doing so, He showed us the way of victory over the things that hold us back from all God designed us to be. Jesus modeled unbroken intimacy, faithfulness, and obedience to His Father, while fully a man. And in doing so, Jesus became the prime example for the Higher Christian Life.

So how did He do this?

Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but (His choice) made Himself of no reputation (kenṓsō – to make empty, void, without meaning), taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found...]]>After He Through the Holy Spirit – Acts 1:2

As we continue looking at the book of Acts, especially the account of the lives of those in the early church, we are stopped cold in our tracks and amazed by a small, cryptic phrase found in Acts 1:2. And in these four small words, through the Holy Spirit, we find great encouragement in our own quest for the mind of Christ (1 Cor. 2:16) and our goal of being more like Him (1 John 2:6), being complete in Him (Col. 2:10), and experiencing the Higher Christian Life (John 10:10).

Let me explain.

When we see Christ in the Gospels, we tend to view Him in one of two extremes. One, as the Son of God who is fully God in every aspect, both co-equal and co-eternal with the Father. He is the Mt. Sinai God, the God of the Old Testament, all smoke, thunder, and lightning, only in a different person. We have looked at this subject in the past. And when we focus primarily on the divine aspect of Jesus, He becomes somewhat aloof and untouchable to unholy men like us with dirty hands and impure thoughts.

But, if we allow the pendulum to swing too far on the other side, we primarily see Jesus as only a man, a friend, someone we look up to and admire, but certainly not a King and definitely not God in the flesh. He thinks like us, likes what we like, and struggles with the same things we struggle with. Therefore we feel no need to fear or respect Him, much less obey Him. And we don’t worry too much about sinning because as a man, He is just like us (as uncomfortable as it is to admit)— fickle, prone to doubt, and as uncommitted and faithless as we are. Or at least that is what we assume.

Yet neither of these extremes fully capture the nature of Jesus. Again, as we have already discussed, Jesus is fully God and fully man and will be so forever. Yes, forever. Theologically this is known as the Hypostatic Union and can be summarized as follows:

“Remaining what He was (fully God), He became what He was not (fully man).”

In summary, Jesus is (1) both fully God and fully man, and (2) there is no mixture or dilution of ether nature, and (3) He is united as one Person, forever. In other words, Jesus is both God and man, and His two natures, human and divine, are inseparable and will be forever.

But He Made Himself of No Reputation (kenṓsō)

But what Jesus did was to choose not to take advantage of His divine nature while on earth in order to fully experience our temptations and sufferings and become, as Hebrews states, our High Priest who was, like us, in all points “tempted as we were, yet without sin” (Heb. 4:15). Jesus chose to present Himself as our perfect example of how to live the Higher Christian Life by not utilizing what we don’t have— a divine nature, and voluntarily limiting Himself to what we do have— a human nature. As a result, Jesus struggled as we do, yet did not give into His struggles and sin. Jesus was tempted as we are, yet did not succumb to those temptations and sin. Jesus faced everything we face, even more so, yet held His head high, kept His eyes focused on His Father, and did not sin while being fully man. And in doing so, He showed us the way of victory over the things that hold us back from all God designed us to be. Jesus modeled unbroken intimacy, faithfulness, and obedience to His Father, while fully a man. And in doing so, Jesus became the prime example for the Higher Christian Life.

So how did He do this?

Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but (His choice) made Himself of no reputation (kenṓsō – to make empty, void, without meaning), taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, (His choice) He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross – Philippians 2:5-8.

This was a choice Jesus made. He purposely, voluntarily, and with great faith, surrendered His life into the hands of the Father and received from the Father the same power available to us today— the Holy Spirit. That’s right, Jesus ministered through the Holy Spirit, the same Spirit that now lives in you and is the key that unlocks the abundant life He promised (John 10:10).

We will speak more on this later, but let me close by sharing just a few truths to drive this point home. And the first is found in Acts 1:2, the verse that prompted this discussion.

The former account I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, until the day in which He was taken up, after He (how) through the Holy Spirit (what) had given commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen – Acts 1:1-2.

Jesus did not give these commands to His apostles by His own authority, but through the authority of the Holy Spirit living in Him. He had placed His life in total submission to the Spirit of God who, if you remember, descended and remained on Him at His baptism (John 1:33). But there is more.

In Acts 10 we have Peter preaching in the home of Cornelius and describing Jesus as one “anointed” by God. How can Jesus, as God, be anointed by the Father, His equal, with the Holy Spirit, also His equal? Simple. God was anointing and empowering Jesus the man, through the Holy Spirit, that allowed Him to do all the things He did with the power that comes only from God (John 3:2). And this is the same Holy Spirit, and the same power (dúnamis), that now resides in you.

“How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with (1) the Holy Spirit and with (2) power (dúnamis), who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him” – Acts 10:38.

This is a perfect description of what God promised to give to His church in Acts 1:8. And it is the same Greek word for power (dúnamis) used in both verses.

“But you shall receive power (dúnamis) when (what) the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you (as the result) shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” – Acts 1:8.

There are many other passages that point to this truth, but we will look at them another time.

So as you struggle with the Higher Christian Life and sometimes think it’s not for you, consider that everything Jesus did on earth was done through the power of the Holy Spirit who was given to Him, and to you, for the same purpose. There is nothing you lack that is not found in Him. And there is nothing Jesus lacked that was not found in the Person of the Holy Spirit who indwelt Him. So be encouraged, all you have to do is surrender your life to the Spirit who now lives in you, and you will be empowered like Jesus promised when He said, “greater works than these (you) will do, because I (Jesus) go to My Father” (John 14:12).

Do you remember what happened when Jesus went to His Father? That’s right, He sent the Holy Spirit to live in us (Acts 2). And, as they say, the rest is history.

Let that sink in for a moment and be encouraged.

For more on the Higher Christian Life, visit www.higherchristianlife.com or www.leavinglaodicea.com.

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44: The Higher Christian Life is Found in Small Words

43: The Lord’s Supper and the Higher Christian Life

We have two key objectives in mind. One, to grow closer to our Lord and experience the Higher Christian Life, or at least try to understand what the Higher Christian Life looks like in real-time. And two, to have our faith grow to the point we will be spiritually prepared for the chaotic times coming our way and the trials, tribulations, and persecutions, that will most certainly follow. These, in my opinion, are noble endeavors. And both of them can be fulfilled by studying the book of Acts and focusing on the powerful ministry of the Holy Spirit in common men who lived under times far more chaotic than ours.

But if it is true the Acts is a training manual for His church and His revelation of what church should look like, then we need to ask some questions about what we read. For if we don’t ask questions, then how will we know when the Lord answers them? Here are some pressing questions we need to ask. We’ll start with chapter one.

•  Who were the 120 in the upper room? What were they like? Where did they come from?

•  Where were they when Jesus ascended into heaven?

•  What, if anything, made them different from us?

•  And what made the church in Acts different than the church in America today?

•  In what aspect were they followers of Jesus? Was there a part of their life they kept for themselves or had they surrendered all to Him?

•  Are we followers of Him in the same way they were followers of Him? Or do we follow Him differently today? And if we do, is it better?

•  What was the overriding command they were given? How were they to fulfill that command? And did they even want to?

•  What kind of power did they have that we seem to have lost? And how can we rediscover the power that lies dormant in the church, and in you and me, today?

•  Do we really want to fully receive the “Promise of the Father” Jesus spoke about? Or is that a bit too radical for us? And if we do receive the promise, how would that change our lives?

•  Do you think it is still possible for a small group of committed believers to “turn the world upside down” (Acts 17:6) as they did back then? Or do you think that ship has already sailed?

•  And if you do believe it is still possible, are you aware of the cost of being that kind of believer? Is it a cost you are willing to bear? Or a sacrifice you are willing to make? Is it something you want to do, something you are willing for Him to create in you? Or would you rather just pass?

•  And finally, would you want to be a member of the early church? Or would you find it too intimidating, too convicting?

Whew. And these are just a few questions we want to know about the lives of those who made up the early church. For if we can see their commitment and sacrifice, maybe we can begin to be more like them.

All That Jesus Began to Do and Teach – Acts 1:1

But there is one other thing we will look at today. And it is found in the insightful phrase that describes the ministry of Jesus, “do and teach.”

The former account I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach – Acts 1:1.

Note the order. Ministry first, theology later. Jesus was always doing first, and then teaching later. For our Lord, ministry preceded and produces theology, not the reverse. And His ministry was to do the will of the Father and]]>You Shall Receive Power – Acts 1:8

We have two key objectives in mind. One, to grow closer to our Lord and experience the Higher Christian Life, or at least try to understand what the Higher Christian Life looks like in real-time. And two, to have our faith grow to the point we will be spiritually prepared for the chaotic times coming our way and the trials, tribulations, and persecutions, that will most certainly follow. These, in my opinion, are noble endeavors. And both of them can be fulfilled by studying the book of Acts and focusing on the powerful ministry of the Holy Spirit in common men who lived under times far more chaotic than ours.

But if it is true the Acts is a training manual for His church and His revelation of what church should look like, then we need to ask some questions about what we read. For if we don’t ask questions, then how will we know when the Lord answers them? Here are some pressing questions we need to ask. We’ll start with chapter one.

•  Who were the 120 in the upper room? What were they like? Where did they come from?

•  Where were they when Jesus ascended into heaven?

•  What, if anything, made them different from us?

•  And what made the church in Acts different than the church in America today?

•  In what aspect were they followers of Jesus? Was there a part of their life they kept for themselves or had they surrendered all to Him?

•  Are we followers of Him in the same way they were followers of Him? Or do we follow Him differently today? And if we do, is it better?

•  What was the overriding command they were given? How were they to fulfill that command? And did they even want to?

•  What kind of power did they have that we seem to have lost? And how can we rediscover the power that lies dormant in the church, and in you and me, today?

•  Do we really want to fully receive the “Promise of the Father” Jesus spoke about? Or is that a bit too radical for us? And if we do receive the promise, how would that change our lives?

•  Do you think it is still possible for a small group of committed believers to “turn the world upside down” (Acts 17:6) as they did back then? Or do you think that ship has already sailed?

•  And if you do believe it is still possible, are you aware of the cost of being that kind of believer? Is it a cost you are willing to bear? Or a sacrifice you are willing to make? Is it something you want to do, something you are willing for Him to create in you? Or would you rather just pass?

•  And finally, would you want to be a member of the early church? Or would you find it too intimidating, too convicting?

Whew. And these are just a few questions we want to know about the lives of those who made up the early church. For if we can see their commitment and sacrifice, maybe we can begin to be more like them.

All That Jesus Began to Do and Teach – Acts 1:1

But there is one other thing we will look at today. And it is found in the insightful phrase that describes the ministry of Jesus, “do and teach.”

The former account I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach – Acts 1:1.

Note the order. Ministry first, theology later. Jesus was always doing first, and then teaching later. For our Lord, ministry preceded and produces theology, not the reverse. And His ministry was to do the will of the Father and out of this ministry emerges theological activity… later. It was never the other way around. Not for Jesus, and especially not for us. Or at least it should not be.

But that’s not how we do church in the West. It seems we have become teaching connoisseurs, and ministry wannabes.  We learn, and learn more, and go from Sunday school to graduate school with all our church degrees, yet fail to put most of what we have learned into practice. Especially in the ministry of evangelism. Ouch. I know. That one stings.

So let’s look at what “do and teach” implies regarding the ministry of Jesus and see if we can understand the passion and power of the early believers to glean from them something we so desperately need. After all, they knew far less than we do. Yet they did so much more. How is that possible?

Let’s find out together, shall we?

To download the slides for this message, click – HERE

For more on the Higher Christian Life, visit www.higherchristianlife.com or www.leavinglaodicea.com.

Our Latest Posts:

46: How to Experience Freedom From Your “Besetting Sins”

45: To Know or Not Know, that is the Question

44: The Higher Christian Life is Found in Small Words

43: The Lord’s Supper and the Higher Christian Life

42: To Reckon or Not Reckon, that is the Question

If we were honest with ourselves, most of us would admit it is sin that keeps us from experiencing the Higher Christian Life. And it’s not our horrible, gross, never-talk-about, sin that grieves His Spirit the most. It’s the sin we commit over and over again, the sin we have long since given up hope for ever gaining victory over. It is the sin, no matter how small it may seem to others, that has now become part of our lives and defines our inability to claim what is rightfully ours, the Higher Christian Life. “I know things would be different spiritually if I could just quit (you fill in the blank). But since I can’t… and oh, how I’ve tried… I guess this lukewarm spiritual existence is my destined lot in life. Ahem.”

But nothing could be further from the truth.

In Hebrews 11, we have a list of Old and New Testament saints that overcame incredible hardships and suffering by simple faith in God and His Word. As such, this chapter has been affectionately called the roll-call of faith. And it ends with the epithet of these men and women, “of whom the world was not worthy” (Heb. 11:38). It is a truly amazing tribute to what faith can accomplish in the life of a believer.

But then we ask ourselves, “Why can’t we seem to live the same types of lives as they did? What is holding us back from experiencing overcoming faith? How can we be more like them?”

And as usual, the Lord was anticipating our questions and provided His answer in the very next sentence, found in Hebrews 12:1:2. Consider these words from our Lord.

Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses (we are not alone, drifting in uncharted waters), let us (our action) lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares (euperístatos) us, and let us (our action) run with endurance the race that is set before us, (how) looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God – Hebrews 12:1-2.

But the most important phrase in this statement is “easily ensnares” or euperístatos in Greek. This word means “to surround or encompass, easily besetting.” Ah, it’s a besetting sin. And a besetting sin is defined as one we “continually struggle with and have a weakness towards, one we commit over and over again seemingly without relief or victory.”

Sound familiar? I thought so. You may have a few besetting sins in your own life. Most believers do.

Sanctification: Past, Present, and Future

After a time of trying only to fail, and fail again… only harder, most believers grow frustrated and prone to give up ever thinking victory is possible over their besetting sins. And at some point, usually after utter despondency, they come to the conclusion either Christ is not sufficient, or their flesh is too powerful, or they are just too much of a loser to amount to anything more than a nominal Christian plagued by besetting sins no one else seems to be struggling with. And this, after a time, leads to believing the Higher Christian Life is for others, but not for losers… like us.

But God has provided victory over besetting sins, and His victory is found in our commitment to trust Him at His Word. He has provided for us a great promise of forgiveness and sanctification if we trust His Word to be true. It is an if/then promise from the Lord. We do our part (if) and He will do His part (then). It is really that simple. All we have to do is believe He will do what He promises to do and the victory is ours. Consider...]]>Forgiveness: Past, Present, and Future

If we were honest with ourselves, most of us would admit it is sin that keeps us from experiencing the Higher Christian Life. And it’s not our horrible, gross, never-talk-about, sin that grieves His Spirit the most. It’s the sin we commit over and over again, the sin we have long since given up hope for ever gaining victory over. It is the sin, no matter how small it may seem to others, that has now become part of our lives and defines our inability to claim what is rightfully ours, the Higher Christian Life. “I know things would be different spiritually if I could just quit (you fill in the blank). But since I can’t… and oh, how I’ve tried… I guess this lukewarm spiritual existence is my destined lot in life. Ahem.”

But nothing could be further from the truth.

In Hebrews 11, we have a list of Old and New Testament saints that overcame incredible hardships and suffering by simple faith in God and His Word. As such, this chapter has been affectionately called the roll-call of faith. And it ends with the epithet of these men and women, “of whom the world was not worthy” (Heb. 11:38). It is a truly amazing tribute to what faith can accomplish in the life of a believer.

But then we ask ourselves, “Why can’t we seem to live the same types of lives as they did? What is holding us back from experiencing overcoming faith? How can we be more like them?”

And as usual, the Lord was anticipating our questions and provided His answer in the very next sentence, found in Hebrews 12:1:2. Consider these words from our Lord.

Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses (we are not alone, drifting in uncharted waters), let us (our action) lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares (euperístatos) us, and let us (our action) run with endurance the race that is set before us, (how) looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God – Hebrews 12:1-2.

But the most important phrase in this statement is “easily ensnares” or euperístatos in Greek. This word means “to surround or encompass, easily besetting.” Ah, it’s a besetting sin. And a besetting sin is defined as one we “continually struggle with and have a weakness towards, one we commit over and over again seemingly without relief or victory.”

Sound familiar? I thought so. You may have a few besetting sins in your own life. Most believers do.

Sanctification: Past, Present, and Future

After a time of trying only to fail, and fail again… only harder, most believers grow frustrated and prone to give up ever thinking victory is possible over their besetting sins. And at some point, usually after utter despondency, they come to the conclusion either Christ is not sufficient, or their flesh is too powerful, or they are just too much of a loser to amount to anything more than a nominal Christian plagued by besetting sins no one else seems to be struggling with. And this, after a time, leads to believing the Higher Christian Life is for others, but not for losers… like us.

But God has provided victory over besetting sins, and His victory is found in our commitment to trust Him at His Word. He has provided for us a great promise of forgiveness and sanctification if we trust His Word to be true. It is an if/then promise from the Lord. We do our part (if) and He will do His part (then). It is really that simple. All we have to do is believe He will do what He promises to do and the victory is ours. Consider this if/then promise:

If (our part) we confess our sins, (then – His part) He is faithful and just to (1) forgive us our sins (salvation) and to (2) cleanse us from all (pás) unrighteousness (sanctification, victory over besetting sins) – 1 John 1:9.

The forgiveness part we freely accept, no problem. But the cleansing from all unrighteousness (our victory over our besetting sins) is a bit more difficult to swallow and stretches our faith. So let’s look at this promise in a little more detail.

If we confess (to admit, concede, to openly acknowledge) our sins (plural), (then) He is faithful and just to (1) forgive us our sins (what we just confessed) and to (2) cleanse (to purify from the power and guilt of sin, to be free from filth and defilement), us from all (pás) unrighteousness (what is wrong, wicked, impure, an offense to God) – 1 John 1:9.

Simply stated, what you just read is true, from the Lord Himself, who is faithful and true. What is left is the hard part. Now you must choose to incorporate this path of victory into your own life, regardless of past failures, by faith. And when you do, God will follow through and “cleanse you from all unrighteousness” and give you victory over your nagging, besetting sins.

If you are unconvinced, why don’t you test God in this? After all, He has told us to test Him in other matters of faith (Mal. 3:10). So commit to believing His Word, no matter how little faith you have in yourself, and see if He won’t bless you in such a way that the Higher Christian Life will become a reality, and not just a lofty dream.

But don’t delay. Do it now.

To download the slides for this message, click – HERE

For more on the Higher Christian Life, visit www.higherchristianlife.com or www.leavinglaodicea.com.

Our Latest Posts:

45: To Know or Not Know, that is the Question

44: The Higher Christian Life is Found in Small Words

43: The Lord’s Supper and the Higher Christian Life

42: To Reckon or Not Reckon, that is the Question

41: Holy Men Spoke as They Were Moved by the Spirit

When it comes to the Higher Christian Life, one of the most important words in Scripture is ginṓskō. In fact, I’m not sure we could overstate that fact. The difference between the lukewarm life with Christ, which He has much to say about in Revelation 3:16-17 and has plagued the church for centuries, and the Higher Christian Life we are striving for, is found not in academic head knowledge, but in firsthand experience with God and His Word. In other words, it is one thing to know something mentally, and quite another to know something by experience. One is transitory and untested and can change over time, and the other is what the foundations of life are built upon. Let me explain.

In Scripture, there are several Greek words that are translated, know, or knowing. Primarily, in regards to the Higher Christian Life, we need only concern ourselves with two, ginṓskō and eidō. When it comes to knowing something or acquiring knowledge about someone, we tend to fall into one of two broad categories: head-knowledge or first-hand experience. And if you are honest with yourself, experience always trumps what we believe in our head. Plus, in regards to the Higher Christian Life, God wants us to not just know Him in a mental, doctrinal, sterile, academic way, but wants His children to experience Him in the very core of their being. Because it is in the arena of experience that faith in Him and His Word grows exponentially.  For example, what kind of knowledge do you think Paul is referring to in the following passage?

Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; that I may know (ginṓskō) Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead – Philippians 3:8-11.

Do you see the faith experiences being described in this passage? Paul is not talking about academic, mental knowledge, but the knowledge that only comes from a shared experience, or knowledge that is birthed in the fire of adversity. Look at what he says, I have “suffered the loss of all things”— which is an experience. Or, that I may “know (ginṓskō) Him and the power of His resurrection”— which is definitely an experience. Or, the “fellowship of His suffering”— nothing mental or academic about experiencing sufferings. Or, “being conformed to His death”— again, an experience and not mental assent, that “I may attain to the resurrection from the dead”— which is another big-time experience. Do you see the point?

Maybe it would help if I defined our two Greek words, ginṓskō and eidō. First, ginṓskō means “to know in a full or completed sense, to know by experience, to know fully.”  But it is also used in Scripture as a euphemism for an intimate, sexual relationship between a man and a woman, whereas Joseph did not “know” (ginṓskō) Mary until “she had brought forth her firstborn Son” (Matt. 1:25). Also, it conveys the idea of “love, approval, favor, with goodwill and care for the object of His knowledge.” We see this revealed many times in Scripture. For example, Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd; and I know (ginṓskō) My sheep, and am known (ginṓskō) by My own. As the Father...]]>Key Word for the Higher Christian Life: ginṓskō

When it comes to the Higher Christian Life, one of the most important words in Scripture is ginṓskō. In fact, I’m not sure we could overstate that fact. The difference between the lukewarm life with Christ, which He has much to say about in Revelation 3:16-17 and has plagued the church for centuries, and the Higher Christian Life we are striving for, is found not in academic head knowledge, but in firsthand experience with God and His Word. In other words, it is one thing to know something mentally, and quite another to know something by experience. One is transitory and untested and can change over time, and the other is what the foundations of life are built upon. Let me explain.

In Scripture, there are several Greek words that are translated, know, or knowing. Primarily, in regards to the Higher Christian Life, we need only concern ourselves with two, ginṓskō and eidō. When it comes to knowing something or acquiring knowledge about someone, we tend to fall into one of two broad categories: head-knowledge or first-hand experience. And if you are honest with yourself, experience always trumps what we believe in our head. Plus, in regards to the Higher Christian Life, God wants us to not just know Him in a mental, doctrinal, sterile, academic way, but wants His children to experience Him in the very core of their being. Because it is in the arena of experience that faith in Him and His Word grows exponentially.  For example, what kind of knowledge do you think Paul is referring to in the following passage?

Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; that I may know (ginṓskō) Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead – Philippians 3:8-11.

Do you see the faith experiences being described in this passage? Paul is not talking about academic, mental knowledge, but the knowledge that only comes from a shared experience, or knowledge that is birthed in the fire of adversity. Look at what he says, I have “suffered the loss of all things”— which is an experience. Or, that I may “know (ginṓskō) Him and the power of His resurrection”— which is definitely an experience. Or, the “fellowship of His suffering”— nothing mental or academic about experiencing sufferings. Or, “being conformed to His death”— again, an experience and not mental assent, that “I may attain to the resurrection from the dead”— which is another big-time experience. Do you see the point?

Maybe it would help if I defined our two Greek words, ginṓskō and eidō. First, ginṓskō means “to know in a full or completed sense, to know by experience, to know fully.”  But it is also used in Scripture as a euphemism for an intimate, sexual relationship between a man and a woman, whereas Joseph did not “know” (ginṓskō) Mary until “she had brought forth her firstborn Son” (Matt. 1:25). Also, it conveys the idea of “love, approval, favor, with goodwill and care for the object of His knowledge.” We see this revealed many times in Scripture. For example, Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd; and I know (ginṓskō) My sheep, and am known (ginṓskō) by My own. As the Father knows (ginṓskō) Me, even so I know (ginṓskō) the Father, and I lay down My life for the sheep” (John 10:14-15). Here, Jesus is expressing a knowledge of His sheep and His Father that is based on love, care, and a deep, first-hand experience with both.

And this is the type of knowledge (ginṓskō), based on truth and an experience that confirms that truth, the Lord wants us to have with Him and His Word. Why? Because faith must be tested to become real and genuine in our lives. Need proof? Go and do a quick overview of the heroes of faith found in Hebrews 11. Every one of them became a faith hero when they experienced something that confirmed their faith. Every one of them had a seismic shift from mental belief to firm conviction based on an experience, the trusting and testing of their faith, the proving without a doubt that it was true. And it is to be the same with us today, especially if we desire a deep intimacy with the Lord and embrace the Higher Christian Life.

The Importance of ginṓskō

Let me leave you with just a few verses that show the importance of knowing the fidelity of Him and His Word by experience (ginṓskō) in Scripture. Consider the following.

Now he who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. And by this we know (ginṓskō) that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us – 1 John 3:24.

Do I know Christ abides in me by mental assumption or by a doctrinal position I accept? Or do I know it by the experience I have had with the Holy Spirit who now lives in me? Exactly.

You shall know (ginṓskō) the truth and the truth shall make you free – John 8:32.

Will I be made free by mentally agreeing with a statement about the truth, or do I become free when I experience the liberating power of the truth found in Christ? You know the answer. It’s quite obvious, isn’t it?

The Higher Christian Life grows when we have a first-hand, personal, upfront, life-changing encounter with the Lord. When we come to believe, not just doctrinal facts about the Holy Spirit, but truly believe Him and His Word by the experience we have shared in the turmoils of life, then our faith is elevated to a personal level, a spiritual high, a mountaintop experience, that can never be shaken. Never. And this is the type of knowledge the Lord wants us to have with Him. A faith that has been tested by fire, yet remains stronger still.

We will develop this a bit more in our next time together.

One last thing, the definition of the other Greek word, eidō, is the same as our common understanding of the English word for know. It means just the opposite of ginṓskō. It is not knowledge by experience, but eidō means “to see, to perceive by the senses, to be made aware of, to comprehend,” and it is often translated as see, look, or behold. For example,

Then His disciples came and said to Him, “Do You know (eidō – are You not aware) that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?” – Matthew 15:12.

I hope you will continue to strive for the higher life in Christ, which is yours for the embracing. It is your birthright as a child of God. So embrace it with all you have. And do it today.

For more on the Higher Christian Life, visit www.higherchristianlife.com or www.leavinglaodicea.com.

Our Latest Posts:

44: The Higher Christian Life is Found in Small Words

43: The Lord’s Supper and the Higher Christian Life

42: To Reckon or Not Reckon, that is the Question

41: Holy Men Spoke as They Were Moved by the Spirit

40: Bible Study is a Marathon, Not a Sprint

Our faith, unfortunately, is often based on head-knowledge or mental assent and only becomes real to us when it is experienced, firsthand, in the midst of a tough time or by a trial by fire. And the Higher Christian Life is not a life of intellectual assurance only, but of faith based on our experience with the Holy Spirit who now lives in us. After all, unless our faith is tested by trials and tribulations and we experience its truth, it doesn’t become real to us and remains academic in nature. This is what James was trying to tell us early in his letter.

My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, (why) knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing – James 1:2-4.

But note what James is really saying:

My brethren, count (reckon, consider, live like it was true) it all joy when you fall (to fall into the midst of something as to be totally surrounded by it) into various trials (temptations, putting to the test), (why) knowing (ginṓskō) that the testing of your faith produces (to finish, accomplish, to bring to the desired end) patience (to persevere, to remain under, to endure). But let (or don’t quit or give up early in the process) patience have its perfect (complete, full, wanting in nothing) work, that you may be perfect (complete, full, wanting in nothing) and complete (whole, having all its parts), lacking nothing – James 1:2-4.

As we strive to grow in our faith in God’s Word and His promises, two Greek words will present themselves before us that are both translated, know or knowing.  The first is ginṓskō (which is used above) and the other is eidō. One of them means to know something by experience and the other means to know like we pretty much know most things today, by intellectual assent. And the difference between these two types of knowledge is the key that unlocks the door to the Higher Christian Life, especially regarding your faith in God’s promises.

Today we will simply introduce these two words and show how important the small words in Scripture are to embracing the Higher Christian Life. And we’ll do this by exploring John 21 together.

For more on the Higher Christian Life, visit www.higherchristianlife.com or www.leavinglaodicea.com.

Our Latest Posts:

43: The Lord’s Supper and the Higher Christian Life

42: To Reckon or Not Reckon, that is the Question

41: Holy Men Spoke as They Were Moved by the Spirit

40: Bible Study is a Marathon, Not a Sprint

39: How to Discover the Wisdom of God

There are many questions Christians have about the Lord’s Supper, and not all of them revolve around the nature of the substance of the bread and wine. There is the question about timing, how often are we to celebrate it? And then questions about meaning, is it symbolic, or does it truly transfer some tangible grace to those who partake?

But the biggest question, for me, is in regards to its significance. After all, there is a judgment attached to the Lord’s Supper. The Scriptures teach those who partake of it in an “unworthy manner” will bring judgment upon themselves, even to the point of sickness and death. That’s right. Read it yourself in 1 Corinthians 11:27-30.

That seems a bit heavy-handed to me. Does it to you?

That is until I began to see a deeper meaning in the Lord’s Supper, something right below the surface. For years, when Jesus broke the bread and gave it to His disciples, we focused on “this is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me” (Luke 22:19), referring almost exclusively to the physical suffering and death of Jesus on the cross for our sins. And that is true. But there may be more we have been missing.

And when Jesus said, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you” (Luke 22:20), again, we usually interpret that to only mean the physical shedding of His blood as His sacrifice for our sins. And that is also true. But there could be more to this than meets the eye.

Since we tend to think linearly, we often jump from the Upper Room, with the bread and wine, to the cross, with His broken body and shed blood, and assume we have the point of the Lord’s Supper all wrapped up in a neat package. But what we miss is what happened between these two, the turmoil in the garden, where Jesus had to determine for Himself if He would fulfill His commitment to His Father that He made long before He came as a Babe in Bethlehem.

Never forget, between the upper room and the cross, was the garden. And it may be that what happened in the garden is what the Lord wants us to remember every time we partake of the Lord’s Supper.

Let’s look at the commitment Jesus made to His Father.

And Then He Came in the Likeness of Men

In Philippians 2, we have a scene before us that reveals the Lord Jesus making Himself (His action) a “bondservant” (doúlos) of His Father and then, as a bondservant, a voluntary slave, becoming obedient to His Father “to the point of death, even the death of the cross” (Phil. 2:8). And in this passage, we see the depth of the relationship between the Father and His Son and the reason for the suffering of Jesus in the garden. Consider the following:

Let this mind (phronéō – to think, to have the mindset) be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being (to be or exist in a state or condition) in the form (morphḗ – shape, essence, replica, the expression of something that reflects or manifests fully and truly the essence of what something is) of God, did not consider (hēgéomai – view, regard, esteem, count, reckon) it robbery (taking something by force) to be equal (ísos – alike in quantity, quality, dignity) with God, but (His action) made Himself of no reputation (kenóō – to make empty or void, of no value), (to what degree) taking the form (morphḗ – shape, essence, replica, the expression of something that reflects or manifests fully and truly the essence of what something is) of a bondservant (doúlos – a slave, one who is in a permanent relation of servitude to another, his will being altogether consumed in the will of the other), and coming in the likeness (homoíōma – similitude, resemblance) of men.

And being found...]]>Jesus First Became a Bondservant...

There are many questions Christians have about the Lord’s Supper, and not all of them revolve around the nature of the substance of the bread and wine. There is the question about timing, how often are we to celebrate it? And then questions about meaning, is it symbolic, or does it truly transfer some tangible grace to those who partake?

But the biggest question, for me, is in regards to its significance. After all, there is a judgment attached to the Lord’s Supper. The Scriptures teach those who partake of it in an “unworthy manner” will bring judgment upon themselves, even to the point of sickness and death. That’s right. Read it yourself in 1 Corinthians 11:27-30.

That seems a bit heavy-handed to me. Does it to you?

That is until I began to see a deeper meaning in the Lord’s Supper, something right below the surface. For years, when Jesus broke the bread and gave it to His disciples, we focused on “this is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me” (Luke 22:19), referring almost exclusively to the physical suffering and death of Jesus on the cross for our sins. And that is true. But there may be more we have been missing.

And when Jesus said, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you” (Luke 22:20), again, we usually interpret that to only mean the physical shedding of His blood as His sacrifice for our sins. And that is also true. But there could be more to this than meets the eye.

Since we tend to think linearly, we often jump from the Upper Room, with the bread and wine, to the cross, with His broken body and shed blood, and assume we have the point of the Lord’s Supper all wrapped up in a neat package. But what we miss is what happened between these two, the turmoil in the garden, where Jesus had to determine for Himself if He would fulfill His commitment to His Father that He made long before He came as a Babe in Bethlehem.

Never forget, between the upper room and the cross, was the garden. And it may be that what happened in the garden is what the Lord wants us to remember every time we partake of the Lord’s Supper.

Let’s look at the commitment Jesus made to His Father.

And Then He Came in the Likeness of Men

In Philippians 2, we have a scene before us that reveals the Lord Jesus making Himself (His action) a “bondservant” (doúlos) of His Father and then, as a bondservant, a voluntary slave, becoming obedient to His Father “to the point of death, even the death of the cross” (Phil. 2:8). And in this passage, we see the depth of the relationship between the Father and His Son and the reason for the suffering of Jesus in the garden. Consider the following:

Let this mind (phronéō – to think, to have the mindset) be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being (to be or exist in a state or condition) in the form (morphḗ – shape, essence, replica, the expression of something that reflects or manifests fully and truly the essence of what something is) of God, did not consider (hēgéomai – view, regard, esteem, count, reckon) it robbery (taking something by force) to be equal (ísos – alike in quantity, quality, dignity) with God, but (His action) made Himself of no reputation (kenóō – to make empty or void, of no value), (to what degree) taking the form (morphḗ – shape, essence, replica, the expression of something that reflects or manifests fully and truly the essence of what something is) of a bondservant (doúlos – a slave, one who is in a permanent relation of servitude to another, his will being altogether consumed in the will of the other), and coming in the likeness (homoíōma – similitude, resemblance) of men.

And being found (or recognized) in appearance (schḗma – form, external appearance, mode) as a man, He (Christ’s actions) humbled Himself (tapeinóō – to bring low, to abase, to render oneself to a low condition) and became obedient (hupḗkoo –to submit to) to the point of death, even the death of the cross – Philippians 2:5-8.

Note the order: First, Jesus voluntarily became a “bondservant” to His Father (not to any man), and then came in the “likeness of men.”  What does this order imply?

Simply this, there may be more to the Lord’s Supper than we have previously recognized. And the meaning may be more than just remembering the physical suffering and death of our Lord on the cross. It may also point to our need to reconfirm the promise we made to the Father when we first came to faith in Him— the promise of ourselves and our total surrender and commitment to Him. Do you remember?

There is much to see in this passage. So join us as we rediscover the wonder of the Lord’s Supper as we embrace the Higher Christian Life.

To download the slides for this message, click – HERE.

For more on the Higher Christian Life, visit www.higherchristianlife.com or www.leavinglaodicea.com.

Our Latest Posts:

42: To Reckon or Not Reckon, that is the Question

41: Holy Men Spoke as They Were Moved by the Spirit

40: Bible Study is a Marathon, Not a Sprint

39: How to Discover the Wisdom of God

38: What Are You Lacking in Your Spiritual Life?

We have been looking at the three key truths that will allow you to experience the surrender that leads to the Higher Christian Life. Let’s take a moment for a quick review.

Truth One – You are incapable of pleasing God or producing anything good with your flesh (your sinful nature) no matter how hard you try. It cannot be done, has never been done, will never be done, by anybody, ever. And you can find the foundation of Truth One in Romans 7:15-25, especially verse 18.

For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find – Romans 7:18.

So Truth One states you can’t, no matter how hard you try. But Truth Two reveals He can, beyond all you can imagine.  Truth Two reminds us that God has given you the Holy Spirit to live in you. And one of His purposes for His Spirit dwelling in you is to work in you “both to will and to do (why) for His good pleasure” (Phil. 2:13). In other words, the Holy Spirit now living in you is able to do in you “exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us” (Eph. 3:20). And, by the way, the power that works “in us” is none other than the Holy Spirit. (Note: Did you notice how many times the phrase “in you” was used in this paragraph? It is not something to gloss over lightly).

This brings us to Truth Three.  But first, a bit of warning.  Truth three is not something to be believed only, but to be experienced, just like the Higher Christian Life. For without experiencing this truth, firsthand, you will not gain the wonderful benefit of it nor the changed life that comes with it. Finally, all the benefits of Truth Three are contingent on faith. And it is in your faith the enemy will attack. Maybe even today. So be forewarned.

Let’s look at Truth Three.

You Are Also to “Reckon” Yourself Dead to Sin

Truth Three states that when Christ was crucified, He took with Him to the cross not only your sins, but also your sinful nature (the “old man”). Let that truth sink in for a moment.

Remember, your “old man” refers to your unregenerate human spirit consisting of the Adamic life prior to salvation. And the “new man” refers to the regenerate human spirit, indwelt by the Holy Spirit. Basically, the “old man” is all that you were before salvation, and the “new man” is all that you have become after salvation. You can find these terms used in Romans 6:6, Ephesians 4:22 and 24, and Colossians 3:9-10, among other places. It should be a familiar concept to you. But one not usually carried to its logical conclusion.

Watch how this plays out so clearly in Romans 6. First, the foundation:

For if (since, because) we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be (united together) in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that (what) our old man was crucified with Him, (why) that the body of sin might be done away with, (why) that we should no longer be slaves of sin – Romans 6:5-6.

Next, the logical progression based on the foundation:

For he who has died has been freed from sin. Now if (since, because) we died (how) with Christ, we believe (our choice, see below) that we shall also live (how) with Him, (how) knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. (why) Death no longer has dominion over Him. For the death that He died (past tense), He died to sin once for all; but the life that He]]>The Cross Not Only Paid For Your Sins...

We have been looking at the three key truths that will allow you to experience the surrender that leads to the Higher Christian Life. Let’s take a moment for a quick review.

Truth One – You are incapable of pleasing God or producing anything good with your flesh (your sinful nature) no matter how hard you try. It cannot be done, has never been done, will never be done, by anybody, ever. And you can find the foundation of Truth One in Romans 7:15-25, especially verse 18.

For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find – Romans 7:18.

So Truth One states you can’t, no matter how hard you try. But Truth Two reveals He can, beyond all you can imagine.  Truth Two reminds us that God has given you the Holy Spirit to live in you. And one of His purposes for His Spirit dwelling in you is to work in you “both to will and to do (why) for His good pleasure” (Phil. 2:13). In other words, the Holy Spirit now living in you is able to do in you “exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us” (Eph. 3:20). And, by the way, the power that works “in us” is none other than the Holy Spirit. (Note: Did you notice how many times the phrase “in you” was used in this paragraph? It is not something to gloss over lightly).

This brings us to Truth Three.  But first, a bit of warning.  Truth three is not something to be believed only, but to be experienced, just like the Higher Christian Life. For without experiencing this truth, firsthand, you will not gain the wonderful benefit of it nor the changed life that comes with it. Finally, all the benefits of Truth Three are contingent on faith. And it is in your faith the enemy will attack. Maybe even today. So be forewarned.

Let’s look at Truth Three.

You Are Also to “Reckon” Yourself Dead to Sin

Truth Three states that when Christ was crucified, He took with Him to the cross not only your sins, but also your sinful nature (the “old man”). Let that truth sink in for a moment.

Remember, your “old man” refers to your unregenerate human spirit consisting of the Adamic life prior to salvation. And the “new man” refers to the regenerate human spirit, indwelt by the Holy Spirit. Basically, the “old man” is all that you were before salvation, and the “new man” is all that you have become after salvation. You can find these terms used in Romans 6:6, Ephesians 4:22 and 24, and Colossians 3:9-10, among other places. It should be a familiar concept to you. But one not usually carried to its logical conclusion.

Watch how this plays out so clearly in Romans 6. First, the foundation:

For if (since, because) we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be (united together) in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that (what) our old man was crucified with Him, (why) that the body of sin might be done away with, (why) that we should no longer be slaves of sin – Romans 6:5-6.

Next, the logical progression based on the foundation:

For he who has died has been freed from sin. Now if (since, because) we died (how) with Christ, we believe (our choice, see below) that we shall also live (how) with Him, (how) knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. (why) Death no longer has dominion over Him. For the death that He died (past tense), He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives (present tense), He lives to God – Romans 6:7-10.

And finally, the conclusion about our old man and his death on the cross. But remember, this truth only becomes real to you by experience. Or, as Romans says, when you “reckon yourself” to this truth.

Likewise (in the same manner) you (personal) also (like others who have experienced what you now seek), reckon (to impute, consider, count, reason, think, to be of the conviction) yourselves (personal) to be (present tense, currently, at this very moment, right now) dead indeed (truly, on the one hand) to sin, but (on the other hand) alive to God (how) in Christ Jesus our Lord – Romans 6:11.

Note the obvious, if you “reckon yourself” to this truth, its power becomes real to you. But if by doubt or disbelief you refuse to believe what the Scriptures say about you and your old nature, you will still struggle with failure because, per Truth One, “you are incapable of pleasing God or producing anything good with your flesh (your sinful nature) no matter how hard you try.” The choice of either being an overcomer or one who lives in constant defeat is based on the content of your faith. You will either “reckon yourself” to be what the Scriptures say you are, or you will choose to take your eyes off Jesus and focus on the waves and sink like Peter (Matt. 14:30).

The choice is always yours. Always.

The following is the sermon that goes into much greater detail about Truth Three than I can present in a short blog post. I know it is much longer than the usual podcasts, but I would encourage you to listen and let your mind embrace the possibilities of Truth Three. And remember, Satan cannot attack the truth. He cannot make Truth Three not be true. But he can, and he will attack your faith and belief in Truth Three. And if he succeeds, the power found in Truth Three will be lost to you, and you will languish in defeat with your life of holiness and most likely fail to experience all of the Higher Christian Life. Or, if you simply trust Him and “reckon” (to impute, consider, count, reason, think, to be of the conviction) yourself to be what the Scriptures say, then watch out, for the best is yet to come.

So choose wisely.

To download the slides for this message, click – HERE

For more on the Higher Christian Life, visit www.higherchristianlife.com or www.leavinglaodicea.com.

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37: He is All You Will Ever Need… Ever!

When we begin to seek God’s wisdom through a deep study of His Word, it is good to remind ourselves of exactly what we are doing and how the Bible is unique from all other literature. It is more than the words of man, it is the very words of God. I know, for the skeptics, that statement seems presumptuous, maybe even arrogant. But it is nonetheless, true.

Let’s look at just two truths about the Scriptures that will begin to reveal to you the depth and character of His Word and the blessings that come from studying and applying it authoritatively to our lives. First, the nature of His Word.

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work – 2 Timothy 3:16-17.

This statement about Scripture seems clear enough. But as you dig a bit deeper into the meaning of these words, you will find a treasure of truth hidden just beneath the surface. Let’s begin by defining a few Greek words.

All (pás – each, every, any, the whole, in totality without exception) Scripture is given by inspiration of God (theópneustos – to breathe or blow, to be divinely inspired), and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work – 2 Timothy 3:16-17.

Note, “all” (pás) means every bit of Scripture, from the list of names in Numbers to the judgments found in the Revelation. But at the time this was written, all primarily referred to the Old Testament.

Note also, the word translated “inspiration of God” (theópneustos) only occurs in this passage and gives the idea of God breathing His Word into human men who were moved or inspired to record what God said. It (theópneustos) is a compound word combining “God” and “to breathe.” That is why some translators use “God-breathed” (NIV) or “breathed out” (ESV). But in the end, the message is clear. All Scripture (the Old Testament in this passage and the New Testament in 1 Cor. 2:9-16) is breathed by God and divinely inspired according to His will. And, as such, it is flawless, perfect, infallible, unchangeable, true, and of immeasurable value, because it reflects the nature of its Author. It is the Word of God.

All Scripture, “is given” to us, as a gift from God, “by” or through the “inspiration of God.” Not the inspiration of man, but of God. But some may ask how this process takes place? What differentiates this inspiration from God from the inspiration Beethoven experienced, for example, when he composed his inspired symphonies?

What Does it Mean to be “Moved” by God?

Let’s see what Peter has to say about this important question.

Knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is (gínomai – to begin to be, comes into being or existence, originates, happens) of any private interpretation (or, it doesn’t originate in the mind of man), for prophecy never came by the will of man (or, it doesn’t originate in the volition of man), but holy men of God spoke as they were moved (phérō – to bring or carry along, to be continually carried) by the Holy Spirit – 2 Peter 1:20-21.

Look at the word, moved. In Acts, this word is used to describe how the wind blows a ship across the water from one place to another (Acts 27:15, 17). The imagery should not be lost on us. Peter is describing how the Holy Spirit fills the sails of men with the breath of His Word and gives them divine inspiration and revelation to record what He wanted them to write down. Sometimes God “breathed”]]>We Need Holy Men of God to be Moved by the Spirit

When we begin to seek God’s wisdom through a deep study of His Word, it is good to remind ourselves of exactly what we are doing and how the Bible is unique from all other literature. It is more than the words of man, it is the very words of God. I know, for the skeptics, that statement seems presumptuous, maybe even arrogant. But it is nonetheless, true.

Let’s look at just two truths about the Scriptures that will begin to reveal to you the depth and character of His Word and the blessings that come from studying and applying it authoritatively to our lives. First, the nature of His Word.

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work – 2 Timothy 3:16-17.

This statement about Scripture seems clear enough. But as you dig a bit deeper into the meaning of these words, you will find a treasure of truth hidden just beneath the surface. Let’s begin by defining a few Greek words.

All (pás – each, every, any, the whole, in totality without exception) Scripture is given by inspiration of God (theópneustos – to breathe or blow, to be divinely inspired), and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work – 2 Timothy 3:16-17.

Note, “all” (pás) means every bit of Scripture, from the list of names in Numbers to the judgments found in the Revelation. But at the time this was written, all primarily referred to the Old Testament.

Note also, the word translated “inspiration of God” (theópneustos) only occurs in this passage and gives the idea of God breathing His Word into human men who were moved or inspired to record what God said. It (theópneustos) is a compound word combining “God” and “to breathe.” That is why some translators use “God-breathed” (NIV) or “breathed out” (ESV). But in the end, the message is clear. All Scripture (the Old Testament in this passage and the New Testament in 1 Cor. 2:9-16) is breathed by God and divinely inspired according to His will. And, as such, it is flawless, perfect, infallible, unchangeable, true, and of immeasurable value, because it reflects the nature of its Author. It is the Word of God.

All Scripture, “is given” to us, as a gift from God, “by” or through the “inspiration of God.” Not the inspiration of man, but of God. But some may ask how this process takes place? What differentiates this inspiration from God from the inspiration Beethoven experienced, for example, when he composed his inspired symphonies?

What Does it Mean to be “Moved” by God?

Let’s see what Peter has to say about this important question.

Knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is (gínomai – to begin to be, comes into being or existence, originates, happens) of any private interpretation (or, it doesn’t originate in the mind of man), for prophecy never came by the will of man (or, it doesn’t originate in the volition of man), but holy men of God spoke as they were moved (phérō – to bring or carry along, to be continually carried) by the Holy Spirit – 2 Peter 1:20-21.

Look at the word, moved. In Acts, this word is used to describe how the wind blows a ship across the water from one place to another (Acts 27:15, 17). The imagery should not be lost on us. Peter is describing how the Holy Spirit fills the sails of men with the breath of His Word and gives them divine inspiration and revelation to record what He wanted them to write down. Sometimes God “breathed” His words into human writers in much the same way dictation is taken down. For example, to Jeremiah God said, “Behold, I have put My words in your mouth” (Jer. 1:9). But we will look more into this at a later time.

Remember, the only One who knows the mind of God is the Holy Spirit (John 15:26). Therefore, only the Holy Spirit could have inspired the Scriptures. As the verse says, “but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by (who) the Holy Spirit” (2 Peter 1:21). The Scriptures did not come from the inspiration or the mind of gifted, even spiritual, men. No, the inspiration came from the Holy Spirit and was given to “holy men” who were moved or continually carried along as they wrote what was given to them to write.

This is the value of the Scriptures we hold in our hands. But there is more. There is a great benefit that comes to us by a study of God’s inspired Word.

And is profitable (ōphélimos – advantageous, helpful, useful, beneficial) for (1) doctrine, for (2) reproof, for (3) correction, for (4) instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work – 2 Timothy 3:17.

Note the four-fold blessings: Doctrine, reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness. This is the path of sanctification, of living the Higher Christian Life. But there is one last blessing we want to uncover in this verse, and it is found in the word, complete. One of the goals of Scripture is that the “man of God may be complete, (how) thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

The word translated “complete” (ártios) means “qualified, proficient, fitted, capable, furnished or equipped with every necessary component for a task or purpose.” Let that sink in for a moment. God has supplied all we need to be all He wants us to be, right in His Word. The key to experiencing intimacy with Him, to becoming His light among the darkness, to understanding the “mind of Christ” (1 Cor. 2:6), to be conformed to His image (Rom. 8:29), to realizing we are “complete in Him” (Col. 2:10)— everything imaginable, is found in His Word. And it is given to us as a great blessing. One that only needs to be read to be received.

So let’s begin this journey together, shall we? Let’s look into God’s Word and see what of His wisdom we can claim for ourselves, what we can learn from Him as dearly beloved children, and how our faith in Him might grow as we see the day of His return approaching (Heb. 10:25).

For more on the Higher Christian Life, visit www.higherchristianlife.com or www.leavinglaodicea.com.

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40: Bible Study is a Marathon, Not a Sprint

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Before we actually begin to look at the Proverbs to glean the wisdom of God, we first need to remind ourselves what Bible study entails and how to mine the depths of God's Word for the treasure often buried just below the surface.  Note, we are committing ourselves to Bible study to experience God and His wisdom.  Not Bible skimming or even Bible reading.  Those may have their place in our spiritual lives, but not if we strive to have a deeper intimacy with the Lord and experience the Higher Christian Life.

Bible study is not a sprint.  We don't begin with the goal of trying to get as much done in the least amount of time so we can cross this item off our to-do list and move on to something more important.  That is a recipe for failure, frustration, and a stagnant Christian life.  And it is a great slight to God's inspired Word (2 Tim. 3:16).

No, Bible study is a marathon.  It is a life-long endeavor that produces a mature believer "thoroughly equipped for every good work" (2 Tim. 3:17).  And it takes time, as all things of value do.  Proper Bible study is like the difference between dining on a fine meal in an upscale restaurant with close friends or whoofing down a Happy Meal in the front seat of your car alone.  Both meet your hunger needs.  But only one is a deeply satisfying, pleasurable experience.

There are just a few things we must know about any passage of Scripture we will study, especially if our goal is to have the Lord speak to us about something in our lives through His Word.  First, we need to know exactly what it says, what each word means.  Not just in our language today, but what it meant to those to whom it was written so many millennia ago.  After all, language changes.  And what something meant in English 75 years ago may not mean the same thing today.

For example, before the '60s, when someone said, "Cool, man," it was always about temperature.  But that all changed over time.  So that now, when we hear that statement, we never think it has something to do with how cold it is outside.  Or, in the time before World War II, the phrase "gay" had nothing to do with sexual orientation.  Instead, it referred to an attitude of cheerfulness and lighthearted excitement.  In 1934, Fred Astair and Ginger Roger starred in the movie, The Gay Divorcee.   This musical had nothing to do with the sexual orientation of either party.  But if that movie was released today, we would probably assume we knew the reason behind their divorce.  Ah, one of them was gay.  And this is how words can mean something different over time.

Understanding this, we need to know what a passage said when it was written, the culture in which it was written, and the people for whom it was written.  That is why a Greek and Hebrew Word Study Dictionary is so important.  But we'll speak on that in a moment.

Then, What Does it Mean?

Then, after we determine what a passage says, we have to determine what it means.  And this is where the marathon part of Bible study comes in.  The rule is simply this; we do not move to another passage until we fully understand what our current passage means.  There is no skipping over it or "I'll get back around to that later."  Our task is to stop, prayerfully meditate on the passage, use whatever resources we have available to help us in our understanding (see below), ask the Lord to reveal His meaning to us, and wait until we discover His hidden treasure of truth, before moving on.  No matter how long it takes.

After all, if we spend an hour in His Word reading three chapters but get nothing out of it, we have wasted our time.  But if we spent the same amount of time on one verse and God reveals...]]>First, What Does it Say?

Before we actually begin to look at the Proverbs to glean the wisdom of God, we first need to remind ourselves what Bible study entails and how to mine the depths of God's Word for the treasure often buried just below the surface.  Note, we are committing ourselves to Bible study to experience God and His wisdom.  Not Bible skimming or even Bible reading.  Those may have their place in our spiritual lives, but not if we strive to have a deeper intimacy with the Lord and experience the Higher Christian Life.

Bible study is not a sprint.  We don't begin with the goal of trying to get as much done in the least amount of time so we can cross this item off our to-do list and move on to something more important.  That is a recipe for failure, frustration, and a stagnant Christian life.  And it is a great slight to God's inspired Word (2 Tim. 3:16).

No, Bible study is a marathon.  It is a life-long endeavor that produces a mature believer "thoroughly equipped for every good work" (2 Tim. 3:17).  And it takes time, as all things of value do.  Proper Bible study is like the difference between dining on a fine meal in an upscale restaurant with close friends or whoofing down a Happy Meal in the front seat of your car alone.  Both meet your hunger needs.  But only one is a deeply satisfying, pleasurable experience.

There are just a few things we must know about any passage of Scripture we will study, especially if our goal is to have the Lord speak to us about something in our lives through His Word.  First, we need to know exactly what it says, what each word means.  Not just in our language today, but what it meant to those to whom it was written so many millennia ago.  After all, language changes.  And what something meant in English 75 years ago may not mean the same thing today.

For example, before the '60s, when someone said, "Cool, man," it was always about temperature.  But that all changed over time.  So that now, when we hear that statement, we never think it has something to do with how cold it is outside.  Or, in the time before World War II, the phrase "gay" had nothing to do with sexual orientation.  Instead, it referred to an attitude of cheerfulness and lighthearted excitement.  In 1934, Fred Astair and Ginger Roger starred in the movie, The Gay Divorcee.   This musical had nothing to do with the sexual orientation of either party.  But if that movie was released today, we would probably assume we knew the reason behind their divorce.  Ah, one of them was gay.  And this is how words can mean something different over time.

Understanding this, we need to know what a passage said when it was written, the culture in which it was written, and the people for whom it was written.  That is why a Greek and Hebrew Word Study Dictionary is so important.  But we'll speak on that in a moment.

Then, What Does it Mean?

Then, after we determine what a passage says, we have to determine what it means.  And this is where the marathon part of Bible study comes in.  The rule is simply this; we do not move to another passage until we fully understand what our current passage means.  There is no skipping over it or "I'll get back around to that later."  Our task is to stop, prayerfully meditate on the passage, use whatever resources we have available to help us in our understanding (see below), ask the Lord to reveal His meaning to us, and wait until we discover His hidden treasure of truth, before moving on.  No matter how long it takes.

After all, if we spend an hour in His Word reading three chapters but get nothing out of it, we have wasted our time.  But if we spent the same amount of time on one verse and God reveals His will to us in that verse, we are encouraged, enlightened, changed, and growing in our likeness to His Son (Rom. 8:29).  And our lives are forever transformed by His Word.  It's the marathon that builds endurance, not the sprint.

Let me close by giving you a few pointers to help in your Bible study.

1.  Slowly read the passage several times out loud.  Emphasize each word and phrase as you do.

2.  Ask questions about the text.  Who, what, where, why, how long, for what purpose, etc.

3.  Ask the Lord to show you why He led you to this part of His Word today?  What is He trying to show you?  What does He want to reveal to you?

4.  Spend some time studying each word?  What do they mean in Greek and Hebrew?  Is their meaning different than what I assume they mean today?  Has the language changed over time?  Hint:  Spend extra attention on the small words, all, any, if, then, know, but, etc.

5.  What are the implications of what I just read?  Why did God lead me to this passage today? How can I apply this in my life in both my actions and my attitude?  Is this further explained in the next few verses?

6.  Spend some time looking for other passages that will further explain and support what the Lord is saying in the passage you are studying.  And if so, where?  What is God trying to show me?

7.  What principles or truths can I learn about God?  Hint:  Make this about Him, and not you.  Is He showing you something about His character and nature in what you are studying?

8.  Finally, ask God to show you how to live in the truth He has just revealed.  This is where your faith grows.  Ask Him to place you in situations, no matter how difficult, where your faith in the truths He just revealed to you will be tested.  After all, we are promised in James 1:3, the "testing of our faith produces patience (hupomonḗ - endurance, the ability to withstand hardship or stress)."  And endurance is what we are seeking in the times in which we live.

Remember, Bible study is not a sprint, but a marathon.

Last quick point, you will need some resources to help with your Bible study.   Let me suggest the following:

Study Bible:

MacArthur Study Bible - NKJV.  This is probably the most important resource.  All translations are not equal, no matter how easy or difficult they are to read.

Greek and Hebrew Word Study Dictionaries:

The Complete Word Study Dictionary of the New Testament by Spiros Zodhiates

The Complete Word Study of the Old Testament by Spiros Zodhiates

Bible Commentary:  I would suggest using one from the latter part of the last century, such as the Pulpit Commentary, Spurgeon's Notes and Sermons, etc.  However, if you are looking for something more contemporary, try the commentaries by John MacArthur and/or James Montgomery Boice or the writings of AW Pink.  Note:  Try not to do a random Google search for the meaning of a particular passage.  There is much truth and deception online about everything— source matters.

For solid Biblical answers online, try the following:

Blue Letter Bible - blueletterbible.org

Got Questions - gotquestions.org

CARM (Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry) - carm.org

Grace to You - gty.org

The Ministry of Chuck Missler - khouse.org

Enjoy your time with Him, and tomorrow we will begin to do exactly what I have described in the book of Proverbs.

For more on the Higher Christian Life, visit www.higherchristianlife.com or www.leavinglaodicea.com.

Our Latest Posts:

39: How to Discover the Wisdom of God

38: What Are You Lacking in Your Spiritual Life?

37: He is All You Will Ever Need… Ever!

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35: What Church Could Look Like Today

This past Sunday, we talked about how we as Christians and His church are to respond during the dark times we see encroaching all around. What are we to do? How are we to think and feel? What is God’s will in all of this?

Just think about what we have experienced as a culture since the beginning of the year.

In DC, there was a rally turned riot (depending on how you view the events of January 6th) that many claim was the beginning of an insurrection against our government. Not surprisingly, most of the media and the talking heads blamed this on Trump. And now we have an active House investigation that will probably drag on into sometime next year designed to discredit Trump and his supporters. Bring back any memories?

There has been a massive social media de-platforming of voices and opinions that dare to differ from the FPC (for public consumption) talking points of the left. In fact, as of today, the head of the Taliban has a Twitter account to share their anti-American propaganda, yet our former President has been banned for life. How does that happen in a free society?

The Covid-19 thing seems to never go away. First lockdown, masks, social distancing, remote employment, shortages, restricted travel, canceled holidays, schools, sports, concerts, etc., and everything else that comes with an authoritarian nanny state. Nonetheless, we all agreed to go along for the good of others and the fear of contracting Covid. Then the miracle cure was rolled out at warp speed, the Vax, the Jab, which turned out to be neither a cure nor a miracle. And the full-court press was on. The pressure our society is piling on those who choose not to be vaccinated is unprecedented. So much so, tens of thousands of nurses may lose their job in the next 45 days, among countless others, unless they submit themselves to a jab that has yet to be FDA approved and has a morbid history of ever-increasing harmful side-effects, including death. This is discrimination at its worst. But the voices of the media are silent. How is that possible in America?

Corporate America, both large and small, is now requiring its employees to be fully vaccinated as a condition of continued employment. Companies like Amazon, Amtrak, Citigroup, Delta, DoorDash, Facebook, Ford, Google, Microsoft, Twitter, Tyson Food, Uber, United Air Lines, Walgreens, Walt Disney, and Walmart are leading the way. And the list gets bigger every day. When in our nation’s history was it legal for an employer to require an experimental vaccine, with documented harmful, short-term, and unknown long-term side effects, as a condition of continued employment? But that seems to be our new reality.

Welcome to our brave new world.

On August 9th, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin wrote in a memo that the Pentagon will mandate full vaccinations (which now include all current and future boosters, with no end in sight) to members of the military and all Department of Defense employees by mid-September, if not sooner. For those who refuse the mandate, the consequences are unclear at this moment.

Last year, many of our school children received a failed education due to Covid. But they were passed anyway so as not to collapse the educational system. Unfortunately, we learned zoom classrooms are a poor substitute for face-to-face learning for millions of young children. And masked face-to-face learning cripples social development in our children. But once again, here we go down that same failed trail of fully masked children in school, regardless of their vaccination status. Why?

As a people, the trust in our sacred institutions, school, government, courts, media, the press, and the church, are at an all-time low. The constant barrage, 24/7, of competing opinions]]>Christ Jesus, Who Became For Us…

This past Sunday, we talked about how we as Christians and His church are to respond during the dark times we see encroaching all around. What are we to do? How are we to think and feel? What is God’s will in all of this?

Just think about what we have experienced as a culture since the beginning of the year.

In DC, there was a rally turned riot (depending on how you view the events of January 6th) that many claim was the beginning of an insurrection against our government. Not surprisingly, most of the media and the talking heads blamed this on Trump. And now we have an active House investigation that will probably drag on into sometime next year designed to discredit Trump and his supporters. Bring back any memories?

There has been a massive social media de-platforming of voices and opinions that dare to differ from the FPC (for public consumption) talking points of the left. In fact, as of today, the head of the Taliban has a Twitter account to share their anti-American propaganda, yet our former President has been banned for life. How does that happen in a free society?

The Covid-19 thing seems to never go away. First lockdown, masks, social distancing, remote employment, shortages, restricted travel, canceled holidays, schools, sports, concerts, etc., and everything else that comes with an authoritarian nanny state. Nonetheless, we all agreed to go along for the good of others and the fear of contracting Covid. Then the miracle cure was rolled out at warp speed, the Vax, the Jab, which turned out to be neither a cure nor a miracle. And the full-court press was on. The pressure our society is piling on those who choose not to be vaccinated is unprecedented. So much so, tens of thousands of nurses may lose their job in the next 45 days, among countless others, unless they submit themselves to a jab that has yet to be FDA approved and has a morbid history of ever-increasing harmful side-effects, including death. This is discrimination at its worst. But the voices of the media are silent. How is that possible in America?

Corporate America, both large and small, is now requiring its employees to be fully vaccinated as a condition of continued employment. Companies like Amazon, Amtrak, Citigroup, Delta, DoorDash, Facebook, Ford, Google, Microsoft, Twitter, Tyson Food, Uber, United Air Lines, Walgreens, Walt Disney, and Walmart are leading the way. And the list gets bigger every day. When in our nation’s history was it legal for an employer to require an experimental vaccine, with documented harmful, short-term, and unknown long-term side effects, as a condition of continued employment? But that seems to be our new reality.

Welcome to our brave new world.

On August 9th, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin wrote in a memo that the Pentagon will mandate full vaccinations (which now include all current and future boosters, with no end in sight) to members of the military and all Department of Defense employees by mid-September, if not sooner. For those who refuse the mandate, the consequences are unclear at this moment.

Last year, many of our school children received a failed education due to Covid. But they were passed anyway so as not to collapse the educational system. Unfortunately, we learned zoom classrooms are a poor substitute for face-to-face learning for millions of young children. And masked face-to-face learning cripples social development in our children. But once again, here we go down that same failed trail of fully masked children in school, regardless of their vaccination status. Why?

As a people, the trust in our sacred institutions, school, government, courts, media, the press, and the church, are at an all-time low. The constant barrage, 24/7, of competing opinions and differing experts talking out of both sides of their mouths makes us wonder, who can we trust? Who speaks the truth? Who do we turn to for direction? And for the believer, the church is just as divided on these issues as the rest of those who do not know our Lord. So, who speaks for God today? And who can help us sort all of this out for my family and me?

And the list can go on. Inflation, the immigration crisis at the Southern border, corruption in our government, the supply line breakdown and corresponding shortages of goods and raw materials, BLM, our national Afghanistan facepalm, rioting in our cities, China and Taiwan, natural disasters such as drought, wildfires, earthquakes, and tsunamis, just to name a few. “And the beat goes on.”

So what is the church to do? How can we know what our Christian response should be, must be, to what may soon be forced upon each of us? Is this all part of the end times? Are we just watching the death rattle of the American experiment? Or is it both?

…Wisdom From God

Not surprisingly, the answer is found in discovering more of God, and for a good reason. What we need is wisdom from God to know what to do and how to respond, which is only found in Jesus Christ. And God’s wisdom is imputed to us by the Holy Spirit who, as we talked about in detail last week, now lives in each of us.  In closing, consider this incredible verse.

But of Him (or because of Him or by His doing) you are (what) in Christ Jesus, who became (gínomai – to begin to be, to come into existence) for us (you and me, the church, the called-out ones)

(1) wisdom from God— and

(2) righteousness and

(3) sanctification and

(4) redemption— that, as it is written, “He who glories, let him glory in the LORD” – 1 Corinthians 1:30-31.

The wisdom of God we so desperately need literally “began to be” or “came into existence” in us in Christ Jesus. He “became for us” the wisdom from God, the righteousness of God, our sanctification in God, and our redemption to God. All these attributes, so badly needed today, are found in Him. And He now lives in us in the Holy Spirit.

So for the next few days, we are going to continue what we began on Sunday and look at God’s book of wisdom, the Proverbs, using the tools we discussed (and will review later) to discover the source of all the answers, to all the questions, that trouble us today. And when you hear from God and His glorious wisdom becomes second-nature to you, then whatever darkness comes your way, whatever may happen tomorrow, you will confidently say, “Thy will be done” (Matt. 6:10), and “Come, Lord Jesus!” (Rev. 22:20).

Until He comes,

Steve

For more on the Higher Christian Life, visit www.higherchristianlife.com or www.leavinglaodicea.com.

Our Latest Posts:

38: What Are You Lacking in Your Spiritual Life?

37: He is All You Will Ever Need… Ever!

36: Your “Desire” for the Higher Christian Life

35: What Church Could Look Like Today

34: Whatever Your Struggle, He is More Than Able

Yesterday we showed how the Holy Spirit, who now lives in you, is fully capable of meeting any need you might have. After all, He is fully God in every sense of the word. So it would stand to reason that as God, the Holy Spirit is all-powerful (omnipotent), all-knowing (omniscient), and ever-present (omnipresent), among the other attributes of the Almighty. So whatever your need, I think He can handle it. Don’t you?

Remember, He is all you need. So there is never any reason to look elsewhere for self-worth, confidence, purpose, protection, power, deliverance, love, acceptance, or any of the other myriad of needs that keep us up late at night. Because only He can meet our deepest needs, and He meets them in Himself, by simply being who He is.

I know He can meet all my needs, but exactly how does the Spirit do that? And what specific needs does He fulfill? Let’s look at just a few.

Holiness – Do you need to find the key to living a life of holiness or sanctification before the Lord? And do you find yourself falling flat on your face, again and again, every time you try? No surprise. The only One who can live a life of holiness through you is One whose primary attribute is holiness— and that is the Holy Spirit. Not the Merciful Spirit, the Loving Spirit, or the Longsuffering Spirit, but the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Holiness. As in One who is primarily defined as holy.

When you yield your life to Him in surrender and allow Him to live His life through you (which again is the way to experience the Higher Christian Life), you will find His presence rubbing off on every area of your life. And the result? Holiness.

Power over Sin – Do you feel somewhat powerless to stand against the attack of the evil one and the lust of your own flesh? Again, no surprise there. Welcome to living as a light in the darkness (Matt. 5:14-16). The Christian life is always a battle. But the battle is not fought in the flesh, nor can it ever be won that way (see Truth One). It is a battle waged in the spirit, by the Spirit, equipped with spiritual armor (Eph. 6:11), for fighting spiritual forces of evil (Eph. 6:12). Consider the following.

For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh – 2 Corinthians 10:3.

Even though we are simply flesh and blood on the outside, on the inside, we are mighty in God because He lives in us. In fact, we no longer belong to ourselves since His presence has made us a “temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you” (1 Cor. 9:19). So when we rely on His Spirit, we become powerful weapons in the hands of a mighty God that brings fear in the quaking heart of the evil one. Again, consider the following:

For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal (of the flesh) but mighty (able, strong, powerful) in God for pulling down (to cast down, demolish) strongholds (fortress), casting down arguments, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ – 2 Corinthians 10:4-5.

Spiritual battles are fought in the spirit and by the power of the Holy Spirit. And with the Holy Spirit now living in you, there is no need ever to fear defeat. So if you need the power to stand against temptation, know you already possess all the power you need. Rest easy. The Holy Spirit lives in you.

You Got a Need, He’s Got the Solution

But there is more.

Christ to Become Real (the Higher Christian Life) – Finally, if you need to have Christ become real to you, to become more than a distant relative or a historical Biblical figure, the Person delegated to make that happen is the Holy...]]>What Do You Need From Him the Most?

Yesterday we showed how the Holy Spirit, who now lives in you, is fully capable of meeting any need you might have. After all, He is fully God in every sense of the word. So it would stand to reason that as God, the Holy Spirit is all-powerful (omnipotent), all-knowing (omniscient), and ever-present (omnipresent), among the other attributes of the Almighty. So whatever your need, I think He can handle it. Don’t you?

Remember, He is all you need. So there is never any reason to look elsewhere for self-worth, confidence, purpose, protection, power, deliverance, love, acceptance, or any of the other myriad of needs that keep us up late at night. Because only He can meet our deepest needs, and He meets them in Himself, by simply being who He is.

I know He can meet all my needs, but exactly how does the Spirit do that? And what specific needs does He fulfill? Let’s look at just a few.

Holiness – Do you need to find the key to living a life of holiness or sanctification before the Lord? And do you find yourself falling flat on your face, again and again, every time you try? No surprise. The only One who can live a life of holiness through you is One whose primary attribute is holiness— and that is the Holy Spirit. Not the Merciful Spirit, the Loving Spirit, or the Longsuffering Spirit, but the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Holiness. As in One who is primarily defined as holy.

When you yield your life to Him in surrender and allow Him to live His life through you (which again is the way to experience the Higher Christian Life), you will find His presence rubbing off on every area of your life. And the result? Holiness.

Power over Sin – Do you feel somewhat powerless to stand against the attack of the evil one and the lust of your own flesh? Again, no surprise there. Welcome to living as a light in the darkness (Matt. 5:14-16). The Christian life is always a battle. But the battle is not fought in the flesh, nor can it ever be won that way (see Truth One). It is a battle waged in the spirit, by the Spirit, equipped with spiritual armor (Eph. 6:11), for fighting spiritual forces of evil (Eph. 6:12). Consider the following.

For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh – 2 Corinthians 10:3.

Even though we are simply flesh and blood on the outside, on the inside, we are mighty in God because He lives in us. In fact, we no longer belong to ourselves since His presence has made us a “temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you” (1 Cor. 9:19). So when we rely on His Spirit, we become powerful weapons in the hands of a mighty God that brings fear in the quaking heart of the evil one. Again, consider the following:

For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal (of the flesh) but mighty (able, strong, powerful) in God for pulling down (to cast down, demolish) strongholds (fortress), casting down arguments, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ – 2 Corinthians 10:4-5.

Spiritual battles are fought in the spirit and by the power of the Holy Spirit. And with the Holy Spirit now living in you, there is no need ever to fear defeat. So if you need the power to stand against temptation, know you already possess all the power you need. Rest easy. The Holy Spirit lives in you.

You Got a Need, He’s Got the Solution

But there is more.

Christ to Become Real (the Higher Christian Life) – Finally, if you need to have Christ become real to you, to become more than a distant relative or a historical Biblical figure, the Person delegated to make that happen is the Holy Spirit. He was the One given to replace Jesus in our lives (John 14:16). But He doesn’t stand beside us or around us or near us like Jesus did His disciples. Better yet, He lives in us.

Before departing, Jesus promised His disciples He would not “leave you orphans” but would “come to you” (John 14:18). And this promise followed His promise of the Holy Spirit, which Jesus said would “dwell with you” and be “in you” (John 14:17). In other words, since Jesus was departing from them and His disciples were obviously sad and worried, Jesus then promised to replace Himself in their lives with the Holy Spirit. He then went on to say it was actually better for them for Him to depart because only then would He send the Holy Spirit (John 16:7). That’s quite a big promise.

Remember, the Holy Spirit was tasked with revealing to us all about Jesus and bringing to our memory everything He ever said and did (John 14:26). So the more we know the Spirit, the more we get to know Jesus, whom the Spirit will reveal. And the more we know Jesus, the more we know the Father (John 14:7), whom the Son will reveal. And for us, this chain of blessing all begins with knowing the Holy Spirit who lives in us. Or surrendering our lives to Him so He can live His life through us (Rom. 12:1-2). Surrender to the Holy Spirit is the essence of the Higher Christian Life.

One last thought. The apostle Paul said the One who reveals to us all God has promised to those who love Him, yes, to you and me, is the Spirit of God. It is the One living in each of us who shows us how blessed we are in Him.

But as it is written:

“Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him” – 1 Corinthians 2:9.

Then how will we know what God has prepared for us?

But God has revealed them to us (how) through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except (who) the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, (why) that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God – 1 Corinthians 2:10-12.

How can it get any better than this? What do you need that you don’t already have?

In closing, whatever your need or prayer or request, Christ has already pre-positioned the answer to your problem or desire or longing in the Holy Spirit who lives in you. All you will ever need you already have in Him. So what is there to worry about? What need do you have that is so great God is unable to handle? What joy and happiness do you crave that He cannot provide? What? That’s right. Nuthin’.

Again, rejoice for what you have in Him.  And rest easy as our world gets darker.

Until He comes,

Steve

For more on the Higher Christian Life, visit www.higherchristianlife.com or www.leavinglaodicea.com.

Our Latest Posts:

37: He is All You Will Ever Need… Ever!

36: Your “Desire” for the Higher Christian Life

35: What Church Could Look Like Today

34: Whatever Your Struggle, He is More Than Able

33: The Holy Spirit Now Lives in You

We have spent some time discovering the spiritual fullness of realizing that the Holy Spirit, who is fully God in every sense, lives in us. Not around us or beside us or with us, but in us. And since He is God, what more do we need? Why do we desire less when we already have everything? What does the landfill have to offer us that is more alluring than a week at the beach or a five-day trip to Disney World? It doesn’t make much sense, does it?

Yet, we still try to find satisfaction and purpose outside of God when the source of all we could ever want or need or be now lives in us. And to make matters worse, once we come to understand our purpose in life and that our desire is found only in Him, we still try to serve Him in the flesh, by our own strength and resources, with dismal results. Again, it doesn’t make much sense, does it?

Remember where we are in this process. We have been looking at the second of three truths that will rid you of the guilt and shame of failure in your search for the Higher Christian Life. These truths, once internalized, will give you the courage and ability to live the “abundant” life in Christ (John 10:10) by the power of the Holy Spirit (which is the only way it can be experienced), and not in the weakness and pride of self-will and fleshly determination. Let’s quickly review.

Truth One states you are incapable of pleasing God or producing anything good with your flesh, no matter how hard you try (Rom. 7:18). This is the bad news. But the good news states in Truth Two that God has given you the Holy Spirit to live and dwell in you for the purpose, among other things, “both to will and to do for His good pleasure” (Phil. 2:13). In other words, what is impossible to do by your own strength and resources, God has graciously supplied by the Spirit— who now lives in you. It really doesn’t get any better than that. But what exactly does it all mean?

Just think, in the same way God provided His Son to die for the forgiveness of your sins, He also now provides His Spirit to dwell in you so you may experience the power to live in the newness of life (Rom. 6:4) and have all your needs met by Him. Not just your need for salvation, but also your need for a Savior (Titus 2:13-14), for Someone to act as your perfect, atoning, sacrifice (1 John 2:2), or for an intermediary between you and a holy God (1 Tim. 2:5). Yes, literally “all” your needs.

Look at the needs the Spirit met in Paul’s life. Note, these were not just spiritual needs, but all his needs.

Past Experience: I know how to be based (to be brought low, humbled, especially in regards to basic needs), and I know how to abound (abundance, excess, to have more than enough). Everywhere and in all things (each, every, the whole, in totality, without exception) I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.

Lesson Learned: I can do all things (each, every, the whole, in totality, without exception) through Christ who strengthens me – Philippians 4:12-13.

Paul learned faith by experiencing both need and abundance. And it was the Holy Spirit living in him that imparted to him the strength to overcome all obstacles and to rejoice always in all situations (Phil. 4:4). But this just doesn’t apply to Paul. The promise is for each of us today.

Promise from God: And my God shall supply (to make full, to supply abundantly, to impart richly) all your need (how) according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus – Philippians 4:19.

That’s all your needs— everything you need. God will supply, with great abundance, all of what you will ever need in this life and in]]>And You Are Complete in Him – Colossians 2:10

We have spent some time discovering the spiritual fullness of realizing that the Holy Spirit, who is fully God in every sense, lives in us. Not around us or beside us or with us, but in us. And since He is God, what more do we need? Why do we desire less when we already have everything? What does the landfill have to offer us that is more alluring than a week at the beach or a five-day trip to Disney World? It doesn’t make much sense, does it?

Yet, we still try to find satisfaction and purpose outside of God when the source of all we could ever want or need or be now lives in us. And to make matters worse, once we come to understand our purpose in life and that our desire is found only in Him, we still try to serve Him in the flesh, by our own strength and resources, with dismal results. Again, it doesn’t make much sense, does it?

Remember where we are in this process. We have been looking at the second of three truths that will rid you of the guilt and shame of failure in your search for the Higher Christian Life. These truths, once internalized, will give you the courage and ability to live the “abundant” life in Christ (John 10:10) by the power of the Holy Spirit (which is the only way it can be experienced), and not in the weakness and pride of self-will and fleshly determination. Let’s quickly review.

Truth One states you are incapable of pleasing God or producing anything good with your flesh, no matter how hard you try (Rom. 7:18). This is the bad news. But the good news states in Truth Two that God has given you the Holy Spirit to live and dwell in you for the purpose, among other things, “both to will and to do for His good pleasure” (Phil. 2:13). In other words, what is impossible to do by your own strength and resources, God has graciously supplied by the Spirit— who now lives in you. It really doesn’t get any better than that. But what exactly does it all mean?

Just think, in the same way God provided His Son to die for the forgiveness of your sins, He also now provides His Spirit to dwell in you so you may experience the power to live in the newness of life (Rom. 6:4) and have all your needs met by Him. Not just your need for salvation, but also your need for a Savior (Titus 2:13-14), for Someone to act as your perfect, atoning, sacrifice (1 John 2:2), or for an intermediary between you and a holy God (1 Tim. 2:5). Yes, literally “all” your needs.

Look at the needs the Spirit met in Paul’s life. Note, these were not just spiritual needs, but all his needs.

Past Experience: I know how to be based (to be brought low, humbled, especially in regards to basic needs), and I know how to abound (abundance, excess, to have more than enough). Everywhere and in all things (each, every, the whole, in totality, without exception) I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.

Lesson Learned: I can do all things (each, every, the whole, in totality, without exception) through Christ who strengthens me – Philippians 4:12-13.

Paul learned faith by experiencing both need and abundance. And it was the Holy Spirit living in him that imparted to him the strength to overcome all obstacles and to rejoice always in all situations (Phil. 4:4). But this just doesn’t apply to Paul. The promise is for each of us today.

Promise from God: And my God shall supply (to make full, to supply abundantly, to impart richly) all your need (how) according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus – Philippians 4:19.

That’s all your needs— everything you need. God will supply, with great abundance, all of what you will ever need in this life and in the life to come, according to the unfathomable riches in His glory, by and through Christ Jesus our Lord. This is the promise from the Father to you.

There is Nothing You Need He has not Already Supplied

But there is more.

Again, just as the blood of Christ covered all your sins, so you never have to look anywhere, or to anyone else to cover them again (Col. 1:14), so the Holy Spirit has also provided for all your needs so you never have to look anywhere or to anyone else in order to have them met. And this is especially true about meeting your own needs yourself. See Truth One. If Christ’s death on the cross was sufficient to pay the penalty for your sins, then the Holy Spirit indwelling in you is also sufficient to meet all your needs, both spiritually and otherwise. To believe anything else make the Spirit less than God.

And again, just as in your salvation, it was God who did all the work, and all we had to do was receive, by faith, what God had provided for us. Remember, “But of Him you are in Christ Jesus” (1 Cor. 1:30a). It is because of Him. Look to what great lengths the Lord went to bring you to Himself.

For whom He foreknew (God’s action), He also predestined (God’s action) to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called (God’s action); whom He called, these He also justified (God’s action); and whom He justified, these He also glorified (God’s action) – Romans 8:29-30.

And in the same way, we must receive by faith what the Spirit has already provided for us in regards to living and experiencing the Higher Christian Life. When we received the Spirit, we received all of Him and with Him everything we need for a life of sanctification, holiness, service, and joy. After all, He is God. And we know we cannot produce anything of eternal value from within ourselves by our own strength or resources (see Truth One). But the Spirit comes to us with a truckload of gifts and Godly attributes the world cannot understand, nor receive, nor ever experience. They are only reserved for those who belong to Him. They are called fruits of the Holy Spirit, and by them, we can experience the abundant life in Christ— the Higher Christian Life.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering (patience), kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law – Galatians 5:22-23.

And what do we do with these great blessings of Spiritual fruit? We live in them by letting the Spirit live through us. We embrace the life of surrender, the Higher Christian Life.

If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit – Galatians 5:25.

So rejoice in Him today. For you have everything you need, right now, to live a life of godliness and holiness, a life pleasing to the Lord (2 Pet. 1:3). And let’s begin to experience the Higher Christian Life today.

Until He comes,

Steve

For more on the Higher Christian Life, visit www.higherchristianlife.com or www.leavinglaodicea.com.

Our Latest Posts:

36: Your “Desire” for the Higher Christian Life

35: What Church Could Look Like Today

34: Whatever Your Struggle, He is More Than Able

33: The Holy Spirit Now Lives in You

32: The Holy Spirit Provides All You Need

Usually, I send out an encouraging post regarding the Higher Christian Life and the importance of drawing close to Him in these times of trouble. But today, it’s going to be a bit different.

We have often discussed the importance of desire, especially when embracing the Higher Christian Life. In essence, we can have all the knowledge and understanding necessary to experience the Higher Christian Life, but without a desire to pay the price and “count the costs” (Luke 14:28) required for deep intimacy with our Lord, nothing happens. So I want to share something that will hopefully spur on your desire for more of Him, what we call the Higher Christian Life, no matter the costs, come what may.

Now, I know not everyone has an accounting/business background, and sometimes national economic trends and forecasts are hard to understand, let alone swallow. But the following article by Britt Gillette, The Next Financial Crisis, puts our current national situation regarding debt and quantitative easing in terms anyone can understand. And he is right on, perfect. His article will help you understand where we are heading financially as a nation, regarding the inflation you are currently experiencing, and hyper-inflation that is just around the corner.

And remember, this is all just a shadow of Revelation six. You might want to give that a quick read before going any further.

Carefully consider where we are as a culture and, if you seem troubled by it, then use that feeling of anxiety to fuel your desire for more of Him. And remember, the Higher Christian Life is yours for the asking when you ask in faith.

Until He comes,

Steve

For more on the Higher Christian Life, visit www.higherchristianlife.com or www.leavinglaodicea.com.

Our Latest Posts:

35: What Church Could Look Like Today

34: Whatever Your Struggle, He is More Than Able

33: The Holy Spirit Now Lives in You

32: The Holy Spirit Provides All You Need

31: God Only Disciplines Those He Loves

In Matthew 10, we see this amazing account of Jesus sending His disciples out without Him to do what He was doing while He was with them. It was almost a picture of what life would be like after Jesus was physically removed from their presence and the Holy Spirit was given to them to “abide” with them forever (John 14:16). This was their first mission trip, their first job as His apprentice, the first time they flew solo. And He didn’t send them out unprepared. He gave them the same power they would later receive when the Holy Spirit came upon them in the upper room, as recorded in Acts 2. This was just a taste of church life to come.

He “gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of diseases” – Matthew 10:1.

Jesus also gave them strict instructions to minister while away from Him in the power they had just received. Not in their own power, but the power of the Spirit. For there is no way they could do what Jesus asked in their own strength. No one can.

He commanded them to minister in the power of the Holy Spirit, much like the early church did in the book of Acts after they received the Holy Spirit.

“And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give” – Matthew 10:7-8.

In other words, they should expect their time away from Jesus to be filled with miracles and the moving of the Spirit, just like it was when they were with Jesus. And this is exactly what we see in the early church after they received the Holy Spirit. The early church obviously took seriously the promise of Jesus that, once He returned to the Father and sent the Holy Spirit in His place, His followers would do greater works than what they had seen Jesus do (John 14:12). But is that really possible? Could Jesus be over exaggerating? I mean, when ordinary people encounter the Holy Spirit and surrender their lives totally to Him, what does it look like?

This is one reason why God included the book of Acts in our Bible. Let’s see how the Spirit moved in the lives of these unassuming men.

Chapter Two – After the Holy Spirit falls on the church, Peter stands in their midst and preaches a short, unprepared sermon, only 297 words long, excluding Scripture, and 3,000 people get saved. Then the infant church, made up of 120 friends and 3,000 strangers, single-mindedly devoted themselves to the “apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers” (Acts 2:42). Everyone was in a state of awe. And “many wonders and signs were done by the apostles” (Acts 2:43).

Amazingly, the young church “had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need” (Acts 2:44-45). All needs of the church were met by the willing, generous sacrifices of all they had for the good of people they just met.

Unlike us, there was no Sunday morning worship service or Wednesday night prayer meeting. They did not go to church; they were the church. The Spirit of God lived in them, and they were now temples of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 6:19-20). Everything in their life had changed. And what did that look like in real life?

So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people – Acts 2:46-47a.

Note the keywords, “continuing daily” and “one accord” and...]]>Second Verse, Uh… Should Be Same as the First

In Matthew 10, we see this amazing account of Jesus sending His disciples out without Him to do what He was doing while He was with them. It was almost a picture of what life would be like after Jesus was physically removed from their presence and the Holy Spirit was given to them to “abide” with them forever (John 14:16). This was their first mission trip, their first job as His apprentice, the first time they flew solo. And He didn’t send them out unprepared. He gave them the same power they would later receive when the Holy Spirit came upon them in the upper room, as recorded in Acts 2. This was just a taste of church life to come.

He “gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of diseases” – Matthew 10:1.

Jesus also gave them strict instructions to minister while away from Him in the power they had just received. Not in their own power, but the power of the Spirit. For there is no way they could do what Jesus asked in their own strength. No one can.

He commanded them to minister in the power of the Holy Spirit, much like the early church did in the book of Acts after they received the Holy Spirit.

“And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give” – Matthew 10:7-8.

In other words, they should expect their time away from Jesus to be filled with miracles and the moving of the Spirit, just like it was when they were with Jesus. And this is exactly what we see in the early church after they received the Holy Spirit. The early church obviously took seriously the promise of Jesus that, once He returned to the Father and sent the Holy Spirit in His place, His followers would do greater works than what they had seen Jesus do (John 14:12). But is that really possible? Could Jesus be over exaggerating? I mean, when ordinary people encounter the Holy Spirit and surrender their lives totally to Him, what does it look like?

This is one reason why God included the book of Acts in our Bible. Let’s see how the Spirit moved in the lives of these unassuming men.

Chapter Two – After the Holy Spirit falls on the church, Peter stands in their midst and preaches a short, unprepared sermon, only 297 words long, excluding Scripture, and 3,000 people get saved. Then the infant church, made up of 120 friends and 3,000 strangers, single-mindedly devoted themselves to the “apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers” (Acts 2:42). Everyone was in a state of awe. And “many wonders and signs were done by the apostles” (Acts 2:43).

Amazingly, the young church “had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need” (Acts 2:44-45). All needs of the church were met by the willing, generous sacrifices of all they had for the good of people they just met.

Unlike us, there was no Sunday morning worship service or Wednesday night prayer meeting. They did not go to church; they were the church. The Spirit of God lived in them, and they were now temples of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 6:19-20). Everything in their life had changed. And what did that look like in real life?

So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people – Acts 2:46-47a.

Note the keywords, “continuing daily” and “one accord” and “house to house.” This church was nothing like many of us have ever experienced. They seemed committed to the Lord and each other in ways we don’t fully understand. They were “all in” and held nothing back. And for us, in our selfish, independent, “I can take care of myself” mindset, this seems intimidating and, quite honestly, frightening.

But note what happened? Look at how the Lord responded to their reliance on the Holy Spirit.

And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved – Acts 2:47b.

That’s daily. Every day. How long has it been since we’ve seen people saved in our worship times together? Exactly.

It’s OK to Dream

What would you give to live in a church like the one revealed in the book of Acts? Do you realize what we have just read is possible, even expected, for those of us today who have the same Holy Spirit living in us as they did? God does not play favorites. He shows no partiality. And remember, the authority Jesus gave His disciples (Matt. 10:1) to minister in the Spirit is the same authority we have in Him, right now, by virtue of the Holy Spirit living in us. We have everything we need to experience the Higher Christian Life right now, in Him. There is no power greater than God. There is nothing that can thwart His will. And there is nothing this world could offer you that is better than what you already have. Look at what the Spirit says about us:

The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together – Romans 8:16-17.

So be encouraged today. The early church has shown us what the Higher Christian Life looks like. The Holy Spirit now indwells us to empower us to live the Higher Christian life. And the Higher Christian Life that may seem so far away at times could be just as close as reading the book of Acts.

So let your faith tell you this life is possible, even expected, when you Let Go and Let God… be God.

Until He Comes,

Steve

Note: We only looked at Acts 2 today. There are still twenty-six chapters to go.

For more on the Higher Christian Life, visit www.higherchristianlife.com or www.leavinglaodicea.com.

Our Latest Posts:

34: Whatever Your Struggle, He is More Than Able

33: The Holy Spirit Now Lives in You

32: The Holy Spirit Provides All You Need

31: God Only Disciplines Those He Loves

30: I Know that “In Me, Nothing Good Dwells”

As Truth Two reveals, when the Holy Spirit, God HImself, takes up residence in you, He brings with Him all the power, love, wisdom, understanding, joy, peace, and gifts of the Godhead. Let this truth sink in, God now lives in you. Not with you or by you or around you. But the Holy Spirit actually lives, right now, in you. Which, as the Scriptures teach, makes you a temple of the Holy Spirit, a dwelling place of God. Consider this:

Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s – 1 Corinthians 6:19-20.

For Christians today, the idea of a temple seems archaic and outdated. After all, temple worship is something we associate with false religions or is relegated to the pages of the Old Testament, a practice of ancient Judaism. And we’ve moved far beyond that, or so we think.

In Judaism, the heart of their worship was tied up in a building, a temple. Because it was only in a specific part of this building, and only on certain days, that man was able to meet with God. And to make matters worse, not all men could meet with God, only the priest, and only after going through rituals that make no sense to us today. God was understood to dwell in the temple made for Him to reflect His glory. And it was only in the temple that sacrifices could be made for the atonement for sins. Without the temple, there were no sacrifices. And without the sacrifices, there was no forgiveness of sin. So the importance of the temple to the Jewish understanding of the forgiveness of sins cannot be overstated.

The first temple was built by Solomon and later destroyed by the Babylonians in 586 BC. After 70 years without a temple, the second one was built around 516 BC under the leadership of Ezra and Zerubbabel and stood for almost 585 years. Later, beginning around 20 BC and during the 18th year of his reign, Herod the Great made impressive improvements to this second temple so that it is commonly known to us as Herod’s Temple. It was destroyed by Titus Vespasian and the Fifth, Tenth, and Fifteenth Roman Legion during the siege of Jerusalem in 70 AD.

So without a temple, what were the Jewish people to do? How could they meet with their God? They could not. At least not in a temple made by human hands (Acts 7:48).

When Jesus died on the cross, He was the one, final, perfect sacrifice for the atonement of our sin (Heb. 10:1-18). There was no need any longer for the sacrifices of animals as a picture of what Jesus was to accomplish on the cross. Hence, there was no need for a physical temple whereby sinful men could come and offer the blood of goats and lambs to somehow atone for the penalty of sin for which Jesus had already suffered and died to forgive (Heb. 9:12). After Jesus, everything had changed.

Since there was no need for a temple, nor continual blood sacrifices, nor a high priest to act as an intermediatory between each of us and a Holy God, what has replaced these religious mainstays for us? The answer: Jesus. He became our High Priest (Heb. 9:11, 10:21) and His blood, sacrificed for us, has provided atonement for our sins, once and for all (Heb. 10:11-14). And the veil in the temple that separated sinful men from the presence of God in the Holy of Holies, was torn from top to bottom at the death of Christ (Matt. 27:51), indicating there was now no barrier between God and man. We now have bold access to the throne of God by the blood sacrifice of Jesus (Heb. 10:19-22).

And this...]]>What Does it Mean to Have the Holy Spirit Live in Us?

As Truth Two reveals, when the Holy Spirit, God HImself, takes up residence in you, He brings with Him all the power, love, wisdom, understanding, joy, peace, and gifts of the Godhead. Let this truth sink in, God now lives in you. Not with you or by you or around you. But the Holy Spirit actually lives, right now, in you. Which, as the Scriptures teach, makes you a temple of the Holy Spirit, a dwelling place of God. Consider this:

Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s – 1 Corinthians 6:19-20.

For Christians today, the idea of a temple seems archaic and outdated. After all, temple worship is something we associate with false religions or is relegated to the pages of the Old Testament, a practice of ancient Judaism. And we’ve moved far beyond that, or so we think.

In Judaism, the heart of their worship was tied up in a building, a temple. Because it was only in a specific part of this building, and only on certain days, that man was able to meet with God. And to make matters worse, not all men could meet with God, only the priest, and only after going through rituals that make no sense to us today. God was understood to dwell in the temple made for Him to reflect His glory. And it was only in the temple that sacrifices could be made for the atonement for sins. Without the temple, there were no sacrifices. And without the sacrifices, there was no forgiveness of sin. So the importance of the temple to the Jewish understanding of the forgiveness of sins cannot be overstated.

The first temple was built by Solomon and later destroyed by the Babylonians in 586 BC. After 70 years without a temple, the second one was built around 516 BC under the leadership of Ezra and Zerubbabel and stood for almost 585 years. Later, beginning around 20 BC and during the 18th year of his reign, Herod the Great made impressive improvements to this second temple so that it is commonly known to us as Herod’s Temple. It was destroyed by Titus Vespasian and the Fifth, Tenth, and Fifteenth Roman Legion during the siege of Jerusalem in 70 AD.

So without a temple, what were the Jewish people to do? How could they meet with their God? They could not. At least not in a temple made by human hands (Acts 7:48).

When Jesus died on the cross, He was the one, final, perfect sacrifice for the atonement of our sin (Heb. 10:1-18). There was no need any longer for the sacrifices of animals as a picture of what Jesus was to accomplish on the cross. Hence, there was no need for a physical temple whereby sinful men could come and offer the blood of goats and lambs to somehow atone for the penalty of sin for which Jesus had already suffered and died to forgive (Heb. 9:12). After Jesus, everything had changed.

Since there was no need for a temple, nor continual blood sacrifices, nor a high priest to act as an intermediatory between each of us and a Holy God, what has replaced these religious mainstays for us? The answer: Jesus. He became our High Priest (Heb. 9:11, 10:21) and His blood, sacrificed for us, has provided atonement for our sins, once and for all (Heb. 10:11-14). And the veil in the temple that separated sinful men from the presence of God in the Holy of Holies, was torn from top to bottom at the death of Christ (Matt. 27:51), indicating there was now no barrier between God and man. We now have bold access to the throne of God by the blood sacrifice of Jesus (Heb. 10:19-22).

And this is where it gets exciting, especially regarding the Higher Christian Life.

You Are Now the Temple of God!

Remember the verses we looked at earlier, 1 Corinthians 6:19-21. Because the Holy Spirit, God Himself, now lives in us, we have become the temple of God, the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit. We have within us what the Jews hoped to experience in the Holy of Holies— the fullness of God. We have the presence of God in the Person of the Holy Spirit inside of us. And this was the wonderous mystery hidden from the Jews, but now revealed to us.

To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory – Colossians 1:27.

Now, when we struggle with our failures in the higher Christian life it is because of our sinful nature, pulling us, prompting us, sometimes forcing us to do the things we don’t want to do when our spirit wants to do the things pleasing to Him (Rom. 7:18-20), yet we fail. You and I, and Paul, know what this is like. Remember, “O wretched man that I am!  Who will deliver me from this body of death?” (Rom. 7:24). You are not alone when you struggle to be more like Him.

But the great encouragement for today is simply this, you have the Holy Spirit living in you. Take some time and reflect on this familiar truth. You don’t have to travel to the temple to meet with Him. You don’t have to wait until a certain day to experience His healing power. You don’t have to go through all sorts of rituals to make yourself appear worthy to come into His presence. He is already here. In you. Closer than you can imagine. He knows you better than you know you. And He has seen the best and the worst of who you are, and yet He still loves you.

So relax and stop striving (and probably failing) to live out something in your life (holiness, sanctification, the Higher Christian Life), that the Holy Spirit was given to live through you. Let Him do His job. Get out of His way. Just “let go and let God”— be God.

Will you do that today?

Will you do that today?

Until He Comes,

Steve

For more on the Higher Christian Life, visit www.higherchristianlife.com or www.leavinglaodicea.com.

Our Latest Posts:

33: The Holy Spirit Now Lives in You

32: The Holy Spirit Provides All You Need

31: God Only Disciplines Those He Loves

30: I Know that “In Me, Nothing Good Dwells”

29: He Both Can and Will Fulfill His Promise to You

In Truth Two, we see God giving us the Holy Spirit to live and dwell in us in order to both “will and to do for His good pleasure” (Phil. 2:13). In other words, as we discovered yesterday, the Holy Spirit is active in us to accomplish what God has predestined simply for His good pleasure, or because He wanted to. And what He predestined for us is to be “conformed (to be similar in essence or nature) to the image (an exact representation) of His Son” (Rom. 8:29). God wants His children to be just like His Son. That makes sense, doesn’t it? Don’t we want our own children to grow up to reflect their parent’s nature, values, faith, and virtue?

So Truth Two lets us know we have the Holy Spirit living in us to accomplish that exact purpose. So we are not alone on this journey towards the Higher Christian Life. God has given us Himself, in the Person of the Holy Spirit, to accomplish His will in making us just like Jesus. And this is a great encouragement to those who have repeatedly tried and failed to live the Higher Christian Life by their own wits. It cannot be done. The Higher Christian Life can only be lived through the Spirit who now lives and empowers each of us. Our task is to Let Go, and Let God. We are to Let Go of our own pride, independence, and self-efforts and Let God have every part of us, by surrendering to Him, so that “in Him we live and move and have our being” (Acts 17:28), all for His good pleasure (Phil. 2:13) and by His sovereign design.

But think for a moment, what does having God dwell in us do for us? And why did God choose to live in us and not have us come to Him as He did in the Old Testament? And this is where the wonders of the Higher Christian Life become real to us and we feel the growing confidence that we “can do all things through Christ who strengthens us” (Phil. 4:13).

Rejoice, God Now Lives in You!

In the Old Testament, God lived with His people but did not live in them. He met with only a select few in the Tabernacle and they, in turn, told others the words of the Lord. He communicated His message to His prophets, and not to others. The Holy Spirit came upon men for a season or for a specific purpose and then was removed. We see this in the acts of Samson, the prophecy of Saul, and many others. In fact, it was the Holy Spirit falling on ordinary men that made them the heroes of the faith we honor today. It was not them or their personal charisma, courage, or charm, but the Spirit who transformed ordinary men into beacons of light, who lived a life of faith during troubling times.

And when David, in the midst of anguish over his sin, cried out “and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me” (Ps. 51:11), he was not referring to his salvation, but to his intimacy with the Lord fostered only by the presence of the Holy Spirit in His life, for a season. It was the Spirit who gave David the inspiration to write so many of the Psalms. It was the Spirit of God who imparted His wisdom to Solomon so evident in the Proverbs. It was the Holy Spirit who emboldened the three Hebrew children to defy the blasphemy of Nebuchadnezzar, even at the threat of death. And it is the same Spirit who lives in you, not for a season but permanently, never to leave.

But what does that mean? Simply this.

Before Jesus was taken from His disciples’ sight, He “commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, ‘which,’ He said, ‘you have heard from Me'” (Acts 1:4). And the wonderous Promise of the Father was the coming reality of God living in us, not just with us, in the Person of the Holy...]]>What Does it Mean to Have the Holy Spirit Live in Us?

In Truth Two, we see God giving us the Holy Spirit to live and dwell in us in order to both “will and to do for His good pleasure” (Phil. 2:13). In other words, as we discovered yesterday, the Holy Spirit is active in us to accomplish what God has predestined simply for His good pleasure, or because He wanted to. And what He predestined for us is to be “conformed (to be similar in essence or nature) to the image (an exact representation) of His Son” (Rom. 8:29). God wants His children to be just like His Son. That makes sense, doesn’t it? Don’t we want our own children to grow up to reflect their parent’s nature, values, faith, and virtue?

So Truth Two lets us know we have the Holy Spirit living in us to accomplish that exact purpose. So we are not alone on this journey towards the Higher Christian Life. God has given us Himself, in the Person of the Holy Spirit, to accomplish His will in making us just like Jesus. And this is a great encouragement to those who have repeatedly tried and failed to live the Higher Christian Life by their own wits. It cannot be done. The Higher Christian Life can only be lived through the Spirit who now lives and empowers each of us. Our task is to Let Go, and Let God. We are to Let Go of our own pride, independence, and self-efforts and Let God have every part of us, by surrendering to Him, so that “in Him we live and move and have our being” (Acts 17:28), all for His good pleasure (Phil. 2:13) and by His sovereign design.

But think for a moment, what does having God dwell in us do for us? And why did God choose to live in us and not have us come to Him as He did in the Old Testament? And this is where the wonders of the Higher Christian Life become real to us and we feel the growing confidence that we “can do all things through Christ who strengthens us” (Phil. 4:13).

Rejoice, God Now Lives in You!

In the Old Testament, God lived with His people but did not live in them. He met with only a select few in the Tabernacle and they, in turn, told others the words of the Lord. He communicated His message to His prophets, and not to others. The Holy Spirit came upon men for a season or for a specific purpose and then was removed. We see this in the acts of Samson, the prophecy of Saul, and many others. In fact, it was the Holy Spirit falling on ordinary men that made them the heroes of the faith we honor today. It was not them or their personal charisma, courage, or charm, but the Spirit who transformed ordinary men into beacons of light, who lived a life of faith during troubling times.

And when David, in the midst of anguish over his sin, cried out “and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me” (Ps. 51:11), he was not referring to his salvation, but to his intimacy with the Lord fostered only by the presence of the Holy Spirit in His life, for a season. It was the Spirit who gave David the inspiration to write so many of the Psalms. It was the Spirit of God who imparted His wisdom to Solomon so evident in the Proverbs. It was the Holy Spirit who emboldened the three Hebrew children to defy the blasphemy of Nebuchadnezzar, even at the threat of death. And it is the same Spirit who lives in you, not for a season but permanently, never to leave.

But what does that mean? Simply this.

Before Jesus was taken from His disciples’ sight, He “commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, ‘which,’ He said, ‘you have heard from Me'” (Acts 1:4). And the wonderous Promise of the Father was the coming reality of God living in us, not just with us, in the Person of the Holy Spirit. We will never have to go to where God is to meet with Him, for He is always in us. Forever. (Note: As a bit of homework, look up the phrase “in Christ” and see the amazing benefits you have that were unknown to even the Old Testament saints. But we will look more into that at a later time).

Consider the words of Jesus when He spoke about the blessing of the Holy Spirit living in us.

“And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another (állos – another of the same kind, another just like Jesus) Helper, that He may abide (ménō – to remain, dwell, live, make their home, to be and remain united with one heart, mind, and will) with you forever— the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, (how) for He dwells (ménō – same word translated abide) with you and will be (what) in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you” (John 14:16-18).

One last thought, Jesus said the “Spirit of truth,” the Holy Spirit, now “dwells with you” (present tense), but “will be in you” (future tense) at some point in time. This promise of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit was the Promise of the Father Jesus spoke about in Acts 1:4. And it was powerfully fulfilled on the Day of Pentecost, as recorded in Acts 2.

If you are a believer in Christ, you have the Holy Spirit, the very God of Gods, living in you. For the Holy Spirit is just as much God as the Father and the Son. Yet it is He, and not the Father nor the Son, who lives in you and empowers you to be overcomers in the life of faith. And, as Truth Two states, it is by the Spirit that God will do whatever is necessary to bring you into conformity with His Son (Rom. 8:29), according to His good pleasure (Phil. 2:13), which is the very definition of the Higher Christian Life.

So be encouraged. You have everything you need to live the “abundant life” Jesus promised (John 10:10) right now. And the Holy Spirit is not out there, somewhere, far away, playing hide-and-seek, only revealing Himself to those more faithful or worthy than you. No, He lives in you right now. He empowers you right now. And He comes with spiritual gifts to impart to you, right now.

All you have to do is ask. And asking comes in the form of trust and surrender.

Will you do that today?

Until He Comes,

Steve

For more on the Higher Christian Life, visit www.higherchristianlife.com or www.leavinglaodicea.com.

Our Latest Posts:

32: The Holy Spirit Provides All You Need

31: God Only Disciplines Those He Loves

30: I Know that “In Me, Nothing Good Dwells”

29: He Both Can and Will Fulfill His Promise to You

28: Victory is Found in Believing God’s Promises

In this post, we will begin to explore the second of these three great truths designed to free us from the guilt and shame of trying to live the Higher Christian Life in the flesh, by the power of our own strength and resources, and failing miserably. Sound familiar? Unfortunately, it is a description of many who begin their walk with Christ in faith, only to think they are now mature by trying to complete their walk with Him in the flesh. As if faith and dependence on Him is a sign of weakness or frailty and something “real” Christians shun as they grow in spiritual adulthood. But lest we forget, God has given us Himself in the Person of the Holy Spirit to live in and through us for a reason. And it is He, and He alone, the Spirit of God, who provides all we need in this life, ever.

For review, Truth One states we are incapable of pleasing God or producing anything good with our flesh, by our own efforts, with our sinful nature, no matter how hard we try. And if you haven’t come to grips with Truth One yet, go back and review Romans 7, especially verse 18. Now Truth One can sound a bit discouraging, especially for those who suffer from a “little God” syndrome, which we will discuss later. But it is actually great news. For just like salvation, it puts us at a place where we must admit we are helpless to save and redeem ourselves and need a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, someone much greater than we are, to do just that. We are thus dependent on Him for what we cannot accomplish ourselves, no matter how long or hard we try.

The same applies to the Holy Spirit.  Truth Two states God has given us the Holy Spirit to live and dwell in us for the purpose, among other things, of working in us “both to will and to do for His good pleasure” (Phil. 2:13). Did you catch that? The Holy Spirit will allow and empower us to “will and do for His good pleasure.” And by the way, the “His” is God the Father. Not you. Not anyone you know. And especially not your flesh, your unredeemed humanity.

The verse reads like this in context: Paul begins by showing the unity that comes when each of us reacts to each other in humility (Phil 2:1-4). And how is that seemingly impossible task accomplished? By the power of the indwelling Spirit. Then he goes on to show the humility of Christ. After all, if Jesus portrayed this much humility, how much more should we who are called by His name? Read these verses over a few times, slowly, savoring each word.

Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.

Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father – Philippians 2:5-11.

And finally, Paul exhorts the church at Philippi to live out the faith they have in Him as beacons of eternal light revealing the Father (Matt. 5:14-16). He encourages them to be “blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world” (Phil. 2:15).

But embedded between these two statements is found one of the glorious purposes God gave each of us the Holy Spirit. It says, “For it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good...]]>There’s Nothin’ You Need, He Ain’t Got!

In this post, we will begin to explore the second of these three great truths designed to free us from the guilt and shame of trying to live the Higher Christian Life in the flesh, by the power of our own strength and resources, and failing miserably. Sound familiar? Unfortunately, it is a description of many who begin their walk with Christ in faith, only to think they are now mature by trying to complete their walk with Him in the flesh. As if faith and dependence on Him is a sign of weakness or frailty and something “real” Christians shun as they grow in spiritual adulthood. But lest we forget, God has given us Himself in the Person of the Holy Spirit to live in and through us for a reason. And it is He, and He alone, the Spirit of God, who provides all we need in this life, ever.

For review, Truth One states we are incapable of pleasing God or producing anything good with our flesh, by our own efforts, with our sinful nature, no matter how hard we try. And if you haven’t come to grips with Truth One yet, go back and review Romans 7, especially verse 18. Now Truth One can sound a bit discouraging, especially for those who suffer from a “little God” syndrome, which we will discuss later. But it is actually great news. For just like salvation, it puts us at a place where we must admit we are helpless to save and redeem ourselves and need a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, someone much greater than we are, to do just that. We are thus dependent on Him for what we cannot accomplish ourselves, no matter how long or hard we try.

The same applies to the Holy Spirit.  Truth Two states God has given us the Holy Spirit to live and dwell in us for the purpose, among other things, of working in us “both to will and to do for His good pleasure” (Phil. 2:13). Did you catch that? The Holy Spirit will allow and empower us to “will and do for His good pleasure.” And by the way, the “His” is God the Father. Not you. Not anyone you know. And especially not your flesh, your unredeemed humanity.

The verse reads like this in context: Paul begins by showing the unity that comes when each of us reacts to each other in humility (Phil 2:1-4). And how is that seemingly impossible task accomplished? By the power of the indwelling Spirit. Then he goes on to show the humility of Christ. After all, if Jesus portrayed this much humility, how much more should we who are called by His name? Read these verses over a few times, slowly, savoring each word.

Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.

Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father – Philippians 2:5-11.

And finally, Paul exhorts the church at Philippi to live out the faith they have in Him as beacons of eternal light revealing the Father (Matt. 5:14-16). He encourages them to be “blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world” (Phil. 2:15).

But embedded between these two statements is found one of the glorious purposes God gave each of us the Holy Spirit. It says, “For it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure” (Phil. 2:13). It is God, in the Person of the Holy Spirit, working His good pleasure, His divine will, out in your life.

But there is more.

What More Do We Need Than We Already Have?

Let’s look at this verse a little closer.

“For it is God who works (energéō – to be effective, operative, active, implying energy) in you (make it personal) both to will (thélō – to desire with purpose and intention, implying active volition) and to do (energéō – the same word translated works) for His good pleasure (eudokía – gracious purpose, a delightful, fixed intention of benevolent favor, a good intention).”

So it is God, in the Person of the Holy Spirit, who is at work or working (energéō) in you with a purpose, an intended goal (thélō) for your life. And that goal, what He predestined when He called you to Himself, is for you to be “conformed to the image of His Son” (Rom. 8:29). And He is currently working (energéō) this purpose in you for no other reason than “His good pleasure” (eudokía), or with a desire to be gracious and benevolent to you. This is our promise from God. Better yet, this is your personal promise from God  And it is one reason why His Spirit dwells in each of us.

So if this is true, what more do you need than you already have in Him? What do you have to add to your life by your own strength and resources to make up for the Spirit’s shortcomings or deficiency in you? And if you are “complete in Him” (Col. 2:10) and the “fullness of Him who fills all in all” (Eph. 1:23) abides in you, tell me, what more do you need than you already have? Is there anything impossible for the God who lives in you? (Matt. 10:26).

This is the foundation of Truth Two. But before we dig deeper into this truth, you must come to firmly believe in your heart God has already provided, in Himself dwelling in you in the Person of the Holy Spirit, more for you than you could ever imagine. And He is well able to complete what He has begun in you (Phil. 1:6), for His own glory and for “His good pleasure.”

Or, because He wanted to. You are loved that much!

Tomorrow we will look at what it means to have the Holy Spirit dwelling in us and what that blessing means in the Higher Christian Life.

Until He Comes,

Steve

For more on the Higher Christian Life, visit www.higherchristianlife.com or www.leavinglaodicea.com.

Our Latest Posts:

31: God Only Disciplines Those He Loves

30: I Know that “In Me, Nothing Good Dwells”

29: He Both Can and Will Fulfill His Promise to You

28: Victory is Found in Believing God’s Promises

27: But What Happens When We Fail?

Yesterday we began to look at Truth One regarding the discouragement that comes with continual failure to live the sanctified life in the flesh. And we concluded it is impossible for us to produce anything good in our flesh since it is still intertwined with our fallen, sinful nature. Therefore, it seems we have spent most of our Christian life trying to prove Truth One is false and we can, contrary to Scripture (Rom. 7:18), produce good with our flesh under the allusion God will be impressed by our efforts and pleased with our results. And then we scratch our heads and we wonder why the Higher Christian Life seems so elusive to us today.

I think it’s obvious, don’t you?

For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find – Romans 7:18.

But nevertheless, whether we are mature enough to embrace Truth One or still stuck in the idolatry of our pride, we must admit our failure to live the Higher Christian Life is painful and discouraging and often leads to an irresistible desire to throw up our hands in defeat and quit. But that is a course of action we must never take. After all, fully realizing our inability to live the Christian life in the flesh is the greatest blessing we can experience in our journey to the Higher Christian Life. Let me explain.

There is good news and bad news associated with the Higher Christian Life. The good news is God has provided a means for us to experience Him in ways most nominal believers cannot imagine. And the sky is the limit. There is no one who has ever fully arrived when it comes to the Higher Christian Life. D.L. Moody once said, “The world has yet to see what God can do with and for and through and in a man who is fully and wholly consecrated to Him. I will try my utmost to be that man.” This is the mindset of those who seek the Higher Christian Life. And the good news is this experience is possible and available and attainable for each of us today.

But the bad news is God will go to extreme measures to help us experience Him by correcting His children, often by painful punishment, when they head in the wrong direction. Remember this verse (a quote from Proverbs 3:11-12):

For whom the Lord loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives – Hebrews 12:6.

This sounds cruel to our ears today because the words “chasten” and “scourges” conjure up images of abuse and harsh discipline, something our woke culture no longer associates with a father’s love for his children. But the word translated “chastens” (paideúō) means “to bring up a child, to educate, train, influence, with the idea of chastizing or punishment for the purpose of educating someone to conform to divine truth.” And the word “scourges” (mastigóō) is used figuratively to mean “correct or punish” and refers to “all suffering which God ordains for His children which is always designed for their good” (Rom. 5:3, 8:28).

And note, God only does this for those He loves (agapáō). And He only disciplines or ordains suffering (scourges) for those in His family He receives to Himself, listed as “every son” in the verse. So the chastening of the Lord is not meant for evil, but for our good. And it is ordained by our loving Father who only desires us to experience Him in a greater fashion than we are today.

But there is more.

How Does This Relate to My Struggles with Holiness?

This is where it gets exciting.

In all the times you failed in your walk with Him and found the Higher Christian Life elusive and just beyond your]]>The Good News and the Bad News in the Higher Christian Life

Yesterday we began to look at Truth One regarding the discouragement that comes with continual failure to live the sanctified life in the flesh. And we concluded it is impossible for us to produce anything good in our flesh since it is still intertwined with our fallen, sinful nature. Therefore, it seems we have spent most of our Christian life trying to prove Truth One is false and we can, contrary to Scripture (Rom. 7:18), produce good with our flesh under the allusion God will be impressed by our efforts and pleased with our results. And then we scratch our heads and we wonder why the Higher Christian Life seems so elusive to us today.

I think it’s obvious, don’t you?

For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find – Romans 7:18.

But nevertheless, whether we are mature enough to embrace Truth One or still stuck in the idolatry of our pride, we must admit our failure to live the Higher Christian Life is painful and discouraging and often leads to an irresistible desire to throw up our hands in defeat and quit. But that is a course of action we must never take. After all, fully realizing our inability to live the Christian life in the flesh is the greatest blessing we can experience in our journey to the Higher Christian Life. Let me explain.

There is good news and bad news associated with the Higher Christian Life. The good news is God has provided a means for us to experience Him in ways most nominal believers cannot imagine. And the sky is the limit. There is no one who has ever fully arrived when it comes to the Higher Christian Life. D.L. Moody once said, “The world has yet to see what God can do with and for and through and in a man who is fully and wholly consecrated to Him. I will try my utmost to be that man.” This is the mindset of those who seek the Higher Christian Life. And the good news is this experience is possible and available and attainable for each of us today.

But the bad news is God will go to extreme measures to help us experience Him by correcting His children, often by painful punishment, when they head in the wrong direction. Remember this verse (a quote from Proverbs 3:11-12):

For whom the Lord loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives – Hebrews 12:6.

This sounds cruel to our ears today because the words “chasten” and “scourges” conjure up images of abuse and harsh discipline, something our woke culture no longer associates with a father’s love for his children. But the word translated “chastens” (paideúō) means “to bring up a child, to educate, train, influence, with the idea of chastizing or punishment for the purpose of educating someone to conform to divine truth.” And the word “scourges” (mastigóō) is used figuratively to mean “correct or punish” and refers to “all suffering which God ordains for His children which is always designed for their good” (Rom. 5:3, 8:28).

And note, God only does this for those He loves (agapáō). And He only disciplines or ordains suffering (scourges) for those in His family He receives to Himself, listed as “every son” in the verse. So the chastening of the Lord is not meant for evil, but for our good. And it is ordained by our loving Father who only desires us to experience Him in a greater fashion than we are today.

But there is more.

How Does This Relate to My Struggles with Holiness?

This is where it gets exciting.

In all the times you failed in your walk with Him and found the Higher Christian Life elusive and just beyond your grasp, you may have thought you were of no use to God, and your flaws or inability to remain faithful made you a disappointment to Him. You were ashamed of yourself, and you assumed God felt the same way. You may have been deceived into believing your failures and sin defined who you are and God only saw your past, what you were and still are, and not your future, what you could become. But God has a purpose in your suffering and shame. God is teaching you, through your failures and discouragement, that you cannot serve Him with what is still yet unredeemed. You cannot produce anything good with your flesh. You must learn to trust and rest and abide in Him (John 15), and allow Him to create His good through you. This is the key to the Higher Christian Life. To “Let Go and Let God” and leave the results to Him.

Remember, God only disciplines those He loves (Heb. 12:6), and His discipline can sometimes seem harsh. But He does this only to bring those He loves into a better understanding of themselves and of His pathway to the Higher Christian Life. So if you have experienced shame and suffering and continual failure in trying to live in the flesh the life only obtainable by His Spirit, look up! For God, like a loving Father, is simply trying to get your attention to bring you back on the right path to intimacy with Him.

And rest assured, He will stop at nothing to give what is best, which is Himself, to those He loves, which is you. So embrace His grace in your failures and repent of trying to live a spiritual life by your flesh, and you will receive entrance to the pathway leading to the Higher Christian Life.

Tomorrow, we will look at the second of the three key truths to deliverance from failure and discouragement in the Higher Christian Life.

Until He Comes,

Steve

For more on the Higher Christian Life, visit www.higherchristianlife.com or www.leavinglaodicea.com.

Our Latest Posts:

30: I Know that “In Me, Nothing Good Dwells”

29: He Both Can and Will Fulfill His Promise to You

28: Victory is Found in Believing God’s Promises

27: But What Happens When We Fail?

26: The Unlimited Possibilities of Faith

Today we will begin to look at the first of three key truths that will help you overcome the disappointment of trying to live the Higher Christian Life in your own strength and failing— which is a certainty. You cannot, under any circumstances, live in the flesh that which can only be lived through His Spirit. It cannot be done, no matter how hard you try. And the more you try, the more your spiritual life resembles a mouse on an exercise wheel, constantly straining to the point of exhaustion, but going nowhere, still trapped in his cage.

Ever been there? So have many believers before you.

And the reason we continue to go back to something that has never worked in the past with the insane hope it will work today is that we have not taken the time to truly understand the nature of our fallen flesh and what the atonement of Christ did, and didn’t do, regarding it. To begin with, the sinful nature (our flesh) you and I had before being born again (John 3:16) is the same sinful nature (flesh) we have now. The atonement did not change or redeem our flesh. It is something with which we still struggle and will continue to do so until our flesh is redeemed by Christ when we are given a new, glorified, heavenly body, that is conformed to His body (Phil 3:20-21). When talking about the contrast between our earthly body and our resurrected body, the Scripture describes our human bodies as perishable, weak, natural, and corruptable, all because of sin. Yet our glorified bodies are deemed imperishable, eternal, spiritual, and not touched by corruption that comes from sin (1 Cor. 15:42-53). Consider the following:

The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption. It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power. It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. – 1 Corinthians 15:42a-44.

So the redemption of our flesh, the resurrection of our bodies, comes later in this journey of our salvation. We are buried in our sinful flesh and will be resurrected and raised in a perfect, glorified, sin-free body— a body that no longer has a sinful nature attached to it. But this happens in the future and is not something we experience now.

Hence, our continual struggle with temptation, sin, and inevitable failure.

Why Can’t I Live the Higher Christian Life in My Own Strength?

So what do we do? We try harder. We jump back on the exercise wheel with a renewed commitment to grow closer to the Lord or to try to live a holy, sanctified life by doing all the things we’ve tried before. And to quote Dr. Phil, “How’s that working out for you?” It’s not. You cannot live in the flesh something that can only be done in the spirit (or by the Spirit) no matter how committed you are to a spiritual self-improvement program. To do so is futile at best and doomed to fail from the start. Do you know why?

Truth One: You are incapable of pleasing God or producing anything good with your flesh, your sinful nature, no matter how hard you try. It cannot be done, has never been done, will never be done, by anybody, ever.

This truth might be difficult to accept. After all, we like to think highly of ourselves and often take pride in the strides we have made in our Christian life. So you might as well take a deep breath and relax because Truth One is, in fact, truth. And if you still struggle with the idea you are incapable of doing anything good in your flesh, even after your salvation, consider the following:

For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find – Romans...]]>What We Cannot Do, No Matter How Hard We Try

Today we will begin to look at the first of three key truths that will help you overcome the disappointment of trying to live the Higher Christian Life in your own strength and failing— which is a certainty. You cannot, under any circumstances, live in the flesh that which can only be lived through His Spirit. It cannot be done, no matter how hard you try. And the more you try, the more your spiritual life resembles a mouse on an exercise wheel, constantly straining to the point of exhaustion, but going nowhere, still trapped in his cage.

Ever been there? So have many believers before you.

And the reason we continue to go back to something that has never worked in the past with the insane hope it will work today is that we have not taken the time to truly understand the nature of our fallen flesh and what the atonement of Christ did, and didn’t do, regarding it. To begin with, the sinful nature (our flesh) you and I had before being born again (John 3:16) is the same sinful nature (flesh) we have now. The atonement did not change or redeem our flesh. It is something with which we still struggle and will continue to do so until our flesh is redeemed by Christ when we are given a new, glorified, heavenly body, that is conformed to His body (Phil 3:20-21). When talking about the contrast between our earthly body and our resurrected body, the Scripture describes our human bodies as perishable, weak, natural, and corruptable, all because of sin. Yet our glorified bodies are deemed imperishable, eternal, spiritual, and not touched by corruption that comes from sin (1 Cor. 15:42-53). Consider the following:

The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption. It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power. It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. – 1 Corinthians 15:42a-44.

So the redemption of our flesh, the resurrection of our bodies, comes later in this journey of our salvation. We are buried in our sinful flesh and will be resurrected and raised in a perfect, glorified, sin-free body— a body that no longer has a sinful nature attached to it. But this happens in the future and is not something we experience now.

Hence, our continual struggle with temptation, sin, and inevitable failure.

Why Can’t I Live the Higher Christian Life in My Own Strength?

So what do we do? We try harder. We jump back on the exercise wheel with a renewed commitment to grow closer to the Lord or to try to live a holy, sanctified life by doing all the things we’ve tried before. And to quote Dr. Phil, “How’s that working out for you?” It’s not. You cannot live in the flesh something that can only be done in the spirit (or by the Spirit) no matter how committed you are to a spiritual self-improvement program. To do so is futile at best and doomed to fail from the start. Do you know why?

Truth One: You are incapable of pleasing God or producing anything good with your flesh, your sinful nature, no matter how hard you try. It cannot be done, has never been done, will never be done, by anybody, ever.

This truth might be difficult to accept. After all, we like to think highly of ourselves and often take pride in the strides we have made in our Christian life. So you might as well take a deep breath and relax because Truth One is, in fact, truth. And if you still struggle with the idea you are incapable of doing anything good in your flesh, even after your salvation, consider the following:

For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find – Romans 7:18.

Remember, it was Paul who made this statement. And I wouldn’t want to stack my spiritual life up against his, would you?

Most of us have spent the majority of our Christian life trying to prove Truth One is wrong. We’ve tried to love more, pray without ceasing (1 Thes. 5:17), witness to our loved ones, unselfishly minister to others, “rejoice always” in every situation (1 Thes. 5:17), fervently worship in “spirit and truth” (John 4:23), forgive as we want to be forgiven (Matt. 6:14), and serve the Lord with the joy and intensity we know should be there, but it’s not. I mean, if we were capable of doing good in our flesh and by our own merits (and we have all tried), wouldn’t our spiritual life right now be the Higher Christian Life? But for most, it’s not, it’s seriously lacking.

Remember, our mission in life is not to produce the fruit as a branch (which we are incapable of doing), but to only bear the fruit the vine produces in us (see John 15). “For without Me (Jesus, the Vine), you can do nothing” (John 15:5). This is the essence of Truth One.

So don’t run from this truth. Accept it at face value. Receive it without reservation. Take some time and ask the Spirit to confirm this truth to you. And understand Truth One should not lead you to despair, but to immense joy. For it is in the full acceptance of Truth One that the pathway that leads to deliverance is opened.

And we shall look more deeply into this pathway tomorrow.

Until He Comes,

Steve

For more on the Higher Christian Life, visit www.higherchristianlife.com or www.leavinglaodicea.com.

Our Latest Posts:

29: He Both Can and Will Fulfill His Promise to You

28: Victory is Found in Believing God’s Promises

27: But What Happens When We Fail?

26: The Unlimited Possibilities of Faith

25: “Why Did You Doubt?”

When it comes to the Higher Christian Life, what we are striving for is a deeper, more intimate relationship with the Lord. We want to grow closer to Him and experience Him in ways we never have before. We want to enter into uncharted fellowship and communion with Him. In essence, we want to “know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death” (Phil 3:10). Literally, as this verse states, we want to “have the mind of Christ” (1 Cor. 2:16), which means to know everything about Him, the good and bad, His resurrection and His sufferings and His death, and to experience them in fellowship with Him in ways we never have. We want all that comes with our life with Christ, and we are willing to sacrifice whatever is necessary to achieve true intimate fellowship with the Lord (Rom. 12:1-2).

The life I have just described, the abundant life Jesus promised (John 10:10), all begins with and is fed by faith. But it is the object and intensity of that faith that moves us from a life of apathy and lukewarmness to a point where we are able to experience all the joy and blessings that come with the Higher Christian Life.

But how is that accomplished? And how can we have the faith to say “no” to our flesh and the cares of our life in this fallen world, and “yes” to Him and His kingdom and all He promises to those who follow Him?

What holds many back from a life of total surrender, or reckless abandon, or complete salvation, or to “let go and let God,” is a fear God will somehow not honor our commitment, nor do His part, nor meet us in the middle, and will leave us hanging and disappointed, as orphans, because of some unholy or undesirable or unlikable or unforgivable trait or sin or flaw in us. We see ourselves through our own lens of failure and broken promises and then assume God does the same. And because we esteem ourselves so little in our own eyes (since we know what we are like on the inside), we assume God also does and rightly withholds His blessings because He doesn’t really like us that much.

So why would He keep His promise to someone as unworthy as me? I know I wouldn’t.

Why would He go out of His way to answer a prayer from someone as disappointing as I must be to Him? Why would He even care?

I know if I was God, I wouldn’t give a flip about me. So maybe He doesn’t either.

What we assume is humility and a right view of ourselves is really nothing more than an opportunity to impugn and discredit the name and character of our loving God by believing the worst about Him. We believe, rightly so, He is sovereign and loving and can do anything He wants at any time He wants. Yet, for some flaw in His character, He chooses not to bless us, or answer our prayers, or reveal Himself to us because He has favorites, those He loves more than others, and we are not included in that crowd.

So when we look at the promises of God, we inevitably believe they are meant for someone else, but not us. Others get to eat with Him at His table, as His children, but not us. We have to eat leftovers alone, in the kitchen, after everyone else has finished. We know that God can, but we just don’t think He will, for us. Maybe for others more worthy— but not for us.

But nothing could be further from the truth.

I Know He Can… and I Hope He Will

The way faith is grown is to put it to use and have it tested. If you look at Hebrews 11, every one of those listed did something with their faith. Their faith in God was not passive or sterile or academic. It was active and was tested and, therefore, grew. The same is true for each of us.

God has many times in His Word given us promises and said He is well able to fulfill His promises]]>He is Both Able and Willing to Fulfill His Promises

When it comes to the Higher Christian Life, what we are striving for is a deeper, more intimate relationship with the Lord. We want to grow closer to Him and experience Him in ways we never have before. We want to enter into uncharted fellowship and communion with Him. In essence, we want to “know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death” (Phil 3:10). Literally, as this verse states, we want to “have the mind of Christ” (1 Cor. 2:16), which means to know everything about Him, the good and bad, His resurrection and His sufferings and His death, and to experience them in fellowship with Him in ways we never have. We want all that comes with our life with Christ, and we are willing to sacrifice whatever is necessary to achieve true intimate fellowship with the Lord (Rom. 12:1-2).

The life I have just described, the abundant life Jesus promised (John 10:10), all begins with and is fed by faith. But it is the object and intensity of that faith that moves us from a life of apathy and lukewarmness to a point where we are able to experience all the joy and blessings that come with the Higher Christian Life.

But how is that accomplished? And how can we have the faith to say “no” to our flesh and the cares of our life in this fallen world, and “yes” to Him and His kingdom and all He promises to those who follow Him?

What holds many back from a life of total surrender, or reckless abandon, or complete salvation, or to “let go and let God,” is a fear God will somehow not honor our commitment, nor do His part, nor meet us in the middle, and will leave us hanging and disappointed, as orphans, because of some unholy or undesirable or unlikable or unforgivable trait or sin or flaw in us. We see ourselves through our own lens of failure and broken promises and then assume God does the same. And because we esteem ourselves so little in our own eyes (since we know what we are like on the inside), we assume God also does and rightly withholds His blessings because He doesn’t really like us that much.

So why would He keep His promise to someone as unworthy as me? I know I wouldn’t.

Why would He go out of His way to answer a prayer from someone as disappointing as I must be to Him? Why would He even care?

I know if I was God, I wouldn’t give a flip about me. So maybe He doesn’t either.

What we assume is humility and a right view of ourselves is really nothing more than an opportunity to impugn and discredit the name and character of our loving God by believing the worst about Him. We believe, rightly so, He is sovereign and loving and can do anything He wants at any time He wants. Yet, for some flaw in His character, He chooses not to bless us, or answer our prayers, or reveal Himself to us because He has favorites, those He loves more than others, and we are not included in that crowd.

So when we look at the promises of God, we inevitably believe they are meant for someone else, but not us. Others get to eat with Him at His table, as His children, but not us. We have to eat leftovers alone, in the kitchen, after everyone else has finished. We know that God can, but we just don’t think He will, for us. Maybe for others more worthy— but not for us.

But nothing could be further from the truth.

I Know He Can… and I Hope He Will

The way faith is grown is to put it to use and have it tested. If you look at Hebrews 11, every one of those listed did something with their faith. Their faith in God was not passive or sterile or academic. It was active and was tested and, therefore, grew. The same is true for each of us.

God has many times in His Word given us promises and said He is well able to fulfill His promises to us. But if we only believe God is able, and not willing, then we forfeit the blessings He wants to give us, and our faith in Him flounders. Plus, it makes God petty and vindictive and almost abusive in loving and favoring some of His children more than He does others. What kind of father does that? Again, nothing could be further from the truth. Ask yourself this, does this promise apply to you?

But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him” – 2 Corinthians 2:9.

Do you love Him? If so, this promise is for you. You cannot imagine, in the deepest recesses of your heart, the wondrous things God has prepared for you. Not just others, but for you. Once you firmly settle this in your mind you come to see that believing anything other than this makes God less of a father than you would want for your own children. So settle it today! God is not a liar. He keeps His promises, even to you!

Make it personal. God can and He is able to fulfill all His promises to me— regardless of how unworthy I am or what I think about myself. And not only is God able, but He is willing, joyfully willing, to do “exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power (Holy Spirit) that works in us” (Eph. 3:20). And do you know why? Because that’s what a good father does. And God is a good God and a wonderful Father.

So rest in this today, and next time we will begin to unpack the three truths that will help you experience the Higher Christian Life.

Until He Comes,

Steve

For more on the Higher Christian Life, visit www.higherchristianlife.com or www.leavinglaodicea.com.

Our Latest Posts:

28: Victory is Found in Believing God’s Promises

27: But What Happens When We Fail?

26: The Unlimited Possibilities of Faith

25: “Why Did You Doubt?”

24: It’s His Job to Make and Keep You Holy

In our last podcast, we shared the hope of true victory over our continued failure against sin and introduced three truths we must believe to enter into the joy of the Higher Christian Life. Over the next few days, we will dig deep into each of these truths to understand the importance of our unwavering faith in God’s promises. For without faith, it is impossible to please God (Heb. 11:6). But we know that, don’t we? Yet we fail in our faith, nonetheless.

Think about your spiritual life. Like most believers, you probably experienced an exuberant infusion of love, joy, and peace when you first came to Christ, and He became real to you. After all, this is exactly what He said He would do. Suddenly, your prayers got answered. Surprisingly, God’s Word became alive to you. And unexpectedly, you found yourself excitedly talking with others about the joy of your newfound faith. Everything was roses— at least for a season.

Then something happened. Something changed.

You probably can’t put your finger on the exact moment or the exact event, but what seemed so alive in you began to fade. Gradually, over time, the joy of your Christian life subsided, and the old temptations came roaring back. And instead of “taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ” (2 Cor. 10:5), or girding yourself with the “whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day” (Eph. 6:13), your mind began to linger lustfully on those things you had once forsaken, and you found yourself drawn back into the old life, the dark side of who you once were, the “old man” as Paul would say (Rom. 6:6). The rest plays out like a B-rated horror flick. Before you knew it, you found yourself once again doing what you had already repented of and promised God you would never do again. Then came the conviction, followed by the inevitable downpour of guilt that quickly turned into shame. And like Adam, you tried to hide from God’s presence by refusing to seek Him in prayer or Bible study or fellowship or worship in church.  Questions and accusations followed.

“How can I claim to be a Christian and go back and do what I said I would never do again?”

“What must God think of me now?”

“Why wasn’t my faith stronger? Am I really that weak? There must be something wrong with me.”

“Is this what I can expect as a Christian— victory, and defeat, followed by even more defeat?”

“Jesus said He came to give me an abundant life (John 10:10). But this sure doesn’t seem like an abundance of anything other than failure and shame.”

“I’m so sorry, Lord. Please forgive me for being such a hypocrite. I’ll never tell anyone about You again until I get victory in my life over sin.” Which sadly, for many, often never happens.

Sound familiar? It should. This is the outline of the spiritual odyssey of most believers today. But the difference between victory and defeat, success or failure, is the ability and desire to rise from our shame and regret, remembering Whose we are and Who lives in us, and somehow find the strength to pick ourselves up and return to the race (Heb. 12:1). Only this time, we wisely refuse to run the race alone.

It is Only By Believing God’s Promises that Victory is Secured

God gives us so many promises in His Word. But for those promises to become real to us, we have to believe them and then live as if we really had the faith to believe them. This is not sterile, dead, academic, lip-service-only faith. It is vibrant faith that shows itself boldly in action. Nothing else will do.

Remember, God is sovereign,]]>Victory is Found in Believing God’s Promises

In our last podcast, we shared the hope of true victory over our continued failure against sin and introduced three truths we must believe to enter into the joy of the Higher Christian Life. Over the next few days, we will dig deep into each of these truths to understand the importance of our unwavering faith in God’s promises. For without faith, it is impossible to please God (Heb. 11:6). But we know that, don’t we? Yet we fail in our faith, nonetheless.

Think about your spiritual life. Like most believers, you probably experienced an exuberant infusion of love, joy, and peace when you first came to Christ, and He became real to you. After all, this is exactly what He said He would do. Suddenly, your prayers got answered. Surprisingly, God’s Word became alive to you. And unexpectedly, you found yourself excitedly talking with others about the joy of your newfound faith. Everything was roses— at least for a season.

Then something happened. Something changed.

You probably can’t put your finger on the exact moment or the exact event, but what seemed so alive in you began to fade. Gradually, over time, the joy of your Christian life subsided, and the old temptations came roaring back. And instead of “taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ” (2 Cor. 10:5), or girding yourself with the “whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day” (Eph. 6:13), your mind began to linger lustfully on those things you had once forsaken, and you found yourself drawn back into the old life, the dark side of who you once were, the “old man” as Paul would say (Rom. 6:6). The rest plays out like a B-rated horror flick. Before you knew it, you found yourself once again doing what you had already repented of and promised God you would never do again. Then came the conviction, followed by the inevitable downpour of guilt that quickly turned into shame. And like Adam, you tried to hide from God’s presence by refusing to seek Him in prayer or Bible study or fellowship or worship in church.  Questions and accusations followed.

“How can I claim to be a Christian and go back and do what I said I would never do again?”

“What must God think of me now?”

“Why wasn’t my faith stronger? Am I really that weak? There must be something wrong with me.”

“Is this what I can expect as a Christian— victory, and defeat, followed by even more defeat?”

“Jesus said He came to give me an abundant life (John 10:10). But this sure doesn’t seem like an abundance of anything other than failure and shame.”

“I’m so sorry, Lord. Please forgive me for being such a hypocrite. I’ll never tell anyone about You again until I get victory in my life over sin.” Which sadly, for many, often never happens.

Sound familiar? It should. This is the outline of the spiritual odyssey of most believers today. But the difference between victory and defeat, success or failure, is the ability and desire to rise from our shame and regret, remembering Whose we are and Who lives in us, and somehow find the strength to pick ourselves up and return to the race (Heb. 12:1). Only this time, we wisely refuse to run the race alone.

It is Only By Believing God’s Promises that Victory is Secured

God gives us so many promises in His Word. But for those promises to become real to us, we have to believe them and then live as if we really had the faith to believe them. This is not sterile, dead, academic, lip-service-only faith. It is vibrant faith that shows itself boldly in action. Nothing else will do.

Remember, God is sovereign, and nothing is too great for Him. He can do whatever He chooses (Ps. 115:3), which may actually be “exceedingly abundantly above what we ask or think, according to the power (Holy Spirit) that works in us” (Eph. 3:20). So rest assured, God has a plan for your deliverance from the Christian life you are now experiencing to the Higher Christian Life He promised. And His deliverance is found by firmly grasping with two hands and acting upon His great promises which are given to you. Not given to someone else you deem more worthy, but given to you.

So before we dive into the three truths that will help you experience the Higher Christian Life by living as an “overcomer” regarding sin, there is just one more thing you need to settle firmly in your mind. God is not only able to do whatever He has promised, but He is also willing. And He is willing to not only reveal Himself to you, but to keep all of His promises. Every one of them. No matter what.

Do you believe this statement about God to be true? Good. Then let’s begin our Higher Christian Life journey together, shall we?

Until He Comes,

Steve

For more on the Higher Christian Life, visit www.higherchristianlife.com or www.leavinglaodicea.com.

Our Latest Posts:

27: But What Happens When We Fail?

26: The Unlimited Possibilities of Faith

25: “Why Did You Doubt?”

24: It’s His Job to Make and Keep You Holy

23: Does God Love You as Much as You Love Him?

We have spent enough time since our last teaching for you to have either experienced the joy of wonderous success in the Higher Christian Life or the bitter gall of continued failure. My guess is that it’s a little bit of both— probably light on the success side and heavy on the failure. And a constant diet of failure can lead to disappointment, discouragement, self-loathing and self-doubt, depression, and the overwhelming urge to give up and quit. But quitting never accomplishes anything, especially in the spiritual life.

What if I were to tell you that your failures in trying to experience the Higher Christian Life are actually all part of God’s great plan to make you see yourself as you truly are: one who is incapable of doing anything good in the flesh. Ouch. I know that one stings. But as we shall soon discover, the first truth to grasp on the way to victory in your spiritual life is to fully come to grips with the fact that:

For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells – Romans 7:18a.

Remember, this was written by a man far more intimate with our Lord than most of us are today. And it was written decades after he first met the Lord on the Damascus Road (Acts 9:3-6). So this is not the depressed rantings of a young believer who is continually drawn back to his dark side. No, these are the words of a seasoned apostle. Probably the greatest apostle of all. But there is more.

We would assume, by the time Saul became known as Paul (Acts 13:9), he would have figured out how to keep his flesh, the old man (Rom. 6:6), permanently dead and buried. But if you will read the rest of this verse, you will find even Paul still struggled with failure in his walk with Christ.

For to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find – Romans 7:18b.

Did you catch what Paul was saying? The desire (will) to live the Higher Christian Life, a life free from the bondage of sin, is “present with me”, but “how to perform what is good (living a life of sanctification or holiness) I do not find.” And as a side note, the word translated “perform” is katergázomai and means “to work, to bring about, to accomplish, to carry out a task until finished.” So Paul is saying he struggles to find the key to unlock the door to spiritual victory when it comes to experiencing, day by day, a life not stained by sin, and the grieving of the Holy Spirit (Eph. 4:30). He struggles to find how to “perform” or to “bring about until finished” living a life of holiness or sanctification. Or in our terms, how to experience the Higher Christian Life.

Don’t get me wrong, Paul did experience wonderful times of intimacy with the Lord, probably greater than anyone you or I have ever known (2 Cor. 12:2-4). Yet he still struggled to find the permanent answer to the question, Is there a way to keep from failing? In essence, he was just like each of us, striving to live Christ-like, with ups and downs, peaks and valleys. two steps forward, one step back.  Look what he said in the next verse.

For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice (prássō – what one does repeatedly, continually, habitually, with no end in sight) – Romans 7:19.

Paul, knowing what he did about his life before Christ and knowing what he does about Christ, still practiced, habitually, with no end in sight, the things he hated doing. The “evil” he strived not to do. What is the answer to this spiritual dilemma that plagued Paul and probably every other believer since? Or, Who has the...]]>What Happens When I Fail at the Higher Christian Life?

We have spent enough time since our last teaching for you to have either experienced the joy of wonderous success in the Higher Christian Life or the bitter gall of continued failure. My guess is that it’s a little bit of both— probably light on the success side and heavy on the failure. And a constant diet of failure can lead to disappointment, discouragement, self-loathing and self-doubt, depression, and the overwhelming urge to give up and quit. But quitting never accomplishes anything, especially in the spiritual life.

What if I were to tell you that your failures in trying to experience the Higher Christian Life are actually all part of God’s great plan to make you see yourself as you truly are: one who is incapable of doing anything good in the flesh. Ouch. I know that one stings. But as we shall soon discover, the first truth to grasp on the way to victory in your spiritual life is to fully come to grips with the fact that:

For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells – Romans 7:18a.

Remember, this was written by a man far more intimate with our Lord than most of us are today. And it was written decades after he first met the Lord on the Damascus Road (Acts 9:3-6). So this is not the depressed rantings of a young believer who is continually drawn back to his dark side. No, these are the words of a seasoned apostle. Probably the greatest apostle of all. But there is more.

We would assume, by the time Saul became known as Paul (Acts 13:9), he would have figured out how to keep his flesh, the old man (Rom. 6:6), permanently dead and buried. But if you will read the rest of this verse, you will find even Paul still struggled with failure in his walk with Christ.

For to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find – Romans 7:18b.

Did you catch what Paul was saying? The desire (will) to live the Higher Christian Life, a life free from the bondage of sin, is “present with me”, but “how to perform what is good (living a life of sanctification or holiness) I do not find.” And as a side note, the word translated “perform” is katergázomai and means “to work, to bring about, to accomplish, to carry out a task until finished.” So Paul is saying he struggles to find the key to unlock the door to spiritual victory when it comes to experiencing, day by day, a life not stained by sin, and the grieving of the Holy Spirit (Eph. 4:30). He struggles to find how to “perform” or to “bring about until finished” living a life of holiness or sanctification. Or in our terms, how to experience the Higher Christian Life.

Don’t get me wrong, Paul did experience wonderful times of intimacy with the Lord, probably greater than anyone you or I have ever known (2 Cor. 12:2-4). Yet he still struggled to find the permanent answer to the question, Is there a way to keep from failing? In essence, he was just like each of us, striving to live Christ-like, with ups and downs, peaks and valleys. two steps forward, one step back.  Look what he said in the next verse.

For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice (prássō – what one does repeatedly, continually, habitually, with no end in sight) – Romans 7:19.

Paul, knowing what he did about his life before Christ and knowing what he does about Christ, still practiced, habitually, with no end in sight, the things he hated doing. The “evil” he strived not to do. What is the answer to this spiritual dilemma that plagued Paul and probably every other believer since? Or, Who has the key to victory over the power of sin and our flesh?

Is There a Way to Keep Me From Failing Spiritually?

Absolutely. And over the next few sessions, we are going to unpack the three truths that can set you free from the sting of failure and firmly plant you on the path to a life of intimacy with Him and victory over your flesh, or what we call the Higher Christian Life. Let me introduce these truths to you and we’ll look at them in detail in the days to come.

One, with your sinful nature (flesh), you are incapable of producing any good thing. No matter how hard you try. Period, end of discussion. This truth might knock you back on your heels a bit, but it is nonetheless, true.

Two, God has given you the Holy Spirit to dwell within you for the purpose that He “works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure” (Phil. 2:13). This may seem easy to accept, like a simple Sunday School lesson, but the implications of this truth regarding our failure to live the Higher Christian Life cannot be understated. We’ll also look in detail at what this means for us today

Three, (here’s the kicker) when Christ was crucified, He took with Him to the cross not only our sins, but also our sin nature, our “old man” (Rom. 6:6). And it is here, in our understanding and acceptance of what Christ’s death accomplished, that true victory over our failure is found. This is home base for the believer.

Remember these words:

Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord – Romans 6:11.

There is so much we are going to discover as we continue learning how to experience the Higher Christian Life. Join us.

Until He Comes,

Steve

For more on the Higher Christian Life, visit www.higherchristianlife.com or www.leavinglaodicea.com.

Our Latest Posts:

26: The Unlimited Possibilities of Faith

25: “Why Did You Doubt?”

24: It’s His Job to Make and Keep You Holy

23: Does God Love You as Much as You Love Him?

22: Is it Possible to Live a Holy Life?

Let’s begin by looking at a few statements from Christ and see if we truly believe what they say.

But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible” – Matthew 19:26.

Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes” – Mark 9:23.

Note, the Greek word translated “all” is pás and means “each, every, any, in totality, the whole, without exception.” So, for us, all means all. Literally. And the second word to consider is dunatós which is translated as “possible” and means “to be able, to have strength, to be strong or powerful.” This is a form of dúnamis which is primarily translated in the New Testament as power, notably “miraculous” power. In essence, Jesus is saying with faith or to one who believes, all things, without exception, are possible, or have the power, strength, and ability to be done, even miraculously, in Christ.

Do you believe these words of Jesus? I hope so. For “without faith, it is impossible to please Him” (Heb. 11:6).

But there is something more here that needs to be understood about these promises. The first statement is a blanket truth about God. There is nothing impossible with Him, or all things are possible. But with the second statement, there is a condition. Jesus begins with a condition “if” and states, “If you can believe, (then) all things are possible to him (condition again) who believes” (Mark 9:23). So faith or belief is the condition that opens up the floodgates of blessings from the Lord and is the key, not only to our salvation (Eph. 2:8-9), but also the Higher Christian Life.

And if that wasn’t enough, we find in Hebrews intimacy and becoming well-pleasing to the Lord is intricately tied to faith. So much so, the Scripture says “without faith, it is impossible to please Him” (Heb. 11:6), which is the point of seeking the Higher Christian Life.

So if the words of Jesus are true and faith is the substance that brings blessings and intimacy with the Lord, then what are the possibilities in Him, by faith, in this life we now lead? Or, is there anything God cannot do to those who believe?

What are the Unlimited Possibilities of Faith?

Over the next few sessions, we are going to dig into the infinite possibilities of faith and try to expand our understanding of how powerful and majestic, and good is our Lord. After all, there is nothing greater than Him. Nothing. And for some reason, He has chosen to prove Himself sovereign to the lost world of fallen men and angels (Eph. 3:10) by allowing us to personally and intimately experience Him in our daily lives, as sinful as we are. And the pathway to the Higher Christian Life is by faith, and nothing more. Just like it was with our salvation (Eph. 2:8-9).

So what are some of the possibilities of faith, according to the Scriptures and not necessarily our current experience:

•  Salvation is possible because of]]>We have spent the last few sessions unpacking the three key truths that must be believed in order to receive the Higher Christian Life. By now, these should be second nature to you. But there are two aspects to these three truths. One, naturally, is the truths themselves. And the other, of equal importance, is that these truths must be believed. In a word, faith. It is the fact you must believe by faith what these truths state. This brings us to the topic for today, and that is faith. Abundant faith, achieving faith, overcoming faith, non-wavering faith. Faith. So let’s begin with a simple question: What are the unlimited possibilities of faith?

Let’s begin by looking at a few statements from Christ and see if we truly believe what they say.

But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible” – Matthew 19:26.

Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes” – Mark 9:23.

Note, the Greek word translated “all” is pás and means “each, every, any, in totality, the whole, without exception.” So, for us, all means all. Literally. And the second word to consider is dunatós which is translated as “possible” and means “to be able, to have strength, to be strong or powerful.” This is a form of dúnamis which is primarily translated in the New Testament as power, notably “miraculous” power. In essence, Jesus is saying with faith or to one who believes, all things, without exception, are possible, or have the power, strength, and ability to be done, even miraculously, in Christ.

Do you believe these words of Jesus? I hope so. For “without faith, it is impossible to please Him” (Heb. 11:6).

But there is something more here that needs to be understood about these promises. The first statement is a blanket truth about God. There is nothing impossible with Him, or all things are possible. But with the second statement, there is a condition. Jesus begins with a condition “if” and states, “If you can believe, (then) all things are possible to him (condition again) who believes” (Mark 9:23). So faith or belief is the condition that opens up the floodgates of blessings from the Lord and is the key, not only to our salvation (Eph. 2:8-9), but also the Higher Christian Life.

And if that wasn’t enough, we find in Hebrews intimacy and becoming well-pleasing to the Lord is intricately tied to faith. So much so, the Scripture says “without faith, it is impossible to please Him” (Heb. 11:6), which is the point of seeking the Higher Christian Life.

So if the words of Jesus are true and faith is the substance that brings blessings and intimacy with the Lord, then what are the possibilities in Him, by faith, in this life we now lead? Or, is there anything God cannot do to those who believe?

What are the Unlimited Possibilities of Faith?

Over the next few sessions, we are going to dig into the infinite possibilities of faith and try to expand our understanding of how powerful and majestic, and good is our Lord. After all, there is nothing greater than Him. Nothing. And for some reason, He has chosen to prove Himself sovereign to the lost world of fallen men and angels (Eph. 3:10) by allowing us to personally and intimately experience Him in our daily lives, as sinful as we are. And the pathway to the Higher Christian Life is by faith, and nothing more. Just like it was with our salvation (Eph. 2:8-9).

So what are some of the possibilities of faith, according to the Scriptures and not necessarily our current experience:

•  Salvation is possible because of our faith.

•  Sanctification, or the Higher Christian Life, is possible because of faith.

•  All power for service and ministry is possible because of faith.

•  All victory in prayer is possible because of faith.

•  All peace and joy during trials in this world are grounded and possible because of faith.

•  Excitement in the Lord’s soon return is possible because of faith.

•  All things are possible to him to believe, to him who has faith. All things.

This is our inheritance in Him. It is a birthright to be believed. And the choice is always ours to make.

One final thought, consider the faith possibilities in this doxology found in the third chapter of Ephesians.  And remember, the word “able” in this verse is a derivative of the same Greek word translated “possible” in the verses above. After all, our God is able, and all things are possible with Him.

Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works (present tense) in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen – Ephesians 3:20-21.

In my favorite movie, Facing the Giants, Coach Grant Taylor, after winning the State Championship, asks his players this probing question: “What is impossible with God?” And to a player, they all answered, “Nothing Coach.”

So how about you? What is impossible with God?

Until He Comes,

Steve

For more on the Higher Christian Life, visit www.higherchristianlife.com or www.leavinglaodicea.com.

Our Latest Posts:

25: “Why Did You Doubt?”

24: It’s His Job to Make and Keep You Holy

23: Does God Love You as Much as You Love Him?

22: Is it Possible to Live a Holy Life?

21: What Does “Keep You From Stumbling” Mean?

I always find it amusing when we, as believers in Christ, trust Him without reservation regarding the things “in the sweet by and by” but struggle in the realities of the “here and now.” We trust Him for our salvation, without wavering. We trust Him in His promise to receive us “to Himself” so that “where I am, there you may be also” (John 14:3), no questions asked. But we waffle in our faith when it comes to His promise to “keep you from stumbling and present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy” (Jude 24). Why is that? Why are we so strong in our faith in the things we cannot see, like heaven, the Second Coming, and eternal life, but are “tossed to and fro and carried about” (Eph. 4:14) in the things we can see, like fear, insecurity, the lack of money, failing health, fractured relationships, and all that keeps us up at night?

Remember, we can forge through this life doing the things we hope please God in our own strength and end up fatigued, weary, and frustrated in the end. Or, we can soar through this life on the “wings of eagles” (Isa. 40:31), allowing Christ to do through us the things that please God and end up exhilarated, overwhelmed with gratitude, and bearing so much spiritual fruit our branches literally touch the ground. The choice is always ours. And the end is always the same. It’s how we get to the end (doing the things that please God) that matters.

“O You of Little Faith, Why Did You Doubt?”

A perfect example of this principle is found in Matthew 14:22-33. Here we find Jesus, after feeding close to ten thousand hungry souls with a boy’s sack lunch,* sending His disciples away as He withdraws to a mountain to spend some alone time with His Father (Matt. 14:22-23). And what were the disciples commanded to do? Same thing they had done most of their lives. Jesus told them to “get into the boat and go before Him to the other side” (Matt. 14:22).

Traveling on the water in a boat was not something new to most of them. Peter and Andrew, as well as James and John, were fishermen. So were probably Thomas, Phillip, and Nathaniel. So this task of traveling by boat was second nature to the majority of the disciples. And they had all seen rough seas before. But on this night, they struggled.

But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, tossed (basanízō – to torture, afflict with pain, vex, harass) by the waves, for the wind was contrary (enantíos – over against, hostile, adverse) – Matthew 14:24.

And their struggle had gone on for a long time.

Then He saw them straining at rowing, for the wind was against them. Now about the fourth watch of the night (3:00 am to 6:00 am), He came to them, walking on the sea, and would have passed them by – Mark 6:48.

Can you see what is happening here? The disciples are doing what they have always done, in the flesh, to follow the commands of Christ. He told them to get in the boat and go to the other side, and they...]]>We will close our study of the three key truths that must be believed to experience the Higher Christian Life by looking at one final example of how to commit yourself, in total dependence, to the Lord for safekeeping. This is truth number three. In essence, it is His job to “present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy” (Jude 24), and not yours. We must learn, by faith, to trust Him to complete what He has begun in our lives by His power and not struggle in our own. And this is hard. Why? Because it requires faith and trust and dependence and all the things that war against the flesh and our pride and self-sufficiency. Jesus summed up our struggle when He said to Peter, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” (Matt. 14:31). Exactly. What do you and I doubt?

I always find it amusing when we, as believers in Christ, trust Him without reservation regarding the things “in the sweet by and by” but struggle in the realities of the “here and now.” We trust Him for our salvation, without wavering. We trust Him in His promise to receive us “to Himself” so that “where I am, there you may be also” (John 14:3), no questions asked. But we waffle in our faith when it comes to His promise to “keep you from stumbling and present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy” (Jude 24). Why is that? Why are we so strong in our faith in the things we cannot see, like heaven, the Second Coming, and eternal life, but are “tossed to and fro and carried about” (Eph. 4:14) in the things we can see, like fear, insecurity, the lack of money, failing health, fractured relationships, and all that keeps us up at night?

Remember, we can forge through this life doing the things we hope please God in our own strength and end up fatigued, weary, and frustrated in the end. Or, we can soar through this life on the “wings of eagles” (Isa. 40:31), allowing Christ to do through us the things that please God and end up exhilarated, overwhelmed with gratitude, and bearing so much spiritual fruit our branches literally touch the ground. The choice is always ours. And the end is always the same. It’s how we get to the end (doing the things that please God) that matters.

“O You of Little Faith, Why Did You Doubt?”

A perfect example of this principle is found in Matthew 14:22-33. Here we find Jesus, after feeding close to ten thousand hungry souls with a boy’s sack lunch,* sending His disciples away as He withdraws to a mountain to spend some alone time with His Father (Matt. 14:22-23). And what were the disciples commanded to do? Same thing they had done most of their lives. Jesus told them to “get into the boat and go before Him to the other side” (Matt. 14:22).

Traveling on the water in a boat was not something new to most of them. Peter and Andrew, as well as James and John, were fishermen. So were probably Thomas, Phillip, and Nathaniel. So this task of traveling by boat was second nature to the majority of the disciples. And they had all seen rough seas before. But on this night, they struggled.

But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, tossed (basanízō – to torture, afflict with pain, vex, harass) by the waves, for the wind was contrary (enantíos – over against, hostile, adverse) – Matthew 14:24.

And their struggle had gone on for a long time.

Then He saw them straining at rowing, for the wind was against them. Now about the fourth watch of the night (3:00 am to 6:00 am), He came to them, walking on the sea, and would have passed them by – Mark 6:48.

Can you see what is happening here? The disciples are doing what they have always done, in the flesh, to follow the commands of Christ. He told them to get in the boat and go to the other side, and they did, only things got tough. So what did they do when things got difficult? They tried harder, worked harder, “strained at rowing” harder, all night long and into the early morning hours. They were exhausted, worn out, yet still had not made it to the other side. And all the while Jesus, casually walking on the water, is watching them while they struggled. Remember, this is the same water that was putting up such a fight against the disciples that Jesus effortlessly glided over. Both Jesus and the disciples faced the same circumstances, yet chose a different path to victory.

The difference is this: Jesus, the key to victory, the Lord of Creation, was outside of the boat, and the disciples were struggling to fulfill His command in their own effort. But once Jesus got into the boat with them, everything changed. The winds ceased. The seas became calm. And wonder fell upon the disciples.

Then He went up into the boat to them, and the wind ceased. And they were greatly amazed in themselves beyond measure, and marveled – Mark 6:51.

I bet. And we haven’t even mentioned Peter walking on water to Jesus (Matt. 14:28-31), which is another amazing topic for another time.

But the lesson to be learned is this, like the disciples, we can try to live the Higher Christian Life in the flesh, by our own efforts, straining at rowing, full of doubt and fear and failure, and still never make it to the other side. Or we can trust Jesus to fulfill His commands to us by His own efforts. We can invite Him into the boat, refuse to doubt, watch the seas become calm and our problems fade in the light of His glory, and realize He is well able to “keep you from stumbling” (Jude 24).

As a closing note for today, did you notice what the next verse says? It simply states, “When they had crossed over, they came to the land of Gennesaret” (Matt. 14:34). No mention of the troubling seas. No word about how tired they were. Nothing. Just a note to let us know that, with Jesus in the boat with them, they were able to obey His commands. And I believe the ride to the other side after Jesus entered the boat was far easier than their toil before He got into the boat. Don’t you?

So what will it be? Striving or resting? Trusting or doubting? The Higher Christian Life or the life you have always known? The choice, as always, is yours. So choose wisely.

One final thought, if you do the same things in the same way you have always done, don’t be surprised when you get the same results. So in this Higher Christian Life, try something different. Try trusting Him and not yourself. And let’s see if He truly can “do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think” (Eph. 3:20).

Until He Comes,

Steve

* Matthew 14:21 states there were “about five thousand men, besides women and children.” So, assuming an average of two children plus a wife for each man, we are looking at much more than ten thousand people.

For more on the Higher Christian Life, visit www.higherchristianlife.com or www.leavinglaodicea.com.

Our Latest Posts:

24: It’s His Job to Make and Keep You Holy

23: Does God Love You as Much as You Love Him?

22: Is it Possible to Live a Holy Life?

21: What Does “Keep You From Stumbling” Mean?

20: “Now to Him Who is Able”

Before we address this question, let’s begin with a quick review of what we already know (hopefully) about the three key truths and the Higher Christian Life.

One, you must believe God is able (He possesses the power and ability) to keep you from falling or faltering in your life of holiness. You must settle it in your mind, once and for all, that “with God nothing will be impossible” (Luke 1:37). And this is especially true of Him being able to “keep you from stumbling” (Jude 24). Yes, even you.

Two, you must remove from your mind all doubt and fear that He is not willing to keep you from stumbling. Of course He is willing. That’s what a good God does. He will not command you to “be holy, for I am holy” (1 Peter 1:16) and then give you no means to obey His command.

And three, you must learn to commit yourself, in total dependence, to the Lord for safekeeping. It is His job to “present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy” (Jude 24), and not yours. His job. And He is not only willing to bring you across the finish line, but He is also able to carry you across the line if necessary. So we must learn to trust Him to finish what He began in us, for His glory, no matter how we feel at the moment. Remember, whatever the need, He can. And even better, He will.

Now once that is settled in our mind, if we don’t stay focused on Him alone, the drudgery of the everlasting treadmill begins.

Let me explain.

It’s His Job to Both Make and Keep You Holy

You and I both know that fellowship with God is something that can quickly fade away. It is not something that maintains itself. A simple sin, an impure thought, jealously, anger, lust, pride, you name it, and soon we have grieved the Holy Spirit and inadvertently landed on square 87 in the spiritual Chutes & Ladders game and now find ourselves sliding almost back to the beginning. “How did that happen? I was so close! Now I’ve got to start all over.”

So what do we do? We try harder. But harder at what? Unfortunately, since we assume our intimacy with the Lord, the Higher Christian Life, was somehow obtained by our own efforts to live holy and, now that we find ourselves back on square 24, we naturally commit to working and trying harder to recapture the fellowship we lost. So we pray more. We read our Bible more. We commit ourselves to witness more, love more, worship more, give more. We get on the treadmill of works hoping to somehow earn renewed fellowship with Him, or revived holiness in us until we find ourselves exhausted and frustrated and close to despair. No matter how hard we try, no matter how many spiritually good things we add to our life, we cannot obtain by our works something that is only given to us by faith. And here is where we often fail.

We only received salvation when we realized there was]]>Today, we will begin looking at the last of the three truths that must be believed in order to experience the Higher Christian Life. These truths speak of the character of God and our need to let Him both make us holy and, as hard as it sometimes seems, keep us holy in His sight. Remember, Jude 24 states, “He is able to keep you from stumbling”— so His ability is not in question. And 1 Corinthians 1:30 further reveals that Jesus “became for us… sanctification.” So He is what He desires us to be. Seems simple enough. But how does knowing what He can do (keep us from stumbling) and knowing what we have done (our sin and failure) reconcile with each other? And how do these two statements about Christ relate to the importance of our dependence on Him?

Before we address this question, let’s begin with a quick review of what we already know (hopefully) about the three key truths and the Higher Christian Life.

One, you must believe God is able (He possesses the power and ability) to keep you from falling or faltering in your life of holiness. You must settle it in your mind, once and for all, that “with God nothing will be impossible” (Luke 1:37). And this is especially true of Him being able to “keep you from stumbling” (Jude 24). Yes, even you.

Two, you must remove from your mind all doubt and fear that He is not willing to keep you from stumbling. Of course He is willing. That’s what a good God does. He will not command you to “be holy, for I am holy” (1 Peter 1:16) and then give you no means to obey His command.

And three, you must learn to commit yourself, in total dependence, to the Lord for safekeeping. It is His job to “present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy” (Jude 24), and not yours. His job. And He is not only willing to bring you across the finish line, but He is also able to carry you across the line if necessary. So we must learn to trust Him to finish what He began in us, for His glory, no matter how we feel at the moment. Remember, whatever the need, He can. And even better, He will.

Now once that is settled in our mind, if we don’t stay focused on Him alone, the drudgery of the everlasting treadmill begins.

Let me explain.

It’s His Job to Both Make and Keep You Holy

You and I both know that fellowship with God is something that can quickly fade away. It is not something that maintains itself. A simple sin, an impure thought, jealously, anger, lust, pride, you name it, and soon we have grieved the Holy Spirit and inadvertently landed on square 87 in the spiritual Chutes & Ladders game and now find ourselves sliding almost back to the beginning. “How did that happen? I was so close! Now I’ve got to start all over.”

So what do we do? We try harder. But harder at what? Unfortunately, since we assume our intimacy with the Lord, the Higher Christian Life, was somehow obtained by our own efforts to live holy and, now that we find ourselves back on square 24, we naturally commit to working and trying harder to recapture the fellowship we lost. So we pray more. We read our Bible more. We commit ourselves to witness more, love more, worship more, give more. We get on the treadmill of works hoping to somehow earn renewed fellowship with Him, or revived holiness in us until we find ourselves exhausted and frustrated and close to despair. No matter how hard we try, no matter how many spiritually good things we add to our life, we cannot obtain by our works something that is only given to us by faith. And here is where we often fail.

We only received salvation when we realized there was nothing we could do to atone for our own sins. We tried and failed. So we tried again, only harder, to fail once again, only harder. Eventually, we quit trying and finally gave up. Hence, we surrendered to Christ, accepted and received His sacrifice for our sins, and received, as a gift of grace, forgiveness, reconciliation, and eternal life. And this was appropriated to us, not by works, no matter how good they may seem, but by faith.

The Higher Christian Life is received the same way.

When we come to a fuller understanding of Him and experience the Higher Christian Life, we will find our prayer life will increase exponentially. Scripture will become for us, “living and active” (Heb. 4:12), maybe for the first time. And we will have a natural desire to tell others about the wonder of this life with Christ we are now experiencing. But these are all manifestations of an inward change by the Spirit and not tasks or requirements we must do in the flesh to earn His acceptance. His love and acceptance are given to us by faith, as a gift.

So just like salvation, when we come to the realization we cannot live a holy life on our own and surrender in total dependence to Him by allowing Him to live His holy life through us, then He becomes for us, by experience, “wisdom from God— and righteousness and sanctification and redemption— that, (why) as it is written, “He who glories, let him glory in the Lord” (1 Cor. 1:30-31). We glory in Him and not in our own accomplishments that we falsely believe somehow earn the acceptance of God.

Everything is given to us by grace and is received by faith. Salvation, yes. But also sanctification.

So today, when you pray or study Scripture, don’t do it out of duty or the desire to earn something from Him, but allow the Spirit to compel you to do it out of love. Let the spiritual good things in your life not be for the purpose of earning God’s love, but as an outflow of His love. As a response to His love. Or, as Romans 12:1 says, as your “reasonable service” in response to the “mercies of God.”

Next time we will look at Matthew 14 and see this third truth played out for us in living color in the account of Jesus and the weary disciples doing what they had always done, in their own strength, on the sea.

Until He Comes,

Steve

For more on the Higher Christian Life, visit www.higherchristianlife.com or www.leavinglaodicea.com.

Our Latest Posts:

23: Does God Love You as Much as You Love Him?

22: Is it Possible to Live a Holy Life?

21: What Does “Keep You From Stumbling” Mean?

20: “Now to Him Who is Able”

19: My God is So Big, So Strong, and So Mighty

Sometimes there are children of God (Rom. 8:16) who feel so bad about themselves they cannot conceive of anyone, including God, loving them as much as they long for. They walk with their heads down, depressed, unsure, insecure, often filled with self-loathing. And, although there are many reasons for them to feel this way (an abusive home life, fractured relationships, a dysfunctional family, rejection, betrayal, etc.), for the Christian, it usually stems from their unwillingness to forgive themselves for their sins in the past and the paralyzing guilt they often suffer from. For some reason, their sins or failures loom larger than the grace and forgiveness of God. And this unhealthy mindset often is why they mentally shun any idea of God loving or forgiving them, and they reject any attempt He makes to do so.

Quite honestly, this spiritual disease is far more widespread than you would think.

Let’s think about forgiveness for a moment.

One of the Christian faith’s key tenets is the offer of God to forgive our sins (past, present, and future) due to the sacrifice of His Son and our simple faith in Him. Jesus did all the work to secure our forgiveness and erase the guilt and consequences of our sins, and all we have to do is believe. It’s like winning the lottery with a ticket someone gave you.

But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus – Ephesians 2:4-7.

There is no downside.

Does God Love You as Much as You Love Him?

When we sin against someone, there are usually three people we need to ask for their forgiveness. The first is God. And, according to His Word, His forgiveness is instant and complete with no hidden fine print (1 John 1:9). In fact, He goes a step further and chooses to no longer remember our sins (Isa. 43:25), but also removes them as far as “the east is from the west” (Ps. 103:12). This is forever, with no North or South poles.

The next one we need to ask for their forgiveness is the person we have hurt.  And, as fallen humans, they will either forgive us or not. This is their choice, and there is nothing we can do about it. It is out of our hands. We will either be blessed to have that relationship restored or live with the consequences of our sins. Our job is to simply humble ourselves and ask and leave the results to God.

But the final one we need to ask for...]]>Today we will begin to look at the second of our three key truths that lead to the blessings of the Higher Christian Life. As we have learned, the first truth declares you must believe God is able (He possesses the power and ability) to keep you from falling or faltering in your life of holiness (Jude 24). And once God’s ability is firmly settled in your mind, the second truth takes the first one and makes it personal. The second truth states you must remove from your mind all doubt and fear that He is not willing to keep you from stumbling. That’s right. Now the first truth must be applied to your life in a personal way. It is no longer about what God can do for others. It is about what God can do for you. And this is where many falter. We believe God is able to bless anyone He wants at any time He wants, but just not for us. We even believe He is willing to bless His children, but again, just not us. And as strange as it may sound, this is like wondering if God loves you as much as you love Him?  Which is both absurd and incredibly sad. Let me explain.

Sometimes there are children of God (Rom. 8:16) who feel so bad about themselves they cannot conceive of anyone, including God, loving them as much as they long for. They walk with their heads down, depressed, unsure, insecure, often filled with self-loathing. And, although there are many reasons for them to feel this way (an abusive home life, fractured relationships, a dysfunctional family, rejection, betrayal, etc.), for the Christian, it usually stems from their unwillingness to forgive themselves for their sins in the past and the paralyzing guilt they often suffer from. For some reason, their sins or failures loom larger than the grace and forgiveness of God. And this unhealthy mindset often is why they mentally shun any idea of God loving or forgiving them, and they reject any attempt He makes to do so.

Quite honestly, this spiritual disease is far more widespread than you would think.

Let’s think about forgiveness for a moment.

One of the Christian faith’s key tenets is the offer of God to forgive our sins (past, present, and future) due to the sacrifice of His Son and our simple faith in Him. Jesus did all the work to secure our forgiveness and erase the guilt and consequences of our sins, and all we have to do is believe. It’s like winning the lottery with a ticket someone gave you.

But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus – Ephesians 2:4-7.

There is no downside.

Does God Love You as Much as You Love Him?

When we sin against someone, there are usually three people we need to ask for their forgiveness. The first is God. And, according to His Word, His forgiveness is instant and complete with no hidden fine print (1 John 1:9). In fact, He goes a step further and chooses to no longer remember our sins (Isa. 43:25), but also removes them as far as “the east is from the west” (Ps. 103:12). This is forever, with no North or South poles.

The next one we need to ask for their forgiveness is the person we have hurt.  And, as fallen humans, they will either forgive us or not. This is their choice, and there is nothing we can do about it. It is out of our hands. We will either be blessed to have that relationship restored or live with the consequences of our sins. Our job is to simply humble ourselves and ask and leave the results to God.

But the final one we need to ask for forgiveness is ourselves. That’s right, the mug we look at every day in the mirror. And here is where it gets sticky. Often, we freely accept the forgiveness of God and are blessed when the person we have offended forgives us, but then we defiantly refuse to forgive ourselves. How is that possible? We often think:

“What I did was so bad I don’t deserve forgiveness. So I’ll just mope around and feel bad forever for what I have done.  And that will somehow make me feel better about myself.” Ya, think?

“Just asking for forgiveness is too easy and I don’t deserve to get off so lightly. So I’ll just punish myself by being sad for the next twenty years to somehow make myself feel worthy of God’s forgiveness.”

“You know, if I were God, I would never forgive me. So, I won’t. He must be a big ‘ol softy to forgive someone like me for what I did. He needs to be more strict like I am with myself. So I’ll keep beating myself up for something God has already forgotten, and that will make me feel closer to Him.”

Does this make any sense to you? Yet it plays out all the time in our life. For example, when you believe God is able to allow His children to experience the blessings of the Higher Christian Life, but don’t believe He will do that for you, what does that say about Him? Are you not imputing motives to Him as a Father that we would consider abuse today? Often the reason is we feel so unworthy or suffer from such self-unforgiveness that we have to somehow justify why we don’t believe God will treat us as good as He does His other children. Which is a terrible thing to say about an earthly father, let alone God. In essence, we believe we love God more than He loves us. And you and I both know that is not possible.

Remember who you are in Him.

The Spirit Himself (who lives in you) bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs— heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ (Rom. 8:16-17).

Again, it’s like winning the lottery with a ticket we didn’t pay for. Doesn’t get much better than that.

Today, commit to believing that what God says of all of His children, He also says for you. He is more than willing to keep you from stumbling, like He does all His children, in your pursuit of the Higher Christian Life of holiness (Jude 24).  So rejoice in how He sees you as His beloved.

Until He Comes,

Steve

For more on the Higher Christian Life, visit www.higherchristianlife.com or www.leavinglaodicea.com.

Our Latest Posts:

22: Is it Possible to Live a Holy Life?

21: What Does “Keep You From Stumbling” Mean?

20: “Now to Him Who is Able”

19: My God is So Big, So Strong, and So Mighty

18: I Know He is Able, But is He Willing?

These are the types of questions that, once settled by faith, can literally change your life. They are liberating and freeing, and will impute confidence in both the Lord and you as His child, once they are settled in your mind. But until they are firmly settled, doubts, fear, and failure will continue to plague your spiritual walk and hinder you from experiencing the Higher Christian Life.

Before we go any further, let’s deal with the elephant in the room, so to speak. Just like our salvation, God’s sovereignty is paramount up until justification, when you become aware of your salvation and God declares you righteous (2 Cor. 5:21). This is all His doing. And after that, our free will in choosing to live, or not live, the sanctified life kicks in, and God is glorified by our choices to “Walk in the Spirit, and you will not fulfill the lusts of the flesh” (Gal. 5:16). God provides for us a choice, but He doesn’t demand we choose His way. Nor does He make us choose to walk according to the Spirit, like robots who are forced to do something they don’t desire to do. God is not glorified by making His creation worship Him. He is glorified when His creation chooses to worship Him. We are always free to give in to the lusts of the flesh and experience the consequences of grieving the Holy Spirit. And we are always free to walk in the Spirit, to surrender to the Spirit, and to obey the Spirit in a way that pleases Him. The choice is always ours.

In the same way, God does not force us to live a sinless life after we come to faith in Him. He desires it, provides for it, and has given us the Holy Spirit (emphasis on Holy) to live His holy life in us, yet the choice is always ours. So is it within God’s power to “keep you from stumbling” in your life of sanctification? Absolutely! Anything less would limit the power of God. And as a sovereign, omnipotent God, He can do anything He desires (Ps. 115:3), to anyone, at any time, without asking permission. So can God force me to never sin again? Yes, He can. He has both the power and ability to do so. But He never will. God does not force His will on us to do something He expects us to do of our own free will. And you will never go a day without sinning. You, on your own, cannot live a sinless life, no matter how much you pray, fast, read your Bible, or go to church. Why? Because we still live in fallen, lustful, selfish, unredeemed bodies “eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body” (Rom. 8:23).

But the good news is that you can, absolutely, live a life of holiness and be pleasing to Him. And you can do that today.

Can I Really Live a Holy Life, One Pleasing to Him?

The key to the sanctified life is not one of work, but of trust, rest, and surrender. It is not trying to live a life contrary to our fallen nature, only to succeed one moment and fail miserably the next. The victory...]]>As we dive deeper into Jude 24 and the first of our three truths we must believe in order to experience the blessings of the Higher Christian Life, we find ourselves today faced with one all-important question: Is it possible for me to live a holy life? In other words, can I experience victory over my sin and shortcomings on a permanent, daily basis? Can I feel the pleasure of the Lord as I allow Him to live His life through me and therefore reflect the character of the Holy Spirit? And if Jude 24 does teach that God will “keep me from stumbling” in my pursuit of a life of holiness, what part do I play in this odyssey? Is God’s ability to “keep me from stumbling” passive in my life, or is it active? And if God does provide me the ability to live a holy life, why do I not see more change in me?

These are the types of questions that, once settled by faith, can literally change your life. They are liberating and freeing, and will impute confidence in both the Lord and you as His child, once they are settled in your mind. But until they are firmly settled, doubts, fear, and failure will continue to plague your spiritual walk and hinder you from experiencing the Higher Christian Life.

Before we go any further, let’s deal with the elephant in the room, so to speak. Just like our salvation, God’s sovereignty is paramount up until justification, when you become aware of your salvation and God declares you righteous (2 Cor. 5:21). This is all His doing. And after that, our free will in choosing to live, or not live, the sanctified life kicks in, and God is glorified by our choices to “Walk in the Spirit, and you will not fulfill the lusts of the flesh” (Gal. 5:16). God provides for us a choice, but He doesn’t demand we choose His way. Nor does He make us choose to walk according to the Spirit, like robots who are forced to do something they don’t desire to do. God is not glorified by making His creation worship Him. He is glorified when His creation chooses to worship Him. We are always free to give in to the lusts of the flesh and experience the consequences of grieving the Holy Spirit. And we are always free to walk in the Spirit, to surrender to the Spirit, and to obey the Spirit in a way that pleases Him. The choice is always ours.

In the same way, God does not force us to live a sinless life after we come to faith in Him. He desires it, provides for it, and has given us the Holy Spirit (emphasis on Holy) to live His holy life in us, yet the choice is always ours. So is it within God’s power to “keep you from stumbling” in your life of sanctification? Absolutely! Anything less would limit the power of God. And as a sovereign, omnipotent God, He can do anything He desires (Ps. 115:3), to anyone, at any time, without asking permission. So can God force me to never sin again? Yes, He can. He has both the power and ability to do so. But He never will. God does not force His will on us to do something He expects us to do of our own free will. And you will never go a day without sinning. You, on your own, cannot live a sinless life, no matter how much you pray, fast, read your Bible, or go to church. Why? Because we still live in fallen, lustful, selfish, unredeemed bodies “eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body” (Rom. 8:23).

But the good news is that you can, absolutely, live a life of holiness and be pleasing to Him. And you can do that today.

Can I Really Live a Holy Life, One Pleasing to Him?

The key to the sanctified life is not one of work, but of trust, rest, and surrender. It is not trying to live a life contrary to our fallen nature, only to succeed one moment and fail miserably the next. The victory comes when we stop striving and learn to allow the Spirit to live His holy life through us. And the presence of the Holy Spirit will empower our choices to live holy and give us the ability to stand against temptation and the attacks of the enemy with a supernatural strength that only comes from Him. Therefore we are not all on our own. And we are not left as orphans to fend for ourselves. Consider the following statement:

Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you – James 4:7.

Our part is to submit (surrender) to God and resist (to stand against) the devil. God’s part is to make sure the devil flees from us. We don’t have the power to force Satan to flee, but God does. So in this God is able to “keep us from stumbling” or falling for Satan’s lies and temptations once we simply resist him.

No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it – 1 Corinthians 10:13.

Note, when we face temptation God, by His power, will not allow us to be hopelessly tempted to the point of our failure, but will always provide a way of escape. This is something only God can do working, as He does, in the background and behind the scenes. And again, this is another way God “keeps us from stumbling” by supernaturally providing a way of escape and limiting our exposure to various temptations.

This is what a good father would do to his loved children. And it is exactly what our Father does for us. So rejoice in that today.

Until He Comes,

Steve

For more on the Higher Christian Life, visit www.higherchristianlife.com or www.leavinglaodicea.com.

Our Latest Posts:

21: What Does “Keep You From Stumbling” Mean?

20: “Now to Him Who is Able”

19: My God is So Big, So Strong, and So Mighty

18: I Know He is Able, But is He Willing?

17: Stop Working Against Yourself!

Last time we unpacked the beginning phrase of Jude 24, “Now unto Him who is able,” showing God is able (dúnamai – to be able, have power and strength by virtue of one’s own ability and resources) to do anything He desires. Why? Because He is sovereign, the Ever-Present One, the “I Am Who I Am” (Ex. 3:14), and there is none like our God (Is. 46:9). He is God. And as God, His holiness and omnipotence (God is All-Powerful) are some of His key character traits. And the trait of sanctification (holiness) has now come unto us in Jesus (1 Cor. 1:30) and is imparted to us by the Spirit. As we have said, it doesn’t get any better than that.

But nevertheless, some questions remain.

What is God able to do exactly? I know He spoke the world into existence (Gen. 1, Ps. 33:9) and all of that. I got that. But what can He do regarding my inability to live a holy life? How can His omnipotence reach down to me in my daily struggle with sin? Is God only concerned about the big things in life, like creating the world in seven days or parting the Red Sea? Or does His power and grace extend unto the little things in my life, the daily things? What can God do for me and my constant struggle with my flesh? Where can I find hope to live more like Him?

Let’s take a look, once again, at Jude 24, especially the description of what God is able to do.

Now to Him who is able (dúnamai – to be able, have power and strength by virtue of one’s own ability and resources) to keep you from stumbling (áptaistos – from falling, losing our sanctification, no longer being blameless), and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy – Jude 24.

This passage clearly states God is able to “keep me from stumbling” in order to “present me faultless.” But what does “stumbling” mean? Is this a salvation message showing “once saved, always saved”? Or is this a sanctification message, because the end result is my holiness, my being presented “faultless” before His glory? Or is it both?

These are very important questions. Let’s look at them one at a time.

“Keep You From Stumbling”… From What?

As we have previously discovered, the Greek word translated “stumbling” is áptaistos and means “free from falling, blameless” and is only found in this one verse in Jude. Therefore, we are unable to see how it is used elsewhere in the Scripture. But in secular Greek writings, the word means “sure-footed as a horse that does not stumble.” So it appears, “stumbling”...]]>We have been looking at the first of three truths that must be believed before you can progress into the Higher Christian Life. Believing these three truths provides you with the confidence of knowing that God not only can, but will “present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy” (Jude 24). The first truth reveals how big your God is compared to how big your problems are. And this cuts deep into the object of your faith. Is your faith centered on God? Or is it on your past experiences, both good and bad? The first truth states that “You must believe God is able (He possesses the power and ability) to keep you from falling or faltering in your life of holiness.” Period. Non-negotiable. For an overcoming life of lasting victory over sin, you must believe God is bigger than your sin and your flesh.

Last time we unpacked the beginning phrase of Jude 24, “Now unto Him who is able,” showing God is able (dúnamai – to be able, have power and strength by virtue of one’s own ability and resources) to do anything He desires. Why? Because He is sovereign, the Ever-Present One, the “I Am Who I Am” (Ex. 3:14), and there is none like our God (Is. 46:9). He is God. And as God, His holiness and omnipotence (God is All-Powerful) are some of His key character traits. And the trait of sanctification (holiness) has now come unto us in Jesus (1 Cor. 1:30) and is imparted to us by the Spirit. As we have said, it doesn’t get any better than that.

But nevertheless, some questions remain.

What is God able to do exactly? I know He spoke the world into existence (Gen. 1, Ps. 33:9) and all of that. I got that. But what can He do regarding my inability to live a holy life? How can His omnipotence reach down to me in my daily struggle with sin? Is God only concerned about the big things in life, like creating the world in seven days or parting the Red Sea? Or does His power and grace extend unto the little things in my life, the daily things? What can God do for me and my constant struggle with my flesh? Where can I find hope to live more like Him?

Let’s take a look, once again, at Jude 24, especially the description of what God is able to do.

Now to Him who is able (dúnamai – to be able, have power and strength by virtue of one’s own ability and resources) to keep you from stumbling (áptaistos – from falling, losing our sanctification, no longer being blameless), and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy – Jude 24.

This passage clearly states God is able to “keep me from stumbling” in order to “present me faultless.” But what does “stumbling” mean? Is this a salvation message showing “once saved, always saved”? Or is this a sanctification message, because the end result is my holiness, my being presented “faultless” before His glory? Or is it both?

These are very important questions. Let’s look at them one at a time.

“Keep You From Stumbling”… From What?

As we have previously discovered, the Greek word translated “stumbling” is áptaistos and means “free from falling, blameless” and is only found in this one verse in Jude. Therefore, we are unable to see how it is used elsewhere in the Scripture. But in secular Greek writings, the word means “sure-footed as a horse that does not stumble.” So it appears, “stumbling” could apply to both our eternal security in Him (future) and also in our ability to live a sanctified, holy life (present).  Also, in the context of Jude’s letter, it could also apply to God being able to keep His children from succumbing to the apostasy Jude warns them about. Either way, God is able to finish what He began in each of us (Phil. 1:6), which is to make us “complete (lacking nothing) in Him” (Col. 2:10), and to “present us faultless” before the presence of His glory (Jude 24).

In regards to our salvation, Jesus spoke of being able to “keep us from stumbling” in John 10, when He revealed Himself as the Good Shepherd.

“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand” – John 10:27-29.

In this sense, “keep you from stumbling” would refer to the security of our salvation in both the hands of Jesus and the Father. So, just how secure are we? Jesus said, “No one is able to snatch them (believers) out of My Father’s hand.” And for most, that pretty much settles it.

But what about “stumbling” in our life of sanctification and holiness, which we all do? What does God do to make sure we fulfill our purpose in salvation, that we are “predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son”? (Rom. 8:29). What is God’s part in all of this? And what is our part? And how does He help us in our part?

We will dig deeper into this tomorrow. But for now, know that your God is able to “keep what I (you) have committed to Him until that Day” (2 Tim. 1:12), which is your faith leading to salvation. But He is also able to keep your sanctification, leading to holiness. Rest in Him today, and we will see just how amazing and able our God is when we talk again tomorrow.

Until He Comes,

Steve

For more on the Higher Christian Life, visit www.higherchristianlife.com or www.leavinglaodicea.com.

Our Latest Posts:

20: “Now to Him Who is Able”

19: My God is So Big, So Strong, and So Mighty

18: I Know He is Able, But is He Willing?

17: Stop Working Against Yourself!

16: Self-Control and the Higher Christian Life

Now to Him who is able (dúnamai – to be able, have power and strength by virtue of one’s own ability and resources) to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, to God our Savior, Who alone is wise, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen – Jude 24-25.

We began this week by looking at the three truths that we must be believe in order to experience the continued blessings of the Higher Christian Life. The first one of these vital truths is: You must believe God is able (He possesses the power and ability) to keep you from falling or faltering in your life of holiness. We already know the meaning of the words in Jude 24, but what does the phrase “Now to Him who is able” mean for us today?

Throughout the Scriptures, one of the key truths repeatedly revealed in both the Old and New Testament is that God is God, and there is no other (Isa. 45:5). He is the Ever-Present One, the “I Am Who I Am” (Ex. 3:14). And, as God, He has certain attributes that belong only to Him that He has not shared with His creation. He is, for example, Immutable (Mal. 3:6), Unchanging (Ps. 102:25-27), Omniscient (God knows all things – 1 John 3:20), Everlasting, and the Only Wise God (Rom. 16:26-27). As wonderful as these attributes are, the most encouraging one for us today is this: God is Omnipotent, He is All-Powerful, which means He possesses in Himself all sovereign power and is, as the theologians describe, “able to do all His holy will” without exception.

Let that sink in for a moment. Our God is able because He is omnipotent. Our God is able because He does what He pleases (Ps. 115:3). And our God is able because, as Jeremiah said, “There is nothing too hard for You” (Jer. 32:17). This is our God.

“Now to Him (Our God) Who is Able to …”

In dealing with living a life of holiness, which always pleases the Lord (Heb. 12:14), often our biggest struggle is our inability to actually live, consistently, no matter how hard we try, the life we long to live in Him— a life of sanctification and holiness. No matter how hard we try in the flesh, we quickly find the flesh cannot war against itself. The power to live righteously must come from somewhere else. And this is exactly what Jesus taught us about the overcoming power of the Holy Spirit, who now lives in us. But God knew in this life we would face discouragement. He knew we would struggle with our failures. He knew, to use the words of Paul, we would cry out in desperation, “O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?” (Rom. 7:24).

As a loving God, knowing this, He gave us some promises that are secured by His character and attributes, and not our efforts, to serve as a lighthouse in the swelling seas of doubt, failure, and guilt that inevitably come to each of us. In each of these...]]>As we have shared in the past, the way to fully understand a particular passage is to first determine what it says.  And then, what it means. Yesterday we looked at Jude 24 to determine exactly what the passage says by examining the meaning of the words when they were written. And what we discovered was quite eye-opening and encouraging regarding what God is able to do to help us in our deeper life of sanctification or holiness. Today, we’re going to begin to see exactly what Jude 24 means and how it is to be applied to our lives. And this is where it gets exciting. So let’s begin by unpacking the simple phrase, “Now to Him who is able.”

Now to Him who is able (dúnamai – to be able, have power and strength by virtue of one’s own ability and resources) to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, to God our Savior, Who alone is wise, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen – Jude 24-25.

We began this week by looking at the three truths that we must be believe in order to experience the continued blessings of the Higher Christian Life. The first one of these vital truths is: You must believe God is able (He possesses the power and ability) to keep you from falling or faltering in your life of holiness. We already know the meaning of the words in Jude 24, but what does the phrase “Now to Him who is able” mean for us today?

Throughout the Scriptures, one of the key truths repeatedly revealed in both the Old and New Testament is that God is God, and there is no other (Isa. 45:5). He is the Ever-Present One, the “I Am Who I Am” (Ex. 3:14). And, as God, He has certain attributes that belong only to Him that He has not shared with His creation. He is, for example, Immutable (Mal. 3:6), Unchanging (Ps. 102:25-27), Omniscient (God knows all things – 1 John 3:20), Everlasting, and the Only Wise God (Rom. 16:26-27). As wonderful as these attributes are, the most encouraging one for us today is this: God is Omnipotent, He is All-Powerful, which means He possesses in Himself all sovereign power and is, as the theologians describe, “able to do all His holy will” without exception.

Let that sink in for a moment. Our God is able because He is omnipotent. Our God is able because He does what He pleases (Ps. 115:3). And our God is able because, as Jeremiah said, “There is nothing too hard for You” (Jer. 32:17). This is our God.

“Now to Him (Our God) Who is Able to …”

In dealing with living a life of holiness, which always pleases the Lord (Heb. 12:14), often our biggest struggle is our inability to actually live, consistently, no matter how hard we try, the life we long to live in Him— a life of sanctification and holiness. No matter how hard we try in the flesh, we quickly find the flesh cannot war against itself. The power to live righteously must come from somewhere else. And this is exactly what Jesus taught us about the overcoming power of the Holy Spirit, who now lives in us. But God knew in this life we would face discouragement. He knew we would struggle with our failures. He knew, to use the words of Paul, we would cry out in desperation, “O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?” (Rom. 7:24).

As a loving God, knowing this, He gave us some promises that are secured by His character and attributes, and not our efforts, to serve as a lighthouse in the swelling seas of doubt, failure, and guilt that inevitably come to each of us. In each of these promises below, God is pictured as One “who is able” to deal with whatever we are struggling with by His unmatched, unrivaled, unequaled, inexhaustible power and ability as God.

As you read these, be encouraged by what God is able to do in your life, no matter how much you have mucked it up in the past (or even right now). Remember, He is God, and He is able.

“Now to Him who is able to establish you” or to “set you firm and steadfast” according to the Gospel and the “preaching of Jesus Christ” (Rom. 16:25). He will not hang you out to dry, on your own, without a support system, like a forgotten orphan. He came to you in the Person of the Holy Spirit. He now lives in you in the Person of the Holy Spirit. And you are now a “temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?” (1 Cor. 3:16). So be encouraged.

“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power (Holy Spirit) that works in us” (Eph. 3:20). God is able to do more than we can even conjure up in our minds. More than our imaginations can conceive— more than our wildest dreams.

“Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy” (Jude 24). And God is able, more than able, to keep you in your life of holiness and to help you experience a deeper, abiding relationship with Him and with the Spirit. It is His job and not yours. So rest in Him.

When you pray, be sure to thank God for the promises He has made you and the assurance His power will see you through. Remember, we don’t run the race alone. We are to look unto Jesus, who has run the race before us, and follow His leading and example. After all, He is the “author and finisher of our faith” (Heb. 12:2).

Until He comes,

Steve

For more on the Higher Christian Life, visit www.higherchristianlife.com or www.leavinglaodicea.com.

The Scripture we are to wholeheartedly believe is found in Jude 24. In this passage, Jude is closing his one-chapter book with a faith affirmation exalting the power and ability of God to keep us holy, sanctified, and well-pleasing to Him in this life and then present us as blemish-free as Christ in the next life. And why should this surprise us? After all, Jesus Himself became for us “sanctification” (1 Cor. 1:30), which is the one thing God promises to make sure we don’t lose by “stumbling” in our life of holiness.

Now to Him who is able (dúnamai) to keep (phulássō) you from stumbling (áptaistos), and to present (hístēmi) you faultless (ámōmos) before the presence (katenṓpion) of His glory (dóxa) with exceeding joy (agallíasis), to God our Savior, Who alone is wise, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen – Jude 24-25.

Now, let’s look at a few of these keywords to understand what this verse is saying:

dúnamai – to be able, have power and strength by virtue of one’s own ability and resources.

phulássō – to watch, guard, keep. It has the idea of a prison warden keeping constant watch over those under his care.

áptaistos – free from falling, blameless. It means God’s grace is sufficient to keep us from sin. This is a statement of God’s ability, and not necessarily our experience.

hístēmi – to cause to stand, to set in place. The place is determined by the context. And in this verse, Jude is saying we will be “caused to stand” in the “presence of His glory” or before God.

ámōmos – without spot or blemish. Peter uses this same word to describe the blood of Christ, “as a lamb without spot (ámōmos) and without blemish” (1 Peter 1:19).

katenṓpion – or in the very presence of. Ephesians 1:4 says, “Just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before (katenṓpion – in the very presence of) Him in love.”

dóxa – splendor, majesty, brightness, magnificence, excellence, dignity, and grace.

agallíasis – exuberant exultation and joy, gladness and rejoicing.

So what does this promise of God look like when we expand the translation?

My God is So Big, So Strong, and So Mighty

As we have discussed, the first thing we must do to understand a Scripture is to determine what it says. Only then can we discover what it means. So what does Jude 24 actually say?

Now to Him who is able (dúnamai – to have strength and power by one’s own virtue and ability). This one is simple. The praise is to Him, to God, who has the ability to do whatever the rest of the verse promises because of the fact that He is God. And as God, there is nothing He cannot do. Period.

to keep (phulássō – to watch, guard, like a warden over those under his charge). He not only has the power, but He is watching us, day and night, to make sure we do not stumble or prove ourselves not worthy of all He has promised]]>In our last time together we looked at the three key, no vital, truths that must be believed in order to win the war with our doubt and discover the permanent, abiding Presence of the Holy Spirit in our life as we embrace the Higher Christian Life. Today we will dig a bit deeper into the firsts of these three truths, namely that our God is Able (He possesses the power and ability) to keep us from falling or faltering in our life of holiness.

The Scripture we are to wholeheartedly believe is found in Jude 24. In this passage, Jude is closing his one-chapter book with a faith affirmation exalting the power and ability of God to keep us holy, sanctified, and well-pleasing to Him in this life and then present us as blemish-free as Christ in the next life. And why should this surprise us? After all, Jesus Himself became for us “sanctification” (1 Cor. 1:30), which is the one thing God promises to make sure we don’t lose by “stumbling” in our life of holiness.

Now to Him who is able (dúnamai) to keep (phulássō) you from stumbling (áptaistos), and to present (hístēmi) you faultless (ámōmos) before the presence (katenṓpion) of His glory (dóxa) with exceeding joy (agallíasis), to God our Savior, Who alone is wise, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen – Jude 24-25.

Now, let’s look at a few of these keywords to understand what this verse is saying:

dúnamai – to be able, have power and strength by virtue of one’s own ability and resources.

phulássō – to watch, guard, keep. It has the idea of a prison warden keeping constant watch over those under his care.

áptaistos – free from falling, blameless. It means God’s grace is sufficient to keep us from sin. This is a statement of God’s ability, and not necessarily our experience.

hístēmi – to cause to stand, to set in place. The place is determined by the context. And in this verse, Jude is saying we will be “caused to stand” in the “presence of His glory” or before God.

ámōmos – without spot or blemish. Peter uses this same word to describe the blood of Christ, “as a lamb without spot (ámōmos) and without blemish” (1 Peter 1:19).

katenṓpion – or in the very presence of. Ephesians 1:4 says, “Just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before (katenṓpion – in the very presence of) Him in love.”

dóxa – splendor, majesty, brightness, magnificence, excellence, dignity, and grace.

agallíasis – exuberant exultation and joy, gladness and rejoicing.

So what does this promise of God look like when we expand the translation?

My God is So Big, So Strong, and So Mighty

As we have discussed, the first thing we must do to understand a Scripture is to determine what it says. Only then can we discover what it means. So what does Jude 24 actually say?

Now to Him who is able (dúnamai – to have strength and power by one’s own virtue and ability). This one is simple. The praise is to Him, to God, who has the ability to do whatever the rest of the verse promises because of the fact that He is God. And as God, there is nothing He cannot do. Period.

to keep (phulássō – to watch, guard, like a warden over those under his charge). He not only has the power, but He is watching us, day and night, to make sure we do not stumble or prove ourselves not worthy of all He has promised us.

you (put your name here) from stumbling (áptaistos – from falling, losing our sanctification, no longer being blameless). God is watching us ever so closely to make sure we never drift so far away from Him in sin that He cannot bring us back to Himself, blameless (in this life).

and to present (hístēmi – to cause to stand before).  Stand before Who? And when? Exactly. God is able to cause us to stand before His presence and glory (in the life to come) no matter how much we have messed things up in this life. How can He do that? Because Jesus “became” for us “sanctification” (1 Cor. 1:30). We are sanctified because we are in Christ.

you (again, make it personal) faultless (ámōmos – without spot or blemish). How can one who is at fault be deemed faultless? This is the wonder and unexplainable joy that comes from being in Christ and having the Holy Spirit abide in us. When God sees us, He sees His Son, because His Son’s righteousness has been imputed to us and our sin imputed to Him (and paid for on the cross).

before the presence (katenṓpion – or in the very presence) of His glory (dóxa – splendor, majesty, brightness, magnificence, excellence, dignity, and grace). This should take your breath away. We no longer have to hide like orphans from the big man’s house, but we are brought before His presence as children, and “if children, then heirs— heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ” (Rom. 8:17). After all, Jesus said He would not leave us as orphans when He sent the Holy Spirit to live in us (John 14:18).

with exceeding joy (agallíasis – exuberant exultation and joy, gladness and rejoicing). Please understand, this joy refers primarily to the joy of the Father and Son over our fellowship with other believers that we will share for all eternity. Can you think of anything more wonderful?

This is what this single promise says. Tomorrow we will see what it means as we grow in confidence that our God is able to keep His promise to His children regarding their ability to live a life of holiness, or one pleasing to Him.

Until He comes,

Steve

For more on the Higher Christian Life, visit www.higherchristianlife.com or www.leavinglaodicea.com.

And this is where the war with doubt is lost. We impune the character of God by viewing Him as someone who is miserly with what He has promised to give His children abundantly. Or maybe He shows favoritism, like an abusive, narcissistic father, who loves some of His children more than others. But why would we assume such hurtful things about our Lord?

When our emotional feelings begin to fade, and often they will, we are torn between believing what He promises in His Word or what we are feeling at the moment. Which one is true? What happens when my faith falters and I now believe what I see and feel and touch, and not what I know to be true? When the peace, the serenity, the assurance God has accepted my offer of myself to Him (Rom. 12:1) begins to fade, what am I to do? Was it supposed to be permanent? Or was it designed to be fleeting, like the early morning dew? Is there something I did or didn’t do to make it fade away? Is this what the Higher Christian Life is really like, up and down, forward and backward, close to Him one day and distant cousins the next? Is that all there is to the abundant life He promised? Or is there something I’m missing?

Rest assured, the experience of the Higher Christian Life can be permanent. It should be permanent. It is expected and designed to be permanent. But often we are clueless as to how to maintain our intimacy, passion, and fervency with Him. So let’s look briefly (we will develop these in greater detail over the next few days), at three simple truths that are vital in helping you experience the permanent, residing joy of learning how to abide in Him (John 15:4) as we maintain the Higher Christian Life.

I Know He is Able, But is He Also Willing?

When we claim God is able to “keep you from stumbling and present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy” (Jude 24), and then add the disclaimer, “Uh, but I just don’t think He will,” we are displaying the very opposite of abiding faith. In fact, we are blaming God for our failures and disappointments and calling Him a liar. That’s right, He promised and didn’t deliver. That makes Him a liar. Or, maybe He kept His promise to others, but just not to me. Again, that makes Him a liar. And that places us on shaky ground with the Lord.

So as a foreshadow of what is to come later this week, let me quickly share with you three truths you must believe to experience the continued blessings of the Higher Christian Life. And these truths speak to the character and trustworthiness of God. Again, our faith must be centered in His promises and ability to complete the good work He has started in each of us (Phil. 1:6), and that He won’t rest until we are “complete in Him” (Col. 2:10).

One, you must believe God is able (He possesses...]]>As we have shared previously, the ability to maintain the Higher Christian Life is found the same way it was originally obtained: by faith. We have come to understand that, in the same way the confession of our sins leads to instant forgiveness, it also leads, according to 1 John 1:9, to our instant and immediate cleansing “from all unrighteousness.” And for this promise to become a living reality in you, it must be believed by faith. Unfortunately, many believe this truth only until they wake up the next morning feeling something less than they did the night before. Then, they surrendered their life to the Lord, confessed their sins, received forgiveness and spiritual renewal, and in the early morning hours of the next day, all of that seems like a distant memory. In effect, they are saying to God, “Hey, I know You’re powerful and able to do what You promised, but I’m not sure You’re willing. I mean, I know You can, I just don’t think You will. At least not for me.”

And this is where the war with doubt is lost. We impune the character of God by viewing Him as someone who is miserly with what He has promised to give His children abundantly. Or maybe He shows favoritism, like an abusive, narcissistic father, who loves some of His children more than others. But why would we assume such hurtful things about our Lord?

When our emotional feelings begin to fade, and often they will, we are torn between believing what He promises in His Word or what we are feeling at the moment. Which one is true? What happens when my faith falters and I now believe what I see and feel and touch, and not what I know to be true? When the peace, the serenity, the assurance God has accepted my offer of myself to Him (Rom. 12:1) begins to fade, what am I to do? Was it supposed to be permanent? Or was it designed to be fleeting, like the early morning dew? Is there something I did or didn’t do to make it fade away? Is this what the Higher Christian Life is really like, up and down, forward and backward, close to Him one day and distant cousins the next? Is that all there is to the abundant life He promised? Or is there something I’m missing?

Rest assured, the experience of the Higher Christian Life can be permanent. It should be permanent. It is expected and designed to be permanent. But often we are clueless as to how to maintain our intimacy, passion, and fervency with Him. So let’s look briefly (we will develop these in greater detail over the next few days), at three simple truths that are vital in helping you experience the permanent, residing joy of learning how to abide in Him (John 15:4) as we maintain the Higher Christian Life.

I Know He is Able, But is He Also Willing?

When we claim God is able to “keep you from stumbling and present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy” (Jude 24), and then add the disclaimer, “Uh, but I just don’t think He will,” we are displaying the very opposite of abiding faith. In fact, we are blaming God for our failures and disappointments and calling Him a liar. That’s right, He promised and didn’t deliver. That makes Him a liar. Or, maybe He kept His promise to others, but just not to me. Again, that makes Him a liar. And that places us on shaky ground with the Lord.

So as a foreshadow of what is to come later this week, let me quickly share with you three truths you must believe to experience the continued blessings of the Higher Christian Life. And these truths speak to the character and trustworthiness of God. Again, our faith must be centered in His promises and ability to complete the good work He has started in each of us (Phil. 1:6), and that He won’t rest until we are “complete in Him” (Col. 2:10).

One, you must believe God is able (He possesses the power and ability) to keep you from falling or faltering in your life of holiness. You must settle it in your mind, once and for all, that “with God nothing will be impossible” (Luke 1:37). And this is especially true of Him being able to “keep you from stumbling” (Jude 24). Yes, even you.

Two, you must remove from your mind all doubt and fear that He is not willing to keep you from stumbling. Of course, He is willing. That’s what a good God does. He will not command you to “be holy, for I am holy” (1 Peter 1:16), and then give you no means to obey His command.

And three, you must learn to commit yourself, in total dependence, to the Lord for safekeeping. It is His job to “present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy” (Jude 24), and not yours. His job. And He is not only willing to bring you across the finish line, but He is also able to carry you across the line if necessary. So we must learn to trust Him to finish what He began in us, for His glory, no matter how we feel at the moment. Remember, whatever the need, He can. And even better than that, He will.

Today, think on these three statements about the character of God, and we will begin to unpack them in detail tomorrow.

Until He comes,

Steve

For more on the Higher Christian Life, visit www.higherchristianlife.com or www.leavinglaodicea.com.

It seems Paul had a keen understanding of the power of sin in his life.  And also was firmly convinced that the flesh cannot win a war against itself.  You cannot defeat sin by keeping the Law in the flesh, no matter how committed you are or how hard you try.  The cards are stacked against you.  The fix is in.  Greater is your flesh than your good intentions or self-determination.

In Romans, he puts his struggle with his flesh and the Law of God this way:

For we know that the law is spiritual (or according to the mind and will of the Spirit), but I am carnal (of the flesh, governed by human nature and not the Holy Spirit), sold under (in bondage to) sin.  For what I am doing (by choice), I do not understand.  For what I will (desire, intend, purpose) to do (to serve God, to experience intimacy with the Spirit, etc.), that I do not practice (repeatedly, continually, habitually); but what I hate (to grieve the Holy Spirit by sin, etc.), that I do.  If, then, I do what I will (desire, intend, purpose) not to do, I agree with the law that it is good (even in showing me a sinner).  But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells (live, abide, to pitch one’s tent) in me.  For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells (live, abide, to pitch one’s tent); for to will (desire) is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find.  For the good that I will (desire) to do, I do not do; but the evil I will (desire) not to do, that I practice (repeatedly, continually, habitually).  Now if I do what I will (desire) not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells (live, abide, make its home) in me.

I find then a law (principle), that evil is present with me, (described as) the one who wills (desires) to do good.  For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man (the bottom of his heart).  But I see another law (principle) in my members (flesh), warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members (flesh).  O wretched man that I am!  Who will deliver (to set free or rescue from danger) me from this body of death?  I thank God— through Jesus Christ our Lord!  So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin – Romans 7:14-25.

And hence, the struggle we all face.  But there is more.

How Can I Stop Working Against Myself?

According to what we just read it seems like, at least in the flesh, this turmoil is non-stop, with no clear victor. That is why you cannot wage this war in the flesh, but must let the Spirit overcome the enemy and your flesh by living His life through you.  And once again, just in case you might have forgotten, this is the definition of the Higher Christian Life.

Paul, after his salvation, after receiving the power of the Holy Spirit, and after being used by the Lord in ways we can only...]]>Yesterday we talked about the importance of self-control in your personal life in order to maintain intimacy with the Lord and experience the Higher Christian Life.  We also looked into the testimony of Paul (1 Cor. 9:24-27) regarding his commitment to a life of self-discipline in order to make sure, when all is said and done, he would not be “disqualified” or unapproved, unworthy, worthless, rejected, or deemed a castaway by the Lord.  After all, the most important thing in Paul’s life was not the temporal pleasures of sin, but the ecstatic joy of knowing the Lord Jesus Christ through the Person of the Holy Spirit.  And Paul, like most of us, recognized he was his worst enemy when it came to grieving the Holy Spirit by living, even for a moment, in the flesh.

It seems Paul had a keen understanding of the power of sin in his life.  And also was firmly convinced that the flesh cannot win a war against itself.  You cannot defeat sin by keeping the Law in the flesh, no matter how committed you are or how hard you try.  The cards are stacked against you.  The fix is in.  Greater is your flesh than your good intentions or self-determination.

In Romans, he puts his struggle with his flesh and the Law of God this way:

For we know that the law is spiritual (or according to the mind and will of the Spirit), but I am carnal (of the flesh, governed by human nature and not the Holy Spirit), sold under (in bondage to) sin.  For what I am doing (by choice), I do not understand.  For what I will (desire, intend, purpose) to do (to serve God, to experience intimacy with the Spirit, etc.), that I do not practice (repeatedly, continually, habitually); but what I hate (to grieve the Holy Spirit by sin, etc.), that I do.  If, then, I do what I will (desire, intend, purpose) not to do, I agree with the law that it is good (even in showing me a sinner).  But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells (live, abide, to pitch one’s tent) in me.  For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells (live, abide, to pitch one’s tent); for to will (desire) is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find.  For the good that I will (desire) to do, I do not do; but the evil I will (desire) not to do, that I practice (repeatedly, continually, habitually).  Now if I do what I will (desire) not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells (live, abide, make its home) in me.

I find then a law (principle), that evil is present with me, (described as) the one who wills (desires) to do good.  For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man (the bottom of his heart).  But I see another law (principle) in my members (flesh), warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members (flesh).  O wretched man that I am!  Who will deliver (to set free or rescue from danger) me from this body of death?  I thank God— through Jesus Christ our Lord!  So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin – Romans 7:14-25.

And hence, the struggle we all face.  But there is more.

How Can I Stop Working Against Myself?

According to what we just read it seems like, at least in the flesh, this turmoil is non-stop, with no clear victor. That is why you cannot wage this war in the flesh, but must let the Spirit overcome the enemy and your flesh by living His life through you.  And once again, just in case you might have forgotten, this is the definition of the Higher Christian Life.

Paul, after his salvation, after receiving the power of the Holy Spirit, and after being used by the Lord in ways we can only imagine, gives us a glimpse into his personal spiritual struggle and it seems his battle with his flesh was a daily, ongoing protracted campaign, just like ours.  He did not pray once and, poof, all his problems were gone.  He continually had to surrender himself to the Spirit and discipline his mind and body to not act on their own but be subject to his mind and desires, which were to know nothing but “Jesus Christ and Him crucified” (1 Cor. 2:2).

Did he succeed?  Sometimes.  And sometimes probably not.  But when he failed, he confessed his failure, repented, received forgiveness and the cleansing from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9), and then did whatever he could to make sure he never failed again.  Paul determined to discipline his body to not act according to its sinful nature, but to be subject to his mind, will, and desire (1 Cor. 9:27).  And probably for Paul, and for you and me, this can be a daily struggle.

So what is our first step?  Simply this, without self-control and saying, “no” to what we may have previously said “yes” to, we are shooting ourselves in the foot and working against ourselves in the life of holiness.  Let’s learn from our mistakes. Let’s practice self-control and discipline.  And when it comes to our personal liberty (something we will discuss later), “When in doubt, don’t!”

Until He comes,

Steve

For more on the Higher Christian Life, visit www.higherchristianlife.com or www.leavinglaodicea.com.

If you remember from Sunday, the Scriptures state Jesus not only provided for our salvation (forgiveness of sin, eternal life, heaven, etc.), but He also “became for us” attributes of God that profoundly affect our lives in real-time, right now, today, and provide for us what is required to live the Higher Christian Life. In 1 Corinthians 1:30 it says:

But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God— and righteousness and sanctification and redemption.

Note, Jesus literally “became for us” by the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit, wisdom, righteousness, and redemption. These seem like intangibles that are difficult to grasp and wrap our minds around. Like something God does for us and we reap the benefits, not fully understanding the gravity of those benefits. But He also “became for us” what we struggle with today. He “became for us” the ability to live a holy life right now, without delay. He “became for us” sanctification, which is also translated as “holiness” and means both “set apart unto God” in a judicial sense and “the power to enable us to be holy as God is holy” (2 Thess. 2:13). Jesus “became for us” both of these wondrous truths, and so much more.

And just to fully grasp what Christ has done for each of us, the word translated “became” is gínomai which means “to begin to be, to come into existence.” In essence, Jesus “became for us” or brought into existence attributes of Himself that were not previously found in us, and one of these attributes is the right and power to live holy, and “be holy, for I am holy” (1 Pet. 1:16).  This attribute is called sanctification.

Jesus “became for us— sanctification” (1 Cor. 1:30).

Why is Self-Control Vital to the Higher Christian Life?

But that is only the beginning of our journey to the Higher Christian Life. Once we understand and believe what Christ has provided for us and what it means for the Holy Spirit to live in us, especially regarding our ability to “overcome the world” (1 John 5:4) or “overcome the wicked one” (1 John 2:13-14), then the question remains, What is my part in all of this? What am I to do to maintain the victory in me won by the Lord Jesus? What is my part, and what is His part? Or, where does faith end and work begin?

Let’s answer the last question first. Faith never ends. And neither does work. Once the victory is given to us by the Person of the Holy Spirit, it is our job to maintain that victory by living, day by day, even minute by minute, under the power of the Holy Spirit who provided that victory we now enjoy. This is our decision, our choice. It is ours for the losing.  This is where we either maintain the victory already gained and given to us by grace, or open the front gates and beg the enemy to come and place us once again under bondage. Consider the testimony of Paul in this matter.

Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you...]]>In an earlier post, we discovered the importance of knowing, by faith and experience, the victory we have over the power of sin by the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit. And this knowledge only comes from faith. If God says, and He does, that He provided the means for you to have victory over sin, then our task is to simply believe what God has said and avail ourselves to what He has provided. Nothing else is needed. This is the key that opens the door of victory. But then, how do we maintain the victory we have won? What part do we play in the life of sanctification? Or, in other words, where do self-control and the Higher Christian Life intersect?

If you remember from Sunday, the Scriptures state Jesus not only provided for our salvation (forgiveness of sin, eternal life, heaven, etc.), but He also “became for us” attributes of God that profoundly affect our lives in real-time, right now, today, and provide for us what is required to live the Higher Christian Life. In 1 Corinthians 1:30 it says:

But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God— and righteousness and sanctification and redemption.

Note, Jesus literally “became for us” by the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit, wisdom, righteousness, and redemption. These seem like intangibles that are difficult to grasp and wrap our minds around. Like something God does for us and we reap the benefits, not fully understanding the gravity of those benefits. But He also “became for us” what we struggle with today. He “became for us” the ability to live a holy life right now, without delay. He “became for us” sanctification, which is also translated as “holiness” and means both “set apart unto God” in a judicial sense and “the power to enable us to be holy as God is holy” (2 Thess. 2:13). Jesus “became for us” both of these wondrous truths, and so much more.

And just to fully grasp what Christ has done for each of us, the word translated “became” is gínomai which means “to begin to be, to come into existence.” In essence, Jesus “became for us” or brought into existence attributes of Himself that were not previously found in us, and one of these attributes is the right and power to live holy, and “be holy, for I am holy” (1 Pet. 1:16).  This attribute is called sanctification.

Jesus “became for us— sanctification” (1 Cor. 1:30).

Why is Self-Control Vital to the Higher Christian Life?

But that is only the beginning of our journey to the Higher Christian Life. Once we understand and believe what Christ has provided for us and what it means for the Holy Spirit to live in us, especially regarding our ability to “overcome the world” (1 John 5:4) or “overcome the wicked one” (1 John 2:13-14), then the question remains, What is my part in all of this? What am I to do to maintain the victory in me won by the Lord Jesus? What is my part, and what is His part? Or, where does faith end and work begin?

Let’s answer the last question first. Faith never ends. And neither does work. Once the victory is given to us by the Person of the Holy Spirit, it is our job to maintain that victory by living, day by day, even minute by minute, under the power of the Holy Spirit who provided that victory we now enjoy. This is our decision, our choice. It is ours for the losing.  This is where we either maintain the victory already gained and given to us by grace, or open the front gates and beg the enemy to come and place us once again under bondage. Consider the testimony of Paul in this matter.

Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate (self-controlled) in (what) all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty (non-resolute, without attending to the prescribed marks or lines). Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. But I discipline (subject to hardship, mortify, literally, to strike under the eye, to give a black eye) my body and bring it into subjection (to bring into servitude as a slave), lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified (unapproved, unworthy, worthless, rejected, a castaway) – 1 Corinthians 9:24-27.

What Paul is saying is in spite of his blessings, calling, visions, miracles, insights into the mind of Christ, or whatever great work the Lord accomplished through him, he nonetheless makes it his habit to practice self-discipline or self-control to maintain his intimacy with the Holy Spirit and his victory over his flesh. And if Paul had to be “temperate (self-controlled) in all things,” how much more for you and me?

Maintaining a holy life is always a matter of choice. We either do the things that please Him (John 8:29), or we intentionally choose to grieve the Holy Spirit (Eph. 4:30) because we give in to our lust for some carnal pleasure that only lasts for a moment (Heb. 11:25). The choice is always ours.

But to seek and maintain the blessings of the Higher Christian Life takes some effort, some self-discipline, some self-control. It is saying “no” to sin and “yes” to God, continually. And I pray, as we strive to grow closer to Him, your choice when faced with sin or sanctification, will be easier to make.

Until He comes,

Steve

For more on the Higher Christian Life, visit www.higherchristianlife.com or www.leavinglaodicea.com.

In the Gospel accounts, we see the men that followed Jesus, ordinary men like us, with all their fears, doubts, weaknesses, and failures publically displayed for the world to see. They are presented in all their frailty, warts and all. And if we were a cynic, we would say this works against the life-changing claims made by Jesus. After all, these men followed Him for over three years. They heard more, knew more, saw more, experienced more, and listened more than any other believers since then until now. Yet seeing and knowing all they did, and having a ring-side seat to all of Jesus’ miracles, they still could not grasp the depths of His teachings to somehow get power or victory over the sin in their own lives.

How is that possible? And if they struggled as much as they did, how are we to fare better?

Over and over again Jesus had to rebuke His disciples for their selfish and unChristlike actions and attitudes. From wanting to call down fire from heaven on those who offended them (Luke 9:54), to arrogantly correcting Jesus mid-sentence by telling Him he was wrong (Matt. 16:22-23), to selfishly wanting to be secretly picked to sit at His right and left hands above the other disciples without them knowing it (Matt. 20:21), it seemed like these men never learned a thing Jesus was trying to teach them in their three long years with Him.

Then, at the Last Supper, when Jesus said, “I desire to eat this Passover with you before I suffer” (Luke 22:15), they blew Jesus off like His suffering was nothing because they were more concerned about “which of them should be considered the greatest” (Luke 22:24).

What a motley crew. Not exactly the stuff heroes are made of.

Can I Experience Victory Over the Power of Sin?

But that was because they still viewed Jesus as God outside of themselves. His power was available to them, but they had to go get it, like manna, and it didn’t last forever. Sin still loomed large in their lives and they seemed powerless, like us, to ever get victory over it. They were still the same old people they were before Jesus came into their lives but now somewhat improved, upgraded, maybe a little bit better (at least when Jesus was around). Their experience with an outward Christ was not enough to empower them from the inside to have victory over their sin.

But that all changed at Pentecost.

Peter, who had denied he even knew Jesus less than two months earlier, was now filled, baptized, infused, immersed, endued, empowered (or whatever word you choose to describe Acts 2:4), with the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Jesus (Phil 1:19), on the inside. And so were 119 others. Peter wasn’t following Jesus at a distance. He no longer walked with Jesus, or beside Jesus, or around Jesus. The 120 did not have to physically travel to be where Jesus was to see Him. Just as He promised, He did not leave them as orphans (John 14:18).

At Pentecost, Jesus came to them permanently. He came to them individually. And He came to live “in” them and not just be “with” them. The power to have victory over sin was not something external they had to strive to achieve, like keeping the Law. No, the power over sin, the power...]]>Is it possible to know, to actually know beyond a shadow of a doubt, that I have victory over the power of sin in my life? Absolutely! But not on your own or by your own strength. To fully understand what the Holy Spirit does for a man totally consecrated to Him, all we need to do is take a quick look back at the early disciples and see how their lives changed once they received the Holy Spirit. They are, for me at least, the greatest testimony to the power of a life surrendered to the Holy Spirit and one lived in the divine victory over sin.

In the Gospel accounts, we see the men that followed Jesus, ordinary men like us, with all their fears, doubts, weaknesses, and failures publically displayed for the world to see. They are presented in all their frailty, warts and all. And if we were a cynic, we would say this works against the life-changing claims made by Jesus. After all, these men followed Him for over three years. They heard more, knew more, saw more, experienced more, and listened more than any other believers since then until now. Yet seeing and knowing all they did, and having a ring-side seat to all of Jesus’ miracles, they still could not grasp the depths of His teachings to somehow get power or victory over the sin in their own lives.

How is that possible? And if they struggled as much as they did, how are we to fare better?

Over and over again Jesus had to rebuke His disciples for their selfish and unChristlike actions and attitudes. From wanting to call down fire from heaven on those who offended them (Luke 9:54), to arrogantly correcting Jesus mid-sentence by telling Him he was wrong (Matt. 16:22-23), to selfishly wanting to be secretly picked to sit at His right and left hands above the other disciples without them knowing it (Matt. 20:21), it seemed like these men never learned a thing Jesus was trying to teach them in their three long years with Him.

Then, at the Last Supper, when Jesus said, “I desire to eat this Passover with you before I suffer” (Luke 22:15), they blew Jesus off like His suffering was nothing because they were more concerned about “which of them should be considered the greatest” (Luke 22:24).

What a motley crew. Not exactly the stuff heroes are made of.

Can I Experience Victory Over the Power of Sin?

But that was because they still viewed Jesus as God outside of themselves. His power was available to them, but they had to go get it, like manna, and it didn’t last forever. Sin still loomed large in their lives and they seemed powerless, like us, to ever get victory over it. They were still the same old people they were before Jesus came into their lives but now somewhat improved, upgraded, maybe a little bit better (at least when Jesus was around). Their experience with an outward Christ was not enough to empower them from the inside to have victory over their sin.

But that all changed at Pentecost.

Peter, who had denied he even knew Jesus less than two months earlier, was now filled, baptized, infused, immersed, endued, empowered (or whatever word you choose to describe Acts 2:4), with the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Jesus (Phil 1:19), on the inside. And so were 119 others. Peter wasn’t following Jesus at a distance. He no longer walked with Jesus, or beside Jesus, or around Jesus. The 120 did not have to physically travel to be where Jesus was to see Him. Just as He promised, He did not leave them as orphans (John 14:18).

At Pentecost, Jesus came to them permanently. He came to them individually. And He came to live “in” them and not just be “with” them. The power to have victory over sin was not something external they had to strive to achieve, like keeping the Law. No, the power over sin, the power over everything, the Person of the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Jesus (Phil. 1:19), now lived in them. Forever.

And nothing can compare to receiving and knowing the Holy Spirit. Just look at their changed lives from Acts 2 forward. Peter preached his first sermon and 3,000 were saved (Acts 2:41). He boldly confronted the Sanhedrin, telling them by the “name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified” (Acts 4:10) that “nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). And when commanded to cease speaking or teaching in the name of Jesus, Peter said, No! (Acts 4:19-20).

The only difference between Acts 1 and the rest of the book is the fact Jesus no longer lived on the outside of these ordinary men and women. He now lived in them. Just like He now lives in you and me. So if you are searching for victory over your sin, do not look to the outside, to vows, or accountability, or determination, or sheer will, or promises to yourself, or even resolutions, no matter how sincere. The power to have victory over sin, the ability to live the life of an overcomer (Rev. 2-3), is found within you in the Person of the Holy Spirit. He will live His life through you, a holy, sanctified life, and give you victory over all that has kept you from experiencing the Higher Christian Life.

So rest in Him. Yield to Him. Surrender to Him. Present your body to Him (Rom. 12:1). And let His victory become yours.

Until He comes,

Steve

For more on the Higher Christian Life, visit www.higherchristianlife.com or www.leavinglaodicea.com.

In the Old Testament, in preparation for Passover, the children of God were required to search their homes and rid them of any semblance of leaven, which is a type of sin. For those who failed to do this and tolerated leaven in their home, they were cut off from the “congregation of Israel” and forfeited the blessings of the Lord bestowed by the Feast (Ex. 12:19). It was a very serious matter.

And so it is also a serious matter when we come to “present our bodies as a living sacrifice” (Rom. 12:1) to the Holy Spirit.  We are asking Him to live in us and to make us into His temple, the “temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you” (1 Cor. 6:19). Therefore, as with any other guest we invite into our home, we must make sure our home is clean and presentable to honor our invitation. And in much the same way, each believer must go through a cleaning process, a time of acknowledgment, confession, repentance of sin, and a commitment to righteousness, before we ask the Holy Spirit to take full control of us and enter into the Higher Christian Life.

Let’s look at some areas in our lives that need to come under the spotlight of the Holy Spirit before we move forward in this journey.

Why is Self-Examination so Important?

These are some areas we need to examine in our lives to see if we have let our guard down, lived in disobedience, and have tolerated leaven in ourselves. And we must begin this process by asking the Holy Spirit to reveal things about us personally that we would rather not know, or that we would even deny. After all, the best One to know what is not holy is the Holy Spirit Himself.

First, ask Him to examine your secret life. This is the life of your thoughts, motives, emotions, imaginations, and desires. It is the part of you that is kept hidden, repressed, that only you know about, or so you hope. But there is Another who knows all that goes on in your heart (Mark 7:21). So confess these sins to Him and receive His blessing of forgiveness and cleansing (1 John 1:9).

Next, ask Him to look at every other aspect of your life, both hidden and public. Examine your entertainment choices, your social interactions, your business dealings, your personal habits, the way you manage your home and your relationship with your family, your religious life, everything that makes up your day. Place it under the microscope of His Word and see if He is pleased or not with how you spend the life He has given you as a gift.

Then, examine your personal life. Ask Him to show you those you need to forgive as well as those from whom you need to ask for forgiveness. Examine how you spend your free time, how faithful you have been in fulfilling the...]]>We have previously written about the process each of us goes through in receiving the Higher Christian Life. However, truth be told, one of the most important, yet overlooked aspects of receiving the Higher Christian Life is a time of honest self-examination whereby we prepare ourselves for more of Him. And since holiness is the primary attribute of the Holy Spirit (hence, the word Holy), we should expect to have a time of spiritual house-cleaning before we invite our Holy Guest to possess more of us. But be warned, although the end result of spiritual self-examination is wonderous, the actual process can be quite painful as we come to grips with who we really are, and not who we imagine we are. So let’s look into the importance of self-examination in the Higher Christian Life.

In the Old Testament, in preparation for Passover, the children of God were required to search their homes and rid them of any semblance of leaven, which is a type of sin. For those who failed to do this and tolerated leaven in their home, they were cut off from the “congregation of Israel” and forfeited the blessings of the Lord bestowed by the Feast (Ex. 12:19). It was a very serious matter.

And so it is also a serious matter when we come to “present our bodies as a living sacrifice” (Rom. 12:1) to the Holy Spirit.  We are asking Him to live in us and to make us into His temple, the “temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you” (1 Cor. 6:19). Therefore, as with any other guest we invite into our home, we must make sure our home is clean and presentable to honor our invitation. And in much the same way, each believer must go through a cleaning process, a time of acknowledgment, confession, repentance of sin, and a commitment to righteousness, before we ask the Holy Spirit to take full control of us and enter into the Higher Christian Life.

Let’s look at some areas in our lives that need to come under the spotlight of the Holy Spirit before we move forward in this journey.

Why is Self-Examination so Important?

These are some areas we need to examine in our lives to see if we have let our guard down, lived in disobedience, and have tolerated leaven in ourselves. And we must begin this process by asking the Holy Spirit to reveal things about us personally that we would rather not know, or that we would even deny. After all, the best One to know what is not holy is the Holy Spirit Himself.

First, ask Him to examine your secret life. This is the life of your thoughts, motives, emotions, imaginations, and desires. It is the part of you that is kept hidden, repressed, that only you know about, or so you hope. But there is Another who knows all that goes on in your heart (Mark 7:21). So confess these sins to Him and receive His blessing of forgiveness and cleansing (1 John 1:9).

Next, ask Him to look at every other aspect of your life, both hidden and public. Examine your entertainment choices, your social interactions, your business dealings, your personal habits, the way you manage your home and your relationship with your family, your religious life, everything that makes up your day. Place it under the microscope of His Word and see if He is pleased or not with how you spend the life He has given you as a gift.

Then, examine your personal life. Ask Him to show you those you need to forgive as well as those from whom you need to ask for forgiveness. Examine how you spend your free time, how faithful you have been in fulfilling the Great Commission (Matt. 28:19-20), and if your life conforms to the Spirit living in you or the world in which you live. And remember, we are not to “love the world or the things in the world.” Why? For, “If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” (1 John 2:15). And to make matters even worse, “Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world (something less than love) makes himself an enemy of God” (James 4:4).

Finally, once the Lord has pointed out to you, during your self-examination, things that grieve the Holy Spirit (Eph. 4:30), it is time to take matters into your own hands. Confess them, one by one. Repent of them, one by one.  Renounce them, one by one. And then receive the joy of forgiveness and restoration as you prepare yourself to embrace the Holy Spirit in ways you cannot imagine.

And be blessed, because you are getting closer to saying, like Jacob, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it. How awesome is this place!” (Gen. 28:16-17).

Until He comes,

Steve

For more on the Higher Christian Life, visit www.higherchristianlife.com or www.leavinglaodicea.com.

The Higher Christian Life is also known as a holy life or a life of holiness. And this really shouldn’t surprise us. After all, it is the Holy Spirit (emphasis on Holy) that now lives in each of us. So if we surrender to Him and allow the Holy Spirit to live His life through us, we could naturally assume the outcome would be a life that emulates the very character of God Himself, which is holiness.

So let’s take a moment and look into the Scriptures to see what a holy life looks like. For this is the life the Holy Spirit will live through all who yield themselves to Him and, by doing so, embraces and experiences the Higher Christian Life.

The Higher Christian Life can be described this way:

•  One that has such close intimacy with God it can be said they “walk with God” – Genesis 5:24

•  Is so connected to Jesus, they rest, dwell, live, make their home, or “abide” in Christ – John 15:4

•  Walks with Christ and is “rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith” – Colossians 2:6-7

•  Has been “crucified with Christ” so “it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me” – Galatians 2:20

•  But at the same time, lives a resurrected life since we are “raised with Christ” – Colossians 3:1

•  Is “hidden with Christ in God” – Colossians 3:3

•  Yet again, at the same time, our life is “known and read by all men” – 2 Corinthians 3:2

•  It is a life lived in the love and assurance of the Lord – Jude 24

•  And a life lived “by faith in the Son of God” – Galatians 2:20

•  Most importantly, it is also a life lived “in the Spirit” – Galatians 5:25

•  One that “walks in the Spirit” – Galatians 5:16

•  A life “led by the Spirit” – Galatians 5:18

•  And one “strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man” – Ephesians 3:17

But this is only the beginning. There is so much more waiting for those who seek the Higher Christian Life in Him.

What Does the Higher Christian Look Like in the Bible?

In Psalm 24, we have both the pressing question of the ages asked, and then answered.

Question: Who may ascend into the hill of the LORD? Or who may stand in His holy place?

Answer: He who has (1) clean hands and a (2) pure heart, who has (3) not lifted up his soul to an idol, (4) nor sworn deceitfully – Psalm 24:3-4.

The question summarizes the “why” for those, like you, who seek the Higher Christian...]]>For those who truly desire to experience more intimacy with Christ, one of the stumbling blocks that will hinder you from embracing the Higher Christian Life is the so-called lack of Biblical examples of what the Higher Christian Life is all about. And this hindrance is often the result of not looking into the Scriptures with open eyes, but with a presupposition to a particular theological bent. For example, if you come to the Scriptures believing God no longer moves among His church as He did in the book of Acts, you will discount and ignore and try to explain away passages that show otherwise. And if you have not yet experienced the Higher Christian Life, yet know others who have, the self-defense tendency is to downplay their experience as something emotional or fleshy, and not Biblical (otherwise, it makes us feel like we are somewhat deficient in our relationship with the Holy Spirit). So to guard against this, let’s look at the Higher Christian Life from the pages of Scripture to get a clear picture of what this life with Him is all about.

The Higher Christian Life is also known as a holy life or a life of holiness. And this really shouldn’t surprise us. After all, it is the Holy Spirit (emphasis on Holy) that now lives in each of us. So if we surrender to Him and allow the Holy Spirit to live His life through us, we could naturally assume the outcome would be a life that emulates the very character of God Himself, which is holiness.

So let’s take a moment and look into the Scriptures to see what a holy life looks like. For this is the life the Holy Spirit will live through all who yield themselves to Him and, by doing so, embraces and experiences the Higher Christian Life.

The Higher Christian Life can be described this way:

•  One that has such close intimacy with God it can be said they “walk with God” – Genesis 5:24

•  Is so connected to Jesus, they rest, dwell, live, make their home, or “abide” in Christ – John 15:4

•  Walks with Christ and is “rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith” – Colossians 2:6-7

•  Has been “crucified with Christ” so “it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me” – Galatians 2:20

•  But at the same time, lives a resurrected life since we are “raised with Christ” – Colossians 3:1

•  Is “hidden with Christ in God” – Colossians 3:3

•  Yet again, at the same time, our life is “known and read by all men” – 2 Corinthians 3:2

•  It is a life lived in the love and assurance of the Lord – Jude 24

•  And a life lived “by faith in the Son of God” – Galatians 2:20

•  Most importantly, it is also a life lived “in the Spirit” – Galatians 5:25

•  One that “walks in the Spirit” – Galatians 5:16

•  A life “led by the Spirit” – Galatians 5:18

•  And one “strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man” – Ephesians 3:17

But this is only the beginning. There is so much more waiting for those who seek the Higher Christian Life in Him.

What Does the Higher Christian Look Like in the Bible?

In Psalm 24, we have both the pressing question of the ages asked, and then answered.

Question: Who may ascend into the hill of the LORD? Or who may stand in His holy place?

Answer: He who has (1) clean hands and a (2) pure heart, who has (3) not lifted up his soul to an idol, (4) nor sworn deceitfully – Psalm 24:3-4.

The question summarizes the “why” for those, like you, who seek the Higher Christian Life. But the answer clearly shows we cannot “stand in His holy place” without help from the Holy Spirit.

Answer one and two speak of “clean hands and a pure heart.” The Jews tried to maintain “clean hands” by keeping the Law to a fault. And to that effect, they were far more outwardly righteous than the best Christian is today. Even Jesus said, “Unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matt. 5:20). And our outward righteousness isn’t even in the same league as the scribes and Pharisees. But even they could not have a “pure heart” (Matt. 23). And neither can we, unless our heart is surrendered to the Holy Spirit and changed into something that glorifies God and de-deifies us, meaning our flesh, our lives, our very beings.

And if you notice answer three, it is not our flesh the verse is speaking about (such as physically bowing down to or uttering words of worship to an idol), but our soul, which is the seat of our mind, will, emotions, personality, volition, basically, everything that makes us, us. And idols aren’t always carved images or bronze statues. Idols can also be money, fame, pride, ease of life, self-gratification, reputation, the love of self, the love of pleasure, which results in “having a form of godliness but denying its power (or where the power for godliness comes from). Do these sound familiar? They should, they are taken from 2 Timothy 3, showing the condition of the “perilous times” that will come (2 Tim. 3:1), and are upon us now.

Without a deep desire for more of God, of the Holy Spirit living His life through you (as you step aside and offer Him the control of your life), you will never experience all the Lord has provided for you in this world, and in the world to come. Never.

So stay with us as we continue towards the life everlasting.

Until He comes,

Steve

For more on the Higher Christian Life, visit www.higherchristianlife.com or www.leavinglaodicea.com.

For example, Oswald Chambers in My Utmost for His Highest, January 2nd, says the following:

Have you been asking God what He is going to do? He will never tell you. God does not tell you what He is going to do; He reveals to you Who He is.

Read the entry again this way,

Have you been asking God what He is going to do?  Fair question. Nothing wrong with seeking the will of God.

He will never tell you. God does not tell you what He is going to do.  Why not? Because faith doesn’t grow by knowing the future or having all the answers in advance. Faith is built by knowing the One who knows the future and resting in Him.

He reveals to you Who He is. And that should be enough. A child doesn’t need an explanation from his father about how the house payment is going to be made each month or what steps have been taken to make sure breakfast is on the table each morning. He just needs to know the character and trustworthiness of his father and rest or abide in that. So it is with the Lord.

Or, to put it another way, “Lord, I don’t know what will happen tomorrow, but You promised never to leave me nor forsake me. But I am afraid and worried and full of doubt. Would you please do (you fill in the blank with a sign or miracle that fits your situation) so I will trust You when I see the miracle You will perform? Just give me this one sign that Your Word is true and You keep Your promises, and I will never doubt again.” This is not faith. It is disbelief until God proves Himself, disguised as faith. And God seldom, if ever, honors this kind of non-faith, especially when we seek the Higher Christian Life.

The Danger of Seeking Signs

When we pray to surrender our lives to the Lord, to sort of test-drive this Higher Christian Life, we often end our prayers expecting something out of the ordinary to happen. We’re not sure what, but if something doesn’t happen to make us go, “Wow,” we assume nothing spiritually happened. Therefore our faith rests in the sign, the something or lack of something that did or didn’t happen, rather than in the Word of God or the promises of Jesus. Then doubt sets in. Deep.

“Well, I prayed like they told me to, and when I finished, I didn’t feel any different. I thought something would happen, maybe get some warm fuzzies, or sense some type of peace, or speak in fluent French, or maybe have Jesus stand before me and bless me… I don’t know, just something! But since nothing happened (which means no signs or special feelings or goosebumps that last an hour), then I guess this stuff doesn’t work and I’d be better off not even trying anymore. Hey, I gave it a shot, and hit nothing.”

But the Higher Christian Life is not found in the seeking of signs. It is found, like salvation, by faith]]>Often, in our search for the Higher Christian Life, we can be easily led astray from simple, child-like faith to demanding a sign or some miraculous proof to believe. And this detour from what pleases the Lord (faith) to the abyss of doubt can happen subtly, under the cover of darkness, like a growing cancer, until we no longer seek for more of Him. Instead, we seek more of what He can do or how what He does makes us feel. Seeking signs or “attesting miracles” is the opposite of faith. Please understand, we can have faith in signs themselves, but that is not faith in Jesus. It is faith in what Jesus has done, or will do, or how He “wow’s” us with His majesty, but it is not faith in the Person of Jesus Christ nor the Person of the Holy Spirit. And the Higher Christian Life is not about seeking signs, but about seeking more of Him.

For example, Oswald Chambers in My Utmost for His Highest, January 2nd, says the following:

Have you been asking God what He is going to do? He will never tell you. God does not tell you what He is going to do; He reveals to you Who He is.

Read the entry again this way,

Have you been asking God what He is going to do?  Fair question. Nothing wrong with seeking the will of God.

He will never tell you. God does not tell you what He is going to do.  Why not? Because faith doesn’t grow by knowing the future or having all the answers in advance. Faith is built by knowing the One who knows the future and resting in Him.

He reveals to you Who He is. And that should be enough. A child doesn’t need an explanation from his father about how the house payment is going to be made each month or what steps have been taken to make sure breakfast is on the table each morning. He just needs to know the character and trustworthiness of his father and rest or abide in that. So it is with the Lord.

Or, to put it another way, “Lord, I don’t know what will happen tomorrow, but You promised never to leave me nor forsake me. But I am afraid and worried and full of doubt. Would you please do (you fill in the blank with a sign or miracle that fits your situation) so I will trust You when I see the miracle You will perform? Just give me this one sign that Your Word is true and You keep Your promises, and I will never doubt again.” This is not faith. It is disbelief until God proves Himself, disguised as faith. And God seldom, if ever, honors this kind of non-faith, especially when we seek the Higher Christian Life.

The Danger of Seeking Signs

When we pray to surrender our lives to the Lord, to sort of test-drive this Higher Christian Life, we often end our prayers expecting something out of the ordinary to happen. We’re not sure what, but if something doesn’t happen to make us go, “Wow,” we assume nothing spiritually happened. Therefore our faith rests in the sign, the something or lack of something that did or didn’t happen, rather than in the Word of God or the promises of Jesus. Then doubt sets in. Deep.

“Well, I prayed like they told me to, and when I finished, I didn’t feel any different. I thought something would happen, maybe get some warm fuzzies, or sense some type of peace, or speak in fluent French, or maybe have Jesus stand before me and bless me… I don’t know, just something! But since nothing happened (which means no signs or special feelings or goosebumps that last an hour), then I guess this stuff doesn’t work and I’d be better off not even trying anymore. Hey, I gave it a shot, and hit nothing.”

But the Higher Christian Life is not found in the seeking of signs. It is found, like salvation, by faith in the Word of God and the trustworthiness of Jesus.  Our faith must be in the Person of Jesus and not in the signs He performs. And the difference between these two, basically in the object of our faith, is the difference between truly experiencing the Higher Christian Life or going home with a worthless participation trophy for just being on the team.

And nobody wants that, do they?

So as your faith grows to the point that (1) you believe the Higher Christian Life is possible, and (2) you believe it is possible and meant for you, consider the following promise of our Lord. And ask yourself, “Do I believe His words to be true?” And if so, then rest in them.

“If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give (who) the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!” – Luke 11:13.

If we ask, He will respond. And He will gladly give the Holy Spirit to us like the best father you know would give good gifts to his children. So let your faith rest in His promise, and not in a sign, He may choose to give, or not give, you.

Until He comes,

Steve

For more on the Higher Christian Life, visit www.higherchristianlife.com or www.leavinglaodicea.com.

Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s – 1 Corinthians 6:18-20.

When the Holy Spirit takes up residence in our body, He transforms it into the temple of the Holy Spirit by virtue of His holiness. Therefore, any sin a person commits “against his own body” is an afront to the Holy Spirit. It is a sin that pollutes and corrupts the very dwelling place of the Spirit. And from this type of sin, we are not commanded to fight or resist (James 4:7) but to flee. To run. To “hightail it outta there!”

After all, our body is now the “temple of the Holy Spirit who is (where) in you, whom you have from God, and (therefore) you are not your own” (1 Cor. 6:19). But what does it mean “you are not your own”? And how can we “glorify God in our body” which are God’s?

How Do I Glorify God in My Body and in My Spirit?

The last verse in 1 Corinthians 6 states:

For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s – 1 Corinthians 6:20.

Note, 1 Corinthians 6:19 ends with “you are not your own,” and this verse begins by telling us why. Because we have been “bought at a price.” Our redemption price has been paid, the deed of our ownership has been transferred to the Lord, and all we are now belongs to God (which is exactly what the ending phrase of this verse states, “which are God’s”). But notice what lies between these two bookends.

“Therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit.”

We are to give God glory in our bodies, the seed of our flesh, the part of us that wars against our spirit (Gal. 5:17). But that is harder than it seems. Because we always seem to lose the battle against our flesh. Even Paul expressed his frustration with his war within himself in Romans 7:15. So what are we to do?

Simply understand this: You cannot, in the flesh, win the war against the flesh, no matter how hard you try or how determined you are. The flesh will not allow a sustained campaign against itself. To place your body in subjection to your spirit, you need outside (or inside) help. And that comes only from the Holy Spirit.

Hence, we are to relinquish all rights to our bodies, our flesh, by offering them as a sacrifice to the Holy Spirit to do with what He pleases (Rom. 12:1). And we are to let Him live His life in us and through us, so our flesh is now in submission to the Spirit that empowers our very lives. Consider the following:

Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts – Romans...]]>Regarding the Higher Christian Life, we have discovered some truths that should change our lives. For one, Jesus said in John 14, we “know (ginōskō)” the Holy Spirit, for the Holy Spirit “dwells with you and will be in you” (John 14:17). Then, in Romans 12:1, we are urged to “present our bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is our reasonable service.” But who do we present our bodies to? What Person of the Godhead accepts the sacrifice of our body? It is not the Father, who now sits on His throne in heaven, and has no need of a body. It is not the Son, who has a body and is now seated at the Father’s right hand. No, it is the Holy Spirit who lives in each of us as the security of our salvation. It is the Holy Spirit who seeks possession of our bodies to empower us from the inside. And if this is true, then 1 Corinthians 6 takes on an entirely new meaning. It says:

Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s – 1 Corinthians 6:18-20.

When the Holy Spirit takes up residence in our body, He transforms it into the temple of the Holy Spirit by virtue of His holiness. Therefore, any sin a person commits “against his own body” is an afront to the Holy Spirit. It is a sin that pollutes and corrupts the very dwelling place of the Spirit. And from this type of sin, we are not commanded to fight or resist (James 4:7) but to flee. To run. To “hightail it outta there!”

After all, our body is now the “temple of the Holy Spirit who is (where) in you, whom you have from God, and (therefore) you are not your own” (1 Cor. 6:19). But what does it mean “you are not your own”? And how can we “glorify God in our body” which are God’s?

How Do I Glorify God in My Body and in My Spirit?

The last verse in 1 Corinthians 6 states:

For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s – 1 Corinthians 6:20.

Note, 1 Corinthians 6:19 ends with “you are not your own,” and this verse begins by telling us why. Because we have been “bought at a price.” Our redemption price has been paid, the deed of our ownership has been transferred to the Lord, and all we are now belongs to God (which is exactly what the ending phrase of this verse states, “which are God’s”). But notice what lies between these two bookends.

“Therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit.”

We are to give God glory in our bodies, the seed of our flesh, the part of us that wars against our spirit (Gal. 5:17). But that is harder than it seems. Because we always seem to lose the battle against our flesh. Even Paul expressed his frustration with his war within himself in Romans 7:15. So what are we to do?

Simply understand this: You cannot, in the flesh, win the war against the flesh, no matter how hard you try or how determined you are. The flesh will not allow a sustained campaign against itself. To place your body in subjection to your spirit, you need outside (or inside) help. And that comes only from the Holy Spirit.

Hence, we are to relinquish all rights to our bodies, our flesh, by offering them as a sacrifice to the Holy Spirit to do with what He pleases (Rom. 12:1). And we are to let Him live His life in us and through us, so our flesh is now in submission to the Spirit that empowers our very lives. Consider the following:

Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts – Romans 6:12.

For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live – Romans 8:13.

And finally,

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad – 2 Corinthians 5:10.

This is the path to the Higher Christian Life.

Until He comes,

Steve

For more on the Higher Christian Life, visit www.higherchristianlife.com or www.leavinglaodicea.com.

Before we can understand the “why” of the Higher Christian Life, we first must come to grips with the anemic condition of our faith and then somehow dig deep and find the desire and fortitude required to make things different. Remember, our actions will never outrun our faith. As the saying goes, “You are what you eat.” It is equally true, “You’ll only do what you think you can and should do.” Or, as Solomon said, “For as he (a man) thinks in his heart, so is he” (Prov. 23:7a).

To quote a truth from Facing the Giants, my favorite movie, “Your actions will always follow your beliefs. If you accept defeat, then that’s all you’ll get.”

And this truth isn’t true for just football. It is also true in our spiritual lives.

The following are six truth statements regarding the Higher Christian Life and the condition of the church. And remember, the church is defined as a group of individuals who collectively make up the whole. This means, by inference, these six statements that are true of the church, are also true of you and me as individual members of His church. Once we accept the reality and consequences of our current state, then we can begin to move forward from spiritual apathy to abundance (John 10:10). And we can then begin to embrace the Higher Christian Life, no matter the cost, and no matter how long it might take.

What is Our Current Need for the Higher Christian Life?

The following are six truths regarding the Higher Christian Life that perfectly described the condition of the church in the 1870s. And we have, as His church, fallen to new lows since then. So as you read these, ask yourself if you believe these statements are true. And if they are, what are you prepared to do about them?

One, it is the will of God for every one of His children that they live entirely and unceasingly under the control of the Holy Spirit.

Two, without a believer being filled with the Spirit, it is impossible for an individual Christian or a church to ever live or work as God desires.

Three, in the life and experience of Christians, this blessing is little used and little searched for.

Four, God waits to give us this blessing, and in our faith, we may expect it with the greatest confidence.

Five, the self-life and the world hinder and usurp the place that Christ ought to occupy.

Six, we cannot be filled with the Spirit until we are prepared to yield ourselves to be led by the Lord Jesus— to forsake and sacrifice everything for this pearl of great price.

And finally, let me reiterate a most encouraging truth found on the lips of all who have made it their aim to discover the Higher Christian Life and be found well-pleasing to God. And it is simply this, when you are discouraged about the lack of progress you seem to be making towards Christlikeness:

“God never places a desire in the heart of His children that He will not ultimately fulfill.”

Until He comes,

Steve

For more on the Higher Christian Life, visit As we have shared, the key verse regarding the blessings of receiving the Spirit and His inaugurating the Higher Christian Life in each of us is found in John 7:38. Here Jesus said, “He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” In this Jesus was speaking about the Holy Spirit, whom “those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified” (John 7:39). But the Holy Spirit is now given. And Jesus is now glorified. So what does this say about our current need for the Higher Christian Life?

Before we can understand the “why” of the Higher Christian Life, we first must come to grips with the anemic condition of our faith and then somehow dig deep and find the desire and fortitude required to make things different. Remember, our actions will never outrun our faith. As the saying goes, “You are what you eat.” It is equally true, “You’ll only do what you think you can and should do.” Or, as Solomon said, “For as he (a man) thinks in his heart, so is he” (Prov. 23:7a).

To quote a truth from Facing the Giants, my favorite movie, “Your actions will always follow your beliefs. If you accept defeat, then that’s all you’ll get.”

And this truth isn’t true for just football. It is also true in our spiritual lives.

The following are six truth statements regarding the Higher Christian Life and the condition of the church. And remember, the church is defined as a group of individuals who collectively make up the whole. This means, by inference, these six statements that are true of the church, are also true of you and me as individual members of His church. Once we accept the reality and consequences of our current state, then we can begin to move forward from spiritual apathy to abundance (John 10:10). And we can then begin to embrace the Higher Christian Life, no matter the cost, and no matter how long it might take.

What is Our Current Need for the Higher Christian Life?

The following are six truths regarding the Higher Christian Life that perfectly described the condition of the church in the 1870s. And we have, as His church, fallen to new lows since then. So as you read these, ask yourself if you believe these statements are true. And if they are, what are you prepared to do about them?

One, it is the will of God for every one of His children that they live entirely and unceasingly under the control of the Holy Spirit.

Two, without a believer being filled with the Spirit, it is impossible for an individual Christian or a church to ever live or work as God desires.

Three, in the life and experience of Christians, this blessing is little used and little searched for.

Four, God waits to give us this blessing, and in our faith, we may expect it with the greatest confidence.

Five, the self-life and the world hinder and usurp the place that Christ ought to occupy.

Six, we cannot be filled with the Spirit until we are prepared to yield ourselves to be led by the Lord Jesus— to forsake and sacrifice everything for this pearl of great price.

And finally, let me reiterate a most encouraging truth found on the lips of all who have made it their aim to discover the Higher Christian Life and be found well-pleasing to God. And it is simply this, when you are discouraged about the lack of progress you seem to be making towards Christlikeness:

“God never places a desire in the heart of His children that He will not ultimately fulfill.”

Until He comes,

Steve

For more on the Higher Christian Life, visit www.higherchristianlife.com or www.leavinglaodicea.com.

But it is usually much easier said than done. Sometimes we end up running around in circles, like getting lost in a cul-de-sac in our own neighborhood. But consider the following admonition on how this life is designed to be lived:

Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him – 2 Corinthians 5:9.

Note how this verse begins with a “therefore” and focuses on our Christian life’s “aim” or ambition. Let’s see what it is saying.

First, the context of this statement is found in the beginning part of the chapter. Here we find Paul talking about the wonder of being in the presence of the Lord after we discard this “earthly house” (2 Cor. 5:1), our mortal body, and are clothed “with our habitation which is from heaven” (2 Cor. 5:2), our heavenly body. According to Paul, heaven is lightyears better than “Your Best Life Now” on this fallen planet.

Next, we are assured that God is the one “who has prepared us for this very thing” and has also “given us the Spirit as a guarantee” (2 Cor. 5:5) of its truth and fulfillment. After all, “we walk by faith, not sight” (2 Cor. 5:7).

Finally, the “therefore” relates primarily to the passage immediately preceding this one. And what an incredible statement it is regarding the passion and heart of someone who is experiencing the Higher Christian Life and has eternity in focus. It says, “We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord” (2 Cor. 5:8).

So what is the aim and ambition of someone who desires the Higher Christian Life?

Therefore (a conclusion based on what was written before) we make it our aim (our ambition, purpose, something we aspire to), whether present or absent (in this life or the life to come, on earth or in heaven), to be well pleasing (acceptable, that which God wills and recognizes) to Him – 2 Corinthians 5:9.

Is there more?

The Aim of the Higher Christian Life

Absolutely. In fact, there is a reason, beyond wanting to live for the pleasure of God, for each of us to desire and strive to make our ambition in this life, not self-actualization or self-gratification, but to be like Jesus, “always doing the things that please Him” (John 8:29). And that is the simple fact that each of us will have to give an account of what we have done in this life, whether good or bad. There is a final exam, a judgment, and the time to prepare is now.

Statement: Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him – 2 Corinthians 5:9

Question: Why? For what reason should we make that the aim and ambition of our life?

Answer:  For we must all appear before the In a previous podcast, we introduced the importance of living, not for the applause of man or for our own self-gratification (no matter how noble our pursuits may seem), but solely for the pleasure and approval of God. In other words, we aim to be like Jesus. Our ambition is to live to hear the Father say, “Well done, good and faithful servant” (Matt. 25:21). And our single desire should be like that of Jesus, who said, “I always do those things that please Him” (John 8:29). This, and this alone, is the aim of the Higher Christian Life.

But it is usually much easier said than done. Sometimes we end up running around in circles, like getting lost in a cul-de-sac in our own neighborhood. But consider the following admonition on how this life is designed to be lived:

Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him – 2 Corinthians 5:9.

Note how this verse begins with a “therefore” and focuses on our Christian life’s “aim” or ambition. Let’s see what it is saying.

First, the context of this statement is found in the beginning part of the chapter. Here we find Paul talking about the wonder of being in the presence of the Lord after we discard this “earthly house” (2 Cor. 5:1), our mortal body, and are clothed “with our habitation which is from heaven” (2 Cor. 5:2), our heavenly body. According to Paul, heaven is lightyears better than “Your Best Life Now” on this fallen planet.

Next, we are assured that God is the one “who has prepared us for this very thing” and has also “given us the Spirit as a guarantee” (2 Cor. 5:5) of its truth and fulfillment. After all, “we walk by faith, not sight” (2 Cor. 5:7).

Finally, the “therefore” relates primarily to the passage immediately preceding this one. And what an incredible statement it is regarding the passion and heart of someone who is experiencing the Higher Christian Life and has eternity in focus. It says, “We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord” (2 Cor. 5:8).

So what is the aim and ambition of someone who desires the Higher Christian Life?

Therefore (a conclusion based on what was written before) we make it our aim (our ambition, purpose, something we aspire to), whether present or absent (in this life or the life to come, on earth or in heaven), to be well pleasing (acceptable, that which God wills and recognizes) to Him – 2 Corinthians 5:9.

Is there more?

The Aim of the Higher Christian Life

Absolutely. In fact, there is a reason, beyond wanting to live for the pleasure of God, for each of us to desire and strive to make our ambition in this life, not self-actualization or self-gratification, but to be like Jesus, “always doing the things that please Him” (John 8:29). And that is the simple fact that each of us will have to give an account of what we have done in this life, whether good or bad. There is a final exam, a judgment, and the time to prepare is now.

Statement: Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him – 2 Corinthians 5:9

Question: Why? For what reason should we make that the aim and ambition of our life?

Answer:  For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad – 2 Corinthians 5:10

There are so many things we can place as the aim and ambition of our life. Some are self-serving, such as money, fame, pleasure, popularity, pride, acceptance, independence, self-sufficiency, and however we define happiness. And some are nobler in nature, such as a life devoted to helping others, ministry, philanthropy, serving, giving, and other time-honored attributes of a generally accepted “good” person. But there is only one aim in life that has eternal benefits, and that is to live in such a way that is well-pleasing, or acceptable, to God.

After all, we are to live for the smile of only One. And His name is Jesus.

Oh, and the benefit for us today for living a life that is well-pleasing to Him? Consider this promise:

But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him” – 2 Corinthians 2:9.

Do you believe this statement to be true? Good. All the more reason to make it our aim to be “well-pleasing to Him” as we strive for the Higher Christian Life.

Until He comes,

Steve

For more on the Higher Christian Life, visit www.higherchristianlife.com or www.leavinglaodicea.com.

Let me give you but a taste of this podcast by posting a few quotes and statements about the Holy Spirit from Dr. A.J. Gordon.

“Whenever, in any century, whether in a single heart or in a company of believers, there has been a fresh effusion of the Spirit, there has followed inevitably a fresh endeavor in the work of evangelizing the world.”

Regarding the Person of the Holy Spirit, Dr. Gordon said this:

“I had known the Holy Spirit as a heavenly influence to be invoked, but somehow I had not grasped the truth that he is a Person of the Godhead who came down to earth at a definite time and who has been in the church ever since, just as real as Jesus was here during the thirty and three years of his earthly life.”

Then, once this realization of the Personhood of the Holy Spirit became real to him, Dr. Gordon said:

“How many true Christians toil on, bearing burdens and assuming responsibilities far too great for their natural strength, utterly forgetful that the mighty Burden-Bearer of the world is with them to do for them and through them that which they have undertaken to accomplish alone! Happy also for these if some weary day the blessed Paraclete (Comforter, Advocate, the Holy Spirit), the invisible Christ, shall say to them, “Have I been so long time with you and yet you have not known Me?”

When asked about the cost of the Higher Christian Life and ministering in the power of the Holy Spirit, he said:

“It costs much to obtain this power. It costs self-surrender and humiliation and the yielding up of our most precious things to God. It costs the perseverance of long waiting and the faith of strong trust. But when we are really in that power, we shall find this difference: that, whereas before it was hard for us to do the easiest things, now it is easy for us to do the hardest.”

But there is more.

How is the Holy Spirit our Burden-Bearer?

Regarding the baptism of the Holy Spirit, Dr. Gordon testified:

“On the whole, and after a prolonged study of the Scripture, we cannot resist this conviction: As Christ, the Second Person of the Godhead, came to earth to make atonement for sin and to give eternal life, and as sinners must receive Him by faith in order to have forgiveness and sonship, so the Holy Spirit, the Third Person of the Godhead, came to the earth to communicate the ‘power from on high’; and we must as believers in like manner receive Him by faith in order to be qualified (equipped) for service. Both gifts have been bestowed, but it is not what we have but what we know that we have by a conscious appropriating faith, which determines our spiritual wealth. Why then should we be satisfied with ‘the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace’ (Ephesians 1:7), when the Lord would grant us also ‘according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man’? (Ephesians 3:16).”

And finally, my favorite quote from Dr. Gordon is found in his...]]>In looking at the testimonies of great men and women of the last church age and their experience with the Higher Christian Life, I want to pause today and examine just one more, the life of Adoniram Judson (A.J.) Gordon (1836-1895). He was an American Baptist preacher (who ministered alongside D.L. Moody in his Northfield Conventions), writer, composer (“My Jesus, I Love Thee”), and founder of Gordon College and later Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. But more than that, he was a man who had an experience with the Holy Spirit that changed his life and ministry. And in almost every talk after that experience, he continually revealed how the Lord baptized him in the Holy Spirit by showing him, as Christ is our Sin-Bearer leading to salvation, so the Holy Spirit is now our Burden-Bearer leading to empowerment for ministry, and can be trusted with our lives once we surrender them to Him.

Let me give you but a taste of this podcast by posting a few quotes and statements about the Holy Spirit from Dr. A.J. Gordon.

“Whenever, in any century, whether in a single heart or in a company of believers, there has been a fresh effusion of the Spirit, there has followed inevitably a fresh endeavor in the work of evangelizing the world.”

Regarding the Person of the Holy Spirit, Dr. Gordon said this:

“I had known the Holy Spirit as a heavenly influence to be invoked, but somehow I had not grasped the truth that he is a Person of the Godhead who came down to earth at a definite time and who has been in the church ever since, just as real as Jesus was here during the thirty and three years of his earthly life.”

Then, once this realization of the Personhood of the Holy Spirit became real to him, Dr. Gordon said:

“How many true Christians toil on, bearing burdens and assuming responsibilities far too great for their natural strength, utterly forgetful that the mighty Burden-Bearer of the world is with them to do for them and through them that which they have undertaken to accomplish alone! Happy also for these if some weary day the blessed Paraclete (Comforter, Advocate, the Holy Spirit), the invisible Christ, shall say to them, “Have I been so long time with you and yet you have not known Me?”

When asked about the cost of the Higher Christian Life and ministering in the power of the Holy Spirit, he said:

“It costs much to obtain this power. It costs self-surrender and humiliation and the yielding up of our most precious things to God. It costs the perseverance of long waiting and the faith of strong trust. But when we are really in that power, we shall find this difference: that, whereas before it was hard for us to do the easiest things, now it is easy for us to do the hardest.”

But there is more.

How is the Holy Spirit our Burden-Bearer?

Regarding the baptism of the Holy Spirit, Dr. Gordon testified:

“On the whole, and after a prolonged study of the Scripture, we cannot resist this conviction: As Christ, the Second Person of the Godhead, came to earth to make atonement for sin and to give eternal life, and as sinners must receive Him by faith in order to have forgiveness and sonship, so the Holy Spirit, the Third Person of the Godhead, came to the earth to communicate the ‘power from on high’; and we must as believers in like manner receive Him by faith in order to be qualified (equipped) for service. Both gifts have been bestowed, but it is not what we have but what we know that we have by a conscious appropriating faith, which determines our spiritual wealth. Why then should we be satisfied with ‘the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace’ (Ephesians 1:7), when the Lord would grant us also ‘according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man’? (Ephesians 3:16).”

And finally, my favorite quote from Dr. Gordon is found in his book, The Ministry of the Holy Spirit, which states,

“It seems clear from the Scriptures that it is still the duty and privilege of believers to receive the Holy Spirit by a conscious, definite act of appropriating faith, just as they received Jesus Christ.”

I am sharing some of these testimonies with you, of the saints of old, to build your faith and show you the way to fulfillment, power in ministry, and the “bearing of much fruit” to glorify the Father and affirm we belong to Jesus (John 15:8), is by a filling, baptism, enduement, or immersion in the Holy Spirit by a conscious act of faith.  And, even if your friends and fellow church members aren’t talking about the Higher Christian Life, rest assured that many people of generations past that the Lord has used mightily in His service have continually pointed to the power of the Higher Christian Life.

Maybe we’re the ones who are missing something that these men and women found. And if so, there is much we can learn from them.

Until He comes,

Steve

For more on the Higher Christian Life, visit www.higherchristianlife.com or www.leavinglaodicea.com.

This “process” or stages in our experience with the Holy Spirit and the Higher Christian Life should not surprise us. In fact, we see a similar process revealed in Romans 8 regarding our salvation. In this process, God moves in our lives in distinct ways, in separate stages, some of them unknown to us at the time, to bring about His will for our lives. And what is His will? That we will be “conformed to the image of His Son” (Rom. 8:29).

Consider the process God brings those through who have embraced the Higher Christian Life:

One, there is an awareness of our need for more of Him. We find this truth in John 7:37, where Jesus said, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink.” Before the refreshing given by the Lord, there must first be an awareness of our need.

Two, there is a troubling in our soul, a growing, deep dissatisfaction with our present spiritual state. In other words, “I now know that I am thirsty, and I am miserable until I get this need satisfied.” Remember, those who “hunger and thirst for righteousness” will be filled or satisfied (Matt. 5:6).

Three, there then must come a time of absolute surrender of self to the Lord Jesus. It is what is called the point of total abandonment to Him. This is when “you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service” (Rom. 12:1). This is the point of commitment, the point of no return. From this step forward, success or failure depends on the desire you have for the Higher Christian Life and your willingness to suffer the costs of true discipleship (Luke 14:25-33).

But the best is yet to come.

Is There More to Receiving the Higher Christian Life?

Absolutely. Since you have made your commitment and crossed your Rubicon, this is the part of the process that comes with the most blessings and the most difficulty. Let me explain.

Four, after your commitment of total surrender to the Lord, there must come a time of trust, assurance, and acceptance by faith that “He who began a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ” (Phil. 1:6). You must appropriate by faith the confidence that God is able, as He promised, to “keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy” (Jude 24). Remember, you are saved and then blessed to experience the Higher Christian Life by faith, and nothing else.

Five, now it is time to rest, live, dwell, make your home, or “abide” in Him and His love. After all, “As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me” (John 15:4). This is part of the process whereby you begin to experience His power for service and ministry (Acts 1:8) flowing into you to allow you, as a great privilege, to bear His fruit much as]]>There is a process each of us goes through that leads us from where we are in our spiritual life to where we desire to be. Or, from the nominal Christian experience that most of us fixate at, to the Higher Christian Life, the “abundant life” Jesus promised (John 10:10). Everyone goes through it. Some stay at one stage longer than others. And some move quickly through many of the early stages only to get hung-up on a latter one. The process or stages in our awareness of this Higher Christian Life are general in nature and differ in details from person to person. But the value is in seeing there is a process for receiving the Higher Christian Life that everyone seems to go through. So be encouraged where ever you find yourself in the process.

This “process” or stages in our experience with the Holy Spirit and the Higher Christian Life should not surprise us. In fact, we see a similar process revealed in Romans 8 regarding our salvation. In this process, God moves in our lives in distinct ways, in separate stages, some of them unknown to us at the time, to bring about His will for our lives. And what is His will? That we will be “conformed to the image of His Son” (Rom. 8:29).

Consider the process God brings those through who have embraced the Higher Christian Life:

One, there is an awareness of our need for more of Him. We find this truth in John 7:37, where Jesus said, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink.” Before the refreshing given by the Lord, there must first be an awareness of our need.

Two, there is a troubling in our soul, a growing, deep dissatisfaction with our present spiritual state. In other words, “I now know that I am thirsty, and I am miserable until I get this need satisfied.” Remember, those who “hunger and thirst for righteousness” will be filled or satisfied (Matt. 5:6).

Three, there then must come a time of absolute surrender of self to the Lord Jesus. It is what is called the point of total abandonment to Him. This is when “you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service” (Rom. 12:1). This is the point of commitment, the point of no return. From this step forward, success or failure depends on the desire you have for the Higher Christian Life and your willingness to suffer the costs of true discipleship (Luke 14:25-33).

But the best is yet to come.

Is There More to Receiving the Higher Christian Life?

Absolutely. Since you have made your commitment and crossed your Rubicon, this is the part of the process that comes with the most blessings and the most difficulty. Let me explain.

Four, after your commitment of total surrender to the Lord, there must come a time of trust, assurance, and acceptance by faith that “He who began a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ” (Phil. 1:6). You must appropriate by faith the confidence that God is able, as He promised, to “keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy” (Jude 24). Remember, you are saved and then blessed to experience the Higher Christian Life by faith, and nothing else.

Five, now it is time to rest, live, dwell, make your home, or “abide” in Him and His love. After all, “As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me” (John 15:4). This is part of the process whereby you begin to experience His power for service and ministry (Acts 1:8) flowing into you to allow you, as a great privilege, to bear His fruit much as a branch does to a vine (John 15:8). But be warned, your ability to remain in the blessing of the Higher Christian Life is dependent on your desire, as a branch, to remain connected to the vine, to “abide in Him.”

“If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned” – John 15:6.

And finally, the Higher Christian Life, the exchanged life as it has been called, is a life of “abundance” (John 10:10), adventure, and excitement. And this abundant life you are given is promised to produce “rivers of living water” (John 7:38) as the Holy Spirit ministers to many through you.

Quite honestly, it doesn’t get any better than this. And this life is yours for the asking, for the surrender, for the exchange. So ask today and see what the Higher Christian Life is all about.

Until He comes,

Steve

For more on the Higher Christian Life, visit www.higherchristianlife.com or www.leavinglaodicea.com.

With just a glance into the lives of those who have lived the Higher Christian Life, a certain pattern emerges. And that pattern is a time of waiting, and pleading, and praying, and frustration, and spiritual darkness, until the light finally dawns. There seems to be some distance between when the person realizes what he is missing in his spiritual life and begins to actively seek it, and when that need is finally satisfied by the Holy Spirit.

Oswald Chambers, author of My Utmost for His Highest, waited over four years between the time he began to pray for the Higher Christian Life and when the Lord granted his request. And during that time he said, “nothing but the overruling grace of God and kindness of friends kept me out of an asylum.” Why? Because of the internal anguish of his soul knowing where he was and where he wanted to be with the Lord, and not being able to get there on his own.

For Amy Carmichael, the famed missionary to India, it was only two years. She came to know Jesus as her Lord at the age of sixteen, and by eighteen had surrendered her all to Him. And the rest, as they say, is history.

Andrew Murray testifies it was “seven or eight years” between his seeking, and ultimately receiving, the “baptism of the Holy Spirit.” He called that time of barrenness “one of deep dissatisfaction.” And look what the Lord did through the pen of this man after his time of waiting. Amazing.

For Dr. Walter Wilson, it was much longer. In his testimony at the Canadian Keswick Conference, he states he was saved in December of 1896 and didn’t experience the blessings of the Higher Christian Life until January 14, 1914, almost 18 years later.

Yet for Charles Finney, the one who was used so mightily by God during the Second Great Awakening, his salvation and the Higher Christian Life happened at almost the same time.  God chooses how He will deal with each of us differently. For some, it is after a time of waiting. For others, it is almost instantaneous, like exhaling out the self-life and breathing in the Higher Christian Life.

But the truth they all understood is this, “God never gives us a desire that He will not ultimately fulfill.” Never.

Will I Fail at the Higher Christian Life?

That depends totally on you. And no one else.

There are two main reasons why those who have struggled with the Higher Christian Life have had periods of failure before ultimate success. They are as follows:

One, Our Desire is Too Low. In order to receive the HIgher Christian Life, we must desire it. Passionately. Without reservation. No matter what.

Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution – 1 Timothy 3:12.

There is always a cost involved when we try to be the very best at something. And that is especially true in our spiritual lives as we seek the Higher Christian Life

Two, the Cost is Too High. No matter what we want to accomplish in this life,...]]>Nobody wants to fail, at anything, ever. We strive to be winners and not losers. We tell our kids that “if you try hard enough, you can do anything!” We don’t start a business to fail. We don’t start an exercise program to fail. We don’t enter into marriage to fail. Failure is not an option. Yet for those who have experienced the Higher Christian Life, many of their testimonies talk about multiple failures, often over many years, before any success. So why is that? Why do most people fail at their attempt to live the Higher Christian Life?

With just a glance into the lives of those who have lived the Higher Christian Life, a certain pattern emerges. And that pattern is a time of waiting, and pleading, and praying, and frustration, and spiritual darkness, until the light finally dawns. There seems to be some distance between when the person realizes what he is missing in his spiritual life and begins to actively seek it, and when that need is finally satisfied by the Holy Spirit.

Oswald Chambers, author of My Utmost for His Highest, waited over four years between the time he began to pray for the Higher Christian Life and when the Lord granted his request. And during that time he said, “nothing but the overruling grace of God and kindness of friends kept me out of an asylum.” Why? Because of the internal anguish of his soul knowing where he was and where he wanted to be with the Lord, and not being able to get there on his own.

For Amy Carmichael, the famed missionary to India, it was only two years. She came to know Jesus as her Lord at the age of sixteen, and by eighteen had surrendered her all to Him. And the rest, as they say, is history.

Andrew Murray testifies it was “seven or eight years” between his seeking, and ultimately receiving, the “baptism of the Holy Spirit.” He called that time of barrenness “one of deep dissatisfaction.” And look what the Lord did through the pen of this man after his time of waiting. Amazing.

For Dr. Walter Wilson, it was much longer. In his testimony at the Canadian Keswick Conference, he states he was saved in December of 1896 and didn’t experience the blessings of the Higher Christian Life until January 14, 1914, almost 18 years later.

Yet for Charles Finney, the one who was used so mightily by God during the Second Great Awakening, his salvation and the Higher Christian Life happened at almost the same time.  God chooses how He will deal with each of us differently. For some, it is after a time of waiting. For others, it is almost instantaneous, like exhaling out the self-life and breathing in the Higher Christian Life.

But the truth they all understood is this, “God never gives us a desire that He will not ultimately fulfill.” Never.

Will I Fail at the Higher Christian Life?

That depends totally on you. And no one else.

There are two main reasons why those who have struggled with the Higher Christian Life have had periods of failure before ultimate success. They are as follows:

One, Our Desire is Too Low. In order to receive the HIgher Christian Life, we must desire it. Passionately. Without reservation. No matter what.

Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution – 1 Timothy 3:12.

There is always a cost involved when we try to be the very best at something. And that is especially true in our spiritual lives as we seek the Higher Christian Life

Two, the Cost is Too High. No matter what we want to accomplish in this life, there is always a cost, to us and to others.

If you want to build a business, the required long hours away from home will cost you and your family. But we suffer the cost because the blessing, in the end, is worth the sacrifice, for us and those we love. And if you want to strive to be more like Jesus, to bear more of His fruit, it will also cost you and those you love. Jesus spent quite a few paragraphs of red ink warning us about the costs of discipleship and of following Him. You might want to read it yourself in Luke 14:28-33.

But for those of you who have counted the costs and want all of HIm, your longing will soon be satisfied. And the blessing for those who run the race well is far greater than the labor of the race itself. Remember, God never places a desire in your heart that He will not ultimately fulfill. Never. But He will fulfill it in His time, and not ours.

So wait on Him without wavering and the dawn will soon come.

Until He comes,

Steve

For more on the Higher Christian Life, visit www.higherchristianlife.com or www.leavinglaodicea.com.

Oswald Chambers says it this way in the March 17th offering in My Utmost for His Highest:

It is arduous (difficult, demanding great effort) work to keep the master ambition in front. It means holding one’s self to the high ideal year in and year out, not being ambitious to win souls or to establish churches or to have revivals, but being ambitious only to be “accepted of Him.” It is not a lack of spiritual experience that leads to failure, but a lack of laboring to keep the ideal right.

And this is hard. I know in my own life I often get sidetracked with the “good” things in my relationship with Him, such as being a pastor, leading my family, preaching and teaching the Word of God, ministering to others, praying, studying the Word, witnessing to others, etc. Note, all of these things are good and expected and encouraged of someone who claims to be a believer. But it is these “good” things that can, and will, demand most of our time and strength and be seen by others as desirable and praiseworthy— on this side of eternity. Yet they are not necessarily the “best” things in life that have eternal consequences today and forever. Let me explain.

The key to a deeper Christian life is to understand how we are to emulate Jesus in everything. He is our model, our example, and our guide. If we want to know how to respond in a certain situation, we look to Jesus and see what He did and commit to doing the same. And if we struggle with our flesh, we need to remember that Jesus has left us Himself (“I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you” – John 14:18) in the person of the Holy Spirit who abides with us forever (John 14:16). Hence, we have Him living in us to empower us to do the will of the Father (John 5:19). Just like Jesus had.

So why do we still struggle?

How do we Learn to Live for God’s Pleasure Alone?

One of the highest praises ever given by the Father was said of His Son, before Jesus had even begun His earthly ministry. His affirming words were publically recorded not only at the baptism of Jesus (Matt. 3:7, Mark 1:11, Luke 3:22), but also at the transfiguration experience that was more private in nature (Matt. 17:5). Remember what God said about His Son on multiple occasions:

“This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” – Matthew 3:17.

It is a wonderous thing to have the Father, the Creator of all, the Sovereign One, be well-pleased with someone or something. Especially if that someone is you. And if it is possible to hear Him say, “Well done, good and faithful servant” (Matt. 25:21), then to place your desire for His approval as the top priority of your life would be an extremely wise thing to do. Actually, it would be the only way to live the abundant life Jesus promised

So where do we find guidance in how to live a life pleasing to Him alone? How do we learn how to live for the applause of an audience of One? Consider the following passages as an introduction, Lesson 101, on the importance of being well-pleasing to Him and Him alone.

Romans 12:1-2 – I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that (our task) you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable (or well-pleasing) to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to]]>One key to experiencing the Higher Christian Life is the understanding that we live, not for the applause of man or for our own self-gratification (no matter how noble our pursuits may seem), but solely for the pleasure and approval of God. Because quite honestly, everything else is temporal. Our single desire should be like that of Jesus, who said, “I always do those things that please Him” (John 8:29). Jesus lived His life for the pleasure of the Father. And to experience the Higher Christian life, so should we.

Oswald Chambers says it this way in the March 17th offering in My Utmost for His Highest:

It is arduous (difficult, demanding great effort) work to keep the master ambition in front. It means holding one’s self to the high ideal year in and year out, not being ambitious to win souls or to establish churches or to have revivals, but being ambitious only to be “accepted of Him.” It is not a lack of spiritual experience that leads to failure, but a lack of laboring to keep the ideal right.

And this is hard. I know in my own life I often get sidetracked with the “good” things in my relationship with Him, such as being a pastor, leading my family, preaching and teaching the Word of God, ministering to others, praying, studying the Word, witnessing to others, etc. Note, all of these things are good and expected and encouraged of someone who claims to be a believer. But it is these “good” things that can, and will, demand most of our time and strength and be seen by others as desirable and praiseworthy— on this side of eternity. Yet they are not necessarily the “best” things in life that have eternal consequences today and forever. Let me explain.

The key to a deeper Christian life is to understand how we are to emulate Jesus in everything. He is our model, our example, and our guide. If we want to know how to respond in a certain situation, we look to Jesus and see what He did and commit to doing the same. And if we struggle with our flesh, we need to remember that Jesus has left us Himself (“I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you” – John 14:18) in the person of the Holy Spirit who abides with us forever (John 14:16). Hence, we have Him living in us to empower us to do the will of the Father (John 5:19). Just like Jesus had.

So why do we still struggle?

How do we Learn to Live for God’s Pleasure Alone?

One of the highest praises ever given by the Father was said of His Son, before Jesus had even begun His earthly ministry. His affirming words were publically recorded not only at the baptism of Jesus (Matt. 3:7, Mark 1:11, Luke 3:22), but also at the transfiguration experience that was more private in nature (Matt. 17:5). Remember what God said about His Son on multiple occasions:

“This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” – Matthew 3:17.

It is a wonderous thing to have the Father, the Creator of all, the Sovereign One, be well-pleased with someone or something. Especially if that someone is you. And if it is possible to hear Him say, “Well done, good and faithful servant” (Matt. 25:21), then to place your desire for His approval as the top priority of your life would be an extremely wise thing to do. Actually, it would be the only way to live the abundant life Jesus promised

So where do we find guidance in how to live a life pleasing to Him alone? How do we learn how to live for the applause of an audience of One? Consider the following passages as an introduction, Lesson 101, on the importance of being well-pleasing to Him and Him alone.

Romans 12:1-2 – I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that (our task) you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable (or well-pleasing) to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that (1) good and (2) acceptable and (3) perfect will of God.

2 Corinthians 5:9 – Therefore we make it our aim (ambition, purpose), whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him.

Ephesians 5:8-10 – For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), finding out what is acceptable (well-pleasing) to the Lord.

But there is so much more we can, and will, discover about the Higher Christian Life as we strive to experience a deeper relationship with Him that comes from obedience, surrender, and a desire to be found well-pleasing in His sight. But we will speak more about this when we gather together this Sunday.

Until He comes,

Steve

For more on the Higher Christian Life, visit www.higherchristianlife.com or www.leavinglaodicea.com.

David asks the question this way:

Who may ascend into the hill of the LORD? Or who may stand in His holy place? – Psalm 24:3.

And the answer is just as revealing. Only someone who is holy, as He is holy, can come into the presence of God. Read carefully what is written in Scripture.

He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not lifted up his soul to an idol, nor sworn deceitfully – Psalm 24:4.

This is a picture of practical holiness, the kind of living holiness that reflects the nature of Christ in our day-by-day decisions. It is the holiness Peter spoke of when he said, “but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, ‘Be holy, for I am holy.'” (1 Peter 1:15-16).

But there is more.

In Hebrews 12:14 we read that without holiness, “no one will see the Lord.” And if a deep intimacy with the Lord is a by-product of the Higher Christian Life, then holiness is an essential, if not vital, aspect of our spiritual lives.

But What Does Holiness Mean?

In Hebrews 12:14, the word translated “holiness” is hagiasmós and means both positional holiness (where God sees us as holy by virtue of the sacrifice of His Son) and practical holiness (whereby we live a life that is holy or morally pure in the image of His Son). Both definitions are applied to this word. Plus, amazingly enough, this word is also translated as “sanctification” in 5 of the 10 verses where it is found. So sanctification also means holiness, and holiness also means sanctification.

Let me show you how that deepens the meaning of the verse where it is translated as sanctification, which is a term we often brush over because it, like justification, seems too theological for us. I hope the importance of holiness will jump out at you as you look at these familiar passages with new eyes.

1 Corinthians 1:30 – But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification (holiness) and redemption.

1 Thessalonians 4:3-4 – For this is the will of God, your sanctification (holiness): that you should abstain from sexual immorality; that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification (holiness) and honor.

1 Thessalonians 2:13 – But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation (how) through sanctification (holiness) by the Spirit and belief in the truth.

1 Peter 1:1-2 – Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the pilgrims of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification (holiness) of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace be multiplied.

Notice above, twice the term sanctification/holiness is used regarding the Spirit (we will use holiness for this example). We have our “salvation through holiness by the Spirit” (1 Thess. 2:13), and we are chosen, “elect according to...]]>One of the two Scriptures that reveal the importance of holiness and living the Higher Christain life is found in Psalm 24. Here we see David beginning with a statement about the unsurpassed greatness of the Lord (Psalm 24:1-2) and then, based on His greatness, David poses both a question and an answer. The question is a logical one and goes something like this, “How can we get close to a God who claims ownership of the earth and ‘those who dwell therein’? (Psalm 24:1). How can I get to know a God as powerful and holy as this?” And how can I ever practice holiness to gain the Higher Christian Life?

David asks the question this way:

Who may ascend into the hill of the LORD? Or who may stand in His holy place? – Psalm 24:3.

And the answer is just as revealing. Only someone who is holy, as He is holy, can come into the presence of God. Read carefully what is written in Scripture.

He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not lifted up his soul to an idol, nor sworn deceitfully – Psalm 24:4.

This is a picture of practical holiness, the kind of living holiness that reflects the nature of Christ in our day-by-day decisions. It is the holiness Peter spoke of when he said, “but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, ‘Be holy, for I am holy.'” (1 Peter 1:15-16).

But there is more.

In Hebrews 12:14 we read that without holiness, “no one will see the Lord.” And if a deep intimacy with the Lord is a by-product of the Higher Christian Life, then holiness is an essential, if not vital, aspect of our spiritual lives.

But What Does Holiness Mean?

In Hebrews 12:14, the word translated “holiness” is hagiasmós and means both positional holiness (where God sees us as holy by virtue of the sacrifice of His Son) and practical holiness (whereby we live a life that is holy or morally pure in the image of His Son). Both definitions are applied to this word. Plus, amazingly enough, this word is also translated as “sanctification” in 5 of the 10 verses where it is found. So sanctification also means holiness, and holiness also means sanctification.

Let me show you how that deepens the meaning of the verse where it is translated as sanctification, which is a term we often brush over because it, like justification, seems too theological for us. I hope the importance of holiness will jump out at you as you look at these familiar passages with new eyes.

1 Corinthians 1:30 – But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification (holiness) and redemption.

1 Thessalonians 4:3-4 – For this is the will of God, your sanctification (holiness): that you should abstain from sexual immorality; that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification (holiness) and honor.

1 Thessalonians 2:13 – But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation (how) through sanctification (holiness) by the Spirit and belief in the truth.

1 Peter 1:1-2 – Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the pilgrims of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification (holiness) of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace be multiplied.

Notice above, twice the term sanctification/holiness is used regarding the Spirit (we will use holiness for this example). We have our “salvation through holiness by the Spirit” (1 Thess. 2:13), and we are chosen, “elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in holiness of the Spirit” (1 Peter 1:2).

And as a bonus, we see Jesus described as One who became for us “wisdom from God —and righteousness and holiness and redemption” (1 Cor. 1:30). Jesus became for us, holiness.  And if that is true, then only a total, absolute surrender to Him will produce holiness in us that is vital for the Higher Christian Life.

I hope you are beginning to see how embracing God’s attributes (holiness) by voluntary surrender to Him is a key to unlocking the Higher Christian Life. And we will talk more about that in the days to come.

Until He comes,

Steve

For more on the Higher Christian Life, visit www.higherchristianlife.com or www.leavinglaodicea.com.

For those of you who aren’t familiar with Andrew Murray (1828-1917), he was a Dutch Reformed pastor, missionary, and writer from Scotland, and spent his years ministering in South Africa. Andrew Murray was a man of faith and had an intimacy with the Holy Spirit that, in my opinion, was surpassed by none. Yet he, like so many of us, felt a dissatisfaction with his spiritual life and longed for something deeper and more intimate with the Lord. And it was this quest for what he called the “baptism of the Holy Spirit” or the Higher Christian Life that allowed God to use him as He did.

Murray recognized that obedience to the Lord is nearly impossible, no matter how hard you try. Sheer determination or strength of will are never enough. And the only way to live a life of holiness is to surrender your life to Him and allow Him to complete the work of sanctification in us. Sounds simple, I know. But the testimonies of these giants of the faith tell us it is much harder than it seems.

And I can also attest to the difficulty of total surrender to the Lord. Can you?

Is Abiding in the Higher Christian Life Possible?

At a Keswick Convention, Murray was asked to share a testimony of his experience with the Higher Christian Life. And in that talk, he shared about what his life was like now, after what he called his “baptism by the Holy Spirit” and his subsequent daily yielding to Him. I find Murray’s testimony most encouraging. I’ll let him tell you in his own words:

“I can help you more, perhaps, by speaking, not of any marked experience, but by telling very simply what I think God has given me now, in contrast to the first ten years of my Christian life. In the first place, I have learned to place myself before God every day, as a vessel to be filled with His Holy Spirit. He has filled me with the blessed assurance that He, as the everlasting God, has guaranteed His work in me. If there is one lesson that I am learning day by day, it is this: that it is God who worketh all in all. Oh, that I could help any brother or sister to realize this!”

Did you catch that? Murray speaks of God being the one to empower him to do the work God ordained him to do. I know I have struggled in the flesh, striving in my own strength, to do things for God. But the secret of surrender is to allow Him to do the work through us. Therefore He, and no one else, gets the glory.

And this is exactly what Jesus is trying to teach us in John 15 when He compares us to a branch that is only useful as it abides in the vine and bears, not produces, fruit for the glory of the Father. Geez. Sometimes learning is hard for a stubborn creation.

I hope you will be encouraged by the testimony of Andrew Murray and how he discovered the joy of abiding in the Higher Christian Life.

Until He Comes,

Steve

For more on the Higher Christian Life, visit www.higherchristianlife.com or www.leavinglaodicea.com.

First, there is the sovereign act of God accomplished before we were created and of which we were totally unaware. The Scripture says “For whom He foreknew” (Rom. 8:29a), which means God placed His favor and choice on us before we even knew His name. And long before we ever took our first breath. It was an act of His will and not of our own. And it takes some measure of spiritual maturity to understand this momentous event. We tend to always look forward from the day we “believed in Jesus and asked Him into our hearts.” But this is a look back. It is best explained in Ephesians 1:3-5:

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as (what) He chose us in Him (when) before the foundation of the world, (why) that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, (how) having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, (on what basis) according to the good pleasure of His will.

Next, God predetermined the outcome and future of those He previously had chosen and upon those He granted His favor. Scripture says “He also predestined” (Rom. 8:29b) those “whom He foreknew” to something. But what is that exactly? God has predetermined those He chose in Him to be “conformed to the image of His Son” (Rom. 8:29c). We are to become like Jesus. And we will become just like Jesus. Once again, this was all determined without our knowledge or consent. It was part of God’s sovereignty in our salvation.

Then, to those “He foreknew” and “predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son”, God begins the process of drawing them unto Himself. This is known as a “calling” or, theologically, an “effectual call.” This is when we become aware of God and what He offers and the horrid sinfulness in our own life. In our testimonies, it goes something like this:

“I knew I was lost and I needed God to forgive my sins and change my life. And I became aware of the fact that is exactly what Jesus said He would do. It was amazing. What I once thought was foolish now made perfect sense. And I knew I needed to give my life to Him.”

Finally, there is justification, “these He also justified” (Rom. 8:30a) This is the point in the pattern of our salvation that we become aware of the fact we are now saved. And we usually mark this down as the first day of our new life, not yet understanding our new life was determined by God in eternity past, “before the foundation of the world” (Eph. 1:4).

And as a final bonus, “and whom He justified (all those who are saved in Him), these He also glorified” (Rom. 8:30b). Now, that’s quite a pattern God has established for receiving saving faith provided by His Son. Would you not agree?

A Common Pattern for Receiving the Fullness of the Spirit

In much the same way we see a common pattern in those who deeply desire to receive the fullness of the Spirit, or the...]]>When we read the testimonies of those great spiritual heroes of days gone past and hear them describe the time leading up to their baptism in the Holy Spirit and their living the Higher Christian Life, a certain pattern begins to emerge. Granted, all their individual experiences are different, since God chooses to reveal Himself in the way He chooses to each of His children. So we obviously can’t put God in a box and demand He deals with everyone the way He deals with us. There is no cookie-cutter scheme that works for everyone. Yet in examining these individual accounts, we do see a pattern that each person seems to go through. Much like the pattern of salvation found in Romans 8:29-30. Consider the steps God undertakes to reconcile each of us to Himself.

First, there is the sovereign act of God accomplished before we were created and of which we were totally unaware. The Scripture says “For whom He foreknew” (Rom. 8:29a), which means God placed His favor and choice on us before we even knew His name. And long before we ever took our first breath. It was an act of His will and not of our own. And it takes some measure of spiritual maturity to understand this momentous event. We tend to always look forward from the day we “believed in Jesus and asked Him into our hearts.” But this is a look back. It is best explained in Ephesians 1:3-5:

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as (what) He chose us in Him (when) before the foundation of the world, (why) that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, (how) having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, (on what basis) according to the good pleasure of His will.

Next, God predetermined the outcome and future of those He previously had chosen and upon those He granted His favor. Scripture says “He also predestined” (Rom. 8:29b) those “whom He foreknew” to something. But what is that exactly? God has predetermined those He chose in Him to be “conformed to the image of His Son” (Rom. 8:29c). We are to become like Jesus. And we will become just like Jesus. Once again, this was all determined without our knowledge or consent. It was part of God’s sovereignty in our salvation.

Then, to those “He foreknew” and “predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son”, God begins the process of drawing them unto Himself. This is known as a “calling” or, theologically, an “effectual call.” This is when we become aware of God and what He offers and the horrid sinfulness in our own life. In our testimonies, it goes something like this:

“I knew I was lost and I needed God to forgive my sins and change my life. And I became aware of the fact that is exactly what Jesus said He would do. It was amazing. What I once thought was foolish now made perfect sense. And I knew I needed to give my life to Him.”

Finally, there is justification, “these He also justified” (Rom. 8:30a) This is the point in the pattern of our salvation that we become aware of the fact we are now saved. And we usually mark this down as the first day of our new life, not yet understanding our new life was determined by God in eternity past, “before the foundation of the world” (Eph. 1:4).

And as a final bonus, “and whom He justified (all those who are saved in Him), these He also glorified” (Rom. 8:30b). Now, that’s quite a pattern God has established for receiving saving faith provided by His Son. Would you not agree?

A Common Pattern for Receiving the Fullness of the Spirit

In much the same way we see a common pattern in those who deeply desire to receive the fullness of the Spirit, or the baptism of the Spirit, or the Higher Christian Life, or whatever you choose to call it. And this pattern creeps into almost everyone’s testimony who has been granted this blessing.

Let me lay out the key points almost everyone’s experience in the deeper life of the Spirit has in common.

One, salvation must take place in the individual and they must be born again by faith in the completed work of Christ.  On Sunday, this was Assumption One.

Two, there comes a deep awareness of failure, of falling short of what we are to be in the Lord. It’s as if we come to know there is more to this life with Christ than what we are experiencing, yet we are powerless to live a life of overcoming victory on our own, no matter how hard we try. And the resulting guilt and failure makes one miserable.

Three, there is a definite meeting with Christ, a time of total commitment, of absolute surrender in Him that is necessary for Him to accomplish in us what we are unable to do on our own. Usually, this is brought on by a particular verse or spiritual crisis the Lord uses to bring us from where we are (pride, independence, self-sufficiency) to where He wants us to be (broken, repentant, dependent, surrendered).

Four, there follows a faith commitment, an appropriation by faith on the basis of His Word to believe His promise regarding the Holy Spirit regardless of our past experiences. And this is the same kind of faith we placed in Him that resulted in our salvation. Only now, it results in our deliverance from the power of sin and the infusion of His power for ministry.

And finally, there is the wonderful manifestation of “rivers of living water” (John 7:37-39) Jesus said would flow out of the heart of one now living the Higher Christian Life. And from this point on, you will find yourself ministering in the power of the Holy Spirit and not the power of our fallen flesh. And God will become more to you than He ever has before. As D.L. Moody said regarding this experience, “I would not now be placed back where I was before that blessed experience (the baptism of the Holy Spirit) if you should give me all the world – it would be as the small dust of the balance.”

Oswald Chambers and the Higher Christian Life

Today, we will look at the testimony of Oswald Chambers, the minister who is the author of My Utmost for His Highest. And when we do, see if you can pick out the pattern above in Oswald’s testimony of his life with the Holy Spirit.

By the way, Oswald Chambers said after his experience with the Higher Christian Life, “After He comes in, all you see is ‘Jesus only, Jesus ever.'”

Have a Christ-filled Tuesday and I will talk with you again tomorrow.

Until He Comes,

Steve

For more on the Higher Christian Life, visit www.higherchristianlife.com or www.leavinglaodicea.com.

“The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly” – John 10:10.

The context of this verse is Jesus revealing Himself as the “good shepherd” who “gives His life for the sheep” (John 10:11), in contrast to a “hireling” (John 10:13) or “thieves and robbers” (John 10:8) who care little for the sheep.  And the ones He promised “abundant life” are the sheep, you and I by inference, who only enter into salvation through the “door” (John 10:9), defined as Jesus Christ.

I know it sounds confusing, but this is what Jesus is saying in this passage:

“The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I (the Good Shepherd, Jesus) have come that they (the sheep, you and I) may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly (perissós – over and above, superabundant, much, great, beyond measure)” – John 10:10.

But what does this promise really mean?

Are You Experiencing a Life Beyond Measure?

This the where things get personal. If you are like me, and most believers that I know, our spiritual life has been a series of ups and downs, peaks and valleys, two steps forward followed by two steps back, and is less than what we would call abundant. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not talking about our salvation or the grace of God so lavished upon us by the sacrifice of His Son. I’m talking about living a life of holiness, a life of sanctification, living as someone “set apart” for God’s holy purpose, a life surrendered to Him only to be selfishly reclaimed whenever things get tough, or painful, or boring. And for me, this is less than what Jesus promised and less than I am willing to live with.

So what do we do?

First, we realize that maybe, just maybe, there is more to this Christian life than what we have been experiencing. Then, we look for confirmation of that fact. Are there people that we respect, people we can trust, that are experiencing more of this elusive “abundant life” than we are? And if so, how did they experience the life with Christ we only dream about? What can they teach us? And, more importantly, what are we willing to learn from them?

The Higher Christian Life

Which brings us to today’s podcast. In setting a foundation for what is to come, we are going to look at the testimony of a few heroes of the faith who can testify to the Higher Christian Life (a phrase quite popular in the last century that has fallen out of vogue today). And these men and women can be trusted by their words and what the Lord accomplished in their lives.

We will hear from D.L Moody (today’s podcast), Oswald Chambers, Andrew Murray, Amy Carmichel, John Bunyan, Charles Finney, and so many more that should be familiar to each of you. And the purpose of this is to establish a foundation in each of us that maybe there is more to the Christian life than we presently know. And, if so, “I want all of You, Lord!”

Remember, I will be sending these out on a daily basis so we, as the body of Christ and as a family, can grow together in our faith and in the image of Him (Rom. 8:29) until:

we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— from whom the whole body, joined and knit...]]>Yesterday was a wonderful day together as we committed ourselves to strive after what the saints of old called the “Higher Christian Life” and Jesus described as the “Abundant Life” found only in Him.

“The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly” – John 10:10.

The context of this verse is Jesus revealing Himself as the “good shepherd” who “gives His life for the sheep” (John 10:11), in contrast to a “hireling” (John 10:13) or “thieves and robbers” (John 10:8) who care little for the sheep.  And the ones He promised “abundant life” are the sheep, you and I by inference, who only enter into salvation through the “door” (John 10:9), defined as Jesus Christ.

I know it sounds confusing, but this is what Jesus is saying in this passage:

“The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I (the Good Shepherd, Jesus) have come that they (the sheep, you and I) may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly (perissós – over and above, superabundant, much, great, beyond measure)” – John 10:10.

But what does this promise really mean?

Are You Experiencing a Life Beyond Measure?

This the where things get personal. If you are like me, and most believers that I know, our spiritual life has been a series of ups and downs, peaks and valleys, two steps forward followed by two steps back, and is less than what we would call abundant. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not talking about our salvation or the grace of God so lavished upon us by the sacrifice of His Son. I’m talking about living a life of holiness, a life of sanctification, living as someone “set apart” for God’s holy purpose, a life surrendered to Him only to be selfishly reclaimed whenever things get tough, or painful, or boring. And for me, this is less than what Jesus promised and less than I am willing to live with.

So what do we do?

First, we realize that maybe, just maybe, there is more to this Christian life than what we have been experiencing. Then, we look for confirmation of that fact. Are there people that we respect, people we can trust, that are experiencing more of this elusive “abundant life” than we are? And if so, how did they experience the life with Christ we only dream about? What can they teach us? And, more importantly, what are we willing to learn from them?

The Higher Christian Life

Which brings us to today’s podcast. In setting a foundation for what is to come, we are going to look at the testimony of a few heroes of the faith who can testify to the Higher Christian Life (a phrase quite popular in the last century that has fallen out of vogue today). And these men and women can be trusted by their words and what the Lord accomplished in their lives.

We will hear from D.L Moody (today’s podcast), Oswald Chambers, Andrew Murray, Amy Carmichel, John Bunyan, Charles Finney, and so many more that should be familiar to each of you. And the purpose of this is to establish a foundation in each of us that maybe there is more to the Christian life than we presently know. And, if so, “I want all of You, Lord!”

Remember, I will be sending these out on a daily basis so we, as the body of Christ and as a family, can grow together in our faith and in the image of Him (Rom. 8:29) until:

we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love (Ephesians 4:13-16).

As a final note, some of these will be longer (like this one) and some shorter. But commit to joining with us each day as we strive to be more like Him and grow together.

Until He Comes,

Steve

For more on the Higher Christian Life, visit www.higherchristianlife.com or www.leavinglaodicea.com.