into a new battlefield

Wow, what's this?

 

It looks like an ancient, dusty blog.

 

Perhaps something from the days of the Pharaohs! Insights from Alexander the Great! Battle plans form Genghis Khan? Even, no, could it be? The long lost Blog from John the Apostle on the Isle of Patmos?!

 

Or maybe just the delayed thoughts of Noah. :)

 

Sorry to disappoint you. I am, indeed, alive and well even though this blog has seen better days. I'm currently in school in Oklahoma City at and am just soaking up the classes and teaching.

 

I'm looking at these next few years as my "Time in The Desert". John the Baptist, the Apostle Paul, even Jesus Christ took a significant time in their lives before beginning their ministry to spend with the Lord and to be taught by Him. So far it's been incredible.

 

I'll be posting some of my assignments from my Personal Spiritual Development class on here weekly. (Lord willing, of course.) These will typically be a section of scripture that I am supposed to briefly (that's the hard part for me...) explain in two paragraphs. First explain it, then apply it. We're going through the book Changed Into His Image, which is an incredible book for discipleship. Very practical. I'll not comment on it specifically because I'd go on and on. (Like I am right now.)

 

This is a whole new arena for me, and I'm thrilled to be in it. I would encourage you, rather you're on a new front, or the same ol' fray you've been in for a while, don't lose focus! Regroup and fight like you were meant to in His strength.

Engage the Enemy!

to conform or morph?

Romans 12:1-2

 

Paul has put the reader in the position of awe at the qualities of Almighty God in the preceding verses. “For who hath known the mind of the Lord?” (11:34a) It is very clear that discerning the will of our Creator is to be our main priority. He then proposes that there is no limit to how far we should go to “sacrifice” our flesh in order to be holy, acceptable, and transformed. But he goes on to show that “knowing” isn’t enough; we must be “transformed”.

 

He demands a “morphing” of the will. I am not asked to model the mind of Christ, or try to implement God’s will into mine. No “attempts” or meeting half-way. I must daily slay my living will on the altar of sacrifice. When I am tempted to give in to selfish materialism and spend my resources (money, time, energy) on things of the flesh, I must realize this is unacceptable. I must not justify my will on the premise of being “creative” in following God’s will.  I’m not making an impressionistic model, I’m morphing.

looking in the mirror

James 1:17-25

 

James motivates the Jews to trace the gifts that they have back to the Source. “Every good gift, and every perfect gift is from above…” he says. God isn’t fickle in what he considers good either. The work He desires to do in the lives of his beloved people is specific and intentional. What gets in the way is the human will. Wrath, filthiness, naughtiness, all of these qualities change the precious intent of the Almighty into the “filthy rags” of man’s righteousness. Once this is established James encourages the saints to remember the value of the gifts. Once you have it, use it! Remember what you had to go through to be in this position, and never forget it!

 

In my life it’s so easy to trade off the position I have in Christ for the worthless fancies of the world. One moment I am gazing into the mirror, amazed and humbled at what I see. Why would He invest in me, and choose me to be one of his “firstfruits”? Tragically though, I often become drawn by the lust of the flesh, worldly pleasures, and materialism. I drift from the standard because I think I can coast on what “I’ve” attained spiritually. Oh, to not forget what the natural man looked like! May I receive the Word meekly, continue therein, and do the work.