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Wednesday, August
27, 2008
Renewable Resource
Hebrews 6:4-6 For it is impossible for
those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and
were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, (5) And have tasted the good word of
God, and the powers of the world to come, (6) If they shall fall away, to
renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son
of God afresh, and put him to an open shame. (KJV)
The reason the word impossible is used is
because without faith, simply believing in the message delivered by Christ
and the completed work He did on our behalf, it is impossible to please God;
which is in the realm of the flesh and its dead works. Many people have
tasted and partaken of the new life in Christ for a season only to fall
away again by trying to mix faith with works; their works or what they
think works, which actually makes them transgressors and not true believers
anymore. Those that still hold to the law and any of its works or rituals
will fall away, not iffy anymore but it has taken place already.
Titus 3:4-7 But after that the kindness
and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, (5) Not by works of
righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us,
by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; (6) Which
he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; (7) That being
justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of
eternal life. (KJV)
You know, there is a renewable unending
resource to tap into, that being the realm of the Spirit. With the gospel
of Christ being so simple why do so many distort the message with works,
something they think they need to do on our Lord’s behalf when the fact is
He did it all on our behalf? In the early years of the United States there
was an industrial revolution that took place without any regard for the
consequences which often resulted in pollution. Over the years mankind has
adapted and found other sources that were cleaner and more efficient to operate
with and still get the results needed. A spiritual transformation has taken
place which has gone from outward works and rituals into a renewable
resource located within the believer so that we could operate in the realm
of the Spirit more efficiently, getting the results God intended for His
people. Have you made the transition; are you operating in the new, or are
you still holding to the old, which only takes a little of that leaven to
infect the lump and make it worthless?
2 Corinthians 4:16-18 For which cause we
faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed
day by day. (17) For our light affliction, which is but for a moment,
worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; (18) While
we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not
seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are
not seen are eternal. (KJV)
Thayer’s definition for ‘renewed’:
341
anakainoo- to cause to grow up, new, to make new
a) new strength
and vigor is given to one
b) to be changed
into a new kind of life as opposed to the former corrupt state
Your answer for your search for life and
peace will only be found looking within, not outwardly anymore if you truly
wish to partake of the new life in Christ and endure to the end. Oh yeah,
many people do get saved and begin their walk so well, only to lose sight
of how they got into the realm of God in the first place, that by hearing
His message. The things on the outside are temporal, temporary and without
much substance, while the things within are where the life of God is
located; now it is a matter of hearing His message and renewing yourself
daily to continue in it.
Williams New Testament translation
of Ephesians 4:17-24
17.
So I mean this and now testify to it in the name of the Lord: You
must now stop living as the heathen usually do, in the frivolity of their
minds, 18. with darkened understanding, estranged from the life of God
because of the ignorance that exists among them and because of the
stubbornness of their hearts; 19. for in their recklessness they have
abandoned themselves to sensuality which leads to excessive practices of
all sorts of immorality. 20. But this is not the way you have learned what
Christ means, 21. if, as I take it, you have heard Him and in union with
Him have been taught the truth as it is seen in Jesus, 22. to lay aside,
with your former way of living, your old self which is on the way to
destruction in accordance with its deceptive impulses; 23. and to have a
new attitude of mind 24. and put on the new self which has been created in
the likeness of God, which fruits in right and holy living inspired by the
truth.
There are many so called believers that
still operate in the frivolity of their carnal minds, which is enmity with
God. Many are still in darkness because of their stubbornness to let go of
the old works of the law which they think will bring them closer to God,
the reality being that they end up drawn away. If you wish to operate in
the new, a new law of Spirit and of life in Christ which sets us free from
the law of sin and death, then it will take a renewing of the mind on a
daily basis so that you can know who you are in Christ and have His mindset
to carry out what He is asking of you this day.
Ephesians 4:22-24 That ye put off
concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according
to the deceitful lusts; (23) And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; (24)
And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness
and true holiness. (KJV)
Remember, God Himself is a spirit, so if
you desire to worship Him then it can only be done in Spirit as well as in truth.
In order for you to operate in His realm you need to think like Him, you
know the old saying it takes one to know one. It takes His Spirit bearing
witness with your spirit to remind and assure you of who you are in Christ
and the rights and authority you have in His name.
Williams New Testament translation
of Romans 12:1-2
1. I beg you, therefore, brothers,
through these mercies God has shown you, to make a decisive dedication of
your bodies as a living sacrifice, devoted and well-pleasing to God, which
is your reasonable service. 2. Stop living in accordance with the customs
of this world, but by the new ideals that mold your minds continue to
transform yourselves, so as to find and follow God's will; that is, what is
good, well-pleasing to Him, and perfect.
Why do you do the things that you do? Is
it because it is a custom of the people and seems real popular, or is it
because you took the time to hear the Lord for yourself and tapped into His
unlimited resource of strength and spiritual understanding? You know, the
more you allow His word to increase and be the deciding factor in all your
decisions the more you decrease and so does any doubt or fear that goes
along with leaning to your own understanding.
Galatians 4:9-11 But now, after that ye
have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak
and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage? (10) Ye
observe days, and months, and times, and years. (11) I am afraid of you,
lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain. (KJV)
Some people who call themselves
Christians actually point to certain times of the year as well as certain
days of the year thinking they are more special than others; you know, like
that abomination which takes place every year on December 25th.
While many look at the outward, which is described as weak and beggarly, so
are those that still hold to man’s outward rituals and do not tap into a
renewable resource God has provided for those that choose liberty over
bondage. Do you know the truth that will set you free, or are you still
thinking something else will get you there? You wouldn’t want to run a race
only to find out you were disqualified because you ran the wrong course,
one that was plotted by man and not God. So with all that is available in
Christ, are you tapping into His renewable resource, or will your labor be
in vain?
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