There are some thoughts that probably should get a shift kick out the door of our hearts.
1. "Following Jesus is Hard"
Well yes. It is hard on the flesh. Hard on the Old man or woman.It's hard on us if we are still in love with the world. I John 2:15
It is not hard for the regenerated lover of Christ who is filled up with First Love. It's not hard on the Cloud of Witnesses in heaven or the angels?
It can lead to losing things in this life. Yes. But they are not worth anything close to knowing Jesus.
"But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, 9and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith,…" Phil 3:8
Of course we face challenges. Some deep and difficult challenges. But we serve a King who has overcome. Abundant life is a reality we can have by faith and following Jesus.
Everything about following Jesus carries with it the overcoming victory of his power and love. When we walk in the way he walked, pleasing and doing the Father's will, grace keeps coming in more and more. Grace is more than sufficient to overcome everything we face and feel in this life......if we purpose to place Jesus first in our hearts, his Kingdom and Righteousness first in our lives. Matt 6:33 / Rev 1:4-5
We need to learn to tap into the life flowing in the Kingdom of God.
We need to speak the language of abiding and connection with Jesus like we breath air.
We need to stop talking with,
entertaining,
nursing,
and getting our perspective
from the flesh.
Rom 8:5-8
"Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6 The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. 7 The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. 8 Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God."
The real hard thing is being lukewarm. No one really appreciates it and we end up living in no mans land. In between seeing the remarkable provision of God and the clear place of needing our sins forgiven. We are not in good fellowship with the Saints, or good fellowship with the fallen. IN between, lukewarm is no mans land.
Following Jesus is....
An easy yoke. "Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. 30"For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." Matthew 11:29-30
Most people want rest. Rest is available as a way of life in the promises of Jesus.
2. "If I don't feel God anymore, he's gone."
We've got a life roaring after us everyday that if listened to and focused on causes us to lose sight of the presence of God.Full of worries, distraction and desire for other things the "world" offers us everything we need to completely forget that we belong to Jesus.
When we do forget and spend a day, days maybe even a week, with no significant fellowship, Scripture, abiding in his presence or solid prayer - we can expect to be drying out. When we run out of emotions or feelings in our God experiences and then face worries, distractions and lack of desire many fall away.
Don't be fooled by a lack of feelings.
Nothing has changed.
The Holy Spirit is dwelling within you. Col 1:27
We have the mind of Jesus. I Cor 2:16
Jesus never leaves us or forsakes us. Matt 28:20
We walk by faith and not by sight. "Therefore, being always of good courage, and knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord-- for we walk by faith, not by sight-- I Cor 5:7
Jesus painted the picture for us in Mark 4:18-19.
When these three take hold (worries, distraction, desires) of what we are looking to for LIFE, we end up drying out for lack of living water. Living water flows in connection and abiding with Jesus.
It is life blood to First Love.
Jesus is the vine, we are branches.
The vine supplies us with living water.
Typically, when we are "not feelin it" it's just a short time and the Enemy is at our door offering the things we used to do, eat, smoke, watch. They look interesting because we are no longer sowing to the Spirit. We are sowing to the flesh.
The problem is, if you belong to Jesus you are most likely not feeling to good when all this gets going. Especially when we start stumbling back into what chained us before. The Holy Spirit won't let go of you. Jesus paid such a price for you he will not let you fall from his hand. Yea. It feels terrible walking in sin when we know Jesus. Thank God he cares when we go back to self medicating, self destructing and burring our pain. Jesus is not put off by our brokenness. Another thank God.
I've got good news for you! We actually have an opportunity.
What the Enemy seeks to stumble us with points out where we need help from the Lord.
It points to our old ways of dealing with life.
We don't have to deal with life like that anymore!
Remember, for freedom Jesus set us free.
Jesus changes the whole equation.
You can change this situation right now.
Look at your
Desires
Worries
Distractions
And bring them all into submission to Jesus right now.
Confess any sins and be forgiven and restored. I John 2:1
It is easy turn around.
Repent. Receive forgiveness and mercy.
Ask the Lord to revive you and encourage you right where you are.
He did it before.
He is full of life and ready to bring it to you again.
It is important to God that we learn to walk by faith.
More important to Him than our feelings.
Jesus saved us for freedom.
When we no longer believe God is with us because we have some negative feelings or no feelings at all - He wants to free us.
There is an amazing, huge, wonderful Kingdom that is not shaken when we don't feel a thing.
When we get a hold of this truth, we step up to new levels of peace, joy and freedom.
God loves seeing us get free.
Being enslaved to our feelings is not a thing I believe he likes to see us trapped in.
If you are struggling, email me.
I'd love to encourage you.
2016
Look forward, eyes filled with Abundance, Boundless, Victorious vision in Jesus.
Thanks for Reading!
I love your comments. Ideas and thoughts.
Please share em.
Re-shares are great. thank U.
Here are some other blogs posts that may interest you.
1.http://jeffreynoldsonedesire.blogspot.com/2015/01/7-things-enemy-devil-doesnt-want-you-to.html
With much love in Jesus
You can do this thing! He's got you.
Jeff Reynolds ---
Brother Jeff
www.jeffreynoldsministies.com
No comments:
Post a Comment