Wednesday Wake Up #16

Just Because You Can....

I'm sure you have heard of that saying "just because you can, doesn't mean you should." We can apply that saying to so many different areas of our life, but there is one area it needs to apply to. It needs to apply to our walk with Christ. In Christ we have freedom from condemnation and from the death of sin (death in connection to God), but that does not mean that just because we can seek forgiveness we should just go and sin anyway?  I was confronted a couple of different times by an atheist and by an agnostic and they both said that since I can be forgiven by God, I should just go an sin intentionally or else I am wasting what Christ did on the cross. Wow. Seriously? What a ridiculous statement.  

First, I needed new people to hang out with. I needed new people to hang out with and as a Christ follower, I needed to be around other Christ following men. That didn't mean that I no longer spoke to those guys, but I need men in my corner who also follow Christ. If we look at Proverbs (great book) but specifically the wisdom contained within Proverbs 13:20, then we see we need to be around those who are wise. Not so much worldly wise, but also wise in the Holy Spirit so that he can assist me in my growth and I can assist him as well. If I am attacked by a man (or sin in this case) a brother in Christ can help me up if I fall and stand with me as we fight with the Holy Spirit against Satan's temptations (Ecclesiastes 4:12).
 

Man understands things a certain way and outside of the Holy Spirit they will not know what God has for them in life. Proverbs 14:12 tells us people think a certain way and think it is okay, yet they have no idea that death is inevitable in that way. Maybe you are so accustomed to being isolated. In isolation, no one can keep you accountable about the sinful ways that you succumb to. No one can love you in isolation. No one can hold you in isolation. While isolation may seem like it is "drama free" it is also void of love, accountability and growth. Just because it seems okay for you doesn't mean that God wants that for you.

A common thing I see is people who control others. They are always taking charge and always the boss. If they don't get their way they become the take my ball and go home type or the "it's my way or the highway." Not everyone, but there are those that feel like they should control what is going on. Why? It seems right to do so, but why? Is it a lack of faith in others to do their part? Is it to hard to trust others? Or maybe the faith that God isn't going to provide you with what you need? If we read the word we know that God provides for those doing His will (Philippians 4:19). It doesn't mean life will be perfect. There will be some bumps. That's life. But just because you are comfortable controlling everything doesn't mean that is how it needs to be or even what God wants from you. If you aren't asking for His guidance before and during a task, then that is part of the problem (Psalm 32:8). You need to submit to God's will and let Him show you what it is that needs to be done. Not just on the surface, but also on the inside of you. Your spirit is important and it needs to be in conjunction with God's will.

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Friday Focus #12

It Is Time for Something Better

Some relationships are a mess. There is constant bickering and long droughts of bitterness.  You want to be supported and they want to be right. You love them too much and they don't love you enough. There just doesn't seem to be a future. But I can almost guarantee you there is a disconnect. Staying disconnecting from God is like not recharging your smartphone after using it all day. It will DIE!!! You have to plug back in to reading the word (2 Timothy 3:16-17), yes the Bible. Start with a chapter a day. Read Proverbs. There are 31 chapters. you can read one chapter per day for a month. 

We also need to submit to God's will (Psalm 143:10). How do we know what God's will is? If you don't read God's word and let that marinate and you think on it and apply what you read, then it would be hard to know what God wants from us. We are making decisions that are not conducive to our spiritual growth which is affecting our relationships. Before you check everyone else, check yourself. What else could you be doing on your side in the effort of change and relational growth with God in order to have better relationships with others?

Don't forget about prayer. When things go wrong we can find ourselves trying to fix everything and everyone. We feel like we are shaped to help, which can be true, but it is not your responsibility to fix. Our responsibility is to pray and include God (Philippians 4:6). Isn't that part of the reason why there is an issue any way? We try to fix things separate from God. We need to include Him and let Him do his work.

And also there is accountability (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12). How can we grow spiritually all by ourselves. If there isn't someone that you can confide in and have walk with you through your life, it makes things that much harder. We need to be able to check in with people and have them check in with us and keep us accountable for what we want to be different in our lives according to God's will. That accountability with another Christ follower and you allows God to be present in the relationship in order to help the other parts of life benefit as well. It isn't easy, but it can be be done.

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Friday Focus #10

We Do Not Have to Fall to Temptation

Life is full of temptations. We are tempted to do many things from act out on our aggression, lie on our taxes, cheat on spouses, look at adult oriented imagery, have too much alcohol to drink or over eat. Some of these temptations are so a part of our culture that we have accepted them as part of our life and acceptable. But, it isn't about what is culturally acceptable. Culture changes every so often, but God's Word stays the same. That is the measuring stick by which we live life, not what people think we should do or what we think we should do.

In James 1:13-15 we have to recognize that temptation is not coming from God. God doesn't tempt us He directs us. Satan tempts us by what our desires are. I do not have the temptation to get drunk, but someone else does. Others don't have the temptation to over eat or eat the wrong things, but I do. When we give into temptation is when it turns into sin and when sin is full grown it becomes death. Not physical death, but a spiritual one in that area that can spread to other areas of our lives.

How do you fight against the temptation to go against God's will? Well, after recognizing that you are being tempted you can immediately go to God. Ask God to cover and protect you as you face this temptation (Luke 22:40). You don't have to go at it alone. Not only can you talk to God, but you can also tell another believer. Do you have an older person to confide or a friend that also follows Christ? Tell them what you are struggling with. I would hate to struggle in an area and not be able to open up to another believer (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12). Two people + God = a three fold chord that is not easily broken.

 Remember too, that whatever you deal with, is something that someone else has already gone through. Someone else has had the same temptations you have already had (1 Corinthians 10:13). God provides a way out and will not let you be tempted past what you can deal with. Follow His path.

Facing Temptation- Open Bible verses

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