Tag: Sanctification

The Spirit’s Design

~ A Prayer Life ~ Leave a comment

But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.

~ John 14:26 (NKJV)

The role or purpose of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in the life of the Christian is to teach us all things related to the one true Faith and to continually point us back, to bring into our hearts and minds, the person, work and words of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit is called the Spirit of Truth for it is His design to illuminate the life of the believer in the glorious truth of God and the Lord Jesus. It is the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit that empowers us to know, love and serve the Lord. He draws us, leads us and moves us continually to Christ.

~ apl

Christ’s Preeminence

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He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.

~ Colossians 1:18 (NKJV)

The only true, living, and vibrant spiritual life there is has the Lord Jesus Christ as its head. If Jesus is not preeminent in your spiritual life, then something is out of order… Our spirit has to become consumed with and in Christ. Loving, honoring and serving the Lord Jesus is the highest calling and most blessed privilege a person can have… Making Jesus preeminent in our lives isn’t always an easy thing to do. In fact, because of our sinful nature, it can be a real challenge. But if you truly love Christ, you have His Spirit. And with faith, trusting in Him, we can come to experience the preeminence of Christ in our life.

~ apl

We Must Do Something

~ A Prayer Life ~ 2 Comments

The cross…always has its way. It wins by defeating its opponent and imposing its will upon him. It always dominates. It never compromises, never dickers nor confers, never surrenders a point for the sake of peace. It cares not for peace; it cares only to end its opposition as fast as possible. With perfect knowledge of all this, Christ said, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” So the cross not only brings Christ’s life to an end, it ends also the first life, the old life, of every one of His true followers. It destroys the old pattern, the Adam pattern, in the believer’s life, and brings it to an end. Then the God who raised Christ from the dead raises the believer and a new life begins. This, and nothing less, is true Christianity… We must do something about the cross, and one of two things only we can do – flee it or die upon it.

~ A.W. Tozer (1897-1963)

Where Our Minds Are

~ A Prayer Life ~ 5 Comments

Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy–meditate on these things.

~ Philippians 4:8

The old adage goes something like this: “Sow a thought, reap an action; sow an action, reap a habit; sow a habit, reap a character; sow a character, reap a destiny.” The thoughts of our mind ultimately become the destiny of our life. The thoughts we entertain, like the charts on a ship, set our lives on a particular course. And this course charted for us by our thoughts can be for better or worse depending on what thoughts we allow ourselves to cultivate and take root in our mind.

In our text today, the Apostle Paul exhorts the Christians at Philippi to constrain their thoughts, to discipline their minds, to focus, to think or meditate on such things that please the Lord and conform their thinking to such lofty ideals that bring about His honor and glory. He tells these believers, whatever is true, whatever is lovely or of good report, whatsoever has virtue or is praiseworthy, that it is in these things; it is here where our heart and mind should lie.

The inward topics our mind should dwell on should tend towards outward holiness and righteousness in our life, not away from it. The characteristics of truth, love and virtue are of a godly sort. These are the attributes of thought and attitudes of heart those who follow Christ should seek to develop because they will move us ultimately closer to Him.

Two of the most beneficial ways to train our minds to dwell on such noble things are Scripture reading and prayer. Through these two means of grace, our minds, which are by nature opposed to such thoughts, will, by God’s grace, slowly yet surely bend towards His goodness and glory. But like in our passage, Christians must be reminded of our duty in this regard.

So, are you actively seeking to conform your thoughts to such characteristics as Paul describes here in Philippians? Do you find your mind wandering into areas of unrighteousness which may lead to sinful patterns of life? Do you make diligent use of Scripture and prayer to help keep you on course towards holy and pure living? May we seek God’s help to do so.

~ apl

Father, Please Give Me

~ A Prayer Life ~ 1 Comment

Gracious and holy Father, please give me intellect to understand you, reason to discern you, diligence to seek you, wisdom to find you, a spirit to know you, a heart to meditate upon you, ears to hear you, eyes to see you, a tongue to proclaim you, a way of life pleasing to you, patience to wait for you, and perseverance to look for you. Grant me a perfect end, your holy presence, a blessed resurrection, and life everlasting. Amen.

~ Benedict of Nursia (480-547)

Wisdom & Knowledge

~ A Prayer Life ~ 1 Comment

Wisdom rests in the heart of one who has understanding…

~ Proverbs 14:33 (NAS)

Wisdom is understanding in action. Wisdom is applied knowledge. And while knowledge may reside in the head, wisdom rests in the heart. Bare knowledge left to itself creates pride. But when filtered through the wisdom of the heart, understanding and knowledge are wonderful things that can a blessing and used to serve the Lord. Therefore never leave knowledge to itself. Let us always allow the thoughts of our head to flow through the wisdom of our heart before applying it in our life. For whosoever does this, is the one who has true understanding.

~apl

The Path of Life

~ A Prayer Life ~ 1 Comment

You will show me the path of life…

~ Psalm 16:11a (NKJV)

In Robert Frost’s famous poem The Road Not Taken, he describes one path that eventually diverges into two deep in the woods. This individual spends the greater portion of the poem contemplating which road to take. Yet, unable to take them both, and having to decide, the traveler chooses the one that looks less worn, less used. And his conclusion upon taking “the one less traveled by” is that it made all the difference in his life.

When it comes to our spiritual path, our soul’s life journey, only the path God shows us is the path of life. Though other paths might entice us with the lure of worldly treasures and temptations, ultimately they lead to death. Jesus would put it this way, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” If He has not done so already, pray God would show you the path of life. For in His path alone, lays all true difference.

~ apl

Be Free

~ A Prayer Life ~ 8 Comments

Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.

~ John 8:36 (NKJV)

I love music, but I never learned to play an instrument. Yet, one of my favorite pastimes is listening to music. And though I never personally learned to play a guitar, the drums, a saxophone or piano, I can certainly appreciate the amazing talent, commitment, hard work and devotion that goes into mastering one of these or many other instruments.

Though I love music, I am not free to make music on my own. At least, not through instrumentation. Those who first train on those instruments, and take lesson after lesson for years, are the ones who are free to produce the wonderful sounds of rhythm and harmony who others, like myself, are not free to make on our own. In other words, it is only through the confining discipline of submitting oneself to the rigors of apprehending the musical instrument that one is truly free to play whatever they choose.

Likewise, it is only through submitting yourself to the Lord Jesus Christ that one becomes spiritually free. Until then, we are in bondage, in bondage to sin and confined to the limitations of our own sinful nature. Limited in our freedom to spiritually enjoy the richness of Christ. It is by discipline, apprehending, and submitting oneself to God that one truly tastes freedom.

The world will try to offer you it’s version of freedom. But it is a false freedom. It will seek to entice you with freedom from discipline, from responsibility, and from accountability to God and others. But this is not real freedom. Like the concert pianists who only through years and years of disciplined training is he free to play whatever he chooses, it is only through discipleship to Jesus that spiritual freedom ever comes. Freedom to love, serve and honor the Savior. But, once Christ sets you free, be assured dear friend, you are free indeed.

~ apl