The Abiding Life: Part 12 Romans 8:11

Romans 8:11

11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.

This should be an easy verse to understand. If the Holy Spirit dwells in you then that same spirit will give life to your body.

If we can accept that basic concept then we will find it so much easier to walk the Christian life. The Holy Spirit guides not just our hearts and minds but our very bodies.

Of course it's never that easy for us. We always have questions. A discussion that came up in our study was, "How can the "mortal body" be separate from the flesh?" Remember, Paul refers to the mortal body when discussing our physical self and the flesh when discussing sins, i.e. The sins of the flesh.

So how can it be separated? Physically, literally of course we can't separate our flesh from our bodies, but spiritually? Now that's a different story.

The moment temptation hits we must make a split second choice. Will we give in to temptation? Will we gossip, lie, cheat, steal, etc..? Or will we yield to the Spirit that dwells within us to flow through us? To guide our thoughts and actions. Yes actions by allowing the spirit to guide our "mortal bodies" we turn away from sin. At that moment our flesh (temptation) is separated from our "mortal bodies".

It's a delicate dance with God always allowing us to choose. Give in to the flesh or yield to the Spirit? Sadly, the correct choice often seems the harder one. That's because we are not yielding to the Spirit we are trying to be good or do the right thing on our own. People, it's possible but very very hard. And doing it ourselves does not glorify God. But by yielding? By allowing the Spirit to flow through us.. now that is so amazingly easy. Let go and let God.. remember that saying? Well, that's pretty much what happens when our "mortal bodies" are controlled by the Spirit. And oh the joy that can be found in doing so.

Shauni

*remember these are my thoughts on this verse and what I took away from my Bible study.. feel free to add yours to the discussion.

The Abiding Life: Part 11 John 15: 1-12

We all know this scripture but do we really understand it? Sure in theory maybe but have you broken it down??

John 15: 1-12

1 "I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.
2 "Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit.
3 "You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.
4 "Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me.
5 "I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.
6 "If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned.
7 "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.
8 "My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples.
9 "Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love.
10 "If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.
11 "These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.
12 "This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you.
When I read this, I always took this to mean we are a family, in Christ. All of our branches connect due to the vine. Yes that could be considered accurate but it's seriously limiting God's power. Limiting how God uses you.

The essential nature of God (The Christian Life) is not something that we produce, it is something that flows through us. We are the branches, we BEAR the fruit but the vine itself is what actually produces it, cut off the branch and what you have is a dead branch but the vine can still produce.

By being Living Branches (huge shout out to my First Family High School Choir, the Living Branches) we can be pruned and sculpted. God will do whatever He needs to do in our lives to get us to produce the most fruit possible. Our dead weight removed in order to bear God's perfect fruit.

So what does this all tell us? We can't do it ourselves. We are incapable of creating the fruit, the Vine (God) creates the fruit. And once the branch starts to bear fruit, the Vinter (God) must do His utmost to make that branch strong enough to bear plentiful and abundant fruit.

And for being that branch we are rewarded. We are given a promise of a life full of Joy!!

Shauni

*remember these are my thoughts on this verse and what I took away from my Bible study.. feel free to add yours to the discussion.

The Abiding Life: Part 10 Col 1:27

Colossians 1:27
 
27 to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

To me, this verse firmly takes us from being inactive to active. God not only dwells in us but now H is using us as a witness. God in all his fullness. Yes, His Spirit (the Holy Spirit) dwells in us but we must remember that we represent the Trinity, the fullness of God.

John 14:7
 
7 If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; from now on you know Him, and have seen Him.”

And does our purpose become? To have Chris in us with the hop of glory.

*Glory - enhance the reputation of another

There are discussions about the meaning of glory pertaining to this verse.

• Some think it means that while Christ lives in us now, we have the promise of future glory in heaven with Him.
•  Others believe that it means that if we allow Christ to guide us, to flow through us, we have that glory right now.

While I agree with the first explanation, we as Christians will live in Glory with Jesus, in heaven. I personally feel that this particular verse has a more imminent meaning. In this body, right now. If Jesus lives in me, I have the hope of a life of glory. Being used as an instrument to glorify God.

*To Glorify - To cause the dignity and worth of something else to be clearly seen, understood and acknowledged by another.

1 Peter 2:12

12 Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation.

By choosing to walk in the Spirit, we bear witness to Him. By our very actions we glorify Him by word and deed. 

Shauni

*remember these are my thoughts on this verse and what I took away from my Bible study.. feel free to add yours to the discussion.

 

How Long, Oh Lord? Psalms 13

Psalm 13  A Prayer for Help in Trouble.

  1 How long, O Lord? Will You forget me forever? How long will You hide Your face from me? 
  2 How long shall I take counsel in my soul, Having sorrow in my heart all the day? How long will my enemy be exalted over me? 
  3 Consider and answer me, O Lord my God; Enlighten my eyes, or I will sleep the sleep of death, 
  4 And my enemy will say, “I have overcome him,” And my adversaries will rejoice when I am shaken. 
  5 But I have trusted in Your lovingkindness; My heart shall rejoice in Your salvation.
  6 I will sing to the Lord, Because He has dealt bountifully with me.

Do you know what I liked about this Psalm? Even David, beloved of God sometimes felt like God had abandoned him. Like he was on his own, clueless as to how to serve God without His guidance. And yet, even though he felt abandoned, even though he felt like he was suddenly God's red headed step child. That God actually favored his enemies. He still knew, in his heart that his only true recourse was to turn to God. To believe in the faith he had entrusted in God. Because God had yet to fail  in a promise made.

How easy is it to step believing? To allow the circumstances to dictate the facts. To turn our own way, sure that we can handle our struggles on our own? Way too easy. This Psalm reminds me of one of my favorite expressions, "I have failed God many times but He has NEVER failed me." Seems David got the memo. It's ok to question but when our doubts overflow (or even just start) turn your eyes to God. Because He has never failed us and his promise is solid as the very foundations of the world.

Shauni

*remember these are my thoughts on this verse and what I took away from my Bible study.. feel free to add yours to the discussion.

The Abiding Life: Part 9 Romans 8:1

ROMANS 8:1

Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

13 words that's all today's verse entails. 13 words that release us from the troubles of this world. It's rather amazing, isn't it?

Romans 8:1 tells us that we are not condemned to live with the "I" factor. We are FREE if we understand the spiritual life.

There is so much that can be said about this verse, so many ways to rejoice but I am going to focus on the fact that we are FREE from bondage. We are no longer slaves to Sin. For if we put our lives in Jesus' hands. If we allow the spirit to flow through us. If we choose Christ then we are FREE. It's that simple!

Shauni

*remember these are my thoughts on this verse and what I took away from my Bible study.. feel free to add yours to the discussion.

The Abiding Life: Part 8 Romans 7: 15, 17, 19 & 20

Romans 7: 15 - 20

 15 For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate.
 16 But if I do the very thing I do not want to do, I agree with the Law, confessing that the Law is good. 
 17 So now, no longer am I the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me.
 18 For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not.
 19 For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want.
 20 But if I am doing the very thing I do not want, I am no longer the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me.

I am going g to break this down just a bit... first let's look at verses 15 & 19

 15 For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate.
 19 For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want.

 These two verses are full of what I call the "I" factor (otherwise known as me, Me, ME). We as Christians want to serve God but continually fail. Why? The "I" factor. I want to do righteous deeds but because I am born of the flesh I fail. And sometimes find myself falling back on my SIN nature.


Let's take this a bit further by adding verse 17 after verse 15

15 For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate.

 17 So now, no longer am I the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me.

And verse 20 after verse 19

19 For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want.

 20 But if I am doing the very thing I do not want, I am no longer the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me.

I read this and realized how easily this can be misread.  Paul did not write this as an excuse for his sin nature but rather as an explanation for his sins. 

Basically the way I see it, we want to walk a righteous path but Sin (pride, temptation, etc...) dwells (lives) within us and is constantly tempting us to stray. When we flounder we need to allow God's Spirit to flow through us. And when we stumble, when we falter, when we sin, we need to recognize where it is coming from. Then once again yield to the spirit.

Romans 8:13

13 for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live.

A veritable fork in the road. Yes sin dwells within us but we need to consciously choose to live by the Spirit.

Galatians 5:25

25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.

So we make that conscious choice to live by the Spirit. We choose the path we walk on. And once we choose to walk in the Spirit the "I" factor will fade as God's Spirit will shine through.

Shauni

*remember these are my thoughts on this verse and what I took away from my Bible study.. feel free to add yours to the discussion.

The Faithful Have Vanished Psalms 12

PSALMS 12

1Help, Lord, for the godly man ceases to be, For the faithful disappear from among the sons of men.
 2 They speak falsehood to one another; With flattering lips and with a double heart they speak.
 3 May the Lord cut off all flattering lips, The tongue that speaks great things; 
 4 Who have said, “With our tongue we will prevail; Our lips are our own; who is lord over us?”
 5 “Because of the devastation of the afflicted, because of the groaning of the needy, Now I will arise,” says the Lord; “I will set him in the safety for which he longs.” 
 6 The words of the Lord are pure words; As silver tried in a furnace on the earth, refined seven times.
 7 You, O Lord, will keep them; You will preserve him from this generation forever.
 8 The wicked strut about on every side When vileness is exalted among the sons of men.

Is it just me? Or are you amazed at these words? I find it astonishing that David speaks so well for us. We are living in a time where the faithful seem to have vanished. In a time where are very leaders seem to be the ones who are leading us astray. In a world where it is more important to appease the ungodly than it is to serve God.

Where promises are made to those in need, those who are suffering and yet with each promise, strings are attached. Promises are broken, individuals are sacrificed to the masses. Lies rule the world. (Are we sure this didn't come from our morning paper?)

But God promises to arise and protect those of His people. He promises to place them in safety. Ok, all you scoffers, being held in God's embrace is a truly safe place to be. Is the world still going insane around us, yes. Are we suddenly physically safe from the world's problems, no. But when God embraces us, protects us and lights the way for us, our burdens are lighter and our fears are gone. If that's not safe, what is?

We still live in a world run by man so our strength must come from God's promises.

Shauni


*remember these are my thoughts on this verse and what I took away from my Bible study.. feel free to add yours to the discussion.