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Thursday, June
24, 2010
The Willing Spirit
Matthew 26:41 Watch and pray, that ye
enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is
weak. (KJV)
Hey parents, remember that toddler of
yours when they started to walk for the first time, how you sat on one side
of the room while the other parent was waiting with open arms encouraging
the child? How you laughed and cheered, encouraged even though there were a
few falls along the way, and then took joy in seeing the progress? Well
picture yourself now learning to walk all over again, this time according
to our Spiritual senses and no longer relying on the outward ones. Yeah, we
have all taken a few spills along the way, some even left a mark or two,
especially when we tried to get ahead of the Lord, or walk in areas that the
Lord was not leading.
2 Corinthians 10:3-5 For though we walk
in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (4) (For the weapons of our
warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of
strong holds;) (5) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that
exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity
every thought to the obedience of Christ; (KJV)
The enemy of the Christian, who is known
as the devil or the deceiver, will use imaginations to get us to walk away
from the Lord instead of heading into His open arms. These imaginations are
also known as the carnal mind, getting us to think and then operate in a
realm that is weak, limited by outward things that can never bring peace or
contentment to the inward one. Sometimes these imaginations will get you
thinking that you know more than God, and that you can improve on His plan
if you could just tweak it a bit to fit your own carnal desires, you know,
like staying in your comfort zone. At other times these imaginations will
try to talk you out of doing the will of God, getting you to doubt rather
than walking by faith.
2 Corinthians 12:8-10 For this thing I
besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. (9) And he said
unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect
in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities,
that the power of Christ may rest upon me. (10) Therefore I take pleasure
in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in
distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong. (KJV)
Paul found out for himself where his true
strength came from, and it didn’t involve the flesh, but rather was located
in the realm of the Spirit. Are you aware of what realm your real source of
strength is coming from today, or are you just imagining you are in good
standing with God? While many base their walk according to outward things,
you know like big ministries with big buildings and followings, Paul
realized the opposite was true, and that God’s true existence was more in
the few than the many. Many will cut their losses and run for cover in a
time of trial and persecution for the gospel’s sake, while Paul took
pleasure in them, or another way of looking at it, the joy of the Lord is
our strength.
1 Corinthians 1:26-29 For ye see your
calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many
mighty, not many noble, are called: (27) But God hath chosen the foolish
things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak
things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; (28) And base
things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea,
and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: (29) That no
flesh should glory in his presence. (KJV)
You know, the plan of salvation is like a
filtering process, because God has already dealt with rebellion when
Lucifer decided that he knew better than God. Your calling was not based on
the fact that you had your life so together, but rather the opposite was
true when you realized that without Christ you can do nothing. Is this the
same attitude today, because if there is a willing spirit, then you can get
the weak part of the equation out of the way, which is self and its limited
carnal thinking.
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