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Tuesday, May 18,
2010
Operating In The Spirit
Galatians 1:14-16 And profited in the
Jews' religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more
exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers. (15) But when it
pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his
grace, (16) To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the
heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood: (KJV)
You know, for you to operate effectively
in the realm of the Spirit you are going to have to take the time to let
the Lord’s surgical team do some internal cutting as well. Now with any
type of surgery, they are cutting into a part of us that we have been used
to having as a part of us. Also associated with this surgery is some pain,
however, afterwards it yields to a healing, bringing peace and restoration
to the body. As you see in the above verses, Paul was influenced by those
that he was close to, and probably loved and cherished also. However, in
order for him to be used by God he would have to separate himself from any
of those negative influences of his past carnal life.
Philippians 3:4-7 Though I might also
have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath
whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more: (5) Circumcised the eighth
day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the
Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; (6) Concerning zeal, persecuting
the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. (7) But
what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. (KJV)
All those things and people that Paul
thought was pleasing to God, oh how he found out the opposite was true. All
those traditions and doctrines of his former religion and way of life, all
in the loss column, needed to be cut off, like a cancerous tumor. Are you
willing to let go of those old thoughts and ways, as well as people that you
thought were on the up and up?
Philippians 3:8-9 Yea doubtless, and I
count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ
Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do
count them but dung, that I may win Christ, (9) And be found in him, not
having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is
through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: (KJV)
Wow, that had to cut deep. Have you ever
heard the term ‘in order to fill the cup you would have to empty it first’?
Talk about an outpouring of the old in order to receive the new. Oh, and do
you think that all these people were on board with Paul’s new found way of
life in the Spirit? That would be a big fat no, notta, zip, no way Jose.
Matthew 10:34-36 Think not that I am come
to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. (35) For I
am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter
against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. (36)
And a man's foes shall be they of his own household. (KJV)
Oh there is that sword of the Spirit
again, and it cuts deep to the heart of the matter. So you thought that just
because you got saved and born again, everyone else around you would just
jump on board. Verse 36 tells us the same thing Paul went through and many
others that God has used, that God’s people don’t have to look to far to
find foes, those that hold more to the flesh than the Spirit. Now the
question becomes, which one will you hold to?
Matthew 10:37-38 He that loveth father or
mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter
more than me is not worthy of me. (38) And he that taketh not his cross,
and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. (KJV)
Are you really in this for the long haul,
you know the eternal realm? Do you truly desire to operate in the Spirit?
Well, in order for that to take place you will have to let the Great Physician
show you what needs to be cut off in order for you to live.
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