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Monday, September
29, 2008
Life In The Fast Lane
Matthew 17:19-21 Then came the disciples
to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out? (20) And Jesus
said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye
have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain,
Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be
impossible unto you. (21) Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and
fasting. (KJV)
The disciples were having an issue concerning
curing a son who was being vexed with a demon. Having been unable to cast the
demon out, in the end it was the Lord Himself who had to finish it for them,
and they were concerned as to why they failed. Verse 21 gives the diagnosis
to the problem, starting with prayer, which is simply communicating with
God, not only making our requests but taking the time to hear His response
as well. Fasting, which simply means abstinence, goes beyond just skipping
meals, but in reality for the believer should be a way of life, abstaining
from anything that feeds the flesh and causes one to fall back into
unbelief. I think of fasting the same way I think of the word ‘diet’, which
at first glance many think of going without food. For those that want to
truly change their lives and keep their bodies healthy, diet is actually a
way of life, something that needs to be put in action in order to get real
results.
Romans 6:4-8 Therefore we are buried with
him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead
by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
(5) For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we
shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: (6) Knowing this, that
our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed,
that henceforth we should not serve sin. (7) For he that is dead is freed
from sin. (8) Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also
live with him: (KJV)
Take notice that baptism is more than just
some ritual where someone gets dunked or watered down and then walks away
thinking it accomplished something. Baptism is actually a way of life, and
death also, because in order for someone to resurrect and walk in the
newness of life something or someone has to die. The more you allow your
old man, the old doubting fearful one, to die and stay buried the more it
allows the new man to manifest and walk in the liberty in Christ. Notice in
verse 8, that it is when we stay dead to our lusts and desires; it is then
that we are able to believe and then live and walk in the realm of the Spirit
where those things which were impossible before are now possible to them
that believe. So today if you are having a struggle with believing
something the Lord has promised you may want to ask Him if there is an area
in your walk that is hindering you from moving forward, and needs to be
subdued in order to continue. You know, you can have all your monthly
prayer and fasting rituals and gather all the congregation down by the
river and water them down with man’s doctrines, but unless living in the
realm of the Spirit becomes an actual daily way of life you will not hold
fast to the truth, let alone endure to the end.
Galatians 2:20-21 I am crucified with
Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the
life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God,
who loved me, and gave himself for me. (21) I do not frustrate the grace of
God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain. (KJV)
Crucifixion definitely was a sure way to
subdue the flesh, which led to death as well. Crucifixion and what it
symbolizes should be a way of life to all believers, something we all need
to partake of daily if we wish to continue in the faith. So if you notice
again, if we be dead, abstaining from the desires of the flesh, then we are
able to live in the realm of the Spirit, now walking by faith and not by
sight, the limited vision of our old fallen nature. You wonder why you struggle
at times believing the word of God, well simply put, it is because there
are areas in your life that still have more of an influence on you and need
to be subdued, and those areas would be on your end not the Lord’s. He did
everything possible so that you could have fellowship with Him, but it only
works on His terms and conditions. Do you desire a deeper more intimate
relationship with the Lord? Then you will need to go beyond man’s rituals
and doctrines to find what you are looking for so that you can worship Him
in Spirit and in truth.
John 6:26-29 Jesus answered them and
said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the
miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled. (27) Labour
not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto
everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath
God the Father sealed. (28) Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that
we might work the works of God? (29) Jesus answered and said unto them,
This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent. (KJV)
We began this study talking about diet
which in the physical, a healthy one is required in order to keep the
temple in good shape. Spiritually the same holds true, a healthy diet of
the truth, the meat of the Word, will keep one moving forward in their walk
shedding away any excess weight that would be unhealthy. So what are your
motives for serving the Lord today; are you looking for a meal ticket so
that you can have your belly filled, or are you truly seeking the meat of
the Word which will allow you to run the race God has set for you enduring unto
the end? Just like watching the Olympics last month, only those runners
that train daily and have the proper diet will endure to the end of the
race, while all others will drop out. Only those runners that shed any
excess weight which would pull them down will be able to compete also. What
is the work of God that He is asking of us? Simply, to believe, believe in
the completed work the Son did on our behalf so that we could walk in the Spirit
and no longer be bogged down and stuck in dead realm of the flesh.
1 John 3:18-23 My little children, let us
not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. (19) And
hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before
him. (20) For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and
knoweth all things. (21) Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we
confidence toward God. (22) And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him,
because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in
his sight. (23) And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the
name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.
(KJV)
Talk is cheap, to walk is deep. Do you
desire a more confident boldness and assurance that you are one of God’s
people? Then you need to realize that it is a two way street, He responds
to us as we respond to Him. So if you desire a more intimate personal
relationship with the Father, then you need to give ear and respond to the
message He is sending through His Son and do those things that are pleasing
in His sight. Whose name, are you believing in today; is it some pastor or
larger than life world-wide ministry, or are you holding to the only name
under heaven where you will find eternal life? Life in the fast lane simply
means He must increase so that I can decrease. You are what you think. So
the more I think on the things above, the less I will be influenced by the
things below in the fallen realm of mankind. God bless and keep the faith.
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