So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
Surely I am more stupid than any man,
And do not have the understanding of a man.
I neither learned wisdom
Nor have knowledge of the Holy One.
Who has ascended into heaven, or descended?
Who has gathered the wind in His fists?
Who has bound the waters in a garment?
Who has established all the ends of the earth?
What is His name, and what is His Son’s name,
If you know?
There’s a natural law that says you reap what you sow. A farmer can’t sow corn and hope to harvest wheat.
Our Christian walk is the same. If we sow to the flesh (our fallen carnal nature) we will reap the fruits of the flesh. We need to rather sow to the Spirit and reap life.
But here’s our dilemma, all of us are flesh… just like Apostle Paul wrote… what I want to do, I don’t. But, what I hate I end up doing. Ever been in that place?
He came to the conclusion that sin dwelt in his flesh and wanted to take him a captive. He knew that wages of sin was death – eternal separation from the love and goodness of God.
He understood he needed a deliverer from the eternal consequences of sin and from his own flesh (sinful nature).
His revelation was that Jesus Christ crucified had not only secured our eternal life when He paid the full price for sin but He had also shown us a way to deal with the present, earthly reality our sinful nature.
The cross needs to deal with our flesh too. God didn’t intend for it to be an event 2,000 odd years ago but a daily reality for a Christian. Unless the cross deals daily with our flesh we will struggle to walk in the spirit.
Therefore, brethren, we are debtors—not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.
And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
Accepting authority can be difficult. There’s something in us that doesn’t like it because it means that we’re not in charge.
All authority in heaven and on earth has been given by God to Jesus and that’s where we struggle. It’s easy to accept miracles and blessings but much harder to accept His authority in our lives. Why? Because it costs us.
Truth be told, we’re often more ready to “be blessed” than “to pay the price.”
Jesus confronted a large crowd following him one day with the same thing. Many left him. He turned to his disciples and asked them if they too wanted to go.
The gospel is good news but it’s piercing – living and active – discerning the thoughts and intents of our hearts.
Then Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you also want to go away?”
But Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.
What do you want?
Now Jesus, going up to Jerusalem, took the twelve disciples aside on the road and said to them, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death, and deliver Him to the Gentiles to mock and to scourge and to crucify. And the third day He will rise again.”
1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”
3 For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler
and from the deadly pestilence.
4 He will cover you with his pinions,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.
5 You will not fear the terror of the night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,
6 nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness,
nor the destruction that wastes at noonday.
7 A thousand may fall at your side,
ten thousand at your right hand,
but it will not come near you.
8 You will only look with your eyes
and see the recompense of the wicked.
9 Because you have made the Lord your dwelling place—
the Most High, who is my refuge—
10 no evil shall be allowed to befall you,
no plague come near your tent.
11 For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways.
12 On their hands they will bear you up,
lest you strike your foot against a stone.
13 You will tread on the lion and the adder;
the young lion and the serpent you will trample underfoot.
14 “Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him;
I will protect him, because he knows my name.
15 When he calls to me, I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble;
I will rescue him and honor him.
16 With long life I will satisfy him
and show him my salvation.”