This week, Michael asks: Who’s influencing whom? Do Christians influence the world or does the world influence Christians? Romans 12:1-2 says, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” Before we can influence the world, we must deliberately, purposefully and intentionally influence our own minds to follow Christ. Jesus said in John 8:31-32, “If you continue in my word, ye shall be my disciples indeed. And ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.” A disciple is a disciplined follower of Christ. Jesus said, “I am the vine and ye are the branches. Apart from me you cannot bear fruit. Abide in me and I in you and you shall bear much fruit.” When Christians attach themselves to Christ and continue in His word as disciplined disciples, Jesus said, you shall be witnesses unto me unto the uttermost part of the earth.
There is nothing casual about a disciplined follower of Christ. The balanced Christian walk is deliberate and intentional. Casual Christians become casualties in the spiritual battle. 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 says, “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ...”
There are five fundamental principles for a balanced Christian walk. The first priority is that Jesus is Lord of our lives. When we get our vertical connection with God in proper alignment, then our horizontal relationships will be blessed. The vertical relationship depends on the next two fundamentals, the Word of God and prayer. Second, the Bible is the inerrant revealed word and will of God, and it is our sole source for faith and practice. Third, we are men and women of prayer. Therefore, be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God; and the peace of God which passes all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. The Fourth principle is: we link together with likeminded Christians. God has called us into His church, the body of Christ. We each have a specific purpose to walk according to the path that He’s prepared in advance for us to walk in fellowship with Him and with one another in the household of faith.
The fifth principle is, we give it away. In order to serve others with a heart of love and gratitude, we need to empty ourselves of ourselves. Humility is the prerequisite for serving others. The devil takes God’s greatest promises and perverts them to serve his own evil purposes. When the culture embraces the doctrine of the “me” generation, then, as the Bible says, “pride goes before a fall.” Pride appeals to the self-serving, fallen nature of the flesh that we inherited from Adam’s original sin. When we forsake our pride, come to the Lord with a heart of meekness and humility, and make Jesus Lord of our lives, He creates in us a new spirit of life in Christ. For the law of the spirit of life in Christ has made me free from the bondage law of sin, guilt, iniquity, and death.
Jesus said, those who have been forgiven much, love much. They realize God’s mercy, grace, and loving kindness that delivered them from the powers of sin and iniquity. The darker the night, the brighter the light shines. God said to Israel after their captivity in Babylon, after seventy years in captivity, I will give you a heart to know me. Repentance means to turn around, to change direction from the darkness of this fallen world and unto the glorious light of the gospel of truth. The gospel message is salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone.
Receiving the Spirit of God in Christ in us is the new birth. This is the beginning of our new life. Before we can serve others, we need to be empowered by the Holy Spirit. Unless we’ve fed on the Word of God, the fellowship with the Lord, and the communion of believing believers, we cannot influence our own hearts and minds. Unless we’re fed, we cannot feed others.
Jesus trained twelve disciples with an inner circle of three men to follow in His footsteps. Obedience is submission to the command and authority of our Lord. The submission is from a heart of love. Jesus said, “if you love me, keep my commandments.” The Psalmist said, “taste and see that the Lord is good.” To hunger and thirst after righteousness is an acquired taste. When we partake of the word of God as the prophet said, “I crave the word more than my necessary food. I found thy words and I did eat them, and they became the joy and rejoicing of my soul.”
Let's continue Michael's message on our Christian influence on our culture in the next post.
In Christ, Brian
No comments:
Post a Comment