Spirit works to renew your life
As we get ready to enter into a new year, let me ask you, do you know the abundant life that Jesus came into this world to give you? (John 10:10) Or are you wasting your life? Listen to what John says about why Jesus came into the world—why He became flesh:
“The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil.” (1 John 3:7–8)
What are the “works of the devil” John is referring to? It’s clear from the context that the “works of the devil” that Jesus came to destroy are sins. A comparison with verse five makes this abundantly clear. In verse 8 we read that Jesus appeared to destroy the works of the devil and in verse five we read that He appeared to take away sin.
The main issue for why Jesus came into world is not to deal with our financial problems, poor health or desire for a new vehicle. Jesus came into the world to empower us to stop sinning. Jesus didn’t pay the penalty for our sin on the cross and then leave it up to us to stop sinning. He gives us the power through the Holy Spirit to stop sinning so that we can enjoy sweet communion with the Father. That’s the abundant life.
Listen to what Jesus said about the Holy Spirit: “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you” (John 14:26).
Recently, my good friend Scott randomly sent me this text message referring to John 14:26: “I was just reading this the other day. If we're not taking time for Him, how will this take place?”
How does the Spirit work in us?
Recently, my good friend Scott randomly sent me this text message referring to John 14:26: “I was just reading this the other day. If we're not taking time for Him, how will this take place?”
How does the Spirit work in us?
First He works by teaching us all things needed to live the abundant life.
Our greatest need is to know and grow in the knowledge of God? Jesus sent us the Spirit to meet this greatest need. How does the Spirit accomplish this? The Holy Spirit works through the Word of God to teach us who God is and what His will is for our lives.
Now this necessitates that we make time for God’s word so that the Spirit can get God’s word into us. The Word of God applied to our hearts by the Spirit will keep us from being defiled by the World.
Secondly, He works to bring to remembrance all that He has taught us in the Word, especially in times when the enemy is attacking us.
Remember that the primary method of Satan to keep us in sin is lies. How do we overcome his lies? We overcome them with the truth, with the precious promises of God, with a high and holy view of God. But we are not going to develop a high and Holy view of God sitting in front of the TV or by staring at our phones for hours engaged in mindless activities.
Social media has not only become a major tool of the enemy to keep us distracted, but it can easily desensitize us to sin and defile our hearts with unimaginable filth.
Our greatest need is to know and grow in the knowledge of God? Jesus sent us the Spirit to meet this greatest need. How does the Spirit accomplish this? The Holy Spirit works through the Word of God to teach us who God is and what His will is for our lives.
Now this necessitates that we make time for God’s word so that the Spirit can get God’s word into us. The Word of God applied to our hearts by the Spirit will keep us from being defiled by the World.
Secondly, He works to bring to remembrance all that He has taught us in the Word, especially in times when the enemy is attacking us.
Remember that the primary method of Satan to keep us in sin is lies. How do we overcome his lies? We overcome them with the truth, with the precious promises of God, with a high and holy view of God. But we are not going to develop a high and Holy view of God sitting in front of the TV or by staring at our phones for hours engaged in mindless activities.
Social media has not only become a major tool of the enemy to keep us distracted, but it can easily desensitize us to sin and defile our hearts with unimaginable filth.
“Has the media desensitized us to sin? Yes...and no. It is so that the media fills the airwaves with programs, movies, ads, games, and even news reports of sexual indulgence, sexual perversion, sexual innuendo, violence, irreverence, godlessness, shamelessness, and other deviant and damnable behaviors. It is true that every form of human vice is aggrandized and exhibited with an ever-increasing degree of shock and awe. It is also true that reality programming and the merging of television, telephone, and Internet technologies has introduced an era of amateurish exhibitionism which holds the promise of an unimaginably raunchier media experience for the future. It is so that the media has trained people in the knack of sloth by seducing them to waste away the hours of prime time in idle activity.
So yes, the media is to blame for desensitizing us to sin. But then again, we have let it happen. You see, the thing about this electronic age is — everything has an OFF switch.
I Suggest A Forty Day Media Fast [from certain forms or if possible all forms of media] Maybe that sounds extreme, but indulging the soul in spiritual exercise is the antidote.
Such a commitment will re-sensitize the conscience (Heb. 4:12), re-ignite faith (Rom. 10:17), rejuvenate hope (Rom. 15:4), reacquaint us with sin (2 Tim. 4:2-4), and re-equip us for righteousness (2 Tim. 3:16,17). Whether you proclaim a forty-day media fast in your home or not, here’s the point: your technology has an OFF switch. Use it.
So, before you take your finger off the remote to wag it at the TV and vainly rebuke it for bringing its filth and ungodliness into your living room, hit the off button. Find your Bible. Fall on your knees. Get back to God. Replace your media time with manna time. It will do your soul good. Real good.” Article from Timberland Church.org
So, before you take your finger off the remote to wag it at the TV and vainly rebuke it for bringing its filth and ungodliness into your living room, hit the off button. Find your Bible. Fall on your knees. Get back to God. Replace your media time with manna time. It will do your soul good. Real good.” Article from Timberland Church.org
Satan lives to ruin your life, but thank God that the Savior came to redeem your life. And if you’re saved, He’s given you the most precious gift, namely the Holy Spirit, who works to renew your life. Don’t waste it. Make time for God to work in you and through you for the greater fame of Jesus.
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