Determinedly Demolish Some Things. Deliverance from sin is not the same as deliverance from human nature. There are things in human nature, such as prejudices, that the saint can only destroy through sheer neglect. But there are other things that have to be destroyed through violence, that is, through God’s divine strength imparted by His Spirit. There are some things over which we are not to fight, but only to “stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord . . .” (see Exodus 14:13). But every theory or thought that raises itself up as a fortified barrier “against the knowledge of God” is to be determinedly demolished by drawing on God’s power, not through human effort or by compromise (see 2 Corinthians 10:4).

It is only when God has transformed our nature and we have entered into the experience of sanctification that the fight begins. The warfare is not against sin; we can never fight against sin— Jesus Christ conquered that in His redemption of us. The conflict is waged over turning our natural life into a spiritual life. This is never done easily, nor does God intend that it be so. It is accomplished only through a series of moral choices. God does not make us holy in the sense that He makes our character holy. He makes us holy in the sense that He has made us innocent before Him. And then we have to turn that innocence into holy character through the moral choices we make. These choices are continually opposed and hostile to the things of our natural life which have become so deeply entrenched— the very things that raise themselves up as fortified barriers “against the knowledge of God.” We can either turn back, making ourselves of no value to the kingdom of God, or we can determinedly demolish these things, allowing Jesus to bring another son to glory (see Hebrews 2:10).

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September 8, 2010

Journal Entry for Today-JDV

Sometimes I wonder where God has gone. I cannot sense His presence. It is like He has taken leave of me, and my first thought is that well, I finally did it; I finally wore out His patience. The lesson I was supposed to have learned keeps popping up again and again. My prayers are filled with far too many I, me and mines. And I have become so focused on my own wants and needs that I cannot remember reaching out to touch anyone else.

Where is my peace and joy?

And God says….”Let me remind you that you may be a blessing and not even know it. It is not in your best interest to know the blessings you have delivered for Me. You cannot handle the glory. Glory is toxic for you and other believers, that is one of the reasons glory always belongs to Me.”

“You have been hearing  the accusations of the enemy. Those accusations have no value or substance. They are simply the enemy’s way of trying to steal your peace and joy.”

“Listen to My voice; I give you love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.  I am the voice of truth. Any voice that does not reinforce your demonstration of these gifts is not from Me.  Remember, you are mine and nothing can separate you from MY love.”

“Do not listen to any voice that does not remind you of your worthiness in Jesus Christ. “