September 8, 2011
casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God . . . —2 Corinthians 10:5
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, 2011
Journal Entry for Today-JDV
Turning my natural life into a spiritual life, making choices that I would never make before….Lord that capacity must come from You. Just when I think I have crossed over into spiritual maturity, I find that I have tremendous capacity to go backwards. Just when I think I have conquered and overcome that notion, fear, or attitude and behavior, I disappoint myself and God.
And God says…”You can never disappoint Me because I know you and love you from your past, present and future, because of Jesus. If and when you are faithless, I will remain faithful to you in Christ Jesus. Because of Jesus, I can remain faithful and loving, full of mercy and grace, even when you fail time after time, after time. But over time, from the inside out, your natural man will be replaced by the character of Jesus. Stay the course, stay focused and stay energized and positive. Jesus, died, arose and lives in you. Even as you fall you are being transformed. Recall the scriptures….Acknowledge the Lord in all you do and He will make your paths straight. He that began a good work in you will complete it.”
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