But now we have been delivered from the law, having died to what we were held by, so that we should serve in the newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter. (Romans 7:6)
Walking as a new man in Christ. Forsaking the old man.
Reminded me of the blind man who threw aside his garment to go before Jesus (Mark 10:50).
Reminded me of a recent exhortation that I heard over the pulpit about sins being nailed on the cross.
The preacher said that all of us have had our old ways nailed to the cross after we have believed and been baptised in Christ Jesus.
By the sacrifice and blood of Jesus, our old man is torn apart from us and the Holy Spirit now wants to rule in our hearts, to help us walk in newness of life.
But the only problem is that, the old man that was nailed on the cross is not dead yet. He refuses to die. He would not concede defeat. He is still struggling to break free from the cross so that he can rule over my life again.
The scary thing is, I am the one who refuse to let him die. The old ways of deceit, malice, jealousy, envy, dissension, pride...... The more I feed on these, the more I am giving the old man strength to break free.
NO!
Lord Jesus, please let the old man die. He is still struggling to break free from the nails on the cross. Please give me strength to put him to death, so that he can never reign in my body again.
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. (Romans 8:13)
Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. (Colossians 3:5)
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Luke 1
"For with God nothing will be impossible." (Luke 1:37)
"For He who is mighty has done great things for me." (Luke 1:49)
A virgin conceived and bore a son. Who would have thought of such a thing? Who would have imagined such a thing? Yet, by the power of the Holy Spirit, it came to pass.
How did Mary feel? What was her thoughts? Did she really believe she would give birth to a child after the angel Gabriel left?
We know that she really did. She indeed has great faith. Look at the way she responded.
"Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word." (1:38) And she also immediately arose to go to Elizabeth, into the hill country (1:39).
If she had not believe, she wouldn't have gone through that trouble.
Yes, she had her doubts. She asked, "How can this be...?" (1:34), but she humbly accepted the power of the Highest, and accepted her own status as a lowly maidservant of the Lord.
At the end of the day, she recognised how the Lord Almighty has done great things for her, even though she was just a lowly servant.
What about us today?
Have we considered the great things He has done for us?
Have we considered the great things He would have done on us if we have had the faith to believe in them?
Mary believed in that which most people would believed as impossible. She knew that with God, nothing is impossible.
What God has purpose, He will bring it to pass (Isaiah 14:24; 46:11).
"Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know." (Jeremiah 33:3)
"For He who is mighty has done great things for me." (Luke 1:49)
A virgin conceived and bore a son. Who would have thought of such a thing? Who would have imagined such a thing? Yet, by the power of the Holy Spirit, it came to pass.
How did Mary feel? What was her thoughts? Did she really believe she would give birth to a child after the angel Gabriel left?
We know that she really did. She indeed has great faith. Look at the way she responded.
"Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word." (1:38) And she also immediately arose to go to Elizabeth, into the hill country (1:39).
If she had not believe, she wouldn't have gone through that trouble.
Yes, she had her doubts. She asked, "How can this be...?" (1:34), but she humbly accepted the power of the Highest, and accepted her own status as a lowly maidservant of the Lord.
At the end of the day, she recognised how the Lord Almighty has done great things for her, even though she was just a lowly servant.
What about us today?
Have we considered the great things He has done for us?
Have we considered the great things He would have done on us if we have had the faith to believe in them?
Mary believed in that which most people would believed as impossible. She knew that with God, nothing is impossible.
What God has purpose, He will bring it to pass (Isaiah 14:24; 46:11).
"Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know." (Jeremiah 33:3)
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