07_11_07 Christian Consecration Blog

Today, I posted the following in my 3 blogs: Note: The following was from our church’s Bible study booklets lessons for this week. The Divine-Human Combination In Colossians 1:29 there is a very interesting insight into the way Paul sees his relationship with God in this work. He says that he is struggling-- but with the power of God. The word for “labor” means to “grow weary,” to “work to the point of exhaustion”. This word was used particularly of athletes as they trained. The word for “struggle”, which comes next, can mean in some languages “to agonize”. So, we have the word picture of an athlete straining with everything to win. But then Paul adds a twist to the idea, because Paul is not straining with everything he has but with everything that God gives him. So, we are left with a simple conclusion about Paul's ministry-- it was a ministry done with great personal effort and discipline but done with God's power. This relationship works in exactly the same way as we pursue the development of Christ's character in us. This is important to remember because we live in a world in which we want more and more with less and less effort. That idea has crept into Christianity, too. Some Christian evangelists promise that if you just believe, the Holy Spirit will fall upon you with amazing supernatural power and perform great miracles. But this can be a dangerous half-truth, because it can lead people to the conclusion that we just need to wait for God's power to come while sitting comfortably in our seats! What is your own experience with the kind of striving Paul talked about? What things has God laid upon your heart that you are struggling with? How can you learn to surrender to God's will? ***************************************** Strengthening Your Will (translated with before and after comments by Dolores Stevenson) In our church, we receive each Sunday a little leaflet for thinking about, it’s called: Manna for the Week. It’s always good. I feel led to post this one from this Sunday and try to translate it as well as I can. It has been taken out from "Daily with the King” of W. Glyn Evans: As a Christian I bring a lot of problems in my house, when I decide to live after my feelings. God wants His children to live after the will. Feelings are for my spirit, what sweets are for my body, they taste good, but have no substance. The will is the "steak with potato" for the Christian life. So often I am confronted with a spiritual dilemma that could be solved alone by an act of will. The Bible does not say:” Do you have the feeling, that you should do this?" She says:” Stop sinning!" See 1. John 2:1. When I receive advice from my feelings, I will never break through to righteousness, for openly said, sin is very pleasant for the feelings. One of the psalmists got delivered from a heavy disease. Out of thankfulness to God he decided, to surrender his life to the Lord, as long as he lived (Psalm 116:2). How did he put it into reality? Through an act of will. The Psalm describes 5 "I will", that I would like to call the" I will" of surrender (verses 2, 9, 13, 17, 18). Without doubt this man went through an emotional experience, that shook his soul; but still he grounded his new direction on the right basis-his will. Many of the emotional problems, with which we are confronted today, could be healed, not through counseling or sermons, but by a mere act of will. Because we do not decide morally, we are judged through the word, to live self-addicted. We have become emotional babies and cripples, because we did not strengthen our backbone and do just, what God commanded us to do! Of course an emotional disease as such must be recognized and receive fine-tuned, loving care; but for spiritual unwell being on grounds

of being without backbone there is only 1 prescription: I will do His will! " Are you willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land"(Isaiah 1:19) "Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you!" (1.Timothy 4:16) This talks to me, as I myself am a person very much living by feelings. Often my hubby tells me, that the Bible does not teach living by feelings, so I have someone to remind me of this, but it sure needs the power of the Holy Spirit to GO AGAINST THE TIDE, as it was named in a very good book by Nancy Missler. I realized, I must pray more and ask God for His grace to live such Spirited life, and strengthen my will instead of my feelings. ***************************************** Ephesians 4:11-16 11 And He [Jesus Christ] gave some, Apostles; and some, Prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12 for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 13 till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of The Son Of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ: 14 that we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; 15 but speaking the truth in love, may grow up into Him in all things, Who is The Head, even Christ: 16 from Whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

***************************************** Good Commitment Hymns: Only One Life 1.

Only one life to offer Jesus, my Lord and King; only one tongue to praise Thee and of Thy mercy sing; only one heart's devotion Savior, oh may it be consecrated alone to Thy matchless glory, yielded fully to Thee.

2.

Only this hour is mine Lord; may it be used for Thee; may every passing moment count for eternity; souls all about are dying, dying in sin and shame; help me bring them the message of Calvary's redemption in Thy glorious Name.

3.

Only one life to offer; take it, dear Lord, I pray; nothing from Thee withholding, Thy will I now obey; Thou Who hast freely given Thine all in all for me; claim this life for Thine own to be used, my Savior, every moment for Thee. Channels Only

Chorus:

Channels only, blessed Master, but with all Thy wondrous power flowing through us, Thou canst use us every day and every hour.

1.

How I praise Thee; precious Savior, that Thy love laid hold of me; Thou hast saved and cleansed and filled me that I might Thy channel be.

2.

Emptied that Thou shouldest fill me, a clean vessel in Thy hand, with no power but as Thou givest graciously with each command.

3.

Witnessing Thy power to save me, setting free from self and sin, Thou who boughtest to possess me, in Thy fullness, Lord, come in.

4.

Jesus, fill now with Thy Spirit hears that full surrender know, that the streams of living water from our inner man may flow. My Prayer

1.

More holiness give me, more striving with in; more patience in suffering, more sorrow for sin; more faith in my Savior, more sense of His care; more joy in His service, more purpose in prayer.

2.

More gratitude give me, more trust in the Lord; more pride in His glory, more hope in His Word; more tears for His sorrows, more pain at His grief; more meekness in trial, more praise for relief.

3.

More purity gives me, more strength to overcome; more freedom from Earth stains, more longings for home; more fit for the kingdom, more used would I be; more blessed and holy, more, Savior, like Thee.

Holy Bible, Book Divine 1.

Holy Bible, Book divine, precious treasure, thou art mine; mine to tell me whence I came, mine to teach me what I am.

2.

Mine to comfort in distress, suffering in this wilderness; mine to show by living faith, man can triumph over death.

3.

Mine to tell of joys to come, and the rebel sinner is doom; o thou holy Book divine, precious treasure, thou art mine.

So what should your priorities be?