Sunday, October 9, 2011

Happy Sunday - Belated Saturday

Something Old; Something New

2 Cor. 5:17   "Old things are passed away, behold all things are new"

When quoting this verse to a congregation, it appears that by the looks that I usually get they are saying, "That's nice, but when is God going to do something for me?"  If a child of God could truly grasp what the Holy Spirit is saying through the apostle Paul in this verse, they would become the next apostle Paul.  Yet, to know it and do it is totally two different things. The problem with "old things" is that they are comfortable to the flesh.  We are very familiar with the old things because we have known them and experienced them for so long that, once again, they are our default nature. That is why I don't have to consciously desire to sin; my body does it for me.  We make the big mistake, though, when we focus on the old things and try to do away with them.  To focus on the old things does nothing more than to reinforce them in our minds and flesh.

On the other hand, when "all things are become new"; now we have something fresh and powerful to focus on.  Most Christians appear to live like they believe that the old things are more powerful than the new things.  We must always be conscientious to the reality that Christ conquered death, not the other way around.  When we focus on the "all things that have become new" our minds become transformed by the power of God because we access the power of Christ that overcame death.  That is why we don't need to go to God and ask for the power to overcome sin - we just need to access it because we already have it.  When we continually ask God for the transforming power that we might overcome our sin, we are simply lacking the faith to believe that He "freely giveth us all things".

Remember - what you focus on will become an overwhelming force, so focus on the new things.

In His arms,
Bro.Steele

TIs So Sweet To Trust In JESUS
’Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus,
And to take Him at His Word;
Just to rest upon His promise,
And to know, “Thus says the Lord!”

Refrain
     Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him!
     How I’ve proved Him o’er and o’er
     Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus!
     O for grace to trust Him more!

O how sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just to trust His cleansing blood;
And in simple faith to plunge me
’Neath the healing, cleansing flood!

Refrain

Yes, ’tis sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just from sin and self to cease;
Just from Jesus simply taking
Life and rest, and joy and peace.

Refrain

I’m so glad I learned to trust Thee,
Precious Jesus, Savior, Friend;
And I know that Thou art with me,
Wilt be with me to the end.

Refrain

Weekend Smile:
A musical director was having a lot of trouble with one drummer. He talked and talked and talked with the drummer, but his performance simply didn't improve.

Finally, before the whole orchestra, he said, "When a musician just can't handle his instrument and doesn't improve when given help, they take away the instrument, and give him two sticks, and make him a drummer."

A stage whisper was heard from the percussion section: "And if he can't handle even that, they take away one of his sticks and make him a conductor."

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