Posts Tagged ‘flesh’
Friday, May 17th, 2013
Providence of God, May 17
He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love,
in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.
For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.
And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.
And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.
For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell,
and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.
And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled
in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight.
Colossians 1:13-22, www.solascriptura.com
Father, Jesus and the Holy Spirit, Paul has clarified that you are One and that You, Jesus came to us from the presence of the Father. Sometimes Father we speak to You and do not think about Jesus and You as One and sometimes Jesus we speak to you as separate from the Father, sent by the Father.
Help us O’God not to worry about such matters but to learn that You are three in one, serving us in distinct capacities. Thank You Jesus for the redemptive act of the Cross and for sending the Holy Spirit to abide with and in us.
Is it any wonder Father that Jesus and His angels will come to separate the saints from the sinners? You have extended all power to Him and it is by His shed blood that we will enter into Your presence. You, Yourself Father will judge among the saints, and although that is a comfort, because we will be with You, it reminds us that our salvation was purchased at a great price and that our enthusiastic response of love and obedience is Your expectation.
Our righteousness is as filthy rags. It is your righteousness Jesus that enables us to stand in the presence of the Father. Help us be “over comers” every moment of every day, turning to You for empowerment and comfort.
Bruce Caldwell
The Sola Scriptura Project, P.O. Box 302, Franklin TN 37064
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Tags: blood, church, creation, cross, darkness, dominions, firstborn, flesh, forgiveness, God, image, invisible, kingdom, love, peace, power, principalities, Providence, reconcile, redemption, sins, Son, thrones, wicked
Posted in Christianity, God's Gift, Hope, Providence of God, Worship, faith, salvation | 5 Comments »
Thursday, April 25th, 2013
April 25, Family Bible Study, from www.solascriptura.com
What I am doing just feels wrong
The Apostle Paul presents a point of view you should consider. He says, “I don’t understand myself at all, for I really want to do what is right, but I can’t. I do what I don’t want to-what I hate. I know perfectly well that what I am doing is wrong, and my bad conscience proves that I agree with these laws I am breaking. ROMANS 7:15-16 TLB
Paul is teaching us that we know what we should do and when we do bad things, we knew they were bad. He says our conscience proves to us that what we are doing is wrong.
Then Paul says: So you see how it is: my new life tells me to do right, but the old nature that is still inside me loves to sin. Oh, what a terrible predicament I’m in! Who will free me from my slavery to this deadly lower nature? Thank God! It has been done by Jesus Christ our Lord. He has set me free. ROMANS 7:23 TLB
What Paul describes as our “deadly lower nature”, is the “default setting” we find ourselves in at birth. You know what a default setting is. For instance, if your new car measures the mileage as miles instead of kilometers, then the factory has preset the odometer to miles. You can take action to change the default setting to kilometers if you want to, but if you do not do so, it will continue to measure the distance you travel in miles.
If you find yourself wanting to change the default setting of your life from dominance by a deadly lower nature, often referred to as the dominance of the flesh, you must take action. You were born in the flesh but God placed in you, a spirit. God wants His Spirit and your spirit to be united, to be as one. When you agree that is what you want as well, you turn to Him ask him to forgive you for all the dumb things (sin) you have done. God promises that He will change the default setting of your heart from one of flesh to one of Spirit, His Spirit in you.
You will still have impulses to revert to your old default setting of “the flesh” but God has promised that he will intervene for you. Listen to His wonderful promise: No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. 1 CORINTHIANS 10:13 NKJV
How can you escape? First, understand that temptation does not come from God. When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me; “…for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone” JAMES 1:13 NIV. Who is the tempter? Remember when the comedian said “the devil made me do it”. Does blaming the devil let you off the hook?
Can you defeat temptation by your own resolve? In this life will you ever be “not tempted”? Is victory over temptation ever “yours”? Know this: “God is my strength and power, and He makes my way perfect”.
2 SAMUEL 22:33 NKJV
Do you sometimes feel like there is a tug of war going on inside you? How do you deal with it?
Core Christian value: Our lower nature (flesh) is at war with our spirit. We have a “built-in” knowledge of right and wrong. God wants to unite our spirit and His Spirit. He will strengthen us.
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Tags: Conscience, default, flesh, forgive, sin, slavery, temptation
Posted in Conscience, Family Bible Study, Forgiven, Holy Spirit, Perseverance | 1 Comment »
Saturday, April 20th, 2013
Conscience, April 20
“This is the covenant that I will make with them…says the Lord: I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them,”
… brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus,
by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh,
and having a High Priest over the house of God,
let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.
Hebrews 10:16; 19-23, www.solascriptura.com
Father, we are so grateful that we are no longer judged by the Law. If we were to choose to remain under the Law, our sins would still be with us. For the New Covenant, we are grateful. You not only cleansed us of our sins but You then inscribed the truth on our hearts and minds, forever, and the miracle of being born again with a new purpose in life is ours if we would but love and obey.
We no longer stand outside the Holy of Holies, but we are invited behind the veil, right into Your presence and there You call us friends. Picturing that moment is both difficult and sublime. Such truth is too great for us to fully comprehend.
Let us draw near to You Jesus, our High Priest and more, for cleansing, strengthening, counseling, and comfort. No one on this earth can do for us what You have already done and what You are yet able to do if we but trust and obey.
The refreshment of Your cleansing water in our lives daily is like none other. You are the Living Water. Fill us afresh. In Your Holy name, we pray, amen.
Bruce Caldwell
The Sola Scriptura Project, P.O. Box 302, Franklin TN 37064
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Tags: blood, boldness, brethern, confession, Conscience, consecrated, covenant, evil, faith, flesh, hearts, Holiest, Jesus, laws, Lord, minds, Priest, veil, washed, write
Posted in Christianity, Conscience, Courage, Fidelity, faith | 13 Comments »
Sunday, March 24th, 2013
Mind of Christ, March 24
… since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin,
that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.
For we have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles—when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries.
In regard to these, they think it strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation, speaking evil of you.
They will give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.
For this reason the gospel was preached also to those who are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.
But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers.
And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.”
1 Peter 4:1-8, www.solascriptura.com
Father, when we read of Peter’s life, prior to the resurrection of our Savior, Jesus, and the gift of the Holy Spirit, he was quite a problem, not in things of faith, but in things of temperament. We too are ill-tempered at times but here we read the words of a Spirit filled Peter, a perfect example of a changed heart and an example of what You can do in the life of a person.
Peter says we need to be armed with the mind of Christ that we should not live the rest of our lives filled with the lust of men but instead we should serve the will of God. We know that when we decide to follow You, some people will think we are foolish if not crazy. Strengthen us to withstand the ridicule, expressed or implied, of our acquaintances.
Peter teaches that You, Jesus, preached to those who died before You were crucified and resurrected, those whose death was a result of judgment as unto a physical man, but that in their resurrection those who have accepted Your Spirit will live forever. Your word tells us the end is near. We know that with You Father, a day is as a thousand years and a thousand years as a day.
Those who are suffering, especially, wait for Your redemption of their tired flesh but in any event, we who are able, must resolve to serve You this day and every day. Strengthen us to do so, we pray, in Jesus’ name, amen.
Bruce Caldwell
The Sola Scriptura Project, P.O. Box 302, Franklin TN 37064
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Tags: dissipation, drunkenness, flesh, Gentiles, God, idolatries, lewdness, lusts, Mind of Christ, revelries, sin, suffered
Posted in Christianity, Mind of Christ, Perseverance, Religion, Satan | 82 Comments »
Saturday, March 23rd, 2013
Law of God, March 23
“This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them,”
then He adds, “Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.”
Now where there is remission of these, there is no longer an offering for sin.
Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus,
by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh,
and having a High Priest over the house of God,
let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,
Hebrews 10:16-22; 26, www.solascriptura.com
Father, the promise You have made to us concerning the law being written upon our hearts is a gift of immeasurable value. We are never far from the truth. All we need to do is to seek You and You will shed Your light on our souls and teach us afresh of that which we have sensed from the beginning.
You say that if we but ask, you will forgive. Such grace and mercy, so undeserved, is an incomparable gift. “Thank You for going to the cross that our sins might be forgiven Jesus” seems like a totally inadequate statement. The suffering You endured is beyond our understanding. Help us this day not to sin intentionally.
It is not a wonder to us Jesus that You would be extremely disappointed if we intentionally sin. It would be like asking You to return to the cross, repeating the sacrifice, for each of us who consciously choose to sin. We need to walk with You, fully aware of Your presence in all matters. Bless us we pray, in Your name, amen.
Bruce Caldwell
The Sola Scriptura Project, P.O. Box 302, Franklin TN 37064
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Tags: blood, boldness, brethren, consecrated, covenant, deeds, flesh, God, hearts, Holiest, Jesus, law, lawless, laws, Lord, minds, offering, remember, remission, sin, sins, veil, washed, write
Posted in Christianity, Forgiven, God's Children, Law of God, Providence of God, faith | 13 Comments »
Thursday, February 28th, 2013
Conscience, February 28
…sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;
having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed.
For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.
For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit,
There is also an antitype which now saves us—baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,
who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers having been made subject to Him.
1 Peter 3:15-18;21-22, www.solascriptura.com
Father, You have called us saints and yet our hearts convict us. Here You tell us to sanctify our hearts, an active process of cleansing and renewal by You, that in good conscience we might provide others with a good defense of our love for You in meekness and fear, avoiding arrogance or the suggestion of appearing judgmental.
If we suffer due to our witness Father, we read here that Christ also suffered, dying for the sins of each of us, that we might enter Your presence, not as sinful flesh, but made alive in the Spirit just as Jesus.
You then teach us water baptism cleanses and that it is good but it is standing before Jesus with a clear conscience, renewed by the indwelling Holy Spirit, which saves us when Jesus, who has all authority, will judge all things.
Again God, we feel so unworthy when the flesh rules our lives. Please help us to be as Jesus this day. In Jesus Holy name, we pray, amen.
Bruce Caldwell
The Sola Scriptura Project, P.O. Box 302, Franklin TN 37064
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Tags: alive, ashamed, baptism, Christ, Conscience, death, evil, fear, flesh, God, hearts, Heaven, Hope, Lord, meekness, revile, sanctify, Spirit, suffer
Posted in Christianity, Conscience, Courage, Hope, Perseverance, Worship, faith, peace | 19 Comments »
Tuesday, January 15th, 2013
Salvation, January 15
“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.
Galatians 2:20, www.solascriptura.com
Father, as you know, this verse has been my personal prayer and a reality that I have hoped to experience in abundance for many years. I know that when “I live” and not you in me, that I am drawing upon my own resources, my own human nature. Father, my personal righteousness is truly as rags and serves as a burden. I want to cast if off but it will not go away as long as I am in this human body.
Father, we all have the same problem. We dwell in the flesh; we are subjected to temptation on all sides, every day. We know as we seek to be filled with the Holy Spirit, afresh, constantly, that we draw nearer and nearer to You. Yet, perfection awaits; sanctification is a process, not a done deal but a process, one that we seek but do not fully apprehend this side of heaven.
We seek to be like You Jesus and we search the Scriptures to learn more about what that is like. This verse, written by the Apostle Paul, says his lower nature has been crucified, it is hung on a cross, and the battle for his soul is over. O’Father we each seek such certainty and we see that Paul says his certainty comes from his faith in You Jesus. Increase our faith this day, we pray.
Bruce Caldwell
The Sola Scriptura Project, P.O. Box 302, Franklin TN 37064
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Tags: Christ, crucified, faith, flesh, live, salvation, Son of God
Posted in Christianity, Fidelity, God's Gift, Religion, faith, salvation | 88 Comments »
Saturday, January 12th, 2013
Marriage, January 12
And the LORD God said, “It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.”
And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept; and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place.
Then the rib which the LORD God had taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man.
And Adam said: “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.”
Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.
And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.
Genesis 2:18, Genesis 21-25, www.solascriptura.com
Father, we live now in a time that largely ignores what You have just taught us. We seem to fail to recognize the essence of marriage and your intended purpose. Forgive us Father for our past mistakes when we failed to grasp Your will for us. You have taught us in many places that you hate divorce, You desire children to be blessed by marriages of like minded persons who worship You and love You and to produce children that are sanctified by a marriage in which we are committed, for a lifetime, to serve You.
In these times, we largely fail to follow Your guidance regarding marriage and the sanctification of our children. We know, Father, that you forgave some of Your saints, including David, for indiscretions. Therefore we do not wonder whether You will forgive us.
It is not simply forgiveness that we desire, but we want to set out on a path of love and obedience that conforms to Your expectations. Many of us have failed to meet Your expectations but since we understand that You delight in forgiving us, we now declare that is our will to do Your will.
We want, Father, to fully understand and commit ourselves to the view that two persons, fully committed to serving You, and each other, become as one flesh. That bond, we declare faithfully, will help us be more forgiving and more tolerant of each other’s mistakes and weaknesses than is typical in our times. We see that is Your perfect will for us.
Our mistakes are forever with us, and they seem insurmountable at times, but we thank You God that our sins, once expressed, are not only forgiven, but they are separated from us as far as the east is from the west, never to remembered against us again. Such mercy exceeds our experience among men. We thank You Jesus for your unselfish sacrifice, covering our sins, forever. Amen
Bruce Caldwell
The Sola Scriptura Project, P.O.Box 302, Franklin TN 37064
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Tags: Adam, alone, ashamed, flesh, helper, Lord, man, marriage, naked, ribs, woman
Posted in Christianity, Fidelity, Perseverance | 66 Comments »
Friday, January 4th, 2013
Prayer, Part I, January 4, 2010
Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: “Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You,
”as You have given Him authority over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him.
”And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.
John 17:1-3, www.solascriptura.com
Jesus, we acknowledge You as the Son of God, our personal Savior and our Advocate at the time of judgment. We have confidence that our love for You, by the grace given to us by God to be His chosen children, will result in our being with all believers in heaven, rejoicing forever.
Help us this day to be a witness of this extraordinary kind of love, a love that changes lives now and promises eternal life, forever. Oh how we pray that we can grasp the concept of eternity, that we might see how pivotal this short test really is.
Jesus said, “The hour has come, glorify Your Son…”. Indeed, the hour is upon us all, right now. It is our moment to glorify the Son, this day. Fill us we pray with a renewed spirit, one that is empowered by You.
In Jesus Holy name, we pray, amen.
Bruce Caldwell
The Sola Scriptura Project, P.O.Box 302, Franklin TN 37064
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Tags: eternal, Father, flesh, glorify, Heaven, Jesus, Prayer
Posted in Christianity, Heaven, Inspirtation, Prayer, salvation | 7 Comments »
Saturday, December 15th, 2012
Humility, December 15
…let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. O You who hear prayer, to You all flesh will come.
LORD, my heart is not haughty, nor my eyes lofty. Neither do I concern myself with great matters, nor with things too profound for me.
Surely I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with his mother; like a weaned child is my soul within me.
Though the LORD is on high, yet He regards the lowly; but the proud He knows from afar.
1 Corinthians 10:12, Psalm 65:2, Psalm 31:1-2, Psalm 138:6, www.solascriptura.com
Father, You require that we come to you in humility, not proud of ourselves. Help us Father to be joyful as we seek to serve without having our joy turn to self-serving pride.
When it is time to stand before You we know we will do so in humility or not at all. Pride is such a subtle sin Father and surely one of Satan’s best devices. Give us wisdom and discernment about this matter while enabling us to experience the joy set before us.
Teach us when to be quiet and when to proclaim Your love and have those who observe our joy in You not see it as pride in ourselves. Help us today to find a way to declare our love for You, afresh. In Jesus Holy name, we pray, amen.
Bruce Caldwell
The Sola Scriptura Project, P.O.Box 302, Franklin TN 37064
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Tags: flesh, haughty, heart, Humility, lofty, Lord, Prayer, profound, proud, Psalm 138:6, Psalm 31:1-2, soul
Posted in Christianity, Humility, Religion | 82 Comments »