Tag Archives: Church of Galatia

Finish Strong

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Jesus Is Your Life

That’s the message I get from Paul’s words to the Church of Colosse— “When the Messiah, who is your life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory” Colossians 1:4. Jesus is returning! So, FINISH STRONG! Paul says that Jesus, the Messiah, “…IS YOUR LIFE…” Not the rest of your life that consumes your time, causes you stress, and wears you out! No! JESUS IS YOUR LIFE! Make Him your life; so that when He returns— when He “…is revealed…”— you can share in His glory!

Your Day Of Glorification

In other words, that day will be your day of GLORIFICATION! That defines who you are— NOT your job, your education; or your possessions! Not even your family members! If you know Jesus Christ, as your Savior, your identity is all wrapped up in Him.   Later, in the same chapter, Paul adds that “…He might come to have FIRST PLACE in EVERYTHING” Colossians 1:18.  So, chase hard after Him; and, “finish strong” in your life pursuit of Him! Are you so in love with Jesus that you’re looking & hoping for His return every day? For His “revealing”? Paul challenged Timothy with a life that finishes strong:  “There is reserved for me in the future the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on that day, and not only to me, but to all those who have loved His appearing” 2 Tim 4:8. 

Stuck On Thoughts Of Jesus’ Return

It’s impossible to look up & LOVE His “appearing”— in the clouds— if you’re always looking down, at the “stuff” on planet earth! Your spiritual growth & SANCTIFICATION are attached, in part, to a mindset that is “stuck” on thoughts of Jesus’ return! The Holy Spirit’s work to help us purge sin from our lives is attached, in part, to a mindset that is “stuck” on thoughts of Jesus’ return! We CAN NOT finish strong on our own! Please, don’t miss that! You will not defeat sin by yourself! Your flesh is corrupt, depraved; and, powerless to deliver spiritual victory over sin! The Apostle Paul asked the Church of Galatia, “Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now going to be made complete by the flesh?” Gal 3:3.  “Don’t be foolish” he’s saying, “You can’t be JUSTIFIED by the SPIRIT; but, SANCTIFIED & GLORIFIED by your flesh.” That’s an impossibility! Our flesh will never help us draw close to; and finish strong in Christ! Paul taught the believers in the Church of Rome:  “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

Where Does Victory Come From?

Your flesh offers you no hope for spiritual victory!  Only “by the Spirit” are we able to “put to death the deeds of the body” and live! Your victory, over sin, begins with your IDENTITY— don’t forget who you ARE, in Jesus! See your position in Christ! You need to identify in His death, His resurrection; and, His glory in heaven, even now! He is IN YOU! YOU ARE IN CHRIST! You’re an adopted child of the Father! When you forget that, you’re temporarily blinded to your true identity! This world will always fail you! When the Spirit opens your eyes to your backsliding, then return to Jesus, repent of your sin; and, be revived! Someone said it like this—  “The only way to identify with your true identity is to let go of all other competing identities.” Your spiritual growth & your SANCTIFICATION depend on your willingness to renounce all competing identities! May God’s indwelling Spirit help you do that; so that you might finish strong!
 

What Fruit Is Your Life Producing?

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How Happy Is The Man

Many Christians don’t realize it, but their happiness is contingent on the kind of “fruit” that their life produces! That’s what the writer of Psalm 1 tells us. In vs. 1-2, he says, “How happy is the man who does not follow the advice of the wicked or take the path of sinners or join a group of mockers! Instead, his delight is in the Lord’s instruction, and he meditates on it day and night.” Don’t be surprised that God wants you to be HAPPY! But, He qualifies what it means to be “HAPPY”!

The True Meaning Of Happiness

He defines the true meaning of genuine “happiness” for us in that Scripture. It’s not the so-called “happiness” of this world, that’s generally tangled up in sinful conduct; and, while it may provide momentary pleasure, leaves you empty and facing lingering painful consequences! The happiness that results from delighting “…in the Lord’s instruction…” leaves no “bad aftertaste”; and, culminates in a fruitful life that is eternal in duration! In v.3, the writer says that the person who rejects the advice of the world & delights in God’s Word & meditates on it day and night, “…is like a tree planted beside streams of water that bears its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.”

2 Totally Different Types Of Life Fruit

Every life bears fruit! Your life bears fruit! My life bears fruit! The Psalmist points to 2 different kinds of people who live their lives in 2 different ways; and, who bear 2 totally different types of fruit. The Apostle Paul uses similar language in his letter to the Church of Galatia, when he says that the life lived in Christ produces the “fruit of the Spirit” like “…love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness & self-control”; but, the fruit produced by “the flesh” is “… sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies and things like these.” (Galatians 5) So, choose wisely who you listen to!

Contrasting World Views

The writer, of this Psalm, concludes, in v.5-6, with the FINAL END of the contrasting world views— “… the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; for the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.” In this life, the way of the righteous & the way of the wicked may appear to run parallel. In fact, the way of the wicked often looks pleasant & fun! But, a Day of Judgment is coming, the writer says!

A Day Of Reckoning

There is coming a day of reckoning; when those who took their advice & counsel from God’s Word; and, delighted in it; and meditated on it, will be gathered into a glorious congregation around the throne of God in eternal HAPPINESS! While the wicked will face the Great Judge of all the earth, who will give them exactly what they always wanted— an eternity without God! The Lord promises to watch over you if the advice you follow & the things you take delight in & the content of your meditation bear the fruit of God’s Holy Spirit! Are these the things you delight in? If not, you need help! You need to pray for the Holy Spirit’s help, and you need to make yourself accountable to someone; or, a group who will encourage you! Only in the truth, of God’s Word, will you find real, genuine, eternal HAPPINESS; and, a relationship with God!