To a fair degree, most of us like to have control of our environment:
- Having a predictable income, or planning for one.
- Knowing that things are where I left them, and that they’re still working properly.
- Having stable, non-confrontational relationships.
- Always having access to a favourite chair or coffee mug
As we age, the impact of losing control of our environment can be upsetting, and even physically or mentally detrimental:
- Having family move away.
- Running out of teeth to be drilled and filled, & being told it’s time to get falsies.
- Not being as physically active because of…
- Being made redundant in employment…
- Not having the energy or resources to occupy as one used to.
- Being told it’s time to move into an aged care centre.
The loss of self-sufficiency, is made reference to in:
John 21:19 “…When you were young, you girded yourself, and walked where you would: but when you shall be old, you shall stretch forth your hands, and another shall gird you, and carry you where you would not.”
The flesh hates the thought of losing self-sufficiency. it can be perceived primarily as a weakness of character, or reduction in self-fulfillment which can result in subsequent… The list goes on; but who needs to look into the flesh’s perspective any deeper than this? Praise God for The New Man!
We’re surrounded by the world’s systems, which for 6000+years, have been carefully and painstakingly tailored, to replace God in the thoughts of man.
Systems & selfish distractions, have been developed by the master of this world, and by the depraved mind of carnal man, to separate people from the freedom & peace that’s been bought for us by Christ. The flesh in us doesn’t want to ask God for wisdom, because it would lose control of the spirit, it wants to live it’s own way or use God’s benefits for it’s own satisfaction.
But the New Man is free, full of life, full of contentment, not requiring or gaining anything from his surroundings. Christ is the greatest example of this new life, in Isaiah 53:2, it’s said of Him “he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground:…”. He didn’t gain or draw strength from men, or his surroundings, John 4:32″But he said unto them, I have food to eat that you know not of“. and in Philippians 4:11, Paul wrote, “I’ve learned in whatever state I am, to be content:”
The flesh, with it’s rational selfish thought and humanistic ideas, tries to subject spiritual matters to earthly control, and has always attempted to do the same: it seeks a form of godliness, but denies the power of it.
- Acts 3:2 ‘And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms from those who entered the temple; 3 who, seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked for alms. 4 And fixing his eyes on him, with John, Peter said, “Look at us.” 5 So he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. 6 Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.‘
- Acts 8:9-11 & 18-20 ‘But there was a certain man called Simon, who previously practiced sorcery in the city and astonished the people of Samaria, claiming that he was someone great, to whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, “This man is the great power of God.” And they heeded him because he had astonished them with his sorceries for a long time. … And when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money, saying, “Give me this power also, that anyone on whom I lay hands may receive the Holy Spirit.” But Peter said to him, “Your money perish with you, because you thought that the gift of God could be purchased with money!‘
- 2 Kings 5:20-27 ‘But Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, “Look, my master has spared Naaman this Syrian, while not receiving from his hands what he brought; but as the Lord lives, I will run after him and take something from him.” 21 So Gehazi pursued Naaman. When Naaman saw him running after him, he got down from the chariot to meet him, and said, “Is all well?” 22 And he said, “All;s well. My master has sent me, saying, ‘Indeed, just now two young men of the sons of the prophets have come to me from the mountains of Ephraim. Please give them a talent of silver and two changes of garments.’ ”23 So Naaman said, “Please, take two talents.” And he urged him, and bound two talents of silver in two bags, with two changes of garments, and handed them to two of his servants; and they carried them on ahead of him. 24 When he came to the citadel, he took them from their hand, and stored them away in the house; then he let the men go, and they departed. 25 Now he went in and stood before his master. Elisha said to him, “Where did you go, Gehazi?” And he said, “Your servant didn’t go anywhere.”26 Then he said to him, “Didn’t my heart go with you when the man turned back from his chariot to meet you? Is it time to receive money and to receive clothing, olive groves and vineyards, sheep and oxen, male and female servants? 27 Therefore the leprosy of Naaman shall cling to you and your descendants forever.” And he went out from his presence leprous, as white as snow.‘
Given that the flesh is evil, just as Satan is, it’s not surprising that it uses a similar language to him; as it says…”We just need to get the right balance between what God asks, and what you desire.“. The fact is, there’s no acceptable “balance“ of God’s and man’s will. 2 Corinthians 6:14” …For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?“
But the New Man in Christ is led by the Holy Spirit, he hears and obeys God’s voice, as shown in Acts 8:29 & 39 Then the Spirit said to Philip, “Go near and overtake this chariot.” So Philip ran to him, and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah,…Now when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, so that the eunuch saw him no more;…“
When Saints obey the instruction of Holy Spirit’s voice, he bears fruit for God’s glory and his own peace. Holy Spirit is so beautifully active, His humble work proceeds throughout scripture and still now, working consistently to lead the Saints in the way of Christ, to the glory of God. His quiet voice teaching us the way of humility, peace, obedience, wisdom & joy. It’s His voice that says:
- Stop here and thank God for providing that answer to prayer.
- It’s time to get on your knees and thank Him.
- Turn that distraction off, and spend some time in The Word.
- Go and visit that person, and take the love of God with you.
- Keep your tongue still this time.
- Pray about it first.
- Write this down, It’ll do you good to look at it again later, and share it when the time’s right.
- Don’t be anxious, God was working there before you were even aware of it.
- You’re not worthless, you’re a child of God!
- Lift your eyes to look at Christ, and He’ll replace your doubt with faith.
- Read The Word and I’ll give you understanding for His glory and your joy.
We only have a relatively short time to knowingly participate in God’s work on earth.
So much of our lives can be spent establishing our earthly existence, before we realise that we should have been focusing on His Kingdom many years ago. This doesn’t mean that we should join a remote community of monks. Righteousness is a simple application of obeying Holy Spirit’s voice, making a straight path for your feet, putting on the armour of God, being prepared to give an account of your faith to anyone who asks. You may only be asked to give a cup of water in His name, but obedience is called righteousness.
In Matthew 10:38-39, The Word states: “And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.“
I met a married couple who came into my place of work semi regularly, over a number of years; they’d been church goers for most of their lives. One of the couple was always smiling, always visibly, and verbally, quietly full of joy, while the other was busy going about life’s matters. They both expressed faith in God. One day the second one came into work with a changed disposition and the clearly visible and verbal characteristic of Christ, and told me of having come to know Christ personally through His bringing to the understanding the necessity of each spouse having their own individual relationship with God, and not being dependent on, or falling under the shadow of the spouse’s faith. The change in the person was such a joy to hear and the clarity of commitment to God with strength of faith, shouted God’s glory through Christ.
Study like a Berean! 