The importance of "reflecting Christ's image" and not our own.
Part 5.
This description is easy. Take a look at Galatians 5:22 for the characteristics that God sets down for these Christians. Paul says that one walking by the Spirit is filled with all "the fruit of the Spirit"-Love (Agape), joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance."
This description is then amplified in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 where Paul says, "Agape suffereth long, and is kind; [His Love] envieth not; [His Love] vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not [its] own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. [God's Love] never fails."
When I think of a spiritual Christian, there is one person in our ministry who always comes to mind. She is one who is willing to be a total servant to others. Nothing is too hard for her or beneath her. As I look around the Christian body, it's amazing to me how very few of these "servant heart" people there really are; Christians who are willing to scrub the toilet if necessary, work in the kitchen if needed or bebehind the scenes.
Humility, again, is the word that best describes a spiritual Christian. Most Christians, unfortunately, want to be up in front where they can be seen as "spiritual." They want the visible jobs! A Christian with a servant's heart is one who is only interested in what God thinks. And thus, they are willing to do whatever job is required. The Bible tells us that God's eyes are toward the humble, the unpretentious and the one who is free from pride.
Thank you for sharing this from Nancy Missler. So much truth to be found in what she had to say. I did not know she had passed. It's been quite some time that I have listened to Chuck Missler. I remember listening to him every day on my way to work. What a great ministry!
Thanks again, and I hope your wife is doing better. Blessings!
But, thanks be to God, He did not leave me like that. Like every believer, He takes us from being a vessel of wrath to being a vessel of His mercy and spends the rest of our lives transforming us to become more and more like our Savior by His mercy and grace. We will never cease to need His mercy and grace in our lives for all eternity. It is our "lifeline" to His Presence, to experience His glory, and to our glorification in the resurrection. Without the mercy and grace of God we could not have faith to believe, nor the desire to seek God or turn to Him. We can always be grateful for His wonderful gift of salvation in our Lord, Jesus Christ!
These thoughts encourage me when I fail to live up to what God expects of us. These truths remind me that I am securely found in Christ and being "in Him" is the only position that keeps us from falling away.
This was a good read. I think that Paul in Romans 7 describes all of us. We are all both "carnal" and "spiritual" Christians at the same time. Therefore, our struggle against carnality is constant. We never arrive at being fully "spiritual" (Christ-like) in this life, but, because the Spirit dwells in us, we will not be overcome with by the sinful nature. He is our guarantee that we will progress in sanctification, from faith to faith and grow in grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ. Knowing that it is God Himself who works in us to work and do according to His good pleasure, we can be both encouraged when we fail Him and empowered to walk by the Spirit by His faithful work within us and His care for us and His covering over us.
Carnality manifests itself differently in each believer, but in all of us, it is contrary to Christ's character and actions. The Holy Spirit will convict us of our carnality and help us to repent and turn us back to serving God rightly in the area He has shown us needs to be confessed, repented of and fought against in the power of God who lives in us. Praise the Lord He does all of this for us who believe the gospel and place our faith in Jesus our Lord, Savior, and Mighty God! Thankfully, He has gained the victory for us in all things that stand against Him and His glory. He will uphold us and keep us in His hand. Though our sinful nature will constantly work to draw us out of His hand, we are secure in His grip and can continue to grow as we walk according to His Spirit, making a new start every time we fail, knowing that He has brought us forgiveness from sin, His righteousness that gives us right standing before the Father, and eternal life that outlives our carnal sinful nature into the life to come!
When I think of the kind of person I was when I was a teenager and in my early adulthood, I was immature and looked to the world for pleasure all too often. But God did not leave me like that. see part 2
Part 5.
This description is easy. Take a look at Galatians 5:22 for the characteristics that God sets down for these Christians. Paul says that one walking by the Spirit is filled with all "the fruit of the Spirit"-Love (Agape), joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance."
This description is then amplified in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 where Paul says, "Agape suffereth long, and is kind; [His Love] envieth not; [His Love] vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not [its] own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. [God's Love] never fails."
When I think of a spiritual Christian, there is one person in our ministry who always comes to mind. She is one who is willing to be a total servant to others. Nothing is too hard for her or beneath her. As I look around the Christian body, it's amazing to me how very few of these "servant heart" people there really are; Christians who are willing to scrub the toilet if necessary, work in the kitchen if needed or bebehind the scenes.
Humility, again, is the word that best describes a spiritual Christian. Most Christians, unfortunately, want to be up in front where they can be seen as "spiritual." They want the visible jobs! A Christian with a servant's heart is one who is only interested in what God thinks. And thus, they are willing to do whatever job is required. The Bible tells us that God's eyes are toward the humble, the unpretentious and the one who is free from pride.
By Nancy Missler.
Rip.
Thank you for sharing this from Nancy Missler. So much truth to be found in what she had to say. I did not know she had passed. It's been quite some time that I have listened to Chuck Missler. I remember listening to him every day on my way to work. What a great ministry!
Thanks again, and I hope your wife is doing better. Blessings!
Yes Nancy Missler passed away in 2015 and Chuck followed her in 2018.
Both were very active in the ministry and both authored several books.
Blessings
Pt. 2
But, thanks be to God, He did not leave me like that. Like every believer, He takes us from being a vessel of wrath to being a vessel of His mercy and spends the rest of our lives transforming us to become more and more like our Savior by His mercy and grace. We will never cease to need His mercy and grace in our lives for all eternity. It is our "lifeline" to His Presence, to experience His glory, and to our glorification in the resurrection. Without the mercy and grace of God we could not have faith to believe, nor the desire to seek God or turn to Him. We can always be grateful for His wonderful gift of salvation in our Lord, Jesus Christ!
These thoughts encourage me when I fail to live up to what God expects of us. These truths remind me that I am securely found in Christ and being "in Him" is the only position that keeps us from falling away.
It's a journey! The minute we think we're doing great here comes that old man!
Thank God for his spirit!
Blessings
This was a good read. I think that Paul in Romans 7 describes all of us. We are all both "carnal" and "spiritual" Christians at the same time. Therefore, our struggle against carnality is constant. We never arrive at being fully "spiritual" (Christ-like) in this life, but, because the Spirit dwells in us, we will not be overcome with by the sinful nature. He is our guarantee that we will progress in sanctification, from faith to faith and grow in grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ. Knowing that it is God Himself who works in us to work and do according to His good pleasure, we can be both encouraged when we fail Him and empowered to walk by the Spirit by His faithful work within us and His care for us and His covering over us.
Carnality manifests itself differently in each believer, but in all of us, it is contrary to Christ's character and actions. The Holy Spirit will convict us of our carnality and help us to repent and turn us back to serving God rightly in the area He has shown us needs to be confessed, repented of and fought against in the power of God who lives in us. Praise the Lord He does all of this for us who believe the gospel and place our faith in Jesus our Lord, Savior, and Mighty God! Thankfully, He has gained the victory for us in all things that stand against Him and His glory. He will uphold us and keep us in His hand. Though our sinful nature will constantly work to draw us out of His hand, we are secure in His grip and can continue to grow as we walk according to His Spirit, making a new start every time we fail, knowing that He has brought us forgiveness from sin, His righteousness that gives us right standing before the Father, and eternal life that outlives our carnal sinful nature into the life to come!
When I think of the kind of person I was when I was a teenager and in my early adulthood, I was immature and looked to the world for pleasure all too often. But God did not leave me like that. see part 2
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