1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 He was in the beginning with God.
3 All things came into being by Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.
4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.
5 And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.
6 There came a man, sent from God, whose name was John.
7 He came for a witness, that he might bear witness of the light, that all might believe through him.
8 He was not the light, but came that he might bear witness of the light.
9 There was the true light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man.
10 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him.
11 He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him.
12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name,
13 who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
14 And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.
15 John bore witness of Him, and cried out, saying, "This was He of whom I said, 'He who comes after me has a higher rank than I, for He existed before me.'"
16 For of His fulness we have all received, and grace upon grace.
17 For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ.
18 No man has seen God at any time; the only begotten God, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him.
John 1:1-18

Friday, November 30, 2012

How to gain self-control...

What is self- control? Keeping the Commandments; mastering the flesh.

Name the Ten Commandments:
1. No other Gods
2. No idols
3. No taking the Lord's name in vain
4. Remember the Sabbath
5. Honor father and mother
6. No killing
7. No adultery
8. No stealing
9. No lying
10. No coveting
For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all. (James 2:10 NASB)

1. Controlled by the Spirit
For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, and those who are in the flesh cannot please God. However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him. If Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. So then, brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh- for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. (Romans 8:5-14 NASB)

-->There are two kinds of people: those who have the Spirit, and those who do not.
-->Because of the wages of sin, our bodies are aging and dying. But there is Hope! We are given life because of the imputed righteousness of Christ, meaning that God has taken the responsibility for our sins by sacrificing His Son on the cross and in return has ascribed to us Christ's perfection.
-->If that is true (which it is :)), then why bother with the desires of the flesh? It's a waste, right? Live by the flesh and die. Live by the Spirit and live!
-->So how can we know the Spirit lives in us? By our fruit. The path of a Christian is to sin less, repent more.

2. Abide in the Word
How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping it according to Your word. With all my heart I have sought You; Do not let me wander from Your commandments. Your word I have treasured in my heart, That I may not sin against You. (Psalms 119:9-11 NASB)

-->God's Word is His Law...and His Law is love. Jesus said, this is my commandment that you love one another. Deuteronomy 6 says love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and might.
-->Ask God to put in your heart a love for Him and a love for others. The will of God is that you might have this love. Ask for it and you will receive it abundantly.
-->God also desires that you know His Word. Abide in it. Read it. Make time for it. When you feel your heart pulling away from the Lord Jesus, get back to the Word! The truth of the scriptures will free you from your selfishness.

3. Accountable to all
Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor. For if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to the one who falls when there is not another to lift him up. Furthermore, if two lie down together they keep warm, but how can one be warm alone? And if one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart. (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 NASB)

-->Be aware of who you spend time with. But do not spend too much time alone either. We are sanctified (sanctification: becoming like Christ) by being with others, and we are encouraged by being with believers.
-->There is no salvation outside of that which God gives. Be aware that the path to salvation is narrow. There is nothing we can do to gain it, for the price is too steep. But we still are called to "work out our salvation with fear and trembling." For God is working in us for His will and His pleasure as He seeks to prepare us for His kingdom.
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