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Volume 10 ... #11
If We Are Planted In The Likeness Of Christ's Death
Romans 6 ... 3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into His death? 4 Therefore we are buried with Him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of His death, we shall be also in the likeness of His resurrection: 6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. 7 For he that is dead is freed from sin.
In the likeness of HIS death ...
I Peter 4 ... 1 Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin;
2 That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.
3 For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries: 4 Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you: 5 Who shall give account to Him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead. 6 For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.
7 But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer. 8 And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.
To "suffer in the flesh" means we do not allow our tongue to speak anything it wants to speak.
The fruits of the Spirit are love, joy, peace.
The works of the flesh are hatred, strife, trying to outdo one another to exalt yourself.
As we refuse to allow the tongue to go in the way it wants to go, we "bridle the tongue", causing our own flesh to suffer because it cannot exalt itself as it wants to do.
Instead we exalt the Spirit causing fruits of the Spirit to come forth from our tongue. This is a deliberate act.
If we fail to do this, James says our religion is "vain".
James 1 ... 26 If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain.
And what if we hear ourselves speaking wrongly?
We have to uproot that wrong and replace it by doing that which is the correct way of God in the matter at hand.
If you hear yourself speaking negative things, do the following and this will change in you.
Phil. 4:6 ... 6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
Take each negative subject, one by one, to God in prayer. Let your "request" be made known to God on each subject. "What do you want God to do for you in the matter at hand?" Do you want to know what to do in the matter? Ask God. Trust God to show you. The Bible is filled with promises that God will show us when we ask HIM. Weak faith? Look at some of those promises from God and let your faith be built by what the scriptures tell you. For example: James 1:5... If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
If you have spent years being negative, you have likely built a stronghold in this area. This simply means you will have to work daily when you begin to think negatively, turning to God again and again, asking God what HE wants you to do and asking God to show you HIS view of the situation. Talking freely with God about the matter and how you feel about the matter. Then asking God what you would like HIM to do, making your "request" known to God.
And be thankful to God for that good thing which HE has given you.
In time, things will turn around for you.
But know this, the flesh never improves. We never get the flesh to do better. The flesh is always just waiting to take over if we will allow it to do so.
Paul says ... Gal. 5:16 ...Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
Walk in love, joy, peace ... And when you can't do this, pray ... Eventually God will turn you ...
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