August 25, 2007
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Isn’t it wonderful when God gives us victory in our struggles! I just wanted to share and give praise to God for the amazing things He does for a wretched sinner like me!
I look at circumstances in my life and try to figure things out with my grid of thinking. And there isn’t victory in that. It’s only through His Word and applying the Gospel that I am washed and ultimately set free.
Our pastor’s teaching this year has been incredibly helpful in my walking things out, as there has been many trials, as there is for all of us, over this year. Going over the Scriptures and the notes I took has been immeasurably helpful in working through each of these things. There was one particular sermon he gave in early June called “Portraits of Courage and Cowardice” that I have been going over and over.Here is some of the notes:
How do I fight the fear that limiting myself by submitting to God’s command is going to end in a loss? By applying the gospel: believing that God only commands your good in what he Commands. He is the Supreme Good. [This has been quite the struggle - as Joy R. put it - the "what if's" sneak in and we need to fight our unbelief]How do I fight the fear of doing something to bless others when it is risky?
By applying the gospel: by believing that the paralysis of what someone might think is a “snare” that keeps us from the good: Man is an idol worshiper. [I have struggled with this one A LOT this year. Linda has been a encouragement to me in this area as she has mentored me in our friendship through my struggles this year reminding me what the truth is.]
How can I fight the temptation to fear being misunderstood? By applying the gospel: by being more concerned about what God thinks of me and whether He approves of what you do: God is my Supreme Good. [Again, a difficult one for me this year, especially in regards to my MIL, but God has given me great victory in it!]How do I fight the temptation of wanting to be liked by everyone and maintain the “warm fuzzies”? By applying the gospel: by believing that pleasing everyone is a sign that something is wrong; Man is an idol worshiper. [Ah, another truth that pierces my sinful heart and helps me to take a deeper look at what I'm doing and why]
How do I fight the temptation to fear being different and by implication wrong and possibly rejected? By applying the gospel: by believing that whatever man can do for me, it is nothing compared to what God can do for me and whatever man can do to me, is nothing compared to what God can do to me; God is sovereign over life and salvation (Matt 10:24-33). [This Scripture helps remind me of where my focus needs to be and why]
How can I lead my family or lead in church or lead in the community with sin that I see in my heart and that is so apparent to those closet to me and the reality that the more vocal and public I am the more likely the light will be placed on my failures? By applying the gospel: by believing that Jesus came to save sinners, that those are the only kinds of people he has to use in the fallen world, and that there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ; Jesus is the double cure. [Yesterday we were talking with the elders and Dan repeated this truth to me. It touched me so when he said it, as though Christ himself was speaking to me, that it brought me to tears. We astoundingly do indeed serve a gracious and merciful Savior. They also said a lot of stuff that was very similar to that article of my last post. It took me a while to absorb it after they left as I thought through it, then I found that article that further helped me to see where I'm thinking wrong or responding wrong.]
How can I stand like Jesus and not fall like Peter under such pressure? By applying the gospel: by believing that we would do what others do if it were not for the grace of God and therefore, we humble ourselves and
seek His grace and flee where we need to flee; Jesus is the double cure.
[Amen! Again, what an awesome Savior]
The reality of our inconsistencies is undeniable, but what makes someone a true ‘possessor of Christ’ and not an empty ‘professor of Christ’ is the commitment to fight those inconsistencies by the grace found in Christ.Romans 7:21-25: I find it to be a law that when I want to do right,
evil lies close at hand. For delight in the law of God, in my inner being,
but I see in my members another law waging war against
the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my
members. Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from
this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!
My mind keeps wanting to “check out”, my heart keeps wanting to sin, and I do – daily – I’m falling on my face and repeatedly having to apologize — to my husband, to my children, to my friends. I feel like for the past 8 months I have been in this intense fight that this Scripture talks of (well, obviously my whole life is fighting this, but it seems like it’s been a constant trial since after Steve’s dad died after Christmas). I know tomorrow will be another day to “commit to fight”, but where there’s peace, there is victory — and today I have victory! I’m
so thankful for a pastor who faithfully preaches the Word of God in
such a way that it brings me to wrestle with my walk in areas I am
sinning in and to fight the good fight. And I just wanted to share that all with you in high praise of our wonderful, merciful Savior.
~Di
Comments (8)
Good words Di! I, too, feel like the last 8 months have been the most intense fighting I have done in my Christian walk so far. Or, maybe for me, I’m just the most aware of it…and God, in His graciousness, has given me the eyes to see that it *is* a fight, instead of just dub-dub-dubbing along.
I have a feeling that my end-of-the-year post on Xanga this year will be full of revealed sin, lessons learned, and closeness to Christ that I’ve never experienced.
What a blessing it is to see God’s grace in one another’s lives. What hope it gives me!
Hugs-
~D~
God gives us victory as only He can…Praise God! XO
By jove . . .I think she’s gettin’ it! You preach it, Sister! What a reality of what it means to soak yourself in the Truth . . . the truth of all that God has revealed about Himself, and us, and about all He promises to do/be for us!
“How can I lead my family or lead in church or lead in the community with sin that I see in my heart and that is so apparent to those closest to me and the reality that the more vocal and public I am the more likely the light will be placed on my failures?”
This has been one of my big struggles lately. Not only having the concern about myself (Will others see my sin?), but also being prone to judge others in the same position. (A great sin)
How hypocritical we are sometimes! It’s difficult to balance my own guilt and failure with God’s forgiveness.
This is a good post. Another one of those great sermons I missed – I’m glad you could share it now.
Thanks so much for sharing those words with us. We never really “get to perfection” in this life and the closer we get to the “light” , the more we see in ourselves the things that need improvement.. We continue to grow in the Lord.
Have a wonderful week.
Fran
That was a really great lesson. Do you mind if I print it off for my computer-less friend?
catzndogz9
this seems like such a good post I didn’t get to read all of it since I”m at work but Thanks so much for sharing!! Wow!! COngrads to your two youngest being baptized
I loved this post! So much to think about! I have to reread it and then comment, but want to encourage the continual sharpening we do with one another – I value your friendship!
~Rebecca