Today's sermon was on Ephesians 3:16-20, and the main point was that it is what is on the inside that makes us able to live a life "worthy of the calling."
The Holy Spirit dwelling in us gives us strength in our inner being, so that we are rooted and grounded in love, and are able to do the things that Ephesians 4, 5, and 6 will tell us to do. We are also told that this is how we can begin to grasp how wide and high and deep and long the love of God is for us. Grasping this can free us from the self-love that keeps us choosing sin, and help us to choose holiness.
This is not going to happen all at once. Our sanctification is a lifelong process - daily living, choices minute by minute, leaning on the strength of the Spirit, calling for the Father's help - this is how we live a holy life.
So next time you are confronted with the thing that always "gets" you, call out to God for strength for today. He will answer. He will give strength.
I can hardly wait until next week.
Sue,
ReplyDeleteHad a thought about this post. Actually it was someone else's thought :D
Re: "The things that always get us"
The truth is that most of us are not tempted in millions of areas. We are tempted in a few places millions of times.
Also, think about temptation as the tip of an iceberg. We have an incident(s) where we are challenged and we react to that incident. But the real danger is what lies below the waterline -- the issues of the heart. We struggle (have temptation incident) because our heart needs transformation (Rom. 12:1-2) having been conformed to (or like?)the world.
in the process with you,
Mike