We can put it off because of His Victory!

Sons to Glory! · 01-10-2019, 01:51 PM

We had awesome back & forth fellowship in the brothers' breakfast this morning. After some good sharing, a brother then made a summarizing statement by saying, "We can only put off the old man because of what Christ already did!" In other words, our role is to take that objective fact and make it our subjective reality. This makes so much sense and aligns things in scripture and our experience. So often we see this principle in scripture, like in Philippians 2:12-13: "Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you both the willing and the working for His good pleasure." Many other such verses, showing the fact in Christ but then how we must align,came to our minds and were shared. I love this kind of fellowship!

Of course I've heard this for years, and those I'm with have had much fellowship around it. But this morning it all seemed so simple! We often get hung up (at least I do, and I suspect I'm just like you . . .) on why isn't the objective reality of the victory that Christ won very apparent in our experience? His victory is the truth, but now we choose to believe and act on this truth or the lie. And then we speak the truth . . . or the lie to one another. And we walk and abide in Him accordingly - or we believe the lie that God doesn't love us, we don't measure up, the bros are out to lunch, etc.

And this even takes care of the apparent Armenian/Calvinistic dilemma. The objective truth is here/present/now/real - the total victory in Christ. But we must still choose to align with the victory moment by moment, using our free will. "I place before you life and death. Choose life!" It's that simple. I hope I'm conveying this adequately, as it was quite nourishing.

Sons to Glory! · 01-17-2019, 10:13 AM

Another great brothers' breakfast this morning! In the open sharing a brother was conveying how when Moses' arms were held up, Joshua prevailed against the children of Amelek. And that this was a picture of how we need each other's support in warring against the flesh. Good picture!

We also discussed how it must have been for the children of Israel to be looking at the walls of water surrounding them as they passed through the Red Sea. One brother shared about how he got excited just looking at the name of the book of Hebrews (BTW - the authorship is mysterious - like Melchizedek), which means "from the other side."

So the children of Israel were from the other side, and we're from the other side! We are not of this world - we are from the other side.

Then one brother said how crazy it was that Pharaoh saw all the plagues, including the death of the firstborn, and still decided to pursue them. Pharaoh was smart, but you have to say this action was insane. This made me think of 1 Cor. 2:8 - "None of the rulers of this age knew this wisdom, because if they had known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory."

I had always wondered why Satan would be used as a tool to put the Lord Jesus to death, since Christ stated that this was His purpose many times. But he was just like Pharaoh! He keeps doing the same thing expecting different results - INSANITY! Pharaoh is a picture of the devil - what he is doing is insanity. He is marching to the lake of fire, but keeps saying, "Let's try this again - it'll work this time!" Insanity! This is what we see in the world today. It has a name of intelligence . . . but there are many smart people in insane asylums!

There is a song that came out in the 1970's that came to mind (by Jethro Tull): Locomotive Breath. Some lyrics:

In the shuffling madness
Of the locomotive breath
Runs the all-time loser
Headlong to his death

Oh, he picks up Gideon's Bible
Open at page one
I thank God he stole the handle and
The train—it won't stop going
No it wouldn't slow down

Our enemy may be intelligent folks - BUT HE'S PLUMB INSANE!

Ohio · 01-17-2019, 10:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sons to Glory!

Our enemy may be intelligent folks - BUT HE'S PLUMB INSANE!

Our need is wisdom, and wisdom is from God. Without faith in Him, all earth's knowledge and intelligence is like a runaway train without brakes.

It's truly incredible to think about the brilliant, the powerful, and the wealthy all brought to shame, but all who believe in Him will not be put to shame.

01-10-2019, 01:51 PM	#1
Sons to Glory! Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Scottsdale, AZ Posts: 2,617	We can put it off because of His Victory! We had awesome back & forth fellowship in the brothers' breakfast this morning. After some good sharing, a brother then made a summarizing statement by saying, "We can only put off the old man because of what Christ already did!" In other words, our role is to take that objective fact and make it our subjective reality. This makes so much sense and aligns things in scripture and our experience. So often we see this principle in scripture, like in Philippians 2:12-13: "Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you both the willing and the working for His good pleasure." Many other such verses, showing the fact in Christ but then how we must align,came to our minds and were shared. I love this kind of fellowship! Of course I've heard this for years, and those I'm with have had much fellowship around it. But this morning it all seemed so simple! We often get hung up (at least I do, and I suspect I'm just like you . . .) on why isn't the objective reality of the victory that Christ won very apparent in our experience? His victory is the truth, but now we choose to believe and act on this truth or the lie. And then we speak the truth . . . or the lie to one another. And we walk and abide in Him accordingly - or we believe the lie that God doesn't love us, we don't measure up, the bros are out to lunch, etc. And this even takes care of the apparent Armenian/Calvinistic dilemma. The objective truth is here/present/now/real - the total victory in Christ. But we must still choose to align with the victory moment by moment, using our free will. "I place before you life and death. Choose life!" It's that simple. I hope I'm conveying this adequately, as it was quite nourishing. __________________ LC Berkeley 70s; LC Columbus OH 80s; An Ekklesia in Scottsdale 98-now Praise the Lord - HE'S GOT THIS!

01-17-2019, 10:13 AM	#2
Sons to Glory! Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Scottsdale, AZ Posts: 2,617	Re: The enemy is smart but insane! Another great brothers' breakfast this morning! In the open sharing a brother was conveying how when Moses' arms were held up, Joshua prevailed against the children of Amelek. And that this was a picture of how we need each other's support in warring against the flesh. Good picture! We also discussed how it must have been for the children of Israel to be looking at the walls of water surrounding them as they passed through the Red Sea. One brother shared about how he got excited just looking at the name of the book of Hebrews (BTW - the authorship is mysterious - like Melchizedek), which means "from the other side." So the children of Israel were from the other side, and we're from the other side! We are not of this world - we are from the other side. Then one brother said how crazy it was that Pharaoh saw all the plagues, including the death of the firstborn, and still decided to pursue them. Pharaoh was smart, but you have to say this action was insane. This made me think of 1 Cor. 2:8 - "None of the rulers of this age knew this wisdom, because if they had known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory." I had always wondered why Satan would be used as a tool to put the Lord Jesus to death, since Christ stated that this was His purpose many times. But he was just like Pharaoh! He keeps doing the same thing expecting different results - INSANITY! Pharaoh is a picture of the devil - what he is doing is insanity. He is marching to the lake of fire, but keeps saying, "Let's try this again - it'll work this time!" Insanity! This is what we see in the world today. It has a name of intelligence . . . but there are many smart people in insane asylums! There is a song that came out in the 1970's that came to mind (by Jethro Tull): Locomotive Breath. Some lyrics: In the shuffling madness Of the locomotive breath Runs the all-time loser Headlong to his death Oh, he picks up Gideon's Bible Open at page one I thank God he stole the handle and The train—it won't stop going No it wouldn't slow down Our enemy may be intelligent folks - BUT HE'S PLUMB INSANE! __________________ LC Berkeley 70s; LC Columbus OH 80s; An Ekklesia in Scottsdale 98-now Praise the Lord - HE'S GOT THIS!