Jesus is the Sphere in which all things created exist, the Agent through which they come into being, and the One for whom they were made.
Colossians 1:16 For by him were all things created that are in heaven and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones or dominions or principalities or powers: all things were created by him and for him.
Jesus holds the physical world together--rotation of the earth, orbits of each planet, tilting of the earth's axis, the atom . . . etc. He also holds the spiritual world together (2 Thes. 2:6,7).
Since Christ created all things, it's no wonder that the winds and waves obey Him, diseases and death flee from Him because He is Master over all. All things in heaven and earth, visible and invisible are under His command.
We are created for Him and therefore we are to please Him and bring Him glory.
The Spirit and the flesh (the old nature) are at war with each other. If the Holy Spirit controls the body, then we walk in the Spirit; but if the flesh controls the body, then we walk in the lusts (desires) of the flesh.
Galatians 5:16,17 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
Being led of the Spirit and walking in the Spirit are the opposites of yielding to the desires of the flesh.
The Holy Spirit doesn't work in a vacuum. He uses the Word of God, prayer, worship, and the fellowship of believers to build us up in Christ.
The solution is not to pit our will against the flesh, but to surrender our will to the Spirit.
Philippians 3:13,14 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
If you think you've arrived spiritually, you'll cease to grow in The Lord. When you're willing to admit that there are areas where you need to grow, that's a sign of a maturing Christian.
Paul had every reason to crow about his Christian life, but he was still working towards the ultimate goal--Perfect Christ-likeness!
Don't let your failures cause you to stop growing in Christ. If you've fallen; get up, dust yourself off, and get back in the race. Daily Bible reading is required here.
Are you stuck on salvation? Jesus saved you for a purpose. Get at His feet and find out why He laid hold on your life. Then pursue that with all your heart.
Philippians 2:9,10 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven and things in earth and things under the earth.
The name of Jesus brings help to the helpless, peace to the tormented, rest to the restless, hope to the hopeless, and comfort to the comfortless.
The name of Jesus has cooled the fevered brow, broken the chains of sin, delivered the captive, and thrilled the saints.
Jesus willingly sacrificedHimself at Calvary to demonstrate God's love for fallen humanity (Rom. 5:8 ). You can only come to God through Jesus.
Have you acknowledged Jesus for Who He is? Have you bowed to Him as Savior? As Lord? As your only hope? As everything?
Kings and kingdoms will all pass away,
But there's something about that name.
Bill and Gloria Gaither
Philippians 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:
The assurance of salvation is one of the greatest blessings in life. We all have doubts at times, but we don't have to doubt our salvation.
God's plan is to reproduce Jesus in believers and see that they arrive safely home in Heaven. Salvation and maintenance is totally the work of God.
2 Timothy 1:9 Who [God] hath saved us and called us with an holy calling--not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began.
In our modern world it's easy to forget that believers are in a Spirit-filled warfare with Satan. Our enemy is doing everything in his power to destroy the kingdom of God.
But God has given us a power greater than ourselves to "resist" the "wiles of the devil". Our spiritual armour guarantees victory.
There is "truth" to wear as a belt, "righteousness" to protect the heart, "shoes" (preparation for peace) to protect the feet, a "shield" (faith) to deflect the arrows of the enemy, a "helmet" (salvation) to protect the head, and a "sword" (God's Word) to engage the enemy.
Ephesians 6:11,12 Put on the whole armour of God that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
To touch a leper made one unclean, and it was strictly forbidden by Hebrew Law. But Jesus touched a leper. Can you hear the crowd gasp?
The touch of Jesus said, "I love you just as you are, and I'm here to help you." Jesus entered the world of the leper that day and healed him (Mark 1:41,41).
Jesus is still touching lives today. Regardless of who you are or what you've done, you're not so bad that He won't touch you.
When He came into this world and sacrificed His life for you at Calvary, Jesus entered your world, sharing your pain and suffering, taking your sins upon Himself.
The grace and power of the touch of Jesus makes you a new creature. It gives you a new birth (John 8:3,7). You are never the same.
2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away: behold, all things are become new.
