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
