So far, through 5 chapters in Joshua I am seeing things I haven't seen before and destroying assumptions I have made throughout my life. There are many parallels between the journey of the children of Israel to the promised land and our journey and walk with Christ into the fullness of God's promises. It occurred to me that I needed to do some additional study on sanctification and preparation. Just how do we do that today? My study this week has taken me to 1 Peter 1.
1 Peter 1:22-23 Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, (23) having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever,
Italics are mine for emphasis. We are born again of Seed that cannot be corrupted when we experience salvation. As with any seed you plant in a garden, that seed must be tended to and grown with care. Even though we have an Incorruptible Seed within us, we are still human with fleshly and worldly lusts and desires. But within the incorruptible seed are the fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). Whichever we tend to and care for is what will grow. In 1 Peter 1, Peter says this;
1 Peter 1:13-16 Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; (14) as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; (15) but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, (16) because it is written, "BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY."
"Not conforming yourselves to the former lusts" is a key to growing the incorruptible seed God planted within us. We remain focused on the things of the world that bring us self-gratification, then we often end up walking in sin continuing to do the things that we did prior to salvation.
1 Peter 2:1-3 Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, (2) as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, (3) if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious.
So, according to Peter, there are things we need to lay aside that are still within us, even though we have an incorruptible seed planted within. Just because we have experienced salvation does not mean our old behavior is automatically changed. You see, we still live in a world where the enemy still roams to and fro. Our enemy seeks to devour us. If he can keep us focused on the things of the world, then we are of no threat to him in advancing the kingdom of God. Paul told the Romans:
Romans 8:6-8 For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. (7) Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. (8) So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
Our natural mind, the logical human part of us wars and fights with God because it is in direct opposition to the things of God. I found this to be more evident than ever before when I took my psychology and sociology classes for my undergrad degree. There is nothing in psychology or sociology that aligns itself with the word of God. Those two are all about the natural mind. Paul said it best. The natural mind cannot understand the things of God. There is a battle that rages within us against the things of God. It has to come into submission to the Spirit and will of God. It is a natural rebellion that I believe was born out of Adam's and Eve's disobedience in the Garden of Eden.
James 4:5-10 Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, "The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously"? (6) But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: "GOD RESISTS THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE." (7) Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. (8) Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. (9) Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. (10) Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.
So, what does submitting to God mean? 'Submit' here in James means: to subordinate; reflexively to obey: - be under obedience (obedient), put under, subdue unto, be (put) in subjection (to, under), submit self unto. There doesn't seem to be much room for interpretation here does it? We are to align our will under the authority of Jesus Christ so that we can resist the devil. We are to live according to His statutes and not according to our own desires. We are to place ourselves under His authority, just as we do our bosses or our parents. We attempt to obey the natural laws and statutes of man as a sign to our submission of the governing authority of the land. Do we attempt to follow the statutes of God in as conscientious manner to demonstrate our submission to His authority over our lives?
The last three verses of Galatians chapter 5 after listing the fruits of the Spirit are:
Galatians 5:24-26 And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. (25) If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. (26) Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.
Have you crucified your flesh? Are you more spirit minded than world minded? It is difficult. It is painful and it is mandatory for growth in Christ. 1 Peter 2:2 said that desiring the milk of the Word is how we grow. Being able to submit ourselves to God and acknowledge His full authority over every aspect of our lives is an important aspect of spiritual growth. This is what the children of Israel had to do in order to move into the Promised Land. Those that were disobedient had to wander in the wilderness until death. They were unable to see the promise fulfilled because of their disobedience and refusal of submission to God. Once their obedience had been tested, they were told to sanctify themselves and make their preparations for crossing the Jordan River. But it all starts with obedience...(1 Peter 1:22)
What preparations are left for you to make? Has your obedience led you to edge of the Promise or are you wandering in the wilderness?
Join the discussion on Facebook.
1 Peter 1:22-23 Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, (23) having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever,
Italics are mine for emphasis. We are born again of Seed that cannot be corrupted when we experience salvation. As with any seed you plant in a garden, that seed must be tended to and grown with care. Even though we have an Incorruptible Seed within us, we are still human with fleshly and worldly lusts and desires. But within the incorruptible seed are the fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). Whichever we tend to and care for is what will grow. In 1 Peter 1, Peter says this;
1 Peter 1:13-16 Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; (14) as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; (15) but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, (16) because it is written, "BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY."
"Not conforming yourselves to the former lusts" is a key to growing the incorruptible seed God planted within us. We remain focused on the things of the world that bring us self-gratification, then we often end up walking in sin continuing to do the things that we did prior to salvation.
1 Peter 2:1-3 Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, (2) as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, (3) if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious.
So, according to Peter, there are things we need to lay aside that are still within us, even though we have an incorruptible seed planted within. Just because we have experienced salvation does not mean our old behavior is automatically changed. You see, we still live in a world where the enemy still roams to and fro. Our enemy seeks to devour us. If he can keep us focused on the things of the world, then we are of no threat to him in advancing the kingdom of God. Paul told the Romans:
Romans 8:6-8 For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. (7) Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. (8) So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
Our natural mind, the logical human part of us wars and fights with God because it is in direct opposition to the things of God. I found this to be more evident than ever before when I took my psychology and sociology classes for my undergrad degree. There is nothing in psychology or sociology that aligns itself with the word of God. Those two are all about the natural mind. Paul said it best. The natural mind cannot understand the things of God. There is a battle that rages within us against the things of God. It has to come into submission to the Spirit and will of God. It is a natural rebellion that I believe was born out of Adam's and Eve's disobedience in the Garden of Eden.
James 4:5-10 Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, "The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously"? (6) But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: "GOD RESISTS THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE." (7) Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. (8) Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. (9) Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. (10) Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.
So, what does submitting to God mean? 'Submit' here in James means: to subordinate; reflexively to obey: - be under obedience (obedient), put under, subdue unto, be (put) in subjection (to, under), submit self unto. There doesn't seem to be much room for interpretation here does it? We are to align our will under the authority of Jesus Christ so that we can resist the devil. We are to live according to His statutes and not according to our own desires. We are to place ourselves under His authority, just as we do our bosses or our parents. We attempt to obey the natural laws and statutes of man as a sign to our submission of the governing authority of the land. Do we attempt to follow the statutes of God in as conscientious manner to demonstrate our submission to His authority over our lives?
The last three verses of Galatians chapter 5 after listing the fruits of the Spirit are:
Galatians 5:24-26 And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. (25) If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. (26) Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.
Have you crucified your flesh? Are you more spirit minded than world minded? It is difficult. It is painful and it is mandatory for growth in Christ. 1 Peter 2:2 said that desiring the milk of the Word is how we grow. Being able to submit ourselves to God and acknowledge His full authority over every aspect of our lives is an important aspect of spiritual growth. This is what the children of Israel had to do in order to move into the Promised Land. Those that were disobedient had to wander in the wilderness until death. They were unable to see the promise fulfilled because of their disobedience and refusal of submission to God. Once their obedience had been tested, they were told to sanctify themselves and make their preparations for crossing the Jordan River. But it all starts with obedience...(1 Peter 1:22)
What preparations are left for you to make? Has your obedience led you to edge of the Promise or are you wandering in the wilderness?
Join the discussion on Facebook.
