THE BATTLE WITHIN
"We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin, I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do." - Romans 7:14-15
By Synthia Esther
December 22, 2009
"So I find this law at work : When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God's law; but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God - Through Jesus Christ our Lord! - (Romans 7:21-26) We are told to fear the Lord and shun evil. For this brings health to our body and nourishment to our bones (Proverbs 3:7-8). Yet we go on sinning. It is then that God allows us to become disciplined by His lessons of experience.
EXPERIENCE BEARS WITNESS
The story is told by James Michener, who had a neighbour whose tree stopped producing apples, so he hammered rusty nails around the trunk. That year he got his greatest crop of apples. He claimed that hammering the nails produced a shock that reminded the tree that it was to bear fruit and grow apples. Unscientific to be sure, however maybe it worked. Likewise Michener explained how heart bypass surgery, hip surgery, and a bout with vertigo were nails God allowed and hammered into the truck of his life in order to bear spiritual fruit. Realizing he wasn't going to live forever he got busy and in five years wrote eleven books - including best sellers.
What does this tell us about our own personal experience and hardships? The very words you are reading were brought about due to like trials and tribulations within my own life. Which inturn caused the production of fruit within my soul to produce "8" ministry websites. The truth being, one of the primary ways we humans learn the truth of God's word, will, and ways, is through personal experience. For God promotes our experience to bear witness to His love. And it was the hammer of nails into Christ's flesh on the Cross of Calvary as sins sacrificial lamb, that enabled all of humanity to know and experience His great, abiding love (John 3:16-17).
GOD DISCIPLINES THOSE HE LOVES
"My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline, and do not lose heart when He rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those He loves, and He punishes everyone He accepts as a son. Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live! Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in His holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Latter on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. Make level paths for your feet, so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed (Hebrews 12:5-12)."
DON'T GIVE THE DEVIL AN OPEN DOOR
Through personal experience we learn "not" to give the devil an open door and foothold within our lives (Ephesians 4:27). For God has made known the mystery of His will according to His good pleasure, which He purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment - to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ. For in Him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of Him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of His will, in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of His glory (Ephesians 1:9-12). So when trials come we know, there is a way: and we are to walk in it..." (Isaiah 30:21) For we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28). To God be the glory great things He has done!
Copyright - 2009-2010, Synthia Esther. All Rights Reserved.
