But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.
1 Corinthians 2:9-10
Yesterday, I wrote about how God was doing a new work in me by showing me He wants to remove all complaining from me, from my spirit, so I can learn to trust Him even more and enter deeper into His rest. God’s faithful to give us many opportunities to practice His new freedom for us. When we mess up, we don’t need to feel condemnation. We simply need to pick up where we left off and continue to let the Holy Spirit complete His work in us knowing He loves us all the time. ☺
For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.
Galatians 5:17
In Jesus’ day, many got offended by His teachings. It caused many to stop following Him. It’s been the same throughout time.
The Word offends us, our flesh. Our flesh wants to have its way and when God begins to do a new work in our lives, our flesh will get offended and resist His work of liberty in us. This is important to recognize because many people leave Christianity when their flesh gets challenged (offended) by the Holy Spirit’s work in them.
For instance, a few weeks back, the Holy Spirit gave Ann the thought, “Is this (or any other thought she may have during the day) glorifying God?” God was wanting to take Ann to a new level in Him. He wanted to set her more free in her spirit by bringing this particular thought (one of His ways) to her attention. Now, the flesh usually responds with something like, “I want to think this thought right now (or do this or that right now) and no one’s going to tell me different.” Right? This type of response from the flesh is what can make renewing our minds to the Word of God seem impossible at times. But the thing is, we don’t have to follow Jesus or renew our minds in our own strength. It’s pretty hard to defeat the flesh with the flesh, right? As God points out new areas of freedom He has for us to walk in, the Holy Spirit living inside us reminds us of this new action over and over again. Then, He uses His power in our lives to help us make these types of changes in our lives that bring us closer to the kind of life and relationship we had with God in the garden before the fall. God asks us to cooperate (to be willing to do our part) with His Holy Spirit as His work is taking place in us. (Galatians 5:17 above)
Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.
Philippians 2:12-13
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
Romans 12:1-2
“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.
John 15:5
God bless,
Mark