King Of The Jews - Part 17When one receives Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour and experiences the new birth, they are immediately "Sanctified". This means; set apart. Several major changes take place in the spiritual realm upon being born again, but for the moment I would like to focus on Sanctification. Of all the operations of the Holy Spirit in a believer's life, Sanctification has a dual aspect; instant and progressive. Instantly at the new birth the Holy Spirit seals the believer, identifying that person as God's child, set apart from the unbelievers. This seal is God's "earnest money" so to speak, a down payment on our eternal relationship with Him, the Bride Price that is made in advance of the actual marriage. God sees this supernatural seal and knows; this is my child. However, as a person walks the walk of faith in Christ, they also become progressively sanctified in this way; the world begins to lose its lustre and the things of God begin to shine more brightly. A hunger for the things of God begins to grow and a distaste for the temporal also begins to grow. We become dead to the world and alive in Christ. Conversely, the world becomes dead to us, "For what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?" II Corinthians 6:7 I have said all that to say this; when I was younger I marvelled at my gray-haired Grandmother who spent hours reading and studying God's word. This world held no fascination for her. Her face seemed illuminated and her very being shone with joy as she searched "the unsearchable riches" of Christ Jesus that is "The Word", the living word of God. Now I am getting a glimpse of that, as I have through studying and feeding on the bread of life, begun to experience joy unspeakable. David said of God's words, "More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb". Psalm 19:10 I just got a letter from a man who was in great despair having kicked drugs 10 years ago and yet still dependent on pain medication for a chronic ailment. He was also depressed from the come down after years of being high on alcohol and other drugs. I know the feeling and I call it "Post Party Depression". An entire generation has rewired their brains from drug abuse and depression is now the most common ailment in our society. I personally have suffered from chronic depression for as long as I can remember. However, there is hope. "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee". Isaiah 26:3. That's the prescription for depression, for anxiety, for the cares of the world. So I encourage anyone reading this to keep on keeping on with your walk, rolling up your sleeves and getting into the word. Jesus said, "Man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God". He was quoting from Deuteronomy 8:3 in his answer to the devil when Jesus had fasted for 40 days and 40 nights. There is only one way to stand against the trials and tribulation, the temptations and testings that come upon us in this life. The old paradigm, "better living through chemistry', has proved empty and fruitless. "Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season". Hebrews 11:25 Because, all earthly pursuits of happiness offer only a "season" of pleasure. "Thou wilt show me the path of life: in thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore". Psalm 16:11 The deep well of addiction is bottomless. One is too many, a thousand are not enough. "There is a way that seemeth right unto a man but the end thereof are the ways of death". Proverbs 16:25
When I was in the depths of drug and alcohol addiction [Angel of Mercy (mp3 clip)] Forty is the number of testing. The Bible is replete with numerical symbolism; not to be confused with occult numerology. But God, a mathematician without peer, uses numbers often to convey symbolism. Psalm 40, is perhaps the most comforting of all the Psalms for the human condition of addiction as described above. Doubtless, David was referring to some other type of testing, as his life was filled with brutal trials before he assumed the throne, and certainly as King and even as a man after God's own heart, he suffered trials and temptations. But David knew the secret of victory. "Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper". Psalm 1:1-3 David, like Abraham looked forward in faith to the coming of the Messiah. He knew the covenant promises. "For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments; and his commandments are not grievous. For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith". I John 5:3&4 These commandments are not the 10 Commandments although the 10 Commandments are perfectly fine for everyone to hew to, and they are not the 800 plus Levitical Laws, because the great commandments of which John speaks "are not grievous". He is speaking of Salvation by Grace through Faith, "the victory that overcomes the world". Today I wanted to share a secret of victory and so I have. I also want to share a major word that Paul gave us. "And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind". Romans 12:2. At the risk of sounding obsessed with Dr. Wayne Dyer, I will relate what struck me as a definite coincidence, as before I could get to my keyboard, low and behold, Dr. Wayne popped up on our local PBS T.V. affiliate's fund-drive program and started giving the almost identical message... |
