Good morning and welcome in everyone. Today, we are going to take a look at a passage of scripture, but before we do that, I wanted to tell you a little story.
Dieting seems to be a huge phase that is going on in society right now. Each day people will try to tone their muscles by lifting weights or shed a few pounds by abstaining from certain kinds of foods. But, if a person is going to get physically fit, it’s going to require some effort, after all, the weights don’t lift themselves. You will have to lay off certain rich foods or drinks that you enjoy.
This reminds me of the Christian Life.
To be successful at anything, it is going to require some discipline. Although bodily exercise is really not that profitable to us, we must be careful to discipline ourselves to abstain and overcome the sinful deeds of the flesh. Spiritual disciplines are the most important ones to possess, because they lead to eternal life.
1 Timothy 4:8 For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.
Mortification is learning to deny yourself of certain things that are contrary to the will of God. Not everybody deals with the exact same issues in their lives, but whatever they may be, we must be capable of overcoming them all. Sin is very deceitful, and can creep very slowly into somebody’s life. It’s like a black thundercloud that you can see approaching in the distance, but it’s movement is so slow that you really don’t give it much thought at the moment. It’s like being on a road that feels like the correct path to take, but it’s headed completely in the wrong direction.
Proverbs 16:25 There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
In order to someday enter eternal life, we have to get rid of the deeds of the carnal nature. We must put to death the old man, and go through a complete Spiritual rebirth. God grants us grace in our time of need, but we don’t want to receive God’s grace in vain. We must go through the process of subduing one’s bodily desires. Each of us have certain weaknesses, but we must be able to bring them completely under our control. This requires yielding to the will of God, rather than your own.
Romans 6:12-13 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.
We must remember that we can defeat sin, and our Lord gives us the strength to do so.
Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
Again, each of us have certain issues that we will have to deal with in this life, but if we are going to move on to perfection, it’s going to require certain modifications and changes in the way that you live your life. It’s going to require seeking Spiritual things rather than things of the flesh. It’s going to require changing behaviors or attitudes that are displeasing to God. It’s going to require submitting to God’s will and destroying the sinful works of the old man.
Ephesians 4:22-24 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
If we are ever going to be free from sinful living, we must depart from them. The bondage to iniquity must be broken by the acceptance and the application of biblical truth.
John 8:34-36 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.
And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever. If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
Some of you might have a dog at home that is really difficult to control unless you walk them on a leash. Mortification is a process of putting a leash on ourselves to control our actions. We know that whatever temptations come along, God will not allow us to be tempted above that which we are able.
1 Corinthians 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
Christianity is about learning how to deny oneself. It’s learning how to say no to certain activities and behavior that is not beneficial to your life. We must develop a regiment of spiritual disciplines and training, like someone who works out regularly and has developed a regular routine of exercise. Through temperance we need to be able to conquer the sinful appetites of the flesh, and those who do so will receive eternal life.
James 1:12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.
The wages of sin is death, and we must do whatever it takes to eradicate them from our lives.
Romans 6:21-23 What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death. But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
The true sons of God are led by God’s Holy Spirit, not by the spirit of error.
Romans 8:12-14 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
Romans 8:5-8 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
Mortification must happen to inherit eternal life, because ultimately sins will be punished.
Colossians 3:5-6 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:
For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:
Good intentions don’t always make for a strong finish. It’s going to require…
….. Spiritual Disciplines
Let’s think about these things for right now. We can be found on your web browser by Google searching, tlkjbc where you can find our diaries distributed through various platforms, or by getting our entire podcast feeds directly, along with transcripts at tlkjbc.com, or I suppose, you can find us somewhere up here, in the Great Northern Minnesota woods. Lord willing, we will talk with you some more tomorrow. Till then, bye bye everybody. ❤️
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