Healing

I am preparing to preach a two week series on July 5 & 6 and then July, 12 & 13. It is called Healing Stream and we'll be discussing the importance of community within the body of Christ. Especially the purpose of confession to others. This is a "tough sell" to most of us since we find protection in keeping areas of our life, especially sin areas, our past, our ongoing struggles with the flesh, etc. hidden from others. At best, we often skirt around subjects, giving the impression that we are being open, when in reality we're hiding the part of the story that really impacts us.

This past weekend, I was talking with a friend who had recently shared with me part of his past and the fact that it still negatively affected his walk with Christ. He had been extremely open and honest. We determined to keep sharing and seeking God for healing in this area. Circumstances have kept us from doing so, so I mentioned this to him. He said that his desire was to get back into it...but then...what he said next hit me like a brick. He said that he had felt and experienced a level of freedom and release through simply honestly communicating the issues with me. For the first time in 20 years, he felt healing taking place -- just because someone else knew!!! Is that amazing or what?

James 5:16 says, "Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed." Seems to me...that it's TRUE!

Our Sin...God's Grace

You struggle with sin don't you? Admit it. There are still that part of you that tries and tries, but falls again at times. Frustrating isn't it? It's that "flesh vs Spirit battle" within each of us. About the time we feel like we've really got a handle on it, it rears its ugly head again.

Maybe this will encourage you to KEEP FIGHTING. Check out Romans 5: 17-21. Look at these few truths.

1. The provision of God's grace covers all sin (17). God's unmerited, undeserved favor covers our sin -- ALL of it. Go to God and keep "short sin lists" with Him. His promise and word are always true even when ours isn't.

2. The provision of God's grace covers all amounts of sin (20). There is no "cap" on His grace, His love for us. He keeps forgiving. Now, that's not a reason to just keep on sinning, but it is a wonderful truth to know His unconditional love.

3. God's grace abounds through righteousness (21). It is our righteousness, achieved through God's love that actually causes grace to increase, abound and grow -- not our sin! When we live in His righteousness, he is a proud father who sees us living in truth -- and THAT, my friends is the ultimate proof of His grace.

Let's live in that truth NOW!

What Gets Between You and Jesus?

I was talking with someone a few days ago and was surprised to hear about their struggling relationship with God. As we got deeper into it, it became obvious that they were fighting the constant battle between the flesh and the spirit. The Apostle Paul wrote often of this fight going on with us between our "old fleshly nature", the one that focuses on the basest of our desires and our "new spirit nature", the one we receive at the point when we give our life to Christ.

Within us are these two archenemies doing constant battle. One old preacher used to say that the one who wins the fight is the one we feed the most -- I think he's right. If we feed the flesh, it grows voracious for more, but when we feed the spirit, it desires more and more Godly things.

This person admitted that they really just "like" the sin they are in and struggle to give it up in order to get back into right relationship with Jesus. I wonder how many others of you have things like that in your life, but have never really admitted that it's happening. We know that we cannot serve two masters -- and thus the challenge. Fence sitting is not a Christian sport!

What is between you and Jesus? What do you hang on to that feeds the flesh but starves the Spirit?
My challenge to each of us -- and what I shared with this person -- is to... find a quiet place, get with God for an hour and really determine what you want. What is your great desire? Who will you feed? What CHOICE will you make?