Lies2Lightđź•Ż

Setting a course, and sticking to it.

Disclaimer: To understand the Lord's spiritual truth, you must be born from above by his Holy Spirit. Be sure you've submitted yourself to the Gospel of Jesus Christ and receive this gift from the Lord, lest you add knowledge with no power and are held eternally accountable.

“Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established. Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.” (Proverbs 4:26-27)

Introduction

Something that was always a struggle for me as a false convert was setting a path and sticking to it. I would waffle on things that should be rock solid, I would change plans quickly usually at a whim, and this is all fruit of being led by the flesh. What I've been learning over the past month, and what the Lord has taught me, is the importance of having a course, and sticking to that course. This involves a few different points which I want to cover to edify you today, and encourage you to have a plan, and hold fast to it.

When you can't discern good from evil, every step is uncertain.

One of the main points I want to bring up is the importance of discernment. Back when I was a false convert, I really struggled with this because I didn't truly have the Spirit of God. I had a lot of knowledge of God's word, I had a lot of knowledge of the truth, but applying it was a whole different story (see my testimony). I would stress myself out over various decisions, offload my discernment on others, and I would struggle to decipher exactly how to walk in the truth properly. I had no solid ground to stand on because I wasn't relying totally in God's word, and I lacked spiritual understanding to discern good from evil, not having the Spirit.

“A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.” (James 1:8)

“The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!” (Matthew 6:22-23, KJV)

After my conversion, my eye now single on the Lord and his word, everything seemed to flow so smoothly, unlike it did before. The flesh clouds proper judgement. When you judge a situation in the flesh, you're judging based off of emotions, feelings, senses, experiences, etc. and not off of the solid truth of God's word. Crucifying this flesh, walking in the Spirit, allows for a solid and clear judgment based off of the truth, and not off of your own desires.

“This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.” (Galatians 5:16)

Corruption in the world through lust.

I wanted to briefly touch on this point, though it deserves its own post! The flesh is always wanting different, wanting more, wanting change, wanting stimulation, wanting excitement, it's not subject to the law of God. There's a lot of corruption in the world due to lust, desiring things that are not the truth. As I explained in the previous section, when the eye is single on the Lord, I've found the decision making process clear, and straightforward. However, if it's not, then I take my cares to the Lord because he cares for me, and I go to his word, and he clears it up for me.

When setting a course as a saint (talking to those given the Spirit by God), be sure to gain the knowledge of what is the will of God, and what is good, by soaking in the word of God often. Then when you know what is good, you'll clearly be able to identify what's not good. A saint once told me, "know every detail of a real $20 bill, and you won't be fooled by the counterfeits." Knowing the truth is a weapon against evil desires. If much corruption comes by lust, by knowing the word of God you'll be able to identify the evil before it begins to draw you away. Lust will try to pull you around every which way, but by walking in the Spirit, and having a set course and a plan in that which is good, you'll be able to put down anything that tries to pull you away from that plan, continuing in that which is good. Makes sense! This is what I've found so far in my walk.

“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” (Romans 12:2)

“That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.” (1 Peter 4:2)

“Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” (2 Peter 1:2-4)

More on this topic to come!

Filling your life with good, keeps you from evil.

This is a big one, fill up every bit of your life with good, and evil can't have a foothold. What do I mean by this? In the word of God, the men of God had 5 main things they focused on daily in the Lord. These things were:

  1. Basic functions (Eat, Sleep, Work, etc.)
  2. Ministry of the word
  3. Fellowship with saints
  4. Studying God's word
  5. Restoring in the Lord's creation

For teachings on this subject:
https://www.dontperish.com/bibleteaching/5-things-godly-saints-always-did-and-still-do

These are the 5 areas every saint should focus on, including me, when planning our lives around the Lord! When you test something you could be doing, and find it good, find a spot for it in your life of service to God. Here's an example

"Is studying a new language good?"

Language learning can then be added into the point of "Ministry," along with the local ministry you should already be doing for the Lord, to reach more people with the truth of Jesus Christ! More light shining :) All of this requires the right balance of course, but fill your life up with things that are good, pure, true, and advancing the kingdom of God, and the flesh will be choked out. Like I said before, once you've got your life filled up, a course set in those five areas focused on Christ, you can clearly identify when the lusts of the flesh come up, and can put them down quickly.

“Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31)

“Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.” (Colossians 3:2)

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16)

God may change your course, and that's good!

So I talked a little bit about setting a course, now I just want to briefly talk about how we saints are bought with a price, and our life is not our own. While we can be confident in doing good, setting a course, enduring in it daily, the Lord has every right to take you in another direction as he sees fit. Don't get this confused with the lusts of the flesh! The Lord is the Father of lights, good gifts come from him, so he'll guide your feet into another good way as he sees fit. For example:

Let's say you're a single saint (man), consistently learning that language I talked about earlier, getting better and better, but have always been open to marriage (something good) if the opportunity arises. One day another single saint (woman) enters the scene, with fruit of holiness, a solid testimony, and a desire for marriage (something good). Because you don't have 40 hours in a day, and a betrothal takes much effort to get right, you forgo the new language learning you've taken up to focus on this new saint that's entered into your life. You go from one good thing, to another, all glorifying to God, just set on a different course.

I hope that made sense, one good to another in the Lord. I'm always open to the Lord changing plans in my own life from one good thing to another, as I know he works all things for my good, and you should be too! Filling your life with good allows you to be flexible in that which is good because your life is lived to glorify God. The Lord has all the times and seasons in his hand, just keep bearing good fruit, and he'll move you as he wills. I repeated the word good a lot, the Lord is good!

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:8-9)

“Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.” (Hebrews 13:5-6, KJV)

“Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that. But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil.” (James 4:13-16, KJV)

Finally, my own course, and an exhortation.

All this talk about making plans, but how about my own? I want to share with you my own course in each of the 5 areas I talked about, so you have an idea of what it looks like. Yours may look a little different, but as long as you make sure it's good, righteous, according to God's will and word, you will do well!

Basic Functions

Ministry

Fellowship

Studying

Restoring

My life is filled up! How's yours? Have you set a course, redeeming the time for the Lord in things that are good? I have to test myself everyday, making sure the balance of these things are correct and glorifying to God. I hope you do too! I pray this post edified and encouraged you, and gave you some good things to think about as you continue to seek the Lord. May he be glorified in all the wonderful works his saints, purchased by the blood of Jesus Christ, produce!

For more edification, teachings, and preachings, check out these saints striving in biblical truth: https://www.dontperish.com/

#Spirit #flesh #learning