THE LIFE OF FAITH AND THE GLORIOUS CHURCH - 2009
                                                      FEBRUARY 4th


TO THE DEGREE WE FEED UPON THE WORD OF GOD - AND THUS ALLOW HIS LOVE TO BE SHED ABROAD IN OUR HEART - IT IS TO THAT DEGREE THAT ANY GROUND OF FEAR REMAINING SHALL BE REMOVED FROM OUR HEART


          ...."There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love"....

                                                                                                                                                                                                                           1 John 4:18 NASB


          This scripture ties in perfectly with the scriptures that we looked at previously. As one feeds and meditates upon the Word of God continually the incorruptible seed of that holy Word enters into their heart and, thus, the Holy Spirit causes it to be revealed to them in just the way that is needed - according to the fullness of the Father's purpose. To the degree that one meditates upon the Word of God [and, thus, comes to trust in the Word of God] it is to that degree that the Holy Spirit will be enabled to continually shed the Father's love abroad in their heart. There is no fear in love, and we know that love casts out fear! Therefore, from this, we can see that to the degree we "feed" upon the Word of God - and, again, allow His love to be shed abroad in our heart - it is to that degree that any ground of fear remaining shall be removed from our heart. If we are diligent in our handling of God's Word day in and day out THEN not only will we be successful and prosper in all that we do, but there will also be no ground left for fear to work in our lives. If there still remains ground for fear within us then it is not for us to worry or get upset in any way - and, thus, be found "fearing the fear". It is for us to realize by faith and trust that as we go to the Word of God, and "allow" the love of God to be shed abroad in our heart, that that perfect love shall cast out any ground of fear that has surfaced.

TO THE DEGREE WE FELLOWSHIP WITH THE FATHER AND HIS WORD OR WITH THE WORLD, IT IS TO THAT DEGREE THAT WE SHALL EITHER SOW TO THE SPIRIT OR SOW TO THE FLESH

          As Christians, we must come to realize that "meditating" [dwelling] upon the things of this world will produce within us a strong desire to sow to the things of the flesh - and we know that sowing to the flesh will ALWAYS reap some form of death and darkness in our walk! But as we meditate upon the things above, and keep our eyes "fixed" upon Jesus it will create within us not only a clean heart, but also an attitude of sowing to the Spirit - which will, in turn, cause the absolute life of God to abide in us superabundantly to a continually greater degree. To the degree we fellowship with the Father and His Word or with the world, it is to that degree that we shall either "sow to the Spirit" or "sow to the flesh". If we sow to the flesh and repentance is not immediately forthcoming then, until it is, we shall feel a continually stronger pull towards sin, and "fellowship" with the world.

THE KEY TO SUCCESS IN THE TRUE CHRISTIAN LIFE IS TO BRING EVERY THOUGHT CAPTIVE...TO THE REVEALED WORD OF GOD

          The key to success in the true Christian life is to bring EVERY thought captive - moment by moment [if necessary] - to the "revealed" Word of God. As the Christian brings every thought captive they will get stronger and stronger in their faith [not to mention receiving more and more revelation], and they will spontaneously seek to "sow" only to the Spirit of God in all things. If one truly desires to fulfil the fullness of the Father's purpose for their life and ministry then they MUST be found guarding their heart with ALL diligence at ALL times - continually avoiding that first step towards sin and the ways of the world [pride, selfishness, fear etc]. It is then - in this time of "guarding diligently" - that they will truly begin to experience the "fullness" of their inheritance in Christ. Again [and very important to remember], as one brings every thought captive to the Word of God, and as they bring every word and action in line with what the Father is calling them to do [in perfect obedience] then they shall become stronger and stronger in the Lord and, thus, the pull of sin and the desire to "conform" to the world and its ways shall decrease radically.

Related Scriptures: Romans 5:5; Galatians 6:7-8; Colossians 3:1-3; Hebrews 12:1-2; Psalm 51:10-13; John 10:10; 2 Corinthians 10:5; Proverbs 4:23;


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