Christian's Handbook 1

Handbook 1 is a collection of Christian articles containing spiritual wisdom and knowledge derived from Christians' personal experiences in living daily for God.

How It Works

Handbook 1: Article 68 - A More Excellent Way

"It seems to be a fact of life that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. I love to do God's will so far as my new nature is concerned, but there is something else deep within me, in my lower nature, that is at war with my mind and wins the fight and makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. In my mind I want to be God's willing servant but instead I find myself still enslaved to sin. So you see how it is -- my new life tells me to do right, but the old nature that is still inside me loves to sin. Oh, what a terrible predicament I'm in! Who will free me from my slavery to this deadly lower nature? Thank God! It has been done by Jesus Christ our Lord. He has set me free. So there is now no condemnation awaiting those who belong to Christ Jesus. For the power of the life-giving Spirit -- and this power is mine through Christ Jesus -- has freed me from the vicious circle of sin and death."

Romans 7: 21 - 8: 2

I have been experiencing the above Scripture and didn't recognize it until I finally arrived at the bottom line: "for the power of the life-giving Spirit has set me free from the vicious circle of sin and death". All that time up to the last victorious moment I thought that I was a total failure and would never be free. But now I know how it works! I'd like to share it with you.

A certain event occurred frequently in my life and I always reacted the same way -- with anger and scathing words. I told myself that it was my right as a human being to act in this manner. My flesh and spirit were in agreement. Then the Holy Spirit told me that my reaction was sin. For a short time I argued with Him but I finally admitted that He was right.

Now it would have been great if that would have settled it and I could have simply reacted in an acceptable way every time a similar situation occurred. But it wasn't that easy. O how many times that event invaded my life and every time I sinned. I was wretched, guilty, and a failure.

Although there was no obvious outward change, within me began to grow an increasing desire to obey the Holy Spirit. A war was going on. I observed that although I ultimately reacted sinfully I was able to hold out longer before I succumbed to my flesh and old nature. My flesh was still in control, but my spirit was growing stronger.

And then one glorious day my spirit ruled the day. I did not obey my flesh, I obeyed the Holy Spirit. I was free from my old woman.

Then I recognized in its entirety the fierce war that had been raging within me. All the time that I thought I was failing miserably my spirit was growing stronger and although it usually lost the daily skirmish, it was winning the war. Who freed me from my slavery to my deadly lower nature? The power of the life-giving Spirit -- and this power is mine through Christ Jesus -- has set me free.

And what of tomorrow? The battle still goes on in areas of my life still ruled by my old woman. But now that I know how it works, I claim the victory through Christ Jesus my Lord. He is freeing me from the vicious circle of sin and death. Praise His Holy Name!

MC

Imagination is not faith. Imagination projects unreal images and seeks to attach reality to them. Faith creates nothing, it simply reckons upon that which is already there.


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  1. The Friend of God
  2. God's Rest
  3. The Way
  4. Change
  5. How It Works
  6. Responsibility
  7. Our Thoughts
  8. Evil Thoughts
  9. Just Thinking

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