Learing not to trust in Yourself

Galatians 2:20

“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

The above proclamation should be the heart and breath of every follower of Christ, for it is not a declaration of what is to come, but what has happen in you.  It is Christ living in you and me.  What the apostle Paul writes about in Roman 7, is a Christian living not in Christ, but in defeat, living outside of the victory and below your calling.  Do not be fooled, not even for one moment; it is the norm in the Church, not the exception.  But also take heart that the apostle Paul, the apostle Peter, John Mark and many others could proclaim these words of Paul; “I do not understand my own actions.  For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.”  Why should we take heart, not that these men got captured by the flesh, but that they learn to not trust in themselves, not to put any confidence in their flesh? 

I am fearful that many a person who has entered into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ was not taught that a thief, that old serpent, the devil and his demons have targeted them.  Most of the time it is not a frontal assault, it’s deceptive, and these thoughts enter your mind, “well I do deserve, or I’m of no value, or the many other mind attacks by this thief that has one goal, to kill, steal, and destroy your witness of Christ living in you.  But as my friend Bill Gillham often said, our flesh was trained like a bird dog to get its needs met outside of Christ.  Bill often reminded us that Christians have two choices to walk in this world: “According to the flesh, and in the Spirit.” When living according to the flesh, it is not just doing bad things, but depending on yourself and your abilities to get your needs met apart from Christ.  Letting Christ live in you or walking by the Spirit, is not doing religious activity, but allowing Jesus to live His life through you.

Bill would always give us “Key Concepts;” this is one we should allow to be key in our minds and heart as we go about life on planet earth.  First, “Walking in the Spirit most often requires you to choose to walk by what God’s Word says rather than by what you feel.”  Maybe no one has shared with you, your true identity in Christ, but look these up Galatians 3:28, (We are all one body, no one is inferior) Galatians 4:7, (We are sons and daughters, heirs of God) Ephesian 1:7, (We are redeemed and forgiven) Romans 6:7, (You are free from sin’s power, you now can choose to sin or not to sin) and one last one but the list is much longer; 2 Corinthians 5:17, (A new creation, not a make over.)

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice