TITLE: Monday Morning Christianity 1-15-2018 By Sheriena McEvers 01/15/18 |
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Monday Morning Christianity - Is it Normal?
Monday morning when life gets real, our relationship with Jesus Christ can guide us and provide all we need to meet the demands of life. It does not need to stay in church, nor be confined to Sunday. It is for everyday, every minute. It is a living, close relationship with our God through his son, Jesus Christ.
Do you consider your life a normal Christian life? Maybe, average would be a better description.
Is it full of joy, peace, and victory? Or is it a struggle marked by stress and fatigue? Are you living under a cloud of depression, or have an addiction? Are you worried or disappointed in your Christian life?
Maybe what you are living is not the normal Christian life from God’s perspective. Our normal and God’s normal can be quite different. It is quite apparent to us that our lives might not match up to the biblical descriptions of a Christian life.
What is the normal Christian life by biblical standards? From God’s viewpoint?
In the letter to the Romans, Paul says that we are more than conquerors. Seriously? Yes! More than conquerors. (Romans 8:37)
When was the last time you felt even close to being a conqueror, much less, more than a conqueror? In the second letter to the Corinthian church Paul tells us, (2 Corinthians 2:14) Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ. Always. When was the last time you felt like you triumphed?
So when Paul tells us that Jesus always leads us in a triumphant life, can we believe him? Does that sound like your walk with God on the first day of the work week? Does his joy and peace give evidence of his life in you on Wednesday afternoon?
Is living with depression living in triumph? Is living with worries and personal conflicts with family living like a conqueror? How do the two realities mix? Are the promises of triumphing just words? Do you know anyone free of worry and conflicts? Is there such a life?
Paul tells us that the same power that raised Christ from the dead dwells in us and will empower us to live triumphantly.
This is how this principle works.
Paul tells us we are more than conquerors after he tells us that our lives were crucified and buried with Christ. It is after we have been resurrected with Christ to a brand new life lived unto God that we are more than conquerors. In accepting we are dead, we abandon any hope in our own resources. Our natural person died with Christ and is unavailable to give help.
When we turn away from our dead life and turn to receive His life, we open ourselves up to his resources. He has limitless love, patience, power, peace, etc.
If we are in control in the smallest way, we will only yield to God when his leading meets with our approval. If it doesn’t, then we will ignore him and do what we want. At that point, we are on our own, unyoked from him.
No longer living triumphantly, we leave ourselves open to attack...leaving ourselves to live controlled by our natural self with all its weaknesses and sinful inclinations. This is not normal Christianity. It is the accepted normal, but not God’s normal.
God’s normal is dying to be free that we might be more than conquerors! This is not limited by anything except our faith and willingness to abandon ourselves to God. It is not limited to times of refreshing or revival. It is not limited to times when we feel like it. He meant it to be the everyday normal life for his people.
These aren’t just nice sounding words that have nothing to do with Monday morning life. They are truth. Facts.
Fact: Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you - John 14:27
Fact: If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. John 8:31-32
Fact: You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You. Isaiah 26:3
Fact: Casting all your care on Him for He cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7
Fact: My God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19
Lie: Life is not too big for you.
Truth: You, through Jesus Christ, are more than a conqueror.
Let’s see what else the Bible has to say. Remember, it is truth. It is what we base our life on. Trust me, there is a triumphant life waiting if you want to believe that paradox of losing to get, and dying to live. It is an incredible life! It doesn’t make sense to the natural person, but your spirit, that has been born again, yearns for it.
Words to light your path -
Romans 6:3-4 Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
Col. 3:3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me.
Will you be one of the few that turns your back on self and your resources to look to him for everything you need? Will you accept him as your life? Not only to forgive you of your sins, but to deliver you from your weak, sinful nature?
A triumphant life awaits you! A normal Christian life can be yours. A faith that meets Monday morning with anticipation knowing He is your life..
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