Dear brothers and sisters, pattern your lives after mine, and learn from those who follow our example.
Philippians 3:17 NLT
http://bible.com/116/php.3.17.NLT
If we are going to call ourselves by His name, we should take hold of the power, love, and self-control that is promised to come in the Holy Spirit. We should grow and become mature and be able to say “pattern your life after mine” and not be proud in that statement, but humbled by the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.
2 Timothy 1:7 NLT
http://bible.com/116/2ti.1.7.NLT
Realize that our vessels were once filled with all of the vile sin and desires of our wretched hearts. But we receive His Holy Spirit into our lives:
– as we come into communion with Him daily
– as we study and learn from the Word of God
– as we seek His face in prayer
– as we make decisions to resist temptation and rely upon Him for strength to overcome evil
– as we decide to walk in the Spirit bearing the fruit of His nature instead of responding in the flesh to life’s circumstances
– as we serve others knowing that we are serving Him
– as we share Truth, Hope, Faith, and Love with the lost and spiritual needy of this world
You see, empty and worthless religion alone will allow some to talk about and learn about something on Sunday but remain lukewarm in their walk throughout the week. Professing Christ without possessing Him will allow some to remain stunted with no growth in their lives. And where there is no spiritual maturity, there is either a babe in Christ or one whose faith is dead and no longer alive or growing at all.
You have been believers so long now that you ought to be teaching others. Instead, you need someone to teach you again the basic things about God’s word. You are like babies who need milk and cannot eat solid food. For someone who lives on milk is still an infant and doesn’t know how to do what is right. Solid food is for those who are mature, who through training have the skill to recognize the difference between right and wrong.
Hebrews 5:12-14 NLT
http://bible.com/116/heb.5.12-14.NLT
So do you say that you are still on milk and do not know how to do what is right? Do you not yet have the skill to recognize the difference between right and wrong? Are you still a babe that needs more teaching about those things that lead to death and that are evidence of those who are enemies of the Lord and who serve another master?
Or do you know the difference between right and wrong and you have chosen that you will not serve the Lord? Have you decided that you will follow in the footsteps of your wicked father, the devil who is cast from the heavenly places because of his prideful attitude and his self glorifying nature? Have you set your heart on being cast into the eternal flames with him, with the sin and darkness that you choose to live more than Him who loves you? I hope and pray that this is not you, friend. Our if it is, that you will repent and turn your eyes to the Lord before it is too late.
Seek the Lord while you can find him. Call on him now while he is near. Let the wicked change their ways and banish the very thought of doing wrong. Let them turn to the Lord that he may have mercy on them. Yes, turn to our God, for he will forgive generously.
Isaiah 55:6-7 NLT
http://bible.com/116/isa.55.6-7.NLT
So your life today should be an example to those around you of his Holy Spirit that lives withing you if you are truly born again and Holy Spirit filled. You should be walking in the Spirit, which looks quite different than walking in the flesh. Yes, it takes power, and love, and self-control to do this. But that is what He gives us. He pours out His own divine nature into our lives, more and more, as we grow in our relationship with Christ. He lives in us and with us, as we become more aware of His ways.
You hold the key to the revival that the world needs. If Christ is at all important to you, He is all important – there is no room for lukewarm, carnal “Christians” who are slaves to sin in the body of Christ, at the table of Almighty God, in the family of the Children of God.
Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave of sin. A slave is not a permanent member of the family, but a son is part of the family forever. So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free.
John 8:34-36 NLT
http://bible.com/116/jhn.8.34-36.NLT
And you will say, “but my sins are forgiven, I have confessed” –
1 John 1:9-10 ESV
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
But I will ask you, are you still only looking at yourself? Are you still only concerned with claiming a heaven ticket for yourself and escaping the punishment that you deserve for your sinful ways? Is your hardened heart not yet softened for your brothers and sisters in need? And they do not need to claim a name with their mouths but insist on denying the power, love, and self-control that can make them holy.
You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times. For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred. They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good. They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God. They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that!
2 Timothy 3:1-5 NLT
http://bible.com/116/2ti.3.1-5.NLT
Is time to grow up.
It’s time to have life breathed into your life and to see life breathed into the lives of those around you.
Then he asked me, “Son of man, can these bones become living people again?” “O Sovereign Lord ,” I replied, “you alone know the answer to that.” Then he said to me, “Speak a prophetic message to these bones and say, ‘Dry bones, listen to the word of the Lord ! This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Look! I am going to put breath into you and make you live again! I will put flesh and muscles on you and cover you with skin. I will put breath into you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the Lord .’” So I spoke this message, just as he told me. Suddenly as I spoke, there was a rattling noise all across the valley. The bones of each body came together and attached themselves as complete skeletons. Then as I watched, muscles and flesh formed over the bones. Then skin formed to cover their bodies, but they still had no breath in them. Then he said to me, “Speak a prophetic message to the winds, son of man. Speak a prophetic message and say, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Come, O breath, from the four winds! Breathe into these dead bodies so they may live again.’” So I spoke the message as he commanded me, and breath came into their bodies. They all came to life and stood up on their feet—a great army. Then he said to me, “Son of man, these bones represent the people of Israel. They are saying, ‘We have become old, dry bones—all hope is gone. Our nation is finished.’ Therefore, prophesy to them and say, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: O my people, I will open your graves of exile and cause you to rise again. Then I will bring you back to the land of Israel. When this happens, O my people, you will know that I am the Lord . I will put my Spirit in you, and you will live again and return home to your own land. Then you will know that I, the Lord , have spoken, and I have done what I said. Yes, the Lord has spoken!’”
Ezekiel 37:3-14 NLT
http://bible.com/116/ezk.37.3-14.NLT
If you will be content in something, be content with what you have in this world, whether it is little or it is much. But do NOT become content with how little you know of God. Do NOT be content with how little time you spend with Him. Do NOT be content with how little you love Him.
Do not decide to turn back because you think that there is a cost. Has the enemy told you there is value in the sin and temptation and pleasures and treasures of this world that you cling to so strongly? Do you not know that they are worthless and are poison for your life and the lives of others? Lay down what is temporary and worthless, and take hold of what is valuable, priceless, and eternal.
Harold J. Ballinger 