Throwing off the old

“Throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God – truly righteous and holy.” Ephesians 4:22-24

Throw off the former way of life. I love the way that sounds, and I wish it was as easy to do as it sounds… But maybe it’s not as hard as we make it.

When I was twelve years old, I began experiencing symptoms of depression. Listlessness and poor self image were the easier-dealt-with problems. Suicidal tendencies were another thing entirely. Over the next several years, my parents took me to counselors, doctors, and church mentors. Some wanted to talk about my thoughts and feelings. Some wanted me to take pills. The one that helped most was a young mom from the church. She taught me about women in the Bible, about faith, about friendship, and about prayer.

Through the prayers of this woman, my mom, and others who loved me, God began drawing me nearer to Him. Though I rarely have suicidal thoughts now, each day begins a new battle for my mind. I work to throw off the old, sinful nature (i.e. lack of trust and faith, joylessness, etc.) and to renew my thoughts and attitudes.

I knew Jesus Christ before all this began, but through it I’ve grown to know Him better. His love, His sacrifice, and His power have become more real to me. As if taking holy medicine, if I miss a daily dose of prayer and time in the Bible, my thoughts reflect it. Would I rather not battle depression? Perhaps. But if losing the need to fight meant losing the need to seek Him, I’d rather do battle.

Spiritual seeds are usually planted in and through situations we don’t expect and would rather not experience. Whether you fight depression or some other potentially debilitating condition, renewing your mind and attitudes is a daily effort.

Are you ready for any situation to plant seeds? Are you spending time in the Bible and in prayer to keep your thoughts where they belong?

Father God, help us throw off our former ways and learn to renew our thoughts and attitudes. Draw us near and remind us to spend time in your word and in prayer with you. Amen.

No other name

"There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved." Acts 4:12

How many gods and paths to salvation can you name in our culture today? Buddha and Mohammed are the most visible, but people worship all manner of creation with the hope that it will bring them to enlightenment and salvation. Money, sex, wisdom, food, nature, and other people can become gods in our lives if we allow them. And the believers of the first century church were exposed to belief in all the gods of mythology, including Zeus, Aphrodite, Isis, and others.

Are any of these names capable of saving us?

"We cannot stop telling about everything we have seen and heard." Acts 4:20

In an age of deceit and blatant idol worship, Peter and John knew the truth. They took every opportunity to tell about Jesus Christ and many people were saved, set free from bondage to false gods and empty hope. What a harvest they gathered from those seeds planted! We have the same opportunities to tell about everything we have seen and heard. They might be things the world overlooks or bypasses without understanding, but wisdom, faith, special knowledge, healing, and miracles are gifts of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:8-10).

Dear God, please open my eyes to see and hear things of you. Give me boldness to share everything with someone who needs you. Amen.

What have you seen and heard of Jesus, and who can you plant a few seeds in today?

Four ways to sow for the harvest

In an earlier post, we said one way to reach people for spiritual harvest is to pray for them. That is the first thing and the most consistent action we should be taking to show others the way to eternal life and freedom in Jesus. But let's look at other ways. How did Jesus reach people when He walked the earth?

Talking to the Samaritan woman at the well:
Jesus replied, "If you only knew the gift God has for you and who you are speaking to, you would ask me, and I would give you living water." John 4:10

Jesus knew people at the heart level. He spoke to this woman's deepest need. I believe what he says is not arrogance, but prophecy. He knew she would ask Him for the living water. Showing her sincere desire to understand, the woman questioned Jesus about the contents of the well and how He could possibly get living water for her.

The next thing Jesus does is speak in practical terms:
Jesus replied, "Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again." John 4:13


We can meet people with things they understand and with facts they can relate to. We drink, we get thirsty, we drink again, and on the cycle goes. But Jesus says the person who drinks of His living water will have a "fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life." (John 4:14)

After revealing her life situation, Jesus gets to the heart of the matter. He reveals Himself to her, saying, "I AM the Messiah!" We must not rush people into a heartfelt decision for Jesus, but we must not delay. How can we know when the time is right? We listen to them, and we listen to the Spirit reveal His perfect timing.

What was the result of Jesus' conversation with the Samaritan woman at the well? She didn't walk back to her people, calmly and quietly replaying her interaction with Him. She raced back to the village so fast that she left her water jug at the well. And she didn't keep her new-found knowledge to herself. She told everyone she'd come face to face with the Messiah.

Many Samaritans from the village believed in Jesus because the woman had said, "He told me everything I ever did!" John 4:39


Then  they said to the woman, "Now we believe, not just because of what you told us, but because we have heard him ourselves. Now we know that he is indeed the Savior of the world." John 4:42

The Bible tells us that Jesus is love, and as He doesn't tolerate lies we know He spoke the truth. I believe His actions are prompted and characterized by love. The people He met recognized this, and the people you meet will recognize it, too. Speak the truth in love, waiting on the word of the Lord, and pray for the people you want to see added to the Kingdom. Then watch the Spirit move.

What would you do if you met Jesus face to face? Can you be a physical representation of His love and truth to anyone in your life?

Begging for Life

"There was a certain royal official whose son lay sick at Capernaum.  When this man heard that Jesus had arrived in Galilee, he went to him and begged him to come and heal his son, who was close to death."  John 4: 46-47

The royal official is another "outsider" most likely from the Roman government who comes to Jesus seeking his intervention.  He is not part of religious Jewish society but comes seeking Jesus to heal his son anyway.  Somewhere he must have heard about Jesus' compassion acts of healing for the sick, so he came seeking the same for his son.  At some point, the seed was sown and when this man had the opportunity he sought Jesus for his sons healing.  Jesus only spoke the words and the son lived. 

"He himself believed and his household."  The harvest that day was a Roman household who before receiving back their son only knew Jesus from afar.  That day they knew him personally. 

Father, I ask that any who only know you from afar would take the step of asking you for personal knowledge of you in their lives. 

Blessings

 

Jesus Felt Compassion

Matthew 9:35 - 38    Jesus was going through all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every kind of sickness.  Seeing the people, He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dispirited like sheep without a shepherd.  Then He said to His disciples, "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.  Therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest".


This month we are focusing on sowing spiritual seeds and the following harvest.  Sowing spiritual seeds can take place in many forms and since this blog focuses on prayer, of course, we consider prayer one of the most loving gifts we have to offer someone.  Prayer  enters the spiritual realm and allows us to battle with God for that person. 

God is able to take  the spiritual seeds scattered by his people and water them with the Holy Spirit to bring someone to the place of wanting life in Him.  We really don't know how this happens, it is one of the mysteries of God.  We do know He gives everyone the opportunity to choose to know him; the offer is for all.   

Jesus had compassion and the multitudes followed him.  Pray that the Lord of the harvest will provide you the privilege of offering up prayers and words of hope to someone in distress. 


Father, we pray that you will help us see the one person who needs our prayers and support the most.  Help us offer seeds of hope that you can use to bring this person to a place of rest in you.  


Blessings