Reading this Christian classic for an upcoming presentation and thought I would capture observations here.
8.7.23
Chapter 9: Putting Sin to Death
Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.
Colossians 3:5
"If we are to pursue holiness, we must take some decisive action. " (page 65)
To destroy the strength and vitality of sin as it tries to reign in our body. (By the strength and under the direction of the Holy Spirit)
The cross section of dependence on and submission to the Holy Spirit can be exercised in the spiritual disciples.
- The word- renews our mind and focuses our values. (In Deuteronomy 17, we learn that The Kings of Israel were required to write the law in their own hand and read it all the days of their lives. With so many of them getting labeled as "doing evil in the sight of the Lord, and even the good ones breaking clear and simple laws that the whole nation paid for...it's hard to overstate what a difference it would have made if they had been in the word. Reminded of God's vision for the king of His people. We're in the same position. We have the word in front of it. Reading it everyday, verse-by-verse, we can't help but be changed by His values)
- Even further, memorizing passages that relate to the battles you face. (Psalm 119:11)
Sin gets established through habits. These habits have to be broken.
- Put offs
- put ons
Jerry Bridges asks us to image what the goal is for a soldier heading into battle...to "not get ht very much" or to "not get hit at all". We are in a spiritual battle and sin is the weapon the enemy uses against us. Be holy as He is holy, indeed!
Chapter 10: The Place of Personal Discipline
Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives' tales; rather, train yourself to be godly
I Timothy 4:7
Jerry Bridges quote Jay Adams:
You have sought and tried to obtain instant godliness. There is no such thing...We want someone to give us three easy steps to godliness, and we'll take them next Friday and be godly. The trouble is, godliness doesn't come that way.
Pursuit of Holiness, Jerry Bridges (page 75)
The same is true for establishing a permanent holiness. Three easy steps to arriving at holy and not having to worry about it any more.
But if we want to live in the tension between being dependent of the Holy Spirit and obedient to Him in our personal choices...here's the real how:
Living the Christian disciplines, also called spiritual disciplines. Paul tells us to disciple ourselves to be godly. (I Tim 4:7) and (spoiler alert), It's not a destination; it's the whole journey. As many of you have probably heard, Paul was using the Greek language of an athlete preparing to compete in the games. That's a structured, ongoing training.
Disciple 1: Taking in the Word
The Word was God-breathed by the Holy Spirit. So dependence on Him is rooted in the Word He inspired. Knowing what He has for us in that book more and more, deeper and deeper- gives us a foundation to build on. Rooted in the Rock.
It gives us concrete guidance on what to avoid and how to come back when we stray.
It strengthens us by building our confidence in what He thinks is importance for us to know.
If you're sitting around waiting for for a holy rush a inspiration and emotion, start with what He already gave you. Yes, there are mountain top experiences, but if you're thirsty- drink from the well He provided.
We must respond to what the Holy Spirit has already done if we are to expect Him to do more.
Pursuit of Holiness, Jerry Bridges (page 77)
Planned time each day.
Read or Listen
II Timothy 3:16-17: All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, THAT THE MAN OF GOD MAY BE COMPLETE, THOROUGHLY EQUIPPED FOR EVERY GOOD WORK. (PURPOSE)
Study
Memorize
Don't let the enemy of your heart tell you that you're too tired or too busy. Find the time. Just like you do for your the friends and loved ones whom you prioritize.
Look for a system that works for you. There are a lot of study methods out there. Ask around and investigate. There are many different learning styles; but it does need to be you and His Word.
Meditate
Not an emptying of your mind, as the world wants you to do, making you vulnerable to the enemy of your heart; but by focusing on specific scriptures, turning them over in your mind, applying them to your life.
I know what you might be thinking...I can't meditate...I get so distracted...HOWEVER, every woman I've every spoken to at any length will admit that they get conversations and ideas in their head, usually around 3am, that they can't stop from rolling around and rolling around. Arguments with a spouse or a co-worker that exist solely in our heads and last for days.
What if, when the obsessing started, we TOOK OUR THOUGHTS CAPTIVE, put off the mental ranting, and used that same capacity to focus on a topic to mull scripture and how it could apply to our lives?!?
Ask yourself how a scripture SPECIFICALLY applies to you and how you can be changed by it.
And don't forget to look at the scripture through the lens of being the Pharisee or King Ahab. There is a natural tenancy to want to identify with the "good guys" when often we learn the most, grow the most, and bring the most glory to the Lord by finding the ways we make the same mistakes as the "bad guys", opening our hearts to be changed by the Lord.
Personally, I was surprised how much I had in common with King Ahab, one very terrible King of Israel and the northern kingdom...most humbly realizing that the only reason I could never be as "bad" as he was because God was wise enough to never make me the king of a nation. We have no idea what we'd be capable of given all the money, fame, or power we think we'd love to wield.
Holy Habits (Perseverance)
The areas of our life where we fine disobedience are often habits that we formed. Putting off the old habits and putting on new ones requires discipline. These are the moments when we both lean on the Holy Spirit in prayer for supernatural strength; but also take personal responsibility to choose.
Proverbs 24:16 For though a righteous man falls seven times, he rises again, but the wicked are brought down by calamity." Because the righteous man has the Spirit in him by the work of Jesus Christ. It still requires the man to get up after falling. Joint venture. Peter fell down several times that night; but when the Lord met him for breakfast on the beach...he jumped in the water and raced to his savior. Judas was brought down by calamity.
Prayer
Fasting
Worship
Silence and Solitude
Journaling
Learning
Serving
Evangelism
Stewardship