MAY I ASK YOU A QUESTION ?
I actually preached on the spiritual signs of aging last Sunday. The majority of our morning congregation is well over 60, many in their 70’s and even 80’s. In some ways it was a fun sermon, in that we can all relate to the physical signs of aging, but may be blind or indifferent to the spiritual signs of aging.
A very dear brother said to me yesterday when some of us men got together for fellowship, how much he appreciated the sermon, and went on to say he struggles to use God’s prescription to maintain spiritual health and vitality. My key verse was 2 Peter 1.3 that God has made everything available to us for life and Godliness. I made the point that we must continually/daily/regularly take the medication the doctor has prescribed for us to assist the physical sign/s of aging, it would appear that many people do not do this with their medication, and sadly so many believers are not consistent in taking God’s prescription for spiritual life and vitality.
I responded almost instinctively to my dear friend and brother by quoting James 4.17 “Therefore to him who knows to do good, and doesn’t do it, it is sin”. Immediately I was convicted by the Holy Spirit. I have used that scripture to illustrate that if God tells us to do something, like witness to a neighbour, or give some finance to a needy person and don’t do it, I am being disobedient and therefore sinning.
You may remember from my teaching on prayer (The 8 essential ingredients) that no. 1 is Confession and repentance, because the Psalmist says in 66.18, that if I have sin in my heart God will not forgive me, and I regularly pray Psalm 139:23-24 Search me O God and list the areas that I may have sinned in like:
Thoughts
In words
In action (and reaction)
Sins of Omission
Those things that are not of faith
My Motives and Attitudes
Wilful sins Psalm 19.13
I then ask the Lord to forgive me.
When I made the statement to my dear brother 3 scriptures (commands) immediately came to me.
John 13.34 A new commandment I give unto you, that you love one another as I have love you.
Am I consistently loving and laying down my life for my brother ? I don’t think I do, so is it sin ?
Rom. 12.1 Continually present your body as a living sacrifice
Am I consistently living and walking in surrender to the Lord, I don’t think I do, so is it sin ?
Eph.5.18-20 Be continually filled with the Spirit
Am I consistently letting the Holy Spirit control and fill every area of my life, I don’t think so, so is it sin ?
This truth has really challenged me personally, and made me sit up and think and by God’s grace I am going to be much more proactive in seeing the above 3 commands fulfilled in my life.
What do you think regarding the above, I would love to hear from you.
